Croppie's bull calf?"

"Fine words butter no parsnips," slowly responded Kenton.

"But," put in Steadfast, "butter is risen twopence the pound."

"Very like," said Kenton, "but how can that be the good Cause that
strips the Churches and claps godly ministers into jail?"

Jephthah thought he had an answer, but fathers in those times did not
permit themselves to be argued with.

Prices began going up still higher, for the Cavaliers were reported
to be on their way to besiege Bristol, and the garrison wanted all
the provisions they could lay in, and paid well for them. When
Kenton and his boys went down to market, they found the old walls
being strengthened with earth and stones, and sentries watching at
the gates, but as they brought in provisions, and were by this time
well known, no difficulty was made about admitting them.

One day, however, as they were returning, they saw a cloud of dust in
the distance, and heard the sounds of drums and fifes playing a
joyous tune. Kenton drew the old mare behind the bank of a high
hedge, and the boys watched eagerly through the hawthorns.

Presently they saw the Royal Standard of England, though indeed that
did not prove much, for both sides used it alike, but there were many
lesser banners and pennons of lords and knights, waving on the
breeze, and as the Kentons peeped down into the lane below they saw
plumed hats, and shining corslets, and silken scarves, and handsome