"And," added Steadfast, "there is an old cowshed against the rock
down there, where we could harbour the beasts, for 'tis them that the
soldiers are most after."

"Let us go down to it at once," cried the girl, joyfully.

But Steadfast thought it would be wiser to go first to the ruins of
their home; before, as he said, anyone else did so, to see what could
be saved therefrom.

Patience shrank from the spectacle, and Rusha hung upon her, saying
the soldiers would be there, and beginning to cry. At that moment,
however, Tom Gates' voice came near shouting for "Stead! Stead
Kenton!"

"Come on, Stead. You'll be prentice-lad to Dick Stiggins the tailor,
if so be you bring Whitefoot and the geese for your fee; and Goodman
Bold will have the big wench; and Goody Grace will make shift with
the little ones, provided she has the kine!"

"We don't mean to be beholden to none of them," said Steadfast,
sturdily, with his hands in his pockets. "We mean to keep what
belongs to us, and work for ourselves."

"And God will help us," Patience added softly.

"Ho, ho!" cried Tom, and proud of having found them, he ran before
them back to the village green, and roared out, "Here they be! And
they say as how they don't want none of you, but will keep