cowhorn, to drive anyone off on either side, who came to plunder, and
they even had a flag with the motto--


"If you take our cattle
We will give you battle."


And they really did drive off some stragglers. Stead, however,
accepted the offer from Tom Gates of a young dog, considerably larger
and stronger than poor old Toby, yellow and somewhat brindled, and
known as Growler. He looked very terrible, but was very civil to
those whom he knew, and very soon became devoted to all the family,
especially to little Ben. However, most of the garrison and the
poorer folk of the town were taken up with mending the weak places in
the walls, and digging ditches with the earth of which they made
steep banks, and there were sentries at the gates, who were not
always civil. Whatever the country people brought into the town was
eagerly bought up, and was paid for, not often in the coin of the
realm, but by tokens made of tin or some such metal with odd stamps
upon them, and though they could be used as money they would not go
nearly so far as the sums they were held to represent--at least in
anyone's hands but those of the officers.

There were reports that the Parliament army was about to besiege the
town, and Prince Rupert was coming to defend it. Steadfast was very
anxious, and would not let his sisters stir out of the valley,
keeping the cattle there as much as possible.

One day, when he had been sent for to help to gather in Lady