"I wants my mother! I wants to go home! I wants my arms untied!"
"You must stay here till Master Dawn comes to let you out," said Susy sternly. Then her heart relented, for the smallest boy was only seven years old.
"Will you promise to stay here quiet if I unties your arms?" she asked.
The promise was promptly given, so she untied the rope, and the two plates of meat and pudding looked so appetising that the prisoners were more than half consoled. Susy locked the door upon them, and came upstairs to Christina.
"It won't be very long afore you is taken prisoner now," she said to Christina, "and when you goes, I shall go along with Master Puggy and fight with the boys."
"I would much rather be taken prisoner than fight," said Christina. "I do hope the boys aren't really hurting each other. It's only play, isn't it?"
"I think they're using sticks a bit," confessed Susy.
And then Christina was seized with terror for their safety, and Susy had to assure her that boys didn't mind a few whacks occasionally.
About three o'clock, Susy, from the window, called out excitedly:
"The soldiers are coming! And Master Dawn at the head of them!"