The old stockade overlooked the stormy strait known as the Winchester Strait. Stocks of all goods were running low inside the stockade. Stringent rationing had been in operation for several days and had stretched the inadequate food stores a bit. Only a little stodgy food was left. The stout-hearted stoics didn’t complain at all about the strict stipulations regarding rationing. Most of them could stomach it. but there were several straiten people who might soon die without a proper diet. However, the stranded people would all soon die unless the blockade was lifted. It would be akin to strangling. The enemy forces surrounding the stockade until they died would cause this strangulation. The enemy who had stranded them there stipulated that they could surrender, but the people in the stockade issued a straightforward “no” to that option. In the meantime, they undertook some chores. Two of the things they did were stitch torn clothing and stoke fires. There was also plenty of time for recreation, including time to stipple.

A siege had been expected days before it actually happened, so stratified defences surrounded the stockade. The head of the stockade, who was no stooge and who, incidentally, earned a good stipend , had taken the decision to stratify the defences. He striated the area around the Stockade with barriers and trenches. From above, it looked a little like the strata of the earth’s crust, with each level of defence as a stratum. This striated area prevented the enemy attacking without suffering heavy losses. However, he hadn’t yet been able to create a stratagem to get his people out safely. Both sides had issued strident strictures. The stocky , stolid leader occasionally engaged in discussions with the enemy. but he only wanted to stonewall them. It seemed that there was only one way the strife would end.

However, help was at hand. A boy had managed to stray from the Stockade at night and had stowed away in a cart. The cart took the stowaway to a nearby town and he stirred friendly forces. Soon, a stream of stout and striking soldiers was striding towards the Stockade. From the stockade, they looked like a streak of green snaking through the countryside. As the friendly forces approached, they stooped and straggled until they were strewn amongst the trees around the enemy. Then, they awaited the order to attack and force the lifting of the blockade.

stockade

Fortification. a defensive barrier consisting of strong posts or timbers fixed upright in the ground.

overlook

to afford a view over; look down or out upon:

e.g. a hill overlooking the sea.

stock

a quantity of something accumulated, as for future use

e.g. a stock of provisions.

stringent

strict, severe, constraining, urgent

stodgy

of a thick, semisolid consistency; heavy, as food.

stout-hearted

brave and resolute; dauntless.

a person who maintains or affects the mental attitude advocated by the Stoics

stoicism

conduct conforming to the precepts of the Stoics, as repression of emotion and indifference to pleasure or pain.

Stoic life is one of freedom: we are self-sufficient, in control of our own lives as much as possible.

stipulation

a condition, demand, or promise in an agreement or contract.

stomach

to endure or tolerate (someone or something):

e.g. I can't stomach your constant nagging.

straiten

to restrict in range, extent, amount, pecuniary means, etc:

e.g. Poverty straitens one's way of living.

lift

to remove or rescind by an official act, as a ban, curfew,or tax:

e.g. a court decision to lift the ban on strikes by teachers.

akin

allied by nature; having the same properties:

Something akin to vertigo was troubling her.

stoke

to tend a fire or furnace.

stipple

to paint, engrave, or draw by means of dots or small touches.

stratify

to arrange in a hierarchical order, especially according to graded status levels.

stooge

an entertainer who feeds lines to the main comedian and usually serves as the butt of his or her jokes.

any underling, assistant, or accomplice.

stipend

a periodic payment, especially a scholarship or fellowship allowance granted to a student.

fixed or regular pay; salary.

striate

to mark with striae; furrow; stripe; streak.

stratum

a layer of material

stratagem

a plan, scheme, or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy.

strident

making or having a harsh sound; grating; creaking

stricture

a remark or comment, especially an adverse criticism

stocky

of solid and sturdy form or build; thick-set and, usually,short.

stolid

not easily stirred or moved mentally; unemotional;impassive.

stonewall

Informal. to block, stall, or resist intentionally

strife

vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism

stoop

to bend (oneself, one's head, etc.) forward and downward.

strew

to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface;scatter or sprinkle