--- gforth/kernel/xchars.fs	2007/10/17 15:50:01	1.10
+++ gforth/kernel/xchars.fs	2007/10/17 16:05:22	1.11
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ Defer -trailing-garbage ( xc-addr u1 --
     over >r +x/string
     r> xc@ ;
 
-Create xholdbuf 8 allot
 : xhold ( xc -- )
     \G Put xc into the pictured numeric output
-    xholdbuf 8 xc!+? 2drop
-    BEGIN  1- dup  xholdbuf u>=  WHILE  dup c@ hold  REPEAT  drop ;
+    dup xc-size negate chars holdptr +!
+    holdptr @ dup holdbuf u< -&17 and throw
+    8 xc!+? 2drop drop ;
 
 \ fixed-size versions of these words