Test input is 'XYZZY'						     

Benchmark: timing 1000000 iterations				     
     japhy: 28 secs (28.21 usr +  0.01 sys = 28.22 CPU) @ 35435.86/s)
    japhy2: 23 secs (23.57 usr +  0.00 sys = 23.57 CPU) @ 42426.81/s)
    japhy3: 22 secs (21.87 usr +  0.01 sys = 21.88 CPU) @ 45703.84/s)
       jmn:  8 secs ( 7.26 usr +  0.01 sys =  7.27 CPU) @ 137551.58/s)
    merlyn: 20 secs (20.54 usr + -0.02 sys = 20.52 CPU) @ 48732.94/s)
    petral: 22 secs (22.47 usr +  0.01 sys = 22.48 CPU) @ 44483.99/s)
       tye:  5 secs ( 4.84 usr +  0.00 sys =  4.84 CPU) @ 206611.57/s)
           Rate  japhy japhy2 petral japhy3 merlyn    jmn    tye
japhy   35436/s     --   -16%   -20%   -22%   -27%   -74%   -83%
japhy2  42427/s    20%     --    -5%    -7%   -13%   -69%   -79%
petral  44484/s    26%     5%     --    -3%    -9%   -68%   -78%
japhy3  45704/s    29%     8%     3%     --    -6%   -67%   -78%
merlyn  48733/s    38%    15%    10%     7%     --   -65%   -76%
jmn    137552/s   288%   224%   209%   201%   182%     --   -33%
tye    206612/s   483%   387%   364%   352%   324%    50%     --

Test input is 'XYZZZ'

Benchmark: timing 1000000 iterations
     japhy: 28 secs (28.30 usr +  0.00 sys = 28.30 CPU) @ 35335.69/s)
    japhy2: 22 secs (22.45 usr +  0.02 sys = 22.47 CPU) @ 44503.78/s)
    japhy3: 22 secs (21.97 usr +  0.01 sys = 21.98 CPU) @ 45495.91/s)
       jmn: 27 secs (25.95 usr +  0.00 sys = 25.95 CPU) @ 38535.65/s)
    merlyn: 18 secs (18.30 usr +  0.00 sys = 18.30 CPU) @ 54644.81/s)
    petral: 18 secs (18.69 usr +  0.01 sys = 18.70 CPU) @ 53475.94/s)
       tye:  5 secs ( 4.85 usr +  0.00 sys =  4.85 CPU) @ 206185.57/s)
           Rate  japhy    jmn japhy2 japhy3 petral merlyn    tye     
japhy   35336/s     --    -8%   -21%   -22%   -34%   -35%   -83%     
jmn     38536/s     9%     --   -13%   -15%   -28%   -29%   -81%     
japhy2  44504/s    26%    15%     --    -2%   -17%   -19%   -78%     
japhy3  45496/s    29%    18%     2%     --   -15%   -17%   -78%     
petral  53476/s    51%    39%    20%    18%     --    -2%   -74%     
merlyn  54645/s    55%    42%    23%    20%     2%     --   -73%     
tye    206186/s   484%   435%   363%   353%   286%   277%     --