#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

void main(void)
 { 
   char buffer[256];

   buffer[0] = 253;  // Number of characters that can be read

   printf("Type in a string and press Enter\n");
   cgets(buffer);

   printf("\n\nThe number of characters read was %d\n", 
     buffer[1]);

   printf("The string read: %s\n", &buffer[2]);
 }