comparing: lower123 with lowerabc   sentinel = 0
str1 = 123
str2 = abc
cc = 1

comparing: higher234 with higher123   sentinel = 0
str1 = 234
str2 = 123
cc = 2

comparing: equal with equal   sentinel = 0
str1 = equal
str2 = equal
cc = 0

comparing: equal with equallong   sentinel = 0
str1 = 
str2 = long
cc = 1

comparing: equallong with equal   sentinel = 0
str1 = long
str2 = 
cc = 2

comparing: lower1 with lower2   sentinel = 119 (w)
str1 = lower1
str2 = lower2
cc = 0