o work, and milked not only the new cow but also two
of the others. By this time milking was over, and the lacteal fluid was
carried to the spring-house to cool. Then the cows were allowed to
wander down to the pasture for the night.

When Nat approached the kitchen again an appetizing odor of frying fish
filled the air. The boy's uncle followed him.

"Supper is ready," said Mrs. Felton, cheerfully. "You had some trouble
with the cows, didn't you?" she continued.

"It was Nat's fault," grumbled Abner Balberry. "He made them run around
an' upset everything. Nat, I said as how I was going to teach ye a
lesson. You wash up an' go to bed at once."

"Go to bed?" queried the boy.

"Thet's what I said, didn't I?"

"Do you mean right after supper?"

"No, I mean before supper," snarled Abner Balberry.

"Oh, isn't he to have his supper first?" put in the housekeeper,
timidly.

"No, he ain't."

After this abrupt declaration there was an awkward pause.

"Do you want me to go to bed without my supper?" asked Nat, slowly.

"That's what I said."

"It isn't fair."

"Ain't it?"

"No, it isn't. It wasn't my fault that the milk was spilt, so there!"

"You say much more to me an' I'll tan yer hide well fer ye!" stormed
Abner Balberry.

"Don't you want him to have none of the fish he brought in?" asked the
housekeeper.

"The fish ain't worth much."

"Maybe you'd like to have all the fish yourself?" put in Nat, tartly,
before he had stopped to think.

Angered at this remark the farmer turned around and caught the youth by
the collar and began to shake him.

"I'll teach ye to talk back to me!" he snarled. "I'll teach ye! Now go
to bed, an' be quick about it."

"I want my supper!" came doggedly from Nat. He felt that he had earned
the meal and he needed it.

"Not a mouthful."

"If you don't give me my supper I won't work for you any more, Uncle
Abner!"

"Wot! Goin' to talk to me like this!" screamed the farmer, and caught
the boy once again. "Up to your room with ye, before I trounce ye well!"

He shook Nat fiercely, and a struggle ensued between the pair which came
to an end when a chair was overturned and then a side table on which
rested some of the things for supper.

"Oh, the eating!" screamed the housekeeper, in alarm. "And the teapot is
smashed!" she added, sadly.

"It's all Nat's fault," came from Abner Balberry. "He is a
good-fer-nuthin', he is! Off to bed with ye, before I git my horsewhip!"