gainst my sister," I answered.

"She sat there like a log of wood, and let the flapjacks burn," snarled
Mrs. Fishley.

"She hadn't anything to do with the flapjacks. Flora boards here, and
isn't anybody's servant," I replied.

"I should like to know! Is that girl to sit there before the fire and
let whatever's on the stove burn up before she'll raise her hand to save
it?"

"It's no use of talking," said I. "You know all about it as well as I
do. All I have to say is, that Flora shall not be abused by anybody, I
don't care who it is."

"Nobody's going to abuse her," snapped the shrew.

"I've got another account to settle with you, Buck Bradford," continued
Captain Fishley. "Did Ham tell you to black his boots?"

"He did."

"And you told him you wouldn't?"

"I told him so."

"What do you mean, you rascal?"

"I only meant that I wouldn't do it. That's all I meant."

"I should like to know what we're coming to!" ejaculated Mrs. Fishley.

"We are coming to an understanding, I hope," I answered.

"I hope so too, and I mean to do it," added the captain. "High times
we're having here, when the boys won't do what they are told, and then
take the poker when they're spoken to."

"Captain Fishley, I think there are two sides to this question. The
agreement my brother Clarence made with you was, that I should take care
of the horse and go after the mail for my board. That's what he said to
me in one of his letters. Instead of that, you make me do all the dirty
work about the place, and run from pillar to post at everybody's beck
and call."

"That's all you're good for," interposed Captain Fishley, sourly.

"Perhaps it is; but that's not what my brother, who is my guardian,
agreed to have me do. You have kept me at home from school half the
time--"

"Too much learning spoils boys."

"That wasn't what spoiled you. But that's nothing to do with the
agreement."

"None of your impudence, you saucy young cub," said he, shaking his
head, and moving a step nearer to me; whereat I demonstrated mildly with
the poker.

"I don't mean to be impudent, but I won't be treated like a dog any
longer. I was willing enough to do all I was told, even if it wasn't
according to the agreement; but I get blowed up twenty times a day by
all hands. Ham never speaks civilly to me, and treats me like a nigger
servant. This thing has gone just as far as it can go. I have made up my
mind not to stand it any longer."

"We'll see," re