plied the captain, grinding his teeth and puckering up
his lips.

"But I don't want to fight, or have any trouble, Captain Fishley," I
proceeded, more gently, for I had warmed up considerably as I recited
the history of my wrongs. "If Ham wants me to black his boots, and will
ask me civilly to do so, I will do it, though that's not my work, and my
brother never meant that I should be anybody's boot-black."

"You will do what you are told to," bullied the masculine tyrant.

"And not meddle with things in the house," added the feminine tyrant.

"All I ask is, that Flora shall be let alone, and to be used fairly
myself," I continued. "I will do the work just as I have done till
October, if I can be treated decently. That's all I have to say."

"That isn't all I've got to say," replied the captain. "Buck Bradford,
drop that poker!"

"I will not."

"You won't?"

"Not till I think it is safe to do so."

"Do you think I'm going to be threatened with a poker in my own house?"

"I won't threaten you if you'll let me alone. I've said all I have to
say."

I know very well that Captain Fishley had not pluck enough to touch me
while I had the poker in my hand; and I was fully satisfied that Mrs.
Fishley would not meddle with Flora again very soon. The scene was
becoming rather embarrassing to me, and I decided either to end it or to
shift the battle-field. I turned and walked towards the back room. As
one dog pitches into another when the latter appears to show the white
feather, Captain Fishley made a spring at me, hoping to take me in the
rear. I was too quick for him, and, facing about, I again drew up in
the order of battle.

"We'll settle this another time. You haven't seen the end of it yet,"
said he, as he turned and walked into the store.

CHAPTER IV.

WHO IS MASTER.

I remained in the back room long enough to assure myself that Mrs.
Fishley did not intend to put a rude hand upon Flora. I even ventured to
hope that she was ashamed of herself, and would not repeat the dastardly
act. I went to the barn to consider the situation. I felt just as though
I had won the victory over my tyrants in the present battle; but I was
confident that the conflict would be renewed at some more favorable
time.

Like all small-minded men, like all tyrants and oppressors, Captain
Fishley was a revengeful person. He would wait till he caught me
napping, and then spring some trap upon me. He would delay his vengeance
t