Silently Nat went to 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!" He opened the door leading to the enclosed stairs, and fearful of another attack Nat retreated. As soon as he was on the stairs, the farmer slammed the door shut and bolted it. A minute later he and Mrs. Felton heard the youth ascend the stairs to his own room. "It was kind of hard on the boy to make him go to bed without his supper," remarked the housekeeper, as she gathered up the things on the floor. "It's his own fault," snorted the farmer. "He's got to be took down, he has!"