"Hullo, there, what are you doing here?" Such was the demand which aroused Nat several hours later, and he sprang up to find himself confronted by a farmer boy of about his own age. "Hullo, Sam," he answered. "I--I was driving the cow to market and I got so tired I thought I'd take a nap." "Going to sell the cow?" asked Sam Price. "Yes, if I can." "Where?" "Over to Brookville, if anybody will buy her." "Jackson the butcher was after cows only day before yesterday." "Then maybe I'll go and see him." "You must have got an early start," went on Sam Price. "I did. But I must hurry along," continued Nat, not caring to answer too many questions. "I slept too long." "You'd better hurry. Your uncle ain't the one to let you play, is he?" "You're right, Sam." "What does he want you to get for the cow?" "It isn't his cow. She belongs to me. I had her from the time she was a little calf, and I've a right to sell her." "Oh, yes, I remember now. Well, I hope you get a good price for her." "I'll get as much as I can." "Want me to go along?" "You can go along if you wish." "All right, I haven't anything else to do for a while." "But I want to tell you one thing, Sam. Can you keep a secret?" "Can I? Try me and see." "You won't tell a soul?" "I'll give you my word. But what's up?" "I'm not coming back." "What!" "It's a fact." "Do you mean that you are going to run away?" "That's the plain English of it, Sam. I'm tired of living with my uncle. He doesn't treat me fairly." "I believe that. My father thinks he is the meanest man in the State of Ohio." "Well, I don't know about that, but he is pretty mean, I can tell you that. I'm not going to stand it any longer." "Where are you going?" "I don't know yet. Most likely to one of the big cities. Somehow, I think I could do better in a city than on a farm." "Do you? Now I think a country boy has no show in a big city. He don't know the ways, and he is sure to get cheated out of his eyes--so my father says." "They won't cheat me," said Nat, decidedly. "Father says every big city is full of sharpers, on the watch for greenies." "Well, they shan't catch me for a greeny," answered Nat. Alas for poor Nat! Little did he dream of what was in store for him, and of the little trap into which he was to fall as soon as he arrived in New York City. CHAPTER IV ABNER BALBERRY'S DISCOVERY "Nat!" Abner Balberry uttered the name in a loud, clear voice and waited fully a minute for an answer. "Nat!" he repeated. "I want you to answer me, do you hear? Nat!" Still there was no reply, and now, in some alarm, Abner Balberry turned back into his bedchamber and donned part of his clothing. "If that boy is moving around this house I'm goin' to know it," he murmured to himself, as he felt his way toward Nat's room. Coming to the door, he threw it open and took a step toward the bed.