Now, John (although so young) was quite ingenious; and he often
suggested ideas that, for their shrewdness, were far beyond his years.
For such he was always praised by Will, and was encouraged to make other
plans.

Being encouraged by his cousin's praise, the child's brain became even
more active, and he said, "If we just cut a little piece from each plug,
Uncle won't be so apt to miss the tobacco."

"That's just it again!" emphatically assented Will. "I declare, John,
you surprise me! And now, we must have everything all ready so that
the minute they leave we can get busy. Let's see, what'll we need?
A screw-driver--and will we need a hammer?"

"We'll need a real sharp knife to cut the tobacco," John suggested.

"I'll get the things ready," Charley volunteered; and so they planned
and waited for the time to come when they could carry out their scheme.

The time came on the following Saturday. Early in the morning the uncle
and aunt drove away in the "buckboard," and were on their way to the
city where they were to do their trading. All three of the boys had been
unusually anxious to help their elders get started, forgetting in their
eagerness that they might be thus revealing some of their plans.
Scarcely did they give the uncle and aunt time to disappear in the
distance before they had commenced their evil work.

"Here's the tools," Charley said, as he brought forth the screw-driver,
hammer, and sharp knife. "Where shall I put them?"