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?"

"Oh, anywhere so they'll be handy!" Will told him; and then the three
boys hastened to the room containing the chest and were soon kneeling on
the floor, examining carefully the object of their interest.

The chest, a long, narrow, flat box somewhat darkened with age, was
closed and securely fastened; and the tiny padlock that hung from its
side seemed to say, "If you please, I am here to protect my master's
property from the hand of any thieves; and to the extent that it is
within my power, I shall perform my duty." Its bold front and defiant
appearance did not, however, daunt the purpose of the boys. After giving
it a brief examination, they slipped around to the opposite side of the
chest, and by the aid of the screw-driver, removed the lower half of the
rusty hinges.

"Thank goodness, this chest is old!" Will exclaimed as he brushed from
his forehead the large beads of perspiration. "If these screws turned
any harder, I never could get them out. Guess we'll earn our tobacco
this time all right!"

[Illustration: Opening the Chest]

Scarcely had the last screw been removed when up came the lid; and
almost instantly three pairs of eager eyes were greedily gazing down
upon the contents of the wooden chest. There were in it a package of
old letters, various articles of clothing, a few trinkets, etc.; but
only that part of the contents that was carefully packed in one corner
claimed the attention of the boys. This, a pile of long brown strips,
or plugs, of tobacco, was what they wanted; and soon Will was busily
engaged in cutting a narrow slice from each plug and John and Charley
were dividing the slices into three equal parts. But in their haste and
excitement, none of the boys forgot to fill their mouths with the filthy
stuff, and to chew while they worked.

As Will cut a piece from the last plug, he glanced about over the piles
and said with a look of satisfaction: "Now that ain't so bad, is it,
boys? That ought to last quite a spell; and when it's gone, we can come
back here, or maybe something else will turn up." And then, when he saw
the boys rearrang