"Have you any of those April-fool cigars left?" he whispered.
"Yes—just four."
"I'll take them."
The cigars bought and paid for, the boy put three of them in an inside pocket and then turned the fourth over to Tom Barnstable.
"Here, Tom, put the pipe away and have a real Havana to celebrate the parting," he said, and the old man immediately did as requested.
The cigar burnt all right for just half a minute. Then something began to bulge at the end. It kept growing larger and larger, forming into what is called a Pharaoh's serpent, three or four feet long.
Tom Barnstable's eyes began to blaze. He stared at Mont wildly.
"Who—what—what is that?" he stammered. "Great Scott! I've got 'em!"
And, dashing the weed to the floor, he rushed from the country store, with the boys' laugh ringing in his ears.
"He'll remember you now, no doubt of that!" said Link merrily.