"Not if you see things when you do it."

"See things? Wot do you mean, Tom Rover?"

"They tell me that you imagined you saw snakes the other day when you were smoking."

"You go on about your business! You played me a trick, that's what you did!"

"It's queer how cigars affect some people. They get nervous and think the end of the cigar is crawling," went on Tom, earnestly. "Now, if I was affected that way I wouldn't smoke."

"Say, Tom Rover, I want you to understand--"

What the station agent wanted Tom to know was never divulged, for at that instant the cigar commenced to swell at the lit end and then an ashy-colored "worm" commenced slowly to uncurl, reaching a length of a foot or more. Ricks took the cigar in his hand, held it at arm's length and viewed it with horror.

"It's another one of 'em!" he groaned.

"What's the matter, Mr. Ricks?" asked Tom, calmly.

"This cigar! Did-did you play this trick on me?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Look at the end o' this cigar."

"I don't see anything wrong. It looks like a fine cigar, and it seems to burn well," answered Tom, as soberly as a judge.

"Don't you see the-the worms?"

"Worms! Mr. Ricks you are dreaming!"

"Ain't that a-er-a worm?" shouted the station master, pointing with his finger at the thing dangling at the end of the cigar.

"Mr. Ricks, you must have 'em again," answered Tom, and looked deeply shocked. "You had better go and see a doctor. This cigar smoking has got on your nerves."

"It ain't so! I see the worms! There they are!" And the station master poked his finger into the ma.s.s.

Now, as those who are acquainted with the fireworks known as Serpent's Eggs, or Pharaoh's Serpents, know, the "worms" or "serpents" are very fragile and go to dust at the slightest touch. Consequently when Ricks placed his finger rudely on those at the end of the cigar they were knocked off, and falling to the floor, were completely shattered to dust.

At this the station master started in amazement.

"Where are the worms?" asked Tom. "I don't see them?"

"Why-I-er-that is-they were here!" stammered Ricks.

"Where?"

"On the end o' the cigar."

"Then where are they now?" demanded Tom. "Give me one, till I examine it."

"Why they-they are-er-gone now."

"Gone?"

"Yes. Say, I don't know about this!" And the old station master commenced to scratch his head. He looked at the cigar wonderingly. But no more "worms" were forthcoming, for the reason that the pellets Tom had placed within had burnt themselves out.

"You certainly ought to see a doctor-or else give up smoking cigars,"

said Tom, as soberly as ever.

"Tom Rover, ain't this no trick o' yours?"

"Trick? Do you think I am a wizard? I find you smoking a cigar and you go and see worms, or snakes, just as if you had been drinking. Maybe you do drink."

"I don't. I ain't teched a drop in six months."

"Well, you had better do something for yourself," said Tom, as he backed away from the ticket window.

"I don't understand this, nohow!" muttered the old station master. "But I ain't goin' to smoke thet cigar no more!" he added, and threw the weed out on the railroad tracks.

When Tom got to the wagon he was shaking with laughter. The joke was too good to keep, and as they drove along he told Jack Ness about what had occurred.

"It's one on Ricks," said the hired man, with a broad grin. "He's kind o'

a superst.i.tious man an' he'll imagine all sorts o' things!"

"Well, if it cures him of smoking it will be a good job done," answered Tom. "I've seen him with a pipe in his mouth when a lady wanted a railroad ticket, and he would blow the smoke right into her face."

It made Randolph Rover somewhat nervous to have so many fireworks and so much powder around the premises-and there was a good reason for this, for the facilities for fighting fire at Valley Brook were very meager. So, to please his uncle, Tom stored the stuff in a small building at the bottom of one of the fields, where some farming implements and berry crates and boxes were kept.

The cannon Tom had mentioned was a rather old affair. But it seemed to be in good condition and the boys spent some time in cleaning it out and putting it in condition for use. It was mounted on a big block and set in the middle of the lawn.

"Now, I reckon we are ready to celebrate!" cried Sam, after all the preparations were complete. "And we ought to have a dandy time."

"We will have," answered d.i.c.k.

"Best ever!" chimed in Tom.

CHAPTER X WHEN THE CANNON WENT OFF

The boys went down to the railroad station in the new touring car to meet Mrs. Laning and the three girls, and possibly Mrs. Stanhope. The car was a fine seven-seat affair, of forty-horse power, and d.i.c.k ran it.

"It's the slickest thing in cars I've seen!" cried the eldest Rover boy, enthusiastically. "A tour in it would be great."

"Well, we'll have to take a tour in it before the summer is over,"

returned Sam.

The train was late and the boys waited impatiently for it to put in an appearance. When it did arrive they were delighted to see that Mrs.