In Camp on the Big Sunflower

we begi

p had cleaned up the tin pans used in preparing and eating the warm me

for him. Max had noticed this fact, and could give a good g

asked, as if in

replied, jerking his thumb to where the littl

cious bivalves stolen by the prowling half-grown wild boy. And in order to provide against such a catastrophe he had been very care

sm

er himself to set to work investi

pt gave him more or less hope that other prizes

on, if only they could raise the large amount of money needed to carry out the

evening. He was burning with eager curiosity to discover whether Steve might repeat his strange action of the preceding night. And

d, as he picked up an old oyster knife he had carried along for the purpose of prying open the m

e heavy kitchen knife. "Come along and let's see if we had ou

u say," Max

that kettle fo

examine the whole thing several times for results. And don't forget, both Toby and Bandy

ster knife, Max squatted on the ground tai

lmly, as was his wont, but Steve

acing the mussel in an upright position he would drive the blade down between the two shells by giving it several sharp taps with a piece of wood.

d so far as they could see, there was

self manifest in the look that

remarked, when the seventeenth bivalve failed t

ry, you know. The pearls are to be found. We know that, Steve, by our first success. If not in this lot, perhaps

ouch-and-Go Steve," because of his quick temper. It had many times carried him into serious trouble, though, as is

remarked, picking up another mussel

one, and I just reckon it'l

," laughed Max, him

rls are manufactured by the oyster or mussel to cover up some gritty objec

accepted theory

ing out how a smart genius might ma

in some hundreds of shellfish, and making the t

't you think it c

e while, I guess the success of the experiment wasn't so much," the other went on to

Steve, catchi

ed Max, his own voice as

you, Max-ain't tha

ct out of the opened shell he held, though his fin

it was seen to be a lovely little milk-whi

arked Max. "Just as fine as

ll make sure no thief l

delighted finder o

k, I took a notion to go yo

with Good Luck as well as me? Open up, and show what you've got." "Shut

ular jim-dandy pearl, Max," cried Steve, trembling all over with, ea

eliberation; "but not quite so perfect in form. Your pearl might

h the prizes in his hand, and surveyed them with that wistful look in his eyes; for,

osely, trying to read the emotions that

nce is still open

nd a lot more; is that

sel might give us another prize. Then, again, perhaps

siasm to get the better of his calm, deliberate judgment. And consequently he did

a bunch of money for these tw

surprised at al

hink they're

e next one when it comes to putting a value on pearls.

ss, can't you?" persisted Steve

to be a wide on

's have it!" ob

be able to sell each of these pearls

, you me

r ten times as much. I'll have my father take the

ll you!" cried the other, with del

it begins to look like our wildest dreams might come true, and

if we can only guard our new fin

y duty all the time," remarked Steve, solemnly.

r little smile that, however, Steve failed to notice. "And, now, suppose we

ass here. And I believe I can keep them safe in this red handkerchief of mine till

"Why, that's where we had the on

ng," Max

f the risk-"

same place twice. Besides, you forget that we expect to post a sentry, so that your eyes, or mine, or tho

h about letting the lovely little

lainly heard him give a sigh; and

ck, and we've g

f the boys

he young pearl seekers searched eagerly, with hope tuggi

er he had mastered his disappointment, "was in o

hin and scrawny looking a fellow as th

d just to think, I came near throwing that consumptive lookin

ou'll never for

I think of this lucky strike I'm going to understand that

ms come in the meanest o

ev

w what'll we do?

or so near our tent. Listen, Steve. Make a heap of the things, under som

ning back of all that, you

ughed

marked. "But between us I don't mind sayin

chance to get away with all these mussel sh

s head in the

employing their time in raking in all the scattered shells left by the muskrats and 'coons-how about tha

side lining of the shells will bring in some money. And I reckon they're piling the shells up in

the head; "but they'd better not try to steal any more of our pearls, that's what";