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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6915-8.txt b/6915-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc0119b --- /dev/null +++ b/6915-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4625 @@ +Project Gutenberg's In Camp on the Big Sunflower, by Lawrence J. Leslie + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: In Camp on the Big Sunflower + +Author: Lawrence J. Leslie + +Posting Date: January 5, 2015 [EBook #6915] +Release Date: November, 2004 +First Posted: February 9, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER *** + + + + +Produced by John Argus, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + +IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER + +By + +LAWRENCE J. LESLIE + +[Illustration: MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE FEAST] + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I.--AN ALARM IN THE CAMP + +II.--TREASURE HUNTING + +III.--WHAT OWEN KNEW + +IV.--THE UNKNOWN SHELL GATHERERS + +V.--A PUZZLER FOR MAX + +VI.--THE FIRST CROP FROM THE RIVER + +VII.--BANDY-LEGS WANTS TO KNOW + +VIII.--A GREAT FIND + +IX.--MAX WONDERS STILL MORE + +X.--AT DEAD OF NIGHT + +XI.--THE NEW COOK SPRINGS HIS SURPRISE + +XII.--DANGER AHEAD ON THE TRAIL + +XIII.--MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN + +XIV.--SETTING THE MAN TRAP AGAIN + +XV.--THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION + + + +IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AN ALARM IN THE CAMP. + +"Hey, Bandy-legs, what d'ye suppose ails Toby there?" + +"He sure looks like he'd just seen a ghost, for a fact, Steve. Where are +Max and his cousin Owen just now?" + +"Oh, they walked down along the river bank to look for signs of fresh-water +clams. So we'll just have to run things ourselves, Bandy. Hello! there, +Toby, what under the sun are you staring at?" and the boy called Steve +jumped to his feet as he called out. + +It was night in the woods, with a cheery camp fire blazing close to where +the restless river fretted and scolded along its crooked course. + +The boy called Toby, whose last name happened to be Jucklin, also scrambled +to his feet when thus hailed by his campmate, Steve Dowdy. + +He was a broad-shouldered chap, unusually husky in build, and apparently as +strong as an ox; but all his life poor Toby had been afflicted with an +unfortunate impediment in his speech that gave him no end of trouble. + +When the third boy also stood erect it was plain to see how he came by his +name. His legs were bowed, and appeared too short for his body. "Now open +up and tell us what you saw, Toby," demanded Steve, who was by nature +inclined to be what his chums called "bossy." + +"L-l-land's sake, didn't you s-s-see it, fellows?" asked the troubled one, +his voice trembling with the excitement under which he was laboring. + +"Stick a pin in him, Steve," advised Bandy-legs; "that's the easiest way to +make him talk straight English, you know." + +"Don't you dare try it, now, I tell you," warned the other, forgetting to +even stutter in his indignation. "I'm going to tell you about it just when +I'm good and ready. G-get that, now?" + +"Please commence then, Toby," pleaded the shorter boy. "Was it a real ghost +you saw, or a snake? I'm terribly set against the crawlers, you remember." + +"S-shucks! 'Twan't no s-snake, Bandy; I give you my word for that. But it +had the awfulest glittering eyes you ever s-saw, boys." + +"Wow! listen to that for a starter, will you?" cried Steve. + +"Keep going, Toby; don't let up now," begged the boy with the crooked legs. + +"I just couldn't make out for sure, b-but b-back of the eyes I thought I +could see----" + +"Oh, what?" asked Bandy-legs, feverishly. + +"A long body just l-like that of a b-b-b----" Toby seemed to swell up as he +tried in vain to say the word he wanted, but it was apparently hopeless. + +"Why don't you whistle, Toby, you silly?" cried Steve. + +"Yes, that always helps you out, you know," the short boy declared, as he +clapped a hand on the shoulder of the now red-faced stammerer. + +Upon which Toby screwed up his rather comical face, puckered his lips, and +emitted a sharp whistle. + +Strange to say, the action seemed to cure him for the time being of his +trouble. + +"Was it a bear?" asked Bandy-legs, impatiently. + +"Come off," remarked the other; "I was only going to say it looked like a +big cat." + +"He means a wildcat, Steve!" exclaimed one of those who listened with all +his nerves on edge. + +"Or, perhaps, it might have been a panther," remarked Steve, a tinge of +eagerness in his voice, for Steve wanted to distinguish himself while on +this camping trip by doing some wonderful exploit. + +"And here we stand like a lot of gumps, when our guns are within reach. +Right now that terrible beast may be making ready to jump on us." + +As the short-legged boy spoke he made a flying leap in the direction of +the tent that had been erected. + +Both of his campmates were at his heels, and doubtless quite as anxious as +himself. + +There was a confused series of sounds following their disappearance. Then +they came crawling out again, each one gripping some sort of weapon. + +"Now, show me your blessed old tiger cat!" cried Steve, handling a +double-barreled shotgun valiantly. + +"Yes, who cares for a measly wildcat; let him step up and get what's coming +to him!" declared Bandy-legs, who was waving the camp hatchet ferociously. + +"I'm b-b-badgered if I c-c-care what it is right now. This rifle belonging +to Max h-h-holds six bullets, fellows," spluttered Toby. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Steve, with more or less authority in his voice. + +"Oh, what did you think you heard, Steve?" asked the wielder of the +hatchet. "Was it a whine, a cry just like a baby'd make? I've heard that's +the way these panthers act just before they spring. Be ready, both of you, +to shoot him on the wing." + +"Rats! It was voices I heard," declared Steve. + +"Then it must be Max and Owen coming back to camp from the river," +Bandy-legs asserted. + +"Just as like as not," Steve admitted. + +"But what if the savage beast drops down on the shoulders of our chums?" +said the other in tones that were full of horror. + +"C-c-come on, b-b-boys!" panted Toby. + +"Where to?" demanded Steve. "I'm comfortable just as I stand. What's eating +you now, Toby Jucklin?" + +"D-d-didn't you see, we've j-j-just got to warn our c-c-chums, and +s-s-stand that t-t-terrible beast off? H-h-hurry, boys!" + +"Yes, I see _you_ hurrying," said Steve, with a laugh; "why, you'd +fall all over yourself, Toby, and perhaps try to swallow our only hatchet +in the bargain. Besides, there's no need of our sallying forth to stand +guard over Max and Owen, because here they come right now." + +"Sure they are," declared Bandy-legs, "and mebbe we'll be able to find out +whether it was a wildcat Toby saw, a panther, or one of those awful Injun +devils they say come down here from the Canada woods once in a long time." + +"All right, you c'n laugh all you l-like," the boy who stammered said, +obstinately; "but wait and s-s-see what Max says." + +The two boys, who strode into the camp just then, eyed the warlike group +with positive surprise. + +"What's going on here?" asked the one in the lead, who seemed to be a +well-put-up lad, with a bold, resolute face, clear gray eyes, and of +athletic build. + +"Why, you see, Max," began Steve in his usual impetuous way, "Toby here +thought he saw a hungry cat sizing us up, being in want of a dinner; and +so we got ready to give him a warm reception." + +"Y-y-you b-b-bet we did!" exclaimed the party in question, shaking his +hatchet ferociously. + +The boy called Max turned and looked toward his cousin Owen, and there were +signs of amusement in his manner. + +"D'ye suppose it could have been a bobcat?" + +Steve went on, he having his own opinion, which was to the effect that Toby +had imagined things. + +"Suppose we find out?" suggested Max, promptly. + +"Oh, no use asking _him_!" declared Steve. "As soon as he tries to +tell he gets to tumbling all over himself. He saw a pair of staring eyes, +and imagined the rest. For my part, I've made up my mind 'twas only a +little old owl." + +Bandy-legs laughed, while Toby grunted his disgust. + +"Huh! think so, d-d-do you, Mister Know-it-all? J-j-just you wait and +s-s-see," he remarked. + +"Wait for what?" demanded the scoffing Steve. + +"Why, Max is g-g-going to find out," asserted Toby. "G-g-guess owls don't +leave tracks, d-d-do they? Well, Max c-c-can soon tell us. Huh! an owl!" + +"Oh, I reckon we'll soon be able to settle that part of it, all right," +said Max, soothingly, for he saw that his two friends were growing a little +too earnest in their dispute. + +"T-t-told you s-s-so," chuckled Toby. + +"Now, first of all, Toby, answer me a few questions, please," began Max, +steadily. + +"S-s-sure I will; just c-c-crack away," the other piped up, cheerfully +enough. + +"Sit down again in exactly the same place where you were at the time you +saw these yellow eyes staring at you--they were yellow, all right, I +suppose?" Max continued. + +"R-r-reckon I did s-s-say that," admitted Toby, "b-b-but I might's well +confess right n-n-now that I couldn't s-s-say for sure whether the eyes +were g-g-green or y-y-yellow. All I k-k-know is they s-s-stared like +anything at me." + +"Listen to him, would you!" exclaimed Steve; "he's backing off his perch +I tell you, taking water to beat the band." + +"T-t-tain't so," stoutly declared Toby. "I s-s-saw the eyes, and believed +I c-c-could make out all the rest. G-g-go on, Max; what's next?" + +"Are you sitting in the same place?" asked the other, quietly. + +"I am," replied Toby. + +"Now point exactly to the spot where, as you say, you saw the staring +eyes," Max went on. + +"T-t-that's easy done. S-s-see where that bunch of wintergreen p-p-pokes up +l-like the tuft of an Injun's war bonnet--r-r-right there it was, Max." + +"All right," remarked the other, quickly. "Now, the rest of you just hold +your horses a bit and give me a chance to look around." + +"You bet we will," declared Bandy-legs. + +"If anybody can find out the facts, Max will," asserted Steve. + +The four boys watched with considerable interest to see what Max would do. +They had the greatest confidence in this chum, whose knowledge of things +pertaining to the woods far exceeded that of any other member of the club. + +First of all Max stepped to the fire, and they could see that he was +looking it over carefully. + +"He's after a torch, that's what," asserted Steve. + +"S-s-sure he is," echoed Toby. + +"There, he's found what he wants," declared the boy with the crooked legs; +"and it's a jim dandy one, too. Now he's heading for the place you saw your +big cat, Toby." + +"N-n-never said 'twas _my_ cat!" flashed up the other, aggressively. + +"Well, you're the only one that saw the beast, anyhow," declared +Bandy-legs, stoutly. + +"Oh, let up on all that talk, fellows, and watch what Max does," Steve +broke in, impatiently. + +"And," remarked Owen Hastings, speaking for the first time, "if it should +turn out to be any sort of a wild animal, look out how you shoot." + +"I s-s-should s-s-say yes," added Toby. "G-g-go mighty slow, boys, +w-w-while our c-c-chum is in front." + +"Then don't you think of throwing that tomahawk, Toby, remember," cautioned +Bandy-legs. + +"Shucks! you're only t-t-talking to hear yourself," grunted the other, +in scorn. + +Meanwhile Max had advanced, torch in hand. + +He gave no evidence of any concern, and to all appearances seemed to take +very little stock in the possibility of meeting with some species of +dangerous wild beast. + +They saw him bend down, and at the same time thrust the blazing fagot of +wood closer to the ground. + +"He's discovered something, sure as you live, and I bet you it's a track," +asserted Bandy-legs. + +"Huh! s-s-see him pickin' something up. P'r'aps it's an owl's feather," +sneered Toby. + +"Now he's beckoning to us to come on, fellows!" cried the eager Steve. + +With that the entire bunch started forward, filled with a desire to learn +what Max had discovered. + +He was smiling as they hurriedly approached, and yet at the same time the +frown upon his face told that Max found himself puzzled. + +"Say, was it a w-w-wildcat?" bubbled forth Toby. + +"Or a big Virginia horned owl?" demanded Steve. + +Max shook his head to both questions. + +"Nixy, fellows, you've got another guess coming," he remarked, soberly. +"Fact is, the eyes Toby saw staring at him through the bushes belonged +to a half-grown boy, and a badly scared one at that!" + + + +CHAPTER II + +TREASURE HUNTING. + +Strange to say, Toby, usually the last to gather his wits together, was on +this occasion the first to give expression to his overwrought feelings. + +"Gee! that's a s-s-screamer you're g-g-giving us, Max," he burst out with. + +"But what makes you say it's a boy, Max; why not a man, when you're about +it?" asked the skeptical Steve. + +Max held up something he clutched in his hand. + +"That's a boy's cap, reckon you'll all admit," he asserted, quietly. + +"It sure looks like it," admitted Bandy-legs, bending forward to examine +the article in question. + +"And a mighty tattered cap in the bargain, I should say," remarked Owen, +who was something of a bookworm, filled with a theoretical knowledge +concerning subjects that, as a rule, his cousin Max had personal +acquaintance with. + +"All right," Max went on, "I found this here, right where Toby saw the +staring eyes. But that isn't all, fellows. Look down where I point, and +tell me what you see." + +Bandy-legs and Toby could not make anything out of the queer-looking marks +they saw revealed by the light of the torch. + +With the others it was different. + +"Somebody's been kneeling here, for a fact," declared Steve. + +"Here's where his knees pressed in the earth; and you can see how his toes +dug holes yonder," Owen remarked, pointing. + +"Just so," Max went on; "and when you notice how short the distance between +knees and toes is, you'll agree with me it was a boy." + +"That's all right, Max," spoke up Steve; "but why would he be a scared +boy--why didn't the chump walk right into camp and join us?" + +"Perhaps this boy has some reason to be afraid. Perhaps he got an idea in +his head that we'd come up here to hunt for him! And when he saw Toby +looking straight at him, he fell into a regular panic right away." + +"You m-mean he s-s-s-s----" and finding that the word was going to prove +too much for him Toby quickly puckered up his lips, gave a little whistle, +and wound up by speaking the objectionable word as plainly as anyone could +have done--"skedaddled?" + +"Yes, ran away as fast as he could," Max continued. "I'm sure of that from +the tracks he made, and only wonder how he could have done the same +without you hearing him." + +"Where are his tracks?" asked Steve. + +"Yes, show 'em to us, Max," added Bandy-legs. + +"Look here, and here, and here, then. You can see by the size that these +footprints were made by a boy. And, yes, his shoes are just about falling +to pieces in the bargain. He's got one tied with a piece of twine, wrapped +several times around." + +"Gosh! however do you know that, Max?" asked the astonished Bandy-legs. + +"Why, once you learn how to read signs, it's as easy as falling off a log," +laughed Max, as he proceeded to show them just how he figured things out. + +"That's t-t-too bad," muttered Toby. + +"Just why?" inquired Max. + +"If he'd only had the n-n-nerve to step up, and m-m-make our acquaintance, +there's that bully pair of m-m-moccasins, you know, I'd like to have +g-g-given him. Always pinch my t-t-toes dreadful. Just f-f-fit him, I +bet," declared Toby, who had a very warm heart. + +"Well, it's too late now, because the fellow's far enough away by now," +commented Max. + +"Perhaps we might happen to run across him some other time?" suggested +Steve, consolingly. + +"Like as not," the other remarked, "and now, let's return to the camp, and +think of what we'll have for supper. I'm as hungry as a bear, for one." + +"Same here," declared Bandy-legs enthusiastically; for, though short of +stature, he was known to have full stowage capacity when it came to +disposing of appetizing food. + +There was soon more or less of a bustle around the camp. Each one seemed +willing to help, and from the orderly way in which they went about their +several tasks it was evident that these campers had reduced things to +something of a system. + +And while the supper is in process of preparation it might be as well for +us to learn a little more about these five lively lads. + +They belonged in the town of Carson, which lay some fifteen miles to the +south of the camp. + +Always warm friends and chums, they had lately organized themselves into +a little club, which they called the Outing Boys of Carson. The main +object of this association was camping out, and having a good time +generally. But Max and Owen had by degrees conceived ideas far in advance +of these early plans. + +It was on account of these ambitious projects that they had now come up +into this wilderness where the boys of Carson were never known to +penetrate before. + +Max had a good home, and his cousin Owen, who was an orphan, lived +with him. + +Steve was the only son of the leading grocer in Carson, which fact more +than once aroused the keen jealousy of Toby Jucklin, who, like Bandy-legs, +never seemed able to get enough to eat. + +Toby himself lived with an uncle, and perhaps this gentleman did not fully +appreciate the enormous appetite of a growing boy, and failed to satisfy +his needs. Besides, Nathan Jucklin was known all over that section as +close-fisted, and capable of "squeezing a penny." + +Then there was Bandy-legs. Of course he had a name by which he was known +among his teachers at school and at home. It was Clarence; but to every +boy in town he went by the significant name of Bandy-legs. + +They had come up the narrow and tortuous Evergreen River in a couple of old +boats, capable of carrying all the camp material; though so leaky that +frequent baling out was necessary in order to keep things dry. + +Sometimes they had been able to use the oars to advantage, and cover a mile +or two in pretty good fashion. + +Then, again, they were compelled to use poles in order to push the boats; +or, else going ashore, drag them by means of long ropes, for the rapids +were swift. + +It had taken them from early morning to nearly dusk to cover these +fifteen-odd miles; but now that the camp was established, the tent up, the +fire crackling, and supper being prepared, they forgot their tired backs +and muscles. + +"Hey, Max!" called out Bandy-legs, turning around from where he was +attending to the bubbling coffee. + +"What is it?" asked the other, who had managed to arrange a temporary rude +table, a slab of wood having been brought along for the purpose. "You +forgot to tell us about it, don't you know?" the other went on. "Somehow, +all the excitement about that silly kid in the bushes knocked it clean out +of my head." + +"It did now, f-f-for a fact," spoke up Toby. "So t-t-tell us what the +p-p-p-p"--whistle--"prospects are, won't you?" + +Max and his cousin exchanged a quick look, after which the former placed a +finger on his lips. + +"Wait a little, Toby," he said, cautiously. "When we gather around the +festive board, and get our heads close together, I've got some bully good +news to tell the bunch of you." + +"H-h-hear that, will you, boys?" remarked Toby, in more or less excitement. + +"Say no more now, please. How about that coffee?" Max continued. + +"S-s-she's cooked to a turn, and I h-h-hope the rest of the g-g-grub is +ready, too." + +"All right here," announced Bandy-legs, seizing the frying pan, which was +filled with potatoes, seasoned with a few onions, and hurrying over to +where the low table had been arranged. + +Inside of five minutes they were busily engaged disposing of the +savory mess. + +Five hungry lads can make away with considerable food, given the chance; +but all due allowance had been made for even the astonishing appetites of +Toby and Bandy-legs, when making preparations for the feast. + +Once the edge was taken off their appetites, and the boys remembered the +promise made by Max. + +"Now tell us what luck you had, Max," Steve asked, as he broke open a fresh +paper package of crackers, and appropriated a generous portion of cheese. + +"Y-y-yes, that's the t-t-ticket!" exclaimed Toby. + +"I did promise, didn't I?" Max started out to say; "and it's time I kept my +word. You know the idea wasn't mine at all, but came from Owen here, who +had been reading up on the subject. We wanted to discover some way of +earning a nice little sum of money this summer, in order to carry out +certain plans we've got in our minds; and among all the schemes hatched up, +his one struck us as the smartest." + +"Besides, it gave us just the jolliest chance to come up here and pitch +camp," asserted Steve. + +"Something we'd been talking of doing for ever so long, fellows," +Bandy-legs put in. + +"All of which is true," Max went on to say. "Well, what was this bright +little idea Owen sprung on us! Nothing more nor less than a +treasure-hunting expedition. Only, instead of trying to unearth the gold +and jewels some Captain Kidd of these Northern woods has hidden away, we +expect to find something in the way of gems that no mortal eye has ever +looked on up to now." + +Apparently these words of Max gave the others quite a thrill, for they +exchanged looks, and their faces betrayed evidence of intense interest. + +"Owen had taken a great deal of stock in this new industry of finding +pearls in mussels, or fresh-water clams," Max went on. "He managed to learn +that long ago our river had been pretty well stocked with these shellfish, +though the town people had eaten them up clean. But Owen believed, and I +agreed with him, that some miles up-stream the chances were we might find a +good lot of mussels, big fellows that had never been disturbed except by +some hungry 'coon or fox." + +"And so we just made up our minds to start out on what seemed to be an +innocent camping trip," broke in Steve, chuckling. "That would give us all +the chance we wanted to see whether there was anything in this +pearl-fishing business along fresh-water streams." + +"And we're here, all right, ready for work," remarked Bandy-legs. "Would +you mind passing me that frying pan, Owen? It's a shame to waste such a lot +of tasty grub." + +"Huh! n-n-no danger," grunted Toby, enviously. + +"We had to hurry for all we were worth to get up here before dark," Steve +remarked; "for Owen said the best place would be at the junction of the two +little streams that go to make the Evergreen. And so we didn't have any +chance to make a hunt on the way up." + +"But we saw lots of empty shells, you know," broke in Bandy-legs. + +"Yes, looked as if muskrats, or something like that, had been living off +mussels right along," Steve admitted. + +"And so, while we made camp, our two learned leaders strolled up the river +known as the Big Sunflower to see what the chances were for a crop," +Bandy-legs went on. + +"Now, please make your report, Max, because, you see, we're just burning up +with anxiety to know. A whole lot depends on whether we've come up here on +a fool's errand or not. Did you find what you expected? Are the full shells +here a-plenty?" + +And, smiling at the eagerness of Steve, Max drew out several large mussels +from his pockets, which he clapped upon the rude table. + +"They're here, all right, boys," he said, earnestly, "but as to whether +we'll find any pearls in the same, that remains to be proven." + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WHAT OWEN KNEW. + +"Well, I declare, is that the kind of mussel they've been finding pearls +in?" demanded Steve Dowdy, as he took one of the long-shaped bivalves in +his eager hands, the better to examine it. + +"They agree with the description to a dot," Owen replied, confidently; +"and, to my mind, these seem particularly fat and promising." + +"T-t-tell me about that, now, will you?" gasped Toby, who was also +examining a prize. "S-s-say, Max, why looky here, I've picked up these +s-sort of c-c-clams many a t-time when d-diving." + +"I reckon we all have, and opened them, too, to eat," replied Max, with a +good-natured laugh; "but not being wise to the pearl racket at the time, +it never struck us that we ought to examine the shellfish closely before +swallowing." + +"Bet you more'n one pearl has gone down my red lane then," grinned +Bandy-legs; "because, you see, I always used to be mighty fond of fresh +or pickled mussels. Say, perhaps I'm a walking jewelry shop right now, +fellers. Mebbe I'm carrying around a whole pearl outfit. Wow! it makes me +feel uneasy-like." + +"D-d-don't you worry any, my b-b-boy," broke in Toby; "no danger of +anybody t-t-trying to k-k-kidnap you, even if your pouch was lined with +p-p-pearls." + +"That's wise of you to say such kind things, Toby! I'll remember it, too," +said the other, reproachfully. + +"But, see here," remarked Steve, "what's to hinder us from breaking open +these mussels right now, and finding out if they've got anything worth +saving sewed up inside?" + +"Be sure and keep the meat, then, fellows," broke out the boy with the +crooked legs. "Two apiece all around means ten, and that ought to make a +nice little dish of stewed mussels." + +"Yes, j-j-just so, for t-two," asserted Toby. + +Each boy thereupon set eagerly to work opening the pair of shellfish that +had fallen to his share. Being unfamiliar with the methods employed they +were doubtless all more or less clumsy. One by one they succeeded in +accomplishing the task, and immediately set to work examining the contents +for any sign of a prize. + +Silence reigned for several minutes. Then Max addressed his four chums, +inquiring: + +"Are you all through?" + +An affirmative answer came from each one of the others in turn. + +"What luck, Owen?" asked the master of ceremonies, turning upon his cousin. + +"Nothing doing here," came the response. + +"How about you, Bandy-legs?" Max went on. + +"All a bluff; nary a show of color," was the way the disappointed one made +answer. + +"Steve?" + +"Nixy, nothing from me. I've searched every particle of the blooming old +things, but pearls seem to be as scarce as hens' teeth. Perhaps these ain't +the right kind of fresh-water clams, after all." + +"Yes, they are," replied Max; "and how is it with you, Toby?" and there +seemed to be something like confidence in the way he turned to the last +member of the Ranger Boys' Club, for he had not been secretly watching +Toby for nothing. + +"I found only a r-r-rotten little p-p-pebble," replied Toby. + +"Let me see it, then?" asked Max. + +"Oh! c-c-come now, Max, you're j-just trying to string me. S-sure that ugly +little crooked thing could never be a valuable pearl?" remonstrated Toby. + +"Perhaps not, Toby, but all the same I'd like to take a look at it," +answered Max. + +"Fork over, Toby," commanded Bandy-legs, with almost too great a vein of +authority in his voice. + +The stutterer looked halfway belligerent; then, as if thinking better of +his first desire for a wordy conflict, he passed the tiny object across +the table to Max. + +Both he and Owen examined it by the aid of a strong magnifying glass. + +"It's a pearl, all right," announced Max, finally. + +"Oh! joy! joy!" exclaimed Toby, ready to leap to his feet and begin a jig. + +"But without any particular commercial value," Owen said, once again +freezing the enthusiasm of the stammering, excited Toby. + +"All the same, it ought to encourage us to begin work dredging the Big +Sunflower," remarked Steve, as he started in to examine the first find of +the expedition. + +"It certainly will," Owen declared. "But, see here, Max, what are you +grinning about?" + +"He's found something in his old oyster, bet you a cooky!" ejaculated +Bandy-legs, excitedly. + +"Is that so, Max? Did you see our friend Toby, here, and go him one +better?" asked Steve. + +Max was still smiling broadly. + +"You've got me up against the fence, fellows," he admitted. "Caught me +with the goods on, as they say. Yes, it's a fact, I _did_ find +something in that second tough old mussel shell I opened." + +"Was it really a decent pearl, Max?" pleaded Steve. + +"Look for yourselves, boys, and tell me what you think." + +As he spoke, Max opened his left hand. + +The action allowed a small, milk-white object, much smaller than a pea, to +escape. It rolled upon the board which composed the table; and as the fire +burned brightly, all of the boys could easily examine it. + +One by one they picked the tiny white object up and held it at several +angles, to see how the glow of the fire seemed to reflect in faint +prismatic colors from its surface. + +"Say, this _is_ a pearl, all right, and a jim-dandy one, too," +declared Steve, after he had had his turn at handling the discovery, "I +ought to know, because my mother's got a string of the same--left to her +by an old aunt over in England." + +"Owen, what d'ye suppose it's worth!" demanded Max, turning on his cousin. + +"Well, now, you've got me there, fellows," declared the bookworm. "You +see everything depends on how pure and perfect it happens to be." + +"That's a fact," said Steve, thoughtfully, as he feasted his eyes on the +little beauty. "D'ye know, fellows, I've always been fond of pearls. Why, +when I was only a little kid my mother says I used to notice a ring my aunt +wore, and would hang around her all the time, wanting to touch the pretty +little gem. I reckon the old admiration still holds good." + +Steve even sighed as he reluctantly passed the new-found pearl along. Max +smiled to notice how his eyes seemed to follow it. + +"Well, we've proved one thing, sure," remarked Bandy-legs, as he scraped +the skillet carefully for the third time, evidently believing it was a +sin to waste a single scrap of good food. + +"Yes," spoke up Toby, who was watching this action with signs of +disapproval, for he believed he would be compelled to complete his meal +with crackers and cheese; "we k-k-know now there are p-pearls in some of +these b-b-blessed old m-m-m"--whistle--"mussels, there!" + +"But don't let's get too big notions, fellows," Owen thought fit to put +in just then. + +Owen was what his teacher at school always described as "conservative." He +lacked the impulsive sanguine disposition of Steve. At the same time he was +no "croaker," and far from being a "doubting Thomas." + +Owen often acted as a safety brake in connection with his chums. When some +of them showed signs of rushing pellmell along the road, regardless of +difficulties and unseen pitfalls, it was Owen who would gently draw them +in, and counsel caution. + +They looked to him as a mentor, nor were any of them in the least offended +when he restrained their headlong rush. + +"In what way, Owen?" asked Steve. + +"You see, it's like this," the other went on. "From what Max and I learned, +we don't fancy there can be any great quantity of these mussels up here. +Perhaps we won't find a single one along the other little stream, which +they call the Elder River." + +"How about that, Max?" asked Bandy-legs. + +"It's the simple truth. I was told we might get a few of the shellfish up +along the Big Sunflower, but none in the water of the other creek," +replied the one addressed. + +"H-h-how do they account f-for that?" asked Toby, always eager to learn. + +"Must be something in the water that prevents mussels from breeding in the +Elder," Owen replied; and so great was the confidence those fellows placed +in the knowledge of their bookworm chum that not one of them dreamed of +disputing his theory. + +"Go on, please," Steve remarked. "You had it on your tongue to say +something more, didn't you, Owen?" + +"Only this. We might scrape in a hundred, five hundred or a thousand +shellfish, and not be able to duplicate this lovely little gem once." + +"T-t-that's so," observed Toby. "They s-s-say pearl hunting's the +b-b-biggest lottery in the whole w-w-world." + +Steve was sitting there with his elbows on the table, both hands holding +his head, and his eyes glued on the pearl that lay between them. + +"That would be a tough deal," he muttered. "I'd give a heap to have a +handful of those pretty little things. My! just to think what luck to +strike one the first pop." + +"Besides," Owen went on, lowering his voice, as he seemed to cast a quick +suspicious glance to the right and to the left, "that isn't all, fellows." + +His manner somehow thrilled Toby and Bandy-legs. Even Steve raised his +head to stare at Owen, though it required an effort for him to break the +strange spell the milk-white pearl seemed to have cast about him. + +"Tell us what you mean, Owen," begged the broad-shouldered young Samson, +with the bowed legs. + +"Yes, p-p-please do, b-because you s-s-see, we're all worked up now." + +"Then listen, fellows," said Owen, impressively. "It's only fair, as Max +and myself have decided, that you should know all we've found out." + +"That's right," muttered Steve. "As well as what we suspect," Owen +continued, in the same mysterious way. + +Steve was so deeply impressed with the seriousness of Owen's manner, that, +perhaps unconsciously, he allowed his hand to steal over to where the +double-barreled shotgun leaned against the trees, and rest confidingly +upon the same. + +Max had occasion to remember afterwards just how much Steve was worked up. + +"Well, what was it?" asked Bandy-legs, after Owen had allowed some seconds +to elapse. + +"For the last half mile, when we were pushing up toward the forks of the +river," Owen went on, "we noticed that the empty shells along under the +banks seemed to grow more numerous." + +"Yes, and all of us felt tickled to see it," broke in Steve, "because it +was a good sign. It told us the mussels were here, all right." + +"And it also told us," Owen continued, "that there were a lot of little +fur-bearing animals living along the stream, with a mighty strong taste +for fresh-water clams." + +"As what?" asked Bandy-legs. + +"Oh! mink, otter, muskrats, raccoons, and perhaps fisher. All these used +to be plentiful through these parts in years gone by. I've heard of men +trapping them, but of late it's been lost sight of, so I reckon they've +increased at a great rate." + +"Well, I don't see anything about that to bother us much," argued Steve. +"I reckon there'll be plenty for all of us. What the minks and musquash +get won't keep us from making our try, will it?" + +"No," said Owen. "But it wasn't that I was speaking about. The fact is, we +made a disagreeable discovery a little while ago, when we went out to +investigate--ran across a heap of mussel shells piled up by human agency, +and not through that of fur-bearing animals in search of a meal." + +The three others who heard this startling fact for the first time stared at +Owen, as if hardly able to grasp the full dimensions of the calamity that +threatened their pet project. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE UNKNOWN SHELL GATHERERS. + +Steve was, as usual, the first to recover from the sudden shock. + +"Whew! that sounds like a tough deal, fellows!" he remarked, with a +grimace. "Here we are, thinking we've got the field all to ourselves; and +expecting to spring a big surprise on the sleepy folks of Carson when we +come marching home with a pocketful of valuable fresh-water pearls, that +would give the Ranger Boys all the money they need to carry out their pet +plans. And squash! almost as quick as you can wink, it's all knocked into a +cocked hat. Yes, a tough deal, boys, and perhaps no more of these little +beauties for us." + +He picked up the lone pearl again, as if unable to wholly resist its +attractions. + +"Huh! and instead of having the field all to ourselves, it looks like we +might be poaching on the preserves of some other fellow." + +Bandy-legs gave voice to his bitter disappointment after this fashion. + +"T-t-too bad," muttered Toby, who seemed to feel that upon an occasion like +this every member of the club ought to allow himself to be heard. + +"Say," broke out Steve, suddenly, "perhaps it's that little prowler Toby +sighted spying on the camp?" + +"I wonder!" exclaimed Bandy-legs, his face lighting up with new interest. + +"Perhaps the boy may have some connection with the gathering of the +shells," Owen went on, "but it was a man's big footprint we saw alongside +the pile of empties when we struck a match." + +"What do you think about it, Max?" suddenly asked Steve, turning around to +stare at the one he addressed. + +Max had apparently seemed quite content to let his cousin do the talking, +for he had remained quiet during this discussion. + +Upon being directly appealed to, however, he was not at all backward about +replying. + +"I've been doing a heap of thinking since Owen and myself examined that +pile of shells," he started in to say, "and if you care to hear the +conclusion I've come to, all right." + +"You b-b-better b-b-believe we do, Max," was Toby's immediate explosion. + +"Don't hold back a thing," observed Steve; "because we're all +dyed-in-the-wool chums; and what concerns one concerns all." + +"Cough it up, Max. We're holding our breath, you understand, wanting to +know. And none of us come from Missouri, either," Bandy-legs observed, +eagerly. + +Max smiled at the expressive way his comrades had of urging him on. Nor +could he fail to be deeply touched by their confidence in his ability to +fathom the puzzle. + +"I took occasion to examine some of those empty shells by the light of +other matches," he continued; "and on many of them I was surprised to find +plain marks of small teeth!" + +"Wow! I'm g-g-getting on to what you're going to spring on us!" exclaimed +Toby, whose wits were not slow, if his speech had that affliction. + +"I don't believe any of those mussels had been opened by human hands," Max +went on to boldly declare. "Whoever is up here must be collecting them just +for the sake of the mother of pearl. You know, I suppose, that these shells +are used for making pearl buttons and such things?" + +"Yes, they are worth so much a hundred pounds," remarked Owen. "The price +is high enough to pay some men for collecting them when they can be found +in any decent quantities." + +"Then, Max, you don't think these parties are onto the pearl racket--is +that it?" asked Steve. + +"Honest Injun, boys, that's the conclusion I've reached after studying it +out. They are just collecting the empty shells, and never dreaming how one +little pearl like this would be worth perhaps a full ton of shells." And +Max took the prize from Steve, who seemed a bit reluctant to let it go. + +Max had apparently made up his mind as to what would be a safe hiding place +for the little beauty. + +All of them watched him wrap the pearl in a wad of pink cotton, deposit +this in a small cardboard box about two inches long by one wide, and half +as thick; which, in turn, was carefully thrust into a haversack hanging +from the center pole of the tent. + +That same haversack was used as a "ditty" bag. All sorts of small articles, +likely to prove useful in camp, were deposited in its capacious depths. And +when anything was wanted, the boys usually searched in this leather pocket +before proceeding to any trouble. + +"A snug nest for our first prize, eh?" Bandy-legs took occasion to remark, +as he watched how carefully Max pushed the little packet down into the +depths of this depository. + +"It sure ought to be safe there," Steve declared, with a sigh as of +genuine relief. + +"Nothing could happen to it, with five fellows sleeping around. And Max is +so ready to wake up that he'd even hear a cat moving," Owen remarked, with +a laugh. + +"Do you expect we'll have any trouble with these pearl-shell gatherers, +Max?" Steve demanded. + +"I hope not," was the ready reply. "We don't expect to interfere with their +business at all. Fact is, we'd just as lief turn over what shells we gather +to these parties to pay for trespassing on their preserves." + +"But not the pearls we find--if so be we're lucky enough to run across +more?" flashed Steve. + +"Surely not," Max answered, sturdily. "They don't own this country; and I'm +sure they've got no lease on the waters of the Big Sunflower. So we have +just as much right up here as they do. But we're a peaceable crowd, you +know; that's one of the leading rules in the constitution of the Ranger +Boys' Club." + +"Yes," chuckled Bandy-legs, "we're set on having peace even if we have to +fight for it." + +"Well," put in Toby, aggressively, "all I c-c-can s-s-say is, they'd +b-b-better think twice before t-t-trying to bother our crowd. We're only +b-boys, but we've got rights." + +"Hear! hear!" broke out Bandy-legs, clapping his hands as if to encourage +the speaker. + +"And we know how to s-s-stand up f-for 'em," wound up Toby, shutting his +teeth hard on the last word, and looking very determined. + +"You bet we will," remarked Steve. "I'd just like to see anybody have the +nerve to try and steal that bully little gem we've captured first pop. My +stars! don't I hope we'll have the mate to it in short order." + +Presently the talk drifted to other things connected with their home life +in Carson. The names of several boys were mentioned; and from the way +Bandy-legs and Toby expressed opinions of those same school fellows, it +appeared that they suspected the others of having watched their movements +of late. + +"Lucky we played that fine trick," the former declared, "and started on our +up-river voyage before daybreak, while Ted Shafter, Amiel Toots, Shack +Beggs, and the rest of the gang were tucked away in their little trundle +beds fast asleep." + +"S-s-say, don't you b-b-believe there was a high j-j-jinks of a time to-day +when Ted f-f-found we'd slipped away, and nobody knew where?" + +"But they know we had boats," remarked Max, "because we caught one of the +crowd spying on us. That's why we had to keep our stuff under lock and +key, with old Stump Griggs to watch it." + +"Yes," complained Steve, bitterly, "because a fellow as mean as Ted is +wouldn't stop a minute if he found a chance to upset our plans. Ten to one +the prowler old Stump scared away night before last was Ted himself; and I +wouldn't put it past that bad egg to burn the boathouse down, just to get +even with our crowd." + +"But the Outing Boys don't scare worth a cent," declared Bandy-legs, given +to boasting a little more than any of his chums. + +"Oh, well!" observed Max, cheerfully, "we expect to hide our boats in the +morning, you know, and perhaps, even if Ted and his scrappers do work up +along this way, they won't find us. If we're wading in the river searching +for mussels we're apt to hear them coming in time to get away." + +"Guess you're right there, Max," said Owen. + +"Sure thing," remarked Bandy-legs. "There ain't a time but what some of +Tad's crowd are snapping at each other to beat the band. Every little +while a fight is on the carpet. Takes Tad half the time keeping peace +in the family." + +"Huh!" chuckled Steve. "I've seen him do it by knocking down both of the +scrappers, just as neat as you please. Ted likes that way of keeping the +peace. It gives him exercise, you see, and makes the fellow respect him +more 'n more." + +The supper tins were washed, and for quite a long time the five boys sat +around the crackling fire, talking, writing in their note books, and +amusing themselves in many ways. + +It was no longer dark. + +A moon, slightly past the full, had crept above the horizon before they +finished supper; and while the trees prevented those in camp from getting +all the benefit of this fine sky lantern, for the most part the shadows +that lurked in the woods were banished. + +Finally some of the boys began to show signs of sleepiness. Toby was +yawning about every minute, while Bandy-legs rubbed his eyes and stretched +himself, like a tired boy nearly always does. + +"Guess it's about time we turned in, fellows," Max declared, himself +feeling the effect of getting up at three o'clock in the morning in order +to leave town before peep of dawn. + +"That's what I say," agreed Bandy-legs. "I'm sore all over from poling that +clumsy old boat up-river. And once I hit the straw you'll never hear a peep +from me till morning." + +"Move we adjourn!" sang out Toby, so suddenly that he actually neglected to +stammer. + +"All in favor say 'Aye'!" Max proceeded to observe; and immediately a +chorus of approval was the signal to send them hurrying into the tent. + +Ten minutes later and silence rested all over the camp on the Big +Sunflower. A hungry raccoon came prowling around, eager to pick up what +crumbs had fallen from their table. The big moon climbed higher and higher +in the clear sky, and, mounting above the tops of the trees to the east, +looked down, and smiled upon the peaceful scene. + +Max was a light sleeper, just as one of his comrades had declared. + +No matter how sound his slumber appeared to be, if there happened to be any +unusual movement in the camp it was sure to arouse him. + +He did not know just how long he had been dead to the world at the time +something moving caused him to open his eyes. + +The moon had climbed so high that he knew some hours must have passed. + +Yes, there was certainly some one moving about in the tent. Max, of +course, first of all thought of Ted Shafter and his cronies, and wondered +if, after all, the rival Carson crowd could have found them out. + +Next his thoughts flew to the unknown shell gatherers, and a suspicion +that perhaps one of them had invaded the camp, bent on stealing the +valuable pearl, filled his mind. + +This caused Max to raise his head, and turn his eyes toward the tent pole +where the haversack containing the precious pearl hung. + +Sure enough, there _was_ some one standing there, and actually +fumbling with the bag. + +To the intense surprise of Max he recognized the dimly seen figure. + +It was Steve. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A PUZZLER FOR MAX. + +Max could hardly believe his eyes. + +It seemed so remarkable for Steve to be examining the haversack at this +midnight hour. + +Perhaps the other had been dreaming, and as the pearl was much in his mind +he may have gotten up to ascertain whether the little package still reposed +safely in the pouch? + +Max came to this conclusion as he lay there and watched. + +Steve seemed to give a satisfied grunt presently. Then he turned away, +stepped gingerly over the forms of Bandy-legs and Toby, bent down for a few +seconds, as if fumbling with his clothes, and still muttering to himself, +finally crawled under his own blanket. + +Max was chuckling as he dropped back on his rude pillow made of leaves that +had been crammed into a flour sack. + +"Guess Steve is deeper in this pearl business than the rest of us," he +muttered, "since he has to climb out of a warm blanket just to make sure +nobody's got away with our first prize. Well, he's welcome to stand guard. +Me to get some more sleep." + +So little impression did the circumstance make upon Max's mind that in less +than five minutes he had drifted away once more to the borders of +slumberland. + +In the morning it was Owen who awakened the balance of the campers. + +"Here, suppose you fellows show a leg, and take a dip in the creek," he +announced, poking his head into the tent. + +"I smell bacon!" cried Bandy-legs, as he sat up hurriedly. + +"And that must sure be the odor of c-c-coffee that comes s-s-stealing in +here!" declared Toby, bounding erect. + +Soon the four were floundering about in the cool waters of the Big +Sunflower. + +They did not prolong their bath because Owen had declared breakfast almost +ready. As Bandy-legs remarked, they could take a dip at any old time; but +breakfasts only cropped up once in every twenty-four hours. + +And, hence, it was not long before they were seated around the table, +enjoying the bacon and fried eggs, hominy and coffee, that the cook of +the morning had provided; flanked by an abundance of home-made bread and +country butter. + +The conversation turned from one subject to another. First it was the +chance of their being discovered and annoyed by the crowd that ran with +Ted Shafter. Then came talk of the mysterious shell gatherers, whose secret +industry the sudden coming of the Ranger Boys might interfere with. + +Max was several times tempted to bring up the subject of the pearl, just to +find an opportunity for asking Steve if it had been a bad dream that sent +him from his warm blanket to make sure the little packet was safe. + +Then he decided to hold back just a little longer, and let one of the +others start the ball rolling. + +No doubt Steve would volunteer a satisfactory explanation without being +prodded, given time. + +Sure enough, it was Bandy-legs who brought the conversation around to the +subject of the pearl. + +He and Toby seemed to disagree as to the size of the prize, the latter +stubbornly insisting that it was as large as a little marble. + +"Aw! rats! What is getting you, Toby!" exclaimed Bandy-legs, in disgust. +"Sure you must have been dreaming over it, and things have been growing +all night. I tell you it was smaller'n a pea even." + +"R-r-reckon I know," grumbled Toby, as stubborn as he could be; "and +I'll b-b-believe it till you p-p-prove the other way." + +So, of course, Bandy-legs, feeling that he had been challenged, sprung +to his feet. + +"I'll do it, then, just to show you!" he exclaimed, as he made for the +opening of the tent. + +A minute later they heard him grumbling and growling within. Then his +voice came welling forth: + +"Say, Max!" + +"Hello!" + +"Was I dreaming, or did I see you put that thing in this haversack?" + +"You sure saw me, Bandy-legs," replied Max, feeling a queer burning +sensation dart all over his flesh, as though a suspicion of coming trouble +suddenly took possession of him. + +"You tucked it away in pink cotton, didn't you?" demanded the one inside +the tent. + +"That's what he d-d-did," answered Toby, before Max could speak. + +"And say, Max, did you take her out again?" asked Bandy-legs, +reproachfully. + +"I did not," answered Max, firmly. + +He shot a glance toward Steve. That individual seemed to be staring, just +as the others were. Max could discover not the faintest indication on his +part of amusement. Indeed, he even looked indignant and aroused. + +"Well, all I c'n say then, is, it's mighty funny," Bandy-legs kept on +repeating. + +"Can't you find the little cardboard box?" called out Max. + +"Not any; I tell you it ain't here!" came in reply. + +"Oh! s-s-shucks! you n-n-need a pair of specs I g-g-guess, Bandy!" +jeered Toby. + +"Fetch the bag out here," ordered Max; and as he was the recognized head of +the club, his word in a case of this kind was law. + +The broad-shouldered boy quickly hove in sight. He was carrying the leather +haversack; and his face seemed puckered up in a frown. + +"Specs, nothing!" he snapped. "Just you ram your paw inside, Toby Jucklin, +and let's see how much better you c'n succeed." + +Of course, being thus challenged, Toby felt in honor bound to make the +trial. + +Everyone watched with rapidly growing interest; and when Max stole another +look at Steve he was more puzzled than before. + +Was Steve trying to play a trick on his chums; or could it be possible +that the strong fascination which he admitted pearls always had for him +was tempting him to deceive his comrades? + +Max hated to even allow such a suspicion to gain lodgment in his mind; but +after what he had seen, how could he help it? + +He determined to say nothing to anyone, not even his cousin Owen, but just +watch developments. + +Of course Toby's confidence quickly gave way to something akin to dismay. +He seemed to rattle the contents of the bag around again and again, but +apparently without success. + +"Well," scoffed Bandy-legs, realizing that it was his turn to crow, "why +don't you produce the goods, Toby? You said I needed specs, didn't you? The +first pair we find floating down the Big Sunflower goes on _your_ +nose. Why don't you show up? Let's see that little cardboard box." + +Toby withdrew his hand. + +He seemed about to try and peer within the leather pouch when the voice of +Max stopped him. + +"Turn it inside out, Toby!" said the leader, quietly. + +"Yes, dump everything on the table. That's the ticket!" + +It was Steve himself who said this. + +If he was playing a joke Steve certainly knew how to keep a straight face. +He looked eager, indignant, even alarmed; but Max could see not one single +sign of secret laughter. Even his eyes, those tell-tale orbs by which the +secret thoughts are so often betrayed, failed to disclose the twinkle Max +fully expected to find. + +Toby obeyed instructions. + +Quite a motley collection of various things that were apt to prove useful +rattled on the rough board table as he held the pouch up by two corners. + +The little cardboard box was missing. + +Toby, as if to make the matter so positive that there could be no mistake, +even turned the bag inside out. + +"She's gone, fellows!" ejaculated Steve, hoarsely. "After all our boasting +some sly thief has crept right into our midst, and got away with our +little beauty! It's rotten luck, that's what I say. And for the life of me +I don't see how he ever did it." + +Max opened his mouth, as though the temptation to speak was more than he +could stand; but he closed it quickly again. + +"I'll wait and see what his little game is," he kept saying to himself. +"If it's a trick, I never believed Steve would be guilty of such a thing. +And he's carrying it out just like he meant it, too." + +The others were beginning to turn their eyes in the direction of Max. + +"You've always been such a light sleeper, Max; how is it you didn't hear +the thief creep in, and search our bag?" Bandy-legs asked. + +Max shrugged his shoulders. + +"All I can say, fellows, is that I only woke up once during the night, +thinking I heard some one moving about. But I give you my word there was +no one in the tent then who didn't belong here." + +Max was looking straight at Steve when he said these words. He really +expected to see the other turn red with confusion, perhaps laugh a little, +and then in his usual frank way acknowledge that he had taken the pearl +just to give his chums a little shock. + +To the surprise of Max he saw no such sign of guilt upon the face of his +friend. Apparently, for some reason or other, Steve meant to brazen it out. + +Remembering how the other had seemed to be so strangely fascinated by the +handsome pearl, made Max shiver a little, he hardly knew why. + +"We all saw you put it in the bag, Max," declared Bandy-legs. + +"I tell you what let's do," said Owen. "Perhaps some fellow is bent on +playing a joke on the rest of us. Let's settle that point so we won't ever +think of it again." + +"G-g-good idea, Owen. You r-r-run the g-game to suit yourself," piped up +the eager Toby. + +"Shall I repeat a form of assertion, Max, to which each one of us will +subscribe?" asked Owen, with his customary readiness. + +"Certainly; and put it up to me first," replied his cousin. + +"Then here goes. I hereby affirm that to the best of my knowledge and +belief I've neither seen nor handled that little cardboard box containing +our pearl since the time Max dropped the same in this bag. How is it with +you, Max; can you truthfully declare the same thing?" + +"I can, and hereby do so affirm," replied the other, solemnly. + +"Bandy-legs, hold up your hand," Owen went on. + +"Sure thing. Now put me to the test," flashed the broad-shouldered boy, as +he quickly raised his hand. + +"The other one, Bandy-legs, your right hand. There, that's the ticket. Do +you solemnly give your word the same as Max and myself did, that you +haven't seen or handled that little box since it was dropped in this bag +by my cousin?" + +"I never have," replied the one on the stand. + +"Toby, how is it with you?" Owen kept on. + +"I s-s-say exactly the same. So far as I k-know I haven't seen, h-handled +or even s-smelled that little b-b-box since Max hid it in h-h-here. I'm +completely f-f-f-f"--whistle--"flabbergasted at finding it gone." + +"And Steve, what about you?" Owen asked. + +Max Hastings was more bewildered than ever when he heard the one he had +positively see fumbling at the leather bag while the others slept promptly +declare: + +"So far as I know, fellows, I've never seen or handled that little box +since Max took it off this table and stuck it in the bag. And that's my +sworn affidavy, believe me!" + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FIRST CROP FROM THE RIVER. + +After that strange declaration on the part of Steve, Max felt that his lips +must be sealed more than ever. + +He wanted a little time to think things over. + +Besides, Max even began to wonder whether he could have just dreamed that +he saw Steve fumbling at the haversack in the middle of the night, and +mumbling to himself all the while. + +So he concluded to hold his tongue, say nothing of what he _believed_ +he had seen, watch Steve closely, and wait for new developments to arise. + +Boys are, as a rule, not much given to long spells of depression. + +There is something in the natural buoyancy of a lad's nature that throws +off the gloom, and invites the cheery sunlight to enter. + +So the whole five were soon eagerly planning as to their work for the day. +First of all the two old boats which had served to carry them up to the +forks of the Evergreen River must be securely hidden. This was mainly on +account of those prank-loving boys who, under the leadership of the town +bully, Ted Shafter, they half expected to follow them to this region. + +"If they ever came across our boats," declared Steve, wrathfully, "you all +know what would happen." + +"Easy enough to smash in the bottoms with a few big dornicks," declared +Bandy-legs. + +"Huh! And m-m-make us peg it all the w-w-way b-back to town," grunted Toby, +who was not known as a great admirer of leg exercise. + +"All right, then," said Max, promptly; "you and Bandy-legs better get busy +taking the boats to that big cove where the tall reeds grow so thick. Seems +to me you ought to be able to hide our craft so well there, the chances of +discovery would be next to nothing." + +"We c'n do it all right," affirmed Bandy-legs, as he started up. "Come on, +Toby, get a move on you." + +"Wait a minute, c-c-can't you? What's your h-h-hurry. R-r-rome wasn't built +in a d-day, I g-g-guess." + +"Well, go ahead and have it out, because I can see you've got something on +your mind. Now, what's eating you, Toby?" the other complained. + +"I only w-wanted to ask Max if it wouldn't be g-g-ood +p-p-p-p"--whistle--"policy for us to mark the place where we leave the +boats. There! do you get that, Bandy-legs?" + +Toby asked this question triumphantly. Strange to say, that whenever he +stumbled most in his speech, so that he was compelled to halt, and give +that short whistle, Toby was able to finish what he was saying without a +single hitch. + +Steve often declared it reminded him of a country railroad crossing. There +you beheld the warning sign: "Stop! Look! Listen!" and upon complying +immediately heard the whistle, after which everything moved on smoothly. + +"Toby, that's a sensible suggestion of yours," Max hastened to declare. "If +so be you hide the boats away so well that we couldn't ever find the same +again we'd sure be in a nice pickle, eh, Owen?" + +"I should remark," the one addressed replied; "that tramp to Carson would +be anything but a peach. And with all our camp stuff to tote along, too." + +"Excuse me!" Bandy-legs exclaimed. "Make sure we'll mark the place, boys. +Now, get a move on, Toby. Where will we find the rest of you when we get +through our job?" + +"Oh! somewhere around here," Max replied. "You see we've got a big job +ourselves, taking down the tent, putting it up again some distance away +from the water, removing every sign of our having camped here, and then +disappearing. You'll be back long before we're done." + +His prediction was fulfilled, for when half an hour later Toby and his +companion showed up, the tent had vanished, Steve and Owen were carrying +blankets, food, and cooking utensils deeper into the woods, while Max was +working like a beaver close to the water's edge. + +"What's going on now, Max?" asked Bandy-legs, as he watched the actions of +his chum. + +"I'm doing my best to wipe out all the 'sign' we've made around here," +replied Max. + +"And it looks to me like you're doing a good job of it, too, partner," +declared the other, his eyes filled with admiration, as he saw how deftly +Max smoothed out all traces of where the boats had been pulled up on the +pebbly shore of the river. + +"Oh, well, I'm only a greenhorn at this sort of thing," laughed the busy +worker, patting a telltale footprint until it was merged with the +surrounding soil; "I'd be reckoned a bungler by any experienced woodsman, +you know. But in this case it's an easy job to pull the wool over the eyes +of Ted and his crowd." + +"Meaning that they're about as ignorant of all these things as I am?" +Bandy-legs went on. + +"Perhaps. But that won't be for long, let me tell you. I'm bound to show +you everything I know about these things, and pick up more myself in the +bargain. Did you get the boats hidden away all right, Bandy-legs?" + +"Gilt-edge, I give you my word. And we tied some of the reeds together near +the spot. Only a feller who was lookin' for the tag'd notice where we did +it. Toby or me, why we could go straight to the spot, with only one eye +open." + +"All right. Then suppose you get busy helping Steve and Owen. Nobody must +step back here again to leave fresh tracks after I've rubbed these all +out." + +Max continued to work as steadily as a beaver. Step by step he retreated +backward, removing all traces left by the campers. + +It was an arduous task, especially when he came to where the tent and fire +had stood. But really the boy proved to have a natural talent for this sort +of thing. He utterly removed all the ashes, scattered some brush over the +spot, and at the end of an hour Max stood on the border of the dense woods +casting a last careful look over the field of his recent labors. + +"I ought to pat myself on the back over that job," he chuckled; "and it +wouldn't be throwing any bouquets either. Ten to one Ted Shafter and his +gang could land here, cook a meal, and lie around, without ever once +dreaming we'd spent a night on the same camp ground." + +Then he withdrew from the scene of his recent operations. + +Picking his way through the woods, after a time he heard voices, and then +discovered the tent. + +The new camp site had been selected by Owen, and it certainly did him +credit. Max stood for a few minutes watching his chums work, and smiling +with pleasure over the prospect of a full week or more in that delightful +secluded spot. + +Trees grew densely around the place, and until one drew very near, it was +next to impossible to discover the dingy old waterproof tent that nestled +in the midst of the thick undergrowth. + +A clear little gurgling spring sang close by, affording all the water they +would need for drinking and cooking purposes. + +But, as Max stood and looked, the happy smile gradually left his face, to +be succeeded by an expression of grave concern. + +As he was watching the movements of Steve at the time, it could be easily +understood what pressed upon his mind. + +"Oh, come, this won't do at all," Max presently muttered, pressing his +teeth together resolutely. "It's all going to come out right, sooner or +later. Of course it looks mighty queer just now, and I can't for the life +of me understand it; but I've known Steve all my life, and he's never yet +been called a _thief!_ I'll just bottle up, and hold my horses, and +watch what he does, because I'm bound to find out." + +So he strode into the new camp, walking all around, and quite free with his +hearty compliments concerning the fine way Owen and Steve had done their +part of the business. + +"But looky here," burst out the impatient Steve, after a while, "we're +wasting time, you know. Some of us might as well be up the river gathering +a few pecks of mussels." + +"T-t-that's so," declared Toby. "And it's up to Max to s-s-say who goes out +f-f-first." + +"Suppose, then, Steve and myself lead off, and make the first try," Max +suggested. He had a double object in nominating Steve as his working +partner on this occasion. In the first place he knew the impatient nature +of the fiery lad, and that his heart was more set upon the finding of other +pearls like unto the lost one than any of the others. + +This was not all. + +Having Steve in his company for a couple of hours would give Max a good +chance to study the other closely. + +Perhaps, too, if Steve were really playing a practical joke on his comrades +he might, without meaning to do so, let a hint drop that would serve to +betray the object he had in view. + +"Here, don't forget the bags we fetched along to carry the mussels in," +said Bandy-legs. + +"And I h-h-hope I g-g-get a chance to make a t-t-try this afternoon," +remarked Toby, not a little disappointed because he had been passed over +when Max selected the one to accompany him on the first hunting expedition. + +So the two boys walked off, taking with them a couple of bags. Max also +thought it wise to shoulder the reliable old shotgun. + +"It isn't the game season, I know," he said, as the others looked their +surprise, "and about the only thing we ought to shoot right now would be +woodcock. I saw a marsh where I reckon I'll find some of the long-billed +mud diggers. You know they get their food by sticking their bills deep down +in the mud. That's why you always look for woodcock in a wet spot or marsh. +Ready, Steve? All right, we'll make another start." + +About twenty minutes later the two boys had reached the bank of the little +river, half a mile or so above their first camp site. + +They lost no time, but set to work at once, removing shoes and socks, and +rolling the legs of their trowsers above their knees. + +Then, with selected, sharp-pointed sticks, after wading into the shallow +water, they began to poke carefully around in all such promising places as +mussels would most likely be found. + +Steve gave the first triumphant cry. + +"I've got one, Max! And say, he's just a jim-dandy big fellow, too, believe +me! Now, I wonder if he's going to present us with the mate of that little +beauty of a pearl we lost so queerly." + +Max was watching his chum closely. + +"He says that just as naturally as if he meant every word of it," the boy +muttered; puzzled more than ever; and then raising his voice he went on to +say: "You'll just have to take it out in guessing, then, old chap, because +we can't bother stopping to open every find we come across." + +"I should say not," replied Steve, and immediately added: "Hey! what d'ye +think, here's another of the blessed old shellfish, just poking his nose +out of the sand like he wanted to invite me to gather him in." + +"Good enough! I haven't picked up my first one yet; and here you're walking +away from me double-quick. Guess I'd better get busy." + +The truth was Max had been so wrapped up in watching his chum that as yet +he had hardly tried to make a find. + +But he now set industriously to work. There were times when the mussels +came in fast; and again they seemed to fall off. + +Gradually the boys worked up-stream, crossing and recrossing as they +searched. + +"We're covering the ground all right," asserted Steve, as his laugh +announced another prize; "and believe me, we clean 'em out as we go. How +many have you got in your bag, Max?" + +"About nine or ten, I reckon, Steve." + +"I've got fourteen, and some busters among 'em. I'll be pretty badly +disappointed if one out of the lot don't turn out a good milk-white pearl," +the other called out. + +"Perhaps it'd be better not to mention that word so loud again, Steve," +cautioned the other. + +"Are you saying that just on general principles like, Max, or is there a +reason?" and Steve, as he made this demand, splashed closer to his chum. + +"Oh, well!" Max went on, "you know they say that sometimes even the trees +and rocks have ears. And we don't know who might be hiding around, watching +us right now." + +"Did you see or hear anything to make you think that way?" asked the +nervous Steve. + +"Can't say I did," replied Max; "but I thought it good policy to sling my +gun over my back by the strap, and not leave it ashore. Sorry now I brought +it along; but we don't want it stolen like our pearl was." + +"That's right, we don't," asserted Steve, without the slightest hesitation. +"If these shell gatherers have got the nerve to sneak into our tent and +make way with our first pearl, I reckon they wouldn't hold back at taking +a good old scatter-gun that chanced to be lying around loose." + +"Let's get busy again, Steve." + +"Right-o! I'd like to make my score an even two dozen before we meander +back to camp for lunch. And I s'pose the other feller's 'll want to have a +try next time. Anyhow, you and me can be amusing ourselves opening these +mossbacks, and finding out what's inside." + +Half an hour later Max called a halt. As Steve had only twenty-three +mussels in his bag he did hate to give up the work the worst kind; but the +demands of his appetite made him willing to return to the camp. + +"They're heavy enough to tote along," Steve admitted when almost there. +"And, after all, you had no use for your gun, Max." + +"I'll slip over to the marsh this P. M., and see what luck I can have," +returned the other. + +"There's the camp, with Owen cooking dinner. But look at Bandy-legs, would +you, Max? He sure acts as if he'd run up against some hard nut to crack!" + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BANDY-LEGS WANTS TO KNOW. + +"Say, I wonder what next is going to disappear around this old camp?" +Bandy-legs was saying in a disgusted tone, as the two who had been over to +the river drew near. + +"Why, what do you miss now?" asked Max. + +"You remember that old cap we found last night?" the other went on. + +"Why of course I do," Max replied. "Do you mean to say you kept it?" + +"Well, I had an idea I'd give it back to the poor feller if ever we ran +across him," Bandy-legs continued, for he was really a warm-hearted boy, +as his chums well knew; "and when we came here to this new camp I remember +as plain as anything sticking that same old cap on the end of this bush +that grows to a point. Then just now I noticed it was gone." + +"That's as sure as the nose on your face, Bandy-legs," remarked Steve. + +"Now don't you go to making fun of my nose," the other retorted. "It's a +good, honest nose, if it is big. And it never yet made a habit of sticking +itself in other people's business. That's the way with all Griffin noses; +they mind their own affairs every time." + +Max knew there was danger of an argument, because Steve was likely to take +this as a challenge. Therefore, to promote peace, Max thrust himself +between the other two. + +"Have you asked Owen and Toby about it?" he inquired of Bandy-legs. + +"Sure I did, right away," came the answer. + +"And they denied touching it?" Max went on, determined to sift the matter +down, trifling though it might appear to be at first sight. + +"Both of 'em declared they'd never even been near this same old bush," the +other replied. + +"That looks queer," Steve broke in. + +"Owen did say he saw the old cap just where I stuck it," Bandy-legs +continued. + +"How long ago, Owen?" demanded Max. + +"Oh, I should say half an hour or so. I happened to look that way and got +quite a start, because at first I thought it was somebody watching us. Then +when I saw how Bandy-legs had fixed it on the bush I had to laugh." + +"Mebbe the wind carried it away," suggested Steve. + +"That's so; I never once thought of that," ejaculated the puzzled one, +eagerly clutching at a straw that promised to explain the mystery. + +"How about it, Max?" asked Steve. + +"Well, your idea sounds all right, Steve, but unfortunately it has one weak +place." + +"As what, now?" asked Bandy-legs. "Why, there hasn't been a breath of wind +all the morning," Max went on, with a chuckle. "I remember wishing it would +come up, for the sun was sure something fierce when we were wading about, +looking for clams." + +"You're right, Max," called out Owen, who could easily hear all that was +said, "no breeze ever carried that cap away, and I know it." + +"What did, then?" demanded Bandy-legs, bent on getting some sort of +solution to the puzzle. + +"This old country must be hoaxed or bewitched, I guess," grumbled Steve. +"Things just seem able to disappear without anybody taking 'em. First we +had to lose our bully little pearl that just took my eye; and now even a +ragged old cap has to walk off by itself." + +"Oh, not quite so bad as that, I think, Steve." Max laughed as he said +this. "When that cap went away it was through the agency of legs, according +to my notion." + +"Oh, I see now what Max means!" cried Bandy-legs; "he believes some gay old +mother squirrel just took a notion to line her nest with that ragged cap, +and made off with it." + +"Rats!" exclaimed Steve; "Max don't think anything of the kind. See him +examining the ground right now, will you? I reckon he thinks that same runt +of a boy came back after his cap, and got it, too, in the bargain." + +At that Max laughed aloud. + +"Good guess, Steve, old chap. That's just what happened, and if you look +where I point, all of you can see the same small footprint we found last +night where the old cap lay." + +"He's right, fellows, for here it is!" cried Steve. + +They all had to crowd around for a look, although Max warned them to be +careful, so that the impression of the boy's ragged shoe might not be +trodden upon. + +"Well, just to t-t-think what b-b-bright fellers we are," said Toby, in +apparent disgust; "when even a r-r-runt of a boy c'n steal up and s-s-spy +on us without a b-b-blessed one knowing it." + +"Huh!" grunted Bandy-legs, who seemed in a peculiar frame of mind for one +who was usually so good natured, "who's got a better right to that cap, I'd +like to know, than the boy that owns it. Put yourself in his place, Toby, +and tell me if you wouldn't just grab your own cap if you saw it? Course +you would--we all would, and I don't blame the kid a little bit." + +"Too bad he didn't like the looks of our crowd," Steve remarked. + +"What makes you think he didn't?" Owen asked, smiling. + +"Well, he acted like he was afraid of us," replied Steve. + +"T-t-tell you what, boys, I reckon it wasn't our looks, after all, that +s-s-scared him, though Bandy-legs does resemble a terrible p-p-pirate when +he wears that old zebra s-s-sweater of his." + +"Then what did?" demanded the one who had been thus picked out as a special +mark, while he ran a hand fondly up and down the sleeve of the +white-and-black striped garment, worn in spite of the heat of the day. + +"Our g-g-guns!" broke out Toby triumphantly. + +"That's a good guess, Toby," remarked Max. "Perhaps the boy believes we're +some sort of deputy sheriffs, and up here to give the man he's with +trouble. Anyhow, I have a pretty good idea myself that it was our guns that +made him so shy." + +"All right," remarked Steve, "the pitcher may go to the well once too +often. You mark my words, if he keeps on sniffing around our camp much +longer he'll get caught." + +"Sure he will," echoed Bandy-legs, grimly. "We want that pearl back, don't +we, boys?" + +"And we're going to have it, too," observed another of the group, in a +positive way. + +Max had that queer feeling pass over him again; for it was Steve who made +this half-angry remark. + +What could it mean? + +He had always believed Steve to be as honest as the day was long, his only +faults being a hasty temper, and a desire to do things without sufficient +preparation. + +But that the boy would deliberately _steal_, simply because he +happened to be fascinated by the beauty of the pearl, seemed beyond belief. + +No wonder, then, that the bewildered Max sighed, and rubbed his eyes with +his knuckles, as though hardly knowing whether he were awake or asleep. + +As nothing more could be done, the five boys adjourned to the camp, where +Owen quickly completed his preparations for lunch. They had decided to +have the heavy meal, called dinner, in the evening, so that the work of +the day might not be interfered with. + +When those who had been off hunting shellfish had returned, tired with +their labors, it would be nice to gather around, and take their time in +enjoying the bountiful meal that had been prepared by the cook appointed +for that day. + +Each of them expected to take a hand at this necessary job. In +anticipation of the opportunity to shine as a talented _chef_ +Bandy-legs had in secret been coaxing the hired girl at home to teach him +a lot of things. + +As his turn would come on the second day, he could hardly restrain his +impatience. He surely calculated that when his chums saw what wonderful +things _real talent_ could accomplish, they would easily vote him a +prize. + +But Bandy-legs had much to learn. + +His ambition was all right, but he would soon discover the vast difference +between cooking at a gas range or the family coal stove and trying to +accomplish the same result out in the wilds over an open wood fire. + +Then, again, he had stuffed his head so very full of different recipes that +the chances were poor Bandy-legs must get the formulas mixed, which would +result in some mighty queer messes to be tried upon his patient campmates. + +After the meal was finished those who were to do the grand wading act of +the afternoon got ready to go forth. + +They took the bags, and received minute directions from Max concerning the +best way for finding the mussels, half buried as they were in mud or sand. + +Max also made a rude map on paper, taking in the supposed course of the +winding river, as well as the country that came between. + +"Here you can see the trail I've marked as the shortest cut to camp," he +finished, pointing to a dotted line that seemed to be almost straight. +"It runs exactly southwest, you notice, boys." + +"But how are we going to always know what _is_ southwest?" asked +Bandy-legs, receiving the chart. + +At that Toby gave a snort of disdain. + +"W-w-what d'ye s'pose this is for, s-s-silly?" he demanded, dangling a +little nickel-plated object before the eyes of his companion. + +"That's right, we're going to have the bully little compass along with us," +declared the doubting one, looking considerably relieved; for truth to +tell, if Bandy-legs feared any one thing more than another, it was the +haunting idea of being lost in a great big wilderness, and meeting a slow +and dreadful death through starvation. + +"And even if we should l-l-lose this useful t-t-trinket," continued Toby, +exultantly, "I'd know how to t-t-tell which was north, all right." + +"Huh! why, of course, by the moss on the sides of the trees," observed +Bandy-legs. "Guess I heard Max tell that, all right. Never forget it, +either. But how the dickens is a feller to ever remember _which_ side +of the big trees this moss always grows on?" + +"Stop and think," said Max, who had an idea that some day this information +might be useful to his chum; "the hard storms of winter generally come out +of the northwest, don't they?" + +"Reckon you're right; though to tell the truth I'd never noticed it much," +Bandy-legs replied. + +"Well, you want to wake up and notice everything that happens," advised +Max, seriously. "It's the fellow who keeps awake, and sees and hears it +all, that gets on in this world, Bandy-legs. And you know it, too." + +"Sure. I know my weak points, Max; and the best thing about me is the fact +that I want to wake up and do better. But about that moss--does it always +grow exactly on the sides of the trees pointing toward the northwest?" + +"In the majority of cases," replied the other; "here and there it may vary +some, but anybody with half an eye can decide the right direction. Then in +the night you have the north star, which you know can always be found by +drawing an imaginary straight line along the two stars forming the end of +the bowl of the Dipper, generally called the Great Bear." + +"Oh! that's easy. But once I heard you say a common ordinary watch could +be made to serve as a compass; how about that, Max?" added Bandy-legs, +showing considerable interest in the subject. + +"So it can, but I'll explain that at another time. You fellows had better +be moving now," and Max turned his back on the other as the best way to +shut him off; for Bandy-legs was a great questioner. + +"So-long!" called out Toby, cheerfully, as he started to follow the trail +left by Max and Steve on their way from the river, half a mile away. + +"If we meet up with this mysterious shell gatherer, what ought we to do?" +asked the second boy, halting. + +"Act friendly, and pay attention to your own business, that's all. Nobody +will hurt you," Max called out, as he turned into the camp. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A GREAT FIND. + +"When do we begin, Max?" + +Steve asked this question a short time after the three left in the camp had +cleaned up the tin pans used in preparing and eating the warm meal, and +Owen had gone off to try and secure a mess of bass for supper. + +Steve had been usually fast in his share of the work, even for him. Max had +noticed this fact, and could give a good guess as to what was spurring the +other on to such exertions. + +"Begin what?" he asked, as if in dense ignorance. + +"Why, in opening our catch, you know," Steve replied, jerking his thumb to +where the little pile of mussels lay, close by the camp fire. + +Steve had himself emptied the two bags, upon their arrival in camp. +Evidently he did not mean to take any chances of having the precious +bivalves stolen by the prowling half-grown wild boy. And in order to +provide against such a catastrophe he had been very careful to deposit +their morning's "catch" in an open spot so destitute of shrubbery that no +one could approach within ten feet unseen. + +Max smiled. + +Truth to tell he was a little eager himself to set to work investigating +the insides of these shells. + +The remarkable luck attending their first attempt gave him more or less +hope that other prizes might crop up to reward their continued efforts. + +And the Outing Boys had outlined such a glorious programme for the long +vacation, if only they could raise the large amount of money needed to +carry out their ardent plans, that naturally Max was heart and soul +interested in the result. + +Besides, Max had a half-formed resolution that if luck favored them, so +that they found another pearl, he would set a trap that very evening. He +was burning with eager curiosity to discover whether Steve might repeat his +strange action of the preceding night. And in case this happened, Max was +grimly resolved to settle the matter once and for all by clutching hold of +the other while in the act. + +"Oh! you're wondering whether we're going to find anything in that lot; is +that it!" Max remarked, as he picked up an old oyster knife he had carried +along for the purpose of prying open the mussels, no easy task for +greenhorns at the business, as the boys' cut fingers already testified. + +"You just bet I am," returned Steve, possessing himself of the heavy +kitchen knife. "Come along and let's see if we had our wading and toting +the find all the way to camp for nothing." + +"Just as you say," Max continued. + +"What d'ye take that kettle for!" asked Steve. + +"To hold the mussels as we get 'em out. Let the meat and juice drop in +here. Then we'll examine the whole thing several times for results. And +don't forget, both Toby and Bandy-legs made us promise to have a mess of +these same fresh-water clams cooked for supper." + +So, taking the vessel and the much-used oyster knife, Max squatted on the +ground tailor fashion alongside the pile of shellfish. + +Both of them set to work, Max calmly, as was his wont, but Steve showing +the greatest nervousness. + +Finding that his method of trying to open the stubborn bivalves was +awkward, as they could not be handled like oysters, Max took a second +knife. Placing 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. When the stubborn mussel finally yielded to this treatment Max was +able to turn back one shell, and then scrape out the entire contents of the +other. + +A dozen had been opened presently, and so far as they could see, there was +not a sign of a pearl, large or small. + +Steve's disappointment made itself manifest in the look that gradually +crept over his face. + +"Guess we've drawn a blank this time, Max," he remarked, when the +seventeenth bivalve failed to yield up any gleaming little milk-white +prize. + +"Oh! that isn't a dead sure thing," replied the other, never ready to yield +his hopeful spirit, "this is a lottery, you know. The pearls are to be +found. We know that, Steve, by our first success. If not in this lot, +perhaps in what our chums bring later. There are other days to follow; and +we're bound to put in a week trying our luck." + +That was the sort of talk to buoy up Steve's spirits. He was always an +impulsive chap, and had often been called "Touch-and-Go Steve," because of +his quick temper. It had many times carried him into serious trouble, +though, as is usually the case with these impetuous fellows, Steve always +quickly repented of his wrath, and was apt to apologize. + +"Here goes for the eighteenth," he remarked, picking up another mussel, and +setting to work industriously. + +"This is a scrawny looking one, and I just reckon it'll be time wasted," +he added. + +"You never can tell," laughed Max, himself busily engaged. + +"That's so," Steve went on; "because they do say these precious little +pearls are manufactured by the oyster or mussel to cover up some gritty +object that has managed to work into the shell, and which they just can't +eject." + +"Yes, that's the accepted theory," Max asserted. + +"When I read that, I remember figuring out how a smart genius might make a +few millions," remarked Steve. + +"You mean by introducing the same kind of grit in some hundreds of +shellfish, and making the things work up a lot of fine pearls, eh, Steve?" + +"That's what. Don't you think it could be done, Max?" + +"Well, I've heard it's been tried, but since the price of pearls has +advanced all the while, I guess the success of the experiment wasn't so +much," the other went on to say, as he bent his head down quickly to +scrutinize the contents of his opened shell. + +"Oh!" gasped Steve, catching his breath. + +"What's the matter?" asked Max, his own voice as steady and calm as ever. + +"Looky here, will you, Max--ain't that a beaut, though?" + +The excited Steve managed to pluck some small object out of the opened +shell he held, though his fingers trembled like the quivering leaves of an +aspen. + +When he placed this in the palm of his hand it was seen to be a lovely +little milk-white pearl, nearly half the size of a buckshot. + +"That looks good to me," remarked Max. "Just as fine as the one we lost, +eh, Steve?" + +"You bet it is; and we'll make sure no thief lays hands on this beauty, +Max," replied the delighted finder of the new treasure. + +"Now, suppose, just for luck, I took a notion to go you one better," +chuckled Max. + +"Hey! what d'ye mean?" exclaimed his chum. "Have you been shaking hands +with Good Luck as well as me? Open up, and show what you've got." "Shut +your eyes, and count five," laughed Max; "now look, and see what I found." + +"My goodness gracious; why, it's half again as big as my find; a regular +jim-dandy pearl, Max," cried Steve, trembling all over with, eager delight, +as his enraptured eyes fell upon the object Max exposed. + +"Yes, much larger, I admit," the other went on to say with due +deliberation; "but not quite so perfect in form. Your pearl might prove to +be the more valuable one when it came to selling them." + +"Oh! just to think of it, Max, we've got two already," Steve remarked as he +took both the prizes in his hand, and surveyed them with that wistful look +in his eyes; for, as he had more than once admitted, pearls always had a +peculiar fascination for him. + +Max was watching his companion's face closely, trying to read the emotions +that chased each other across Steve's features. + +"Yes, and the chance is still open," he said, slowly. + +"Meaning that we may find a lot more; is that it, Max?" Steve demanded. + +"Who can say? It's a lottery all around. The next mussel might give us +another prize. Then, again, perhaps we'll clean out the stream and never +get any reward." + +Max had a way of looking things squarely in the face. He seldom allowed +his enthusiasm to get the better of his calm, deliberate judgment. And +consequently he did not suffer the grievous disappointment that came so +frequently to excitable Steve. + +"Anyway, we ought to get quite a bunch of money for these two dandy +gems," Steve remarked. + +"I wouldn't be surprised at all," Max assented. + +"What d'ye think they're worth, Max?" + +"Well, now, that's where you get me. I'm as green as the next one when it +comes to putting a value on pearls. Only an expert can tell that," the +other quickly replied. + +"Shucks! but you can give a guess, can't you?" persisted Steve, not to be +wholly disappointed. + +"It would have to be a wide one, then, Steve." + +"All right; let's have it!" observed the other. + +"Well, I don't doubt but what we'll be able to sell each of these pearls +for a hundred apiece," Max asserted. + +"Dollars, you mean, Max?" + +"Sure thing. And perhaps they may bring us five or ten times as much. I'll +have my father take them to the city, and consult an expert," Max went on. + +"Wow! that's going some, now, I tell you!" cried the other, with delight +pictured on his glowing face. + +"Two hundred sure, first pop, and mebbe a thousand! Say, Max, it begins to +look like our wildest dreams might come true, and we'll be able to carry +out all those bully old plans we made." + +"Yes," said Max, deliberately, "if we can only guard our new find better +than we did the other." + +"We must make sure to have one chum doing sentry duty all the time," +remarked Steve, solemnly. "That's only good sound sense, I take it, Max." + +"Guess you're right about that, my boy," asserted the other, with a +peculiar little smile that, however, Steve failed to notice. "And, now, +suppose we finish up the lot we've still got to open." "Right you are," +declared Steve. + +"But, first, please let me have those pearls. I'd hate to have them lost +in this grass here. And I believe I can keep them safe in this red +handkerchief of mine till we find a chance to stow 'em away in the +haversack, after the boys examine our find." + +"In the haversack!" echoed Steve. "Why, that's where we had the one that +disappeared, box and all." + +"Sure thing," Max asserted. + +"But think of the risk--" Steve began. + +"Oh, we've got to hide 'em _somewhere_, you know," laughed Max; "and +they say lightning never strikes in the same place twice. Besides, you +forget that we expect to post a sentry, so that your eyes, or mine, or +those of Owen, Toby or Bandy-legs, will be on the bag all through the +night. I'll take the pearls now, please." + +Steve somehow seemed a little loth about letting the lovely little gems +pass out of his possession. + +As he handed them over, his chum plainly heard him give a sigh; and he +caught him repeating the words: + +"In the haversack, and we've got to look out." + +Then both of the boys set to work. + +The remaining shellfish were soon opened, and although the young pearl +seekers searched eagerly, with hope tugging at their hearts, no new prize +rewarded their efforts. + +"The queerest thing of all," remarked Steve, after he had mastered his +disappointment, "was in our finding the pair of beauties at the same time." + +"Yes, and I believe my mussel was as thin and scrawny looking a fellow as +the one you complained of," laughed Max. + +"Forget that, please," remarked his chum, with a grimace. "And just to +think, I came near throwing that consumptive looking one away as worthless. +It's taught me a lesson, sure, Max." + +"Yes, and one you'll never forget, eh, Steve?" + +"I never will," declared the other, vehemently. "Whenever I think of this +lucky strike I'm going to understand that you never can judge things, +people also, by outside looks." + +"Sometimes the finest gems come in the meanest of coverings, you mean, eh, +Steve?" + +"Right-o. And now what'll we do?" asked the other. + +"Carry the shells away, because in a few days we'd object to the rank odor +so near our tent. Listen, Steve. Make a heap of the things, under some +tree you can remember well. We can call that our shell pile, you know." + +"See here, you've got a meaning back of all that, you know it," +complained Steve. + +Max laughed aloud. + +"How smart we're getting, old chap," he remarked. "But between us I don't +mind saying that I'm curious to see what will happen." + +"That is, you mean to give _some one_ a good chance to get away with +all these mussel shells, if so be they feel inclined, eh, Max." + +Max nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"Meaning this man and boy who seem to be hiding out up here, just like +they were afraid to be seen, and employing their time in raking in all the +scattered shells left by the muskrats and 'coons--how about that, Max?" +Steve continued, as he gathered the opened shells in an extra bag, +preparatory to removing them. + +"You hit the nail on the head when you say that, Steve. They seem to know +the mother-of-pearl inside lining of the shells will bring in some money. +And I reckon they're piling the shells up in some cave or secret place, +meaning to get them down the river in a dugout canoe sooner or later." + +"Well, they're welcome to all the shells we gather," remarked Steve, with a +shake of the head; "but they'd better not try to steal any more of our +pearls, that's what"; and so saying he marched off with his load, leaving +Max more sadly puzzled than ever. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MAX WONDERS STILL MORE. + +The afternoon wore on. + +Steve kept busy doing things until Owen turned up with a mess of perch, the +bass declining to take his worm bait. + +Then the story of the find had to be gone over again, and the prizes +exhibited. Owen was just as much pleased as the others, and declared that +it began to look as though the best of their dreams had a chance of coming +true. + +"I think I saw that boy, come to mention it," Owen remarked, after they had +talked over the splendid good luck that had fallen to their lot, until the +subject was pretty well exhausted. + +"How did that happen?" asked Max. + +"Did you get a chance to talk with him, and ask him why he grabbed our +pearl?" demanded Steve. + +"Oh! not much," chuckled Owen. "Fact is, he seemed pretty much like a +scared rabbit. First thing I knew he was staring at me over a bunch of +brush. Then he turned and scooted off like fun." + +"But you called out to him, didn't you?" asked Steve. + +"Of course, but it only seemed to make him fly the faster. Say, he's a +sprinter, all right. That fellow could get down to second base before the +ball seven times out of seven, I don't care who the catcher was," Owen went +on to say, positively. + +"Then you couldn't catch him?" asked Max, in a disappointed tone. + +"Huh! guess I didn't even start, after I saw what he could put up in the +running line. Besides," Owen went on to say, "you must remember that I was +tired, and carrying my fishing rod, as well as a bully old string of perch, +which I calculated to clean for supper. Then, I hadn't lost any boy, you +see. So I just hollered after him, and tried to let the silly goose know we +didn't mean to hurt him." + +"But it was no go?" remarked Steve. + +"Oh! he turned to look back a few times, but all the same he disappeared +from sight. Perhaps next time he won't be quite so frightened," Owen +observed. + +"There may be some reason for it we don't know about," suggested Max. + +"You mean that they don't want people to know about their collecting these +shells, for fear that their little business might be broken up?" Steve +asked. + +"That's one reason why they'd try to hide things," Max admitted, "but +there might be another. I spoke of it before, you may remember, boys?" + +"Sure you did, Max," declared Steve, quickly; "and mebbe you hit the +bullseye when you said this man might be hiding out up here--that p'r'aps +he'd gone and done something to break the law; and when he saw our guns he +expected we might be sent by the sheriff to arrest him." + +"I still stick to that idea," Max declared; "but we may know the truth +sooner or later. One thing we must do if ever we get the chance, and that +is let these shell gatherers know we don't mean to harm 'em even a little +bit." + +"But they've just got to let our pearls be, or else they're going to get +into trouble, that's what," remarked the pugnacious Steve, with a +determined shake of his head and a gritting of his teeth. + +Max saw and heard, and was more deeply bewildered than ever. He could not +for the life of him understand such contrary actions on the part of Steve. + +Max could positively declare that he had seen Steve taking something from +the haversack on the preceding night, when their first prize pearl +vanished so mysteriously; and yet here he was apparently aroused over their +loss, and denouncing the thief with greater vim than any of the rest. + +"But I'm bound to find out what it all means," Max consoled himself by +saying over and over. "If it takes all summer I'll fight it out on this +line, like Grant did in the Battles of the Wilderness. Steve acts like he +was innocent; but I guess I've got a pair of good eyes, and it was +_him_ I saw fumbling at the haversack, all right." + +It had been the intention of Max to try and find a few woodcock in the wet +ground of the marsh. + +Other things coming up caused him to put this project off until another +day. It was really no time for hunting, with a hot sun beaming down. +Perhaps later on he might find plenty of chances to indulge in his favorite +sport. + +Owen had cleaned his catch, and supper was being started when voices were +heard approaching. + +"Here comes Toby and Bandy-legs," sang out Steve, who had at the first +sound made as if to reach for the guns that rested against the tree close +to the opening of the tent. + +"Well," remarked Owen, looking up, "it's good to know they didn't go and +get lost, anyhow. Perhaps that compass kept 'em from straying out of the +trail you said you made, Max?" + +"Huh! we made it so plain," remarked Steve, "that a baby ought to be able +to follow our tracks. But then Toby and Bandy-legs always seem to tumble +into trouble if there's just half a chance to get mixed up. Say, they've +got the bags pretty well filled up with mussels, anyhow." + +"You bet we have," panted Bandy-legs, as he set his burden down. + +"G-g-great s-s-sport," remarked Toby, following. + +"Glad you like it," laughed Max, "because we expect to do a heap of wading +while we're up here." + +"D-d-did you open the others?" + +"We sure did," chuckled Steve. + +"F-f-find anything in 'em?" + +"Did we? Say, show up, Max; give these poor tired fellows a peek, that'll +make 'em forget all their troubles," and Steve grinned happily as he +watched the other deliberately take out his bandana, unroll its folds, and +then disclose to the wondering eyes of Toby and Bandy-legs the two lovely +white pearls that snuggled against the red background. + +"Whoop!" gurgled Bandy-legs, excitedly, his eyes round with wonder and +delight. + +Toby on his part became so excited that for the time being he could not say +a word. His breath came in gasps, and his lips moved vainly as he tried to +express his feelings. Finally, after Steve had pounded him on the back a +few times, poor Toby managed to pucker up his lips and emit the customary +sharp whistle which seemed to act like magic upon his overwrought feelings, +just as the safety brake does with a runaway car. + +Then he drew in a long breath, and enunciated, as plainly and clearly as +Max himself could have done, the one significant word: + +"Bully!" + +"Gee whiz! I guess I'll get busy right away," remarked Bandy-legs, eagerly. + +"No need," spoke up Owen. "Your turn will come to-morrow. I'm serving as +cook this afternoon. Don't you smell fish frying? I've been over to the +river myself and hooked a bunch of nice perch." + +"F-f-fine. G-g-good for you, Owen," said Toby, slapping the other on the +back. + +"Oh, shucks! I didn't have any idea of wanting to knock you out of a job, +old fellow. Where's that oyster knife, Max?" asked the returned pearl +hunter. + +"Say, he wants to begin opening his catch right away," remarked Steve. +"And I'll have to show him how we did it, Max." + +This he proceeded to do with alacrity, and the three were soon busily +engaged. Bandy-legs proved more or less clumsy, and not only cut himself +several times on the sharp edges of the shells, but banged his fingers +with the heavy stick with which he pounded. + +But one way or another by degrees every one of the mussels were opened. + +Disappointment followed, for while three pearls were discovered two were +so small as to give but little promise of returns; while the third proved +to be irregular in shape. + +"Never mind," said Max, when he learned the result of the hunt. "Better +luck to-morrow. We've fared splendidly already. And we know our scheme +is going to be a success. Cheer up. There's Owen calling us to supper. +And we can eat our catch as long as it tastes good to us. Draw around, +fellows, and sample our new cook's stuff." + +The five boys were soon engaged in satisfying the cravings of hunger. And +through the nearby woods crept the appetizing odors of coffee and fried +fish that must have been very tantalizing to any prowler less fortunate +than themselves. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AT DEAD OF NIGHT. + +So the night found them. + +Toby and Bandy-legs had managed to recover from their keen disappointment +over the poor result of their afternoon's work. + +"Reckon we must have struck a bad place," the latter remarked, as they all +lounged around the cheery fire after supper had been finished. + +"That's a f-f-fact," commented Toby, nodding his head in a wise fashion; +"I've read that these p-p-pearls happen in a q-q-queer way. F-f-find 'em +all in a h-h-heap, and then nothin' doin' for w-w-weeks." + +"Then our chums must have struck the jolliest place on the whole river," +Bandy-legs observed. + +"H-h-hope they m-m-marked it, then," Toby went on. + +"How about it, Max, Steve?" demanded the other pearl hunter of the +afternoon. + +"Sure we did," grunted Steve, who somehow seemed strangely quiet for him, a +fact that gave Max considerable uneasiness, knowing what he did. + +"And I remember telling you where we did most of our tramping in the +water," he observed. + +Toby grinned rather foolishly. + +"G-g-guess that's so," he admitted. + +"Yes," spoke up Bandy-legs, "but you see we expected that you'd cleaned out +that place pretty well; and as we wanted to pick up a good load we went +higher up." + +"That's where you made the mistake, then," remarked Owen. "Perhaps Max and +Steve located something like a pocket. If I take a turn in the morning I +believe I'll go over all the ground they did and pick up a few shells." + +"I'll go along to show you if you say so," Steve suggested. + +"How about it, Max?" inquired Owen. + +"Call it settled at that," came the ready response. + +They talked and compared notes, and laid plans for the glorious future, as +the cheery fire crackled and the hour grew later. + +Max had shaped the little scheme he had in mind. + +The pearls were supposed to be safely lodged in a tiny packet which he had +placed in the haversack in the presence of all the others. + +This, however, was all a delusion and a snare, for in pursuance of his +plans Max had secretly managed to quietly slip the two really valuable +gems into his pocket, where he afterwards made them secure. + +All this was done with a definite object in view, for he more than half +expected that before another dawn came the haversack would be visited +again. + +By degrees the boys fell away, since Max had plainly announced that he +would take the first watch. + +No one seemed disposed to dispute the honor with him, because they were all +very sleepy. + +First Toby crawled under the tent, and by his heavy breathing they knew he +was dead to the world. + +Next Steve followed suit, and then Bandy-legs. + +"Wake me early, mother dear, because to-morrow will be the first of May," +the latter sang out, as he vanished. + +This left only Max and Owen. + +Now, the weight of his secret was weighing so heavily upon Max that he had +made up his mind to take Owen into his confidence should a good chance +arise. + +It seemed to be on hand. + +Accordingly, after binding his cousin to secrecy, Max began to relate the +strange thing he had seen on the preceding night. + +Of course Owen was properly shocked. + +He, too, had the utmost confidence in Steve Dowdy, and found great +difficulty in believing that the other could ever descend to such a low +state as making a thief out of himself. + +"The plaguy pearls must have fairly turned his head, Max," he declared, +with almost savage earnestness. + +"Just what I was beginning to believe," the other admitted, with a shake +of his head. + +"But what can we do about it, Max?" + +"I'm going to watch," replied the other. + +"To-night, you mean?" + +"Yes. The fever is still in Steve's veins. He doesn't seem to act like +himself. And, Owen, d'ye know, I've read somewhere that some people are +strangely affected by certain kinds of gems. They seem bewitched when +looking at or handling the same." + +"That's it, Max. Pearls must have some sort of terrible fascination for +poor Steve." + +"He admitted as much himself, and you all heard him say so," declared Max. + +"All right. Count me in," Owen went on. + +"What d'ye mean by saying that, cousin?" asked Max. + +"Only that you won't have to watch alone, Max." + +"Just as you say, my boy. Glad to have your company. But we'd better be +making preparations to keep our eyes on that bag," Max went on. + +"Why, I can see it from here, so long as the fire keeps blazing," Owen +asserted. + +"I purposely hung it in that place, and drew back the tent flap so I could +keep an eye on the bag all the time. So Owen, let's settle down here, and +make ourselves as comfy as we can." + +"All we have to do is to drop a little wood on the fire once in a while, +eh, Max?" + +"That's right; and while we watch we can talk in whispers if we feel like +it, Owen." + +"Still, it would be better to keep quiet, I suppose," suggested the cousin +of Max. + +"Of course. He might hear us, and lie low," replied the one who was +engineering things. + +"But you've fixed it so that while we lie here on our blankets, no one +would be apt to notice us from the tent. You had a purpose in doing that, +I expect?" questioned Owen. + +"I thought he might take a look around first to see where I was; and not +discovering me in sight would believe I had gone to sleep on my post," +Max went on. + +"This is a nightmare of a time," grumbled Owen. + +"That's right," echoed the other, promptly. "Seems to me I must be +dreaming when I find myself suspecting Steve of such a nasty thing. But +wait up and see, Owen. If nothing happens I'll be surprised, likewise +mighty well pleased." + +They accordingly lapsed into silence. + +Minutes glided by. To both the boys they seemed to be shod with lead, +so slowly did the time pass. + +When the fire burned low, as it did on several occasions, Max would crawl +out, manage to toss an armful of wood upon the red embers, and immediately +seek his hiding place again. + +One, two hours had gone, and so far nothing out of the common had come to +pass. + +Owen found himself getting somewhat sleepy, and in various ways he fought +against the drowsy sensation. + +"That's an owl, I reckon, ain't it, Max?" he whispered when certain queer +sounds floated to their ears out of the depths of the forest. + +"Of course," replied the other, in the same cautious tone, which could not +have been heard ten feet away. + +"And those are tree frogs croaking close by?" continued Owen, who knew all +about these things from reading; while his cousin did the same through +practical experience. + +"They're calling for more rain!" chuckled Max; "but I hope the old fellow +up above, who turns on the sprinkler when he takes a notion, don't pay any +attention, because rain in camp is generally a nasty time." + +Once more the two boys lapsed into silence. + +Perhaps another half hour had passed when Owen, whose eyes were getting +very heavy, so that he found himself nodding, felt something touch his arm. + +He started violently, possibly under the impression that some snake or wild +animal from the woods had reached them unawares. + +"H-s-sh!" + +Why, to be sure, it was Max who hissed this warning in his ear. And, of +course, it must be his cousin's hand that was laid on his own arm. + +"Look!" + +The one word proved sufficient to make Owen remember what they were lying +there for. Accordingly he craned his neck so as to see the interior of the +tent. + +The fire was burning fairly well, and as Max had fastened the canvas flaps +unusually far back, in order to admit plenty of air, as he had said at the +time, it was easy to see. + +Owen felt another thrill, immediately succeeded by a chilly sensation. + +There was a movement within the tent, as if some person might be advancing +toward the spot where the haversack hung in plain sight. + +The firelight fell plainly upon a face, and Owen had no difficulty in +recognizing--Steve! + +Almost holding their breath the two boys watched to see what their strange +chum did. + +They saw him deliberately open the haversack and plunge his hand inside. + +"Oh! look! he's got the little package, Max," whispered the horrified Owen. + +Max pinched his arm. + +"Keep still," he made out to say in the other's ear. + +He feared that Owen's disturbed voice might have reached the ears of the +prowler; but there was no sign to indicate such a thing. + +Indeed, Steve went about his task with a deliberation that puzzled both the +watchers. + +"There! he's gone back to his blanket again," muttered Owen, unable longer +to keep still; "and Max, did you see where he put that little packet which +he believes holds all our prizes!" + +"Yes," replied the other, "inside that old extra coffee pot we fetched +along to use in case anything happened to the one we have on the fire three +times a day." + +"That's the funniest thing I ever heard of, sure," continued Owen. "He's +crazy, that's what. Who'd ever think of looking in that bum old coffee pot +for anything worth while, tell me that, will you?" + +"I can't. I'm all up in the air myself," admitted Max. + +"Still, we saw him do it, didn't we! It wasn't a dope dream, was it, Max!" + +"I'm going to prove it pretty soon, Owen." + +"As how?" demanded the other. + +"By getting that old coffee pot out here, and looking it over, that's how," +replied the other. + +"Bully idea!" exclaimed Owen, quickly. "Say, looky here, perhaps now you +really expect to find our other lost pearl in there?" + +"Wouldn't surprise me one little bit," chuckled Max. + +"Oh! can't you sneak in now and crib the coffee pot?" begged Owen. + +"Give him ten minutes to settle down," came the reply. + +At the end of what seemed the longest ten minutes he had ever known, Owen +saw his agile cousin begin to move toward the opening of the tent. + +On the way Max picked up a long, stout stick that had a slight turn at the +end. "He's going to fish for the coffee pot," whispered Owen, in more or +less delight; for he did so enjoy seeing Max undertake anything that +required brains. + +The fishing met with speedy reward, for once the crook at the end of the +pole had been inserted into the handle of the coffee pot, and the rest was +easy. + +So Max came back to where he had left his comrade, bearing in his hands the +old cooking utensil that thus far had not been needed, and might, if the +other only held out, only prove a form of insurance against possible +disaster. + +Deliberately Max opened the coffee pot and thrust his hand inside. + +"Here's a package," he said, drawing something out. + +"No need to open that," observed Owen, quickly; "because we know it only +holds the three poor pearls found in the catch brought in by the last +squad. Feel deeper, Max. Strike anything?" + +For reply the other drew his hand out, nor did it come into view empty. + +"The little cardboard box you put the first prize in," gasped Owen. +"Please hurry and open it up, Max." + +His chum was no less eager to see what the contents of the box would prove +to be. + +No sooner had he removed the lid than the enraptured eyes of the two boys +fell upon the lost pearl! Yes, there it rested on its pink cotton bed, +looking even more beautiful in Owen's eyes than either of the two later +prizes. + +After staring at it for some time the boys allowed their eyes to exchange +a look. Max was pale and distressed, while his cousin, on the other hand, +seemed to be excited, as though indignation and even anger had surged up +within him. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE NEW COOK SPRINGS HIS SURPRISE. + +"Well, what d'ye think of that, eh?" Owen exclaimed. + +"It's hard to believe," replied the other. + +"But all the same, we saw him with our own eyes, Max," declared the other. + +"Yes, that's so," answered Max, reluctantly. + +"He took the first pearl; and meant to hide the other pair of beauties!" +Owen went on. + +"Looks like it," Max admitted. + +"Then that ends it. Steve Dowdy can't train in our camp, or go along the +same trail as we do, after this," and Owen shook his head in a very +determined way as he made this assertion. + +"Oh! hold your horses a little while, can't you, Owen?" + +"What! do you mean to give him another trial--is that it, Max?" + +"Just one more, if we're lucky enough to find a prize," replied the other. +"Perhaps after all we'll have to use this jolly little milk-white chap over +again." + +"Huh! I hope not," grumbled Owen. "Say, you mean to put it with the others +in your pocketbook, don't you, and let the little box go empty?" + +"Of course. But try and forget all about this for a while, Owen. Give me +another day to figure it out, please." + +"Say, I bet you've got an idea right now, Max; you're always so quick to +see through things." + +"If I have I must think it over," replied the other. + +"Well, let me say this just once, and then I'll ring off for good," Owen +went on. "If he tries this same measly old game to-morrow night, you just +ought to jump on Steve, and demand to know what he means by treating his +chums in this way." + +Max laughed a little. + +"Maybe I will, Owen," he remarked. "The idea struck me before you mentioned +it. Just wait and see how things are going to turn out." + +"But you'll bait the trap again, Max, so Steve'll know, or believe the game +is worth the candle?" + +"Well, I guess yes," replied the other. + +"How about telling Toby or Bandy-legs?" asked Owen. + +"Better not," came the quick reply. "Neither of them are worth shucks about +keeping a secret, and chances are they'd give it away." + +"Just as you say, Max. I depend on you to run this game down. But it makes +me feel awful sore. I never would have believed it of good old Steve." + +"Well, just hold your judgment in the air for a little while longer, Owen," +Max said, calmly. + +His cousin looked hard at him. Then he shook his head as if completely +puzzled. + +"Gee! but you do beat the Dutch, Max," he muttered. "I honestly reckon +you're hoping to make me doubt what my own eyes saw. But, anyhow, I'm game +to stand it out to the end." + +"Well, let's crawl in now with our blankets," suggested Max. + +"What! don't we keep watch any more, or wake up one of the others to take +our place?" Owen demanded. + +"Stop and think; what's the use?" chuckled Max. + +"Glory! that's so. The performance is over for this night, anyhow. Guess +you're about right, Max; and I do sure feel mighty sleepy." + +So both boys managed to find the places reserved for them under the canvas, +and slipped in without disturbing their comrades. + +Steve was rolled up in his blanket very much after the manner of a mummy. +Max cast a sharp look that way, and even bent over Steve as he arranged +himself in his rather cramped quarters. + +"Seems to be sleeping as sound as a bug in a rug," was his mental comment, +as he caught the even and natural breathing of the suspected chum. + +The balance of the night passed away without any further alarm. + +When morning came Toby and Bandy-legs took Max to task because he had not +called on them to serve as sentinels over the camp. + +"Owen and I looked to that all right," Max laughed back. + +"Then you are sure nobody made a sneak on us and got away with the second +batch of prizes?" + +It was Bandy-legs who put this question. Both Toby and Steve seemed +intensely interested in the answer. + +"Sure, why, of course, we are," replied Max, confidently. "Nobody who +didn't belong here had a chance to poke his nose into our tent last +night." + +Toby and Bandy-legs declared themselves satisfied with this assurance. As +for Steve, though he made no remark on the subject, his face seemed to +indicate contentment. + +"Is it because he thinks he wasn't seen?" Max kept asking himself, +uneasily; but found no answer. + +The plans for the morning were soon arranged. + +Steve was to pilot Owen to the river over the trail he and Max had made. +And at the last moment Toby begged for a chance to accompany the +expedition. + +"I w-w-want to show that I w-w-wasn't the Jonah yesterday," he remarked, +after Max had said he could be spared. + +"Oh! rats!" spluttered Bandy-legs, whose turn it was to attempt the +cooking; but Max thought he did not seem quite as cheerful as ordinarily. + +Max himself really meant to have a try in the marsh for woodcock, as they +were known to frequent the low ground when feeding. + +So the three boys went off, each with his empty bag, which he hoped to +bring back partly filled with mussels, some of which might develop prizes +when finally opened up. + +Bandy-legs pottered around the fire for a while, but Max could see how +unnaturally he acted. + +"That boy's got something on his mind, it is dollars to doughnuts," he +kept saying to himself, as he watched the nervous movements of the new +cook. + +This uncertainty caused him to postpone his departure in search of the +only game available at that time of year. He thought he would hasten +developments, and bring Bandy-legs to the point. + +"Something bothering you a bit, old fellow?" he remarked, presently. + +The other looked around uneasily. + +"Sure they won't come back on us yet a while, eh, Max?" he asked, eagerly. + +"No danger of that," assured Max. "You can say what you want, and nobody +will hear you." + +"Oh! Max, it's dreadful," began Bandy-legs. + +"What is?" asked the other, though a sudden suspicion of the truth flashed +through his mind. + +"About Steve. How could he be so mean?" Bandy-legs went on. + +"Hello! what do you know about it?" demanded Max. + +"_I saw him!_" answered the cook, shaking his head in a dolorous +fashion. "Say, I've been thinking it over all the time. I was awake when +you and Owen came in. And somehow, Max, I just feel awful about it. He must +be half crazy to do such a thing." + +"Perhaps he is," admitted Max, cautiously. "But look here, do you mean you +were awake last night, and saw what Steve did? Is that it, Bandy-legs?" + +"Yes. And, Max, he put the pearls in our old coffee pot, would you believe +it?" the other went on, excitedly. + +Max took out the stout little pocketbook which was intended for silver. As +he opened this he remarked: + +"Hold your hand, Bandy-legs." + +"Good gracious! two, three beautiful pearls! Say, are they ours, the first +one as well as the other two? And how did you get hold of them, Max?" cried +the other when he could catch his breath. + +So, of course, Max had to tell him the whole story. + +"And we must keep mum about it till you play your hand; is that it?" asked +the wondering and awestruck Bandy-legs, at the conclusion of the recital. + +"Try and forget all about it, and act just the same as usual toward Steve," +said Max. + +The other agreed to do his best. + +"But, Max," he added, "I'm awful sore over it. Steve Dowdy was never known +as having light fingers all the time I went to school with him. Fact is, +only that I saw him do it with my own eyes, nothing could make me believe +Steve a thief. Oh! it's just rank!" + +Max sauntered off, gun in hand, while the cook busied himself about the +fire. Bandy-legs had brought his wonderful cookbook along. This contained +dozens of recipes given him by the black "mammy" at home. These Bandy-legs +had written out after his own idea as to what should be used. But, perhaps, +he may have misunderstood the directions in some cases; and the most +astonishing results were apt to follow his attempt to surprise his +campmates with some new dish calculated to tickle their healthy appetites. + +He heard Max fire frequently. + +"Run across game, all right," chuckled Bandy-legs as he worked on +industriously. + +Eating in all its phases appealed to Bandy-legs; and the very thought of +game for supper tickled his fancy. + +When Max did show up later on he was carrying a very nice little bundle of +the long-billed woodcock with their attractive breasts. + +"How many?" demanded Bandy-legs, turning away from the fire where he had +something boiling furiously. + +"Count and see," laughed Max, placing his shotgun against a tree, and +sitting down to rest. + +"Just five," remarked Bandy-legs, presently; "say, that was mighty kind of +you not to skip me, Max. One apiece all around, eh? Wow! I hope now my book +tells just how woodcock are to be done, for blessed if I know a thing about +it. To tell the honest truth, I don't recollect ever having seen the +gamy-looking bird before." + +"We'll manage that part of the programme all right, never fear, Bandy-legs. +Pretty near time for the boys to be showing up, ain't it? Hey! something's +boiling over and trying to put out the fire." + +With a whoop Bandy-legs made a wild dash for his station, and apparently +managed to "save his bacon," as Max called out, laughingly. + +Presently the sound of voices told that the rest of the camping party had +arrived. + +Each of them seemed to be carrying something of a load on his back. + +The catch was heaped in a pile, and Bandy-legs left his fire long enough to +admire the product of the morning "wading act." + +"Get ready for dinner, you fellows," he remarked, with a trace of anxiety +in his voice. + +The rude table was set with the usual tin cups, pie pans for plates, +knives, forks, and spoons. In addition there was a pile of bread, some +cheese and crackers, part of a boiled ham, a mess of cold rice left over +from the previous day, and a dish of hot Boston baked beans. + +"Bring on the coffee," sang out Steve, sitting down. + +"S-s-say, what you got in the p-p-pot?" demanded Toby, suspiciously. + +"A surprise," grinned Bandy-legs. + +He filled four bowls with something from the pot and set them before his +chums. It had a queer odor, and the boys sniffed at it first, looking +toward each other. + +Toby was the first one bold enough to put a spoonful into his mouth. + +"Yum-yum!" he seemed to gurgle, and the others took this as an indication +of approval, for immediately the three followed the example set by the +"taster." + +At once shouts and laughter went up, as every boy, even including the +artful Toby, made haste to get rid of his mouthful as fast as possible. + +"Ugh! what a horrible mess!" cried Owen. + +"What did you fool us for, Toby?" demanded Steve. + +"Huh! t-t-think I w-w-wanted all the t-t-taste to m-m-myself?" demanded +Toby. + +"But whatever did you put in this stew to make it taste so funny?" +demanded Max. + +"H-h-hope he didn't p-p-poison us?" broke out Toby. + +"Why, I only put some salt in it," explained the cook, greatly broken up +over his first attempt at "surprising" his chums. + +"What did you take that salt out of?" asked Owen. + +"This little glass jar here; but what're you grinning at? Ain't it salt at +all?" demanded Bandy-legs. + +"Taste it and see," Owen fired back. + +The cook did so, and made a wry face. + +"Baking soda!" he gasped; "and I spoiled my stew." + +"And burnt it in the bargain," laughed Max, remembering the boiling-over +episode; "but there's plenty to eat besides. So pitch in, boys, and after +we get through we'll see what sort of luck you had this morning." + + + +CHAPTER XII + +DANGER AHEAD ON THE TRAIL. + +"Look at Steve!" + +It was Owen who muttered these three words in the ear of his cousin. + +"Yes, I've been keeping an eye on him," replied the other, uneasily. + +It was to be expected that those who had gone off on the morning hunt for +shellfish would show more or less eagerness to get at their catch, in order +to learn just what sort of luck had attended their labors. + +But long before either Toby or Owen had finished eating, Steve hurried over +to the pile, and squatting down, tailor fashion, began opening mussels. + +Just as the rest began to leave the vicinity of the fire they heard him +give a shout. + +"Say, looky there at Steve--he's dancing around like a wild Injun!" cried +Bandy-legs. + +"B-b-bet you he's f-f-found a jim-dandy p-p-pearl," spluttered Toby. + +All of them hastened over to where their comrade was carrying on so +extravagantly. + +"What you got, Steve?" demanded Bandy-legs. + +"The best one yet, sure as you're born," and with these thrilling words +Steve opened his palm. + +It was certainly a larger pearl than any they had yet found, and presented +a more imposing appearance. + +All of them crowded around to admire, and many were the pleased expressions +which the young pearl hunters gave vent to. + +"Couldn't hardly believe my eyes when I saw that beauty lying in the +shell," remarked the excited Steve; "and the funniest part of it all is I +picked up that shell myself." + +"How d'ye know that?" asked Owen. "There were two others along, perhaps +you remember." + +"Sure," laughed Steve, as pleased as a child, his eyes beaming, and his +face flushed. "I'll tell you how it is, fellows. Notice this queer mark +like a five-pointed star on the shell? I remember stopping to look at it +after washing the mud off the outside. Gee! little did I suspect what I was +holding in my hand." + +"G-g-guess not," wabbled Toby. "If you d-d-did I just reckon you'd +g-g-gone ashore and b-b-b-b--" + +Of course, when Toby floundered in the depths one of his chums as usual +pounded him on the back vigorously; but that would not have wrought a cure +only that the unfortunate stutterer managed to give his whistle, and then +cry triumphantly: + +"Busted it open--there!" + +"You just bet I would," admitted Steve. + +"Say, we forgot to notice something," declared Bandy-legs. + +"As what?" asked Owen. + +"Whether the shells of those other oysters that held prizes were also +marked with a star," Bandy-legs went on; at which the balance of the crowd +laughed uproariously. + +"What d'ye think of that?" cried Steve. "He expects that when a mussel +starts in to grow a nice healthy pearl he scratches a star on his shell to +let the hard-working hunter know when he's struck a bonanza!" + +"Oh! my, how k-k-kind," chuckled Toby. + +"Anyhow," asserted Bandy-legs, stoutly, as he held the shell in question in +his hand, "me to keep tabs when I'm doing the grabbing act this afternoon. +And I give you all fair warning that if I do run across a shell with the +star, I'm going ashore to open the same." + +"Good luck to you, then," laughed Steve. "Here, Max, take charge of this, +won't you, and put it with the rest of our prizes? I want to keep on +opening shells, and see if my luck holds out." + +Max and Owen exchanged a quick look. + +Apparently Steve was perfectly sincere when he gave utterance to this +natural remark. Their bewilderment grew more and more, and both boys, as +well as Bandy-legs found it impossible to understand what it could mean. + +Max walked back to the tent as if meaning to deposit the pearl in the +haversack along with the others. Of course he would really slip it into his +little leather coin purse where the three valuable pearls already reposed +in safety. + +"What d'ye make of him, Max?" + +Owen asked this question as he bent over his chum, while the other was +making a great pretense of handling the haversack. + +"Ask me something easy, please," the other replied, shaking his head from +side to side. + +"What bothers me is to understand why he called out, and let us all know +he'd struck a find," Owen continued. + +"Same here," Max added. + +"You'd think that if Steve was the thief he seemed to be, his first act +would have been to quietly pocket this big pearl, and just keep mum. Ain't +it so, Max?" + +"Seems that way," came the ready answer. "To do that would save a heap of +trouble in taking it out of the bag while the rest of us slept." + +"But perhaps Steve really enjoys that exciting part of the business," +suggested Owen. + +"Do you know, a thought struck me, though I can't take much stock in it," +Max went on. + +"Let's hear it, anyhow," remarked his chum. + +"Well, in order to make sure of the valuable pearls here, I'm putting them +away in my private purse. Well, what if some notion like that has struck +our comrade, and he's hiding 'em unbeknown to us, either for a trick, or +to make doubly sure they don't get lost." + +Owen sneered plainly, as if to express his disbelief in this far-fetched +theory. + +"It's just like you to try and screen a chum, old fellow," he observed; +"but the idea seems too thin for me to take any stock in it. To tell the +truth, I'd call it fishy. It won't wash, and you know it." + +Max sighed as he closed the bag that really held only the three next to +worthless pearls. + +"Own up," persisted Owen; "say that you just can't believe such a thing +yourself, much as you'd like to." + +"Yes, it is so; there must be some other explanation that we haven't +struck yet. But I believe I'm on the right trail. Don't ask me any more, +Owen. To-night will see the answer, I reckon." + +"Hope so," grunted the other, and from his manner it was plain to be seen +that Owen did not share the sanguine spirit of his chum. + +"Now let's go back and see if there's anything doing with the rest of the +fresh-water clams," suggested Max. + +But, although every shell was opened and carefully examined, only a couple +of seed pearls were found, not worth mentioning alongside the four fine +ones. + +"Anyhow," said Toby, as the last mussel was passed, "it wasn't a s-s-skunk. +We g-g-got one b-b-bully old p-p-prize, didn't we, Steve?" + +"Me to look for the star brand of mussels!" declared Bandy-legs; "they're +the only kind worth toting to camp over that long trail." + +It was Max and Bandy-legs who started out shortly after, bent upon new +conquests. + +"Look out for him, Max," said Owen; "don't let him throw away all he finds, +just because they don't happen to bear the star brand." + +"Oh! I'm not that big a silly," chuckled Bandy-legs, starting off; "come +on, Max." + +Max saw a chance to remark in a low voice to his cousin: + +"He knows all about it, and has promised to keep a close tongue." + +"Then you told him when you were alone here this morning?" remarked Owen, +and his tone announced that he doubted the propriety of confiding in +Bandy-legs. + +"That's where you're away off," chuckled Max. "Fact is, he began to tell +_me_ about Steve going to the bag in the middle of the night, and +hiding something in the old coffee pot." + +"You don't say?" exclaimed Owen. "How the dickens would Bandy-legs know +about that?" + +"Happened to be awake and saw it all. So I thought I'd tell him what we +knew, so as to make him keep a close mouth. I guess he won't leak, Owen." + +"Then Toby is really the only one out of the secret?" Owen went on to say. + +"Yes. And there's no use telling him--yet. Time enough to-night when we +spring the trap. But I'm off now, after Bandy-legs. So long, Owen." + +"Be mighty careful about that coin purse," warned the one who was to stay +in camp during the afternoon. "It would give me a big pain if you let it +drop out of your pocket while you were wading in the river." + +"Can't. I've fastened the pocket up snug with a big safety pin," chuckled +Max. + +He soon caught up with Bandy-legs, who was following the now plainly marked +trail that stretched through the forest between the river and the camp. + +Arriving at the water's edge Max soon decided that it might pay them to +work a little lower downstream. + +So both removed most of their clothes and started to tread for the mussels +that lay concealed in the mud or sand of the river's bed. + +Max was very careful to make sure that the little coin purse was safely +pinned inside his shirt. He would not have risked leaving that ashore for +a good deal. + +An hour passed. + +"I see you've picked up quite a little load," remarked Max, as the two +pearl hunters happened to come close together while continuing their work. + +"All of two dozen, I reckon," grunted Bandy-legs. + +"Many marked with the star brand?" asked Max. + +"Shucks! never a single one, the more the pity," replied the other, +grinning. "Still, I live in hopes. Found one that's got a cross on the +shell. Might be that's another mark to tell how the old hermit inside has +taken to hatching out a pearl." + +"Well, let's make one more try of, say half an hour," proposed Max. + +"All right," agreed the other. "It's getting a little tiresome, I tell you. +And I cut my toe on a sharp shell. Sing out when the time's up, Max. Here +goes to try along that point. Looks promising there." + +"Yes, because some sort of a bar sets out from the shore. I'll head that +way, too, only covering different ground." + +Max kept up the good work until the time limit had been reached. By then +the two boys had about all the load they cared to carry over the trail to +the camp. + +"Hope nobody holds us up on the way, and makes us hand over all we've got," +suggested Bandy-legs. "Not that he'd get much out of me, because +thirty-seven cents is about the limit of my fortune now; but I'm thinking +of them pearls you carry, Max." + +"I've still left the coin purse pinned on the inside of my shirt," remarked +Max; "so the chances are he wouldn't be apt to find it on me." + +They finished dressing, and, throwing the partly filled gunny sacks over +their shoulders, started back along the trail for camp, Max in the lead. +"Huh!" remarked Bandy-legs, as he trotted along at the heels of his +companion, "the fun about all this thing is the uncertainty of it. Ain't +that so, Max?" + +"It sure is," replied the other, without turning his head. "Here we are, +toting over five dozen mussels on our backs up and down, in and out, and +we're just in a state of blissful eagerness and suspense. Perhaps we carry +a prize worth a whole vacation of sport; and then, again, chances are we +draw a blooming blank." + +"All right," remarked the cheerful Max, "no matter how things turn out +from now on, I don't see that any of us ought to kick. We've got four +pearls that are bound to give us many times as much as we really hoped to +earn. And that's enough to make us happy." + +"It sure is, because now we'll be able to carry out all of those bully +plans we made. Wow! I c'n hardly believe it ain't all a dream, Max," and +Bandy-legs drew a long sigh, as if trying to assure himself that he was +really awake. + +"You'll begin to believe it when we send off for our motorcycles, and map +out the summer campaign," laughed Max. + +"Glory be! that makes me thrill all over. If it does come to pass, won't we +be the luckiest crowd that ever came down the pike?" assented Bandy-legs. + +"Oh! I'd hardly say that," remarked the other. "We've worked for all we've +got so far. The idea was, after all, the main thing, and we owe most of +that to my cousin Owen reading so much about how these pearls are found in +Indiana and Missouri streams." + +"Oh! take care, Max!" suddenly cried Bandy-legs. + +"What is it?" demanded the other, instantly. + +"Danger ahead; because I saw somebody poking a head out of the bushes +there," Bandy-legs went on, breathlessly. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN. + +Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish. + +He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, +poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might +lie coiled up in waiting. + +Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory +staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch. + +"Now where did you see all this?" asked Max. + +"Over yonder where that thick vine crawls all over things," came the +quivering answer. + +"All right; let's investigate then," suggested Max, as he took a bold +forward step. + +At this demonstration Bandy-legs gasped. + +"Say, are you really going to tackle him, Max?" + +"Oh! I don't know," replied the other, carelessly, yet with a firm ring to +his voice, and a determined look on his face. "If he's lying in wait to +ambush us, we might as well turn the tables around, and start the ball +rolling ourselves." + +"But--gosh! he might have a gun!" suggested Bandy-legs. + +"Let's hope not," Max went on, cheerfully; "because that would be unfair, +as we've left all our shooting-irons in camp. Anyhow, it might pay us to +put a bold face on the matter. So come along, Bandy-legs." + +"W-w-who's afraid?" gurgled the other, trying to look and act like his +chum, though the effort was not wholly a success. + +Accordingly the two boys advanced straight toward the clump of bushes +bordering on the camp trail, and which were overrun by the luxuriant vine. + +"There he is again, Max!" hissed Bandy-legs. + +"Yes, I see him; and I reckon now that it's only that half-grown boy again, +after all, Bandy-legs." + +The other gave a sigh, perhaps of relief. + +"Guess you hit the nail on the head that time, when you said what you did; +because it's sure enough no big-bearded man waiting to hold us up. Wonder +what he wants with us, Max?" + +"Don't you see he's beckoning right now?" asked the other, in a puzzled +tone. + +"That's right; but please go slow, Max." + +"Why do you say that?" demanded the other, keeping his eyes on the eagerly +beckoning boy who was emerging from the thicket. + +"Might be a trap, you know," Bandy-legs went on. "Heard about such things. +The little critter may be just toling us on like they train a dog to do +down in the duck regions along Chesapeake Bay." + +"Oh, rats!" Max remarked. "That look of terror on his face ain't put on. +You mark my words, Bandy-legs, he's in a hole of some kind, and wants us +to lend him a hand, see?" + +"But where's the hole?" asked the other. + +"Oh! come off, won't you? I mean he's in trouble. But here we are, and +we'll soon know." + +As Max said these last words he allowed a reassuring smile to creep over +his face. He realized that the ragged boy was in some condition of genuine +distress; and Max had too kind a heart to even dream of adding to the poor +lad's mental agony. + +"Hello! who are you, and what's the matter?" he asked, as they drew up +alongside the smaller boy. + +"I'm Jim, mister, an' I'm in a heap o' trouble," the boy said, with an +effort. + +"Well, Jim, we want to be friends," Max went on. "Suppose you tell us what +it's all about, won't you?" + +Something in his cheery tone, as well as the kind expression upon his face, +seemed to give renewed confidence to the poor little chap. + +This may have been the first time a stranger had ever spoken to him after +such a fashion. Perhaps he had had a cruel experience with the world, and +was accustomed to looking upon all strangers as enemies. + +But, now, the look of fear left his face, though there still remained that +expression of agony. + +"Reckon as how he's goin' tuh cash in, stranger," he said; and Max grasped +the meaning of his words, although they were next door to Greek to +Bandy-legs. + +"Who do you mean by saying he?" asked Max. + +"Dad," answered the forlorn specimen, drawing down the corners of his +mouth. + +"Is he sick?" continued Max. + +"Nope. Got hurted bad. Falled down a big drop. Reckon like he's a sure +goner," the boy whimpered. + +"Where is he now?" the other asked, briskly. + +"In our shack. He done crawled part way, an' wen I diskivered him I helped +drag him home." + +The lad said this latter a little proudly, as though he wanted these boys +to understand that while he might look thin and puny, still he was not +lacking in pure grit, and the ability to "do things." + +"What do you want us to do, Jim?" asked Max. + +"I seed yuh goin' along hyah, an' I thort as how p'r'aps yuh wont come over +an' see dad. He's got a leg broke, that's flat; but yuh see he feels so +pow'ful bad inside he's 'feared he's hurt thar. Cain't yuh come 'long with +me, mistah?" + +Not for a moment did warm-hearted Max hesitate. + +"Sure we will. Lead the way, Jim. I suppose you can bring us back here +again to get our bags of mussels," he said, promptly. + +"I sartin kin, an' I will, mistah," replied the boy, a faint look as of +hope appearing on his brown face. + +"But, Max--" whispered Bandy-legs, plucking at his companion's coat sleeve. + +"What ails you?" asked Max, impatiently. + +"Is it safe, d'ye think?" demanded the other; "wouldn't it be better for us +to go on to camp, pick up a gun, and then join Jim here?" + +"You can, if you want to," said Max; "as for me, I'm going to believe in +the story he tells." + +But he did not throw away the stout stick which at the time he chanced to +be carrying. + +The boy had turned around. He wanted to see what they meant to do, and a +new dread seemed to be gripping him. + +But when Max once again started forward, Bandy-legs, as if a little +ashamed of his suspicion, kept him company. + +Thus, following the uncouth little fellow closely, they began to pass +through a very dense section of forest. + +Max considered that since they were going to all this trouble in order to +do a good deed, it might be as well to learn a few things. + +Accordingly he quickened his pace, so that he drew up alongside Jim. + +"What's your dad's name, Jim?" he asked. + +The boy seemed to hesitate, as though even in his young mind he doubted +the propriety of giving away family secrets. + +"Calls hisself Tom Jones, mistah," he finally replied; but Max readily +understood that the chances were the man had another name, which he did not +like to own, as possibly it was connected with a prison sentence, or some +crime. + +However, Max did not allow himself to feel any sort of curiosity in this +direction. It was enough for him to know that the unfortunate man had +fallen upon evil days, and was lying there with a broken leg, perhaps even +dying, and far removed from all doctors. + +"We've seen signs around that made us think you were collecting these +mussel shells," he went on. + +The boy nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"No use denyin' it, mistah, 'case yuh'd see our shack wen yuh git thar, +anyways," he muttered. + +"And you've been thinking we'd come up here to beat you out in the game--is +that it?" Max continued. + +Another vigorous nod, and a gloomy look answered him. + +"Well, that's where you're away off, Jim," Max went on. "We don't care for +the shells, and you're welcome to all we happen to gather, after we've +taken out and eaten the meat. I suppose your dad means to get a load down +the river, and sell the same to some factory that manufactures pearl +buttons?" + +"Yep. An' we was a gettin' heaps o' 'em; but if dad he draps off, it's all +busted," Jim replied. + +His manner told Max that at least he must cherish a certain amount of +affection for his father. + +"Ain't we nearly there?" grunted Bandy-legs, who had proven clumsy, so that +several times, catching a foot in some concealed creeper, he had almost +fallen flat. + +"Jest a leetle bit furder, mistah," replied Jim, eagerly, as though he +feared that these new-found friends might grow suspicious or weary, and +desert him in his time of great need. + +Five minutes later and they stepped into a little open space. The hill rose +abruptly before them. Max realized that they must be close to the camp of +the shell gatherers, even before he saw this opening, for he could detect +an odor in the air far from delightful, and which he knew must come from a +collection of hundreds and hundreds of shells, many of them possibly +recently opened. + +Jim's father had found a natural cave under a great shelf of rock that +jutted out from the base of the hill. + +Here the two were safe from the violent summer storms; and with a couple of +worn blankets, a few cooking utensils, and a scant allowance of food, they +were able to carry on the business of gathering the fine shells, with their +mother-of-pearl lining, so necessary in the button trade. + +Several piles of shells caught the eyes of the two boys as they approached +the strange camp. + +Max, however, looking farther, discovered a form upon the ground, partly +covered by a blanket. + +A dreadful suspicion came over him that the man might have died while Jim +was seeking help. This, however, was speedily dissipated, for he saw "Tom +Jones" raise himself on one arm and stare hard at them. + +Fear was in those burning dark eyes, such fear as might be shown by a +fugitive from justice, one who believed every honest man's hand was +raised against him. + +But Max would not allow himself to even think of this. The poor fellow was +in trouble; he needed help the worst kind, and it was no business of theirs +to ask questions. + +"We've come to see if we can help you, Mr. Jones," he remarked, in his +customary cheery tone, as he bent over the injured man. + +"Jim got yuh, did he?" muttered the other. "Knowed 'twar the on'y thing tuh +be did, no matter wat follered." + +"Make your mind easy, because there's nothing going to follow. Now, it +happens that even if I am only a boy, I've always had an itching to be a +surgeon some day. So I know a little about setting broken bones. I'm going +to play doctor, if you'll let me, Mr. Jones." + +As Max said this he stripped off his coat. The boy watched him in awe, +while the man showed signs of newly awakened hope. + +For quite some time Max examined his patient, even turning the man over so +that he could test his ribs thoroughly. + +"Now I'm going to set that leg the best I can, with splints to hold it. +After all it's a simple fracture a little way above the ankle. Those black +and blue marks don't count for anything, Mr. Jones. Make up your mind +you're going to pull through nicely. You were lucky, for it might have +been much worse." + +"But I'm sore up in the body," said the man. + +"Yes, you're bruised some, and I expect a rib or two may be broken. But +they'll mend all right. Don't worry for a minute. I'll come and see you +again once or twice before we go back to town. And I'm going to send you up +some things from the store." + +The man could hardly express his gratitude, but Max saw tears in his eyes. +He was ragged and wore a rough beard, but his face was not unkind. And Jim +seemed to set considerable store by his father, which would indicate that +the boy was not abused. + +"Gettin' shells, too, I reckon?" the man remarked, as Max shook hands with +him preparatory to leaving. + +"Well, no," replied Max, and then, obeying a sudden inspiration, he went +on; "it might pay you after this to carefully examine the _inside_ of +every fresh-water clam you gather, because we've found some good pearls +that are worth ten times as much as all your shells. Good-by, Tom Jones. +I'm coming again to-morrow to see you, and bring some coffee and bacon. +Now, Jim, show us the way back to where we left our sacks." + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SETTING THE MAN TRAP AGAIN. + +Jim was only too delighted to act once more as guide. + +The look of fear had quite left his face, and both Max and Bandy-legs saw +that after all the poor little chap was rather a decent-looking boy. + +"Say, is he agoin' tuh git well, mistah?" he asked, turning when they were +once more fairly on the way back to the trail leading to the camp. + +"Sure he is, Jim," answered Max. + +"But he'd 'a' gone dead on'y for you uns comin' tuh help. Reckon as how we +orter be kinder 'bleeged fur doin' this away," went on the boy, awkwardly +trying to prove that he knew what gratitude meant. + +"That's all right, Jim," Max smilingly said. "Perhaps he wouldn't have +died on account of his broken leg, but he'd never walked again without a +limp. But look here, don't you say another word about it, Jim." + +"But--" + +"Because," Max went on, quickly, "it's been a pleasure to me to attend your +dad. I'm wanting to be a surgeon some day, and every little bit of practice +helps. Now, if you don't mind, we'd like to know something about you, Jim. +Where'd you come from? I never saw you or your father around Carson, which +is the name of the town where my chum here and myself live." + +The boy actually turned red in the face. His confusion told the sharp-eyed +Max that there must be some sort of unpleasant story connected with the +past. + +"Hold on, Jim, I take that back," he hastened to say. "It's none of my +business, and you needn't tell me anything about what you've been through." + +"But I jest has tuh, 'case it's been a-burnin' in here ever so long, an' +never anybody tuh tell," and Jim slapped his hand on his breast as he +spoke. + +"Oh! well, please yourself, Jim," Max observed, seeing that the confidence +would really satisfy the boy, who had evidently never known a friend in all +his life, save his wandering father. + +"And, Jim," put in Bandy-legs, seriously, "just you make up your mind that +we'll never whisper a word of what you tell us to a living soul, eh, Max?" + +"That's a sure thing," replied the other. + +Jim fell back a little, so that he might be closer to these two splendid +friends, who were already assuming the rôle of heroes in his eyes. + +"'Tain't so bad, I reckons," he started in to say. "Yuh see, dad, he never +done as they sez. Lots o' times he tells me as how sum other man he tries +tuh rob that ole farmer. But they ketched him in our camp, an' totes him +tuh the farmhouse. I heerd 'em say as how they means tuh kerry dad tuh town +an' hev him shut up, when mawnin' kims along." + +The boy drew a long breath. His eyes flashed with the memory of the wrongs +that had been heaped upon his father; and Max chuckled with glee to see +that after all he had more or less "spunk" in his small body. + +"I take it from what you say, Jim, that you weren't made a prisoner at the +same time they nabbed your father?" he remarked. + +"Naw," replied the boy, "I chanct tuh be away from camp jest then, yuh see. +Wen I kim back I seed three big men a-hustlin' dad along, an' him a-saying +all' ther time he never done nawthin'." + +"Of course you followed them?" said Max. + +"Yep. They wasn't nawthin' else tuh be done," came the answer, as the boy +grinned a little. + +"Bet you he helped his dad skip out, Max," was the suggestion Bandy-legs +put up. + +"Did you, Jim?" demanded the other. + +"I sartin did that same, mistah," came the prompt reply, a little proudly. +"Seen whar they done locked dad in the smokehouse. Tried the door, but it +wa'n't no go. Then I started tuh tunnel under the wall." + +"Well, I declare! What d'ye think of that, now?" exclaimed the wondering +Bandy-legs. "Ain't he just the little boss schemer, though?" + +"And did you succeed--did you get your dad out all right?" asked Max. + +"I sartin did. Took a heap o' time, I tell yuh. Reckon 'twas nigh mawnin' +wen he crawled through the hole, an' we lit out foh the woods." + +"And since that time you've been in hiding, afraid to show yourselves in +any town?" Max continued, bent on knowing all the particulars, for he had +taken a decided interest in little Jim. + +"Yep, we jest stuck tuh the woods," the other went on to say. "Dad, he +'membered hearin' some feller say as how these yer shells was wuth money, +if so be they cud be gathered in heaps. An' so yuh see we ben gatherin' 'em +right along." + +"How'd you ever get feed?" asked Bandy-legs, whose mind always traveled to +this very important question. + +"Dad had jest a leetle money, left over from his last job," Jim replied. +"Then we set traps an' ketched a few rabbits. I fished some, too. Reckon +we managed tuh get along. Lots o' times, though, I was that hungry I cud +'a' et a raw turnip." + +"You say your father worked--was he a farm hand?" Max asked. + +"Naw. Dad he's a travelin' printer, an' a good un, too, mistah. But he jest +cain't stay ennywhere long. He's got gypsy blood, yuh see, and the travel +bug he sez is in his body. So arter a little we gets out on the road again +tuh see the sights." + +"A traveling printer, eh?" remarked Bandy-legs; "say, that's kind of queer +now. Reckon he'd strike a job if he dropped in on Mr. Robbins, the editor +of the _Carson Weekly Town Topics_." + +"What makes you say that?" demanded Max. + +"Because I chanced to hear him say his typesetter was bound to leave him in +the lurch, and he didn't know where he'd get a man by the first of the +month," Bandy-legs replied promptly. + +"There, do you hear that, Jim?" remarked Max. + +"Yep. But reckons as how it ain't a-goin' tuh do we uns any good," answered +the boy, dejectedly. + +"Why not? By that time your dad's leg ought to be fairly well. And a couple +of us boys could take him down to Carson soon in one of our boats." + +Jim looked into the face of his kind friend while Max was speaking. There +were tears in the little chap's eyes. + +"Reckon yuh done forget, mistah!" he sighed. + +"Now you mean about the trouble your dad fell into on account of that old +farmer; is that it, Jim?" demanded Max. + +The boy nodded his head in a forlorn fashion. + +"How long ago was this, Jim--about a month?" Max asked. + +"Reckon she be all o' that, mistah." + +"And did you hear the name of the old farmer whose house had been robbed, +Jim?" + +"I never done forgot that. I seems tuh heah it whispered by every leetle +wind thet blows. Wenever I waked up in the night it kim a-stealin' along +past the ledge o' rock, an' makin' me shiver, I tell yuh. He was a orful +hard-lookin' ole man, mistah." + +"But perhaps not quite so hard as he seemed, Jim. Was that name Griffin, +Jim?" asked Max. + +"Yep," piped the boy, shivering; "an heah's them two bag o' mussels, jest +whar yuh left 'em." + +"All right, Jim. I didn't expect they'd be stolen. Now listen to what I +say, Jim." + +"Yas, suh." + +"When you go back to your dad tell him I said he needn't be afraid to show +himself in Carson, or any other town around these diggings; because the +tramp who robbed old Griffin's place was caught, and all the stuff found on +him!" + +"That's right," interrupted Bandy-legs, anxious to have a part in the +developments; "and I saw the Chief of Police bring him into town, too. He +was sure a tough-looking case. Your dad looks like a gentleman beside that +hobo thief." + +"Old Griffin is a just man," Max went on. "I'm sure he's felt sorry for +treating your father as roughly as he did, without having any evidence +against him. And if you two showed up at his place to-day chances are he'd +take you both in and give you jobs." + +"But," said Bandy-legs, "there ain't no need of that. I'm bent on seeing +Tom Jones get that vacancy on the local paper." + +"Is Tom Jones your father's real name?" asked Max. "You needn't be afraid +to say, Jim, because nobody is going to harm him now." + +"It's Thomas Archer. He kin talk jest as good as you kin, wen he wants tuh +to do it. But the fellers we tramps with done lawf at him, so he larns tuh +talk like they does. But yuh done makes me happy, tell yuh, mistah. Glad +now I waited on the trail foh yuh." + +"You belong down South, don't you, Jim?" asked Max. + +"Reckon Nawth Car'liny was the place I was borned into this world, suh, but +I don't jest see how yuh guessed that," the boy answered. + +"Never mind. Suppose you trot along with us to our camp now. I'd like to +send back a few things, like coffee and bacon, for your dad and you." + +Jim could only clutch the hand of Max when he said this and squeeze it. But +the other felt something moist drop on the back of his hand, and was sure +it must be a tear. + +The boys were once more taken in charge, and their interrupted march along +the trail resumed. + +When they entered the camp various were the exclamations of surprise from +the three who had been left in charge. + +Of course a perfect rain of questions followed, and for some time both Max +and his fellow laborers in the shellfish industry were kept busily +employed answering these interrogations. + +Finally, as the sun was sinking low, Jim was allowed to depart, fairly +laden with the various good things which the campers insisted on sending +to the unfortunate tramp printer. + +"We can spare them easy enough," Max had remarked. + +"Sure we can, and more, too," echoed Owen. + +"B-b-besides, we've b-b-been so lucky, you k-k-know, in our hunt for +p-p-pearls, we ought to be g-g-g-g--" + +Again came the usual pounding on the back, which produced no results; but +as soon as Toby could pucker up his lips, so as to whistle, he immediately +calmed down enough to shout at the top of his voice: + +"Generous--there!" + +"Well, I should say we could," observed Steve, rubbing his hands together +exultantly. "Even if we did lose that first beaut of a gem, haven't we +still got three elegant ones? And perhaps you fellows may have fetched the +mate of the lost one along in this last batch. You never can tell." + +Max could not help looking toward Owen, who raised his eyebrows after a +peculiar fashion that could only stand for bewilderment. + +Steve certainly had these three loyal chums guessing. But Max was fully +determined that the mystery must not remain such over another night, if he +could arrange matters so that the solution might be hastened. + +To this end he presently started to assist Bandy-legs open their catch of +the afternoon, Steve and Toby being engaged in getting supper. + +Another prize rewarded their search, a pearl not so fine as the one Steve +had discovered, but so perfect in shape, and so milk-white in color, that +they agreed it ranked with any of the rest in value. + +So Max was very careful to wrap this last prize up in some paper, and +thrust it into the haversack, with all his comrades looking on, especially +Steve. The latter stared as usual, as though fascinated by the sight of the +beautiful gem. + +"He'll try again, my word on it," whispered Bandy-legs in the ear of Max; +whereupon the other put a finger on his lips to enjoin silence. + +The five boys spent the evening as usual in merry conversation and song. +All seemed to be in high spirits, even Steve joining with a vim in the +school songs so dear to their hearts. + +Then, as the hour grew later, they began to yawn; and first Toby crawled +inside the tent, then Owen, and finally Steve, Bandy-legs, and Max. + +Apparently the idea of keeping guard over the camp had been abandoned, now +that they knew Jim and his father were honest. + +A long time passed, with only the heavy breathing of the boys to disturb +the silence. The fire, prepared by Max ere he turned in, continued to burn +briskly. + +It must have been midnight again when Owen felt the hand of his cousin +shake him, and, raising his head a little, he saw that there was something +doing. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION. + +Steve was on his hands and knees, and apparently in the act of getting to +his feet. + +Strangely enough he did not seem to show any sign of nervousness or +caution; and Owen looked in vain to see the suspected thief glance +suspiciously around, as though to observe whether his comrades were all +sound asleep at the time. + +Bandy-legs did not stir, and, judging from his heavy regular breathing, he +must have dropped asleep, despite his intention of staying awake. + +The exertions and excitement attending that afternoon tramp had proven too +much for Bandy-legs, and neither of the others thought it worth while to +awaken him. + +Truth to tell, both Max and Owen were staring at Steve, holding their very +breath with surprise. + +The other had by now reached the pole of the tent to which the strap of the +haversack was attached. They could plainly hear him grumbling to himself as +he thrust his hand inside. + +Drawing out the little wad of paper in the midst of which Max had secured +the latest find, Steve could be seen carefully closing the bag again. + +He did not look around once to see if he was observed, a fact that puzzled +Owen greatly; but passing over to where the cooking outfit lay he calmly +picked up the extra coffee pot, raised the lid, pushed the packet in with +the other stuff that seemed to lie hidden there, and once more placing the +strange pearl bank down, Steve made his way back to his blanket. + +He stepped over the forms of Toby and Bandy-legs while so doing, and never +once touched them with his feet. Max believed he could hardly have +duplicated the act, and his astonishment increased accordingly. + +Steve seemed to give a satisfied grunt as he settled down again under his +blanket. It was about what one would emit after having felt that he had +done his duty. + +Owen heard Max laughing softly to himself. + +"What does it all mean, Max?" he whispered, as he heard Steve begin to +breathe regularly once more. + +"Tell you in the morning," replied the other. "Too long a story for now. +Besides, I want Steve to be around at the time, you see." + +"That's mean of you," grumbled the disappointed one. + +"Can't help it; go to sleep and don't worry, Owen." + +"But, say, hadn't we better make sure of that last pearl? It goes against +my grain to have such valuables kicking around in old coffee pots," Owen +protested. + +"Shucks! then you didn't see me palm the pearl. I put a pebble in place of +it. Right now that pearl is in my coin purse, keeping company with the +rest," and Max chuckled again as he snuggled down under his blanket. + +"Gee! you're a wizard, all right," said Owen, in a whisper, as he +reluctantly followed suit. + +No doubt he lay awake for a long time, puzzling his head for a solution of +the mystery. But the balance of the night passed, and morning found the +boys wide awake, hungry, and ready for another day at the delightful task +they had set for themselves. + +It was when breakfast was about over that Max chose to spring his little +surprise. + +Steve had just announced his intention of being in the party that would +follow the trail to the river that morning. + +"Hope I duplicate my luck of yesterday, fellows," he was saying, with a +big sigh, when Max, leaning forward so as to catch his eye, remarked: + +"By the way, Steve, do you happen to remember having any odd little +tricks as a kid--anything that'd be apt to give your mother and father +cause for anxiety _in the night_?" + +Bandy-legs, who had been secretly told concerning the happenings of the +night, held his breath; Owen, too, immediately assumed an eager look, and +Toby, not knowing what it was all about, stopped eating, and listened. + +"In the night--we have tricks, you say? Now, whatever in the wide world can +you mean?" asked the apparently astonished Steve. + +"Well, like walking in your sleep let's say," continued Max. "Did you ever +do such a thing, Steve?" + +The other grinned and looked a little foolish. + +"I sure did, when I was a kid, and it's a fact, fellows," he admitted. +"But, say, I've been cured of that a long time." + +"You _think_ you have, you mean?" Max persisted, while Owen and +Bandy-legs exchanged a look of intense relief, now beginning to grasp the +theory that Max was working along. + +"Haven't done any stunts that way for nearly five years, give you my word, +boys!" declared Steve, looking a little worried at the same time. + +"Oh! yes, you have, Steve," laughed Max. "You've fallen back into your old +bad ways again, it seems. For the last few nights you've been prowling +around our camp here, and giving me the biggest shock ever." + +"You don't say?" exclaimed the other. "What did I do, Max. Tell me right +away, please." + +"Well, you seemed to have our precious pearls on your mind all the while." + +"Good gracious! I hope now I didn't try--say? did I go anywhere near that +old haversack?" demanded Steve, plainly embarrassed. + +"Every time, straight for it," replied Max. + +"And took something out?" pursued Steve. + +"Your one object," said Max, "seemed to be a terrible fear that some thief +might rob us. And so as to block this little game you set out to hide the +pearls in a new place." + +"As where?" demanded the astounded Steve. + +"Remember the second coffee pot we fetched along? Well, you hit on that as +the new hiding place"; and even as Max spoke, the other, scrambling to his +feet, hastened over to where the spare cooking utensils lay. Coming back +with the extra coffee pot he proceeded to drag out its contents. + +When the papers and the little cardboard box that contained pink cotton had +all been opened, with the result that only the pebble and the few less +valuable pearls were found, Steve stared in dismay. + +"Oh! they're all gone!" he cried, hoarsely. "I've lost the whole bunch, +just because I kept thinking about them so much, and worrying about their +being stolen. Whatever will we do, Max?" + +"We don't have to do anything," replied the other, with a laugh, as he drew +out his coin purse; "because I've got every one of the little beauties safe +right here." + +"Even the one that was lost first of all," spoke up Bandy-legs, as though +proud to show that he had been in the secret right along. + +Steve's hand trembled when Max emptied the little white objects into his +palm. And perhaps there were tears in his eyes, even as there was certainly +a suspicious quiver to his voice as he went on to say: + +"That's a low-down trick of mine, boys, and this time it came mighty near +blocking all our fine plans by losing the pearls that are going to get us +the money we need. Don't ever leave anything valuable lying around while +I'm in camp. It works on my mind, I guess. Ugh! ain't I glad you saw me do +it? How tough we'd feel if none of us could give a guess where the blessed +little things had gone. Here, put 'em away again, Max. It sure ain't safe +for a feller with my failing to be handling such pretty things." + +Max, of course, did put them away securely. But his heart as well as those +of Owen and Bandy-legs felt much lighter. + +Now that suspicion had given way to a knowledge of Steve's sleep-walking +weakness, they could look out in the future, and guard against such a +thing. + +And all of them were happy in the conviction that their comrade's fair name +had been entirely cleared, for Steve would have been sorely missed had he +been dropped from the list of members in the club. + +Although those who went out returned with a fair bag, no reward followed +the opening of the bivalves. + +"P'r'aps we've cleaned up the old river, and there ain't another pearl to +be found," suggested Bandy-legs. + +The others were loth to accept this view of the case; and for several days +they searched industriously for the now elusive fresh-water clams. + +"Guess we'll have to call it off," remarked Max, when on the third day the +hunters came back with a scant dozen mussels, none of which yielded a +profitable harvest. + +"But seems to me we've got all we need, and several times over," Owen +declared, positively. + +"All in favor of returning to Carson to-morrow hold up a hand," suggested +Max. + +He saw four hands instantly raised. + +"That makes it unanimous," he laughed; "and I guess I can see what ails you +all. It's how much are we going to get for our catch; and will the money +buy the five motorcycles we're aiming to get." + +"Likewise supply us with a fund to purchase grub while on our trip," +remarked Bandy-legs. + +"Hear! hear!" sang out Toby, who always agreed with his rival whenever the +question of eating arose. + +"I've an idea we don't need to worry about that," declared Owen, +confidently. + +"What about Jim and his daddy?" asked Steve. + +"We'll have to make a stretcher, and carry the man down to our boats," +replied Max. + +"His leg is knitting bang-up," asserted Owen, as he cast a proud look +toward his cousin and chum. + +"Well, let's get busy here, so we can leave early in the morning," Max +remarked, hastily, for he was modest, and did not like praise. + +They set to work with a vim, and the packing was speedily accomplished. + +Then in the morning all the stuff connected with the camp was carried down +to the river and carefully loaded in the two boats, which, of course, were +found safely just where they had been left. + +After that, Tom Archer was carried on a rude litter, and made comfortable +in one of the boats. + +It was about the middle of the afternoon when the little expedition reached +Carson. + +One of the Ted Shafter gang saw them come in and managed to get word to his +leader, as well as Shack Beggs. The three gaped to see a lame man carried +to a wagon, and asked many questions; but had to restrain their curiosity +until the story became known through the community. + +When it was learned that the mussels along the Big Sunflower had yielded up +a number of fine pearls, said to be quite valuable, everybody in town, and +not a few eager men in the bargain, set to work searching the adjacent +waters. + +But, apparently, Max and his chums must have about exhausted the mine of +good luck, for when every mussel within twenty miles of Carson had been +caught, the result was so meagre that the searchers gave up the new +"get-rich-quick" game in disgust. + +True to their promise the boys saw the editor of the weekly paper, and just +as soon as he was able to limp, with the aid of a crutch, to the print +shop, Tom Archer began work at the case. + +He vowed he would try and curb his roving spirit so that little Jim might +have a chance to get some schooling in the Fall. + +And both Jim and his father declared they owed more than words could +express to Max, who had brought light when the darkness was greatest. + +What about the pearls? + +Well, two of them were taken into the city and pronounced as fine as any +discovered through the famous fresh-water pearl industries located along +the rivers of Indiana and other States. + +When Max told the amount that was deposited in bank to their credit, his +four chums were fairly wild with delight. + +"Let's send off right away for our motorcycles and get started on our +trip!" cried Steve, impatiently. + +"And be sure to get mine with a short tread, because, you know, I haven't +got the reach the rest have," observed Bandy-legs, cautiously. + +In due time the five motorcycles were ordered, and then a period of anxious +waiting followed. + +What wonderful plans these five chums had in view when the machines finally +arrived, and had been fairly mastered, will be given in detail in the pages +of the next volume of this series to be entitled: "The Rivals of the +Trail." + +THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's In Camp on the Big Sunflower, by Lawrence J. 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Leslie + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6915] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 9, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER *** + + + + +Produced by John Argus, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER + +By + +LAWRENCE J. LESLIE + +[Illustration: MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE FEAST] + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I.--AN ALARM IN THE CAMP + +II.--TREASURE HUNTING + +III.--WHAT OWEN KNEW + +IV.--THE UNKNOWN SHELL GATHERERS + +V.--A PUZZLER FOR MAX + +VI.--THE FIRST CROP FROM THE RIVER + +VII.--BANDY-LEGS WANTS TO KNOW + +VIII.--A GREAT FIND + +IX.--MAX WONDERS STILL MORE + +X.--AT DEAD OF NIGHT + +XI.--THE NEW COOK SPRINGS HIS SURPRISE + +XII.--DANGER AHEAD ON THE TRAIL + +XIII.--MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN + +XIV.--SETTING THE MAN TRAP AGAIN + +XV.--THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION + + + +IN CAMP ON THE BIG SUNFLOWER. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AN ALARM IN THE CAMP. + +"Hey, Bandy-legs, what d'ye suppose ails Toby there?" + +"He sure looks like he'd just seen a ghost, for a fact, Steve. Where are +Max and his cousin Owen just now?" + +"Oh, they walked down along the river bank to look for signs of fresh-water +clams. So we'll just have to run things ourselves, Bandy. Hello! there, +Toby, what under the sun are you staring at?" and the boy called Steve +jumped to his feet as he called out. + +It was night in the woods, with a cheery camp fire blazing close to where +the restless river fretted and scolded along its crooked course. + +The boy called Toby, whose last name happened to be Jucklin, also scrambled +to his feet when thus hailed by his campmate, Steve Dowdy. + +He was a broad-shouldered chap, unusually husky in build, and apparently as +strong as an ox; but all his life poor Toby had been afflicted with an +unfortunate impediment in his speech that gave him no end of trouble. + +When the third boy also stood erect it was plain to see how he came by his +name. His legs were bowed, and appeared too short for his body. "Now open +up and tell us what you saw, Toby," demanded Steve, who was by nature +inclined to be what his chums called "bossy." + +"L-l-land's sake, didn't you s-s-see it, fellows?" asked the troubled one, +his voice trembling with the excitement under which he was laboring. + +"Stick a pin in him, Steve," advised Bandy-legs; "that's the easiest way to +make him talk straight English, you know." + +"Don't you dare try it, now, I tell you," warned the other, forgetting to +even stutter in his indignation. "I'm going to tell you about it just when +I'm good and ready. G-get that, now?" + +"Please commence then, Toby," pleaded the shorter boy. "Was it a real ghost +you saw, or a snake? I'm terribly set against the crawlers, you remember." + +"S-shucks! 'Twan't no s-snake, Bandy; I give you my word for that. But it +had the awfulest glittering eyes you ever s-saw, boys." + +"Wow! listen to that for a starter, will you?" cried Steve. + +"Keep going, Toby; don't let up now," begged the boy with the crooked legs. + +"I just couldn't make out for sure, b-but b-back of the eyes I thought I +could see----" + +"Oh, what?" asked Bandy-legs, feverishly. + +"A long body just l-like that of a b-b-b----" Toby seemed to swell up as he +tried in vain to say the word he wanted, but it was apparently hopeless. + +"Why don't you whistle, Toby, you silly?" cried Steve. + +"Yes, that always helps you out, you know," the short boy declared, as he +clapped a hand on the shoulder of the now red-faced stammerer. + +Upon which Toby screwed up his rather comical face, puckered his lips, and +emitted a sharp whistle. + +Strange to say, the action seemed to cure him for the time being of his +trouble. + +"Was it a bear?" asked Bandy-legs, impatiently. + +"Come off," remarked the other; "I was only going to say it looked like a +big cat." + +"He means a wildcat, Steve!" exclaimed one of those who listened with all +his nerves on edge. + +"Or, perhaps, it might have been a panther," remarked Steve, a tinge of +eagerness in his voice, for Steve wanted to distinguish himself while on +this camping trip by doing some wonderful exploit. + +"And here we stand like a lot of gumps, when our guns are within reach. +Right now that terrible beast may be making ready to jump on us." + +As the short-legged boy spoke he made a flying leap in the direction of +the tent that had been erected. + +Both of his campmates were at his heels, and doubtless quite as anxious as +himself. + +There was a confused series of sounds following their disappearance. Then +they came crawling out again, each one gripping some sort of weapon. + +"Now, show me your blessed old tiger cat!" cried Steve, handling a +double-barreled shotgun valiantly. + +"Yes, who cares for a measly wildcat; let him step up and get what's coming +to him!" declared Bandy-legs, who was waving the camp hatchet ferociously. + +"I'm b-b-badgered if I c-c-care what it is right now. This rifle belonging +to Max h-h-holds six bullets, fellows," spluttered Toby. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Steve, with more or less authority in his voice. + +"Oh, what did you think you heard, Steve?" asked the wielder of the +hatchet. "Was it a whine, a cry just like a baby'd make? I've heard that's +the way these panthers act just before they spring. Be ready, both of you, +to shoot him on the wing." + +"Rats! It was voices I heard," declared Steve. + +"Then it must be Max and Owen coming back to camp from the river," +Bandy-legs asserted. + +"Just as like as not," Steve admitted. + +"But what if the savage beast drops down on the shoulders of our chums?" +said the other in tones that were full of horror. + +"C-c-come on, b-b-boys!" panted Toby. + +"Where to?" demanded Steve. "I'm comfortable just as I stand. What's eating +you now, Toby Jucklin?" + +"D-d-didn't you see, we've j-j-just got to warn our c-c-chums, and +s-s-stand that t-t-terrible beast off? H-h-hurry, boys!" + +"Yes, I see _you_ hurrying," said Steve, with a laugh; "why, you'd +fall all over yourself, Toby, and perhaps try to swallow our only hatchet +in the bargain. Besides, there's no need of our sallying forth to stand +guard over Max and Owen, because here they come right now." + +"Sure they are," declared Bandy-legs, "and mebbe we'll be able to find out +whether it was a wildcat Toby saw, a panther, or one of those awful Injun +devils they say come down here from the Canada woods once in a long time." + +"All right, you c'n laugh all you l-like," the boy who stammered said, +obstinately; "but wait and s-s-see what Max says." + +The two boys, who strode into the camp just then, eyed the warlike group +with positive surprise. + +"What's going on here?" asked the one in the lead, who seemed to be a +well-put-up lad, with a bold, resolute face, clear gray eyes, and of +athletic build. + +"Why, you see, Max," began Steve in his usual impetuous way, "Toby here +thought he saw a hungry cat sizing us up, being in want of a dinner; and +so we got ready to give him a warm reception." + +"Y-y-you b-b-bet we did!" exclaimed the party in question, shaking his +hatchet ferociously. + +The boy called Max turned and looked toward his cousin Owen, and there were +signs of amusement in his manner. + +"D'ye suppose it could have been a bobcat?" + +Steve went on, he having his own opinion, which was to the effect that Toby +had imagined things. + +"Suppose we find out?" suggested Max, promptly. + +"Oh, no use asking _him_!" declared Steve. "As soon as he tries to +tell he gets to tumbling all over himself. He saw a pair of staring eyes, +and imagined the rest. For my part, I've made up my mind 'twas only a +little old owl." + +Bandy-legs laughed, while Toby grunted his disgust. + +"Huh! think so, d-d-do you, Mister Know-it-all? J-j-just you wait and +s-s-see," he remarked. + +"Wait for what?" demanded the scoffing Steve. + +"Why, Max is g-g-going to find out," asserted Toby. "G-g-guess owls don't +leave tracks, d-d-do they? Well, Max c-c-can soon tell us. Huh! an owl!" + +"Oh, I reckon we'll soon be able to settle that part of it, all right," +said Max, soothingly, for he saw that his two friends were growing a little +too earnest in their dispute. + +"T-t-told you s-s-so," chuckled Toby. + +"Now, first of all, Toby, answer me a few questions, please," began Max, +steadily. + +"S-s-sure I will; just c-c-crack away," the other piped up, cheerfully +enough. + +"Sit down again in exactly the same place where you were at the time you +saw these yellow eyes staring at you--they were yellow, all right, I +suppose?" Max continued. + +"R-r-reckon I did s-s-say that," admitted Toby, "b-b-but I might's well +confess right n-n-now that I couldn't s-s-say for sure whether the eyes +were g-g-green or y-y-yellow. All I k-k-know is they s-s-stared like +anything at me." + +"Listen to him, would you!" exclaimed Steve; "he's backing off his perch +I tell you, taking water to beat the band." + +"T-t-tain't so," stoutly declared Toby. "I s-s-saw the eyes, and believed +I c-c-could make out all the rest. G-g-go on, Max; what's next?" + +"Are you sitting in the same place?" asked the other, quietly. + +"I am," replied Toby. + +"Now point exactly to the spot where, as you say, you saw the staring +eyes," Max went on. + +"T-t-that's easy done. S-s-see where that bunch of wintergreen p-p-pokes up +l-like the tuft of an Injun's war bonnet--r-r-right there it was, Max." + +"All right," remarked the other, quickly. "Now, the rest of you just hold +your horses a bit and give me a chance to look around." + +"You bet we will," declared Bandy-legs. + +"If anybody can find out the facts, Max will," asserted Steve. + +The four boys watched with considerable interest to see what Max would do. +They had the greatest confidence in this chum, whose knowledge of things +pertaining to the woods far exceeded that of any other member of the club. + +First of all Max stepped to the fire, and they could see that he was +looking it over carefully. + +"He's after a torch, that's what," asserted Steve. + +"S-s-sure he is," echoed Toby. + +"There, he's found what he wants," declared the boy with the crooked legs; +"and it's a jim dandy one, too. Now he's heading for the place you saw your +big cat, Toby." + +"N-n-never said 'twas _my_ cat!" flashed up the other, aggressively. + +"Well, you're the only one that saw the beast, anyhow," declared +Bandy-legs, stoutly. + +"Oh, let up on all that talk, fellows, and watch what Max does," Steve +broke in, impatiently. + +"And," remarked Owen Hastings, speaking for the first time, "if it should +turn out to be any sort of a wild animal, look out how you shoot." + +"I s-s-should s-s-say yes," added Toby. "G-g-go mighty slow, boys, +w-w-while our c-c-chum is in front." + +"Then don't you think of throwing that tomahawk, Toby, remember," cautioned +Bandy-legs. + +"Shucks! you're only t-t-talking to hear yourself," grunted the other, +in scorn. + +Meanwhile Max had advanced, torch in hand. + +He gave no evidence of any concern, and to all appearances seemed to take +very little stock in the possibility of meeting with some species of +dangerous wild beast. + +They saw him bend down, and at the same time thrust the blazing fagot of +wood closer to the ground. + +"He's discovered something, sure as you live, and I bet you it's a track," +asserted Bandy-legs. + +"Huh! s-s-see him pickin' something up. P'r'aps it's an owl's feather," +sneered Toby. + +"Now he's beckoning to us to come on, fellows!" cried the eager Steve. + +With that the entire bunch started forward, filled with a desire to learn +what Max had discovered. + +He was smiling as they hurriedly approached, and yet at the same time the +frown upon his face told that Max found himself puzzled. + +"Say, was it a w-w-wildcat?" bubbled forth Toby. + +"Or a big Virginia horned owl?" demanded Steve. + +Max shook his head to both questions. + +"Nixy, fellows, you've got another guess coming," he remarked, soberly. +"Fact is, the eyes Toby saw staring at him through the bushes belonged +to a half-grown boy, and a badly scared one at that!" + + + +CHAPTER II + +TREASURE HUNTING. + +Strange to say, Toby, usually the last to gather his wits together, was on +this occasion the first to give expression to his overwrought feelings. + +"Gee! that's a s-s-screamer you're g-g-giving us, Max," he burst out with. + +"But what makes you say it's a boy, Max; why not a man, when you're about +it?" asked the skeptical Steve. + +Max held up something he clutched in his hand. + +"That's a boy's cap, reckon you'll all admit," he asserted, quietly. + +"It sure looks like it," admitted Bandy-legs, bending forward to examine +the article in question. + +"And a mighty tattered cap in the bargain, I should say," remarked Owen, +who was something of a bookworm, filled with a theoretical knowledge +concerning subjects that, as a rule, his cousin Max had personal +acquaintance with. + +"All right," Max went on, "I found this here, right where Toby saw the +staring eyes. But that isn't all, fellows. Look down where I point, and +tell me what you see." + +Bandy-legs and Toby could not make anything out of the queer-looking marks +they saw revealed by the light of the torch. + +With the others it was different. + +"Somebody's been kneeling here, for a fact," declared Steve. + +"Here's where his knees pressed in the earth; and you can see how his toes +dug holes yonder," Owen remarked, pointing. + +"Just so," Max went on; "and when you notice how short the distance between +knees and toes is, you'll agree with me it was a boy." + +"That's all right, Max," spoke up Steve; "but why would he be a scared +boy--why didn't the chump walk right into camp and join us?" + +"Perhaps this boy has some reason to be afraid. Perhaps he got an idea in +his head that we'd come up here to hunt for him! And when he saw Toby +looking straight at him, he fell into a regular panic right away." + +"You m-mean he s-s-s-s----" and finding that the word was going to prove +too much for him Toby quickly puckered up his lips, gave a little whistle, +and wound up by speaking the objectionable word as plainly as anyone could +have done--"skedaddled?" + +"Yes, ran away as fast as he could," Max continued. "I'm sure of that from +the tracks he made, and only wonder how he could have done the same +without you hearing him." + +"Where are his tracks?" asked Steve. + +"Yes, show 'em to us, Max," added Bandy-legs. + +"Look here, and here, and here, then. You can see by the size that these +footprints were made by a boy. And, yes, his shoes are just about falling +to pieces in the bargain. He's got one tied with a piece of twine, wrapped +several times around." + +"Gosh! however do you know that, Max?" asked the astonished Bandy-legs. + +"Why, once you learn how to read signs, it's as easy as falling off a log," +laughed Max, as he proceeded to show them just how he figured things out. + +"That's t-t-too bad," muttered Toby. + +"Just why?" inquired Max. + +"If he'd only had the n-n-nerve to step up, and m-m-make our acquaintance, +there's that bully pair of m-m-moccasins, you know, I'd like to have +g-g-given him. Always pinch my t-t-toes dreadful. Just f-f-fit him, I +bet," declared Toby, who had a very warm heart. + +"Well, it's too late now, because the fellow's far enough away by now," +commented Max. + +"Perhaps we might happen to run across him some other time?" suggested +Steve, consolingly. + +"Like as not," the other remarked, "and now, let's return to the camp, and +think of what we'll have for supper. I'm as hungry as a bear, for one." + +"Same here," declared Bandy-legs enthusiastically; for, though short of +stature, he was known to have full stowage capacity when it came to +disposing of appetizing food. + +There was soon more or less of a bustle around the camp. Each one seemed +willing to help, and from the orderly way in which they went about their +several tasks it was evident that these campers had reduced things to +something of a system. + +And while the supper is in process of preparation it might be as well for +us to learn a little more about these five lively lads. + +They belonged in the town of Carson, which lay some fifteen miles to the +south of the camp. + +Always warm friends and chums, they had lately organized themselves into +a little club, which they called the Outing Boys of Carson. The main +object of this association was camping out, and having a good time +generally. But Max and Owen had by degrees conceived ideas far in advance +of these early plans. + +It was on account of these ambitious projects that they had now come up +into this wilderness where the boys of Carson were never known to +penetrate before. + +Max had a good home, and his cousin Owen, who was an orphan, lived +with him. + +Steve was the only son of the leading grocer in Carson, which fact more +than once aroused the keen jealousy of Toby Jucklin, who, like Bandy-legs, +never seemed able to get enough to eat. + +Toby himself lived with an uncle, and perhaps this gentleman did not fully +appreciate the enormous appetite of a growing boy, and failed to satisfy +his needs. Besides, Nathan Jucklin was known all over that section as +close-fisted, and capable of "squeezing a penny." + +Then there was Bandy-legs. Of course he had a name by which he was known +among his teachers at school and at home. It was Clarence; but to every +boy in town he went by the significant name of Bandy-legs. + +They had come up the narrow and tortuous Evergreen River in a couple of old +boats, capable of carrying all the camp material; though so leaky that +frequent baling out was necessary in order to keep things dry. + +Sometimes they had been able to use the oars to advantage, and cover a mile +or two in pretty good fashion. + +Then, again, they were compelled to use poles in order to push the boats; +or, else going ashore, drag them by means of long ropes, for the rapids +were swift. + +It had taken them from early morning to nearly dusk to cover these +fifteen-odd miles; but now that the camp was established, the tent up, the +fire crackling, and supper being prepared, they forgot their tired backs +and muscles. + +"Hey, Max!" called out Bandy-legs, turning around from where he was +attending to the bubbling coffee. + +"What is it?" asked the other, who had managed to arrange a temporary rude +table, a slab of wood having been brought along for the purpose. "You +forgot to tell us about it, don't you know?" the other went on. "Somehow, +all the excitement about that silly kid in the bushes knocked it clean out +of my head." + +"It did now, f-f-for a fact," spoke up Toby. "So t-t-tell us what the +p-p-p-p"--whistle--"prospects are, won't you?" + +Max and his cousin exchanged a quick look, after which the former placed a +finger on his lips. + +"Wait a little, Toby," he said, cautiously. "When we gather around the +festive board, and get our heads close together, I've got some bully good +news to tell the bunch of you." + +"H-h-hear that, will you, boys?" remarked Toby, in more or less excitement. + +"Say no more now, please. How about that coffee?" Max continued. + +"S-s-she's cooked to a turn, and I h-h-hope the rest of the g-g-grub is +ready, too." + +"All right here," announced Bandy-legs, seizing the frying pan, which was +filled with potatoes, seasoned with a few onions, and hurrying over to +where the low table had been arranged. + +Inside of five minutes they were busily engaged disposing of the +savory mess. + +Five hungry lads can make away with considerable food, given the chance; +but all due allowance had been made for even the astonishing appetites of +Toby and Bandy-legs, when making preparations for the feast. + +Once the edge was taken off their appetites, and the boys remembered the +promise made by Max. + +"Now tell us what luck you had, Max," Steve asked, as he broke open a fresh +paper package of crackers, and appropriated a generous portion of cheese. + +"Y-y-yes, that's the t-t-ticket!" exclaimed Toby. + +"I did promise, didn't I?" Max started out to say; "and it's time I kept my +word. You know the idea wasn't mine at all, but came from Owen here, who +had been reading up on the subject. We wanted to discover some way of +earning a nice little sum of money this summer, in order to carry out +certain plans we've got in our minds; and among all the schemes hatched up, +his one struck us as the smartest." + +"Besides, it gave us just the jolliest chance to come up here and pitch +camp," asserted Steve. + +"Something we'd been talking of doing for ever so long, fellows," +Bandy-legs put in. + +"All of which is true," Max went on to say. "Well, what was this bright +little idea Owen sprung on us! Nothing more nor less than a treasure- +hunting expedition. Only, instead of trying to unearth the gold and jewels +some Captain Kidd of these Northern woods has hidden away, we expect to +find something in the way of gems that no mortal eye has ever looked on +up to now." + +Apparently these words of Max gave the others quite a thrill, for they +exchanged looks, and their faces betrayed evidence of intense interest. + +"Owen had taken a great deal of stock in this new industry of finding +pearls in mussels, or fresh-water clams," Max went on. "He managed to learn +that long ago our river had been pretty well stocked with these shellfish, +though the town people had eaten them up clean. But Owen believed, and I +agreed with him, that some miles up-stream the chances were we might find a +good lot of mussels, big fellows that had never been disturbed except by +some hungry 'coon or fox." + +"And so we just made up our minds to start out on what seemed to be an +innocent camping trip," broke in Steve, chuckling. "That would give us all +the chance we wanted to see whether there was anything in this pearl- +fishing business along fresh-water streams." + +"And we're here, all right, ready for work," remarked Bandy-legs. "Would +you mind passing me that frying pan, Owen? It's a shame to waste such a lot +of tasty grub." + +"Huh! n-n-no danger," grunted Toby, enviously. + +"We had to hurry for all we were worth to get up here before dark," Steve +remarked; "for Owen said the best place would be at the junction of the two +little streams that go to make the Evergreen. And so we didn't have any +chance to make a hunt on the way up." + +"But we saw lots of empty shells, you know," broke in Bandy-legs. + +"Yes, looked as if muskrats, or something like that, had been living off +mussels right along," Steve admitted. + +"And so, while we made camp, our two learned leaders strolled up the river +known as the Big Sunflower to see what the chances were for a crop," +Bandy-legs went on. + +"Now, please make your report, Max, because, you see, we're just burning up +with anxiety to know. A whole lot depends on whether we've come up here on +a fool's errand or not. Did you find what you expected? Are the full shells +here a-plenty?" + +And, smiling at the eagerness of Steve, Max drew out several large mussels +from his pockets, which he clapped upon the rude table. + +"They're here, all right, boys," he said, earnestly, "but as to whether +we'll find any pearls in the same, that remains to be proven." + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WHAT OWEN KNEW. + +"Well, I declare, is that the kind of mussel they've been finding pearls +in?" demanded Steve Dowdy, as he took one of the long-shaped bivalves in +his eager hands, the better to examine it. + +"They agree with the description to a dot," Owen replied, confidently; +"and, to my mind, these seem particularly fat and promising." + +"T-t-tell me about that, now, will you?" gasped Toby, who was also +examining a prize. "S-s-say, Max, why looky here, I've picked up these +s-sort of c-c-clams many a t-time when d-diving." + +"I reckon we all have, and opened them, too, to eat," replied Max, with a +good-natured laugh; "but not being wise to the pearl racket at the time, +it never struck us that we ought to examine the shellfish closely before +swallowing." + +"Bet you more'n one pearl has gone down my red lane then," grinned +Bandy-legs; "because, you see, I always used to be mighty fond of fresh +or pickled mussels. Say, perhaps I'm a walking jewelry shop right now, +fellers. Mebbe I'm carrying around a whole pearl outfit. Wow! it makes me +feel uneasy-like." + +"D-d-don't you worry any, my b-b-boy," broke in Toby; "no danger of +anybody t-t-trying to k-k-kidnap you, even if your pouch was lined with +p-p-pearls." + +"That's wise of you to say such kind things, Toby! I'll remember it, too," +said the other, reproachfully. + +"But, see here," remarked Steve, "what's to hinder us from breaking open +these mussels right now, and finding out if they've got anything worth +saving sewed up inside?" + +"Be sure and keep the meat, then, fellows," broke out the boy with the +crooked legs. "Two apiece all around means ten, and that ought to make a +nice little dish of stewed mussels." + +"Yes, j-j-just so, for t-two," asserted Toby. + +Each boy thereupon set eagerly to work opening the pair of shellfish that +had fallen to his share. Being unfamiliar with the methods employed they +were doubtless all more or less clumsy. One by one they succeeded in +accomplishing the task, and immediately set to work examining the contents +for any sign of a prize. + +Silence reigned for several minutes. Then Max addressed his four chums, +inquiring: + +"Are you all through?" + +An affirmative answer came from each one of the others in turn. + +"What luck, Owen?" asked the master of ceremonies, turning upon his cousin. + +"Nothing doing here," came the response. + +"How about you, Bandy-legs?" Max went on. + +"All a bluff; nary a show of color," was the way the disappointed one made +answer. + +"Steve?" + +"Nixy, nothing from me. I've searched every particle of the blooming old +things, but pearls seem to be as scarce as hens' teeth. Perhaps these ain't +the right kind of fresh-water clams, after all." + +"Yes, they are," replied Max; "and how is it with you, Toby?" and there +seemed to be something like confidence in the way he turned to the last +member of the Ranger Boys' Club, for he had not been secretly watching +Toby for nothing. + +"I found only a r-r-rotten little p-p-pebble," replied Toby. + +"Let me see it, then?" asked Max. + +"Oh! c-c-come now, Max, you're j-just trying to string me. S-sure that ugly +little crooked thing could never be a valuable pearl?" remonstrated Toby. + +"Perhaps not, Toby, but all the same I'd like to take a look at it," +answered Max. + +"Fork over, Toby," commanded Bandy-legs, with almost too great a vein of +authority in his voice. + +The stutterer looked halfway belligerent; then, as if thinking better of +his first desire for a wordy conflict, he passed the tiny object across +the table to Max. + +Both he and Owen examined it by the aid of a strong magnifying glass. + +"It's a pearl, all right," announced Max, finally. + +"Oh! joy! joy!" exclaimed Toby, ready to leap to his feet and begin a jig. + +"But without any particular commercial value," Owen said, once again +freezing the enthusiasm of the stammering, excited Toby. + +"All the same, it ought to encourage us to begin work dredging the Big +Sunflower," remarked Steve, as he started in to examine the first find of +the expedition. + +"It certainly will," Owen declared. "But, see here, Max, what are you +grinning about?" + +"He's found something in his old oyster, bet you a cooky!" ejaculated +Bandy-legs, excitedly. + +"Is that so, Max? Did you see our friend Toby, here, and go him one +better?" asked Steve. + +Max was still smiling broadly. + +"You've got me up against the fence, fellows," he admitted. "Caught me +with the goods on, as they say. Yes, it's a fact, I _did_ find +something in that second tough old mussel shell I opened." + +"Was it really a decent pearl, Max?" pleaded Steve. + +"Look for yourselves, boys, and tell me what you think." + +As he spoke, Max opened his left hand. + +The action allowed a small, milk-white object, much smaller than a pea, to +escape. It rolled upon the board which composed the table; and as the fire +burned brightly, all of the boys could easily examine it. + +One by one they picked the tiny white object up and held it at several +angles, to see how the glow of the fire seemed to reflect in faint +prismatic colors from its surface. + +"Say, this _is_ a pearl, all right, and a jim-dandy one, too," +declared Steve, after he had had his turn at handling the discovery, "I +ought to know, because my mother's got a string of the same--left to her +by an old aunt over in England." + +"Owen, what d'ye suppose it's worth!" demanded Max, turning on his cousin. + +"Well, now, you've got me there, fellows," declared the bookworm. "You +see everything depends on how pure and perfect it happens to be." + +"That's a fact," said Steve, thoughtfully, as he feasted his eyes on the +little beauty. "D'ye know, fellows, I've always been fond of pearls. Why, +when I was only a little kid my mother says I used to notice a ring my aunt +wore, and would hang around her all the time, wanting to touch the pretty +little gem. I reckon the old admiration still holds good." + +Steve even sighed as he reluctantly passed the new-found pearl along. Max +smiled to notice how his eyes seemed to follow it. + +"Well, we've proved one thing, sure," remarked Bandy-legs, as he scraped +the skillet carefully for the third time, evidently believing it was a +sin to waste a single scrap of good food. + +"Yes," spoke up Toby, who was watching this action with signs of +disapproval, for he believed he would be compelled to complete his meal +with crackers and cheese; "we k-k-know now there are p-pearls in some of +these b-b-blessed old m-m-m"--whistle--"mussels, there!" + +"But don't let's get too big notions, fellows," Owen thought fit to put +in just then. + +Owen was what his teacher at school always described as "conservative." He +lacked the impulsive sanguine disposition of Steve. At the same time he was +no "croaker," and far from being a "doubting Thomas." + +Owen often acted as a safety brake in connection with his chums. When some +of them showed signs of rushing pellmell along the road, regardless of +difficulties and unseen pitfalls, it was Owen who would gently draw them +in, and counsel caution. + +They looked to him as a mentor, nor were any of them in the least offended +when he restrained their headlong rush. + +"In what way, Owen?" asked Steve. + +"You see, it's like this," the other went on. "From what Max and I learned, +we don't fancy there can be any great quantity of these mussels up here. +Perhaps we won't find a single one along the other little stream, which +they call the Elder River." + +"How about that, Max?" asked Bandy-legs. + +"It's the simple truth. I was told we might get a few of the shellfish up +along the Big Sunflower, but none in the water of the other creek," +replied the one addressed. + +"H-h-how do they account f-for that?" asked Toby, always eager to learn. + +"Must be something in the water that prevents mussels from breeding in the +Elder," Owen replied; and so great was the confidence those fellows placed +in the knowledge of their bookworm chum that not one of them dreamed of +disputing his theory. + +"Go on, please," Steve remarked. "You had it on your tongue to say +something more, didn't you, Owen?" + +"Only this. We might scrape in a hundred, five hundred or a thousand +shellfish, and not be able to duplicate this lovely little gem once." + +"T-t-that's so," observed Toby. "They s-s-say pearl hunting's the +b-b-biggest lottery in the whole w-w-world." + +Steve was sitting there with his elbows on the table, both hands holding +his head, and his eyes glued on the pearl that lay between them. + +"That would be a tough deal," he muttered. "I'd give a heap to have a +handful of those pretty little things. My! just to think what luck to +strike one the first pop." + +"Besides," Owen went on, lowering his voice, as he seemed to cast a quick +suspicious glance to the right and to the left, "that isn't all, fellows." + +His manner somehow thrilled Toby and Bandy-legs. Even Steve raised his +head to stare at Owen, though it required an effort for him to break the +strange spell the milk-white pearl seemed to have cast about him. + +"Tell us what you mean, Owen," begged the broad-shouldered young Samson, +with the bowed legs. + +"Yes, p-p-please do, b-because you s-s-see, we're all worked up now." + +"Then listen, fellows," said Owen, impressively. "It's only fair, as Max +and myself have decided, that you should know all we've found out." + +"That's right," muttered Steve. "As well as what we suspect," Owen +continued, in the same mysterious way. + +Steve was so deeply impressed with the seriousness of Owen's manner, that, +perhaps unconsciously, he allowed his hand to steal over to where the +double-barreled shotgun leaned against the trees, and rest confidingly +upon the same. + +Max had occasion to remember afterwards just how much Steve was worked up. + +"Well, what was it?" asked Bandy-legs, after Owen had allowed some seconds +to elapse. + +"For the last half mile, when we were pushing up toward the forks of the +river," Owen went on, "we noticed that the empty shells along under the +banks seemed to grow more numerous." + +"Yes, and all of us felt tickled to see it," broke in Steve, "because it +was a good sign. It told us the mussels were here, all right." + +"And it also told us," Owen continued, "that there were a lot of little +fur-bearing animals living along the stream, with a mighty strong taste +for fresh-water clams." + +"As what?" asked Bandy-legs. + +"Oh! mink, otter, muskrats, raccoons, and perhaps fisher. All these used +to be plentiful through these parts in years gone by. I've heard of men +trapping them, but of late it's been lost sight of, so I reckon they've +increased at a great rate." + +"Well, I don't see anything about that to bother us much," argued Steve. +"I reckon there'll be plenty for all of us. What the minks and musquash +get won't keep us from making our try, will it?" + +"No," said Owen. "But it wasn't that I was speaking about. The fact is, we +made a disagreeable discovery a little while ago, when we went out to +investigate--ran across a heap of mussel shells piled up by human agency, +and not through that of fur-bearing animals in search of a meal." + +The three others who heard this startling fact for the first time stared at +Owen, as if hardly able to grasp the full dimensions of the calamity that +threatened their pet project. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE UNKNOWN SHELL GATHERERS. + +Steve was, as usual, the first to recover from the sudden shock. + +"Whew! that sounds like a tough deal, fellows!" he remarked, with a +grimace. "Here we are, thinking we've got the field all to ourselves; and +expecting to spring a big surprise on the sleepy folks of Carson when we +come marching home with a pocketful of valuable fresh-water pearls, that +would give the Ranger Boys all the money they need to carry out their pet +plans. And squash! almost as quick as you can wink, it's all knocked into a +cocked hat. Yes, a tough deal, boys, and perhaps no more of these little +beauties for us." + +He picked up the lone pearl again, as if unable to wholly resist its +attractions. + +"Huh! and instead of having the field all to ourselves, it looks like we +might be poaching on the preserves of some other fellow." + +Bandy-legs gave voice to his bitter disappointment after this fashion. + +"T-t-too bad," muttered Toby, who seemed to feel that upon an occasion like +this every member of the club ought to allow himself to be heard. + +"Say," broke out Steve, suddenly, "perhaps it's that little prowler Toby +sighted spying on the camp?" + +"I wonder!" exclaimed Bandy-legs, his face lighting up with new interest. + +"Perhaps the boy may have some connection with the gathering of the +shells," Owen went on, "but it was a man's big footprint we saw alongside +the pile of empties when we struck a match." + +"What do you think about it, Max?" suddenly asked Steve, turning around to +stare at the one he addressed. + +Max had apparently seemed quite content to let his cousin do the talking, +for he had remained quiet during this discussion. + +Upon being directly appealed to, however, he was not at all backward about +replying. + +"I've been doing a heap of thinking since Owen and myself examined that +pile of shells," he started in to say, "and if you care to hear the +conclusion I've come to, all right." + +"You b-b-better b-b-believe we do, Max," was Toby's immediate explosion. + +"Don't hold back a thing," observed Steve; "because we're all dyed-in-the- +wool chums; and what concerns one concerns all." + +"Cough it up, Max. We're holding our breath, you understand, wanting to +know. And none of us come from Missouri, either," Bandy-legs observed, +eagerly. + +Max smiled at the expressive way his comrades had of urging him on. Nor +could he fail to be deeply touched by their confidence in his ability to +fathom the puzzle. + +"I took occasion to examine some of those empty shells by the light of +other matches," he continued; "and on many of them I was surprised to find +plain marks of small teeth!" + +"Wow! I'm g-g-getting on to what you're going to spring on us!" exclaimed +Toby, whose wits were not slow, if his speech had that affliction. + +"I don't believe any of those mussels had been opened by human hands," Max +went on to boldly declare. "Whoever is up here must be collecting them just +for the sake of the mother of pearl. You know, I suppose, that these shells +are used for making pearl buttons and such things?" + +"Yes, they are worth so much a hundred pounds," remarked Owen. "The price +is high enough to pay some men for collecting them when they can be found +in any decent quantities." + +"Then, Max, you don't think these parties are onto the pearl racket--is +that it?" asked Steve. + +"Honest Injun, boys, that's the conclusion I've reached after studying it +out. They are just collecting the empty shells, and never dreaming how one +little pearl like this would be worth perhaps a full ton of shells." And +Max took the prize from Steve, who seemed a bit reluctant to let it go. + +Max had apparently made up his mind as to what would be a safe hiding place +for the little beauty. + +All of them watched him wrap the pearl in a wad of pink cotton, deposit +this in a small cardboard box about two inches long by one wide, and half +as thick; which, in turn, was carefully thrust into a haversack hanging +from the center pole of the tent. + +That same haversack was used as a "ditty" bag. All sorts of small articles, +likely to prove useful in camp, were deposited in its capacious depths. And +when anything was wanted, the boys usually searched in this leather pocket +before proceeding to any trouble. + +"A snug nest for our first prize, eh?" Bandy-legs took occasion to remark, +as he watched how carefully Max pushed the little packet down into the +depths of this depository. + +"It sure ought to be safe there," Steve declared, with a sigh as of +genuine relief. + +"Nothing could happen to it, with five fellows sleeping around. And Max is +so ready to wake up that he'd even hear a cat moving," Owen remarked, with +a laugh. + +"Do you expect we'll have any trouble with these pearl-shell gatherers, +Max?" Steve demanded. + +"I hope not," was the ready reply. "We don't expect to interfere with their +business at all. Fact is, we'd just as lief turn over what shells we gather +to these parties to pay for trespassing on their preserves." + +"But not the pearls we find--if so be we're lucky enough to run across +more?" flashed Steve. + +"Surely not," Max answered, sturdily. "They don't own this country; and I'm +sure they've got no lease on the waters of the Big Sunflower. So we have +just as much right up here as they do. But we're a peaceable crowd, you +know; that's one of the leading rules in the constitution of the Ranger +Boys' Club." + +"Yes," chuckled Bandy-legs, "we're set on having peace even if we have to +fight for it." + +"Well," put in Toby, aggressively, "all I c-c-can s-s-say is, they'd +b-b-better think twice before t-t-trying to bother our crowd. We're only +b-boys, but we've got rights." + +"Hear! hear!" broke out Bandy-legs, clapping his hands as if to encourage +the speaker. + +"And we know how to s-s-stand up f-for 'em," wound up Toby, shutting his +teeth hard on the last word, and looking very determined. + +"You bet we will," remarked Steve. "I'd just like to see anybody have the +nerve to try and steal that bully little gem we've captured first pop. My +stars! don't I hope we'll have the mate to it in short order." + +Presently the talk drifted to other things connected with their home life +in Carson. The names of several boys were mentioned; and from the way +Bandy-legs and Toby expressed opinions of those same school fellows, it +appeared that they suspected the others of having watched their movements +of late. + +"Lucky we played that fine trick," the former declared, "and started on our +up-river voyage before daybreak, while Ted Shafter, Amiel Toots, Shack +Beggs, and the rest of the gang were tucked away in their little trundle +beds fast asleep." + +"S-s-say, don't you b-b-believe there was a high j-j-jinks of a time to-day +when Ted f-f-found we'd slipped away, and nobody knew where?" + +"But they know we had boats," remarked Max, "because we caught one of the +crowd spying on us. That's why we had to keep our stuff under lock and +key, with old Stump Griggs to watch it." + +"Yes," complained Steve, bitterly, "because a fellow as mean as Ted is +wouldn't stop a minute if he found a chance to upset our plans. Ten to one +the prowler old Stump scared away night before last was Ted himself; and I +wouldn't put it past that bad egg to burn the boathouse down, just to get +even with our crowd." + +"But the Outing Boys don't scare worth a cent," declared Bandy-legs, given +to boasting a little more than any of his chums. + +"Oh, well!" observed Max, cheerfully, "we expect to hide our boats in the +morning, you know, and perhaps, even if Ted and his scrappers do work up +along this way, they won't find us. If we're wading in the river searching +for mussels we're apt to hear them coming in time to get away." + +"Guess you're right there, Max," said Owen. + +"Sure thing," remarked Bandy-legs. "There ain't a time but what some of +Tad's crowd are snapping at each other to beat the band. Every little +while a fight is on the carpet. Takes Tad half the time keeping peace +in the family." + +"Huh!" chuckled Steve. "I've seen him do it by knocking down both of the +scrappers, just as neat as you please. Ted likes that way of keeping the +peace. It gives him exercise, you see, and makes the fellow respect him +more 'n more." + +The supper tins were washed, and for quite a long time the five boys sat +around the crackling fire, talking, writing in their note books, and +amusing themselves in many ways. + +It was no longer dark. + +A moon, slightly past the full, had crept above the horizon before they +finished supper; and while the trees prevented those in camp from getting +all the benefit of this fine sky lantern, for the most part the shadows +that lurked in the woods were banished. + +Finally some of the boys began to show signs of sleepiness. Toby was +yawning about every minute, while Bandy-legs rubbed his eyes and stretched +himself, like a tired boy nearly always does. + +"Guess it's about time we turned in, fellows," Max declared, himself +feeling the effect of getting up at three o'clock in the morning in order +to leave town before peep of dawn. + +"That's what I say," agreed Bandy-legs. "I'm sore all over from poling that +clumsy old boat up-river. And once I hit the straw you'll never hear a peep +from me till morning." + +"Move we adjourn!" sang out Toby, so suddenly that he actually neglected to +stammer. + +"All in favor say 'Aye'!" Max proceeded to observe; and immediately a +chorus of approval was the signal to send them hurrying into the tent. + +Ten minutes later and silence rested all over the camp on the Big +Sunflower. A hungry raccoon came prowling around, eager to pick up what +crumbs had fallen from their table. The big moon climbed higher and higher +in the clear sky, and, mounting above the tops of the trees to the east, +looked down, and smiled upon the peaceful scene. + +Max was a light sleeper, just as one of his comrades had declared. + +No matter how sound his slumber appeared to be, if there happened to be any +unusual movement in the camp it was sure to arouse him. + +He did not know just how long he had been dead to the world at the time +something moving caused him to open his eyes. + +The moon had climbed so high that he knew some hours must have passed. + +Yes, there was certainly some one moving about in the tent. Max, of +course, first of all thought of Ted Shafter and his cronies, and wondered +if, after all, the rival Carson crowd could have found them out. + +Next his thoughts flew to the unknown shell gatherers, and a suspicion +that perhaps one of them had invaded the camp, bent on stealing the +valuable pearl, filled his mind. + +This caused Max to raise his head, and turn his eyes toward the tent pole +where the haversack containing the precious pearl hung. + +Sure enough, there _was_ some one standing there, and actually +fumbling with the bag. + +To the intense surprise of Max he recognized the dimly seen figure. + +It was Steve. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A PUZZLER FOR MAX. + +Max could hardly believe his eyes. + +It seemed so remarkable for Steve to be examining the haversack at this +midnight hour. + +Perhaps the other had been dreaming, and as the pearl was much in his mind +he may have gotten up to ascertain whether the little package still reposed +safely in the pouch? + +Max came to this conclusion as he lay there and watched. + +Steve seemed to give a satisfied grunt presently. Then he turned away, +stepped gingerly over the forms of Bandy-legs and Toby, bent down for a few +seconds, as if fumbling with his clothes, and still muttering to himself, +finally crawled under his own blanket. + +Max was chuckling as he dropped back on his rude pillow made of leaves that +had been crammed into a flour sack. + +"Guess Steve is deeper in this pearl business than the rest of us," he +muttered, "since he has to climb out of a warm blanket just to make sure +nobody's got away with our first prize. Well, he's welcome to stand guard. +Me to get some more sleep." + +So little impression did the circumstance make upon Max's mind that in less +than five minutes he had drifted away once more to the borders of +slumberland. + +In the morning it was Owen who awakened the balance of the campers. + +"Here, suppose you fellows show a leg, and take a dip in the creek," he +announced, poking his head into the tent. + +"I smell bacon!" cried Bandy-legs, as he sat up hurriedly. + +"And that must sure be the odor of c-c-coffee that comes s-s-stealing in +here!" declared Toby, bounding erect. + +Soon the four were floundering about in the cool waters of the Big +Sunflower. + +They did not prolong their bath because Owen had declared breakfast almost +ready. As Bandy-legs remarked, they could take a dip at any old time; but +breakfasts only cropped up once in every twenty-four hours. + +And, hence, it was not long before they were seated around the table, +enjoying the bacon and fried eggs, hominy and coffee, that the cook of +the morning had provided; flanked by an abundance of home-made bread and +country butter. + +The conversation turned from one subject to another. First it was the +chance of their being discovered and annoyed by the crowd that ran with +Ted Shafter. Then came talk of the mysterious shell gatherers, whose secret +industry the sudden coming of the Ranger Boys might interfere with. + +Max was several times tempted to bring up the subject of the pearl, just to +find an opportunity for asking Steve if it had been a bad dream that sent +him from his warm blanket to make sure the little packet was safe. + +Then he decided to hold back just a little longer, and let one of the +others start the ball rolling. + +No doubt Steve would volunteer a satisfactory explanation without being +prodded, given time. + +Sure enough, it was Bandy-legs who brought the conversation around to the +subject of the pearl. + +He and Toby seemed to disagree as to the size of the prize, the latter +stubbornly insisting that it was as large as a little marble. + +"Aw! rats! What is getting you, Toby!" exclaimed Bandy-legs, in disgust. +"Sure you must have been dreaming over it, and things have been growing +all night. I tell you it was smaller'n a pea even." + +"R-r-reckon I know," grumbled Toby, as stubborn as he could be; "and +I'll b-b-believe it till you p-p-prove the other way." + +So, of course, Bandy-legs, feeling that he had been challenged, sprung +to his feet. + +"I'll do it, then, just to show you!" he exclaimed, as he made for the +opening of the tent. + +A minute later they heard him grumbling and growling within. Then his +voice came welling forth: + +"Say, Max!" + +"Hello!" + +"Was I dreaming, or did I see you put that thing in this haversack?" + +"You sure saw me, Bandy-legs," replied Max, feeling a queer burning +sensation dart all over his flesh, as though a suspicion of coming trouble +suddenly took possession of him. + +"You tucked it away in pink cotton, didn't you?" demanded the one inside +the tent. + +"That's what he d-d-did," answered Toby, before Max could speak. + +"And say, Max, did you take her out again?" asked Bandy-legs, +reproachfully. + +"I did not," answered Max, firmly. + +He shot a glance toward Steve. That individual seemed to be staring, just +as the others were. Max could discover not the faintest indication on his +part of amusement. Indeed, he even looked indignant and aroused. + +"Well, all I c'n say then, is, it's mighty funny," Bandy-legs kept on +repeating. + +"Can't you find the little cardboard box?" called out Max. + +"Not any; I tell you it ain't here!" came in reply. + +"Oh! s-s-shucks! you n-n-need a pair of specs I g-g-guess, Bandy!" +jeered Toby. + +"Fetch the bag out here," ordered Max; and as he was the recognized head of +the club, his word in a case of this kind was law. + +The broad-shouldered boy quickly hove in sight. He was carrying the leather +haversack; and his face seemed puckered up in a frown. + +"Specs, nothing!" he snapped. "Just you ram your paw inside, Toby Jucklin, +and let's see how much better you c'n succeed." + +Of course, being thus challenged, Toby felt in honor bound to make the +trial. + +Everyone watched with rapidly growing interest; and when Max stole another +look at Steve he was more puzzled than before. + +Was Steve trying to play a trick on his chums; or could it be possible +that the strong fascination which he admitted pearls always had for him +was tempting him to deceive his comrades? + +Max hated to even allow such a suspicion to gain lodgment in his mind; but +after what he had seen, how could he help it? + +He determined to say nothing to anyone, not even his cousin Owen, but just +watch developments. + +Of course Toby's confidence quickly gave way to something akin to dismay. +He seemed to rattle the contents of the bag around again and again, but +apparently without success. + +"Well," scoffed Bandy-legs, realizing that it was his turn to crow, "why +don't you produce the goods, Toby? You said I needed specs, didn't you? The +first pair we find floating down the Big Sunflower goes on _your_ +nose. Why don't you show up? Let's see that little cardboard box." + +Toby withdrew his hand. + +He seemed about to try and peer within the leather pouch when the voice of +Max stopped him. + +"Turn it inside out, Toby!" said the leader, quietly. + +"Yes, dump everything on the table. That's the ticket!" + +It was Steve himself who said this. + +If he was playing a joke Steve certainly knew how to keep a straight face. +He looked eager, indignant, even alarmed; but Max could see not one single +sign of secret laughter. Even his eyes, those tell-tale orbs by which the +secret thoughts are so often betrayed, failed to disclose the twinkle Max +fully expected to find. + +Toby obeyed instructions. + +Quite a motley collection of various things that were apt to prove useful +rattled on the rough board table as he held the pouch up by two corners. + +The little cardboard box was missing. + +Toby, as if to make the matter so positive that there could be no mistake, +even turned the bag inside out. + +"She's gone, fellows!" ejaculated Steve, hoarsely. "After all our boasting +some sly thief has crept right into our midst, and got away with our +little beauty! It's rotten luck, that's what I say. And for the life of me +I don't see how he ever did it." + +Max opened his mouth, as though the temptation to speak was more than he +could stand; but he closed it quickly again. + +"I'll wait and see what his little game is," he kept saying to himself. +"If it's a trick, I never believed Steve would be guilty of such a thing. +And he's carrying it out just like he meant it, too." + +The others were beginning to turn their eyes in the direction of Max. + +"You've always been such a light sleeper, Max; how is it you didn't hear +the thief creep in, and search our bag?" Bandy-legs asked. + +Max shrugged his shoulders. + +"All I can say, fellows, is that I only woke up once during the night, +thinking I heard some one moving about. But I give you my word there was +no one in the tent then who didn't belong here." + +Max was looking straight at Steve when he said these words. He really +expected to see the other turn red with confusion, perhaps laugh a little, +and then in his usual frank way acknowledge that he had taken the pearl +just to give his chums a little shock. + +To the surprise of Max he saw no such sign of guilt upon the face of his +friend. Apparently, for some reason or other, Steve meant to brazen it out. + +Remembering how the other had seemed to be so strangely fascinated by the +handsome pearl, made Max shiver a little, he hardly knew why. + +"We all saw you put it in the bag, Max," declared Bandy-legs. + +"I tell you what let's do," said Owen. "Perhaps some fellow is bent on +playing a joke on the rest of us. Let's settle that point so we won't ever +think of it again." + +"G-g-good idea, Owen. You r-r-run the g-game to suit yourself," piped up +the eager Toby. + +"Shall I repeat a form of assertion, Max, to which each one of us will +subscribe?" asked Owen, with his customary readiness. + +"Certainly; and put it up to me first," replied his cousin. + +"Then here goes. I hereby affirm that to the best of my knowledge and +belief I've neither seen nor handled that little cardboard box containing +our pearl since the time Max dropped the same in this bag. How is it with +you, Max; can you truthfully declare the same thing?" + +"I can, and hereby do so affirm," replied the other, solemnly. + +"Bandy-legs, hold up your hand," Owen went on. + +"Sure thing. Now put me to the test," flashed the broad-shouldered boy, as +he quickly raised his hand. + +"The other one, Bandy-legs, your right hand. There, that's the ticket. Do +you solemnly give your word the same as Max and myself did, that you +haven't seen or handled that little box since it was dropped in this bag +by my cousin?" + +"I never have," replied the one on the stand. + +"Toby, how is it with you?" Owen kept on. + +"I s-s-say exactly the same. So far as I k-know I haven't seen, h-handled +or even s-smelled that little b-b-box since Max hid it in h-h-here. I'm +completely f-f-f-f"--whistle--"flabbergasted at finding it gone." + +"And Steve, what about you?" Owen asked. + +Max Hastings was more bewildered than ever when he heard the one he had +positively see fumbling at the leather bag while the others slept promptly +declare: + +"So far as I know, fellows, I've never seen or handled that little box +since Max took it off this table and stuck it in the bag. And that's my +sworn affidavy, believe me!" + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FIRST CROP FROM THE RIVER. + +After that strange declaration on the part of Steve, Max felt that his lips +must be sealed more than ever. + +He wanted a little time to think things over. + +Besides, Max even began to wonder whether he could have just dreamed that +he saw Steve fumbling at the haversack in the middle of the night, and +mumbling to himself all the while. + +So he concluded to hold his tongue, say nothing of what he _believed_ +he had seen, watch Steve closely, and wait for new developments to arise. + +Boys are, as a rule, not much given to long spells of depression. + +There is something in the natural buoyancy of a lad's nature that throws +off the gloom, and invites the cheery sunlight to enter. + +So the whole five were soon eagerly planning as to their work for the day. +First of all the two old boats which had served to carry them up to the +forks of the Evergreen River must be securely hidden. This was mainly on +account of those prank-loving boys who, under the leadership of the town +bully, Ted Shafter, they half expected to follow them to this region. + +"If they ever came across our boats," declared Steve, wrathfully, "you all +know what would happen." + +"Easy enough to smash in the bottoms with a few big dornicks," declared +Bandy-legs. + +"Huh! And m-m-make us peg it all the w-w-way b-back to town," grunted Toby, +who was not known as a great admirer of leg exercise. + +"All right, then," said Max, promptly; "you and Bandy-legs better get busy +taking the boats to that big cove where the tall reeds grow so thick. Seems +to me you ought to be able to hide our craft so well there, the chances of +discovery would be next to nothing." + +"We c'n do it all right," affirmed Bandy-legs, as he started up. "Come on, +Toby, get a move on you." + +"Wait a minute, c-c-can't you? What's your h-h-hurry. R-r-rome wasn't built +in a d-day, I g-g-guess." + +"Well, go ahead and have it out, because I can see you've got something on +your mind. Now, what's eating you, Toby?" the other complained. + +"I only w-wanted to ask Max if it wouldn't be g-g-ood +p-p-p-p"--whistle--"policy for us to mark the place where we leave the +boats. There! do you get that, Bandy-legs?" + +Toby asked this question triumphantly. Strange to say, that whenever he +stumbled most in his speech, so that he was compelled to halt, and give +that short whistle, Toby was able to finish what he was saying without a +single hitch. + +Steve often declared it reminded him of a country railroad crossing. There +you beheld the warning sign: "Stop! Look! Listen!" and upon complying +immediately heard the whistle, after which everything moved on smoothly. + +"Toby, that's a sensible suggestion of yours," Max hastened to declare. "If +so be you hide the boats away so well that we couldn't ever find the same +again we'd sure be in a nice pickle, eh, Owen?" + +"I should remark," the one addressed replied; "that tramp to Carson would +be anything but a peach. And with all our camp stuff to tote along, too." + +"Excuse me!" Bandy-legs exclaimed. "Make sure we'll mark the place, boys. +Now, get a move on, Toby. Where will we find the rest of you when we get +through our job?" + +"Oh! somewhere around here," Max replied. "You see we've got a big job +ourselves, taking down the tent, putting it up again some distance away +from the water, removing every sign of our having camped here, and then +disappearing. You'll be back long before we're done." + +His prediction was fulfilled, for when half an hour later Toby and his +companion showed up, the tent had vanished, Steve and Owen were carrying +blankets, food, and cooking utensils deeper into the woods, while Max was +working like a beaver close to the water's edge. + +"What's going on now, Max?" asked Bandy-legs, as he watched the actions of +his chum. + +"I'm doing my best to wipe out all the 'sign' we've made around here," +replied Max. + +"And it looks to me like you're doing a good job of it, too, partner," +declared the other, his eyes filled with admiration, as he saw how deftly +Max smoothed out all traces of where the boats had been pulled up on the +pebbly shore of the river. + +"Oh, well, I'm only a greenhorn at this sort of thing," laughed the busy +worker, patting a telltale footprint until it was merged with the +surrounding soil; "I'd be reckoned a bungler by any experienced woodsman, +you know. But in this case it's an easy job to pull the wool over the eyes +of Ted and his crowd." + +"Meaning that they're about as ignorant of all these things as I am?" +Bandy-legs went on. + +"Perhaps. But that won't be for long, let me tell you. I'm bound to show +you everything I know about these things, and pick up more myself in the +bargain. Did you get the boats hidden away all right, Bandy-legs?" + +"Gilt-edge, I give you my word. And we tied some of the reeds together near +the spot. Only a feller who was lookin' for the tag'd notice where we did +it. Toby or me, why we could go straight to the spot, with only one eye +open." + +"All right. Then suppose you get busy helping Steve and Owen. Nobody must +step back here again to leave fresh tracks after I've rubbed these all +out." + +Max continued to work as steadily as a beaver. Step by step he retreated +backward, removing all traces left by the campers. + +It was an arduous task, especially when he came to where the tent and fire +had stood. But really the boy proved to have a natural talent for this sort +of thing. He utterly removed all the ashes, scattered some brush over the +spot, and at the end of an hour Max stood on the border of the dense woods +casting a last careful look over the field of his recent labors. + +"I ought to pat myself on the back over that job," he chuckled; "and it +wouldn't be throwing any bouquets either. Ten to one Ted Shafter and his +gang could land here, cook a meal, and lie around, without ever once +dreaming we'd spent a night on the same camp ground." + +Then he withdrew from the scene of his recent operations. + +Picking his way through the woods, after a time he heard voices, and then +discovered the tent. + +The new camp site had been selected by Owen, and it certainly did him +credit. Max stood for a few minutes watching his chums work, and smiling +with pleasure over the prospect of a full week or more in that delightful +secluded spot. + +Trees grew densely around the place, and until one drew very near, it was +next to impossible to discover the dingy old waterproof tent that nestled +in the midst of the thick undergrowth. + +A clear little gurgling spring sang close by, affording all the water they +would need for drinking and cooking purposes. + +But, as Max stood and looked, the happy smile gradually left his face, to +be succeeded by an expression of grave concern. + +As he was watching the movements of Steve at the time, it could be easily +understood what pressed upon his mind. + +"Oh, come, this won't do at all," Max presently muttered, pressing his +teeth together resolutely. "It's all going to come out right, sooner or +later. Of course it looks mighty queer just now, and I can't for the life +of me understand it; but I've known Steve all my life, and he's never yet +been called a _thief!_ I'll just bottle up, and hold my horses, and +watch what he does, because I'm bound to find out." + +So he strode into the new camp, walking all around, and quite free with his +hearty compliments concerning the fine way Owen and Steve had done their +part of the business. + +"But looky here," burst out the impatient Steve, after a while, "we're +wasting time, you know. Some of us might as well be up the river gathering +a few pecks of mussels." + +"T-t-that's so," declared Toby. "And it's up to Max to s-s-say who goes out +f-f-first." + +"Suppose, then, Steve and myself lead off, and make the first try," Max +suggested. He had a double object in nominating Steve as his working +partner on this occasion. In the first place he knew the impatient nature +of the fiery lad, and that his heart was more set upon the finding of other +pearls like unto the lost one than any of the others. + +This was not all. + +Having Steve in his company for a couple of hours would give Max a good +chance to study the other closely. + +Perhaps, too, if Steve were really playing a practical joke on his comrades +he might, without meaning to do so, let a hint drop that would serve to +betray the object he had in view. + +"Here, don't forget the bags we fetched along to carry the mussels in," +said Bandy-legs. + +"And I h-h-hope I g-g-get a chance to make a t-t-try this afternoon," +remarked Toby, not a little disappointed because he had been passed over +when Max selected the one to accompany him on the first hunting expedition. + +So the two boys walked off, taking with them a couple of bags. Max also +thought it wise to shoulder the reliable old shotgun. + +"It isn't the game season, I know," he said, as the others looked their +surprise, "and about the only thing we ought to shoot right now would be +woodcock. I saw a marsh where I reckon I'll find some of the long-billed +mud diggers. You know they get their food by sticking their bills deep down +in the mud. That's why you always look for woodcock in a wet spot or marsh. +Ready, Steve? All right, we'll make another start." + +About twenty minutes later the two boys had reached the bank of the little +river, half a mile or so above their first camp site. + +They lost no time, but set to work at once, removing shoes and socks, and +rolling the legs of their trowsers above their knees. + +Then, with selected, sharp-pointed sticks, after wading into the shallow +water, they began to poke carefully around in all such promising places as +mussels would most likely be found. + +Steve gave the first triumphant cry. + +"I've got one, Max! And say, he's just a jim-dandy big fellow, too, believe +me! Now, I wonder if he's going to present us with the mate of that little +beauty of a pearl we lost so queerly." + +Max was watching his chum closely. + +"He says that just as naturally as if he meant every word of it," the boy +muttered; puzzled more than ever; and then raising his voice he went on to +say: "You'll just have to take it out in guessing, then, old chap, because +we can't bother stopping to open every find we come across." + +"I should say not," replied Steve, and immediately added: "Hey! what d'ye +think, here's another of the blessed old shellfish, just poking his nose +out of the sand like he wanted to invite me to gather him in." + +"Good enough! I haven't picked up my first one yet; and here you're walking +away from me double-quick. Guess I'd better get busy." + +The truth was Max had been so wrapped up in watching his chum that as yet +he had hardly tried to make a find. + +But he now set industriously to work. There were times when the mussels +came in fast; and again they seemed to fall off. + +Gradually the boys worked up-stream, crossing and recrossing as they +searched. + +"We're covering the ground all right," asserted Steve, as his laugh +announced another prize; "and believe me, we clean 'em out as we go. How +many have you got in your bag, Max?" + +"About nine or ten, I reckon, Steve." + +"I've got fourteen, and some busters among 'em. I'll be pretty badly +disappointed if one out of the lot don't turn out a good milk-white pearl," +the other called out. + +"Perhaps it'd be better not to mention that word so loud again, Steve," +cautioned the other. + +"Are you saying that just on general principles like, Max, or is there a +reason?" and Steve, as he made this demand, splashed closer to his chum. + +"Oh, well!" Max went on, "you know they say that sometimes even the trees +and rocks have ears. And we don't know who might be hiding around, watching +us right now." + +"Did you see or hear anything to make you think that way?" asked the +nervous Steve. + +"Can't say I did," replied Max; "but I thought it good policy to sling my +gun over my back by the strap, and not leave it ashore. Sorry now I brought +it along; but we don't want it stolen like our pearl was." + +"That's right, we don't," asserted Steve, without the slightest hesitation. +"If these shell gatherers have got the nerve to sneak into our tent and +make way with our first pearl, I reckon they wouldn't hold back at taking +a good old scatter-gun that chanced to be lying around loose." + +"Let's get busy again, Steve." + +"Right-o! I'd like to make my score an even two dozen before we meander +back to camp for lunch. And I s'pose the other feller's 'll want to have a +try next time. Anyhow, you and me can be amusing ourselves opening these +mossbacks, and finding out what's inside." + +Half an hour later Max called a halt. As Steve had only twenty-three +mussels in his bag he did hate to give up the work the worst kind; but the +demands of his appetite made him willing to return to the camp. + +"They're heavy enough to tote along," Steve admitted when almost there. +"And, after all, you had no use for your gun, Max." + +"I'll slip over to the marsh this P. M., and see what luck I can have," +returned the other. + +"There's the camp, with Owen cooking dinner. But look at Bandy-legs, would +you, Max? He sure acts as if he'd run up against some hard nut to crack!" + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +BANDY-LEGS WANTS TO KNOW. + +"Say, I wonder what next is going to disappear around this old camp?" +Bandy-legs was saying in a disgusted tone, as the two who had been over to +the river drew near. + +"Why, what do you miss now?" asked Max. + +"You remember that old cap we found last night?" the other went on. + +"Why of course I do," Max replied. "Do you mean to say you kept it?" + +"Well, I had an idea I'd give it back to the poor feller if ever we ran +across him," Bandy-legs continued, for he was really a warm-hearted boy, +as his chums well knew; "and when we came here to this new camp I remember +as plain as anything sticking that same old cap on the end of this bush +that grows to a point. Then just now I noticed it was gone." + +"That's as sure as the nose on your face, Bandy-legs," remarked Steve. + +"Now don't you go to making fun of my nose," the other retorted. "It's a +good, honest nose, if it is big. And it never yet made a habit of sticking +itself in other people's business. That's the way with all Griffin noses; +they mind their own affairs every time." + +Max knew there was danger of an argument, because Steve was likely to take +this as a challenge. Therefore, to promote peace, Max thrust himself +between the other two. + +"Have you asked Owen and Toby about it?" he inquired of Bandy-legs. + +"Sure I did, right away," came the answer. + +"And they denied touching it?" Max went on, determined to sift the matter +down, trifling though it might appear to be at first sight. + +"Both of 'em declared they'd never even been near this same old bush," the +other replied. + +"That looks queer," Steve broke in. + +"Owen did say he saw the old cap just where I stuck it," Bandy-legs +continued. + +"How long ago, Owen?" demanded Max. + +"Oh, I should say half an hour or so. I happened to look that way and got +quite a start, because at first I thought it was somebody watching us. Then +when I saw how Bandy-legs had fixed it on the bush I had to laugh." + +"Mebbe the wind carried it away," suggested Steve. + +"That's so; I never once thought of that," ejaculated the puzzled one, +eagerly clutching at a straw that promised to explain the mystery. + +"How about it, Max?" asked Steve. + +"Well, your idea sounds all right, Steve, but unfortunately it has one weak +place." + +"As what, now?" asked Bandy-legs. "Why, there hasn't been a breath of wind +all the morning," Max went on, with a chuckle. "I remember wishing it would +come up, for the sun was sure something fierce when we were wading about, +looking for clams." + +"You're right, Max," called out Owen, who could easily hear all that was +said, "no breeze ever carried that cap away, and I know it." + +"What did, then?" demanded Bandy-legs, bent on getting some sort of +solution to the puzzle. + +"This old country must be hoaxed or bewitched, I guess," grumbled Steve. +"Things just seem able to disappear without anybody taking 'em. First we +had to lose our bully little pearl that just took my eye; and now even a +ragged old cap has to walk off by itself." + +"Oh, not quite so bad as that, I think, Steve." Max laughed as he said +this. "When that cap went away it was through the agency of legs, according +to my notion," + +"Oh, I see now what Max means!" cried Bandy-legs; "he believes some gay old +mother squirrel just took a notion to line her nest with that ragged cap, +and made off with it." + +"Rats!" exclaimed Steve; "Max don't think anything of the kind. See him +examining the ground right now, will you? I reckon he thinks that same runt +of a boy came back after his cap, and got it, too, in the bargain." + +At that Max laughed aloud. + +"Good guess, Steve, old chap. That's just what happened, and if you look +where I point, all of you can see the same small footprint we found last +night where the old cap lay." + +"He's right, fellows, for here it is!" cried Steve. + +They all had to crowd around for a look, although Max warned them to be +careful, so that the impression of the boy's ragged shoe might not be +trodden upon. + +"Well, just to t-t-think what b-b-bright fellers we are," said Toby, in +apparent disgust; "when even a r-r-runt of a boy c'n steal up and s-s-spy +on us without a b-b-blessed one knowing it." + +"Huh!" grunted Bandy-legs, who seemed in a peculiar frame of mind for one +who was usually so good natured, "who's got a better right to that cap, I'd +like to know, than the boy that owns it. Put yourself in his place, Toby, +and tell me if you wouldn't just grab your own cap if you saw it? Course +you would--we all would, and I don't blame the kid a little bit." + +"Too bad he didn't like the looks of our crowd," Steve remarked. + +"What makes you think he didn't?" Owen asked, smiling. + +"Well, he acted like he was afraid of us," replied Steve. + +"T-t-tell you what, boys, I reckon it wasn't our looks, after all, that +s-s-scared him, though Bandy-legs does resemble a terrible p-p-pirate when +he wears that old zebra s-s-sweater of his." + +"Then what did?" demanded the one who had been thus picked out as a special +mark, while he ran a hand fondly up and down the sleeve of the +white-and-black striped garment, worn in spite of the heat of the day. + +"Our g-g-guns!" broke out Toby triumphantly. + +"That's a good guess, Toby," remarked Max. "Perhaps the boy believes we're +some sort of deputy sheriffs, and up here to give the man he's with +trouble. Anyhow, I have a pretty good idea myself that it was our guns that +made him so shy." + +"All right," remarked Steve, "the pitcher may go to the well once too +often. You mark my words, if he keeps on sniffing around our camp much +longer he'll get caught." + +"Sure he will," echoed Bandy-legs, grimly. "We want that pearl back, don't +we, boys?" + +"And we're going to have it, too," observed another of the group, in a +positive way. + +Max had that queer feeling pass over him again; for it was Steve who made +this half-angry remark. + +What could it mean? + +He had always believed Steve to be as honest as the day was long, his only +faults being a hasty temper, and a desire to do things without sufficient +preparation. + +But that the boy would deliberately _steal_, simply because he +happened to be fascinated by the beauty of the pearl, seemed beyond belief. + +No wonder, then, that the bewildered Max sighed, and rubbed his eyes with +his knuckles, as though hardly knowing whether he were awake or asleep. + +As nothing more could be done, the five boys adjourned to the camp, where +Owen quickly completed his preparations for lunch. They had decided to +have the heavy meal, called dinner, in the evening, so that the work of +the day might not be interfered with. + +When those who had been off hunting shellfish had returned, tired with +their labors, it would be nice to gather around, and take their time in +enjoying the bountiful meal that had been prepared by the cook appointed +for that day. + +Each of them expected to take a hand at this necessary job. In +anticipation of the opportunity to shine as a talented _chef_ +Bandy-legs had in secret been coaxing the hired girl at home to teach him +a lot of things. + +As his turn would come on the second day, he could hardly restrain his +impatience. He surely calculated that when his chums saw what wonderful +things _real talent_ could accomplish, they would easily vote him a +prize. + +But Bandy-legs had much to learn. + +His ambition was all right, but he would soon discover the vast difference +between cooking at a gas range or the family coal stove and trying to +accomplish the same result out in the wilds over an open wood fire. + +Then, again, he had stuffed his head so very full of different recipes that +the chances were poor Bandy-legs must get the formulas mixed, which would +result in some mighty queer messes to be tried upon his patient campmates. + +After the meal was finished those who were to do the grand wading act of +the afternoon got ready to go forth. + +They took the bags, and received minute directions from Max concerning the +best way for finding the mussels, half buried as they were in mud or sand. + +Max also made a rude map on paper, taking in the supposed course of the +winding river, as well as the country that came between. + +"Here you can see the trail I've marked as the shortest cut to camp," he +finished, pointing to a dotted line that seemed to be almost straight. +"It runs exactly southwest, you notice, boys." + +"But how are we going to always know what _is_ southwest?" asked +Bandy-legs, receiving the chart. + +At that Toby gave a snort of disdain. + +"W-w-what d'ye s'pose this is for, s-s-silly?" he demanded, dangling a +little nickel-plated object before the eyes of his companion. + +"That's right, we're going to have the bully little compass along with us," +declared the doubting one, looking considerably relieved; for truth to +tell, if Bandy-legs feared any one thing more than another, it was the +haunting idea of being lost in a great big wilderness, and meeting a slow +and dreadful death through starvation. + +"And even if we should l-l-lose this useful t-t-trinket," continued Toby, +exultantly, "I'd know how to t-t-tell which was north, all right." + +"Huh! why, of course, by the moss on the sides of the trees," observed +Bandy-legs. "Guess I heard Max tell that, all right. Never forget it, +either. But how the dickens is a feller to ever remember _which_ side +of the big trees this moss always grows on?" + +"Stop and think," said Max, who had an idea that some day this information +might be useful to his chum; "the hard storms of winter generally come out +of the northwest, don't they?" + +"Reckon you're right; though to tell the truth I'd never noticed it much," +Bandy-legs replied. + +"Well, you want to wake up and notice everything that happens," advised +Max, seriously. "It's the fellow who keeps awake, and sees and hears it +all, that gets on in this world, Bandy-legs. And you know it, too." + +"Sure. I know my weak points, Max; and the best thing about me is the fact +that I want to wake up and do better. But about that moss--does it always +grow exactly on the sides of the trees pointing toward the northwest?" + +"In the majority of cases," replied the other; "here and there it may vary +some, but anybody with half an eye can decide the right direction. Then in +the night you have the north star, which you know can always be found by +drawing an imaginary straight line along the two stars forming the end of +the bowl of the Dipper, generally called the Great Bear." + +"Oh! that's easy. But once I heard you say a common ordinary watch could +be made to serve as a compass; how about that, Max?" added Bandy-legs, +showing considerable interest in the subject. + +"So it can, but I'll explain that at another time. You fellows had better +be moving now," and Max turned his back on the other as the best way to +shut him off; for Bandy-legs was a great questioner. + +"So-long!" called out Toby, cheerfully, as he started to follow the trail +left by Max and Steve on their way from the river, half a mile away. + +"If we meet up with this mysterious shell gatherer, what ought we to do?" +asked the second boy, halting. + +"Act friendly, and pay attention to your own business, that's all. Nobody +will hurt you," Max called out, as he turned into the camp. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A GREAT FIND. + +"When do we begin, Max?" + +Steve asked this question a short time after the three left in the camp had +cleaned up the tin pans used in preparing and eating the warm meal, and +Owen had gone off to try and secure a mess of bass for supper. + +Steve had been usually fast in his share of the work, even for him. Max had +noticed this fact, and could give a good guess as to what was spurring the +other on to such exertions. + +"Begin what?" he asked, as if in dense ignorance. + +"Why, in opening our catch, you know," Steve replied, jerking his thumb to +where the little pile of mussels lay, close by the camp fire. + +Steve had himself emptied the two bags, upon their arrival in camp. +Evidently he did not mean to take any chances of having the precious +bivalves stolen by the prowling half-grown wild boy. And in order to +provide against such a catastrophe he had been very careful to deposit +their morning's "catch" in an open spot so destitute of shrubbery that no +one could approach within ten feet unseen. + +Max smiled. + +Truth to tell he was a little eager himself to set to work investigating +the insides of these shells. + +The remarkable luck attending their first attempt gave him more or less +hope that other prizes might crop up to reward their continued efforts. + +And the Outing Boys had outlined such a glorious programme for the long +vacation, if only they could raise the large amount of money needed to +carry out their ardent plans, that naturally Max was heart and soul +interested in the result. + +Besides, Max had a half-formed resolution that if luck favored them, so +that they found another pearl, he would set a trap that very evening. He +was burning with eager curiosity to discover whether Steve might repeat his +strange action of the preceding night. And in case this happened, Max was +grimly resolved to settle the matter once and for all by clutching hold of +the other while in the act. + +"Oh! you're wondering whether we're going to find anything in that lot; is +that it!" Max remarked, as he picked up an old oyster knife he had carried +along for the purpose of prying open the mussels, no easy task for +greenhorns at the business, as the boys' cut fingers already testified. + +"You just bet I am," returned Steve, possessing himself of the heavy +kitchen knife. "Come along and let's see if we had our wading and toting +the find all the way to camp for nothing." + +"Just as you say," Max continued. + +"What d'ye take that kettle for!" asked Steve. + +"To hold the mussels as we get 'em out. Let the meat and juice drop in +here. Then we'll examine the whole thing several times for results. And +don't forget, both Toby and Bandy-legs made us promise to have a mess of +these same fresh-water clams cooked for supper." + +So, taking the vessel and the much-used oyster knife, Max squatted on the +ground tailor fashion alongside the pile of shellfish. + +Both of them set to work, Max calmly, as was his wont, but Steve showing +the greatest nervousness. + +Finding that his method of trying to open the stubborn bivalves was +awkward, as they could not be handled like oysters, Max took a second +knife. Placing 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. When the stubborn mussel finally yielded to this treatment Max was +able to turn back one shell, and then scrape out the entire contents of the +other. + +A dozen had been opened presently, and so far as they could see, there was +not a sign of a pearl, large or small. + +Steve's disappointment made itself manifest in the look that gradually +crept over his face. + +"Guess we've drawn a blank this time, Max," he remarked, when the +seventeenth bivalve failed to yield up any gleaming little milk-white +prize. + +"Oh! that isn't a dead sure thing," replied the other, never ready to yield +his hopeful spirit, "this is a lottery, you know. The pearls are to be +found. We know that, Steve, by our first success. If not in this lot, +perhaps in what our chums bring later. There are other days to follow; and +we're bound to put in a week trying our luck." + +That was the sort of talk to buoy up Steve's spirits. He was always an +impulsive chap, and had often been called "Touch-and-Go Steve," because of +his quick temper. It had many times carried him into serious trouble, +though, as is usually the case with these impetuous fellows, Steve always +quickly repented of his wrath, and was apt to apologize. + +"Here goes for the eighteenth," he remarked, picking up another mussel, and +setting to work industriously. + +"This is a scrawny looking one, and I just reckon it'll be time wasted," +he added. + +"You never can tell," laughed Max, himself busily engaged. + +"That's so," Steve went on; "because they do say these precious little +pearls are manufactured by the oyster or mussel to cover up some gritty +object that has managed to work into the shell, and which they just can't +eject." + +"Yes, that's the accepted theory," Max asserted. + +"When I read that, I remember figuring out how a smart genius might make a +few millions," remarked Steve. + +"You mean by introducing the same kind of grit in some hundreds of +shellfish, and making the things work up a lot of fine pearls, eh, Steve?" + +"That's what. Don't you think it could be done, Max?" + +"Well, I've heard it's been tried, but since the price of pearls has +advanced all the while, I guess the success of the experiment wasn't so +much," the other went on to say, as he bent his head down quickly to +scrutinize the contents of his opened shell. + +"Oh!" gasped Steve, catching his breath. + +"What's the matter?" asked Max, his own voice as steady and calm as ever. + +"Looky here, will you, Max--ain't that a beaut, though?" + +The excited Steve managed to pluck some small object out of the opened +shell he held, though his fingers trembled like the quivering leaves of an +aspen. + +When he placed this in the palm of his hand it was seen to be a lovely +little milk-white pearl, nearly half the size of a buckshot. + +"That looks good to me," remarked Max. "Just as fine as the one we lost, +eh, Steve?" + +"You bet it is; and we'll make sure no thief lays hands on this beauty, +Max," replied the delighted finder of the new treasure. + +"Now, suppose, just for luck, I took a notion to go you one better," +chuckled Max. + +"Hey! what d'ye mean?" exclaimed his chum. "Have you been shaking hands +with Good Luck as well as me? Open up, and show what you've got." "Shut +your eyes, and count five," laughed Max; "now look, and see what I found." + +"My goodness gracious; why, it's half again as big as my find; a regular +jim-dandy pearl, Max," cried Steve, trembling all over with, eager delight, +as his enraptured eyes fell upon the object Max exposed. + +"Yes, much larger, I admit," the other went on to say with due +deliberation; "but not quite so perfect in form. Your pearl might prove to +be the more valuable one when it came to selling them." + +"Oh! just to think of it, Max, we've got two already," Steve remarked as he +took both the prizes in his hand, and surveyed them with that wistful look +in his eyes; for, as he had more than once admitted, pearls always had a +peculiar fascination for him. + +Max was watching his companion's face closely, trying to read the emotions +that chased each other across Steve's features. + +"Yes, and the chance is still open," he said, slowly. + +"Meaning that we may find a lot more; is that it, Max?" Steve demanded. + +"Who can say? It's a lottery all around. The next mussel might give us +another prize. Then, again, perhaps we'll clean out the stream and never +get any reward." + +Max had a way of looking things squarely in the face. He seldom allowed +his enthusiasm to get the better of his calm, deliberate judgment. And +consequently he did not suffer the grievous disappointment that came so +frequently to excitable Steve. + +"Anyway, we ought to get quite a bunch of money for these two dandy +gems," Steve remarked. + +"I wouldn't be surprised at all," Max assented. + +"What d'ye think they're worth, Max?" + +"Well, now, that's where you get me. I'm as green as the next one when it +comes to putting a value on pearls. Only an expert can tell that," the +other quickly replied. + +"Shucks! but you can give a guess, can't you?" persisted Steve, not to be +wholly disappointed. + +"It would have to be a wide one, then, Steve." + +"All right; let's have it!" observed the other. + +"Well, I don't doubt but what we'll be able to sell each of these pearls +for a hundred apiece," Max asserted. + +"Dollars, you mean, Max?" + +"Sure thing. And perhaps they may bring us five or ten times as much. I'll +have my father take them to the city, and consult an expert," Max went on. + +"Wow! that's going some, now, I tell you!" cried the other, with delight +pictured on his glowing face. + +"Two hundred sure, first pop, and mebbe a thousand! Say, Max, it begins to +look like our wildest dreams might come true, and we'll be able to carry +out all those bully old plans we made." + +"Yes," said Max, deliberately, "if we can only guard our new find better +than we did the other." + +"We must make sure to have one chum doing sentry duty all the time," +remarked Steve, solemnly. "That's only good sound sense, I take it, Max." + +"Guess you're right about that, my boy," asserted the other, with a +peculiar little smile that, however, Steve failed to notice. "And, now, +suppose we finish up the lot we've still got to open." "Right you are," +declared Steve. + +"But, first, please let me have those pearls. I'd hate to have them lost +in this grass here. And I believe I can keep them safe in this red +handkerchief of mine till we find a chance to stow 'em away in the +haversack, after the boys examine our find." + +"In the haversack!" echoed Steve. "Why, that's where we had the one that +disappeared, box and all." + +"Sure thing," Max asserted. + +"But think of the risk--" Steve began. + +"Oh, we've got to hide 'em _somewhere_, you know," laughed Max; "and +they say lightning never strikes in the same place twice. Besides, you +forget that we expect to post a sentry, so that your eyes, or mine, or +those of Owen, Toby or Bandy-legs, will be on the bag all through the +night. I'll take the pearls now, please." + +Steve somehow seemed a little loth about letting the lovely little gems +pass out of his possession. + +As he handed them over, his chum plainly heard him give a sigh; and he +caught him repeating the words: + +"In the haversack, and we've got to look out." + +Then both of the boys set to work. + +The remaining shellfish were soon opened, and although the young pearl +seekers searched eagerly, with hope tugging at their hearts, no new prize +rewarded their efforts. + +"The queerest thing of all," remarked Steve, after he had mastered his +disappointment, "was in our finding the pair of beauties at the same time." + +"Yes, and I believe my mussel was as thin and scrawny looking a fellow as +the one you complained of," laughed Max. + +"Forget that, please," remarked his chum, with a grimace. "And just to +think, I came near throwing that consumptive looking one away as worthless. +It's taught me a lesson, sure, Max." + +"Yes, and one you'll never forget, eh, Steve?" + +"I never will," declared the other, vehemently. "Whenever I think of this +lucky strike I'm going to understand that you never can judge things, +people also, by outside looks." + +"Sometimes the finest gems come in the meanest of coverings, you mean, eh, +Steve?" + +"Right-o. And now what'll we do?" asked the other. + +"Carry the shells away, because in a few days we'd object to the rank odor +so near our tent. Listen, Steve. Make a heap of the things, under some +tree you can remember well. We can call that our shell pile, you know." + +"See here, you've got a meaning back of all that, you know it," +complained Steve. + +Max laughed aloud. + +"How smart we're getting, old chap," he remarked. "But between us I don't +mind saying that I'm curious to see what will happen." + +"That is, you mean to give _some one_ a good chance to get away with +all these mussel shells, if so be they feel inclined, eh, Max." + +Max nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"Meaning this man and boy who seem to be hiding out up here, just like +they were afraid to be seen, and employing their time in raking in all the +scattered shells left by the muskrats and 'coons--how about that, Max?" +Steve continued, as he gathered the opened shells in an extra bag, +preparatory to removing them. + +"You hit the nail on the head when you say that, Steve. They seem to know +the mother-of-pearl inside lining of the shells will bring in some money. +And I reckon they're piling the shells up in some cave or secret place, +meaning to get them down the river in a dugout canoe sooner or later." + +"Well, they're welcome to all the shells we gather," remarked Steve, with a +shake of the head; "but they'd better not try to steal any more of our +pearls, that's what"; and so saying he marched off with his load, leaving +Max more sadly puzzled than ever. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MAX WONDERS STILL MORE. + +The afternoon wore on. + +Steve kept busy doing things until Owen turned up with a mess of perch, the +bass declining to take his worm bait. + +Then the story of the find had to be gone over again, and the prizes +exhibited. Owen was just as much pleased as the others, and declared that +it began to look as though the best of their dreams had a chance of coming +true. + +"I think I saw that boy, come to mention it," Owen remarked, after they had +talked over the splendid good luck that had fallen to their lot, until the +subject was pretty well exhausted. + +"How did that happen?" asked Max. + +"Did you get a chance to talk with him, and ask him why he grabbed our +pearl?" demanded Steve. + +"Oh! not much," chuckled Owen. "Fact is, he seemed pretty much like a +scared rabbit. First thing I knew he was staring at me over a bunch of +brush. Then he turned and scooted off like fun." + +"But you called out to him, didn't you?" asked Steve. + +"Of course, but it only seemed to make him fly the faster. Say, he's a +sprinter, all right. That fellow could get down to second base before the +ball seven times out of seven, I don't care who the catcher was," Owen went +on to say, positively. + +"Then you couldn't catch him?" asked Max, in a disappointed tone. + +"Huh! guess I didn't even start, after I saw what he could put up in the +running line. Besides," Owen went on to say, "you must remember that I was +tired, and carrying my fishing rod, as well as a bully old string of perch, +which I calculated to clean for supper. Then, I hadn't lost any boy, you +see. So I just hollered after him, and tried to let the silly goose know we +didn't mean to hurt him." + +"But it was no go?" remarked Steve. + +"Oh! he turned to look back a few times, but all the same he disappeared +from sight. Perhaps next time he won't be quite so frightened," Owen +observed. + +"There may be some reason for it we don't know about," suggested Max. + +"You mean that they don't want people to know about their collecting these +shells, for fear that their little business might be broken up?" Steve +asked. + +"That's one reason why they'd try to hide things," Max admitted, "but +there might be another. I spoke of it before, you may remember, boys?" + +"Sure you did, Max," declared Steve, quickly; "and mebbe you hit the +bullseye when you said this man might be hiding out up here--that p'r'aps +he'd gone and done something to break the law; and when he saw our guns he +expected we might be sent by the sheriff to arrest him." + +"I still stick to that idea," Max declared; "but we may know the truth +sooner or later. One thing we must do if ever we get the chance, and that +is let these shell gatherers know we don't mean to harm 'em even a little +bit." + +"But they've just got to let our pearls be, or else they're going to get +into trouble, that's what," remarked the pugnacious Steve, with a +determined shake of his head and a gritting of his teeth. + +Max saw and heard, and was more deeply bewildered than ever. He could not +for the life of him understand such contrary actions on the part of Steve. + +Max could positively declare that he had seen Steve taking something from +the haversack on the preceding night, when their first prize pearl +vanished so mysteriously; and yet here he was apparently aroused over their +loss, and denouncing the thief with greater vim than any of the rest. + +"But I'm bound to find out what it all means," Max consoled himself by +saying over and over. "If it takes all summer I'll fight it out on this +line, like Grant did in the Battles of the Wilderness. Steve acts like he +was innocent; but I guess I've got a pair of good eyes, and it was +_him_ I saw fumbling at the haversack, all right." + +It had been the intention of Max to try and find a few woodcock in the wet +ground of the marsh. + +Other things coming up caused him to put this project off until another +day. It was really no time for hunting, with a hot sun beaming down. +Perhaps later on he might find plenty of chances to indulge in his favorite +sport. + +Owen had cleaned his catch, and supper was being started when voices were +heard approaching. + +"Here comes Toby and Bandy-legs," sang out Steve, who had at the first +sound made as if to reach for the guns that rested against the tree close +to the opening of the tent. + +"Well," remarked Owen, looking up, "it's good to know they didn't go and get +lost, anyhow. Perhaps that compass kept 'em from straying out of the trail +you said you made, Max?" + +"Huh! we made it so plain," remarked Steve, "that a baby ought to be able +to follow our tracks. But then Toby and Bandy-legs always seem to tumble +into trouble if there's just half a chance to get mixed up. Say, they've +got the bags pretty well filled up with mussels, anyhow." + +"You bet we have," panted Bandy-legs, as he set his burden down. + +"G-g-great s-s-sport," remarked Toby, following. + +"Glad you like it," laughed Max, "because we expect to do a heap of wading +while we're up here." + +"D-d-did you open the others?" + +"We sure did," chuckled Steve. + +"F-f-find anything in 'em?" + +"Did we? Say, show up, Max; give these poor tired fellows a peek, that'll +make 'em forget all their troubles," and Steve grinned happily as he +watched the other deliberately take out his bandana, unroll its folds, and +then disclose to the wondering eyes of Toby and Bandy-legs the two lovely +white pearls that snuggled against the red background. + +"Whoop!" gurgled Bandy-legs, excitedly, his eyes round with wonder and +delight. + +Toby on his part became so excited that for the time being he could not say +a word. His breath came in gasps, and his lips moved vainly as he tried to +express his feelings. Finally, after Steve had pounded him on the back a +few times, poor Toby managed to pucker up his lips and emit the customary +sharp whistle which seemed to act like magic upon his overwrought feelings, +just as the safety brake does with a runaway car. + +Then he drew in a long breath, and enunciated, as plainly and clearly as +Max himself could have done, the one significant word: + +"Bully!" + +"Gee whiz! I guess I'll get busy right away," remarked Bandy-legs, eagerly. + +"No need," spoke up Owen. "Your turn will come to-morrow. I'm serving as +cook this afternoon. Don't you smell fish frying? I've been over to the +river myself and hooked a bunch of nice perch." + +"F-f-fine. G-g-good for you, Owen," said Toby, slapping the other on the +back. + +"Oh, shucks! I didn't have any idea of wanting to knock you out of a job, +old fellow. Where's that oyster knife, Max?" asked the returned pearl +hunter. + +"Say, he wants to begin opening his catch right away," remarked Steve. +"And I'll have to show him how we did it, Max." + +This he proceeded to do with alacrity, and the three were soon busily +engaged. Bandy-legs proved more or less clumsy, and not only cut himself +several times on the sharp edges of the shells, but banged his fingers +with the heavy stick with which he pounded. + +But one way or another by degrees every one of the mussels were opened. + +Disappointment followed, for while three pearls were discovered two were +so small as to give but little promise of returns; while the third proved +to be irregular in shape. + +"Never mind," said Max, when he learned the result of the hunt. "Better +luck to-morrow. We've fared splendidly already. And we know our scheme +is going to be a success. Cheer up. There's Owen calling us to supper. +And we can eat our catch as long as it tastes good to us. Draw around, +fellows, and sample our new cook's stuff." + +The five boys were soon engaged in satisfying the cravings of hunger. And +through the nearby woods crept the appetizing odors of coffee and fried +fish that must have been very tantalizing to any prowler less fortunate +than themselves. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +AT DEAD OF NIGHT. + +So the night found them. + +Toby and Bandy-legs had managed to recover from their keen disappointment +over the poor result of their afternoon's work. + +"Reckon we must have struck a bad place," the latter remarked, as they all +lounged around the cheery fire after supper had been finished. + +"That's a f-f-fact," commented Toby, nodding his head in a wise fashion; +"I've read that these p-p-pearls happen in a q-q-queer way. F-f-find 'em +all in a h-h-heap, and then nothin' doin' for w-w-weeks." + +"Then our chums must have struck the jolliest place on the whole river," +Bandy-legs observed. + +"H-h-hope they m-m-marked it, then," Toby went on. + +"How about it, Max, Steve?" demanded the other pearl hunter of the +afternoon. + +"Sure we did," grunted Steve, who somehow seemed strangely quiet for him, a +fact that gave Max considerable uneasiness, knowing what he did. + +"And I remember telling you where we did most of our tramping in the +water," he observed. + +Toby grinned rather foolishly. + +"G-g-guess that's so," he admitted. + +"Yes," spoke up Bandy-legs, "but you see we expected that you'd cleaned out +that place pretty well; and as we wanted to pick up a good load we went +higher up." + +"That's where you made the mistake, then," remarked Owen. "Perhaps Max and +Steve located something like a pocket. If I take a turn in the morning I +believe I'll go over all the ground they did and pick up a few shells." + +"I'll go along to show you if you say so," Steve suggested. + +"How about it, Max?" inquired Owen. + +"Call it settled at that," came the ready response. + +They talked and compared notes, and laid plans for the glorious future, as +the cheery fire crackled and the hour grew later. + +Max had shaped the little scheme he had in mind. + +The pearls were supposed to be safely lodged in a tiny packet which he had +placed in the haversack in the presence of all the others. + +This, however, was all a delusion and a snare, for in pursuance of his +plans Max had secretly managed to quietly slip the two really valuable +gems into his pocket, where he afterwards made them secure. + +All this was done with a definite object in view, for he more than half +expected that before another dawn came the haversack would be visited +again. + +By degrees the boys fell away, since Max had plainly announced that he +would take the first watch. + +No one seemed disposed to dispute the honor with him, because they were all +very sleepy. + +First Toby crawled under the tent, and by his heavy breathing they knew he +was dead to the world. + +Next Steve followed suit, and then Bandy-legs. + +"Wake me early, mother dear, because to-morrow will be the first of May," +the latter sang out, as he vanished. + +This left only Max and Owen. + +Now, the weight of his secret was weighing so heavily upon Max that he had +made up his mind to take Owen into his confidence should a good chance +arise. + +It seemed to be on hand. + +Accordingly, after binding his cousin to secrecy, Max began to relate the +strange thing he had seen on the preceding night. + +Of course Owen was properly shocked. + +He, too, had the utmost confidence in Steve Dowdy, and found great +difficulty in believing that the other could ever descend to such a low +state as making a thief out of himself. + +"The plaguy pearls must have fairly turned his head, Max," he declared, +with almost savage earnestness. + +"Just what I was beginning to believe," the other admitted, with a shake +of his head. + +"But what can we do about it, Max?" + +"I'm going to watch," replied the other. + +"To-night, you mean?" + +"Yes. The fever is still in Steve's veins. He doesn't seem to act like +himself. And, Owen, d'ye know, I've read somewhere that some people are +strangely affected by certain kinds of gems. They seem bewitched when +looking at or handling the same." + +"That's it, Max. Pearls must have some sort of terrible fascination for +poor Steve." + +"He admitted as much himself, and you all heard him say so," declared Max. + +"All right. Count me in," Owen went on. + +"What d'ye mean by saying that, cousin?" asked Max. + +"Only that you won't have to watch alone, Max." + +"Just as you say, my boy. Glad to have your company. But we'd better be +making preparations to keep our eyes on that bag," Max went on. + +"Why, I can see it from here, so long as the fire keeps blazing," Owen +asserted. + +"I purposely hung it in that place, and drew back the tent flap so I could +keep an eye on the bag all the time. So Owen, let's settle down here, and +make ourselves as comfy as we can." + +"All we have to do is to drop a little wood on the fire once in a while, +eh, Max?" + +"That's right; and while we watch we can talk in whispers if we feel like +it, Owen." + +"Still, it would be better to keep quiet, I suppose," suggested the cousin +of Max. + +"Of course. He might hear us, and lie low," replied the one who was +engineering things. + +"But you've fixed it so that while we lie here on our blankets, no one +would be apt to notice us from the tent. You had a purpose in doing that, +I expect?" questioned Owen. + +"I thought he might take a look around first to see where I was; and not +discovering me in sight would believe I had gone to sleep on my post," +Max went on. + +"This is a nightmare of a time," grumbled Owen. + +"That's right," echoed the other, promptly. "Seems to me I must be +dreaming when I find myself suspecting Steve of such a nasty thing. But +wait up and see, Owen. If nothing happens I'll be surprised, likewise +mighty well pleased." + +They accordingly lapsed into silence. + +Minutes glided by. To both the boys they seemed to be shod with lead, +so slowly did the time pass. + +When the fire burned low, as it did on several occasions, Max would crawl +out, manage to toss an armful of wood upon the red embers, and immediately +seek his hiding place again. + +One, two hours had gone, and so far nothing out of the common had come to +pass. + +Owen found himself getting somewhat sleepy, and in various ways he fought +against the drowsy sensation. + +"That's an owl, I reckon, ain't it, Max?" he whispered when certain queer +sounds floated to their ears out of the depths of the forest. + +"Of course," replied the other, in the same cautious tone, which could not +have been heard ten feet away. + +"And those are tree frogs croaking close by?" continued Owen, who knew all +about these things from reading; while his cousin did the same through +practical experience. + +"They're calling for more rain!" chuckled Max; "but I hope the old fellow +up above, who turns on the sprinkler when he takes a notion, don't pay any +attention, because rain in camp is generally a nasty time." + +Once more the two boys lapsed into silence. + +Perhaps another half hour had passed when Owen, whose eyes were getting +very heavy, so that he found himself nodding, felt something touch his arm. + +He started violently, possibly under the impression that some snake or wild +animal from the woods had reached them unawares. + +"H-s-sh!" + +Why, to be sure, it was Max who hissed this warning in his ear. And, of +course, it must be his cousin's hand that was laid on his own arm. + +"Look!" + +The one word proved sufficient to make Owen remember what they were lying +there for. Accordingly he craned his neck so as to see the interior of the +tent. + +The fire was burning fairly well, and as Max had fastened the canvas flaps +unusually far back, in order to admit plenty of air, as he had said at the +time, it was easy to see. + +Owen felt another thrill, immediately succeeded by a chilly sensation. + +There was a movement within the tent, as if some person might be advancing +toward the spot where the haversack hung in plain sight. + +The firelight fell plainly upon a face, and Owen had no difficulty in +recognizing--Steve! + +Almost holding their breath the two boys watched to see what their strange +chum did. + +They saw him deliberately open the haversack and plunge his hand inside. + +"Oh! look! he's got the little package, Max," whispered the horrified Owen. + +Max pinched his arm. + +"Keep still," he made out to say in the other's ear. + +He feared that Owen's disturbed voice might have reached the ears of the +prowler; but there was no sign to indicate such a thing. + +Indeed, Steve went about his task with a deliberation that puzzled both the +watchers. + +"There! he's gone back to his blanket again," muttered Owen, unable longer +to keep still; "and Max, did you see where he put that little packet which +he believes holds all our prizes!" + +"Yes," replied the other, "inside that old extra coffee pot we fetched +along to use in case anything happened to the one we have on the fire three +times a day." + +"That's the funniest thing I ever heard of, sure," continued Owen. "He's +crazy, that's what. Who'd ever think of looking in that bum old coffee pot +for anything worth while, tell me that, will you?" + +"I can't. I'm all up in the air myself," admitted Max. + +"Still, we saw him do it, didn't we! It wasn't a dope dream, was it, Max!" + +"I'm going to prove it pretty soon, Owen." + +"As how?" demanded the other. + +"By getting that old coffee pot out here, and looking it over, that's how," +replied the other. + +"Bully idea!" exclaimed Owen, quickly. "Say, looky here, perhaps now you +really expect to find our other lost pearl in there?" + +"Wouldn't surprise me one little bit," chuckled Max. + +"Oh! can't you sneak in now and crib the coffee pot?" begged Owen. + +"Give him ten minutes to settle down," came the reply. + +At the end of what seemed the longest ten minutes he had ever known, Owen +saw his agile cousin begin to move toward the opening of the tent. + +On the way Max picked up a long, stout stick that had a slight turn at the +end. "He's going to fish for the coffee pot," whispered Owen, in more or +less delight; for he did so enjoy seeing Max undertake anything that +required brains. + +The fishing met with speedy reward, for once the crook at the end of the +pole had been inserted into the handle of the coffee pot, and the rest was +easy. + +So Max came back to where he had left his comrade, bearing in his hands the +old cooking utensil that thus far had not been needed, and might, if the +other only held out, only prove a form of insurance against possible +disaster. + +Deliberately Max opened the coffee pot and thrust his hand inside. + +"Here's a package," he said, drawing something out. + +"No need to open that," observed Owen, quickly; "because we know it only +holds the three poor pearls found in the catch brought in by the last +squad. Feel deeper, Max. Strike anything?" + +For reply the other drew his hand out, nor did it come into view empty. + +"The little cardboard box you put the first prize in," gasped Owen. +"Please hurry and open it up, Max." + +His chum was no less eager to see what the contents of the box would prove +to be. + +No sooner had he removed the lid than the enraptured eyes of the two boys +fell upon the lost pearl! Yes, there it rested on its pink cotton bed, +looking even more beautiful in Owen's eyes than either of the two later +prizes. + +After staring at it for some time the boys allowed their eyes to exchange +a look. Max was pale and distressed, while his cousin, on the other hand, +seemed to be excited, as though indignation and even anger had surged up +within him. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE NEW COOK SPRINGS HIS SURPRISE. + +"Well, what d'ye think of that, eh?" Owen exclaimed. + +"It's hard to believe," replied the other. + +"But all the same, we saw him with our own eyes, Max," declared the other. + +"Yes, that's so," answered Max, reluctantly. + +"He took the first pearl; and meant to hide the other pair of beauties!" +Owen went on. + +"Looks like it," Max admitted. + +"Then that ends it. Steve Dowdy can't train in our camp, or go along the +same trail as we do, after this," and Owen shook his head in a very +determined way as he made this assertion. + +"Oh! hold your horses a little while, can't you, Owen?" + +"What! do you mean to give him another trial--is that it, Max?" + +"Just one more, if we're lucky enough to find a prize," replied the other. +"Perhaps after all we'll have to use this jolly little milk-white chap over +again." + +"Huh! I hope not," grumbled Owen. "Say, you mean to put it with the others +in your pocketbook, don't you, and let the little box go empty?" + +"Of course. But try and forget all about this for a while, Owen. Give me +another day to figure it out, please." + +"Say, I bet you've got an idea right now, Max; you're always so quick to +see through things." + +"If I have I must think it over," replied the other. + +"Well, let me say this just once, and then I'll ring off for good," Owen +went on. "If he tries this same measly old game to-morrow night, you just +ought to jump on Steve, and demand to know what he means by treating his +chums in this way." + +Max laughed a little. + +"Maybe I will, Owen," he remarked. "The idea struck me before you mentioned +it. Just wait and see how things are going to turn out." + +"But you'll bait the trap again, Max, so Steve'll know, or believe the game +is worth the candle?" + +"Well, I guess yes," replied the other. + +"How about telling Toby or Bandy-legs?" asked Owen. + +"Better not," came the quick reply. "Neither of them are worth shucks about +keeping a secret, and chances are they'd give it away." + +"Just as you say, Max. I depend on you to run this game down. But it makes +me feel awful sore. I never would have believed it of good old Steve." + +"Well, just hold your judgment in the air for a little while longer, Owen," +Max said, calmly. + +His cousin looked hard at him. Then he shook his head as if completely +puzzled. + +"Gee! but you do beat the Dutch, Max," he muttered. "I honestly reckon +you're hoping to make me doubt what my own eyes saw. But, anyhow, I'm game +to stand it out to the end." + +"Well, let's crawl in now with our blankets," suggested Max. + +"What! don't we keep watch any more, or wake up one of the others to take +our place?" Owen demanded. + +"Stop and think; what's the use?" chuckled Max. + +"Glory! that's so. The performance is over for this night, anyhow. Guess +you're about right, Max; and I do sure feel mighty sleepy." + +So both boys managed to find the places reserved for them under the canvas, +and slipped in without disturbing their comrades. + +Steve was rolled up in his blanket very much after the manner of a mummy. +Max cast a sharp look that way, and even bent over Steve as he arranged +himself in his rather cramped quarters. + +"Seems to be sleeping as sound as a bug in a rug," was his mental comment, +as he caught the even and natural breathing of the suspected chum. + +The balance of the night passed away without any further alarm. + +When morning came Toby and Bandy-legs took Max to task because he had not +called on them to serve as sentinels over the camp. + +"Owen and I looked to that all right," Max laughed back. + +"Then you are sure nobody made a sneak on us and got away with the second +batch of prizes?" + +It was Bandy-legs who put this question. Both Toby and Steve seemed +intensely interested in the answer. + +"Sure, why, of course, we are," replied Max, confidently. "Nobody who +didn't belong here had a chance to poke his nose into our tent last +night." + +Toby and Bandy-legs declared themselves satisfied with this assurance. As +for Steve, though he made no remark on the subject, his face seemed to +indicate contentment. + +"Is it because he thinks he wasn't seen?" Max kept asking himself, +uneasily; but found no answer. + +The plans for the morning were soon arranged. + +Steve was to pilot Owen to the river over the trail he and Max had made. +And at the last moment Toby begged for a chance to accompany the +expedition. + +"I w-w-want to show that I w-w-wasn't the Jonah yesterday," he remarked, +after Max had said he could be spared. + +"Oh! rats!" spluttered Bandy-legs, whose turn it was to attempt the +cooking; but Max thought he did not seem quite as cheerful as ordinarily. + +Max himself really meant to have a try in the marsh for woodcock, as they +were known to frequent the low ground when feeding. + +So the three boys went off, each with his empty bag, which he hoped to +bring back partly filled with mussels, some of which might develop prizes +when finally opened up. + +Bandy-legs pottered around the fire for a while, but Max could see how +unnaturally he acted. + +"That boy's got something on his mind, it is dollars to doughnuts," he +kept saying to himself, as he watched the nervous movements of the new +cook. + +This uncertainty caused him to postpone his departure in search of the +only game available at that time of year. He thought he would hasten +developments, and bring Bandy-legs to the point. + +"Something bothering you a bit, old fellow?" he remarked, presently. + +The other looked around uneasily. + +"Sure they won't come back on us yet a while, eh, Max?" he asked, eagerly. + +"No danger of that," assured Max. "You can say what you want, and nobody +will hear you." + +"Oh! Max, it's dreadful," began Bandy-legs. + +"What is?" asked the other, though a sudden suspicion of the truth flashed +through his mind. + +"About Steve. How could he be so mean?" Bandy-legs went on. + +"Hello! what do you know about it?" demanded Max. + +"_I saw him!_" answered the cook, shaking his head in a dolorous +fashion. "Say, I've been thinking it over all the time. I was awake when +you and Owen came in. And somehow, Max, I just feel awful about it. He must +be half crazy to do such a thing." + +"Perhaps he is," admitted Max, cautiously. "But look here, do you mean you +were awake last night, and saw what Steve did? Is that it, Bandy-legs?" + +"Yes. And, Max, he put the pearls in our old coffee pot, would you believe +it?" the other went on, excitedly. + +Max took out the stout little pocketbook which was intended for silver. As +he opened this he remarked: + +"Hold your hand, Bandy-legs." + +"Good gracious! two, three beautiful pearls! Say, are they ours, the first +one as well as the other two? And how did you get hold of them, Max?" cried +the other when he could catch his breath. + +So, of course, Max had to tell him the whole story. + +"And we must keep mum about it till you play your hand; is that it?" asked +the wondering and awestruck Bandy-legs, at the conclusion of the recital. + +"Try and forget all about it, and act just the same as usual toward Steve," +said Max. + +The other agreed to do his best. + +"But, Max," he added, "I'm awful sore over it. Steve Dowdy was never known +as having light fingers all the time I went to school with him. Fact is, +only that I saw him do it with my own eyes, nothing could make me believe +Steve a thief. Oh! it's just rank!" + +Max sauntered off, gun in hand, while the cook busied himself about the +fire. Bandy-legs had brought his wonderful cookbook along. This contained +dozens of recipes given him by the black "mammy" at home. These Bandy-legs +had written out after his own idea as to what should be used. But, perhaps, +he may have misunderstood the directions in some cases; and the most +astonishing results were apt to follow his attempt to surprise his +campmates with some new dish calculated to tickle their healthy appetites. + +He heard Max fire frequently. + +"Run across game, all right," chuckled Bandy-legs as he worked on +industriously. + +Eating in all its phases appealed to Bandy-legs; and the very thought of +game for supper tickled his fancy. + +When Max did show up later on he was carrying a very nice little bundle of +the long-billed woodcock with their attractive breasts. + +"How many?" demanded Bandy-legs, turning away from the fire where he had +something boiling furiously. + +"Count and see," laughed Max, placing his shotgun against a tree, and +sitting down to rest. + +"Just five," remarked Bandy-legs, presently; "say, that was mighty kind of +you not to skip me, Max. One apiece all around, eh? Wow! I hope now my book +tells just how woodcock are to be done, for blessed if I know a thing about +it. To tell the honest truth, I don't recollect ever having seen the +gamy-looking bird before." + +"We'll manage that part of the programme all right, never fear, Bandy-legs. +Pretty near time for the boys to be showing up, ain't it? Hey! something's +boiling over and trying to put out the fire." + +With a whoop Bandy-legs made a wild dash for his station, and apparently +managed to "save his bacon," as Max called out, laughingly. + +Presently the sound of voices told that the rest of the camping party had +arrived. + +Each of them seemed to be carrying something of a load on his back. + +The catch was heaped in a pile, and Bandy-legs left his fire long enough to +admire the product of the morning "wading act." + +"Get ready for dinner, you fellows," he remarked, with a trace of anxiety +in his voice. + +The rude table was set with the usual tin cups, pie pans for plates, +knives, forks, and spoons. In addition there was a pile of bread, some +cheese and crackers, part of a boiled ham, a mess of cold rice left over +from the previous day, and a dish of hot Boston baked beans. + +"Bring on the coffee," sang out Steve, sitting down. + +"S-s-say, what you got in the p-p-pot?" demanded Toby, suspiciously. + +"A surprise," grinned Bandy-legs. + +He filled four bowls with something from the pot and set them before his +chums. It had a queer odor, and the boys sniffed at it first, looking +toward each other. + +Toby was the first one bold enough to put a spoonful into his mouth. + +"Yum-yum!" he seemed to gurgle, and the others took this as an indication +of approval, for immediately the three followed the example set by the +"taster." + +At once shouts and laughter went up, as every boy, even including the +artful Toby, made haste to get rid of his mouthful as fast as possible. + +"Ugh! what a horrible mess!" cried Owen. + +"What did you fool us for, Toby?" demanded Steve. + +"Huh! t-t-think I w-w-wanted all the t-t-taste to m-m-myself?" demanded +Toby. + +"But whatever did you put in this stew to make it taste so funny?" +demanded Max. + +"H-h-hope he didn't p-p-poison us?" broke out Toby. + +"Why, I only put some salt in it," explained the cook, greatly broken up +over his first attempt at "surprising" his chums. + +"What did you take that salt out of?" asked Owen. + +"This little glass jar here; but what're you grinning at? Ain't it salt at +all?" demanded Bandy-legs. + +"Taste it and see," Owen fired back. + +The cook did so, and made a wry face. + +"Baking soda!" he gasped; "and I spoiled my stew." + +"And burnt it in the bargain," laughed Max, remembering the boiling-over +episode; "but there's plenty to eat besides. So pitch in, boys, and after +we get through we'll see what sort of luck you had this morning." + + + +CHAPTER XII + +DANGER AHEAD ON THE TRAIL. + +"Look at Steve!" + +It was Owen who muttered these three words in the ear of his cousin. + +"Yes, I've been keeping an eye on him," replied the other, uneasily. + +It was to be expected that those who had gone off on the morning hunt for +shellfish would show more or less eagerness to get at their catch, in order +to learn just what sort of luck had attended their labors. + +But long before either Toby or Owen had finished eating, Steve hurried over +to the pile, and squatting down, tailor fashion, began opening mussels. + +Just as the rest began to leave the vicinity of the fire they heard him +give a shout. + +"Say, looky there at Steve--he's dancing around like a wild Injun!" cried +Bandy-legs. + +"B-b-bet you he's f-f-found a jim-dandy p-p-pearl," spluttered Toby. + +All of them hastened over to where their comrade was carrying on so +extravagantly. + +"What you got, Steve?" demanded Bandy-legs. + +"The best one yet, sure as you're born," and with these thrilling words +Steve opened his palm. + +It was certainly a larger pearl than any they had yet found, and presented +a more imposing appearance. + +All of them crowded around to admire, and many were the pleased expressions +which the young pearl hunters gave vent to. + +"Couldn't hardly believe my eyes when I saw that beauty lying in the +shell," remarked the excited Steve; "and the funniest part of it all is I +picked up that shell myself." + +"How d'ye know that?" asked Owen. "There were two others along, perhaps +you remember." + +"Sure," laughed Steve, as pleased as a child, his eyes beaming, and his +face flushed. "I'll tell you how it is, fellows. Notice this queer mark +like a five-pointed star on the shell? I remember stopping to look at it +after washing the mud off the outside. Gee! little did I suspect what I was +holding in my hand." + +"G-g-guess not," wabbled Toby. "If you d-d-did I just reckon you'd +g-g-gone ashore and b-b-b-b--" + +Of course, when Toby floundered in the depths one of his chums as usual +pounded him on the back vigorously; but that would not have wrought a cure +only that the unfortunate stutterer managed to give his whistle, and then +cry triumphantly: + +"Busted it open--there!" + +"You just bet I would," admitted Steve. + +"Say, we forgot to notice something," declared Bandy-legs. + +"As what?" asked Owen. + +"Whether the shells of those other oysters that held prizes were also +marked with a star," Bandy-legs went on; at which the balance of the crowd +laughed uproariously. + +"What d'ye think of that?" cried Steve. "He expects that when a mussel +starts in to grow a nice healthy pearl he scratches a star on his shell to +let the hard-working hunter know when he's struck a bonanza!" + +"Oh! my, how k-k-kind," chuckled Toby. + +"Anyhow," asserted Bandy-legs, stoutly, as he held the shell in question in +his hand, "me to keep tabs when I'm doing the grabbing act this afternoon. +And I give you all fair warning that if I do run across a shell with the +star, I'm going ashore to open the same." + +"Good luck to you, then," laughed Steve. "Here, Max, take charge of this, +won't you, and put it with the rest of our prizes? I want to keep on +opening shells, and see if my luck holds out." + +Max and Owen exchanged a quick look. + +Apparently Steve was perfectly sincere when he gave utterance to this +natural remark. Their bewilderment grew more and more, and both boys, as +well as Bandy-legs found it impossible to understand what it could mean. + +Max walked back to the tent as if meaning to deposit the pearl in the +haversack along with the others. Of course he would really slip it into his +little leather coin purse where the three valuable pearls already reposed +in safety. + +"What d'ye make of him, Max?" + +Owen asked this question as he bent over his chum, while the other was +making a great pretense of handling the haversack. + +"Ask me something easy, please," the other replied, shaking his head from +side to side. + +"What bothers me is to understand why he called out, and let us all know +he'd struck a find," Owen continued. + +"Same here," Max added. + +"You'd think that if Steve was the thief he seemed to be, his first act +would have been to quietly pocket this big pearl, and just keep mum. Ain't +it so, Max?" + +"Seems that way," came the ready answer. "To do that would save a heap of +trouble in taking it out of the bag while the rest of us slept." + +"But perhaps Steve really enjoys that exciting part of the business," +suggested Owen. + +"Do you know, a thought struck me, though I can't take much stock in it," +Max went on. + +"Let's hear it, anyhow," remarked his chum. + +"Well, in order to make sure of the valuable pearls here, I'm putting them +away in my private purse. Well, what if some notion like that has struck +our comrade, and he's hiding 'em unbeknown to us, either for a trick, or +to make doubly sure they don't get lost." + +Owen sneered plainly, as if to express his disbelief in this far-fetched +theory. + +"It's just like you to try and screen a chum, old fellow," he observed; +"but the idea seems too thin for me to take any stock in it. To tell the +truth, I'd call it fishy. It won't wash, and you know it." + +Max sighed as he closed the bag that really held only the three next to +worthless pearls. + +"Own up," persisted Owen; "say that you just can't believe such a thing +yourself, much as you'd like to." + +"Yes, it is so; there must be some other explanation that we haven't +struck yet. But I believe I'm on the right trail. Don't ask me any more, +Owen. To-night will see the answer, I reckon." + +"Hope so," grunted the other, and from his manner it was plain to be seen +that Owen did not share the sanguine spirit of his chum. + +"Now let's go back and see if there's anything doing with the rest of the +fresh-water clams," suggested Max. + +But, although every shell was opened and carefully examined, only a couple +of seed pearls were found, not worth mentioning alongside the four fine +ones. + +"Anyhow," said Toby, as the last mussel was passed, "it wasn't a s-s-skunk. +We g-g-got one b-b-bully old p-p-prize, didn't we, Steve?" + +"Me to look for the star brand of mussels!" declared Bandy-legs; "they're +the only kind worth toting to camp over that long trail." + +It was Max and Bandy-legs who started out shortly after, bent upon new +conquests. + +"Look out for him, Max," said Owen; "don't let him throw away all he finds, +just because they don't happen to bear the star brand." + +"Oh! I'm not that big a silly," chuckled Bandy-legs, starting off; "come +on, Max." + +Max saw a chance to remark in a low voice to his cousin: + +"He knows all about it, and has promised to keep a close tongue." + +"Then you told him when you were alone here this morning?" remarked Owen, +and his tone announced that he doubted the propriety of confiding in +Bandy-legs. + +"That's where you're away off," chuckled Max. "Fact is, he began to tell +_me_ about Steve going to the bag in the middle of the night, and +hiding something in the old coffee pot." + +"You don't say?" exclaimed Owen. "How the dickens would Bandy-legs know +about that?" + +"Happened to be awake and saw it all. So I thought I'd tell him what we +knew, so as to make him keep a close mouth. I guess he won't leak, Owen." + +"Then Toby is really the only one out of the secret?" Owen went on to say. + +"Yes. And there's no use telling him--yet. Time enough to-night when we +spring the trap. But I'm off now, after Bandy-legs. So long, Owen." + +"Be mighty careful about that coin purse," warned the one who was to stay +in camp during the afternoon. "It would give me a big pain if you let it +drop out of your pocket while you were wading in the river." + +"Can't. I've fastened the pocket up snug with a big safety pin," chuckled +Max. + +He soon caught up with Bandy-legs, who was following the now plainly marked +trail that stretched through the forest between the river and the camp. + +Arriving at the water's edge Max soon decided that it might pay them to +work a little lower downstream. + +So both removed most of their clothes and started to tread for the mussels +that lay concealed in the mud or sand of the river's bed. + +Max was very careful to make sure that the little coin purse was safely +pinned inside his shirt. He would not have risked leaving that ashore for +a good deal. + +An hour passed. + +"I see you've picked up quite a little load," remarked Max, as the two +pearl hunters happened to come close together while continuing their work. + +"All of two dozen, I reckon," grunted Bandy-legs. + +"Many marked with the star brand?" asked Max. + +"Shucks! never a single one, the more the pity," replied the other, +grinning. "Still, I live in hopes. Found one that's got a cross on the +shell. Might be that's another mark to tell how the old hermit inside has +taken to hatching out a pearl." + +"Well, let's make one more try of, say half an hour," proposed Max. + +"All right," agreed the other. "It's getting a little tiresome, I tell you. +And I cut my toe on a sharp shell. Sing out when the time's up, Max. Here +goes to try along that point. Looks promising there." + +"Yes, because some sort of a bar sets out from the shore. I'll head that +way, too, only covering different ground." + +Max kept up the good work until the time limit had been reached. By then +the two boys had about all the load they cared to carry over the trail to +the camp. + +"Hope nobody holds us up on the way, and makes us hand over all we've got," +suggested Bandy-legs. "Not that he'd get much out of me, because +thirty-seven cents is about the limit of my fortune now; but I'm thinking +of them pearls you carry, Max." + +"I've still left the coin purse pinned on the inside of my shirt," remarked +Max; "so the chances are he wouldn't be apt to find it on me." + +They finished dressing, and, throwing the partly filled gunny sacks over +their shoulders, started back along the trail for camp, Max in the lead. +"Huh!" remarked Bandy-legs, as he trotted along at the heels of his +companion, "the fun about all this thing is the uncertainty of it. Ain't +that so, Max?" + +"It sure is," replied the other, without turning his head. "Here we are, +toting over five dozen mussels on our backs up and down, in and out, and +we're just in a state of blissful eagerness and suspense. Perhaps we carry +a prize worth a whole vacation of sport; and then, again, chances are we +draw a blooming blank." + +"All right," remarked the cheerful Max, "no matter how things turn out +from now on, I don't see that any of us ought to kick. We've got four +pearls that are bound to give us many times as much as we really hoped to +earn. And that's enough to make us happy." + +"It sure is, because now we'll be able to carry out all of those bully +plans we made. Wow! I c'n hardly believe it ain't all a dream, Max," and +Bandy-legs drew a long sigh, as if trying to assure himself that he was +really awake. + +"You'll begin to believe it when we send off for our motorcycles, and map +out the summer campaign," laughed Max. + +"Glory be! that makes me thrill all over. If it does come to pass, won't we +be the luckiest crowd that ever came down the pike?" assented Bandy-legs. + +"Oh! I'd hardly say that," remarked the other. "We've worked for all we've +got so far. The idea was, after all, the main thing, and we owe most of +that to my cousin Owen reading so much about how these pearls are found in +Indiana and Missouri streams." + +"Oh! take care, Max!" suddenly cried Bandy-legs. + +"What is it?" demanded the other, instantly. + +"Danger ahead; because I saw somebody poking a head out of the bushes +there," Bandy-legs went on, breathlessly. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MAX PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN. + +Max instantly dropped his sack of shellfish. + +He had picked up a good stout stick, which he used as a cane while walking, +poking ahead in every clump of bushes where it was possible a snake might +lie coiled up in waiting. + +Bandy-legs had followed suit, and he, too, flourished a substantial hickory +staff, which looked capable of doing good work in a pinch. + +"Now where did you see all this?" asked Max. + +"Over yonder where that thick vine crawls all over things," came the +quivering answer. + +"All right; let's investigate then," suggested Max, as he took a bold +forward step. + +At this demonstration Bandy-legs gasped. + +"Say, are you really going to tackle him, Max?" + +"Oh! I don't know," replied the other, carelessly, yet with a firm ring to +his voice, and a determined look on his face. "If he's lying in wait to +ambush us, we might as well turn the tables around, and start the ball +rolling ourselves." + +"But--gosh! he might have a gun!" suggested Bandy-legs. + +"Let's hope not," Max went on, cheerfully; "because that would be unfair, +as we've left all our shooting-irons in camp. Anyhow, it might pay us to +put a bold face on the matter. So come along, Bandy-legs." + +"W-w-who's afraid?" gurgled the other, trying to look and act like his +chum, though the effort was not wholly a success. + +Accordingly the two boys advanced straight toward the clump of bushes +bordering on the camp trail, and which were overrun by the luxuriant vine. + +"There he is again, Max!" hissed Bandy-legs. + +"Yes, I see him; and I reckon now that it's only that half-grown boy again, +after all, Bandy-legs." + +The other gave a sigh, perhaps of relief. + +"Guess you hit the nail on the head that time, when you said what you did; +because it's sure enough no big-bearded man waiting to hold us up. Wonder +what he wants with us, Max?" + +"Don't you see he's beckoning right now?" asked the other, in a puzzled +tone. + +"That's right; but please go slow, Max." + +"Why do you say that?" demanded the other, keeping his eyes on the eagerly +beckoning boy who was emerging from the thicket. + +"Might be a trap, you know," Bandy-legs went on. "Heard about such things. +The little critter may be just toling us on like they train a dog to do +down in the duck regions along Chesapeake Bay." + +"Oh, rats!" Max remarked. "That look of terror on his face ain't put on. +You mark my words, Bandy-legs, he's in a hole of some kind, and wants us +to lend him a hand, see?" + +"But where's the hole?" asked the other. + +"Oh! come off, won't you? I mean he's in trouble. But here we are, and +we'll soon know." + +As Max said these last words he allowed a reassuring smile to creep over +his face. He realized that the ragged boy was in some condition of genuine +distress; and Max had too kind a heart to even dream of adding to the poor +lad's mental agony. + +"Hello! who are you, and what's the matter?" he asked, as they drew up +alongside the smaller boy. + +"I'm Jim, mister, an' I'm in a heap o' trouble," the boy said, with an +effort. + +"Well, Jim, we want to be friends," Max went on. "Suppose you tell us what +it's all about, won't you?" + +Something in his cheery tone, as well as the kind expression upon his face, +seemed to give renewed confidence to the poor little chap. + +This may have been the first time a stranger had ever spoken to him after +such a fashion. Perhaps he had had a cruel experience with the world, and +was accustomed to looking upon all strangers as enemies. + +But, now, the look of fear left his face, though there still remained that +expression of agony. + +"Reckon as how he's goin' tuh cash in, stranger," he said; and Max grasped +the meaning of his words, although they were next door to Greek to +Bandy-legs. + +"Who do you mean by saying he?" asked Max. + +"Dad," answered the forlorn specimen, drawing down the corners of his +mouth. + +"Is he sick?" continued Max. + +"Nope. Got hurted bad. Falled down a big drop. Reckon like he's a sure +goner," the boy whimpered. + +"Where is he now?" the other asked, briskly. + +"In our shack. He done crawled part way, an' wen I diskivered him I helped +drag him home." + +The lad said this latter a little proudly, as though he wanted these boys +to understand that while he might look thin and puny, still he was not +lacking in pure grit, and the ability to "do things." + +"What do you want us to do, Jim?" asked Max. + +"I seed yuh goin' along hyah, an' I thort as how p'r'aps yuh wont come over +an' see dad. He's got a leg broke, that's flat; but yuh see he feels so +pow'ful bad inside he's 'feared he's hurt thar. Cain't yuh come 'long with +me, mistah?" + +Not for a moment did warm-hearted Max hesitate. + +"Sure we will. Lead the way, Jim. I suppose you can bring us back here +again to get our bags of mussels," he said, promptly. + +"I sartin kin, an' I will, mistah," replied the boy, a faint look as of +hope appearing on his brown face. + +"But, Max--" whispered Bandy-legs, plucking at his companion's coat sleeve. + +"What ails you?" asked Max, impatiently. + +"Is it safe, d'ye think?" demanded the other; "wouldn't it be better for us +to go on to camp, pick up a gun, and then join Jim here?" + +"You can, if you want to," said Max; "as for me, I'm going to believe in +the story he tells." + +But he did not throw away the stout stick which at the time he chanced to +be carrying. + +The boy had turned around. He wanted to see what they meant to do, and a +new dread seemed to be gripping him. + +But when Max once again started forward, Bandy-legs, as if a little +ashamed of his suspicion, kept him company. + +Thus, following the uncouth little fellow closely, they began to pass +through a very dense section of forest. + +Max considered that since they were going to all this trouble in order to +do a good deed, it might be as well to learn a few things. + +Accordingly he quickened his pace, so that he drew up alongside Jim. + +"What's your dad's name, Jim?" he asked. + +The boy seemed to hesitate, as though even in his young mind he doubted +the propriety of giving away family secrets. + +"Calls hisself Tom Jones, mistah," he finally replied; but Max readily +understood that the chances were the man had another name, which he did not +like to own, as possibly it was connected with a prison sentence, or some +crime. + +However, Max did not allow himself to feel any sort of curiosity in this +direction. It was enough for him to know that the unfortunate man had +fallen upon evil days, and was lying there with a broken leg, perhaps even +dying, and far removed from all doctors. + +"We've seen signs around that made us think you were collecting these +mussel shells," he went on. + +The boy nodded his head in the affirmative. + +"No use denyin' it, mistah, 'case yuh'd see our shack wen yuh git thar, +anyways," he muttered. + +"And you've been thinking we'd come up here to beat you out in the game--is +that it?" Max continued. + +Another vigorous nod, and a gloomy look answered him. + +"Well, that's where you're away off, Jim," Max went on. "We don't care for +the shells, and you're welcome to all we happen to gather, after we've +taken out and eaten the meat. I suppose your dad means to get a load down +the river, and sell the same to some factory that manufactures pearl +buttons?" + +"Yep. An' we was a gettin' heaps o' 'em; but if dad he draps off, it's all +busted," Jim replied. + +His manner told Max that at least he must cherish a certain amount of +affection for his father. + +"Ain't we nearly there?" grunted Bandy-legs, who had proven clumsy, so that +several times, catching a foot in some concealed creeper, he had almost +fallen flat. + +"Jest a leetle bit furder, mistah," replied Jim, eagerly, as though he +feared that these new-found friends might grow suspicious or weary, and +desert him in his time of great need. + +Five minutes later and they stepped into a little open space. The hill rose +abruptly before them. Max realized that they must be close to the camp of +the shell gatherers, even before he saw this opening, for he could detect +an odor in the air far from delightful, and which he knew must come from a +collection of hundreds and hundreds of shells, many of them possibly +recently opened. + +Jim's father had found a natural cave under a great shelf of rock that +jutted out from the base of the hill. + +Here the two were safe from the violent summer storms; and with a couple of +worn blankets, a few cooking utensils, and a scant allowance of food, they +were able to carry on the business of gathering the fine shells, with their +mother-of-pearl lining, so necessary in the button trade. + +Several piles of shells caught the eyes of the two boys as they approached +the strange camp. + +Max, however, looking farther, discovered a form upon the ground, partly +covered by a blanket. + +A dreadful suspicion came over him that the man might have died while Jim +was seeking help. This, however, was speedily dissipated, for he saw "Tom +Jones" raise himself on one arm and stare hard at them. + +Fear was in those burning dark eyes, such fear as might be shown by a +fugitive from justice, one who believed every honest man's hand was +raised against him. + +But Max would not allow himself to even think of this. The poor fellow was +in trouble; he needed help the worst kind, and it was no business of theirs +to ask questions. + +"We've come to see if we can help you, Mr. Jones," he remarked, in his +customary cheery tone, as he bent over the injured man. + +"Jim got yuh, did he?" muttered the other. "Knowed 'twar the on'y thing tuh +be did, no matter wat follered." + +"Make your mind easy, because there's nothing going to follow. Now, it +happens that even if I am only a boy, I've always had an itching to be a +surgeon some day. So I know a little about setting broken bones. I'm going +to play doctor, if you'll let me, Mr. Jones." + +As Max said this he stripped off his coat. The boy watched him in awe, +while the man showed signs of newly awakened hope. + +For quite some time Max examined his patient, even turning the man over so +that he could test his ribs thoroughly. + +"Now I'm going to set that leg the best I can, with splints to hold it. +After all it's a simple fracture a little way above the ankle. Those black +and blue marks don't count for anything, Mr. Jones. Make up your mind +you're going to pull through nicely. You were lucky, for it might have +been much worse." + +"But I'm sore up in the body," said the man. + +"Yes, you're bruised some, and I expect a rib or two may be broken. But +they'll mend all right. Don't worry for a minute. I'll come and see you +again once or twice before we go back to town. And I'm going to send you up +some things from the store." + +The man could hardly express his gratitude, but Max saw tears in his eyes. +He was ragged and wore a rough beard, but his face was not unkind. And Jim +seemed to set considerable store by his father, which would indicate that +the boy was not abused. + +"Gettin' shells, too, I reckon?" the man remarked, as Max shook hands with +him preparatory to leaving. + +"Well, no," replied Max, and then, obeying a sudden inspiration, he went +on; "it might pay you after this to carefully examine the _inside_ of +every fresh-water clam you gather, because we've found some good pearls +that are worth ten times as much as all your shells. Good-by, Tom Jones. +I'm coming again to-morrow to see you, and bring some coffee and bacon. +Now, Jim, show us the way back to where we left our sacks." + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SETTING THE MAN TRAP AGAIN. + +Jim was only too delighted to act once more as guide. + +The look of fear had quite left his face, and both Max and Bandy-legs saw +that after all the poor little chap was rather a decent-looking boy. + +"Say, is he agoin' tuh git well, mistah?" he asked, turning when they were +once more fairly on the way back to the trail leading to the camp. + +"Sure he is, Jim," answered Max. + +"But he'd 'a' gone dead on'y for you uns comin' tuh help. Reckon as how we +orter be kinder 'bleeged fur doin' this away," went on the boy, awkwardly +trying to prove that he knew what gratitude meant. + +"That's all right, Jim," Max smilingly said. "Perhaps he wouldn't have +died on account of his broken leg, but he'd never walked again without a +limp. But look here, don't you say another word about it, Jim." + +"But--" + +"Because," Max went on, quickly, "it's been a pleasure to me to attend your +dad. I'm wanting to be a surgeon some day, and every little bit of practice +helps. Now, if you don't mind, we'd like to know something about you, Jim. +Where'd you come from? I never saw you or your father around Carson, which +is the name of the town where my chum here and myself live." + +The boy actually turned red in the face. His confusion told the sharp-eyed +Max that there must be some sort of unpleasant story connected with the +past. + +"Hold on, Jim, I take that back," he hastened to say. "It's none of my +business, and you needn't tell me anything about what you've been through." + +"But I jest has tuh, 'case it's been a-burnin' in here ever so long, an' +never anybody tuh tell," and Jim slapped his hand on his breast as he +spoke. + +"Oh! well, please yourself, Jim," Max observed, seeing that the confidence +would really satisfy the boy, who had evidently never known a friend in all +his life, save his wandering father. + +"And, Jim," put in Bandy-legs, seriously, "just you make up your mind that +we'll never whisper a word of what you tell us to a living soul, eh, Max?" + +"That's a sure thing," replied the other. + +Jim fell back a little, so that he might be closer to these two splendid +friends, who were already assuming the rôle of heroes in his eyes. + +"'Tain't so bad, I reckons," he started in to say. "Yuh see, dad, he never +done as they sez. Lots o' times he tells me as how sum other man he tries +tuh rob that ole farmer. But they ketched him in our camp, an' totes him +tuh the farmhouse. I heerd 'em say as how they means tuh kerry dad tuh town +an' hev him shut up, when mawnin' kims along." + +The boy drew a long breath. His eyes flashed with the memory of the wrongs +that had been heaped upon his father; and Max chuckled with glee to see +that after all he had more or less "spunk" in his small body. + +"I take it from what you say, Jim, that you weren't made a prisoner at the +same time they nabbed your father?" he remarked. + +"Naw," replied the boy, "I chanct tuh be away from camp jest then, yuh see. +Wen I kim back I seed three big men a-hustlin' dad along, an' him a-saying +all' ther time he never done nawthin'." + +"Of course you followed them?" said Max. + +"Yep. They wasn't nawthin' else tuh be done," came the answer, as the boy +grinned a little. + +"Bet you he helped his dad skip out, Max," was the suggestion Bandy-legs +put up. + +"Did you, Jim?" demanded the other. + +"I sartin did that same, mistah," came the prompt reply, a little proudly. +"Seen whar they done locked dad in the smokehouse. Tried the door, but it +wa'n't no go. Then I started tuh tunnel under the wall." + +"Well, I declare! What d'ye think of that, now?" exclaimed the wondering +Bandy-legs. "Ain't he just the little boss schemer, though?" + +"And did you succeed--did you get your dad out all right?" asked Max. + +"I sartin did. Took a heap o' time, I tell yuh. Reckon 'twas nigh mawnin' +wen he crawled through the hole, an' we lit out foh the woods." + +"And since that time you've been in hiding, afraid to show yourselves in +any town?" Max continued, bent on knowing all the particulars, for he had +taken a decided interest in little Jim. + +"Yep, we jest stuck tuh the woods," the other went on to say. "Dad, he +'membered hearin' some feller say as how these yer shells was wuth money, +if so be they cud be gathered in heaps. An' so yuh see we ben gatherin' 'em +right along." + +"How'd you ever get feed?" asked Bandy-legs, whose mind always traveled to +this very important question. + +"Dad had jest a leetle money, left over from his last job," Jim replied. +"Then we set traps an' ketched a few rabbits. I fished some, too. Reckon +we managed tuh get along. Lots o' times, though, I was that hungry I cud +'a' et a raw turnip." + +"You say your father worked--was he a farm hand?" Max asked. + +"Naw. Dad he's a travelin' printer, an' a good un, too, mistah. But he jest +cain't stay ennywhere long. He's got gypsy blood, yuh see, and the travel +bug he sez is in his body. So arter a little we gets out on the road again +tuh see the sights." + +"A traveling printer, eh?" remarked Bandy-legs; "say, that's kind of queer +now. Reckon he'd strike a job if he dropped in on Mr. Robbins, the editor +of the _Carson Weekly Town Topics_." + +"What makes you say that?" demanded Max. + +"Because I chanced to hear him say his typesetter was bound to leave him in +the lurch, and he didn't know where he'd get a man by the first of the +month," Bandy-legs replied promptly. + +"There, do you hear that, Jim?" remarked Max. + +"Yep. But reckons as how it ain't a-goin' tuh do we uns any good," answered +the boy, dejectedly. + +"Why not? By that time your dad's leg ought to be fairly well. And a couple +of us boys could take him down to Carson soon in one of our boats." + +Jim looked into the face of his kind friend while Max was speaking. There +were tears in the little chap's eyes. + +"Reckon yuh done forget, mistah!" he sighed. + +"Now you mean about the trouble your dad fell into on account of that old +farmer; is that it, Jim?" demanded Max. + +The boy nodded his head in a forlorn fashion. + +"How long ago was this, Jim--about a month?" Max asked. + +"Reckon she be all o' that, mistah." + +"And did you hear the name of the old farmer whose house had been robbed, +Jim?" + +"I never done forgot that. I seems tuh heah it whispered by every leetle +wind thet blows. Wenever I waked up in the night it kim a-stealin' along +past the ledge o' rock, an' makin' me shiver, I tell yuh. He was a orful +hard-lookin' ole man, mistah." + +"But perhaps not quite so hard as he seemed, Jim. Was that name Griffin, +Jim?" asked Max. + +"Yep," piped the boy, shivering; "an heah's them two bag o' mussels, jest +whar yuh left 'em." + +"All right, Jim. I didn't expect they'd be stolen. Now listen to what I say, +Jim." + +"Yas, suh." + +"When you go back to your dad tell him I said he needn't be afraid to show +himself in Carson, or any other town around these diggings; because the +tramp who robbed old Griffin's place was caught, and all the stuff found on +him!" + +"That's right," interrupted Bandy-legs, anxious to have a part in the +developments; "and I saw the Chief of Police bring him into town, too. He +was sure a tough-looking case. Your dad looks like a gentleman beside that +hobo thief." + +"Old Griffin is a just man," Max went on. "I'm sure he's felt sorry for +treating your father as roughly as he did, without having any evidence +against him. And if you two showed up at his place to-day chances are he'd +take you both in and give you jobs." + +"But," said Bandy-legs, "there ain't no need of that. I'm bent on seeing +Tom Jones get that vacancy on the local paper." + +"Is Tom Jones your father's real name?" asked Max. "You needn't be afraid +to say, Jim, because nobody is going to harm him now." + +"It's Thomas Archer. He kin talk jest as good as you kin, wen he wants tuh +to do it. But the fellers we tramps with done lawf at him, so he larns tuh +talk like they does. But yuh done makes me happy, tell yuh, mistah. Glad +now I waited on the trail foh yuh." + +"You belong down South, don't you, Jim?" asked Max. + +"Reckon Nawth Car'liny was the place I was borned into this world, suh, but +I don't jest see how yuh guessed that," the boy answered. + +"Never mind. Suppose you trot along with us to our camp now. I'd like to +send back a few things, like coffee and bacon, for your dad and you." + +Jim could only clutch the hand of Max when he said this and squeeze it. But +the other felt something moist drop on the back of his hand, and was sure +it must be a tear. + +The boys were once more taken in charge, and their interrupted march along +the trail resumed. + +When they entered the camp various were the exclamations of surprise from +the three who had been left in charge. + +Of course a perfect rain of questions followed, and for some time both Max +and his fellow laborers in the shellfish industry were kept busily +employed answering these interrogations. + +Finally, as the sun was sinking low, Jim was allowed to depart, fairly +laden with the various good things which the campers insisted on sending +to the unfortunate tramp printer. + +"We can spare them easy enough," Max had remarked. + +"Sure we can, and more, too," echoed Owen. + +"B-b-besides, we've b-b-been so lucky, you k-k-know, in our hunt for +p-p-pearls, we ought to be g-g-g-g--" + +Again came the usual pounding on the back, which produced no results; but +as soon as Toby could pucker up his lips, so as to whistle, he immediately +calmed down enough to shout at the top of his voice: + +"Generous--there!" + +"Well, I should say we could," observed Steve, rubbing his hands together +exultantly. "Even if we did lose that first beaut of a gem, haven't we +still got three elegant ones? And perhaps you fellows may have fetched the +mate of the lost one along in this last batch. You never can tell." + +Max could not help looking toward Owen, who raised his eyebrows after a +peculiar fashion that could only stand for bewilderment. + +Steve certainly had these three loyal chums guessing. But Max was fully +determined that the mystery must not remain such over another night, if he +could arrange matters so that the solution might be hastened. + +To this end he presently started to assist Bandy-legs open their catch of +the afternoon, Steve and Toby being engaged in getting supper. + +Another prize rewarded their search, a pearl not so fine as the one Steve +had discovered, but so perfect in shape, and so milk-white in color, that +they agreed it ranked with any of the rest in value. + +So Max was very careful to wrap this last prize up in some paper, and +thrust it into the haversack, with all his comrades looking on, especially +Steve. The latter stared as usual, as though fascinated by the sight of the +beautiful gem. + +"He'll try again, my word on it," whispered Bandy-legs in the ear of Max; +whereupon the other put a finger on his lips to enjoin silence. + +The five boys spent the evening as usual in merry conversation and song. +All seemed to be in high spirits, even Steve joining with a vim in the +school songs so dear to their hearts. + +Then, as the hour grew later, they began to yawn; and first Toby crawled +inside the tent, then Owen, and finally Steve, Bandy-legs, and Max. + +Apparently the idea of keeping guard over the camp had been abandoned, now +that they knew Jim and his father were honest. + +A long time passed, with only the heavy breathing of the boys to disturb +the silence. The fire, prepared by Max ere he turned in, continued to burn +briskly. + +It must have been midnight again when Owen felt the hand of his cousin +shake him, and, raising his head a little, he saw that there was something +doing. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE MYSTERY SOLVED--CONCLUSION. + +Steve was on his hands and knees, and apparently in the act of getting to +his feet. + +Strangely enough he did not seem to show any sign of nervousness or +caution; and Owen looked in vain to see the suspected thief glance +suspiciously around, as though to observe whether his comrades were all +sound asleep at the time. + +Bandy-legs did not stir, and, judging from his heavy regular breathing, he +must have dropped asleep, despite his intention of staying awake. + +The exertions and excitement attending that afternoon tramp had proven too +much for Bandy-legs, and neither of the others thought it worth while to +awaken him. + +Truth to tell, both Max and Owen were staring at Steve, holding their very +breath with surprise. + +The other had by now reached the pole of the tent to which the strap of the +haversack was attached. They could plainly hear him grumbling to himself as +he thrust his hand inside. + +Drawing out the little wad of paper in the midst of which Max had secured +the latest find, Steve could be seen carefully closing the bag again. + +He did not look around once to see if he was observed, a fact that puzzled +Owen greatly; but passing over to where the cooking outfit lay he calmly +picked up the extra coffee pot, raised the lid, pushed the packet in with +the other stuff that seemed to lie hidden there, and once more placing the +strange pearl bank down, Steve made his way back to his blanket. + +He stepped over the forms of Toby and Bandy-legs while so doing, and never +once touched them with his feet. Max believed he could hardly have +duplicated the act, and his astonishment increased accordingly. + +Steve seemed to give a satisfied grunt as he settled down again under his +blanket. It was about what one would emit after having felt that he had +done his duty. + +Owen heard Max laughing softly to himself. + +"What does it all mean, Max?" he whispered, as he heard Steve begin to +breathe regularly once more. + +"Tell you in the morning," replied the other. "Too long a story for now. +Besides, I want Steve to be around at the time, you see." + +"That's mean of you," grumbled the disappointed one. + +"Can't help it; go to sleep and don't worry, Owen." + +"But, say, hadn't we better make sure of that last pearl? It goes against +my grain to have such valuables kicking around in old coffee pots," Owen +protested. + +"Shucks! then you didn't see me palm the pearl. I put a pebble in place of +it. Right now that pearl is in my coin purse, keeping company with the +rest," and Max chuckled again as he snuggled down under his blanket. + +"Gee! you're a wizard, all right," said Owen, in a whisper, as he +reluctantly followed suit. + +No doubt he lay awake for a long time, puzzling his head for a solution of +the mystery. But the balance of the night passed, and morning found the +boys wide awake, hungry, and ready for another day at the delightful task +they had set for themselves. + +It was when breakfast was about over that Max chose to spring his little +surprise. + +Steve had just announced his intention of being in the party that would +follow the trail to the river that morning. + +"Hope I duplicate my luck of yesterday, fellows," he was saying, with a +big sigh, when Max, leaning forward so as to catch his eye, remarked: + +"By the way, Steve, do you happen to remember having any odd little +tricks as a kid--anything that'd be apt to give your mother and father +cause for anxiety _in the night_?" + +Bandy-legs, who had been secretly told concerning the happenings of the +night, held his breath; Owen, too, immediately assumed an eager look, and +Toby, not knowing what it was all about, stopped eating, and listened. + +"In the night--we have tricks, you say? Now, whatever in the wide world can +you mean?" asked the apparently astonished Steve. + +"Well, like walking in your sleep let's say," continued Max. "Did you ever +do such a thing, Steve?" + +The other grinned and looked a little foolish. + +"I sure did, when I was a kid, and it's a fact, fellows," he admitted. +"But, say, I've been cured of that a long time." + +"You _think_ you have, you mean?" Max persisted, while Owen and +Bandy-legs exchanged a look of intense relief, now beginning to grasp the +theory that Max was working along. + +"Haven't done any stunts that way for nearly five years, give you my word, +boys!" declared Steve, looking a little worried at the same time. + +"Oh! yes, you have, Steve," laughed Max. "You've fallen back into your old +bad ways again, it seems. For the last few nights you've been prowling +around our camp here, and giving me the biggest shock ever." + +"You don't say?" exclaimed the other. "What did I do, Max. Tell me right +away, please." + +"Well, you seemed to have our precious pearls on your mind all the while." + +"Good gracious! I hope now I didn't try--say? did I go anywhere near that +old haversack?" demanded Steve, plainly embarrassed. + +"Every time, straight for it," replied Max. + +"And took something out?" pursued Steve. + +"Your one object," said Max, "seemed to be a terrible fear that some thief +might rob us. And so as to block this little game you set out to hide the +pearls in a new place." + +"As where?" demanded the astounded Steve. + +"Remember the second coffee pot we fetched along? Well, you hit on that as +the new hiding place"; and even as Max spoke, the other, scrambling to his +feet, hastened over to where the spare cooking utensils lay. Coming back +with the extra coffee pot he proceeded to drag out its contents. + +When the papers and the little cardboard box that contained pink cotton had +all been opened, with the result that only the pebble and the few less +valuable pearls were found, Steve stared in dismay. + +"Oh! they're all gone!" he cried, hoarsely. "I've lost the whole bunch, +just because I kept thinking about them so much, and worrying about their +being stolen. Whatever will we do, Max?" + +"We don't have to do anything," replied the other, with a laugh, as he drew +out his coin purse; "because I've got every one of the little beauties safe +right here." + +"Even the one that was lost first of all," spoke up Bandy-legs, as though +proud to show that he had been in the secret right along. + +Steve's hand trembled when Max emptied the little white objects into his +palm. And perhaps there were tears in his eyes, even as there was certainly +a suspicious quiver to his voice as he went on to say: + +"That's a low-down trick of mine, boys, and this time it came mighty near +blocking all our fine plans by losing the pearls that are going to get us +the money we need. Don't ever leave anything valuable lying around while +I'm in camp. It works on my mind, I guess. Ugh! ain't I glad you saw me do +it? How tough we'd feel if none of us could give a guess where the blessed +little things had gone. Here, put 'em away again, Max. It sure ain't safe +for a feller with my failing to be handling such pretty things." + +Max, of course, did put them away securely. But his heart as well as those +of Owen and Bandy-legs felt much lighter. + +Now that suspicion had given way to a knowledge of Steve's sleep-walking +weakness, they could look out in the future, and guard against such a +thing. + +And all of them were happy in the conviction that their comrade's fair name +had been entirely cleared, for Steve would have been sorely missed had he +been dropped from the list of members in the club. + +Although those who went out returned with a fair bag, no reward followed +the opening of the bivalves. + +"P'r'aps we've cleaned up the old river, and there ain't another pearl to +be found," suggested Bandy-legs. + +The others were loth to accept this view of the case; and for several days +they searched industriously for the now elusive fresh-water clams. + +"Guess we'll have to call it off," remarked Max, when on the third day the +hunters came back with a scant dozen mussels, none of which yielded a +profitable harvest. + +"But seems to me we've got all we need, and several times over," Owen +declared, positively. + +"All in favor of returning to Carson to-morrow hold up a hand," suggested +Max. + +He saw four hands instantly raised. + +"That makes it unanimous," he laughed; "and I guess I can see what ails you +all. It's how much are we going to get for our catch; and will the money +buy the five motorcycles we're aiming to get." + +"Likewise supply us with a fund to purchase grub while on our trip," +remarked Bandy-legs. + +"Hear! hear!" sang out Toby, who always agreed with his rival whenever the +question of eating arose. + +"I've an idea we don't need to worry about that," declared Owen, +confidently. + +"What about Jim and his daddy?" asked Steve. + +"We'll have to make a stretcher, and carry the man down to our boats," +replied Max. + +"His leg is knitting bang-up," asserted Owen, as he cast a proud look +toward his cousin and chum. + +"Well, let's get busy here, so we can leave early in the morning," Max +remarked, hastily, for he was modest, and did not like praise. + +They set to work with a vim, and the packing was speedily accomplished. + +Then in the morning all the stuff connected with the camp was carried down +to the river and carefully loaded in the two boats, which, of course, were +found safely just where they had been left. + +After that, Tom Archer was carried on a rude litter, and made comfortable +in one of the boats. + +It was about the middle of the afternoon when the little expedition reached +Carson. + +One of the Ted Shafter gang saw them come in and managed to get word to his +leader, as well as Shack Beggs. The three gaped to see a lame man carried +to a wagon, and asked many questions; but had to restrain their curiosity +until the story became known through the community. + +When it was learned that the mussels along the Big Sunflower had yielded up +a number of fine pearls, said to be quite valuable, everybody in town, and +not a few eager men in the bargain, set to work searching the adjacent +waters. + +But, apparently, Max and his chums must have about exhausted the mine of +good luck, for when every mussel within twenty miles of Carson had been +caught, the result was so meagre that the searchers gave up the new +"get-rich-quick" game in disgust. + +True to their promise the boys saw the editor of the weekly paper, and just +as soon as he was able to limp, with the aid of a crutch, to the print +shop, Tom Archer began work at the case. + +He vowed he would try and curb his roving spirit so that little Jim might +have a chance to get some schooling in the Fall. + +And both Jim and his father declared they owed more than words could +express to Max, who had brought light when the darkness was greatest. + +What about the pearls? + +Well, two of them were taken into the city and pronounced as fine as any +discovered through the famous fresh-water pearl industries located along +the rivers of Indiana and other States. + +When Max told the amount that was deposited in bank to their credit, his +four chums were fairly wild with delight. + +"Let's send off right away for our motorcycles and get started on our +trip!" cried Steve, impatiently. + +"And be sure to get mine with a short tread, because, you know, I haven't +got the reach the rest have," observed Bandy-legs, cautiously. + +In due time the five motorcycles were ordered, and then a period of anxious +waiting followed. + +What wonderful plans these five chums had in view when the machines finally +arrived, and had been fairly mastered, will be given in detail in the pages +of the next volume of this series to be entitled: "The Rivals of the +Trail." + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's In Camp on the Big Sunflower, by Lawrence J. 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