Lawrence J. Leslie

“ 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." ”

“ 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!" ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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?" ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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?" ”

“ 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?" ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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?" ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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?" ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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." ”