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,"