"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.