"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.