"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."