Now that suspicion had given way to a knowledge of Steve's sleep-walking weakness, they could look out in the future, and guard against such a thing.
And all of them were happy in the conviction that their comrade's fair name had been entirely cleared, for Steve would have been sorely missed had he been dropped from the list of members in the club.
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.
"But seems to me we've got all we need, and several times over," Owen declared, positively.
"All in favor of returning to Carson to-morrow hold up a hand," suggested
Max.
He saw four hands instantly raised.
"That makes it unanimous," he laughed; "and I guess I can see what ails you all. It's how much are we going to get for our catch; and will the money buy the five motorcycles we're aiming to get."