"I smell bacon!" cried Bandy-legs, as he sat up hurriedly.
"And that must sure be the odor of c-c-coffee that comes s-s-stealing in here!" declared Toby, bounding erect.
Soon the four were floundering about in the cool waters of the Big
Sunflower.
They did not prolong their bath because Owen had declared breakfast almost ready. As Bandy-legs remarked, they could take a dip at any old time; but breakfasts only cropped up once in every twenty-four hours.
And, hence, it was not long before they were seated around the table, enjoying the bacon and fried eggs, hominy and coffee, that the cook of the morning had provided; flanked by an abundance of home-made bread and country butter.
The conversation turned from one subject to another. First it was the chance of their being discovered and annoyed by the crowd that ran with Ted Shafter. Then came talk of the mysterious shell gatherers, whose secret industry the sudden coming of the Ranger Boys might interfere with.
Max was several times tempted to bring up the subject of the pearl, just to find an opportunity for asking Steve if it had been a bad dream that sent him from his warm blanket to make sure the little packet was safe.
Then he decided to hold back just a little longer, and let one of the others start the ball rolling.
No doubt Steve would volunteer a satisfactory explanation without being prodded, given time.
Sure enough, it was Bandy-legs who brought the conversation around to the subject of the pearl.