"The best one yet, sure as you're born," and with these thrilling words
Steve opened his palm.
It was certainly a larger pearl than any they had yet found, and presented a more imposing appearance.
All of them crowded around to admire, and many were the pleased expressions which the young pearl hunters gave vent to.
"Couldn't hardly believe my eyes when I saw that beauty lying in the shell," remarked the excited Steve; "and the funniest part of it all is I picked up that shell myself."
"How d'ye know that?" asked Owen. "There were two others along, perhaps you remember."
"Sure," laughed Steve, as pleased as a child, his eyes beaming, and his face flushed. "I'll tell you how it is, fellows. Notice this queer mark like a five-pointed star on the shell? I remember stopping to look at it after washing the mud off the outside. Gee! little did I suspect what I was holding in my hand."
"G-g-guess not," wabbled Toby. "If you d-d-did I just reckon you'd g-g-gone ashore and b-b-b-b—"
Of course, when Toby floundered in the depths one of his chums as usual pounded him on the back vigorously; but that would not have wrought a cure only that the unfortunate stutterer managed to give his whistle, and then cry triumphantly:
"Busted it open—there!"
"You just bet I would," admitted Steve.