"They would hardly buy anything that is so plentiful right close to their homes," Walter objected.
"Oh, I don't know about that," said Charley, thoughtfully. "It's too hard work getting them for some people, I suppose. Others are too busy to take the time from their work, maybe. Likely, a lot more have no boats, and probably there are many who don't know how to get them. There may be something worth considering in Chris' proposal."
"Let's try it," said Captain Westfield. "We don't stand to lose anything but our work."
All went to work with a will and in a couple of hours they had secured ten dozen crab claws, a couple of bushels of clams, and had opened up a couple of gallons of oysters. Chris and Charley took the lot over to Clearwater right after dinner.
In an hour the two were back.
"They sold like hot cakes," Charley declared. "We didn't get over a quarter of the town before we sold out. We got forty cents a dozen for crab claws, fifty cents a quart for the oysters, and ten cents a dozen for clams."
"You robbers!" Walter gasped, in surprise, "they are not worth that."
"A thing is worth what you can get for it," Charley grinned. "Besides, we had to throw in an extra charge for the service, like they do in an expensive restaurant when they charge you two dollars for a fifty cent steak."
"Well, I reckon we can supply them with all they want at those prices," the captain remarked, dryly. "Let's get to work."