The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-09-16

been sufficient in his case, why did
you come here, and why do you try
to drive us off. who are only on q
peaceful journey as pirates, seeking
our fortuneT'
Pirates" he exclaimed. 'Just what
l thought. What's the use my leasin'
the pearl fer mile along here if any
body can come and camp and 20 to
work. right alongside o me? If old
Farmer Snider, that owns this land.
hadn't gone to town I'd have the law
on ye. Me payin' my money in and
getting no protection. Fishins rotten
too!'
now perceived that we had en-
countered one Of those half nomad
characters. fresh water pearl fisher
man. such as those who. for some
years, with varying fortune. have
combed the sand bars of our inland
river for the fresh water mussels
which sometimes, like oysters. secrete
valuable pearls or nacreous bits known
as slugs.
II know the law" said l. Farmer
Snider can not lease the highway Of
yonder river where the Sea Rover
passes But I know also the law of
the wilderness. One trapper does not
intrude on another who has first locat-
ed his country. We will pass on to-
morrow. Meantime. If you don't mind.
we will 60 with you to your camp
and see how you do your work. Please
forget that we have had any trouble
He looked at me oddly. evidently
thinking my mind touched.
We found that we were upon a little
island between two shallow arms of
the stream. The camp of the pearl
have I seen or smelled SO foul place
for human habitation. The one large
tent served as shelter and rude avn
ing sheltered the ruder table in the
open air. But directly about the tent
and all around it in every direction lay
heaps of clam shells, most of them
opened. some not yet ready for open
ing. l had smelled the same odor-and
had not learned to like tin faroff
Ceylon. at the great pearl fisheries of
the orient. The "clammer" seemed i'm
mune.
Presently he introduced to us a wo-
man, very old extraordinarily forbid
ding of visage and unspeakably pro-
fame of speech who emerged from the
tent; his mother, he said. 1t seemed
that they made their living in this
way, clamming as they called it, all
the way from Arkansas to the upper
waters of the Mississippi
explained to Lafitte and L'Olonnois
that we were now come into the neigh
borhood Of possible treasure, and the
sight Of a few pearls. none of very
great worth, which the old crone pro-
duced from cracker box was enough
to set off Jimmy L'Olonnois, who was
all for raiding the place.
What" he Kissed to me in an aside.
did we not spare his life? Then the
treasure should be ours"
wait, BROTHER" said l. 1--WE shall
see what we shall see." And quieted
Latitte also, who was warlike at the
very sound Of the word pearl. "Them's
what they take from the Spanish
ships" said he. pearls is fifteen for
ladies' fair. And here is pearls"
"Wait, brother" demanded of him.
For | was revolving something in my
mind. | presently accosted the clam
mers.
LISTEN said l; you say business is
bad"
1T certainly and shorely is assented
the old dame, fishing Il black pipe out
OF her pocket and proceeding to feed
1t from another pocket
"Well, now, let me make you a
proposition said /. taking glance at
the heap Of fresh shells which lay be-
yond the racks of trolling lines and
their twisted wire hooks. by means
OF which dragging apparatus the mus
sells are taken-shutting hard on the
wire when it touches them as they lie
feeding with open mouths-"you've
quite a lot of shell there, now"
yes but what's in it? Button fac
tories all shut down with strike. and
no market, and, as for pearls. they
amt none. Blame me for carryin'
grouch?'
"Not in the least But what will
you take for your shells and agree 10
open them for US. at wages of S. a
day."
Both of us?'' he demanded shrewd.
ly. smiled and nodded. Its more
than you average, twice over" said l.
land you say the stream is no good.
Now |. too, am a student of the great
law Of averages, because l am or was
director in great life insurance
company. You say the luck is bad.
Like other adventures. say that un-
der the law Of averages it is time for