"Motor Matt, king of the motor boys!" he shouted. "Ah, ha, amigo, you are as full of surprises as the egg is of meat."
Captain Pons failed to join Captain Sandoval in his amiable sentiment. Pons shook his fist.
"R-r-rascal!" he shouted. "He is mos' contemptible!"
"Throw over your sea ladder, captain," called Matt; "I want to come aboard and talk with you."
"Gracias!" cried Sandoval. "I am delighted, amigo."
A few minutes later Matt was in the captain's cabin. He had been there once before, but not under circumstances that were very pleasant. On the previous occasion, Captain Sandoval had been hostile and full of unjust suspicions. Now he was more than friendly, and it was Captain Pons who was hostile.
"You heard how those rascally Japs gave me the slip, amigo?" asked Sandoval. "Ah, ah, what a wretched piece of business! It was in a fog, and one could not see his hand in front of his face. Thus they escaped. Ay de mi, it was a blow! I came north looking for the rascals, and I reached Lota last night and found Pons. He told me of the troubles he has been having with the Japs, and since it was my duty to aid him in recovering the Pom, why, I took him aboard and we started north. The British vessel Sovereign gave us a tip, and we followed it to this bay. First, we saw the Grampus; then, all so suddenly, up out of the ocean came the Pom! I trained my guns on her to fire in case the Japs proved unreasonable. Presently, behold, the hatch of the Pom opens and you appear. Wonderful! I can hardly believe my eyes because of the so great surprise!"
"Ah, my captain," broke in Pons, "zis Matt is ze r-ruf-fian, ze villain. He say he no haf ze time to bozzer wiz my little boat, zat he not go hunt for her; now, by gar, we see heem on her deck. He play ze trick wiz me. He do w'at he say he not do. He try steal ze boat, oui, zat is w'at he do. I demand of heem ze satisfaction!"
The captain's eyes became very fierce and he threw back his shoulders and slapped his chest.
"Ah, my captain," said Sandoval, "don't make a mistake. I know Motor Matt, and he is a gentleman. I have given him my hand, my captain, and Captain Sandoval never gives his hand to a scoundrel."