McGlory's joy shone in his face. Here was a chance to get down the river in style, and all that stood between Matt and the trip was the ruby.
"Can't you run the motor, Mr. Pardo?" asked Matt.
"Don't know the first thing about it," was the answer. "You see, I haven't had time to learn. This is my first trip in the Iris, and I haven't had much chance to pick up a knowledge of her machinery. It's my idea that every man ought to know how to run his own boat—and I'll know it, too, before I'm many days older. But, just now, I've got to have some one. What do you say?"
Pardo noticed that Matt was not especially eager to help him out.
"If you can just get me down to New York," he pleaded, "that's all I will ask. If you have to come back to Catskill for anything, you can come on the train in the morning. You won't be away very long, and it will be a big accommodation to me. I'll pay you well for your trouble, too, if that will be any inducement."
"Better go, pard," urged McGlory. "I don't think your business will suffer any. We can be back here by nine in the morning, if we want to."
It was hardly likely, as Matt reasoned the matter out, that Tsan Ti would present himself and ask for the ruby before he and McGlory could get back from New York. The opportunity to make a little money in a pleasant way was appealing, for the king of the motor boys had long desired to have the run of the engine room on a big power boat.
"What time do you want to start, Mr. Pardo?" Matt asked.
"At nine, this evening," was the reply. "If you can help me out, you'd better arrange to be aboard at, say, eight-thirty. The Iris is close to the day-line dock, and you can't help but find her."
"How much are you willing to pay for the trip?" queried Matt. "It's just as well, you know, to have all that settled beforehand."