[CHAPTER XVI.]
CONCLUSION.
If there was ever a happy man, Townsend was the one. So far from grieving him, the loss of the diamonds appeared to have done him a world of good.
"Py shinks," cried Carl, "dot vas der piggest surbrise vat efer anypody heardt aboudt! Der Man from Cape Town vas a t'ief, schust like Jurgens, und ve haf peen fighding, und vorrying, und making some fools oof ourselufs over a lod of shtolen tiamonts. Und now, ven ve lose our air ship in gedding dem pack, in valks a English feller und takes der tiamonts avay. He geds eferyt'ing und ve ged nodding—but bromises."
"Promises are pretty good things, sometimes," said Townsend, "when they are made by the right sort of fellow. But you and your friends will not be anything out, Motor Matt. This Shirley means to do what is right, and you will be well repaid for the loss of the Hawk and for your time and trouble."
"The loss of the Hawk is the worst of it," mourned Dick. "That strikes me harder than anything else."
"She was a wonderful air ship," said Townsend, "and I don't blame you for feeling cut up over her loss. But Motor Matt can build another."
"I think I will leave the air-ship business for a while," said Matt, "and get into something else. I suppose," he went on, shifting the subject, "that the English detective will see that Jurgens gets the full extent of the law?"
"There's no doubt," averred Townsend, "but that Jurgens will pay dearly for his last attempt to get away with those fated diamonds."
"And if Whistler and Bangs are captured, they'll share the same fate. Officers are looking for them now."