"Der dust ain't so much here," observed Goldstein, in a tone of relief.
"Ain't so many wagons to churn it up," said Pryne.
Then fell silence again, Matt busy with his thoughts.
Where was Tsan Ti? While Matt was running down the Eye of Buddha for him, what was the Chinaman, to whom the recovery of the ruby meant so much, doing?
These speculations were bootless, and Matt fell to thinking of the glass balls. If Grattan had a supply of them, all the men McGlory could bring would not be able to prevent him from getting away.
Success in the king of the motor boys' venture hung by an exceedingly slender thread.
"It will be hard business to cut it up," came the voice of Goldstein, breaking roughly into Matt's somber reflections.
"Der Eye. When it ain't best to sell precious stones in one piece, then we cut them up."
Matt understood what the Jew was driving at. Large diamonds are hard to market, especially if the diamonds have been stolen. In order to dispose of them they are often cut up into smaller stones.
"You see," proceeded Goldstein, "dis ruby is valuable because of its size, yes. Der size makes all der difference. If it is cut under fife carat, dere vasn't much sale. Anyhow, diamonds is sheaper as they was. I lose a lot of money by der fall in der price of diamonds."
"Here's where we turn from the hill road an' strike out for the sugar camp," remarked Pryne.
He swerved from the steep road as he spoke and drove into a bumpy swath cut through the timber. For half a mile or more they jolted and banged along, then Pryne pulled to a halt.
"I'll hitch here," said he, getting out, "an' I'll leave the rig. The rest of the way we'll go on foot. It ain't fur," he added hastily, noticing the solicitous glance which Goldstein threw at his patent-leather shoes.
"First time I efer come to a place like this to buy precious stones," remarked the Jew, clambering slowly down.
Matt had a bad two minutes waiting for Pryne to hitch the horses and fearing he would come to the rear of the wagon and discover the slashed bag of feed. But Pryne was apparently unsuspicious.
Turning away from the tree to which he had hitched the horses, he called to Matt and Goldstein to follow him.
Their path took them through the old sugar "bush," among maples that were dead and dying and whose trunks were deeply scarred by the sap hunters. Presently an old log building came into view.