At daybreak the work of transhipping the cargo was proceeded with before the miasmic mists that hid the shore had dispersed. Two boats were dispatched from the _Pelikan_ to the shore and returned laden with tops of coco-nut trees. Before noon the foliage was stowed below out of sight. Just before high water the _Myra_, being loaded far below her Plimsoll mark, prepared to weigh and ascend the river. Even in her deeply laden condition she drew a good nine feet less than the _Pelikan_, and could negotiate the bar without much risk. The cable was almost "up and down" and the anchor on the point of "breaking-out" when a warning shout came from one of the look-out men on the _Pelikan_. A bugle call for "General Quarters" followed in quick succession. "Hulloa, that's great!" ejaculated Denbigh excitedly. He pointed in the direction of the passage through the reef. Heading for it was a small gunboat. Although the distance was too great for the British officers on the _Myra_ to distinguish her ensign they had no doubts as to her nationality. "She's one of our gunboats," announced O'Hara. His assertion was confirmed by a flash, followed by a sharp bark as the _Pelikan_, unmasking her guns, opened fire upon the approaching vessel. CHAPTER XI Denbigh's Plan At the opening of the engagement the prize crew of the _Myra_ made a simultaneous rush to the tramp's rigging, in order to witness the destruction of the audacious but lightly-armed gunboat. Unter-leutnant Klick and another junior officer hurried to the bridge. Denbigh, O'Hara, and the officers of the _Myra_ found themselves in sole occupation of the deck. "Idiots!" exclaimed Denbigh. "Who?" asked Captain Pennington. "The _Pelikan's_ people. If they had waited another five minutes, they would have found the gunboat jammed up on the bar. As it is she has room to manoeuvre." Even as he spoke, the gunboat let fly with her puny 4-inch bow gun--the only one capable of being trained upon the powerfully-armed raider. Immediately a dense cloud of black smoke burst from the little craft, entirely hiding her from view. "She's got it properly," exclaimed Pennington. Slowly the smoke began to disperse. Into the eddying vapour shell after shell poured from the _Pelikan_. All around the sea was lacerated by the ricochetting projectiles, which threw columns of spray high into the air, the pure whiteness of the artificial waterspouts contrasting vividly with the dark background of smoke. The Germans were shouting madly. It was their way of cheering, but it lacked the inspiring sound of a hearty British cheer. Then, with remarkable suddenness, the uproar of voices trailed away into a silence, broken only by the desultory firing from the _Pelikan_.