Slowly but surely the Sydney overhauled the Sylph, and at length drew up on even terms with her. Then she forged slowly ahead, drawing closer and closer to her prey. Now, realizing that escape was impossible, the Emden turned. Brought to bay, Captain von Mueller had decided to give battle. "Will we go into action, sir?" asked Jack of Lord Hastings eagerly. "Not unless it is absolutely necessary," replied the commander of the Sylph. "The Sydney can handle the Emden alone." Both lads were disappointed, for they had felt certain, that when the Emden was brought to bay they would have a hand in putting an end to her. "Well," said Jack, "we can at least see the battle." "Right," said Frank, and fortifying themselves with glasses, they took posts of vantage. Now the Emden steamed forward to meet the Sydney, and the Sylph hove to. The crew, relieved from duty, scattered about the decks, seeking advantageous places to witness the encounter. Slowly the two cruisers approached each other. The Emden already has been described, and a few words here concerning the Sydney will not be amiss. The Australian cruiser Sydney carried a main battery of eight 6-inch guns, thus giving her an advantage over the German ship. She had a complement Of 400 men. She was 400 feet long and was much greater in the beam than her antagonist. She carried several smaller guns and a number of rapid-firers. As did the Emden, the Sydney carried two submerged torpedoes. Across the water came the call of a bugle, as the crew of the Sydney made ready for action. She was almost within range now. There was no question but that she outranged the Emden slightly, but the German cruiser was steaming rapidly forward to overcome this disadvantage as quickly as possible. Now there was a puff of smoke from the bow of the Sydney. "Boom!" came the sound of a big gun. The Sydney, within range at last, had opened the battle. CHAPTER XXII THE BATTLE "Now for it!" cried Jack, as the first shell from the British cruiser splashed up the water only a few yards in front of the Emden. A second concussion was heard and an English shell struck the heavy armored side of the German cruiser. The sailors and officers raised a loud cheer. It was first blood for the Sydney, and the sailors aboard that vessel also let out a yell of delight. So far the Emden had not answered the Sydney's fire. However, she was dashing rapidly ahead, seeking to get within range. Two more shells from the Sydney struck the Emden before she finally managed to get within range, and opened fire with the 4-inch guns in her forward turrets. The results of the first salvos from the German guns were nil. The range finders on the Emden had evidently not calculated properly. The water leaped into white sprays ahead of the Sydney, indicating that the Emden's first fire had been wasted.