Meanwhile, at twenty minutes past eight, the Sapper's Hill signaller had reported more smoke on the horizon; and, a quarter of an hour later, as the _Kent_ steamed to the harbour entrance, the captain of the _Canopus_ reported this to be proceeding from two ships about twenty miles off, the two first sighted {66} being now little more than eight miles away. Three minutes afterward yet another column of smoke was signalled from Sapper's Hill; and the _Macedonia_ was ordered to weigh anchor on the inner side of the other cruisers. It was now evident that von Spee was arriving in force, probably with the whole of his squadron; and, at twenty minutes past nine, the _Gneisenau_ and _Nürnberg_ were seen, broadside on, training their guns on the wireless station. By this time, however, at less than seven miles distance, they were well within range of the _Canopus_, who anticipated them by firing a salvo over the low-lying tongue of land that sheltered her. None of this first shower of 12-inch shells seems to have been effective in damaging the enemy; but it no doubt confirmed for the German admiral the presence of the _Canopus_ in the harbour; and both the _Gneisenau_ and _Nürnberg_ were at once observed to alter their course. For a moment it appeared as if they intended to approach the _Kent_ at the harbour entrance, but, a few minutes later, they wore away with the evident intention of joining their comrades. Both cruisers were now visible from the upper bridge of the _Invincible_; and the tops of the _Invincible_ and _Inflexible_ must have been equally apparent to them; though it still seems uncertain whether they had positively identified yet the two great cruisers that spelt their doom. Meanwhile, in the harbour, every preparation was being pushed forward with the utmost speed. At twenty minutes to ten the _Glasgow_ weighed anchor and steamed down the harbour to join the _Kent_. Next to the two battle-cruisers, she {67} was the speediest vessel in the squadron, and her orders were to observe the enemy. Five minutes later, the _Carnarvon_ put out, followed by the _Inflexible_, _Invincible_, and _Cornwall_, the two big battle-cruisers burning their oil fuel, prudently spared for the occasion that had arrived.