"Not at all," protested von Giespert. "If we fail, the responsibility is mine. You are acting under my orders. If we succeed in sinking the yacht, as I believe we shall, then it's merely a question of diving and recovering the gold. We would know its position to a certainty this time." He stopped to make a rapid calculation. "How do we stand in, Herr Kapitan?" asked one of the men. Von Giespert, who was on the point of offering twenty per cent of the proceeds, came down to ten. Inwardly he vowed that these swinish fellows of his would pay for their temerity in trying to beard him in his den. "Very well, Herr Kapitan," agreed the spokesman. "One tenth of the proceeds in addition to our wages, and you'll please to sign a paper absolving us from all blame in the matter of the collision." Muttering angry oaths, von Giespert drew up and signed a document to that effect and handed it to the leader of the deputation. The men withdrew, and for the present at least the trouble had blown itself out. At eleven on the following morning smoke began to issue from the _Zug's_ funnel. Half an hour later steam was raised, and by noon the safety-valves were lifting under the internal pressure. The chief engineer reported that all was ready; but no answering clang of the bridge-telegraph was transmitted to the engine-room. Von Giespert, on the bridge, was hesitating. "What is the glass doing?" he inquired. "It has risen a point since six this morning, Herr Kapitan," reported the quartermaster. Von Giespert shrugged his shoulders. He had not even the excuse of approaching bad weather to delay him. With feelings akin to those of a man about to plunge into icy-cold water he leant over the bridge stanchion-rail. The bos'un in the fo'c'sle had already shortened cable and was awaiting the command to weigh. The kapitan nodded. At the signal the steam capstan began to clink. "Up and down, sir," announced one of the men, and a few moments later the rusty stockless anchor came into view. "Easy ahead." The _Zug_ began to forge through the placid water, increasing speed as she passed through the gap in the reef. Von Giespert turned to the quartermaster. "Ost zu sud," he ordered. That course, east by south, was the course for Nua Leha. CHAPTER XXXI Exit the "Zug" "What's that made fast to the shot-line, old man?" inquired Beverley, as Villiers, divested of his helmet and diving-dress, sat in the stern-sheets of the boat that von Giespert had unwittingly given over to the _Titania's_ people. "That?" replied Villiers. "I dunno. Ballast, I expect. There are tons of it down there. Wonder if it's lead?" "If so, it's a fortune for anyone who can get it back to England," observed Harborough, unclasping his knife and digging the point into the block of metal. "Tough for lead," he commented, "and yet too soft for iron, unless the stuff's badly corroded. By Jove! Villiers! I believe--yes, I'm sure--it's silver."