The explosion of a 42-centimetre shell could hardly have produced greater surprise. Beating her rival only by a few hours, the _Zug_ had dropped anchor not at Ni Telang but at Nua Leha, and almost over the spot where the wreck of the _Fusi Yama_ was supposed to be lying. By what freak of fortune had von Giespert's minions chosen that spot, when, had they acted upon instructions given in the false chart, they should have been fifty miles to the west'ard? "That's a nasty one, sir," remarked Villiers, as he gained the deck. "It is," agreed Harborough briefly. He was rapidly forming a plan of action rendered necessary by the totally unexpected turn of events. To enter the lagoon and dispute the right of possession with the rival expedition would almost certainly end in bloodshed, and this Harborough was loth to provoke. Nor was he willing to come to terms with them. On the other hand, he was not going to give up his chances and those of his fellow-adventurers. Something had to be done and that quickly, for in another five minutes the _Titania_ would be visible from the _Zug's_ decks. "Make all plain sail," ordered Harborough. "We'll beat back to Ni Telang. It's possible that we may lure 'em out." Quickly fore and aft canvas was set, and, close-hauled on the port tack, the _Titania_ skirted the western side of the island. It was soon evident that her presence was observed, for with true Hunnish effrontery the _Zug_ gave a long blast on her syren and hoisted the German colours. "So much for the Swedish myth," commented Harborough. "Fritz likes to crow when he thinks he's on top. Now we'll see if the fish will bite." Apparently the _Zug's_ crew were puzzled when the approaching British vessel, instead of turning and entering the lagoon, held on a course parallel to the reef. As a matter of fact, owing to a miscalculation on the part of Captain Siegfried Strauss, the steamer had anchored off Nua Leha, under the impression that she was at Ni Telang. The merest fluke prevented this error from leading to the accidental discovery of the sunken treasure of the _Fusi Yama_. But when the _Titania_ held on, Strauss began to puzzle his brains. If this were the island he could not understand why the Englishmen should admit defeat so tamely. Something was wrong somewhere. He checked his chronometer and sextant readings and revised his figures. Suddenly he gave a howl of angry astonishment. There was an error making a difference of fifty-five minutes of longitude. With an oath he shouted for the cable to be hove short, at the same time ringing to the engine-room to "stand by", ignoring von Giespert (who had joined the ship at Batavia), and was demanding an explanation. "I have the speed of that craft," he decided. "I'll beat her yet." "She's weighing, sir," reported Villiers, who had been keeping the _Zug_ under observation by means of powerful binoculars. "They've steam on her winch." Harborough's rugged features wore a weird smile.