Shortly after midnight the _Zug_ attempted the passage through the reef. By the aid of an Aldis lamp in her bows she cautiously approached the gap in the line of foam that showed ghastly-white in the tropical darkness. But almost at the moment of success Strauss's nerve failed him, and, reversing engines, the German vessel backed away. At length Harborough consulted the luminous dial of his wristlet watch. "It'll be dawn in another ten minutes," he announced. "We'll carry on a little longer than usual on this course, and let them think we've been caught napping." His surmise was correct. The _Titania_ was three miles off the N.E. extremity of the island, when the lofty peaks were lighted up with the blush of a new-born day. The _Zug_, marking time off the entrance to the lagoon, promptly took the narrow channel through the reef, rolling heavily as she passed the jagged fringe of surf-swept coral. Then, with a rush and a roar, her cable tore through the hawse-pipe and she came to a standstill, head to wind, off the Island of Ni Telang. Harborough smiled grimly. "You've hit the wrong island this time, old son," he exclaimed contentedly. "But it was a narrow squeak for us." CHAPTER XVII Nua Leha Twenty minutes later, conned by Swaine from the fore cross-trees, the _Titania_ followed her duped rival into the lagoon. It was as yet too early to pretend to abandon the enterprise. The deception had to be maintained until von Giespert was fully convinced that he was on the right track. A cast of the lead gave fifteen fathoms. "Let go!" ordered Harborough. "Fifteen fathoms will give those fellows plenty to do to search for an imaginary wreck. Give her fifty fathoms of cable, Mr. Villiers; then we'll pipe all hands to breakfast." Meals on board the _Titania_ were always plenteous repasts, for Harborough realized that a well-fed crew meant efficiency and capacity for work; but upon this occasion the breakfast was a sumptuous one. There was no hurry; the primary object of the night's vigil had been accomplished, and the _Zug_ had been enticed a full fifty miles away from the golden cargo of the sunken _Fusi Yama_. So all hands breakfasted in style, after which the watch below turned in and the duty watch began the customary routine. Harborough was enjoying a cigar in the after-cabin when he heard a hail from on deck, "Boat ahoy!" "Thought the blighter couldn't resist the temptation to try and pull my leg," he soliloquized, as he glanced into a mirror to assure himself that his appearance was fitting as captain of a British yacht. "Boat from the _Zug_, sir," reported Merridew. Harborough went on deck to receive his uninvited guests. The _Zug's_ gig was already alongside, manned by four hands in white-canvas suits. In the stern sheets sat von Giespert and Captain Strauss. Von Giespert raised his cap as he came over the side. Harborough punctiliously returned the salute, but feigned to overlook the proffered hand.