That evening von Giespert was a prey to alternate hopes and fears. He upbraided Strauss when the latter suggested that the anchor might have belonged to a vessel that had put into the lagoon and had either parted or had been compelled to slip her cable; and he raved incoherently when Strauss hinted that the British or the Australian Government might have already recovered the treasure and blown up the wreck. Ten hours after the time of her expected arrival the whaler returned from Nua Leha, deeply laden with water obtained at considerable risk and by dint of hard work. "We have found the English ship, _Titania_, Herr Kapitan," reported the man in charge of the watering-party. "Where?" demanded von Giespert. "At the island where we were sent to get water, Herr Kapitan." "What is she doing there?" demanded von Giespert. "She was lying at anchor in the lagoon, Herr Kapitan. All her boats were out, and they had buoys placed round a certain spot." Von Giespert uttered a round oath. "Did they see you?" he asked. "No, Herr Kapitan," replied the man. "We thought it best to be prudent, so directly we sighted the vessel we rowed away and landed on the opposite side of the island. There was water there----" "Never mind about the water," interrupted the owner of the _Zug_. "Is that all you saw?" "We made our way round the island and climbed a hill overlooking the lagoon. Max had his glasses with him. They were diving for something. On the beach were tents and huts, and a pile of boxes. Early next morning we went there again, but the Englishmen were ashore playing cricket. So we did not stop, but filled up with water and set sail. The breeze fell light on our way back----" Von Giespert asked several more questions, then curtly dismissed the man. "Come to my cabin, Strauss," he said abruptly. Behind locked doors the two Huns discussed the disconcerting news. "Huts, tents, and diving in the lagoon," quoted von Giespert. "It's quite certain that Harborough is not killing time there. He's tricked us--tricked us, Strauss." "It looks like it, Herr Kapitan," remarked his second in command. "He must have known when he lured us here." For once von Giespert accepted his subordinate's suggestion without either flatly contradicting or scoffing at him. "That cursed Englishman has been grossly deceiving me," he exclaimed. "It is a breach of good faith, but I'll be quits with him yet." It was a typically German and consequently one-sided view to take. Not for one moment did von Giespert consider that he had not hesitated to employ underhand methods beside which Harborough's ruse was simple in the extreme. The Hun had commenced operations by stealing what he took to be the genuine charts and plans; he had not hesitated to employ physical force in his attempts to cripple the British expedition, and now, like a boomerang, his villainy had come back upon himself. His mind was filled with feelings of rage at the fact that his rival had scored heavily.