Louis, Felix, and Morris now realized that the smugglers intended to take forcible possession of the Salihé, and their blood was stirred accordingly. All three of them had revolvers in their hip pockets for reasons set forth in the preceding volumes; though Morris had purchased his in London, for the adventure with the brigands in Teneriffe had satisfied his father that it was needed. All three of them followed Gray, and saw that the Spanish boat was again attached to the steamer. Scott looked out for the wheel; but he had gone to the door of the pilot-house, where he had seen all that occurred farther aft. He had been the owner of two revolvers, but Captain Ringgold had ordered them to be taken from him when he was a rebellious character, and they had never been restored to him. He was not armed, therefore, as his companions were; but if there was to be any fighting he earnestly desired to do his share of it, for he was far from being a coward. Under the binnacle in front of the wheel were several tools, including a hammer, two hatchets, and a common hand-saw. From this arsenal of available weapons he selected the smaller hatchet, because it was quite sharp, and the saw. He had heard an old shipmaster who resided near his foster-father give an account of a mutiny which he had suppressed, and his only weapon was a saw such as that he found in the pilot-house. Thrusting the handle of the hatchet through the back of his belt, and with the saw in his hand, he secured the wheel amidships, and hastened aft, following closely at the heels of his three companions on board. Gray stood by the heave-line he had thrown to those in the boat, and which he had made fast at a cleat under the rail. Scott took in the situation at a glance, and noted the place where the line was made fast. But he did not wish to interfere with any plan Louis had made. "I have fastened the wheel amidships, Louis, and I can be with you for a few minutes," said he to the leader. "Gray has dropped a line into the boat, and the Spaniards have made it fast," replied Louis. "All we have to do is to beat them off if we can. I don't like the idea of shooting them;" and he had his hand on his hip pocket. "Here is the line: shall I cut it?" asked Scott. "Yes, if you can." Drawing the rope up to the rail, he chopped it off with a single blow of the hatchet. It dropped on the deck, and was running out when the Scotchman unfortunately discovered what had been done, and seized upon it just before the end of it was going overboard. He could not have done this if Diego and a couple of his companions had not still been holding on at the rail. Gray held fast at the line, passing it around the small iron davit, to a pair of which a little tender was hoisted up, and made it fast. Then he turned upon the four boys who were in the gangway abreast of the cabin, and he was evidently no longer in favor of gentle measures, for he swore at them in a manner to make a Christian weep.