The pilot was a sailor, and he knew how to make all the more common knots, though he would not have passed for an able seaman. He worked away very industriously till he had made a slip-noose, and assured himself that it was in working order by repeated trials. There was no interruption to his work, and in a short time the lasso was ready for service. As an experiment, he tried it on Felix, and lassoed him at the window. Scott was not a ranchman or a _gaucho_, but he handled the lasso with considerable skill. As a boatman he had had experience in heaving lines, and he appeared to have made good use of his opportunities. The two sentinels at the windows had nothing to report, for Gray did not come aft again. The steamer was now headed for the New Mole light, Morris ascertained. "I should like to know a little more about your plan before we go any farther, Scott," said Louis, for the pilot had developed it only as he procured the line and adjusted it for use. "Do you mean to lasso the Scotchman on the deck?" "While he is on the deck, but not while I am there," replied Scott. "I am going on the hurricane deck, where I shall lie down so that he cannot see me. I shall have the line all ready, and when I get Gray in the right position, I shall lasso him around the neck." "But do you think he will let you do so? He is a powerful man, and when he gets hold of the rope with his hands, I am afraid he will be more than a match for you in a hard pull," suggested Louis. "But I don't expect to do this thing all alone. When I get him in the trap, it will be time for you three fellows to come in and take a hand in the game. We must have some lines so that you can tie his hands behind him, as he served us. I don't believe he carries any knife like the Spaniards, and you can try the moral effect of your revolvers." "But I would not shoot him, and no other fellow must do anything of the sort," protested Louis. "I should rather let the affair go through to the end as arranged by the smugglers than have a drop of blood on my conscience." "We are not exactly doing this thing to save our own life or limbs, for I think we are safe enough," added Scott. "Just now we are at work for the Spanish government, trying to capture those who are engaged in robbing the country of its revenues. I spoke only of using the revolvers for their moral effect, and I am not in favor of shooting anybody." "Very well, then that is understood; and Morris and Felix will govern themselves accordingly," replied the leader. "But we have to look ahead a little farther than making a prisoner of Gray. Francisco at the wheel and Pedro in the engine-room are to be served in the same way." "Do you mean to lasso them?" "They are hardly in a position to be captured in just that way; but four of us can easily dispose of them, one at a time," answered Scott. "Then there are Diego and Lucio on board of the schooner," suggested Louis.