The pilot passed out at one of the windows, and his step was heard on the hurricane deck. CHAPTER X LASSOING THE SCOTCHMAN Louis opened the cabin door, and looked out; but he closed it immediately, for the light in the apartment would enable Captain Velazquez to see that it was open, and cause him to suspect that the prisoners had made their escape. The lamp hanging from the deck beam above was a bracket with three lanterns. Felix climbed upon the table which stood beneath it, and took it down. It was then wrapped up in the tablecloth, and placed under the divan, where it could shed none of its light about the apartment. The door was then opened again; but it looked as though Diego had seen the light before, and he was hailing the Scotchman very vigorously. Louis had only time to gather up a handful of lanyards and other lines from a box under the seats in the standing-room before he heard the footsteps of Gray in the port gangway. He retreated, closing the door all but a crack. "What's the matter on board of the steamer?" yelled Diego. "Nothing is the matter," replied Gray, who had not stopped to look in at the cabin windows as he came aft, for the master of the schooner was yelling at him all the time. "The cabin door is open, and"-- And Louis heard no more, for at that moment Scott heaved his lasso, and the Scotchman began to dance about the standing-room, swearing like a smuggler as he was. Louis threw the door of the cabin wide open, for concealment was no longer necessary or practicable. He had hastily supplied his companions with the lanyards and lines he had procured. He rushed out followed by the others. The slip-noose of the lasso had already been drawn tight about his neck, and Gray was roaring like a bull, though his voice had become very husky. [Illustration: "THE SLIP-NOOSE OF THE LASSO HAD ALREADY BEEN DRAWN TIGHT."] He was struggling furiously, with his hands free, trying to release his neck from the pressure of the rope. Louis hesitated, for he realized that a blow from the powerful man would fell any of them to the deck. Scott was tugging at the lasso all the time, pulling and jerking it so that his victim should not escape. Diego, who could not help seeing what had transpired in the stern of the steamer, was still yelling with all his might. Fortunately that was all he could do, and he was permitted to do all he pleased of it. "Don't go near him, Louis!" called Scott from the hurricane deck--"not yet, for he can strike an awful hard blow."