What we have now to settle, is how that opportunity is to come about.
"To begin with, has anyone a dagger or knife which has escaped the eye of our searchers ?" No one replied.
"I was afraid that nothing had escaped the vigilance of those who appropriated our belongings.

As, however, we have no weapons or tools, the next thing is to see what there is, in the hold, which can be turned to account.

It is fortunate we are on board the Pluto, instead of being transferred to another ship, as we already know all about her.
There are some iron bolts driven in along a beam at the farther end.
They have been used, I suppose, at some time or other for hanging the carcasses of animals from.

Let us see whether there is any chance of getting some of them out." The iron pegs, however, were so firmly driven into the beam, that all their efforts failed to move them in the slightest.
"We will give that up for the present," Francis said, "and look round for something more available." But with the exception of the water casks, the closest search failed to find anything in the hold.
"I do not know whether the iron hoops of a cask would be of any use," Matteo said.
"Certainly they would be of use, if we get them off, Matteo." "There is no difficulty about that," one of the others said, examining the casks closely.

"This is an empty one, and the hoops seem quite loose." In a few minutes, four iron hoops were taken off the cask.
"After all," Matteo said, "they cannot be of much use.