He just let go and fell; it's Bible oath, Captain-- it's Bible oath.

That's how it happened; he just--let go--and fell.
I saw it with my very eyes, and--Captain, it was your knife." To this effect John, with great difficulty and a nervous shifting stare that wandered from the Captain to me until it finally rested somewhere out at sea.
The Captain gave a sharp keen glance, smiled softly, set his thin lips together as though whistling inaudibly, and turned to me.
"So you know John, my boy?
He's a good fellow, is John; just the sort of quiet, steady, Christian man to make a good companion for the young.

No swearing, drinking, or vice about John Railton; and so truthful, too--the very soul of truth! Couldn't tell a lie for all the riches of the Indies.

Ah, you are in luck to have such a friend! It's not often a good companion is such good company." I looked helplessly at the model of truth to see how he took this tribute; but his eyes were still fixed in that eternal stare at the sea.
"And so, John, you saw him fall?
'Who saw him die ?'--'I,' said the soul of truth, 'with my little eye'-- and you have very sharp eyes, John.

However, the poor fellow's gone; 'fell off,' you say?
I don't wonder you feel it so; but, John, with all our sympathy for the unfortunate dead, don't you think this is a good opportunity for reading the Will?
We three, you know, may possibly never meet again, and I am sure our young friend--what name did you say?
Jasper ?--I am sure that our young friend Mr.Jasper would like the melancholy satisfaction of hearing the Will." The man's eyes were devilish.