All hereabouts the fishing-ground is good, we don't need to carry on." The order was given to reduce sail, and the men lay out on the topsail yards.

I noticed that my friend Fred Borders was the first man to spring up the shrouds and lay out on the main-topsail yard.

It was so dark that I could scarcely see the masts.

While I was gazing up, I thought I observed a dark object drop from the yard; at the same moment there was a loud shriek, followed by a plunge in the sea.

This was succeeded by the sudden cry, "man overboard!" and instantly the whole ship was in an uproar.
No one who has not heard that cry can understand the dreadful feelings that are raised in the human breast by it.