"On fire—where?"
"Over there. She's going down. You'll have to hurry or you'll get caught in the suction. Look over the side and you'll see the fire coming right up out of the sea."
Sam Hickey dashed to the side of the ship and leaned forward to peer over. He did not know that the rope railings had come down at the first alarm in order to facilitate putting over the rafts and other deck equipment.
When Sam leaned, there was nothing to lean upon. The result was that he toppled right on over.
"Man overboard!" came the familiar cry. "Cast the life rings."
"Look out below there. Man overboard!" roared an officer through his trumpet.
"Where away?" answered a voice from the boats down in the darkness.
"He fell over from topside," answered another.
"Who is the man?"
"Seaman Hickey."