"I did, sir," said Joe the steward, as he closed the door. "I was stowing the jib in its netting with Pedro Barradas," he continued, in a low voice, as if afraid to be overheard. "Mr. Manfredi was standing on the topgallant forecastle, holding on by a rope and directing us. Our heads were stooped over our work, when all of a sudden we heard a cry. On looking one way, I saw him falling into the sea; on looking another, I saw a man in his shirt-sleeves, armed with a capstan bar, slipping down into the forecastle bunks."
"A man?" repeated the listeners.
"Did he strike him overboard?" asked the captain.
"We supposed so," replied Joe, in a whisper, and glancing furtively at the skylight.
"We."
"That is, Pedro Barradas and I. He laughed—"
"The mutinous villain!"
"And tried to stop me from shouting to put the helm down."
"Did you see the man's face?"
"No, sir."