"Over the top, of course. What's more, the foot of the sail was hanging over the after part of the yard, in a bight."
Stubbins was plainly surprised at that, and before he was ready with his next objection, Plummer spoke.
"'oo saw it?" he asked.
"I saw it!" I said, a bit sharply. "So did Williams; so—for that matter—did the Second Mate."
Plummer relapsed into silence; and smoked; and Stubbins broke out afresh.
"I reckon Tom must have had a hold of the foot and the gasket, and pulled 'em hover the yard when he tumbled."
"No!" interrupted Tom. "The gasket was under the sail. I couldn't even see it. An' I hadn't time to get hold of the foot of the sail, before it up and caught me smack in the face."
"'ow did yer get 'old er ther gasket, when yer fell, then?" asked Plummer.
"He didn't get hold of it," I answered for Tom. "It had taken a turn round his wrist, and that's how we found him hanging."
"Do you mean to say as 'e 'adn't got 'old of ther garsket?," Quoin inquired, pausing in the lighting of his pipe.