"There's another thing, Stubbins," I said. "The gasket Tom was hanging
by, was on the after side of the yard. That looks as if the sail might
have flapped it over? If there were wind enough to do the one, it seems
to me that it might have done the other."

"Do you mean that it was hunder ther yard, or hover ther top?" he asked.

"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