four o'clock
gasped Nilsson ; ` take my key and do what I say , or else -- ' `` But at this moment the order was given to go aloft and set all plain sail ; the three men went off to their respective posts , Nilsson going up the fore-topmast rigging , and the other two to the main-top . Having finished their work aloft , Foucault and Parratt who were both in the port watch , came down on deck , and then , it being their watch below , they went and turned in . `` When they turned out with their watch at midnight , they looked about for Nilsson , who was in the starboard watch , but he was nowhere to be seen . Thinking he might have slipped below unobserved , they made no remark , though they were very uneasy about him ; but when the starboard watch came on deck at four o'clock , and Nilsson did not appear with his mates , the two men became alarmed , and made inquiries about him . It was now discovered that no one had seen him since eight o'clock on the previous evening , and , this being reported to the officer of the watch , the latter ordered all hands to be called . But still Nilsson did not appear . A thorough search was now instituted , both below and aloft , and as there was still no sign of the missing man , it was concluded that he had fallen overboard .