eight o'clock
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 . `` But at eight o'clock two men were sent aloft to shake out the fore-royal . They reached the yard almost simultaneously , and were just stepping on to the foot-ropes when one of them gave a shout ; then the pair came sliding down a backstay , with faces as white as tallow . As soon as they reached the deck , they took the officer of the watch forward , and , standing on the heel of the bowsprit , pointed aloft . Several of the hands , including Foucault and Parratt , had followed , and all looked up ; and there they saw the body of Nilsson , hanging on the front of the fore-topgallant sail .