Frederick didn't remember falling. He remembered holding onto the rigging as the wind picked up, and a moment later, being under water.
He was a strong swimmer, but the wind was whipping up the waves, and he would drown if he didn't get something to hold onto soon. A board tied to a rope splashed down in the water a few feet from him, and he grabbed on. He was coughing as they hauled him back onto the deck.
"You gave us a scare!" the captain told him.
"Just don't tell my mother!" was all that Frederick thought to say.