CHAPTER22
Whointherainbowcandrawthelinewheretheviolettintendsandtheorangetintbegins？Distinctlyweseethedifferenceofthecolors，butwhereexactlydoestheonefirstblendinglyenterintotheother？Sowithsanityandinsanity。Inpronouncedcasesthereisnoquestionaboutthem。Butinsomesupposedcases，invariousdegreessupposedlylesspronounced，todrawtheexactlineofdemarkationfewwillundertaketho\'forafeesomeprofessionalexpertswill。
Thereisnothingnamablebutthatsomemenwillundertaketodoitforpay。
WhetherCaptainVere，astheSurgeonprofessionallyandprivatelysurmised，wasreallythesuddenvictimofanydegreeofaberration，onemustdetermineforhimselfbysuchlightasthisnarrativemayafford。
Thattheunhappyeventwhichhasbeennarratedcouldnothavehappenedataworsejuncturewasbuttootrue。Foritwascloseontheheelofthesuppressedinsurrections，anaftertimeverycriticaltonavalauthority，demandingfromeveryEnglishsea-commandertwoqualitiesnotreadilyinterfusable-prudenceandrigour。Moreovertherewassomethingcrucialinthecase。
InthejuggleryofcircumstancesprecedingandattendingtheeventonboardtheIndomitable，andinthelightofthatmartialcodewherebyitwasformallytobejudged，innocenceandguiltpersonifiedinClaggartandBuddineffectchangedplaces。Inalegalviewtheapparentvictimofthetragedywashewhohadsoughttovictimizeamanblameless；andtheindisputabledeedofthelatter，navallyregarded，constitutedthemostheinousofmilitarycrimes。Yetmore。Theessentialrightandwronginvolvedinthematter，theclearerthatmightbe，somuchtheworsefortheresponsibilityofaloyalsea-commanderinasmuchashewasnotauthorizedtodeterminethematteronthatprimitivebasis。
SmallwonderthenthattheIndomitable\'sCaptain，thoughingeneralamanofrapiddecision，feltthatcircumspectnessnotlessthanpromptitudewasnecessary。Untilhecoulddecideuponhiscourse，andineachdetail；andnotonlyso，butuntiltheconcludingmeasurewasuponthepointofbeingenacted，hedeemeditadvisable，inviewofallthecircumstances，toguardasmuchaspossibleagainstpublicity。Herehemayormaynothaveerred。Certainitis，however，thatsubsequentlyintheconfidentialtalkofmorethanoneortwogun-roomsandcabinshewasnotalittlecriticizedbysomeofficers，afactimputedbyhisfriendsandvehementlybyhiscousin，JackDenton，toprofessionaljealousyofStarryVere。Someimaginativegroundforinvidiouscommenttherewas。Themaintenanceofsecrecyinthematter，theconfiningallknowledgeofitforatimetotheplacewherethehomicideoccurred，thequarter-deckcabin；intheseparticularslurkedsomeresemblancetothepolicyadoptedinthosetragediesofthepalacewhichhaveoccurredmorethanonceinthecapitalfoundedbyPetertheBarbarian。
ThecaseindeedwassuchthatfainwouldtheIndomitable\'sCaptainhavedeferredtakinganyactionwhateverrespectingitfurtherthantokeeptheForetopmanacloseprisonertilltheshiprejoinedthesquadron，andthensubmittingthemattertothejudgementofhisAdmiral。
Butatruemilitaryofficerisinoneparticularlikeatruemonk。
Notwithmoreofself-abnegationwillthelatterkeephisvowsofmonasticobediencethantheformerhisvowsofallegiancetomartialduty。
Feelingthatunlessquickactionwastakenonit，thedeedoftheForetopman，sosoonasitshouldbeknownonthegundecks，wouldtendtoawakenanyslumberingembersoftheNoreamongthecrew，asenseoftheurgencyofthecaseoverruledinCaptainVereeveryotherconsideration。Buttho\'aconscientiousdisciplinarian，hewasnoloverofauthorityformereauthority\'ssake。Veryfarwashefromembracingopportunitiesformonopolizingtohimselftheperilsofmoralresponsibility，noneatleastthatcouldproperlybereferredtoanofficialsuperior，orsharedwithhimbyhisofficialequalsorevensubordinates。Sothinking，hewasgladitwouldnotbeatvariancewithusagetoturnthematterovertoasummarycourtofhisownofficers，reservingtohimselfastheoneonwhomtheultimateaccountabilitywouldrest，therightofmaintainingasupervisionofit，orformallyorinformallyinterposingatneed。Accordinglyadrum-headcourtwassummarilyconvened，heelectingtheindividualscomposingit，theFirstLieutenant，theCaptainofMarines，andtheSailingMaster。
Inassociatinganofficerofmarineswiththesea-lieutenantsinacasehavingtodowithasailor，theCommanderperhapsdeviatedfromgeneralcustom。Hewaspromptedtheretobythecircumstancethathetookthatsoldiertobeajudiciousperson，thoughtful，andnotaltogetherincapableofgrapplingwithadifficultcaseunprecedentedinhispriorexperience。Yetevenastohimhewasnotwithoutsomelatentmisgiving，forwithalhewasanextremelygoodnaturedman，anenjoyerofhisdinner，asoundsleeper，andinclinedtoobesity，amanwhotho\'hewouldalwaysmaintainhismanhoodinbattlemightnotprovealtogetherreliableinamoraldilemmainvolvingaughtofthetragic。AstotheFirstLieutenantandtheSailingMaster，CaptainVerecouldnotbutbeawarethatthoughhonestnatures，ofapprovedgallantryuponoccasion，theirintelligencewasmostlyconfinedtothematterofactiveseamanshipandthefightingdemandsoftheirprofession。Thecourtwasheldinthesamecabinwheretheunfortunateaffairhadtakenplace。Thiscabin，theCommander\'s，embracedtheentireareaunderthepoopdeck。
Aft，andoneitherside，wasasmallstate-room；theoneroomtemporarilyajailandtheotheradead-house，andayetsmallercompartmentleavingaspacebetween，expandingforwardintoagoodlyoblongoflengthcoincidingwiththeship\'sbeam。Askylightofmoderatedimensionwasoverheadandateachendoftheoblongspaceweretwosashedport-holewindowseasilyconvertiblebackintoembrasuresforshortcarronades。
Allbeingquicklyinreadiness，BillyBuddwasarraigned，CaptainVerenecessarilyappearingasthesolewitnessinthecase，andassuch，temporarilysinkinghisrank，thoughsingularlymaintainingitinamatterapparentlytrivial，namely，thathetestifiedfromtheship\'sweather-side，withthatobjecthavingcausedthecourttositonthelee-side。Conciselyhenarratedallthathadleduptothecatastrophe，omittingnothinginClaggart\'saccusationanddeposingastothemannerinwhichtheprisonerhadreceivedit。
AtthistestimonythethreeofficersglancedwithnolittlesurpriseatBillyBudd，thelastmantheywouldhavesuspectedeitherofthemutinousdesignallegedbyClaggartortheundeniabledeedhehimselfhaddone。
TheFirstLieutenant，takingjudicialprimacyandturningtowardtheprisoner，said，\"CaptainVerehasspoken。IsitorisitnotasCaptainVeresays？\"Inresponsecamesyllablesnotsomuchimpededintheutteranceasmighthavebeenanticipated。Theywerethese：
\"CaptainVeretellsthetruth。ItisjustasCaptainVeresays，butitisnotastheMaster-at-armssaid。IhaveeatentheKing\'sbreadandI
amtruetotheKing。\"
\"Ibelieveyou，myman，\"saidthewitness，hisvoiceindicatingasuppressedemotionnototherwisebetrayed。
\"Godwillblessyouforthat，YourHonor！\"notwithoutstammeringsaidBilly，andallbutbrokedown。Butimmediatelywasrecalledtoself-controlbyanotherquestion，towhichwiththesameemotionaldifficultyofutterancehesaid，\"No，therewasnomalicebetweenus。IneverboremaliceagainsttheMaster-at-arms。Iamsorrythatheisdead。Ididnotmeantokillhim。CouldIhaveusedmytongueIwouldnothavestruckhim。ButhefoullyliedtomyfaceandinpresenceofmyCaptain，andIhadtosaysomething，andIcouldonlysayitwithablow，Godhelpme！\"
Intheimpulsiveabove-boardmannerofthefrankone，thecourtsawconfirmedallthatwasimpliedinwordsthatjustpreviouslyhadperplexedthem，comingastheydidfromthetestifiertothetragedyandpromptlyfollowingBilly\'simpassioneddisclaimerofmutinousintent-CaptainVere\'swords，\"Ibelieveyou，myman。\"
Nextitwasaskedofhimwhetherheknewoforsuspectedaughtsavoringofincipienttrouble（meaningmutiny，tho\'theexplicittermwasavoided）goingoninanysectionoftheship\'scompany。
Thereplylingered。Thiswasnaturallyimputedbythecourttothesamevocalembarrassmentwhichhadretardedorobstructedpreviousanswers。Butinmainitwasotherwisehere；thequestionimmediatelyrecallingtoBilly\'smindtheinterviewwiththeafterguardsmaninthefore-chains。Butaninnaterepugnancetoplayingapartatallapproachingthatofaninformeragainstone\'sownshipmates-thesameerringsenseofuninstructedhonorwhichhadstoodinthewayofhisreportingthematteratthetimethoughasaloyalman-of-war-manitwasincumbentonhim，andfailuresotodoifchargedagainsthimandproven，wouldhavesubjectedhimtotheheaviestofpenalties；this，withtheblindfeelingnowhis，thatnothingreallywasbeinghatched，prevailedwithhim。Whentheanswercameitwasanegative。
\"Onequestionmore，\"saidtheofficerofmarinesnowfirstspeakingandwithatroubledearnestness。\"YoutellusthatwhattheMaster-at-armssaidagainstyouwasalie。Nowwhyshouldhehavesolied，somaliciouslylied，sinceyoudeclaretherewasnomalicebetweenyou？\"
AtthatquestionunintentionallytouchingonaspiritualspherewhollyobscuretoBilly\'sthoughts，hewasnonplussed，evincingaconfusionindeedthatsomeobservers，suchascanreadilybeimagined，wouldhaveconstruedintoinvoluntaryevidenceofhiddenguilt。
Neverthelesshestrovesomewaytoanswer，butallatoncerelinquishedthevainendeavor，atthesametimeturninganappealingglancetowardsCaptainVereasdeeminghimhisbesthelperandfriend。CaptainVerewhohadbeenseatedforatimerosetohisfeet，addressingtheinterrogator。\"Thequestionyouputtohimcomesnaturallyenough。Buthowcanherightlyanswerit？oranybodyelse？unlessindeeditbehewholieswithinthere，\"designatingthecompartmentwherelaythecorpse。\"Buttheproneonetherewillnotrisetooursummons。Ineffect，tho\'，asitseemstome，thepointyoumakeishardlymaterial。QuiteasidefromanyconceivablemotiveactuatingtheMaster-at-arms，andirrespectiveoftheprovocationtotheblow，amartialcourtmustneedsinthepresentcaseconfineitsattentiontotheblow\'sconsequence，whichconsequencejustlyistobedeemednototherwisethanasthestriker\'sdeed。\"
Thisutterance，thefullsignificanceofwhichitwasnotatalllikelythatBillytookin，neverthelesscausedhimtoturnawistfulinterrogativelooktowardthespeaker，alookinitsdumbexpressivenessnotunlikethatwhichadogofgenerousbreedmightturnuponhismasterseekinginhisfacesomeelucidationofapreviousgestureambiguoustothecanineintelligence。Norwasthesameutterancewithoutmarkedeffectuponthethreeofficers，moreespeciallythesoldier。Couchedinitseemedtothemameaningunanticipated，involvingaprejudgementonthespeaker\'spart。Itservedtoaugmentamentaldisturbancepreviouslyevidentenough。
Thesoldieroncemorespoke；inatoneofsuggestivedubietyaddressingatoncehisassociatesandCaptainVere：\"Nobodyispresent-noneoftheship\'scompany，Imean-whomightshedlaterallight，ifanyistobehad，uponwhatremainsmysteriousinthismatter。\"
\"Thatisthoughtfullyput，\"saidCaptainVere；\"Iseeyourdrift。Ay，thereisamystery；but，touseaScripturalphrase，itis\'amysteryofiniquity，\'amatterforpsychologictheologianstodiscuss。Butwhathasamilitarycourttodowithit？Nottoaddthatforusanypossibleinvestigationofitiscutoffbythelastingtongue-tieof-him-inyonder，\"againdesignatingthemortuarystateroom。\"Theprisoner\'sdeed，-withthatalonewehavetodo。\"
Tothis，andparticularlytheclosingreiteration，themarinesoldierknowingnothowaptlytoreply，sadlyabstainedfromsayingaught。TheFirstLieutenantwhoattheoutsethadnotunnaturallyassumedprimacyinthecourt，nowoverrulinglyinstructedbyaglancefromCaptainVere，aglancemoreeffectivethanwords，resumedthatprimacy。Turningtotheprisoner，\"Budd，\"hesaid，andscarceinequabletones，\"Budd，ifyouhaveaughtfurthertosayforyourself，sayitnow。\"
UponthistheyoungsailorturnedanotherquickglancetowardCaptainVere；then，astakingahintfromthataspect，ahintconfirminghisowninstinctthatsilencewasnowbest，repliedtotheLieutenant，\"Ihavesaidall，Sir。\"
Themarine-thesamewhohadbeenthesentinelwithoutthecabin-dooratthetimethattheForetopmanfollowedbytheMaster-at-arms，enteredit-he，standingbythesailorthroughoutthesejudicialproceedings，wasnowdirectedtotakehimbacktotheaftercompartmentoriginallyassignedtotheprisonerandhiscustodian。Asthetwaindisappearedfromview，thethreeofficersaspartiallyliberatedfromsomeinwardconstraintassociatedwithBilly\'smerepresence，simultaneouslystirredintheirseats。Theyexchangedlooksoftroubledindecision，yetfeelingthatdecidetheymustandwithoutlongdelay。AsforCaptainVere，heforthetimestoodunconsciouslywithhisbacktowardthem，apparentlyinoneofhisabsentfits，gazingoutfromasashedport-holetowindwarduponthemonotonousblankofthetwilightsea。Butthecourt\'ssilencecontinuing，brokenonlyatmomentsbybriefconsultationsinlowearnesttones，thisseemedtoarmhimandenergizehim。Turning，heto-and-fropacedthecabinathwart；inthereturningascenttowindward，climbingtheslantdeckintheship\'sleeroll；withoutknowingitsymbolizingthusinhisactionamindresolutetosurmountdifficultiesevenifagainstprimitiveinstinctsstrongasthewindandthesea。Presentlyhecametoastandbeforethethree。
Afterscanningtheirfaceshestoodlessasmusteringhisthoughtsforexpression，thanasoneinlydeliberatinghowbesttoputthemtowell-meaningmennotintellectuallymature，menwithwhomitwasnecessarytodemonstratecertainprinciplesthatwereaxiomstohimself。Similarimpatienceastotalkingisperhapsonereasonthatdeterssomemindsfromaddressinganypopularassemblies。
Whenspeakhedid，somethingbothinthesubstanceofwhathesaidandhismannerofsayingit，showedtheinfluenceofunsharedstudiesmodifyingandtemperingthepracticaltrainingofanactivecareer。This，alongwithhisphraseology，nowandthenwassuggestiveofthegroundswhereonrestedthatimputationofacertainpedantrysociallyallegedagainsthimbycertainnavalmenofwhollypracticalcast，captainswhoneverthelesswouldfranklyconcedethatHisMajesty\'sNavymusterednomoreefficientofficeroftheirgradethanStarryVere。
Whathesaidwastothiseffect：\"HithertoIhavebeenbutthewitness，littlemore；andIshouldhardlythinknowtotakeanothertone，thatofyourcoadjutor，forthetime，didInotperceiveinyou，-atthecrisistoo-atroubledhesitancy，proceeding，Idoubtnot，fromtheclashofmilitarydutywithmoralscruple-scruplevitalizedbycompassion。Forthecompassion，howcanIotherwisethanshareit？But，mindfulofparamountobligationsIstriveagainstscruplesthatmaytendtoenervatedecision。Not，gentlemen，thatIhidefrommyselfthatthecaseisanexceptionalone。
Speculativelyregarded，itwellmightbereferredtoajuryofcasuists。Butforushereactingnotascasuistsormoralists，itisacasepractical，andundermartiallawpracticallytobedealtwith。
\"Butyourscruples：dotheymoveasinadusk？Challengethem。
Makethemadvanceanddeclarethemselves。Comenow：dotheyimportsomethinglikethis？If，mindlessofpalliatingcircumstances，weareboundtoregardthedeathoftheMaster-at-armsastheprisoner\'sdeed，thendoesthatdeedconstituteacapitalcrimewhereofthepenaltyisamortalone？Butinnaturaljusticeisnothingbuttheprisoner\'sovertacttobeconsidered？Howcanweadjudgetosummaryandshamefuldeathafellow-creatureinnocentbeforeGod，andwhomwefeeltobeso？-Doesthatstateitaright？Yousignsadassent。Well，Itoofeelthat，thefullforceofthat。ItisNature。
ButdothesebuttonsthatwewearattestthatourallegianceistoNature？No，totheKing。Thoughtheocean，whichisinviolateNatureprimeval，tho\'thisbetheelementwherewemoveandhaveourbeingassailors，yetastheKing\'sofficersliesourdutyinaspherecorrespondinglynatural？Solittleisthattrue，thatinreceivingourcommissionsweinthemostimportantregardsceasedtobenaturalfree-agents。Whenwarisdeclaredarewethecommissionedfighterspreviouslyconsulted？Wefightatcommand。Ifourjudgementsapprovethewar，thatisbutcoincidence。Soinotherparticulars。Sonow。Forsupposecondemnationtofollowthesepresentproceedings。Woulditbesomuchweourselvesthatwouldcondemnasitwouldbemartiallawoperatingthroughus？Forthatlawandtherigourofit，wearenotresponsible。Ouravowedresponsibilityisinthis：Thathoweverpitilesslythatlawmayoperate，weneverthelessadheretoitandadministerit。
\"Buttheexceptionalinthemattermovestheheartswithinyou。
Evensotooisminemoved。Butletnotwarmheartsbetrayheadsthatshouldbecool。Ashoreinacriminalcasewillanuprightjudgeallowhimselfoffthebenchtobewaylaidbysometenderkinswomanoftheaccusedseekingtotouchhimwithhertearfulplea？Welltheheartheredenotesthefeminineinmanisasthatpiteouswoman，andhardtho\'itbe，shemusthereberuledout。\"
Hepaused，earnestlystudyingthemforamoment；thenresumed。
\"Butsomethinginyouraspectseemstourgethatitisnotsolelytheheartthatmovesinyou，butalsotheconscience，theprivateconscience。Buttellmewhetherornot，occupyingthepositionwedo，privateconscienceshouldnotyieldtothatimperialoneformulatedinthecodeunderwhichaloneweofficiallyproceed？\"
Herethethreemenmovedintheirseats，lessconvincedthanagitatedbythecourseofanargumenttroublingbutthemorethespontaneousconflictwithin。
Perceivingwhich，thespeakerpausedforamoment；thenabruptlychanginghistone，wenton。
\"Tosteadyusabit，letusrecurtothefacts-Inwar-timeatseaaman-of-war\'s-manstrikeshissuperioringrade，andtheblowkills。Apartfromitseffect，theblowitselfis，accordingtotheArticlesofWar，acapitalcrime。Furthermore-\"
\"Ay，Sir，\"emotionallybrokeintheofficerofmarines，\"inonesenseitwas。ButsurelyBuddpurposedneithermutinynorhomicide。\"
\"Surelynot，mygoodman。Andbeforeacourtlessarbitraryandmoremercifulthanamartialone，thatpleawouldlargelyextenuate。
AttheLastAssizesitshallacquit。Buthowhere？WeproceedunderthelawoftheMutinyAct。InfeaturenochildcanresemblehisfathermorethanthatActresemblesinspiritthethingfromwhichitderives-War。InHisMajesty\'sservice-inthisshipindeed-thereareEnglishmenforcedtofightfortheKingagainsttheirwill。Againsttheirconscience，foraughtweknow。Tho\'astheirfellow-creaturessomeofusmayappreciatetheirposition，yetasnavyofficers，whatreckweofit？Stilllessreckstheenemy。Ourimpressedmenhewouldfaincutdowninthesameswathwithourvolunteers。Asregardstheenemy\'snavalconscripts，someofwhommayevenshareourownabhorrenceoftheregicidalFrenchDirectory，itisthesameonourside。Warlooksbuttothefrontage，theappearance。AndtheMutinyAct，War\'schild，takesafterthefather。Budd\'sintentornon-intentisnothingtothepurpose。
\"Butwhile，puttoitbytheseanxietiesinyouwhichIcannotbutrespect，Ionlyrepeatmyself-whilethusstrangelyweprolongproceedingsthatshouldbesummary-theenemymaybesightedandanengagementresult。Wemustdo；andoneoftwothingsmustwedo-
condemnorletgo。\"
\"Canwenotconvictandyetmitigatethepenalty？\"askedthejuniorLieutenantherespeaking，andfalteringly，forthefirst。
\"Lieutenant，werethatclearlylawfulforusunderthecircumstances，considertheconsequencesofsuchclemency。Thepeople\"
（meaningtheship\'scompany）\"havenative-sense；mostofthemarefamiliarwithournavalusageandtradition；andhowwouldtheytakeit？Evencouldyouexplaintothem-whichourofficialpositionforbids-they，longmouldedbyarbitrarydisciplinehavenotthatkindofintelligentresponsivenessthatmightqualifythemtocomprehendanddiscriminate。No，tothepeopletheForetopman\'sdeed，howeveritbewordedintheannouncement，willbeplainhomicidecommittedinaflagrantactofmutiny。Whatpenaltyforthatshouldfollow，theyknow。Butitdoesnotfollow。Why？theywillruminate。Youknowwhatsailorsare。WilltheynotreverttotherecentoutbreakattheNore？Ay。Theyknowthewell-foundedalarm-thepanicitstruckthroughoutEngland。Yourclementsentencetheywouldaccountpusillanimous。Theywouldthinkthatweflinch，thatweareafraidofthem-afraidofpractisingalawfulrigoursingularlydemandedatthisjuncturelestitshouldprovokenewtroubles。Whatshametoussuchaconjectureontheirpart，andhowdeadlytodiscipline。Youseethen，whither，promptedbydutyandthelaw，Isteadfastlydrive。
ButIbeseechyou，myfriends，donottakemeamiss。Ifeelasyoudoforthisunfortunateboy。Butdidheknowourhearts，Itakehimtobeofthatgenerousnaturethathewouldfeelevenforusonwhominthismilitarynecessitysoheavyacompulsionislaid。\"
Withthat，crossingthedeckheresumedhisplacebythesashedport-hole，tacitlyleavingthethreetocometoadecision。Onthecabin\'soppositesidethetroubledcourtsatsilent。Loyallieges，plainandpractical，thoughatbottomtheydissentedfromsomepointsCaptainVerehadputtothem，theywerewithoutthefaculty，hardlyhadtheinclination，togainsayonewhomtheyfelttobeanearnestman，onetoonotlesstheirsuperiorinmindthaninnavalrank。Butitisnotimprobablethatevensuchofhiswordsaswerenotwithoutinfluenceoverthem，lesscamehometothemthanhisclosingappealtotheirinstinctassea-officersintheforethoughthethrewoutastothepracticalconsequencestodiscipline，consideringtheunconfirmedtoneofthefleetatthetime，shouldaman-of-war\'s-man\'sviolentkillingatseaofasuperioringradebeallowedtopassforaughtelsethanacapitalcrimedemandingpromptinflictionofthepenalty。
Notunlikelytheywerebroughttosomethingmoreorlessakintothatharassedframeofmindwhichintheyear1842actuatedtheCommanderoftheU。S。brig-of-warSomerstoresolve，undertheso-calledArticlesofWar，ArticlesmodelledupontheEnglishMutinyAct，toresolveupontheexecutionatseaofamidshipmanandtwopetty-officersasmutineersdesigningtheseizureofthebrig。Whichresolutionwascarriedoutthoughinatimeofpeaceandwithinnotmanydays\'ofhome。Anactvindicatedbyanavalcourtofinquirysubsequentlyconvenedashore。History，andherecitedwithoutcomment。
True，thecircumstancesonboardtheSomersweredifferentfromthoseonboardtheIndomitable。Buttheurgencyfelt，well-warrantedorotherwise，wasmuchthesame。
Saysawriterwhomfewknow，\"Fortyyearsafterabattleitiseasyforanon-combatanttoreasonabouthowitoughttohavebeenfought。Itisanotherthingpersonallyandunderfiretodirectthefightingwhileinvolvedintheobscuringsmokeofit。Muchsowithrespecttootheremergenciesinvolvingconsiderationsbothpracticalandmoral，andwhenitisimperativepromptlytoact。Thegreaterthefogthemoreitimperilsthesteamer，andspeedisputontho\'
atthehazardofrunningsomebodydown。Littleweenthesnugcard-playersinthecabinoftheresponsibilitiesofthesleeplessmanonthebridge。\"
Inbrief，BillyBuddwasformallyconvictedandsentencedtobehungattheyard-armintheearlymorningwatch，itbeingnownight。
Otherwise，asiscustomaryinsuchcases，thesentencewouldforthwithhavebeencarriedout。Inwar-timeonthefieldorinthefleet，amortalpunishmentdecreedbyadrum-headcourt-onthefieldsometimesdecreedbybutanodfromtheGeneral-followswithoutdelayontheheelofconvictionwithoutappeal。
CHAPTER23
ItwasCaptainVerehimselfwhoofhisownmotioncommunicatedthefindingofthecourttotheprisoner；forthatpurposegoingtothecompartmentwherehewasincustodyandbiddingthemarinetheretowithdrawforthetime。
Beyondthecommunicationofthesentencewhattookplaceatthisinterviewwasneverknown。Butinviewofthecharacterofthetwainbrieflyclosetedinthatstate-room，eachradicallysharingintherarerqualitiesofournature-sorareindeedastobeallbutincredibletoaveragemindshowevermuchcultivated-someconjecturesmaybeventured。
ItwouldhavebeeninconsonancewiththespiritofCaptainVereshouldheonthisoccasionhaveconcealednothingfromthecondemnedone-shouldheindeedhavefranklydisclosedtohimtheparthehimselfhadplayedinbringingaboutthedecision，atthesametimerevealinghisactuatingmotives。OnBilly\'ssideitisnotimprobablethatsuchaconfessionwouldhavebeenreceivedinmuchthesamespiritthatpromptedit。NotwithoutasortofjoyindeedhemighthaveappreciatedthebraveopinionofhimimpliedinhisCaptain\'smakingsuchaconfidantofhim。Nor，astothesentenceitselfcouldhehavebeeninsensiblethatitwasimpartedtohimastoonenotafraidtodie。Evenmoremayhavebeen。CaptainVereintheendmayhavedevelopedthepassionsometimeslatentunderanexteriorstoicalorindifferent。HewasoldenoughtohavebeenBilly\'sfather。Theausteredevoteeofmilitaryduty，lettinghimselfmeltbackintowhatremainsprimevalinourformalizedhumanity，mayintheendhavecaughtBillytohisheartevenasAbrahammayhavecaughtyoungIsaaconthebrinkofresolutelyofferinghimupinobediencetotheexactingbehest。Butthereisnotellingthesacrament，seldomifinanycaserevealedtothegaddingworld，whereverundercircumstancesatallakintothosehereattemptedtobesetforth，twoofgreatNature\'snoblerorderembrace。
Thereisprivacyatthetime，inviolabletothesurvivor，andholyoblivion，thesequeltoeachdivinermagnanimity，providentiallycoversallatlast。
ThefirsttoencounterCaptainVereinactofleavingthecompartmentwastheseniorLieutenant。Thefacehebeheld，forthemomentoneexpressiveoftheagonyofthestrong，wastothatofficer，tho\'amanoffifty，astartlingrevelation。Thatthecondemnedonesufferedlessthanhewhomainlyhadeffectedthecondemnationwasapparentlyindicatedbytheformer\'sexclamationinthescenesoonperforcetobetouchedupon。
CHAPTER24
Ofaseriesofincidentswithinabrieftermrapidlyfollowingeachother，theadequatenarrationmaytakeupatermlessbrief，especiallyifexplanationorcommenthereandthereseemrequisitetothebetterunderstandingofsuchincidents。Betweentheentranceintothecabinofhimwhoneverleftitalive，andhimwhowhenhedidleaveitleftitasonecondemnedtodie；betweenthisandtheclosetedinterviewjustgiven，lessthananhourandahalfhadelapsed。Itwasanintervallongenoughhowevertoawakenspeculationsamongnofewoftheship\'scompanyastowhatitwasthatcouldbedetaininginthecabintheMaster-at-armsandthesailor；forarumorthatbothofthemhadbeenseentoenteritandneitherofthemhadbeenseentoemerge，thisrumorhadgotabroaduponthegundecksandinthetops；thepeopleofagreatwar-shipbeinginonerespectlikevillagerstakingmicroscopicnoteofeveryoutwardmovementornon-movementgoingon。Whenthereforeinweathernotatalltempestuousallhandswerecalledintheseconddog-watch，asummonsundersuchcircumstancesnotusualinthosehours，thecrewwerenotwhollyunpreparedforsomeannouncementextraordinary，onehavingconnectiontoowiththecontinuedabsenceofthetwomenfromtheirwontedhaunts。
Therewasamoderateseaatthetime；andthemoon，newlyrisenandneartobeingatitsfull，silveredthewhitespar-deckwherevernotblottedbytheclear-cutshadowshorizontallythrownoffixturesandmovingmen。Oneithersideofthequarter-deck，themarineguardunderarmswasdrawnup；andCaptainVerestandinginhisplacesurroundedbyalltheward-roomofficers，addressedhismen。Insodoinghismannershowedneithermorenorlessthanthatproperlypertainingtohissupremepositionaboardhisownship。Incleartermsandconcisehetoldthemwhathadtakenplaceinthecabin；thattheMaster-at-armswasdead；thathewhohadkilledhimhadbeenalreadytriedbyasummarycourtandcondemnedtodeath；andthattheexecutionwouldtakeplaceintheearlymorningwatch。Thewordmutinywasnotnamedinwhathesaid。Herefrainedtoofrommakingtheoccasionanopportunityforanypreachmentastothemaintenanceofdiscipline，thinkingperhapsthatunderexistingcircumstancesinthenavytheconsequenceofviolatingdisciplineshouldbemadetospeakforitself。
TheirCaptain\'sannouncementwaslistenedtobythethrongofstandingsailorsinadumbnesslikethatofaseatedcongregationofbelieversinhelllisteningtotheclergyman\'sannouncementofhisCalvinistictext。
Attheclose，however，aconfusedmurmurwentup。Itbegantowax。
Allbutinstantly，then，atasign，itwaspiercedandsuppressedbyshrillwhistlesoftheBoatswainandhisMatespipingdownonewatch。
TobepreparedforburialClaggart\'sbodywasdeliveredtocertainpetty-officersofhismess。Andhere，nottoclogthesequelwithlateralmatters，itmaybeaddedthatatasuitablehour，theMaster-at-armswascommittedtotheseawitheveryfuneralhonorproperlybelongingtohisnavalgrade。
Inthisproceedingasineverypubliconegrowingoutofthetragedy，strictadherencetousagewasobserved。Norinanypointcouldithavebeenatalldeviatedfrom，eitherwithrespecttoClaggartorBillyBudd，withoutbegettingundesirablespeculationsintheship\'scompany，sailors，andmoreparticularlymen-of-war\'s-men，beingofallmenthegreateststicklersforusage。
Forsimilarcause，allcommunicationbetweenCaptainVereandthecondemnedoneendedwiththeclosetedinterviewalreadygiven，thelatterbeingnowsurrenderedtotheordinaryroutinepreliminarytotheend。ThistransferunderguardfromtheCaptain\'squarterswaseffectedwithoutunusualprecautions-atleastnovisibleones。
Ifpossible，nottoletthemensomuchassurmisethattheirofficersanticipateaughtamissfromthemisthetacitruleinamilitaryship。Andthemorethatsomesortoftroubleshouldreallybeapprehendedthemoredotheofficerskeepthatapprehensiontothemselves；tho\'notthelessunostentatiousvigilancemaybeaugmented。
InthepresentinstancethesentryplacedovertheprisonerhadstrictorderstoletnoonehavecommunicationwithhimbuttheChaplain。Andcertainunobtrusivemeasuresweretakenabsolutelytoinsurethispoint。
CHAPTER25
Inaseventy-fouroftheoldorderthedeckknownastheuppergundeckwastheonecoveredoverbythespar-deckwhichlastthoughnotwithoutitsarmamentwasforthemostpartexposedtotheweather。
Ingeneralitwasatallhoursfreefromhammocks；thoseofthecrewswingingonthelowergundeck，andberth-deck，thelatterbeingnotonlyadormitorybutalsotheplaceforthestowingofthesailors\'
bags，andonbothsideslinedwiththelargechestsormovablepantriesofthemanymessesofthemen。
OnthestarboardsideoftheIndomitable\'suppergundeck，beholdBillyBuddundersentry，lyingproneinirons，inoneofthebaysformedbytheregularspacingofthegunscomprisingthebatteriesoneitherside。Allthesepieceswereoftheheaviercalibreofthatperiod。Mountedonlumberingwoodencarriagestheywerehamperedwithcumbersomeharnessofbreechenandstrongside-tacklesforrunningthemout。Gunsandcarriages，togetherwiththelongrammersandshorterlintstockslodgedinloopsoverhead-allthese，ascustomary，werepaintedblack；andtheheavyhempenbreechens，tarredtothesametint，worethelikeliveryoftheundertakers。Incontrastwiththefunerealhueofthesesurroundingsthepronesailor\'sexteriorapparel，whitejumperandwhiteducktrousers，eachmoreorlesssoiled，dimlyglimmeredintheobscurelightofthebaylikeapatchofdiscoloredsnowinearlyAprillingeringatsomeuplandcave\'sblackmouth。Ineffectheisalreadyinhisshroudorthegarmentsthatshallservehiminlieuofone。Overhim，butscarceilluminatinghim，twobattle-lanternsswingfromtwomassivebeamsofthedeckabove。Fedwiththeoilsuppliedbythewar-contractors（whosegains，honestorotherwise，areineverylandananticipatedportionoftheharvestofdeath），withflickeringsplashesofdirtyyellowlighttheypollutethepalemoonshineallbutineffectuallystrugglinginobstructedflecksthro\'theopenportsfromwhichthetompionedcannonprotrude。Otherlanternsatintervalsservebuttobringoutsomewhattheobscurerbayswhich，likesmallconfessionalsorside-chapelsinacathedral，branchfromthelongdim-vistaedbroadaislebetweenthetwobatteriesofthatcoveredtier。
SuchwasthedeckwherenowlaytheHandsomeSailor。Throughtherose-tanofhiscomplexion，nopallorcouldhaveshown。Itwouldhavetakendaysofsequestrationfromthewindsandthesuntohavebroughtabouttheeffacementofthat。Buttheskeletoninthecheekboneatthepointofitsanglewasjustbeginningdelicatelytobedefinedunderthewarm-tintedskin。Infervidheartsself-contained，somebriefexperiencesdevourourhumantissueassecretfireinaship\'sholdconsumescottoninthebale。
Butnowlyingbetweenthetwoguns，asnippedintheviceoffate，Billy\'sagony，mainlyproceedingfromagenerousyoungheart\'svirginexperienceofthediabolicalincarnateandeffectiveinsomemen-thetensionofthatagonywasovernow。ItsurvivednotthesomethinghealingintheclosetedinterviewwithCaptainVere。Withoutmovement，helayasinatrance。Thatadolescentexpressionpreviouslynotedashis，takingonsomethingakintothelookofaslumberingchildinthecradlewhenthewarmhearth-glowofthestillchamberatnightplaysonthedimplesthatatwhilesmysteriouslyforminthecheek，silentlycomingandgoingthere。Fornowandtheninthegyvedone\'stranceaserenehappylightbornofsomewanderingreminiscenceordreamwoulddiffuseitselfoverhisface，andthenwaneawayonlyanewtoreturn。
TheChaplaincomingtoseehimandfindinghimthus，andperceivingnosignthathewasconsciousofhispresence，attentivelyregardedhimforaspace，thenslippingaside，withdrewforthetime，peradventurefeelingthatevenhetheministerofChrist，tho\'receivinghisstipendfromMars，hadnoconsolationtoprofferwhichcouldresultinapeacetranscendingthatwhichhebeheld。Butinthesmallhourshecameagain。Andtheprisoner，nowawaketohissurroundings，noticedhisapproach，andcivilly，allbutcheerfully，welcomedhim。ButitwastolittlepurposethatintheinterviewfollowingthegoodmansoughttobringBillyBuddtosomegodlyunderstandingthathemustdie，andatdawn。True，Billyhimselffreelyreferredtohisdeathasathingcloseathand；butitwassomethinginthewaythatchildrenwillrefertodeathingeneral，whoyetamongtheirothersportswillplayafuneralwithhearseandmourners。
NotthatlikechildrenBillywasincapableofconceivingwhatdeathreallyis。No，buthewaswhollywithoutirrationalfearofit，afearmoreprevalentinhighlycivilizedcommunitiesthanthoseso-calledbarbarousoneswhichinallrespectsstandnearertounadulterateNature。And，aselsewheresaid，abarbarianBillyradicallywas；asmuchso，forallthecostume，ashiscountrymentheBritishcaptives，livingtrophies，madetomarchintheRomantriumphofGermanicus。Quiteasmuchsoasthoselaterbarbarians，youngmenprobably，andpickedspecimensamongtheearlierBritishconvertstoChristianity，atleastnominallysuch，andtakentoRome（asto-dayconvertsfromlesserislesoftheseamaybetakentoLondon），ofwhomthePopeofthattime，admiringthestrangenessoftheirpersonalbeautysounliketheItalianstamp，theirclearruddycomplexionandcurledflaxenlocks，exclaimed，\"Angles-\"（meaningEnglishthemodernderivative）\"Anglesdoyoucallthem？Andisitbecausetheylooksolikeangels？\"HaditbeenlaterintimeonewouldthinkthatthePopehadinmindFraAngelico\'sseraphssomeofwhom，pluckingapplesingardensoftheHesperides，havethefaintrose-budcomplexionofthemorebeautifulEnglishgirls。
IfinvainthegoodChaplainsoughttoimpresstheyoungbarbarianwithideasofdeathakintothoseconveyedintheskull，dial，andcross-bonesonoldtombstones；equallyfutiletoallappearancewerehiseffortstobringhometohimthethoughtofsalvationandaSaviour。Billylistened，butlessoutofaweorreverenceperhapsthanfromacertainnaturalpoliteness；doubtlessatbottomregardingallthatinmuchthesamewaythatmostmarinersofhisclasstakeanydiscourseabstractoroutofthecommontoneofthework-a-dayworld。Andthissailor-wayoftakingclericaldiscourseisnotwhollyunlikethewayinwhichthepioneerofChristianityfulloftranscendentmiracleswasreceivedlongagoontropicislesbyanysuperiorsavagesocalled-aTahitiansayofCaptainCook\'stimeorshortlyafterthattime。Outofnaturalcourtesyhereceived，butdidnotappropriate。Itwaslikeagiftplacedinthepalmofanoutreachedhanduponwhichthefingersdonotclose。
ButtheIndomitable\'sChaplainwasadiscreetmanpossessingthegoodsenseofagoodheart。Soheinsistednotinhisvocationhere。
AttheinstanceofCaptainVere，alieutenanthadapprisedhimofprettymucheverythingastoBilly；andsincehefeltthatinnocencewasevenabetterthingthanreligionwherewithtogotoJudgement，hereluctantlywithdrew；butinhisemotionnotwithoutfirstperforminganactstrangeenoughinanEnglishman，andunderthecircumstancesyetmoresoinanyregularpriest。Stoopingover，hekissedonthefaircheekhisfellow-man，afeloninmartiallaw，onewhothoughontheconfinesofdeathhefelthecouldneverconverttoadogma；norforallthatdidhefearforhisfuture。
Marvelnotthathavingbeenmadeacquaintedwiththeyoungsailor\'sessentialinnocence（anirruptionofhereticthoughthardtosuppress）theworthymanliftednotafingertoavertthedoomofsuchamartyrtomartialdiscipline。Sotodowouldnotonlyhavebeenasidleasinvokingthedesert，butwouldalsohavebeenanaudacioustransgressionoftheboundsofhisfunction，oneasexactlyprescribedtohimbymilitarylawasthatoftheboatswainoranyothernavalofficer。Bluntlyput，achaplainistheministerofthePrinceofPeaceservinginthehostoftheGodofWar-Mars。Assuch，heisasincongruousasamusketwouldbeonthealtaratChristmas。Whythenishethere？Becauseheindirectlysubservesthepurposeattestedbythecannon；becausetoohelendsthesanctionofthereligionofthemeektothatwhichpracticallyistheabrogationofeverythingbutbruteForce。
CHAPTER26
Thenight，soluminousonthespar-deck，butotherwiseonthecavernousonesbelow，levelssolikethetieredgalleriesinacoal-mine-theluminousnightpassedaway。But，liketheprophetinthechariotdisappearinginheavenanddroppinghismantletoElisha，thewithdrawingnighttransferreditspalerobetothebreakingday。AmeekshylightappearedintheEast，wherestretchedadiaphanousfleeceofwhitefurrowedvapor。Thatlightslowlywaxed。
Suddenlyeightbellswasstruckaft，respondedtobyoneloudermetallicstrokefromforward。Itwasfouro\'clockinthemorning。
Instantlythesilverwhistleswereheardsummoningallhandstowitnesspunishment。Upthroughthegreathatchwaysrimmedwithracksofheavyshot，thewatchbelowcamepouring，overspreadingwiththewatchalreadyondeckthespacebetweenthemain-mastandfore-mastincludingthatoccupiedbythecapaciouslaunchandtheblackboomstieredoneithersideofit，boatandboomsmakingasummitofobservationforthepowder-boysandyoungertars。Adifferentgroupcomprisingonewatchoftopmenleanedovertherailofthatsea-balcony，nosmalloneinaseventy-four，lookingdownonthecrowdbelow。Manorboy，nonespakebutinwhisper，andfewspakeatall。
CaptainVere-asbefore，thecentralfigureamongtheassembledcommissionedofficers-stoodnighthebreakofthepoop-deckfacingforward。Justbelowhimonthequarter-deckthemarinesinfullequipmentweredrawnupmuchasatthesceneofthepromulgatedsentence。
Atseaintheoldtime，theexecutionbyhalterofamilitarysailorwasgenerallyfromthefore-yard。Inthepresentinstance，forspecialreasonsthemain-yardwasassigned。Underanarmofthatlee-yardtheprisonerwaspresentlybroughtup，theChaplainattendinghim。Itwasnotedatthetimeandremarkeduponafterwards，thatinthisfinalscenethegoodmanevincedlittleornothingoftheperfunctory。Briefspeechindeedhehadwiththecondemnedone，butthegenuineGospelwaslessonhistonguethaninhisaspectandmannertowardshim。Thefinalpreparationspersonaltothelatterbeingspeedilybroughttoanendbytwoboatswain\'smates，theconsummationimpended。Billystoodfacingaft。Atthepenultimatemoment，hiswords，hisonlyones，wordswhollyunobstructedintheutterancewerethese-\"GodblessCaptainVere！\"Syllablessounanticipatedcomingfromonewiththeignominioushempabouthisneck-aconventionalfelon\'sbenedictiondirectedafttowardsthequartersofhonor；syllablestoodeliveredintheclearmelodyofasinging-birdonthepointoflaunchingfromthetwig，hadaphenomenaleffect，notunenhancedbytherarepersonalbeautyoftheyoungsailorspiritualizednowthro\'lateexperiencessopoignantlyprofound。
Withoutvolitionasitwere，asifindeedtheship\'spopulacewerebutthevehiclesofsomevocalcurrentelectric，withonevoicefromalowandaloftcamearesonantsympatheticecho-\"GodblessCaptainVere！\"AndyetatthatinstantBillyalonemusthavebeenintheirhearts，evenashewasintheireyes。
Atthepronouncedwordsandthespontaneousechothatvoluminouslyreboundedthem，CaptainVere，eitherthro\'stoicself-controlorasortofmomentaryparalysisinducedbyemotionalshock，stooderectlyrigidasamusketintheship-armorer\'srack。
Thehulldeliberatelyrecoveringfromtheperiodicrolltoleewardwasjustregaininganevenkeel，whenthelastsignal，apreconcerteddumbone，wasgiven。AtthesamemomentitchancedthatthevaporyfleecehanginglowintheEast，wasshotthro\'withasoftgloryasofthefleeceoftheLambofGodseeninmysticalvision，andsimultaneouslytherewith，watchedbythewedgedmassofupturnedfaces，Billyascended；and，ascending，tookthefullroseofthedawn。
Inthepinionedfigure，arrivedattheyard-end，tothewonderofallnomotionwasapparent，nonesavethatcreatedbytheship\'smotion，inmoderateweathersomajesticinagreatshipponderouslycannoned。
CHAPTER27
ADigressionWhensomedaysafterwardinreferencetothesingularityjustmentioned，thePurser，aratherruddyrotundpersonmoreaccurateasanaccountantthanprofoundasaphilosopher，saidatmesstotheSurgeon，\"Whattestimonytotheforcelodgedinwill-power，\"thelatter-saturnine，spareandtall，oneinwhomadiscreetcausticitywentalongwithamannerlessgenialthanpolite，replied，\"Yourpardon，Mr。Purser。Inahangingscientificallyconducted-andunderspecialordersImyselfdirectedhowBudd\'swastobeeffected-anymovementfollowingthecompletedsuspensionandoriginatinginthebodysuspended，suchmovementindicatesmechanicalspasminthemuscularsystem。Hencetheabsenceofthatisnomoreattributabletowill-powerasyoucallitthantohorse-power-beggingyourpardon。\"
\"Butthismuscularspasmyouspeakof，isnotthatinadegreemoreorlessinvariableinthesecases？\"
\"Assuredlyso，Mr。Purser。\"
\"Howthen，mygoodsir，doyouaccountforitsabsenceinthisinstance？\"
\"Mr。Purser，itisclearthatyoursenseofthesingularityinthismatterequalsnotmine。Youaccountforitbywhatyoucallwill-power，atermnotyetincludedinthelexiconofscience。FormeIdonot，withmypresentknowledge，pretendtoaccountforitatall。EvenshouldweassumethehypothesisthatatthefirsttouchofthehalyardstheactionofBudd\'sheart，intensifiedbyextraordinaryemotionatitsclimax，abruptlystopt-muchlikeawatchwhenincarelesslywindingitupyoustrainatthefinish，thussnappingthechain-evenunderthathypothesis，howaccountforthephenomenonthatfollowed？\"
\"Youadmitthenthattheabsenceofspasmodicmovementwasphenomenal。\"
\"Itwasphenomenal，Mr。Purser，inthesensethatitwasanappearancethecauseofwhichisnotimmediatelytobeassigned。\"
\"Buttellme，mydearSir，\"pertinaciouslycontinuedtheother，\"wastheman\'sdeatheffectedbythehalter，orwasitaspeciesofeuthanasia？\"
\"Euthanasia，Mr。Purser，issomethinglikeyourwill-power：I
doubtitsauthenticityasascientificterm-beggingyourpardonagain。Itisatonceimaginativeandmetaphysical，-inshort，Greek。
But，\"abruptlychanginghistone，\"thereisacaseinthesick-baythatIdonotcaretoleavetomyassistants。Begyourpardon，butexcuseme。\"Andrisingfromthemessheformallywithdrew。
CHAPTER28
Thesilenceatthemomentofexecutionandforamomentortwocontinuingthereafter，asilencebutemphasizedbytheregularwashoftheseaagainstthehullortheflutterofasailcausedbythehelmsman\'seyesbeingtemptedastray，thisemphasizedsilencewasgraduallydisturbedbyasoundnoteasilytobeverballyrendered。
Whoeverhasheardthefreshet-waveofatorrentsuddenlyswelledbypouringshowersintropicalmountains，showersnotsharedbytheplain；whoeverhasheardthefirstmuffledmurmurofitsslopingadvancethroughprecipitouswoods，mayformsomeconceptionofthesoundnowheard。Theseemingremotenessofitssourcewasbecauseofitsmurmurousindistinctnesssinceitcamefromclose-by，evenfromthemenmassedontheship\'sopendeck。Beinginarticulate，itwasdubiousinsignificancefurtherthanitseemedtoindicatesomecapriciousrevulsionofthoughtorfeelingsuchasmobsashoreareliableto，inthepresentinstancepossiblyimplyingasullenrevocationonthemen\'spartoftheirinvoluntaryechoingofBilly\'sbenediction。Buterethemurmurhadtimetowaxintoclamouritwasmetbyastrategiccommand，themoretellingthatitcamewithabruptunexpectedness。
\"Pipedownthestarboardwatch，Boatswain，andseethattheygo。\"
Shrillastheshriekofthesea-hawkthewhistlesoftheBoatswainandhisMatespiercedthatominouslowsound，dissipatingit；andyieldingtothemechanismofdiscipline，thethrongwasthinnedbyonehalf。Fortheremaindermostofthemweresettotemporaryemploymentsconnectedwithtrimmingtheyardsandsoforth，businessreadilytobegotuptoserveoccasionbyanyofficer-of-the-deck。
Noweachproceedingthatfollowsamortalsentencepronouncedatseabyadrum-headcourtischaracterisedbypromptitudenotperceptiblymergingintohurry，tho\'borderingthat。Thehammock，theonewhichhadbeenBilly\'sbedwhenalive，havingalreadybeenballastedwithshotandotherwisepreparedtoserveforhiscanvascoffin，thelastofficesofthesea-undertakers，theSail-Maker\'sMates，werenowspeedilycompleted。Wheneverythingwasinreadinessasecondcallforallhandsmadenecessarybythestrategicmovementbeforementionedwassoundedandnowtowitnessburial。
Thedetailsofthisclosingformalityitneedsnottogive。Butwhenthetiltedplankletslideitsfreightintothesea，asecondstrangehumanmurmurwasheard，blendednowwithanotherinarticulatesoundproceedingfromcertainlargersea-fowl，whoseattentionhavingbeenattractedbythepeculiarcommotioninthewaterresultingfromtheheavyslopeddiveoftheshottedhammockintothesea，flewscreamingtothespot。Sonearthehulldidtheycome，thatthestridororbonycreakoftheirgauntdouble-jointedpinionswasaudible。Astheshipunderlightairspassedon，leavingtheburial-spotastern，theystillkeptcirclingitlowdownwiththemovingshadowoftheiroutstretchedwingsandthecroakedrequiemoftheircries。
Uponsailorsassuperstitiousasthoseoftheageprecedingours，men-of-war\'s-mentoowhohadjustbeheldtheprodigyofreposeintheformsuspendedinairandnowfounderinginthedeeps；tosuchmarinerstheactionofthesea-fowl，tho\'dictatedbymereanimalgreedforprey，wasbigwithnoprosaicsignificance。Anuncertainmovementbeganamongthem，inwhichsomeencroachmentwasmade。Itwastoleratedbutforamoment。Forsuddenlythedrumbeattoquarters，whichfamiliarsoundhappeningatleasttwiceeveryday，haduponthepresentoccasionasignalperemptorinessinit。Truemartialdisciplinelongcontinuedsuperinducesinaveragemanasortofimpulseofdocilitywhoseoperationattheofficialsoundofcommandmuchresemblesinitspromptitudetheeffectofaninstinct。
Thedrum-beatdissolvedthemultitude，distributingmostofthemalongthebatteriesofthetwocoveredgundecks。There，aswont，theguns\'crewsstoodbytheirrespectivecannonerectandsilent。
InduecoursetheFirstOfficer，swordunderarmandstandinginhisplaceonthequarter-deck，formallyreceivedthesuccessivereportsoftheswordedLieutenantscommandingthesectionsofbatteriesbelow；
thelastofwhichreportsbeingmade，thesummedreporthedeliveredwiththecustomarysalutetotheCommander。Allthisoccupiedtime，whichinthepresentcase，wastheobjectofbeatingtoquartersatanhourpriortothecustomaryone。ThatsuchvariancefromusagewasauthorizedbyanofficerlikeCaptainVere，amartinetassomedeemedhim，wasevidenceofthenecessityforunusualactionimpliedinwhathedeemedtobetemporarilythemoodofhismen。\"Withmankind，\"hewouldsay，\"forms，measuredformsareeverything；andthatistheimportcouchedinthestoryofOrpheuswithhislyrespell-bindingthewilddenizensofthewood。\"AndthisheonceappliedtothedisruptionofformsgoingonacrosstheChannelandtheconsequencesthereof。
Atthisunwontedmusteratquarters，allproceededasattheregularhour。Thebandonthequarter-deckplayedasacredair。
AfterwhichtheChaplainwentthro\'thecustomarymorningservice。
Thatdone，thedrumbeattheretreat，andtonedbymusicandreligiousritessubservingthedisciplineandpurposeofwar，themenintheirwontedorderlymanner，dispersedtotheplacesallottedthemwhennotattheguns。
Andnowitwasfullday。Thefleeceoflow-hangingvaporhadvanished，lickedupbythesunthatlatehadsoglorifiedit。Andthecircumambientairintheclearnessofitsserenitywaslikesmoothmarbleinthepolishedblocknotyetremovedfromthemarble-dealer\'syard。
CHAPTER29
Thesymmetryofformattainableinpurefictioncannotsoreadilybeachievedinanarrationessentiallyhavinglesstodowithfablethanwithfact。Truthuncompromisinglytoldwillalwayshaveitsraggededges；hencetheconclusionofsuchanarrationisapttobelessfinishedthananarchitecturalfinial。
HowitfaredwiththeHandsomeSailorduringtheyearoftheGreatMutinyhasbeenfaithfullygiven。Buttho\'properlythestoryendswithhislife，somethinginwayofsequelwillnotbeamiss。Threebriefchapterswillsuffice。
Inthegeneralre-christeningundertheDirectoryofthecraftoriginallyformingthenavyoftheFrenchmonarchy，theSt。Louisline-of-battleshipwasnamedtheAtheiste。Suchaname，likesomeothersubstitutedonesintheRevolutionaryfleet，whileproclaimingtheinfidelaudacityoftherulingpowerwasyet，tho\'notsointendedtobe，theaptestname，ifoneconsiderit，evergiventoawar-ship；farmoresoindeedthantheDevastation，theErebus（theHell）andsimilarnamesbestoweduponfighting-ships。
Onthereturn-passagetotheEnglishfleetfromthedetachedcruiseduringwhichoccurredtheeventsalreadyrecorded，theIndomitablefellinwiththeAtheiste。Anengagementensued；duringwhichCaptainVere，intheactofputtinghisshipalongsidetheenemywithaviewofthrowinghisboardersacrossherbulwarks，washitbyamusket-ballfromaport-holeoftheenemy\'smaincabin。Morethandisabledhedroppedtothedeckandwascarriedbelowtothesamecock-pitwheresomeofhismenalreadylay。TheseniorLieutenanttookcommand。UnderhimtheenemywasfinallycapturedandthoughmuchcrippledwasbyraregoodfortunesuccessfullytakenintoGibraltar，anEnglishportnotverydistantfromthesceneofthefight。There，CaptainVerewiththerestofthewoundedwasputashore。Helingeredforsomedays，buttheendcame。UnhappilyhewascutofftooearlyfortheNileandTrafalgar。Thespiritthatspiteitsphilosophicausteritymayyethaveindulgedinthemostsecretofallpassions，ambition，neverattainedtothefulnessoffame。
Notlongbeforedeath，whilelyingundertheinfluenceofthatmagicaldrugwhichsoothingthephysicalframemysteriouslyoperatesonthesubtlerelementinman，hewasheardtomurmurwordsinexplicabletohisattendant-\"BillyBudd，BillyBudd。\"Thatthesewerenottheaccentsofremorse，wouldseemclearfromwhattheattendantsaidtotheIndomitable\'sseniorofficerofmarineswho，asthemostreluctanttocondemnofthemembersofthedrum-headcourt，toowellknew，tho\'herehekepttheknowledgetohimself，whoBillyBuddwas。
CHAPTER30
Somefewweeksaftertheexecution，amongothermattersundertheheadofNewsfromtheMediterranean，thereappearedinanavalchronicleofthetime，anauthorizedweeklypublication，anaccountoftheaffair。Itwasdoubtlessforthemostpartwritteningoodfaith，tho\'themedium，partlyrumor，throughwhichthefactsmusthavereachedthewriter，servedtodeflectandinpartfalsifythem。
Theaccountwasasfollows：-
\"OnthetenthofthelastmonthadeplorableoccurrencetookplaceonboardH。M。S。Indomitable。JohnClaggart，theship\'sMaster-at-arms，discoveringthatsomesortofplotwasincipientamonganinferiorsectionoftheship\'scompany，andthattheringleaderwasoneWilliamBudd；he，Claggart，intheactofarraigningthemanbeforetheCaptainwasvindictivelystabbedtotheheartbythesuddenlydrawnsheath-knifeofBudd。
\"Thedeedandtheimplementemployed，sufficientlysuggestthattho\'musteredintotheserviceunderanEnglishnametheassassinwasnoEnglishman，butoneofthosealiensadoptingEnglishcognomenswhomthepresentextraordinarynecessitiesoftheServicehavecausedtobeadmittedintoitinconsiderablenumbers。
\"Theenormityofthecrimeandtheextremedepravityofthecriminal，appearthegreaterinviewofthecharacterofthevictim，amiddle-agedmanrespectableanddiscreet，belongingtothatofficialgrade，thepetty-officers，uponwhom，asnoneknowbetterthanthecommissionedgentlemen，theefficiencyofHisMajesty\'sNavysolargelydepends。Hisfunctionwasaresponsibleone，atonceonerous&
thankless，andhisfidelityinitthegreaterbecauseofhisstrongpatrioticimpulse。Inthisinstanceasinsomanyotherinstancesinthesedays，thecharacterofthisunfortunatemansignallyrefutes，ifrefutationwereneeded，thatpeevishsayingattributedtothelateDr。
Johnson，thatpatriotismisthelastrefugeofascoundrel。
\"Thecriminalpaidthepenaltyofhiscrime。Thepromptitudeofthepunishmenthasprovedsalutary。NothingamissisnowapprehendedaboardH。M。S。Indomitable。\"
Theabove，appearinginapublicationnowlongagosuperannuatedandforgotten，isallthathithertohasstoodinhumanrecordtoattestwhatmannerofmenrespectivelywereJohnClaggartandBillyBudd。
CHAPTER31
Everythingisforatermremarkableinnavies。Anytangibleobjectassociatedwithsomestrikingincidentoftheserviceisconvertedintoamonument。ThesparfromwhichtheForetopmanwassuspended，wasforsomefewyearskepttraceofbytheblue-jackets。Theirknowledgefolloweditfromshiptodock-yardandagainfromdock-yardtoship，stillpursuingitevenwhenatlastreducedtoameredock-yardboom。TothemachipofitwasasapieceoftheCross。
Ignoranttho\'theywereofthesecretfactsofthetragedy，andnotthinkingbutthatthepenaltywassomehowunavoidablyinflictedfromthenavalpointofview，forallthattheyinstinctivelyfeltthatBillywasasortofmanasincapableofmutinyasofwilfullmurder。
TheyrecalledthefreshyoungimageoftheHandsomeSailor，thatfaceneverdeformedbyasneerorsubtlervilefreakoftheheartwithin。Theirimpressionofhimwasdoubtlessdeepenedbythefactthathewasgone，andinameasuremysteriouslygone。Atthetime，onthegundecksoftheIndomitable，thegeneralestimateofhisnatureanditsunconscioussimplicityeventuallyfoundrudeutterancefromanotherforetopman，oneofhisownwatch，gifted，assomesailorsare，withanartlesspoetictemperament；thetarryhandsmadesomelineswhichaftercirculatingamongtheshipboardcrewforawhile，finallygotrudelyprintedatPortsmouthasaballad。Thetitlegiventoitwasthesailor\'s。
BILLYINTHEDARBIES
GoodoftheChaplaintoenterLoneBayAnddownonhismarrow-boneshereandprayForthelikesjusto\'me，BillyBudd-Butlook：
Throughtheportcomesthemoon-shineastray！
Ittipstheguard\'scutlasandsilversthisnook；
But\'twilldieinthedawningofBilly\'slastday。
Ajewel-blockthey\'llmakeofmeto-morrow，Pendantpearlfromtheyard-arm-endLiketheear-dropIgavetoBristolMolly-
O，\'tisme，notthesentencethey\'llsuspend。
Ay，Ay，Ay，allisup；andImustuptoEarlyinthemorning，aloftfromalow。
Onanemptystomach，now，neveritwoulddo。
They\'llgivemeanibble-bito\'biscuitereIgo。
Sure，amessmatewillreachmethelastpartingcup；
But，turningheadsawayfromthehoistandthebelay，Heavenknowswhowillhavetherunningofmeup！
Nopipetothosehalyards-Butaren\'titallsham？
Ablur\'sinmyeyes；itisdreamingthatIam。
Ahatchettomyhawser？alladrifttogo？
Thedrumrolltogrog，andBillyneverknow？
ButDonaldhehaspromisedtostandbytheplank；
SoI\'llshakeafriendlyhandereIsink。
But-no！ItisdeadthenI\'llbe，cometothink。
IrememberTafftheWelshmanwhenhesank。
Andhischeekitwaslikethebuddingpink。
Butmethey\'lllashmeinhammock，dropmedeep。
Fathomsdown，fathomsdown，howI\'lldreamfastasleep。
Ifeelitstealingnow。Sentry，areyouthere？
Justeasethisdarbiesatthewrist，androllmeoverfair，Iamsleepy，andtheoozyweedsaboutmetwist。