Of a sequence series of incidents
within a brief term rapidly following
each other, the adequate narration narrating of them
narration may take up a term less brief,
especially if explanation or comment here
and there seem requisite to the better understanding
of such incidents . Between the
entrance into the cabin of him who
never left it alive, and him
who when he did leave it left
it as one condemned to die; between
this and the closeted interview just
given less than an hour and a half
had elapsed. It was an interval
long enough however to awaken
speculations among no few of the
ship's company as to what it was
that could be detaining in the cabin the Master-
at-arms and the sailor; for a rumor
that both were there of them had been seen to enter it and and neither of them had been
seen to emerged emerge therefrom thence , this rumor had got abroad
upon the gun- decks and in the tops;
the populous people crew of [x] a seven line-of-battle
of a great war ship of the old order being in one
respect like villagers ; , they take taking
microscopic note of every chance outward movement
or non-movement going on. When therefore in weather
given less than an hour and a half
had elapsed. It was an interval
long enough however to awaken
speculations among no few of the
ship's company as to what it was
that could be detaining in the cabin the Master-
at-arms and the sailor; for a rumor
that both were there of them had been seen to enter it and and neither of them had been
seen to emerged emerge therefrom thence , this rumor had got abroad
upon the gun- decks and in the tops;
the populous people crew of [x] a seven line-of-battle
of a great war ship of the old order being in one
respect like villagers ; , they take taking
microscopic note of every chance outward movement
or non-movement going on. When therefore in weather
not at all tempestuous all hands were
called in the second dog-watch,
a summons under such circumstances not un usual in those hours,
the men people" crew were not wholly unprepared
for some announcement extraordinary , one
having connection too with the continued absence of the
two men from their wonted haunts.
There was a moderate
sea at the time; and the moon, newly
risen and near to being a f at its full,
silvered the white spar-deck whereon
the clear-cut shadow of a any moving man
wherever not blotted by the clear-cut
shadows of horizontally thrown of
fixtures and moving men. On either
side the quarter-deck the marine
called in the second dog-watch,
a summons under such circumstances not un usual in those hours,
the men people" crew were not wholly unprepared
for some announcement extraordinary , one
having connection too with the continued absence of the
two men from their wonted haunts.
There was a moderate
sea at the time; and the moon, newly
risen and near to being a f at its full,
silvered the white spar-deck whereon
the clear-cut shadow of a any moving man
wherever not blotted by the clear-cut
shadows of horizontally thrown of
fixtures and moving men. On either
side the quarter-deck the marine
guard under arms was drawn up; and
Captain Vere standing in his place
surrounded by all the ward-room
officers, addressed his men. In so
doing his manner showed neither
more nor less than that of properly
pertaining to his supreme position aboard his own ship.
the " Indomitable . In clear terms and
yet concise he told them what had
taken place in his own the cabin; that
the master-at-arms was dead; that
he who had killed him had
been immediatly already tried by a summary
court and condemned to be hung death ;
and that the execution would
take place in the early morning watch.
Captain Vere standing in his place
surrounded by all the ward-room
officers, addressed his men. In so
doing his manner showed neither
more nor less than that of properly
pertaining to his supreme position aboard his own ship.
the " Indomitable . In clear terms and
yet concise he told them what had
taken place in his own the cabin; that
the master-at-arms was dead; that
he who had killed him had
been immediatly already tried by a summary
court and condemned to be hung death ;
and that the execution would
take place in the early morning watch.
The word
mutiny
was not named
in what he said. He refrained too
from making the occasion an
opportunity for any preachment
as to the maintenance of discipline,
thinking perhaps that under
existing circumstances in the navy
[cle?] the consequence of violating discipline
should be made to speak, in and
in no mincing tone, for itself.
Their captain's announcement
was listened to by the throng of
standing sailors in a dumbness
like that of a seated congregation
of believers in hell listening to
the clergyman's announcment of
his Calvinistic text.
in what he said. He refrained too
from making the occasion an
opportunity for any preachment
as to the maintenance of discipline,
thinking perhaps that under
existing circumstances in the navy
[cle?] the consequence of violating discipline
should be made to speak, in and
in no mincing tone, for itself.
Their captain's announcement
was listened to by the throng of
standing sailors in a dumbness
like that of a seated congregation
of believers in hell listening to
the clergyman's announcment of
his Calvinistic text.
waxing murmer went up. It began to wax. All but
instantly, then, at a sign, it was pierced
and suppressed by shrill whistles of the boatswain Boatswain and
his Mates piping
down one watch.
To be prepared for burial
Claggart's body was delivered to
certain petty-officers of his mess. And
here, not to clog the sequel with
lateral matters, it may be added
that at a suitable hour following
the execution , the Master-at-Arms
was committed to the sea with
every funeral honor properly
belonging to his naval grade.
public one growing out of the trajedy tragedy
strict adherence to usage was observed.
Nor in any point could it have been at all
deviated from, either with respect to Claggart
or Billy Budd without begetting
undesirable speculations in the ship's
company, sailors, and more particularly
men-of-war's men, being of all men the
greatest sticklers for usage.
For similar cause, all communication
between Captain Vere and the condemned
one closed ended with the closeted
interview already given, the latter
being now surrendered to the
end. Put in irons, he was consigned His transfer under guard from the Captain's quarters
to to the customary place set apart in
great war-ships for the safe-keeping of
prisoners previous to punishment. In
This tho' nnEL mS was effected without any unusual
precautions–at least no few visible ones –– .
other than those usual in similar cases, every-day example of minor offenses.
If possible not to let the men so
much as surmise that their officers
anticipate aught amiss from them
is the tacit rule , in a military ship.
And the more that some sort of
trouble should really be apprehended
the more do the officers keep that
apprehension to themselves; tho' not the
less unostentatious vigilance may be augmented.
placed over the prisoner had strict orders
to let no one have communication with
him but the Chaplain. And certain
unobtrusive measures were taken
absolutely to insure this point.