Now when the Foretopman found himself closeted there, as it were, in the
cabin with the Captain and Claggart, he was surprised enough. But it was a
surprise unaccompanied by apprehension or distrust. To an immature nature
essentially honest and humane, forewarning intimations of subtler danger from
one's kind come tardily if at all. The only thing that took shape in the young
sailor's mind was this: Yes, the Captain, I have always thought, looks kindly
upon me. Wonder if he's going to make me his coxswain. I should like that. And
maybe now he is going to ask the Master-at-arms about me.
"Shut the door there, sentry," said the Commander; "stand without, and let
nobody come in.- Now, Master-at-arms, tell this man to his face what you told of
him to me"; and stood prepared to scrutinize the mutually confronting visages.
With the measured step and calm collected air of an asylum-physician
approaching in the public hall some patient beginning to show indications of a
coming paroxysm, Claggart deliberately advanced within short range of Billy, and
mesmerically looking him in the eye, briefly recapitulated the accusation.
Not at first did Billy take it in. When he did, the rose-tan of his cheek
looked struck as by white leprosy. He stood like one impaled and gagged.
Meanwhile the accuser's eyes removing not as yet from the blue dilated ones,
underwent a phenomenal change, their wonted rich violet color blurring into a
muddy purple. Those lights of human intelligence losing human expression,
gelidly protruding like the alien eyes of certain uncatalogued creatures of the
deep. The first mesmeric glance was one of serpent fascination; the last was as
the hungry lurch of the torpedo-fish.
"Speak, man!" said Captain Vere to the transfixed one, struck by his aspect
even more than by Claggart's, "Speak! defend yourself." Which appeal caused but
a strange dumb gesturing and gurgling in Billy; amazement at such an accusation
so suddenly sprung on inexperienced nonage; this, and, it may be, horror of the
accuser, serving to bring out his lurking defect and in this instance for the
time intensifying it into a convulsed tongue-tie; while the intent head and
entire form straining forward in an agony of ineffectual eagerness to obey the
injunction to speak and defend himself, gave an expression to the face like that
of a condemned Vestal priestess in the moment of being buried alive, and in the
first struggle against suffocation.
Though at the time Captain Vere was quite ignorant of Billy's liability to
vocal impediment, he now immediately divined it, since vividly Billy's aspect
recalled to him that of a bright young schoolmate of his whom he had once seen
struck by much the same startling impotence in the act of eagerly rising in the
class to be foremost in response to a testing question put to it by the master.
Going close up to the young sailor, and laying a soothing hand on his shoulder,
he said, "There is no hurry, my boy. Take your time, take your time." Contrary
to the effect intended, these words so fatherly in tone, doubtless touching
Billy's heart to the quick, prompted yet more violent efforts at utterance-
efforts soon ending for the time in confirming the paralysis, and bringing to
his face an expression which was as a crucifixion to behold. The next instant,
quick as the flame from a discharged cannon at night, his right arm shot out,
and Claggart dropped to the deck. Whether intentionally or but owing to the
young athlete's superior height, the blow had taken effect fully upon the
forehead, so shapely and intellectual-looking a feature in the Master-at-arms;
so that the body fell over lengthwise, like a heavy plank tilted from erectness.
A gasp or two, and he lay motionless.
"Fated boy," breathed Captain Vere in tone so low as to be almost a whisper,
"what have you done! But here, help me."
The twain raised the felled one from the loins up into a sitting position.
The spare form flexibly acquiesced, but inertly. It was like handling a dead
snake. They lowered it back. Regaining erectness Captain Vere with one hand
covering his face stood to all appearance as impassive as the object at his
feet. Was he absorbed in taking in all the bearings of the event and what was
best not only now at once to be done, but also in the sequel? Slowly he
uncovered his face; and the effect was as if the moon emerging from eclipse
should reappear with quite another aspect than that which had gone into hiding.
The father in him, manifested towards Billy thus far in the scene, was replaced
by the military disciplinarian. In his official tone he bade the Foretopman
retire to a state-room aft (pointing it out), and there remain till thence
summoned. This order Billy in silence mechanically obeyed. Then going to the
cabin-door where it opened on the quarter-deck, Captain Vere said to the sentry
without, "Tell somebody to send Albert here." When the lad appeared his master
so contrived it that he should not catch sight of the prone one. "Albert," he
said to him, "tell the Surgeon I wish to see him. You need not come back till
called." When the Surgeon entered- a self-poised character of that grave sense
and experience that hardly anything could take him aback,- Captain Vere advanced
to meet him, thus unconsciously intercepting his view of Claggart, and
interrupting the other's wonted ceremonious salutation, said, "Nay, tell me how
it is with yonder man," directing his attention to the prostrate one.
The Surgeon looked, and for all his self-command, somewhat started at the
abrupt revelation. On Claggart's always pallid complexion, thick black blood was
now oozing from nostril and ear. To the gazer's professional eye it was
unmistakably no living man that he saw.
"Is it so then?" said Captain Vere intently watching him. "I thought it. But
verify it." Whereupon the customary tests confirmed the Surgeon's first glance,
who now looking up in unfeigned concern, cast a look of intense inquisitiveness
upon his superior. But Captain Vere, with one hand to his brow, was standing
motionless.
Suddenly, catching the Surgeon's arm convulsively, he exclaimed, pointing
down to the body- "It is the divine judgement on Ananias! Look!"
Disturbed by the excited manner he had never before observed in the
Indomitable's Captain, and as yet wholly ignorant of the affair, the prudent
Surgeon nevertheless held his peace, only again looking an earnest interrogation
as to what it was that had resulted in such a tragedy.
But Captain Vere was now again motionless standing absorbed in thought. But
again starting, he vehemently exclaimed- "Struck dead by an angel of God! Yet
the angel must hang!"
At these passionate interjections, mere incoherences to the listener as yet
unapprised of the antecedents, the Surgeon was profoundly discomposed. But now
as recollecting himself, Captain Vere in less passionate tone briefly related
the circumstances leading up to the event.
"But come; we must despatch," he added. "me to remove him" (meaning the body)
"to yonder compartment," designating one opposite that where the Foretopman
remained immured. Anew disturbed by a request that as implying a desire for
secrecy, seemed unaccountably strange to him, there was nothing for the
subordinate to do but comply.
"Go now," said Captain Vere with something of his wonted manner- "Go now. I
shall presently call a drum-head court. Tell the lieutenants what has happened,
and tell Mr. Mordant," meaning the Captain of Marines, "and charge them to keep
the matter to themselves."
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