Of a series of incidents within a brief term rapidly following each other,
the adequate 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 of them had been seen to
enter it and neither of them had been seen to emerge, this rumor had got abroad
upon the gun decks and in the tops; the people of a great war-ship being in one
respect like villagers taking microscopic note of every 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 usual in those hours, the 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 at its full, silvered the white spar-deck wherever not blotted by the
clear-cut shadows horizontally thrown of fixtures and moving men. On either side
of 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 properly
pertaining to his supreme position aboard his own ship. In clear terms and
concise he told them what had taken place in the cabin; that the Master-at-arms
was dead; that he who had killed him had been already tried by a summary court
and condemned to 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
the consequence of violating discipline should be made to speak 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 announcement of his Calvinistic text.
At the close, however, a confused murmur went up. It began to wax. All but
instantly, then, at a sign, it was pierced and suppressed by shrill whistles of
the 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, the Master-at-arms was
committed to the sea with every funeral honor properly belonging to his naval
grade.
In this proceeding as in every public one growing out of the 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 ended with the closeted interview already given, the latter being now
surrendered to the ordinary routine preliminary to the end. This transfer under
guard from the Captain's quarters was effected without unusual precautions- at
least no visible ones.
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.
In the present instance the sentry 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.
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