- end_line
- 2907
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:26.981Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 2874
- text
- 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 their clergyman’s announcement of his Calvinistic
text.[5]
At the close, however, a confused murmur went up. It began to wax all
but instantly, then at a sign, was pierced and suppressed by shrill
whistles of the boatswain and his mates piping, ‘Down one watch.’[6]
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 honour 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 man-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; though not
the less unostentatious vigilance may be augmented.
- title
- Chunk 13