Chapter 20

by Herman Melville

　　Now when the Foretopman found himself closeted there, as it were, inthe cabin with the Captain and Claggart, he was surprised enough. But itwas a surprise unaccompanied by apprehension or distrust. To an immaturenature essentially honest and humane, forewarning intimations of subtlerdanger from one's kind come tardily if at all. The only thing that tookshape in the young sailor's mind was this: Yes, the Captain, I havealways thought, looks kindly upon me. Wonder if he's going to make mehis coxswain. I should like that. And maybe now he is going to ask theMaster-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 hisface what you told of him to me"; and stood prepared to scrutinize themutually confronting visages.With the measured step and calm collected air of an asylum-physicianapproaching in the public hall some patient beginning to showindications of a coming paroxysm, Claggart deliberately advanced withinshort range of Billy, and mesmerically looking him in the eye, brieflyrecapitulated the accusation.Not at first did Billy take it in. When he did, the rose-tan of hischeek looked struck as by white leprosy. He stood like one impaled andgagged. Meanwhile the accuser's eyes removing not as yet from the bluedilated ones, underwent a phenomenal change, their wonted rich violetcolor blurring into a muddy purple. Those lights of human intelligencelosing human expression, gelidly protruding like the alien eyes ofcertain uncatalogued creatures of the deep. The first mesmeric glancewas one of serpent fascination; the last was as the hungry lurch of thetorpedo-fish."Speak, man!" said Captain Vere to the transfixed one, struck by hisaspect even more than by Claggart's, "Speak! defend yourself." Whichappeal caused but a strange dumb gesturing and gurgling in Billy;amazement at such an accusation so suddenly sprung on inexperiencednonage; this, and, it may be, horror of the accuser, serving to bringout his lurking defect and in this instance for the time intensifying itinto a convulsed tongue-tie; while the intent head and entire formstraining forward in an agony of ineffectual eagerness to obey theinjunction to speak and defend himself, gave an expression to the facelike that of a condemned Vestal priestess in the moment of being buriedalive, and in the first struggle against suffocation.Though at the time Captain Vere was quite ignorant of Billy'sliability to vocal impediment, he now immediately divined it, sincevividly Billy's aspect recalled to him that of a bright young schoolmateof his whom he had once seen struck by much the same startling impotencein the act of eagerly rising in the class to be foremost in response toa testing question put to it by the master. Going close up to the youngsailor, and laying a soothing hand on his shoulder, he said, "There isno hurry, my boy. Take your time, take your time." Contrary to theeffect intended, these words so fatherly in tone, doubtless touchingBilly's heart to the quick, prompted yet more violent efforts atutterance -- efforts soon ending for the time in confirming theparalysis, and bringing to his face an expression which was as acrucifixion to behold. The next instant, quick as the flame from adischarged cannon at night, his right arm shot out, and Claggart droppedto the deck. Whether intentionally or but owing to the young athlete'ssuperior height, the blow had taken effect fully upon the forehead, soshapely and intellectual-looking a feature in the Master-at-arms; sothat the body fell over lengthwise, like a heavy plank tilted fromerectness. A gasp or two, and he lay motionless."Fated boy," breathed Captain Vere in tone so low as to be almost awhisper, "what have you done! But here, help me."The twain raised the felled one from the loins up into a sittingposition. The spare form flexibly acquiesced, but inertly. It was likehandling a dead snake. They lowered it back. Regaining erectness CaptainVere with one hand covering his face stood to all appearance asimpassive as the object at his feet. Was he absorbed in taking in allthe bearings of the event and what was best not only now at once to bedone, but also in the sequel? Slowly he uncovered his face; and theeffect was as if the moon emerging from eclipse should reappear withquite another aspect than that which had gone into hiding. The father inhim, manifested towards Billy thus far in the scene, was replaced by themilitary disciplinarian. In his official tone he bade the Foretopmanretire to a state-room aft (pointing it out), and there remain tillthence summoned. This order Billy in silence mechanically obeyed. Thengoing to the cabin-door where it opened on the quarter-deck, CaptainVere said to the sentry without, "Tell somebody to send Albert here."When the lad appeared his master so contrived it that he should notcatch sight of the prone one. "Albert," he said to him, "tell theSurgeon I wish to see him. You need not come back till called." When theSurgeon entered -- a self-poised character of that grave sense andexperience that hardly anything could take him aback, -- Captain Vereadvanced to meet him, thus unconsciously intercepting his view ofClaggart, and interrupting the other's wonted ceremonious salutation,said, "Nay, tell me how it is with yonder man," directing his attentionto the prostrate one.The Surgeon looked, and for all his self-command, somewhat startedat the abrupt revelation. On Claggart's always pallid complexion, thickblack blood was now oozing from nostril and ear. To the gazer'sprofessional eye it was unmistakably no living man that he saw."Is it so then?" said Captain Vere intently watching him. "I thoughtit. But verify it." Whereupon the customary tests confirmed theSurgeon's first glance, who now looking up in unfeigned concern, cast alook 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 theIndomitable's Captain, and as yet wholly ignorant of the affair, theprudent Surgeon nevertheless held his peace, only again looking anearnest interrogation as to what it was that had resulted in such atragedy.But Captain Vere was now again motionless standing absorbed inthought. But again starting, he vehemently exclaimed -- "Struck dead byan angel of God! Yet the angel must hang!"At these passionate interjections, mere incoherences to the listeneras yet unapprised of the antecedents, the Surgeon was profoundlydiscomposed. But now as recollecting himself, Captain Vere in lesspassionate tone briefly related the circumstances leading up to the event."But come; we must despatch," he added. "me to remove him" (meaningthe body) "to yonder compartment," designating one opposite that wherethe Foretopman remained immured. Anew disturbed by a request that asimplying 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 lieutenantswhat has happened, and tell Mr. Mordant," meaning the Captain ofMarines, "and charge them to keep the matter to themselves."