Chapter 21

by Herman Melville

　　Full of disquietude and misgiving the Surgeon left the cabin. WasCaptain Vere suddenly affected in his mind, or was it but a transientexcitement, brought about by so strange and extraordinary a happening?As to the drum-head court, it struck the Surgeon as impolitic, ifnothing more. The thing to do, he thought, was to place Billy Budd inconfinement and in a way dictated by usage, and postpone further actionin so extraordinary a case to such time as they should rejoin thesquadron, and then refer it to the Admiral. He recalled the unwontedagitation of Captain Vere and his excited exclamations so at variancewith his normal manner. Was he unhinged? But assuming that he is, it isnot so susceptible of proof. What then can he do? No more tryingsituation is conceivable than that of an officer subordinate under aCaptain whom he suspects to be, not mad indeed, but yet not quiteunaffected in his intellect. To argue his order to him would beinsolence. To resist him would be mutiny.In obedience to Captain Vere he communicated what had happened tothe lieutenants and Captain of Marines; saying nothing as to theCaptain's state. They fully shared his own surprise and concern. Likehim too they seemed to think that such a matter should be referred tothe Admiral.