{"id":"01KG6GMM4Y92W406TSZJWWY9HX","cid":"bafkreidpqaypu6nwt6ub53tnpm5xxgy6ku27cpahmxnumrjmshnnms5rlu","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2079,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T03:55:03.879Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 14","source_file":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","start_line":2013,"text":"Now at the first broaching of the matter Captain Vere, taken by\r\nsurprise, could not wholly dissemble his disquietude, but as Claggart\r\nwent on, the former’s aspect changed into restiveness under something in\r\nthe testifier’s manner in giving his testimony. However, he refrained\r\nfrom interrupting him. And Claggart, continuing, concluded with this:\r\n\r\n‘God forbid, your honour, that the _Indomitable’s_[4] should be the\r\nexperience of the----’\r\n\r\n‘Never mind that!’ here peremptorily broke in the superior, his face\r\naltering with anger instantly, divining the ship that the other was\r\nabout to name, one in which the Nore Mutiny had assumed a singularly\r\ntragical character that for a time jeopardised the life of its\r\ncommander. Under the circumstances he was indignant at the purposed\r\nallusion. When the commissioned officers themselves were on all\r\noccasions very heedful how they referred to the recent event, for a\r\npetty officer unnecessarily to allude to it in the presence of his\r\ncaptain, this struck him as a most immodest presumption. Besides, to his\r\nquick sense of self-respect, it even looked under the circumstances\r\nsomething like an attempt to alarm him. Nor at that was he without some\r\nsurprise that one who so far as he had hitherto come under his notice\r\nhad shown considerable tact in his function, should in this particular\r\nevince such lack of it.\r\n\r\nBut these thoughts and kindred dubious ones flitting across his mind\r\nwere suddenly replaced by an intuitional surmise, which though as yet\r\nobscure in form, served practically to affect his reception of the ill\r\ntidings. Certain it is, that long versed in everything pertaining to the\r\ncomplicated gun-deck life, which like every other form of life has its\r\nsecret mines and dubious side, the side popularly disclaimed, Captain\r\nVere did not permit himself to be unduly disturbed by the general tenor\r\nof his subordinate’s report. Furthermore, if in view of recent events\r\nprompt action should be taken at the first palpable sign of recurring\r\ninsubordination, for all that, not judicious would it be, he thought, to\r\nkeep the idea of lingering disaffection alive by undue forwardness in\r\ncrediting an informer, even if his own subordinate, and charged among\r\nother honours with police surveillance of the crew. This feeling would\r\nnot perhaps have so prevailed with him were it not that upon a prior\r\noccasion the patriotic zeal officially evinced by Claggart had somewhat\r\nirritated him as appearing rather supersensitive and strained.\r\nFurthermore, something even in the official’s self-possessed and\r\nsomewhat ostentatious manner in making his specifications strangely\r\nreminded him of a bandsman, a perjured witness in a capital case before\r\na court-martial ashore of which when a lieutenant he, Captain Vere, had\r\nbeen a member.\r\n\r\nNow the peremptory check given to Claggart in the matter of the arrested\r\nallusion was quickly followed up by this: ‘You say that there is at\r\nleast one dangerous man aboard. Name him.’\r\n\r\n‘William Budd, a foretopman, your honour.’\r\n\r\n‘William Budd!’ repeated Captain Vere with unfeigned astonishment; ‘and\r\nmean you the man that Lieutenant Ratcliffe took from the merchantman not\r\nvery long ago--the young fellow who seems to be so popular with the\r\nmen--Billy, the Handsome Sailor, as they call him?’\r\n\r\n‘The same, your honour; but for all his youth and good looks, a deep\r\none. Not for nothing does he insinuate himself into the good-will of his\r\nshipmates, since at the least they will at a pinch say a good word for\r\nhim at all hazards. Did Lieutenant Ratcliffe happen to tell your honour\r\nof that adroit fling of Budd’s jumping up in the cutter’s bow under the\r\nmerchantman’s stern when he was being taken off? That sort of\r\ngood-humoured air even masks that at heart he resents his impressment.\r\nYou have but noted his fair cheek. A man-trap may be under his\r\nruddy-tipped daisies.’\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 14"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6GK8EG5N9JTTBYRRP0CTKZ","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG2T49K0H5GDRB0G4YDTPG8H","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6GMM4WCBSWHY2090FZ0R4Z","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6GMM4YKQDXY8KKMJFNHT3F","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T03:55:05.758Z","ts":"2026-01-30T03:55:14.470Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}