{"id":"01KG6GMM50T9TJXG3802BV8D1Z","cid":"bafkreib4aiyfcalm6xs6rrzznsqpi2vz5v7kqzmaxrsa3pg3u7cvsf6hjy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":2308,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T03:55:03.879Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 18","source_file":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","start_line":2248,"text":"his lurking defect, and in this instance for the time intensifying it\r\ninto a convulsed tongue-tie; while the intent head and entire form,\r\nstraining forward in an agony of ineffectual eagerness to obey the\r\ninjunction to speak and defend himself, gave an expression to the face\r\nlike that of a condemned vestal priestess in the moment of being buried\r\nalive, and in the first struggle against suffocation.\r\n\r\nThough at the time Captain Vere was quite ignorant of Billy’s liability\r\nto vocal impediment, he now immediately divined it, since vividly\r\nBilly’s aspect recalled to him that of a bright young schoolmate of his\r\nwhom he had seen struck by much the same startling impotence in the act\r\nof eagerly rising in the class to be foremost in response to a testing\r\nquestion put to it by the master. Going close up to the young sailor,\r\nand laying a soothing hand on his shoulder, he said, ‘There is no hurry,\r\nmy boy. Take your time, take your time.’ Contrary to the effect\r\nintended, these words, so fatherly in tone, doubtless touching Billy’s\r\nheart to the quick, prompted yet more violent efforts at\r\nutterance--efforts soon ending for the time in confirming the paralysis,\r\nand bringing to the face an expression which was as a crucifixion to\r\nbehold. The next instant, quick as the flame from a discharged cannon at\r\nnight, his right arm shot out, and Claggart dropped to the deck. Whether\r\nintentionally, or but owing to the young athlete’s superior height, the\r\nblow had taken effect full upon the forehead, so shapely and\r\nintellectual-looking a feature in the master-at-arms; so that the body\r\nfell over lengthwise, like a heavy plank tilted from erectness. A gasp\r\nor two, and he lay motionless.\r\n\r\n‘Fated boy,’ breathed Captain Vere, in tone so low as to be almost a\r\nwhisper, ‘what have you done! But here, help me.’\r\n\r\nThe twain raised the felled one from the loins up into a sitting\r\nposition. The spare form flexibly acquiesced, but inertly. It was like\r\nhandling a dead snake. They lowered it back. Regaining erectness,\r\nCaptain Vere with one hand covering his face stood to all appearance as\r\nimpassive as the object at his feet. Was he absorbed in taking in all\r\nthe bearings of the event, and what was best not only now at once to be\r\ndone, but also in the sequel? Slowly he uncovered his face; and the\r\neffect was as if the moon emerging from eclipse should reappear with\r\nquite another aspect than that which had gone into hiding. The father in\r\nhim, manifested towards Billy thus far in the scene, was replaced by the\r\nmilitary disciplinarian. In his official tone he bade the foretopman\r\nretire to a state-room aft (pointing it out), and there remain till\r\nthence summoned. This order Billy in silence mechanically obeyed. Then\r\ngoing to the cabin door where it opened on the quarter-deck, Captain\r\nVere said to the sentry without, ‘Tell somebody to send Albert here.’\r\nWhen the lad appeared his master so contrived it that he should not\r\ncatch sight of the prone one. ‘Albert,’ he said to him, ‘tell the\r\nsurgeon I wish to see him. You need not come back till called.’\r\n\r\nWhen the surgeon entered--a self-poised character of that grave sense\r\nand experience that hardly anything could take him aback--Captain Vere\r\nadvanced to meet him, thus unconsciously interrupting his view of\r\nClaggart, and interrupting the other’s wonted ceremonious salutation\r\nsaid, ‘Nay, tell me how it is with yonder man,’ directing his attention\r\nto the prostrate one.\r\n\r\nThe surgeon looked, and for all his self-command, somewhat started at\r\nthe abrupt revelation. On Claggart’s always pallid complexion thick\r\nblack blood was now oozing from mouth and ear. To the gazer’s\r\nprofessional eyes it was unmistakably no living man that he saw.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 18"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6GK8EG5N9JTTBYRRP0CTKZ","peer_type":"segment","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6FXSCNX5F3D880P3YP3PKR","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG2T49K0H5GDRB0G4YDTPG8H","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6GMM4W6VC6GVE95PJMESPT","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6GMM501DH00JTGEKG06QEE","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T03:55:05.760Z","ts":"2026-01-30T03:55:14.517Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}