The Reverse of the Medal. Patrick O’Brian
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but Stone and Goole dealt with his scruples in a calm, practical, businesslike manner; indeed, as the law stood he had no real choice, and when it came to the formal voting he said ‘Guilty’ to each name, though in a most hesitant and reluctant voice. Stone, the judge-advocate for the time being, bent to his table, writing fast and fair: ‘find the charges proved . . . adjudge them and each of them to suffer death by being hanged by the neck on board such of His Majesty’s ship or ships, at such time or times and at such place or places...’ He looked over his paper with a keen, objective eye, nodded, and passed it to the members for their signature: it was an ugly document to put one’s name to, and none of the captains relished it, not even Goole. Even less did they relish the next stage, when the prisoners were brought back, and when the bystanders had been silenced so that nothing but ship-sounds and a remote cry of ‘Sweepers, sweepers aft, d’ye hear me there?’ could be heard, the judge-advocate read his paper out in a strong, impassive voice, so that through all the legal forms and repetitions each man heard his sentence loud and clear.
It was an ugly business, and after taking a curt, barely civil leave of Goole and the others Jack walked out on deck. On the poop the yeoman of signals was folding up the court-martial flag, and looking with half-closed shielded eyes over the blazing sunlit water Jack saw that the Surprise was already moving across to her windward anchor, the fife shrilling loud upon her capstan as it turned.
Stephen Maturin was waiting for him at the head of the accommodation-ladder with a face as grave and heavy as his own. As Jack approached he said to Mr Waters’ older assistant, ‘Three drops each hour, and if possible continue the bark tomorrow,’ and walked silently down into the barge.
‘Larboard,’ said Jack to Bonden, and the moment the boat reached the ship he sprang up the side, glanced fore and aft, saw that everything was in train, and said, ‘Mr Mowett: to flag, Request permission to part company.’
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