PARTS:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
? ? ? ? "But while, put to it by these anxieties in you which I can not but respect, I only repeat myself- while thus strangely we prolong proceedings that should be summary- the enemy may be sighted and an engagement result. We must do; and one of two things must we do- condemn or let go."
? ? ? ? "Can we not convict and yet mitigate the penalty?" asked the junior Lieutenant here speaking, and falteringly, for the first.
? ? ? ? "Lieutenant, were that clearly lawful for us under the circumstances, consider the consequences of such clemency. The people" (meaning the ship's company) "have native-sense; most of them are familiar with our naval usage and tradition; and how would they take it? Even could you explain to them- which our official position forbids- they, long moulded by arbitrary discipline have not that kind of intelligent responsiveness that might qualify them to comprehend and discriminate. No, to the people the Foretopman's deed, however it be worded in the announcement, will be plain homicide committed in a flagrant act of mutiny. What penalty for that should follow, they know. But it does not follow.
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