 virtues were the cause of
overmuch disquietude in him. On a passage, so long as his craft was in any
proximity to land, no sleep for Captain Graveling. He took to heart those
serious responsibilities not so heavily borne by some shipmasters.
    Now while Billy Budd was down in the forecastle getting his kit together,
the Indomitable's lieutenant, burly and bluff, nowise disconcerted by Captain
Graveling's omitting to proffer the customary hospitalities on an occasion so
unwelcome to him, an omission simply caused by preoccupation of thought,
unceremoniously invited himself into the cabin, and also to a flask from the
spirit locker, a receptacle which his experienced eye instantly discovered. In
fact, he was one of those sea-dogs in whom all the hardship and peril of naval
life in the great prolonged wars of his time never impaired the natural instinct
for sensuous enjoyment. His duty he always faithfully did; but duty is sometimes
a dry obligation, and he was for irrigating its aridity whensoever possible with
a fertilising decoction of strong waters. For the cabin's proprietor there was
nothing left but to play the part of the enforced host with whatever grace and
alacrity were practicable. As necessary adjuncts to the flask, he silently
placed tumbler and water-jug before the irrepressible guest. But excusing
himself from partaking just then, dismally watched the unembarrassed officer
deliberately diluting his grog a little, then tossing it off in three swallows,
pushing the empty tumbler away, yet not so far as to be beyond easy reach, at
the same time settling himself in his seat, and smacking his lips with high
satisfaction, looking straight at the host.
    These proceedings over, the Master broke the silence; and there lurked a
rueful reproach in the tone of his voice: »Lieutenant, you are going to take my
best man from me, the jewel of 'em.«
    »Yes, I know,« rejoined the other, immediately drawing back the tumbler,
preliminary to a replenishing; »yes, I know. Sorry.«
    »Beg pardon, but you don't understand, Lieutenant. See here now. Before I
shipped that young fellow, my forecastle was a rat-pit of quarrels. It was black
times, I tell you, aboard the Rights here. I was worried to that degree my pipe
had no comfort for me. But Billy came; and it was like a Catholic priest
striking peace in an Irish shindy. Not that he preached to them or said or did
anything in particular; but a virtue went out of him, sugaring the sour ones.
They took to him like
