Having passed sentence, the captain went quickly aft to his cabin. The officers dispersed. Only Lieutenant Gordon stayed, numbly watching Mallard collect his papers, shaking his head in disbelief. 'My God, Master-At-Arms,' he said, his voice thick. 'You know what this means?'                                                                                                                                        'I know, sir,' Mallard answered, and had to wet his lips. "I saw it happen once, to the chief bosun's mate of a cruiser. I'll never forget it, I can see him now - sitting in the foc's'le mess deck in sailor's uniform, alone on the outboard end of the mess stool, his face turned to the ship's side so no-one passing through could see it. Jesus...'