Scotland/Scots > Wilson's tales of the Borders and of Scotland > Volume 3

BILL STANLEY; OK, A SAILOR’S STORY. 23
shall be punished, whether in the accused or the accuser.
For it has not escaped my observation, that no officer
under me has ever found a fault in the prisoner, save your¬
self. Are you then resolved and prepared to prosecute
your charge?’
“ ‘ I am both resolved and prepared, Captain Sherbourne,*
laid Rigby ; 1 and I demand the satisfaction of the laws ol
my country and the service, not only as an officer who has
been insulted and injured, but as a British officer and sub¬
ject, whose life has been attempted.’
“ 1 This is a serious charge, boatswain,’ said Captain Sher¬
bourne ; ‘ let the prisoner be brought forward.’
“ The culprit was brought up, guarded, and in fetters,
and, being placed before his judges—‘ Prisoner,’ began the
captain, ‘ I deeply regret that one of your appearance, and
of your uniform excellent conduct and courage, while under
my command, should be brought before me under such cir¬
cumstances as those in which you now stand; and I regret
the more that, if the charges be proved, the proofs of your
former character and courage, which are known to us, will
be of no avail. You are charged not only with striking
your commanding officer, which is in itself a heinous of¬
fence, but also with attempting his life. Do you plead
guilty or not guilty ? ’
“ ‘ That,’ replied the prisoner, ‘ is as your honours please
to interpret the deed. But there is no such charge reckoned
against me in the log-book aloft.’
“ ‘ You then plead not guilty,’ said the captain.
“ 11 am guilty,’ answered he, ‘ of having acted as it was
the duty of a man to act. I am guilty of having convinced
a villain, that a proud heart may be found beneath a plain
blue jacket. I am guilty of having proved that there are
souls and feelings before the mast, as high-minded and as
keen as upon the quarter-deck. But ‘ the head and front
of my offending hath this extent, no more.’ ’