"Billy Budd, Foretopman" by Herman Mellville.

Captain Vere Deals With his Burden of Knowledge
On the ship, Indomitable, in Billy Budd, Foretopman, by Herman Mellville, Vere, the captain, gains the burden of knowledge, much like a man who finds a dying deer on the side of the road. Once he examines the deer, he realizes it bears child and must decide what to do with it. Captain Vere sees Billy, the foretopman, kill Claggart, the master-at-arms, albeit even by accident, he must decide what to make of this difficult situation. Vere makes the just choice in the end and learns the fate of Billy before he has to.
Initially Captain Vere w…