we march up the passageway and i hear a low whistle , and there 's bliffil in a side corridor , swingin ' a little noose between his thumb and forefinger and lookin ' at me over it and smilin ' , and my knees turn to water and my eyes turn back in my head , but one of the marines slaps me around a bit and i manage to stand up before the captain , who looks at me sternly and says , `` we find that you , jack faber , acted in self-defense and therefore are to go free , but it is the hope of this courtmartial that your night in confinement will be a lesson to you to be more quiet and reserved in your demeanor , especially quiet for the love of god .