Section 17. The Officers and Seamen of all Ships or Vessels belonging to the Indian Navy, appointed for Convoy a

17. The Officers and Seamen of all Ships or Vessels belonging to the Indian Navy, appointed for Convoy and Guard of Merchant Ships or Vessels, or of any other, shall diligently attend upon that charge without delay according to their instructions in that behalf, and whosoever shall be faulty therein, and shall not faithfully perform their duty and defend the Ships, Vessels and Goods in their Convoy without either diverting to other parts, or occasions, or refusing or neglecting to fight in their defence, if they be assailed, or running away cowardly and submitting the Ships in their Convoy to peril and hazard, or shall demand or exact any money or other reward from any Merchant or Master for convoying of any Ships or Vessels entrusted to their care, or shall misuse the Masters or Mariners thereof, shall be condemned to make reparation of the damage to the Merchants, Owners and others, as the Court of Admiralty or other competent Court shall judge; and also be punished criminally according to the quality of their offences; be it by pains of death, or other punishment, according as shall be adjudged fit by a Court Martial.