ANNOUNCER
So early the next morning Hull and Hale started out together. They went into Connecticut and began looking for some means of crossing the Sound to the North Shore of Long Island. When they arrived near Norwalk they heard that an American gunboat was lying offshore. They determined to row out to it as soon as night came.
Our next scene is just after dark. Nathan Hale has put on his disguise, while William Hull has found a rowboat, and now draws up to the shore where Nathan is waiting for him.
HALE
Hello, William, that you?
HULL
It's me, right enough. Come on, climb in.
HALE
All right. Hold her there while I get aboard.
HULL
Easy, you'll have to jump for it! This is as close as I can come with this old tub.
HALE
Steady now! Here I come—all right! I didn't even get my feet wet!
HULL
Let me take a good look at your disguise. Hm—brown homespun suit—yes—that's a poor enough fit even for a penniless schoolmaster. And that hat! Yes, it'll disguise you all right.
HALE
I hope so. Give me an oar, I'll help you pull to the gunboat.
HULL
Here you are. [rattle of oar in oarlock] All ready?
HALE
Pull away, [noise of regular rattle of oars in the lock and the swish of water continuing]
HULL
Where are you going first, Nathan?
HALE
I don't know. I'll have to let circumstances direct me.
HULL
Are you going directly to that shoemaker the General referred you to?
HALE
No, not directly. I'll see what I can do without any help at first.
HULL
You better change your mind and let me go with you.
HALE
It's no use, William. I won't change my mind.
HULL
You always were stubborn, Nathan.
HALE
Perhaps. There's the gunboat, William!
HULL
Sure that's it?
HALE
No doubt of it.
HULL
Shall I hail them?
HALE
Let's pull in a little closer.
HULL
All right, pull away. There's no light aboard.
HALE
No—there wouldn't be. These waters are alive with British boats.
HULL
There! That's close enough! Give 'em a call now!
HALE
Ahoy, there!
BOS'N [distance]
Ahoy! Look sharp there! Don't come any closer! Who are you, and what do you want?
HALE
I want to speak to your Captain.
BOS'N
Who are you?
HALE
An officer of the Continental army!
BOS'N
HALE [low]
All right, William, as soon as I go aboard, row back to shore, and wait ten days for me. If I've not returned by then, go back and report me as lost.
HULL
Now, listen, Nathan! I've come this far with you, let me go—
HALE
We've settled all that, William, not once but several times.
HULL
Oh, all right.
POND [distance]
Ahoy, there! What's wanted?
HALE
I wish to come aboard, sir, with your permission.
POND
Hello, there, your voice sounds familiar. You don't by any chance happen to be Captain Hale?
HALE
Yes, indeed. I'm Captain Hale. But you have the advantage of me, sir—
POND
Come aboard, come aboard, Captain. Don't you remember Lieutenant Pond? I was in your regiment at the siege of Boston.
HALE
Of course, I do, Pond. I'm glad to hear your voice.
POND
Come aboard, Captain, I'll lower a ladder for you.
HALE
Thank you.
POND
Bos'n!
BOS'N
Aye, aye, sir!
POND
Lower the ladder for Captain Hale!
BOS'N
Aye, aye, sir! [gives orders for lowering ladder]
HALE [during the confusion]
Good-by, William. I'll try to be back in a week.
HULL
Good luck to you, Nathan.
HALE
If by any chance I fail to return, will you see that my uniform and other effects are sent to my family?
HULL
Of course I will, Nathan.
POND
Come aboard, Captain Hale!
POND [coming in]
Here you are, careful now! Give me your hand and watch yourself—there!
HALE
Thank you.
POND
What kind of an outfit do you call that you've got on! I'd never have known you if I hadn't heard your voice.
HALE
That's good, Pond!
POND
Good, why?
HALE
Because I'm bound for the enemy lines.
POND
What? Not on spy duty, I hope?
HALE
Exactly. Will you give me passage to Long Island, and land me in some secluded spot?
POND
Why—yes—if you wish it.
HALE
You can do it without endangering yourself or your boat?
POND
There'll be no difficulty about landing you. There is, however, a British man-of-war, the Halifax, in these waters. We have to watch out for her. But it's dark enough tonight to be perfectly safe.
HALE
Good! Can we go at once?
POND
Yes, sir. [calling] Bos'n!
BOS'N
Aye, aye, sir!
POND
Get the ship under way for Long Island! Bring her into that secluded cove near Huntington! You know the place.
BOS'N
Aye, aye, sir! [calling] All hands on deck! Man the windlass! Weigh anchor! [etc.] [mob, setting sails, etc.]
POND
Well, Captain Hale. This is new business for you, isn't it?
HALE
Yes, I've been transferred to Knowlton's Rangers. Our business is to get information. And I am under orders to secure some information that I can get in no other way.
POND
Hm. It's not a sweet business.
HALE
It's in my country's service! It seems that you, too, Lieutenant Pond, are in a new business. How long have you been in the navy?
POND
Two weeks.
HALE
I'm glad I found you here—I might have had some difficulty in convincing a stranger that I was really an officer in the Continental army.
POND
That's true enough. You look—well—more like a country schoolmaster than anything else.
HALE
That's what I hope to pass for.
POND
How long will you be on Long Island?
HALE
I shall try to be through my business in a week. I wonder if you would meet me at the same place you are going to leave me—say, a week from tonight?
POND
I'll send a small boat ashore for you, soon after dark a week from tonight.
HALE
Good! I'll be there—unless—
POND
Yes?
HALE
Unless I am unexpectedly detained.
POND
Oh, sir—we won't even think of that!