Chapter 2
Oh look--there in the cove! D'ye see a small boat comin' into shore? I wonder what it can be doin' here?
HALE
Oh, indeed! I'm afraid I'll have to go, Madam! Let me pay my reckoning.
MRS. CHICHESTER
There--I guess my eyes deceived me. It's not a boat at all.
HALE
Ah!
MRS. CHICHESTER
What was that you said? Your reckoning? But sir, you've had no sweetmeat. Come, sit down, I'll bring ye a bit o' pastry.
HALE
But--
MRS. CHICHESTER
I'll take it much amiss if ye refuse me.
HALE
Thank you, Madam--I'll wait--bring your sweetmeat.
ANNOUNCER
As soon as Hale finished his meal at the tavern, he went to the shore of the cove to await the boat that he expected. After some time he heard the splash of oars. So sure was he that this was his boat that he stood up and called.
HALE
Hello, Pond, here I am! Right here!
DREW
Stand fast, put your hands up!
HALE
What--what's the meaning of this? Sir, I am a peaceable schoolmaster, you have no cause to apprehend me!
DREW
We'll soon see. Strike a light! Search him!
VOICE
Aye, aye, sir--here's your light.
DREW
Well, sir, I thought I'd seen you before. Now I know I have! I've placed you at last! You are an officer in the rebel army!
HALE
I tell you, sir, I am a poor schoolmaster!
DREW
We'll soon see. Find anything in his pockets?
VOICE
Not a thing, sir.
DREW
Rip his jacket to pieces, look in the lining and the seams!
VOICE
Yes, sir. [_sound of tearing cloth_]
HALE
Why am I suffering this indignity?
DREW
Anything there?
VOICE
Not a thing, sir.
DREW
Strip him--tear every piece of clothing to pieces!
VOICE
Aye, aye, sir.
HALE
I trust this is giving you some pleasure.
DREW
We're enjoying ourselves, aren't we, boys?
ALL
Aye, aye, sir.
VOICE
Here, sir--a piece o' paper.
DREW
Let's see it--ha--receipt for lodgings. Is that the best you can do?
VOICE
That's all there is, sir.
HALE
Perhaps, sir, now that you have ruined my clothes, you'll let me go.
DREW
I will not! I'll find where you've hidden your notes if I have to rip your skin off!
HALE
I am helpless, sir. But you must be satisfied that I have nothing on me. Can't you conclude your sport and let me go?
DREW
Look here, men--what about his boots?
VOICE
Nothing in them, sir.
DREW
He was having them resoled the other day! Ho, I'll wager that's where they are! Give me your knife, Bos'n!
VOICE
Here you are, sir.
DREW
Hm! There--ah, ha! I thought so! Papers--papers--I thought as much--bring the light nearer! Hm--what's this? Some foreign tongue--Ah! Latin. Who would have expected a rebel to know Latin?
HALE
I am a schoolmaster, sir.
DREW
Aye, and a spy as well--as these notes prove.
HALE
Can you read them?
DREW
My Latin is a little rusty, but I can make out the tenor of them. Hm--disposition of troops--probable movements of army--yes, that will do! What have you to say to that, my fine rebel?
HALE
Nothing.
DREW
You don't need to. We've evidence enough to hang you as it is. Bring him along, men! [_mob noise_]
ANNOUNCER
So Hale was taken aboard the _Halifax_ and delivered late the same night to General Howe, who, without the formality of a trial, turned him over to the Provost Marshal, William Cunningham, for execution the next day.
Our next scene is in the apple orchard of the Beekman estate on Manhattan. Hale has been marched out for his execution. He is standing under guard, near the tent of Captain John Montressor, who, as our scene opens, comes out of his tent, sees Hale, and speaks to him.
MONTRESSOR
Sir, I regret to see such a fine appearing young man in this situation.
HALE
You are kind to say so, sir.
MONTRESSOR
May I ask your name and rank?
HALE
I am Captain Nathan Hale, of the Colonial army.
MONTRESSOR
May I introduce myself? I am Captain John Montressor. Can I be of any assistance to you?
HALE
I should be deeply grateful, sir, if I could write a few lines to friends and relatives before I meet my fate.
MONTRESSOR
Will you come into my tent?
HALE
If my guard--
MONTRESSOR
I'll tend to the guard.
HALE
Thank you.
MONTRESSOR
You'll find quills, ink, and paper on my field desk.
HALE [_going_]
Thank you, sir.
VOICE
I say, halt there--where are you going?
MONTRESSOR
Never mind, Corporal! I'll be responsible for the prisoner.
VOICE
Very good, Captain, but the Provost Marshal won't like it! I can tell you that.
MONTRESSOR
I'll take all the blame. The Provost Marshal never likes anything, so that's no matter. Here, put this crown in your pocket.
VOICE
Right enough, sir. Thank you.
MONTRESSOR
Do you know anything about the prisoner?
VOICE
No, sir. Ah, sir! Here comes the Provost Marshal!
MONTRESSOR
Let me talk to him.
CUNNINGHAM [_coming up_]
Where's the prisoner? Guard! Where's the prisoner?
MONTRESSOR
Just at this moment, sir, he is writing a few notes in my tent.
CUNNINGHAM
Bring him out here!
MONTRESSOR
I'll get him, sir, if I may be allowed.
CUNNINGHAM
Go ahead, get him.
MONTRESSOR [_off_]
I'm sorry, Captain Hale, but the Marshal is waiting for you--have you finished your letters?
HALE [_off_]
Not quite, sir.
MONTRESSOR [_calling_]
He hasn't finished his letters, sir.
CUNNINGHAM
Fetch him along--he's written enough.
MONTRESSOR
I'm sorry, Captain.
HALE
Of course I'll come. May I ask you to deliver these letters at your first opportunity?
MONTRESSOR
Surely.
CUNNINGHAM
Guard, fall in around the prisoner.
VOICE
Guard, fall in--'ten--_shun_! Quick step--march! [_marching_]
CUNNINGHAM
Halt under the tree!
VOICE
Guard, halt!
CUNNINGHAM
Put the prisoner on the ladder!
HALE
It isn't necessary, sir--I can climb the ladder.
CUNNINGHAM
All right then, get up there. Put the halter around his neck, and blindfold him.
HALE
I can do that, too, sir.
CUNNINGHAM
All right, then, do it! And if you have any further statement or confession to make, now is the time to do it.
HALE
I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.
CUNNINGHAM
Humph! Now, guard, when I give the word, kick the ladder and let the rebel swing. Are you ready?
VOICE
Ready.
CUNNINGHAM
Steady--now! [_noise of ladder, gasp, etc._] [_pause_] So let all spies, rebels, and traitors swing! March the guard off!
VOICE
Guard--fall in! Quick step--[_etc._]
MONTRESSOR [_to himself_]
Poor fellow--and he's hardly more than a boy.
CUNNINGHAM
And now, Captain Montressor, I'll trouble you for those letters.
MONTRESSOR
Here they are, Marshal.
CUNNINGHAM
Ah--[_sound of tearing paper_]
MONTRESSOR
What are you doing, sir? Stop it! Don't tear those letters up!
CUNNINGHAM
I've already done it, Captain.
MONTRESSOR
What did you do that for? They were intrusted to me for delivery.
CUNNINGHAM
Well--they won't be delivered! The rebels shall never know they had a man who could die with such firmness!
ANNOUNCER
The next day, however, Captain Montressor carried the news to the American lines under a white flag and repeated to Hale's companions those words--which have come down to us: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!"
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note:
Page 28: Corrected both occurrences of CHICHERTER to CHICHESTER.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of Nathan Hale, by Henry Fisk Carlton