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 Stand by--I'll report you. 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