04.02.09
24 hours in the life of a hero Nathan Hale
“Nathan Hale? Is he from Connecticut?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then he’s not a Dutch schoolmaster.”
“No, sir.”
The general turned on his heel and walked over to the fireplace. He leaned an arm against the white mantlepiece. “Then what, pray tell, is he.” Samuel Hale wanted the floor to receive him into its depths, he prayed the devil himself might appear and invite him to hell. No, this was hell. Right here. He looked at his cousin but Nathan had closed his eyes.
Samuel sighed loudly. “Your Excellency, my cousin is a captain in the rebel army.” Everyone gasped, including Colonel Rogers and the Queen’s Rangers. General Howe walked back to his desk and addressed his prisoner.
“Is this true?”
For some reason, Nathan felt curiously relieved. “Yes, Your Excellency!” He spoke firmly and came to attention, military style. “Yes, sir. I am proud to be a captain in the Continental Army of the United Colonies, I mean, the United STATES of America, serving under Lt. Colonel Thomas Knowlton…and His Excellency, General Washington, sir.”
Samuel turned on him. “What a stupid thing to do! You are an idiot! In an idiot excuse for an army! And you call him a general, cousin? A general of rabble! What kind of commander lets his officers get disgraced like this?! Dishonored!”
Nathan took a deep breath. “Sam…”
“They are going to hang you, Nathan!”
Cold shivers ran down his spine as the reality hit like a brick wall. He swallowed hard. “I know,” he said softly.
General Howe and Colonel Kemble re-entered the room and the colonel addressed Nathan. “His Excellency and I are in agreement that we can make use of a young man in your position.” Kemble read from some hasty notes he had taken. “You will be compensated in pounds sterling for any information you have on Mr. Washington’s current deployment. We require regimental sizes, commanders and locations, artillery strength and positions and supply status. If you are willing to re-enter the rebel lines for more detailed intelligence, you will be suitably rewarded according to its value; in addition, once you return your proper allegiance to His Majesty, King George III, you will receive the king’s pardon and a commission in the British army at a rank equal to the one you now hold.”
“Nathan!” said Samuel excitedly.
“No,” said Nathan.
“…BUT THIS IS NOT THEORETICAL!” Howe caught his breath and his voice softened again. “It is my desire that your decision be considered more carefully, Captain Hale. I will allot time for you to do so. I most certainly do not wish to…”
“NO, SIR!! No. I am not capable of what Your Excellency requires. It would be treason!”
“You have already committed treason, don’t you understand?!” shouted Samuel nervously. “You rebels started this miscreant war!”
“Not until we were occupied by foreign troops,” Nathan shouted back. “We are an independent country now, don’t you understand?! We will never lay down our arms until they are OFF OUR SOIL!”
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Nathan shook his head and the blindfold slipped down around his neck. His voice was calm and steady. He might have been lecturing to his students in New London or giving a speech to his Linonia brothers at Yale.
“My name is Captain Nathan Hale of the Continental Army. I am not a rebel nor am I a traitor. I am an American. This country — where I was born — has declared itself an independent nation to which I proudly render all of my loyalty and allegiance. It is you British who are pleased to shed the blood of the innocent! You Tories are the traitors! To your own land! “I have committed no crime and I have nothing to confess — for it is the duty of every soldier to obey his commander-in-chief, as I have done, and without regret. Because we will never submit to the enemy! We will fight, as soldiers — in any way we can — to save our injured, bleeding country!!”
“You are not a soldier, you are a low, villainous spy!” shouted a British corporal.
“I’ll wager that’s something he regrets!” One of the Tories joked nervously and the crowd tittered.
“No!” Nathan looked at Montresor and then back at the crowd. He took a long, deep breath. “I am so satisfied with the cause I have chosen, even now…that my only regret is — I have but one life to lose for my country. IF I HAD TEN THOUSAND LIVES…I would give them all.”
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veral times
Stephen
