lo, 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 th