The commander of this ship had sent the boat to capture him. He was at once rowed to the guardship Halifax.

66

'Are you a captain in the Continental Army?" asked the commander.

"I am," replied Hale.

"Why are you disguised?" was the next question.

There was no answer.

"Search him," ordered the commander. The papers and drawings were found in his shoes.

That settled it. The prisoner was a spy.

Hale was sent to the headquarters of General Lord Howe in New York City. Howe was dumbfounded. "Why did you, a man of learning and fine appearance, attempt this sort of work?"

Hale answered: "I am serving my country, and for that reason I will do any service that my country demands."

Howe admired his spirit and this thought came into his mind: "What a gain if this man would serve us. Surely ambition and place can tempt him."

He said to his prisoner: "I will grant you full pardon if you will join the British Army, and you will be speedily promoted to a high position."

Hale answered: "Nothing so increases my loyalty to my country as this temptation to forsake her.'

"Then you must die for her," was the grim response of General Howe.

Turning to his desk, he wrote out the commitment, which directed William Cunningham to receive Nathan Hale, keep him in custody until morning, and then see that he was hanged by the neck until dead. A British officer then conducted Hale to the quarters of Cunningham, the provost-marshal. This cruel and brutal man was in the habit of treating his prisoners most shamefully. He would insult them, kick them, and parade them up and down the corridors of the prison with Richmond, his

negro hangman, carrying a coil of rope behind them. Many were hanged in the yard back of the jail and their bodies left to dangle for hours that other prisoners might see them and shudder at the sight.

This man, after questioning Hale as to his age and history, read the death warrant telling him that he was to die at daybreak.

Every minute of that time would be needed to say goodby to his father, brothers, and sisters and to write a last loving letter to Alice Adams Ripley, the young lady who waited in her Connecticut home, longing and hoping for the time when he would return from the war and make her his wife.

Hale asked that his hands might be untied and that he might have a light and some writing materials. The heartless Cunningham refused his request. Hale asked for a Bible. Again he was refused with jeers and insults, and he was placed in a cell for the night. After Cunningham had fallen into a drunken stupor, a kind-hearted British officer who was Hale's guard furnished him writing materials and a light. The hours of that sad night were passed in writing his last letters to the dear ones at home.

At daybreak the provost-marshal came. The prisoner had not slept, but he was ready. He handed his letters to Cunningham, who opened them, read them, tore them into fragments, and stamped upon them, saying the rebels should never see such letters. No one should ever know that a man died with such courage.

Oh, the anguish that pierced the soul of Nathan Hale! Yet he gave no sign of his feelings.

He was ordered to prepare for the death march. He asked for a clergyman, but his request was refused. The line of march took him through a vast crowd of men and women to the place of execution in Colonel Rutger's

apple orchard. Hale, clothed in white with his arms bound behind him, was preceded by a file of soldiers. The soldiers formed a hollow square about an apple tree. Underneath the tree a grave had been dug. The hangman placed his ladder against a limb of the tree and adjusted the rope. Four men placed the coffin beneath the hanging

STATUE OF NATHAN HALE ON THE CAMPUS OF YALE UNIVERSITY, NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

The statue stands in front of Connecticut Hall, the building in which Hale lived as a student at Yale College

noose. Hale was ordered to stand upon the coffin. While the final preparations were being made, he stood with his manly form erect and his beautiful face illuminated with the glow of courage and patriotism. Even the hardest of the soldiers were awed by the sight. Cunningham hoped to destroy the impression produced by the sublime spectacle and called to Hale to make his last confession.

The martyr, whose face had been turned upward in

prayer, cast upon Cunningham a look of unutterable contempt. Then he turned his eyes to the spectators. The women were sobbing, and the men had turned away their faces. All became silent as Hale's voice, strong, full, and ringing with the energy of courage and patriotism, uttered these immortal words:

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!"

The provost-marshal was stunned. His rage almost choked him. As soon as he could collect himself, he roared: "Swing the rebel off!"

Noble, heroic death!

Thus passed away the martyred patriot spy, but his name will live forever and furnish us with an inspiration for great and noble deeds.

1. What happened on April 20th, 1775, in the Union Grammar School at New London?

2. What kind of man was Nathan Hale?

3. Tell what happened when a messenger arrived from Lexing

7. Tell what he did and how he was captured.

8. How did the British soldiers treat him?

9. What were Hale's last words?

CHAPTER XIV

SOME GOOD FRIENDS OF AMERICA

This country is indebted to a number of foreigners for their services during the Revolutionary War in aiding to make it what it is to-day-an independent nation.

TADEUSZ KOSCIUSZKO

Tadeusz Kosciuszko (pronounced Kos-choosh-ko), born in Lithuania, which was at that time a part of Poland, believed that he could be of some service to the American colonies in their fight for freedom from Great Britain. In 1776 he left his native land and set sail for these shores.

Kosciuszko came from a poor family, but at the age of 30 he had already served as a captain in the Polish army. He received his military education at Warsaw and at Versailles, in France.

After presenting letters of recom

T. Kosciuszko mendation from Benjamin Frank

lin, Kosciuszko was assigned as

colonel to General Gates' army. He distinguished himself during the war and was early made adjutant to General Washington.

When the Revolutionary War was over, Kosciuszko received the thanks of Congress with a commission as brigadier-general. In 1786 he returned to his home and