The Story of Nathan Hale Part 9

The sole is split--the notes are inside it!

HALE

Good! That's an excellent idea!

SIMON

Slickest thing ye ever see. And it's my own idea!

HALE

I wonder if you could hide some notes I've gathered in the same way?

SIMON

O' course I could. I'll resole both boots. Give me yer notes.

HALE

Here they are. [_rattle of paper_]

SIMON

Pshaw, now--what kind o' writin' is this?

HALE

It's Latin. I thought if they were discovered on me--

SIMON

O' course--no soldier--that is, no redcoat could read that furrin writin'. Well, I'll put it where they'll never find it. Here--right in this sole. Now sit down there and pull yer boots off an' I'll fix 'em up fer ye.

HALE

Good! It's an excellent hiding place. Here you are.

SIMON

Yer a schoolmaster, I take it from the looks o' ye?

HALE

That's what I've been pa.s.sing for.

SIMON

Now, where's that awl? Oh, here it is. And what name be ye usin'

hereabouts?

HALE

Call me Master Nathan. [_knock_]

SIMON

Oh, someone at the door.

HALE

Had I better hide?

SIMON

No, no! 'tis better that ye sit right over there in the dark corner. Ye look innocent enough. Come in!

DREW [_coming in_]

Good morning, Simon.

SIMON

Good morrow to ye, Lieutenant Drew! I've got yer boots all finished fer ye.

DREW

Right! You're hard at work, I see.

SIMON

Always hard at work, Lieutenant. Here are yer boots. I'll wrap them up fer ye.

DREW [_low_]

Who's that gentleman over there?

SIMON [_low_]

A customer--I'm fixin' his boots.

DREW

Know him?

SIMON

Never set eyes on him before.

DREW