ge.

The capture of the ship by the Frenchmen occurred during the early hours
of a Friday morning; and on the following Tuesday evening I received a
message from Mr White, asking me to call upon him, at his office, next
day at noon. Punctual to the moment, I presented myself, and was at
once ushered into the old gentleman's private sanctum, where I found my
employer seated at his desk, with several bundles of papers lying before
him. He shook hands with me very cordially, and signed to me to be
seated.

"Let me see, George," he commenced. "Your indentures will soon expire,
will they not?"

"Yes, Mr White," I answered. "I shall be out of my time on the
sixteenth of next month."

"Just so; just so. I thought that they would have about a month to run;
but have been too busy the last few days to ascertain the precise date.
Well, George," he continued, "I have come to the conclusion that the
_Weymouth_ must be laid up, for the present at all events. Her capture
the other night has opened my eyes more completely than they have ever
been opened before, to the risk of working an unarmed ship during war-
time. Were I to continue to do so, and the ship should happen to be
captured, it would go far toward ruining me; and I am too old to endure
such a loss; so I have made up my mind to lay up the _Weymouth_ while
the war lasts. But there is good money to be made, even in war-time, if
a man goes the right way to work. Privateering is a very profitable
business when it can be carried on successfully; and success depends as
much as anything upon the kind of men employed. I have been having a
chat with Captain Winter upon the subject, with the result that I have
purchased the schooner that they are now finishing off in Martin's
building-yard; and I intend to fit her out as a privateer; that being
the kind of work, in fact, that she has been especially built for.
Captain Winter will have the command of her, of course, with Mr Lovell
as chief mate; and, George, upon the captain's very strong
recommendation, I have determined to offer you the berth of second mate.
It will take more than a month to complete the schooner and fit her for
sea; and by that time your indentures will have expired. Captain Winter
gives you a most excellent character, and has recommended you for the
berth; and from what I have seen of you, my lad, I have come to the
conclusion that I shall not go very far wrong in giving it to you. Nay,
you owe me