I was a captain without a command, as the vessel to which I had been assigned was lying in port with no prospect of employment. This continued for some time, when one day I was summoned to report at once at the office of my employers. I realized the importance of the summons when I learned that four messengers had been sent out to look for me, with instructions to say that not a moment was to be lost in my responding to the call.
I walked rapidly, no, I ran, till I reached the office, wondering what it could be for which my presence was so imperatively demanded.
One of the owners of the Aurora was in the office, and he immediately took me to his private room, out of hearing of the clerks. After closing the door, he said,—
"How long will it take you to get ready for sea?"
"As for myself," I answered, "not over an hour; for my vessel I couldn't say till I know the kind of service expected."
"Well," he replied, "we have news from Washington that war with Great Britain is inevitable. Events are leading up to it very rapidly, and it is liable to come at any moment. Now, we want to fit out some privateers and have them ready to take the sea the moment war is declared. We want you to command one of them, and your friend Taylor can have another. Will you tell him so as soon as you see him?"
"Certainly I will; and as to fitting out, I will proceed about it at once, whenever you name the ship I'm to command."
"That's all right," he said; "but we want you to act as secretly as possible, so as to get the start of our rivals as much as we can. Those who are first at sea when the war breaks out will have the best of the harvest in prizes."