Miles and Clark rowed back to the Abigail Cobb not terribly long after Miles concluded his conversation with Mr. Finley. Clark, though he appeared curious and concerned, did not ask any questions as they returned to the ship. Miles had seen two other men from the docks speaking to Clark at the whaleboat when Miles had returned to it. They had greeted him politely, then quickly left.

"Gossip about the war and the general state of things," Clark had explained. "They knew we had been gone some time."

That was all he said on the matter, trusting in Miles to discuss it in more detail. 

When they arrived at the Abigail Cobb once more they hauled themselves up to the deck using the ladder that had been left for them. The crew on deck greeted him and Miles nodded to them to return. 

"Gather everyone below," he instructed Clark. "I want this meeting where no one can watch us from the shore."

His words caused Clark and those near enough to overhear to become visibly concerned. Clark quietly sent the crew below and still did not ask any questions of Miles. Miles followed them all down, but stayed near the stairs where the light was best. He waited until the crew had gathered and grown quiet.

"We all heard about the conflicts near Boston before we left for this hunt," Miles began, considering the news Levi Finley had given him. "It appears those skirmishes have become a true war. The colonies are fighting the British. After that fighting they pinned the British in Boston until only recently, but they have since left and returned the city to the people of Boston."

A mix of surprise, concern, and fear passed among the crew at the news. Miles allowed the whispers to continue for a moment.

"There is no telling how long this war may last or how it will end," Miles continued at last. "There is hope that it may end in peace soon, but some have changed things for themselves and their businesses as they are unsure of what will happen next. Mr. Cobb has chosen to relocate his business to Whitby in England. I learned the navy would have forced us to join them or be sent into the British whaling fleet if not for Mr. Cobb choosing to alter our port and pledge us into that fleet himself."

"When do we see our families, then?" Cutler demanded. Several others echoed the question.

Miles held up a hand. "Mr. Cobb plans to assist in moving families to England. Some of them. Those who, in Mr. Cobb's mind, deserve to live lives there. I'm sure you can guess which families he intends to leave here."

There was muttering again, and a few curses. Barely half the crew was white, and some of them were French, something Cobb had always despised. Most of the others were former slaves and three Wampanoag Indians. In the manner of people who shared difficult and dangerous experiences and close living conditions, they were all, if not friends, then respectful associates who had worked out their differences enough to work and live cohesively together. Most of them did not like knowing the others were to be neglected, mistreated, or left abandoned. Miles had always prided himself on cultivating such crews, now more than ever.

"There is another option, one I personally am intending to pursue," Miles continued. "One that would keep everyone employed on their own terms. I was approached by a merchant who was looking to outfit a privateer vessel under a letter of marque granted by Massachusetts. This is something I have some experience with, having served on my father's privateer for several years in the previous war. I intend to take the offer, and I would be honored if any of you interested were to join me."

There was quiet muttering from the crew. Some looked surprised, some immediately excited. Among the mates, Davis and Mack appeared thoughtful, Turner nodded excitedly, and Clark grinned.

"Ain't that just piracy, sir?" Humphrey asked, another question that others seemed to have, judging by the nods at his words. Some seemed not to entirely know what Miles was referring to.

Miles shook his head. "Privateering is quite legal. We will seize British vessels and bring them back to Boston for prize money. The Royal Navy may see it differently, but it's certainly not piracy. Boston isn't truly that far from here or Dunnstown, not by sea. You'd see your families as often as we bring prizes in, so long as the way is passable. The length of the war and the British strategy will have an effect on these things, of course. It will be dangerous work, with some fighting, though hardly more dangerous than whaling. We've all seen whaleboats destroyed by the sea and the great whales. I myself have seen a ship nearly disabled by one, twenty of my crew killed by a single angry whale. I often find people are more predictable in their actions than whales ever are. I learned much about privateering from my father, and I'm certain we can make a respectable go of it. Will any of you join me?"

The response of hoots and cheers was more complete than Miles had expected. After giving them several moments of excitement, he raised a hand to quiet them. The commotion eased gradually.

"If any of you don't wish to join me, you will of course be allowed to leave. No one is ever forced on my crews. You know this. Now, in order to begin this venture I need to go to New York to locate a ship that has already been fitted out for our use. I plan to leave the day after tomorrow and will be returning as soon as is possible. In the meantime, we have a rouse that must be kept. Mr. Cobb expects us to drift in the harbor, preferably where the wind isn't blowing into town I'm sure, and set the tryworks going on the blubber. He needs to believe we plan to follow his ship to London in two weeks. For that reason you will be placed on rotations to visit home for a few days each."

He made certain he met every crew member's gaze as he spoke his next words. "It is of the utmost importance that no one discover our true plans. If you have family who will speak of this to anyone, do not tell them until we are about to be under way. Work the tryworks and remain absolutely silent about our change in career. I don't care at all what you tell your families, but do not tell them the truth until it is safe for them and for us. I am concerned by the possible revenge Mr. Cobb might seek against family members if he learns of this too soon."

The crew nodded, the general feeling of the room now more solemn than it had been. Miles turned to his mates. "Rest assured, everyone who wishes to continue on with me will keep their positions, though some duties will change. We will also surely be taking on more crew. I trust you'll assist any new members in adjusting to how we keep our ship."

All four nodded to him. Clark and Turner now had an excited look about them, but Mack looked uncertain. Davis was unmoved, as usual, and seemingly still thoughtful. The crew gave words of agreement and talked excitedly amongst themselves again.

Miles surveyed the crew, then turned back to his mates. "Someone will need to change the flags. This ship needs to appear as British as she now is."

Turner nodded. "'Course, sir."

"I'll trust the four of you to arrange for them all to spend a day or two at home," Miles added. "Make certain you also acquire the provisions we would need to sail to Whitby."

Clark nodded. "We'll need them elsewhere, I'm sure."

Miles grinned. "We will."

Miles waited until dawn to return to shore, this time taking a few crew members with him to visit their families. He reminded them, once more, how important it was to keep their true plans from their family members if their safety may be at risk. They would need to find some other way to reassure them that they weren't moving to England or becoming unemployed. If they did tell the truth, they must do so with great care. He could only trust they would heed his warnings.

In Sherburne, he was able to find passage on a fast fishing schooner to the mainland of Massachusetts with all but two of his crew. From there it was nearly an hour's walk to Dunnstown, but they were all so happy to be visiting home that it hardly felt that long. It was late afternoon by the time Miles entered the large white house on the hilltop overlooking the town and the coast. He was not at all surprised to find Mr. Finley seated at a table beside the window with his manservant. They appeared to be looking over notes and accounts. 

Finley looked up and nodded. "Good day, Mr. Dunn."

Miles returned the nod. "Good day. I'm glad to see you found the house."

"We did," Finley replied. "You failed to mention, however, that there are two Mrs. Dunns."

Miles was puzzled by that, until his brother, James, came running wildly down the stairs.

"I knew that was your voice!" he declared, rushing to embrace Miles.

Miles grinned and returned the embrace. "I hear there's a second Mrs. Dunn. My god, James, did you finally marry Elizabeth?"

James stepped back and had the decency to look ashamed. "Well, once she found herself pregnant there really was no excuse anymore not to marry. I would have waited for you otherwise."

Miles shook his head. "You're the devil, James." Just three years younger than Miles, James had always pursued the women in town with a great deal of enthusiasm. While Miles had gone off privateering and then to the whaling companies, James had stayed closer to home with the fishing business. Elizabeth had been the only one keeping him close for the last two years, as far as Miles knew.

"Someone has to be." Then James glanced at Finley and his smile faded. "Though, you may be." He pushed Miles by the shoulder toward the kitchen.

"I'll be with you in a moment, Mr. Finley," Miles assured him before allowing James to push him into the kitchen.

Their mother was there kneading bread dough at the table, and she grinned at him. He knew she wouldn't embrace him until he'd changed and cleaned himself up, losing as much of the scent of whaling as he was able.

There was a younger woman in the kitchen, too, one who was nursing a bundled baby. Miles had only seen Elizabeth a time or two, but assumed it could only be her as he had no sisters. Before he could greet her with more than a nod, James shook his shoulder violently.

"What compelled you to bring a Finley here?" he demanded.

"He offered me a commission," Miles replied simply.

"A commission for what?"

"A privateer."

James spread his hands. "Why on Earth –"

"I had two other choices," Miles explained calmly. "I could make my home in Whitby now that Mr. Cobb has moved his business to England, or I could leave his employ and look for some other ship. I don't know how many whaling ships I could possibly find with a war on now. Levi Finley's father backed our father in his privateering, so he sought me out with rather wonderful timing."

"He also backed the smuggling," James muttered.

Miles sighed. "I know you think little of the smuggling, but privateering is a perfectly legal profession in a time of war. It likely won't be for all that long. Perhaps a year or two, if that."

"And when the British win the war and hang you all? Or they capture your ship in battle?" James demanded. "You can't possibly believe a letter of marque from a rebellious colony will be considered legal. You will be no better than a pirate."

"I don't know, James," Miles told him as gently as possible. "All I can possibly know is that this is the only decision for me. It seems most of the crew has come to the same decision. I'm their captain. I will make it possible for them."

"It's a decision I support," their mother said, breaking into the conversation for the first time without pausing in her work. "Three generations of Dunns and Finleys seems rather fitting to me. Your father would have agreed. He'd have tried to go with you."

Miles smiled. "I would have gladly had him along."

"I still don't like it," James declared. "But I see that means nothing to you."

"I know," Miles told him. "I understand your concerns. I'm not without them myself. It's the best decision, with all others considered, that I can make for myself and the crew."

James sighed. "I suppose you'll need me to watch over things here?"

"Yes," Miles agreed, thankful that James was willing to assist him at all. "Help out the families while we're away as best you can. The usual credit may be extended to those who need it. We can't know how many prizes we will take, of what value, or how quickly the courts will sell the prizes off. We'll be visiting home as often as possible. Keep a thorough accounting. Though, I will be taking a good deal of what I have saved to pay the bond for my ship. Finley has agreed to pay half if I pay the other. And, James, do you still have that schooner?"

"You aren't taking the Wing."

Miles chuckled. "I only need you to take me to New York so I can acquire the ship I want, if I can get it. As soon as you can have the Wing ready for the journey."

"Finley isn't buying a ship? I thought he was your owner."

"He'll simply be handling all the work in Boston. Neither of us is buying a ship. I'll explain on the voyage there."

James sighed again. "Only because Mother agrees with your foolishness."

"An acceptable reason, I believe," their mother declared.

Miles patted James's shoulder. "Thank you."