IN due course I got my license.

I was a pilot now, full fledged.

I dropped into casual employments; no misfortunes resulting, intermittent work gave place to steady and protracted engagements.

Time drifted smoothly and prosperously on, and I supposed--and hoped--that I was going to follow the river the rest of my days, and die at the wheel when my mission was ended.

But by and by the war came, commerce was suspended, my occupation was gone.
I had to seek another livelihood.