He then laid his musket down on the ice, and, still holding the woman by the arm, advanced boldly towards the natives unarmed.

On approaching to within about twenty yards of them he halted, and raised both arms above his head as a sign of friendship.

The signal was instantly understood, and one big fellow leaped boldly from his elevated position on a lump of ice, threw down his spear, and ran to meet the stranger.
In a few minutes Buzzby and the Esquimau leader came to a mutual understanding as to the friendly disposition of their respective parties, and the woman was delivered up to this big fellow, who turned out to be her husband after all, as O'Riley had correctly guessed.

The other Esquimaux, seeing the amicable terms on which the leaders met, crowded in and surrounded them.
"Leave the half o' ye to guard the arms, and come on the rest of ye without 'em," shouted Buzzby.
The men obeyed, and in a few minutes the two parties mingled together with the utmost confidence.

The sailors, however, deemed it prudent to get possession of their arms again as soon as possible; and after explaining as well as they could by signs that their home was only at a short distance, the whole band started off for the ship.