He wanted a stronger crew.
"He caught us just in time, for though the gale was a furious one we could steam up to it, and were doing so, when suddenly there was a loud explosion; one of the boilers had burst, and the engines were smashed and useless.
"We were now at the mercy of the sea, the waves, and the icebergs too, and before another day we were blown far away to sea.
"Even then we had hope.

But in a week's time we were frozen into the main pack, and there we have had to winter, and it is hardly a week since we got clear by cutting a canal with our great ice-saws.

Oh! it has been a dreary time for us, but must have been more so to you, poor darlings! and well and bravely you have borne it all! "I am sure," he added, "that even Pansy has grown, and her mother will hardly know her again when we all get home." "We are going now, aren't we, 'Fessor Pete ?" said Pansy, who was sitting on his knee.
"Yes, my dear, yes.

It is no use staying here when we have no steam, so the ship is now making for England's sunny shores.

And we'll get there in the rosy month of June.