"You and Catherine, with Craig to bring the machine back.

You're needed, now, at the front--imperatively needed.
Freda and I," gesturing at his wife, "will hold the fort, here--will keep watch over our dead, over poor old Brevard, the first to fall in this great, final battle!" A spirited argument followed.

Gabriel insisted on being left for the second trip.

A compromise was made by having him get the two women out of danger, at once, leaving Craig and Grantham on the mountain.
"I'll send Hazen or Keyes back with the 'plane, for you," said he, as he climbed into the driving seat, after the passengers had been stowed.
"That will be tomorrow night.

Of course, we daren't fly by day.