Of course Cabot would accompany them, for with the warships all gone south for the winter there would be no danger of arrest, and then he would find out what a splendid city the capital of Newfoundland really was.

Oh! if they could only start at once; but of course there were certain preliminaries to be settled first, and the sooner they got at them the better.
Thus thinking, White took advantage of a pause in the conversation to remark: "What a very fortunate thing it is that you who want to purchase provisions and we who have them for sale should come together in this remarkable fashion." "It is so fortunate and so remarkable that I must regard it as a distinct leading of the Divine Providence that knows our every need and guides our halting footsteps," replied the missionary.
"And do you think," continued the young trader anxiously, "that you want our entire cargo ?" "I am sure of it; and even then we may be put on short rations before the winter is ended, for there are many to be fed." With this opening the conversation drifted so easily into business details that, before the occupants of the cabin turned in for the night, everything had been arranged.

White had been somewhat disappointed when the missionary said that, having no funds in St.
Johns, he would be obliged to give a sight draft on New York in payment for the goods.

This slight annoyance was, however, speedily smoothed away by Cabot, who offered to cash the draft immediately upon their arrival in St.Johns, where, he said, he had ample funds for the purpose.

It was also agreed that our lads should be provided with fur clothing, snowshoes, a dog sledge, and a guide as far as Indian Harbour.