In addition to taking the cargo of the "Sea Bee," the missionary proposed to purchase the schooner itself, at a sum much less than her real value, but one that constituted a very fair offer under the circumstances.
White hesitated over this proposition, but finally accepted it upon condition that at any time during the following summer he should be allowed to buy the schooner back at the same price he now received for her.
"Isn't it fine," he whispered to Cabot, after all hands had sought their bunks, "to think that our venture has turned out so splendidly after all ?" "Fine is no name for it," rejoined the other.

"But I do hope we will have the chance of meeting Mr.Homolupus once more and of thanking him for what he has done.

We owe so much to him that, man-wolf or no man-wolf, I consider him a splendid fellow." In spite of their impatience to start southwards, our lads were still compelled to spend two weeks longer at Locked Harbour.

First the missionary was obliged to make a visit to his station, and, on his return, the snow was not in condition for a long sledge journey.
Furious winds had piled it into drifts, with intervening spaces of bare ground, over which sledge travel would be impossible.

So they must wait until the autumnal storms were over and winter had settled down in earnest.