And so said David Dyson and Joseph, and David, with a wise shake of his head, added:
"Don't be lettin' the traders have un, now, for what they offers first. Make un pay the worth of he."
With these excursions of their own, and the pleasant visits from their neighbours, and with always enough to do, time slipped away quickly, and the middle of March came with its rapidly lengthening days.
"In another month, whatever, Dad'll be comin' home," said Toby one morning when they were at breakfast. "We'll go for he with the dogs and komatik. And then 'twill soon be time for the sealin' and fishin' again."
"'Twill be nice to have fresh fish again," suggested Mrs. Twig. "We're not havin' any but salt fish the whole winter. I'm thinkin' 'twould be fine for you lads to catch some trout. I'm wonderful hungry for trout."
"I can be helpin' too," Violet broke in delightedly.
"'Twill be fine, now," agreed Toby enthusiastically. "We'll catch un to-day."
"How can you catch trout with everything frozen as tight as a drumhead?" asked Charley.
"I'll be showin' you when we gets through breakfast," Toby assured. "We always gets un in winter when we gets hungry for un."
"I'm hungry for trout too," laughed Charley, adding skeptically, "but you'll have to show me, and I'll have to see them before I'll believe we can get them with forty below zero."