What a thrill must have come to Grenfell at that moment!  The whole Newfoundland government was behind him!  His first hospital was already assured!  We can easily imagine that he was fairly overwhelmed and dazed with the success that he had met so suddenly and unexpectedly.

But Grenfell was not a man to lose his head.  This was only a beginning.  He must have more hospitals than one.  He must have doctors and nurses, medicines and hospital supplies, food and clothing, and a steam vessel that would take him quickly about to see the sick of the harbors.  A great deal of money would be required, and when the Albert sailed out of St. John’s Harbor and turned back to England he knew that he had assumed a stupendous job, and that the winter was not to be an idle one for him by any means.

It was December first when the Albert reached England.  With the backing and assistance of the Mission Board, Doctor Grenfell and Captain Trevize of the Albert arranged a speaking tour for the purpose of exciting interest in the Labrador work.  Men and women were moved by the tale of their experiences and the suffering and needs of the fishermen and liveres.  Gifts were made and sufficient funds subscribed to purchase necessary supplies and hospital equipment, and a fine rowboat was donated to replace the Albert’s whaleboat which had been smashed during the previous summer.

Then word came from St. Johns that the great shipping firm of Job Brothers, who owned a fisheries’ station at Indian Harbor, had donated a hospital to the Newfoundland committee.  This was to be erected at Indian Harbor, at the northern side of the entrance to Hamilton Inlet, two hundred miles north of Battle Harbor, and was to be ready for use during the summer.  This was fine news.  Not only were there large fishery stations at both Battle Harbor and Indian Harbor, but both were regular stopping places for the fishing schooners when going north and again on their homeward voyage.  With two hospitals on the coast a splendid beginning for the work would be made.

But there was still one necessity lacking,—­a little steamer in which Doctor Grenfell could visit the folk of the scattered harbors.  At Chester on the River Dee and not far from his boyhood home at Parkgate Grenfell discovered a boat one day that was for sale and that he believed would answer his purpose.  It was a sturdy little steam launch, forty-five feet over all.  It was, however, ridiculously narrow, with a beam of only eight feet, and was sure to roll terribly in any sea and even in an ordinary swell.

But Grenfell was a good seaman, and he could make out in a boat that did a bit of tumbling.  He was the sort of man to do a good job with a tool that did not suit him if he could not get just the sort of tool he wanted, and never find fault with it either.  The necessary amount to purchase the launch was subscribed by a friend of the Mission.  Grenfell bought it and was mightily pleased that this last need was filled.  Later the little launch was christened the “Princess May.”