REASONS FOR SECRECY 45 



Antarctic exploration, would have departed in any 

 point from the experience he had gained and altered his 

 equipment in accordance with that which I found it 

 best to employ. For I came far short of Scott both in 

 experience and means. 



As regards Lieutenant Shirase in the Kainan Maru, 

 I understood it to be his plan to devote his whole atten- 

 tion to King Edward VII. Land. 



After thus thoroughly considering these questions, 

 I came to the conclusions I have stated, and my plan 

 was irrevocably fixed. If at that juncture I had made 

 my intention public, it would only have given occasion 

 for a lot of newspaper discussion, and possibly have 

 ended in the project being stifled at its birth. Every- 

 thing had to be got ready quietly and calmly. My 

 brother, upon whose absolute silence I could blindly 

 rely, was the only person I let into the secret of my 

 change of plan, and he did me many important services 

 during the time when we alone shared the knowledge. 

 Then Lieutenant Thorvald Nilsen at that time first 

 officer of the Fram, now her commander returned 

 home, and I considered it my duty to inform him 

 immediately of my resolve. The way in which he 

 received it made me feel safe in my choice of him. 

 I saw that in him I had found not only a capable and 

 trustworthy man, but a good comrade as well; and this 

 was a point of the highest importance. If the relations 

 between the chief and the second in command are good, 



