64 PLAN AND PREPARATIONS 



It was a long and tedious business, and I was glad 

 when I saw that at last we were nearing the end. Over 

 in a corner there lay a few more; we had reached the 

 one hundred and ninety-third, so there could not be 

 many in the pile. I was occupied with something else, 

 and the tailor went through the remainder by himself. 

 I was just congratulating myself on the apparently 

 fortunate result of the morning's work when I was 

 startled by an exclamation from the man in the corner. 

 It sounded like the bellow of a mad bull. Alas! there 

 stood the tailor enveloped in ultramarine, and swinging 

 over his head a blanket, the couleur changeante of 

 which left no doubt as to the origin of the ' directly 

 imported ' goods. With a look of thunder the man 

 quitted me, and I sank in black despair. I never saw 

 him again. The fact was that in my hurry I had for- 

 gotten the sample blanket that Captain Pedersen had 

 sent me. That was the cause of the catastrophe. 



Well, I finally succeeded in getting the work exe- 

 cuted, and it is certain that no expedition has ever had 

 warmer and stronger clothing than this. It was in great 

 favour on board. 



I also thought it best to provide good oilskins, and 

 especially good sea-boots for every man. The sea- 

 boots were therefore made to measure, and of the very 

 best material. I had them made by the firm I have 

 always regarded as the best in that branch. How, 

 then, shall I describe our grief when, on the day we 



