226 DEPOT JOURNEYS 



then and many times afterwards, for that matter. 

 The knife was mercilessly applied to all his beautiful 

 work, and all the canvas, plus a quantity of the 

 superfluous leather, was cut away. As I had no great 

 knowledge of the shoemaker's craft, I gladly accepted 

 Wisting's offer to operate on mine. The boots were 

 unrecognizable when I got them back from him. As 

 regards shape, they were perhaps just as smart before 

 the alteration, but as that is a very unimportant matter 

 in comparison with ease and comfort, I considered them 

 improved by many degrees. The thick canvas was 

 torn off and replaced by thin weather-proof fabric. 

 Big wedges were inserted in the toes, and allowed room 

 for several more pairs of stockings. Besides this, one 

 of the many soles was removed, thus increasing the 

 available space. It appeared to me that now I had 

 foot-gear that combined all the qualities I demanded- 

 stiff soles, on which Huitfeldt-Hoyer Ellefsen ski- 

 bindings could be used, and otherwise soft, so that 

 the foot was not pinched anywhere. In spite of all 

 these alterations, my boots were once more in the hands 

 of the operator before the main journey, but then they 

 were made perfect. The boots of all the others under- 

 went the same transformation, and every day our outfit 

 became more complete. A number of minor alterations 

 in our wardrobe w r ere also carried out. One man was 

 an enthusiast for blinkers on his cap; another did not 

 care for them. One put on a nose-protector; another 



