44 PLAN AND PREPARATIONS 



sums they had dedicated to the enterprise. I knew 

 that I enjoyed such confidence among these people that 

 they would all judge the circumstances aright, and know 

 that when the time came their contributions would be 

 used for the purpose for which they were given. And 

 I have already received countless proofs that I was not 

 mistaken. 



Nor did I feel any great scruples with regard to the 

 other Antarctic expeditions that were being planned at 

 the time. I knew I should be able to inform Captain 

 Scott of the extension of my plans before he left civiliza- 

 tion, and therefore a few months sooner or later could 

 be of no great importance. Scott's plan and equipment 

 were so widely different from my own that I regarded 

 the telegram that I sent him later, with the information 

 that we were bound for the Antarctic regions, rather as 

 a mark of courtesy than as a communication which might 

 cause him to alter his programme in the slightest degree. 

 The British expedition was designed entirely for scien- 

 tific research. The Pole was only a side-issue, whereas 

 in my extended plan it was the main object. On this 

 little detour science would have to look after itself; but 

 of course I knew very well that we could not reach the 

 Pole by the route I had determined to take without 

 enriching in a considerable degree several branches of 

 science. 



Our preparations were entirely different, and I doubt 

 whether Captain Scott, with his great knowledge of 



