THE SOUTH POLE 



CHAPTER X 



THE START FOR THE POLE 



At last we got away, on October 19. The weather for 

 the past few days had not been altogether reliable ; now 

 windy, now calm — now snowing, now clear: regular 

 spring weather, in other words. That day it continued 

 unsettled ; it was misty and thick in the morning, and did 

 not promise well for the day, but by 9.30 there was a light 

 breeze from the east, and at the same time it cleared. 



There was no need for a prolonged inquiry into the 

 sentiments of the party. " What do you think? Shall 

 we start?" — "Yes, of course. Let's be jogging on." 

 There was only one opinion about it. Our coursers 

 were harnessed in a jiffy, and with a little nod — as much 

 as to say, " See you to-morrow " — we were off. I don't 

 believe Lindstrom even came out of doors to see us 

 start. " Such an everyday affair: what's the use of 

 making a fuss about it?" 



There were five of us — Hanssen, Wisting, Hassel, 



Bjaaland, and myself. We had four sledges, with 



VOL. II. 26 



