THE PRELIMINARY CRUISE 281 



we consumed about 500 litres (about 110 gallons) a day, 

 and that the Fram's radius of action was thus about six 

 months. For the first day or two the engine went well 

 enough, but after that it went slower and slower, and 

 finally stopped of its own accord. After this it was 

 known as the " Whooping Cough." This happened 

 several times in the course of the trip; the piston-rods 

 had constantly to be taken out and cleared of a thick 

 black deposit. As possibly our whole South Polar 

 Expedition would depend on the motor doing its work 

 properly, the result of this was that the projected cruise 

 was cut short, and after a lapse of three weeks our course 

 was set for Bergen, where we changed the oil for refined 

 paraffin, and at the same time had the motor thoroughly 

 overhauled. 



Since then there has never been anything wrong with 

 the engine. 



From Bergen we went to Christiansand, where the 

 Fram was docked, and, as already mentioned, the 

 remaining outfit, with the dogs and dog-food, was 

 taken on board. 



The number of living creatures on board when we 

 left Norway was nineteen men, ninety-seven dogs, four 

 pigs, six carrier pigeons, and one canary. 



At last we were ready to leave Christiansand on 



Thursday, August 9, 1910, and at nine o'clock that 



evening the anchor was got up and the motor started. 



After the busy time we had had, no doubt we were all 

 VOL. II. 44 



