Another thing that took up a good deal of our time was our personal outfit.  The question of boots was gone into thoroughly.  Most of us were in favour of the big outer boots, but in a revised edition.  There were a few —­ but extremely few —­ who declared for nothing but soft foot-gear.  In this case it did not make so much difference, since they all knew that the big boots would have to be brought on the final journey on account of possible work on glaciers.  Those, therefore, who wanted to wear soft foot-gear, and hang their boots on the sledge, might do so if they liked.  I did not want to force anyone to wear boots he did not care for; it might lead to too much unpleasantness and responsibility.  Everyone, therefore, might do as he pleased.  Personally I was in favour of boots with stiff soles, so long as the uppers could be made soft and sufficiently large to give room for as many stockings as one wished to wear.  It was a good thing the boot-maker could not look in upon us at Framheim just 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 underwent the same transformation, and every day our outfit became more complete.  A number of minor alterations in our wardrobe were 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 took his off; and if there was a question of which was right, each was prepared to defend his idea to the last.  These were all alterations of minor importance, but being due to individual judgment, they helped to raise the spirits and increase self-confidence.  Patents for braces also became the fashion.  I invented one myself, and was very proud of it for a time —­ indeed, I had the satisfaction of seeing it adopted by one of my rivals.  But that rarely happened; each of us wanted to make his own inventions, and to be as original as possible.  Any contrivance that resembled something already in use was no good.  But we found, like the farmer, that the old way often turned out to be the best.