Not many words were needed before everyone could see where the wind lay, and what course we should steer henceforward.  The second in command unrolled his big chart of the southern hemisphere, and I briefly explained the extended plan, as well as my reasons for keeping it secret until this time.  Now and again I had to glance at their faces.  At first, as might be expected, they showed the most unmistakable signs of surprise; but this expression swiftly changed, and before I had finished they were all bright with smiles.  I was now sure of the answer I should get when I finally asked each man whether he was willing to go on, and as the names were called, every single man had his “Yes” ready.  Although, as I have said, I had expected it to turn out as it did, it is difficult to express the joy I felt at seeing how promptly my comrades placed themselves at my service on this momentous occasion.  It appeared, however, that I was not the only one who was pleased.  There was so much life and good spirits on board that evening that one would have thought the work was successfully accomplished instead of being hardly begun.

For the present, however, there was not much time to spare for discussing the news.  We had first to see about getting away; afterwards there would be many months before us.  Two hours’ grace was allowed, in which every man could write to his people at home about what had just passed.  The letters were probably not very long ones; at all events, they were soon finished.  The mail was handed over to my brother to take to Christiania, from whence the letters were sent to their respective destinations; but this did not take place until after the alteration of our plans had been published in the Press.

It had been easy enough to tell my comrades the news, and they could not have given it a better reception; it was another question what people at home would say when the intelligence reached their ears.  We afterwards heard that both favourable and unfavourable opinions were expressed.  For the moment we could not trouble ourselves very greatly with that side of the matter; my brother had undertaken to announce the way we had taken, and I cannot say that I envied him the task.  After we had all given him a final hearty shake of the hand he left us, and thereby our communication with the busy world was broken off.  We were left to our own resources.  No one can say that the situation oppressed us greatly.  Our long voyage was entered upon as though it were a dance; there was not a trace of the more or less melancholy feeling that usually accompanies any parting.  The men joked and laughed, while witticisms, both good and bad, were bandied about on the subject of our original situation.  The anchor came up more quickly than usual, and after the motor had helped us to escape from the oppressive heat of the harbour, we had the satisfaction of seeing every sail filled with the fresh and cooling north-east trade.