boots in accordance with our previous experience.  The improvement consisted in making them larger.  Wisting took mine in hand again, and began once more to pull them to pieces.  It is only by tearing a thing to pieces that one can see what the work is like.  We gained a good insight into the way our boots had been made; stronger or more conscientious work it would be impossible to find.  It was hard work pulling them to pieces.  This time mine lost a couple more soles.  How many that made altogether I do not remember, but now I got what I had always called for —­ room enough.  Besides being able to wear all the foot-coverings I had, I could also find room for a wooden sole.  That made me happy; my great object was achieved.  Now the temperature could be as low as it liked; it would not get through the wooden soles and my various stockings —­ seven pairs, I think, in all.  I was pleased that evening, as the struggle had been a long one; it had taken me nearly two years to arrive at this result.

And then there was the dog-harness, which we must all have in order.  The experience of the last depot journey, when two dogs fell into a crevasse through faulty harness, must not be allowed to repeat itself, We therefore devoted great care and attention to this gear, and used all the best materials we had.  The result rewarded our pains; we had good, strong harness for every team.

This description will, perhaps, open the eyes of some people, and show them that the equipment of an expedition such as we were about to enter upon is not the affair of a day.  It is not money alone that makes for the success of such an expedition —­ though, Heaven knows, it is a good thing to have —­ but it is in a great measure —­ indeed, I may say that this is the greatest factor —­ the way in which the expedition is equipped —­ the way in which every difficulty is foreseen, and precautions taken for meeting or avoiding it.  Victory awaits him who has everything in order —­ luck, people call it.  Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.  But pray do not think this is an epitaph I wish to have inscribed on my own tomb.  No; honour where honour is due —­ honour to my faithful comrades, who, by their patience, perseverance and experience, brought our equipment to the limit of perfection, and thereby rendered our victory possible.

On August 16 we began to pack our sledges; two were placed in the Crystal Palace and two in the Clothing Store.  It was a great advantage to be able to do this work under cover; at this time the temperature was dancing a cancan between -58deg. and -75deg.F., with an occasional refreshing breeze of thirteen or fourteen miles an hour.  It would have been almost an impossibility to pack the sledges out of doors under these conditions if it was to be done carefully and firmly; and, of course, it had to be so done.  Our fixed wire-rope lashings had to be laced together