But a little corner remained.

CHAPTER II

Plan and Preparations

“The deity of success is a woman, and she insists on being won, not courted.  You’ve got to seize her and bear her off, instead of standing under her window with a mandolin.” —­ Rex Beach.

“The North Pole is reached.”

In a flash the news spread over the world.  The goal of which so many had dreamed, for which so many had laboured and suffered and sacrificed their lives, was attained.  It was in September, 1909, that the news reached us.

At the same instant I saw quite clearly that the original plan of the Fram’s third voyage —­ the exploration of the North Polar basin —­ hung in the balance.  If the expedition was to be saved, it was necessary to act quickly and without hesitation.  Just as rapidly as the message had travelled over the cables I decided on my change of front —­ to turn to the right-about, and face to the South.

It was true that I had announced in my plan that the Fram’s third voyage would be in every way a scientific expedition, and would have nothing to do with record-breaking; it was also true that many of the contributors who had so warmly supported me had done so with the original plan before them; but in view of the altered circumstances, and the small prospect I now had of obtaining funds for my original plan, I considered it neither mean nor unfair to my supporters to strike a blow that would at once put the whole enterprise on its feet, retrieve the heavy expenses that the expedition had already incurred, and save the contributions from being wasted.

It was therefore with a clear conscience that I decided to postpone my original plan for a year or two, in order to try in the meantime to raise the funds that were still lacking.  The North Pole, the last problem but one of popular interest in Polar exploration, was solved.  If I was now to succeed in arousing interest in my undertaking, there was nothing left for me but to try to solve the last great problem —­ the South Pole.

I know that I have been reproached for not having at once made the extended plan public, so that not only my supporters, but the explorers who were preparing to visit the same regions might have knowledge of it.  I was well aware that these reproaches would come, and had therefore carefully weighed this side of the matter.  As regards the former —­ the contributors to my expedition —­ my mind was soon at rest.  They were all men of position, and above discussing the application of the sums they had dedicated to the enterprise.  I knew that I enjoyed such confidence among these people that they would all judge the circumstances aright, and know that when the time came their contributions would be used for the purpose for which they were given.  And I have already received countless proofs that I was not mistaken.