世界上最冷的地方(5)

'Are you going to win? ' the man asked. 'Win? ' Scott asked. 'Win what? '

'Win the race to the South Pole, of course, ' the newspaper man said. 'It's a race between you and Amundsen, now. Look at this! ' He gave a newspaper to Scott.

Scott looked at it. It said: Fram races Scott to South Pole. . . 'We're going to win! ' said Amundsen.

Scott's face went white. 'Give me that! ' he said. He took the newspaper and read it carefully.

The newspaper man watched him, and waited. 'Well, Captain Scott, ' he said at last. 'Who's going to win this race? Tell me that! '

Scott looked at him angrily. 'This is stupid! ' he said. 'It's not a race! I came here to learn about the Antarctic—I'm not interested in Amundsen, or in races! '

Then he walked back onto his ship, with the newspaper in his hand. Later that day, he talked to his men. He gave them the newspaper, and laughed. 'It doesn't matter, ' he said.

'We're in front of Amundsen, and we have more men, and more money. He has only eight men, and a lot of dogs. I know about dogs—they don't work in the Antarctic.

We have sixteen men and the new motor sledges—they are much better. And tomorrow the ponies are coming.

We need ponies, motor sledges, and good strong British men—that's all. Forget about Amundsen! He's not important! '