世界上最冷的地方(4)

'I don't understand this, ' Bjaaland thought. 'Why is Amundsen talking about the North Pole, with a map of Antarctica behind him? ' Amundsen stopped for a minute, and looked at all the men slowly. No one said anything.

'We have to go a long way south before we get to Alaska, ' he said. 'Very near Antarctica, you know. And Captain Scott, the Englishman, is going to the South Pole this year. He wants to put his British flag there. An American flag at the North Pole, a British flag at the South Pole. '

Bjaaland began to understand. He started to smile and couldn't stop, he was warm and excited. 'Well, boys, ' Amundsen said slowly. 'Do we want the British to put their flag at the South Pole first? How fast can we travel?

We have a lot of dogs, and some of the most wonderful skiers on earth —Bjaaland here is the best in Norway! So I have an idea, boys. Let's go to the South Pole, and put the Norwegian flag there before the British! What do you say? '

For a minute or two it was very quiet. Amundsen waited, and the men watched him and thought. Then Bjaaland laughed. 'Yes! ' he said. ' Why not? It's a ski race, isn't it, and the English can't ski! It's a wonderful idea, of course! Let's go! '

On October 27th, the Terra Nova arrived in Wellington, New Zealand.

When Scott came off the ship, a newspaper man walked up to him. 'Captain Scott! Captain Scott! Can I talk to you, please! ' he said. Scott stopped and smiled. 'Yes, of course, ' he said. 'What do you want to know? '