depot; on the 31st the second depot was
reached; and on November 5 the sledges reached the third depot in
latitude 82 deg. Additional supplies were thereafter cached, in depots
about one degree apart, to be used on the return trip. Snow cairns were
built at frequent intervals to mark the trail. The last cache of
supplies was left at latitude 85 deg.

From this point the way was a steep and difficult climbing over the
range, or barrier, that had proved so difficult for Shackleton. Peaks in
height from ten thousand to fifteen thousand feet loomed up on every
side, and glacier surfaces proved to be the easiest paths.

When a height of nine thousand feet had been reached the rugged upraise
opened out into a nearly level plateau. On December 10 observations
showed latitude 89 deg., and on the 14th of the month the party reached
latitude 90 deg. and achieved the conquest of the South Pole. The Norwegian
flag was planted, and after three days spent in checking observations
the party returned in safety. The expedition returned by way of
Tasmania. The vessel employed was the _Fram_, the small steamship used
by Nansen.

Captain Scott, who commanded the _Discovery_ in the expedition of 1901,
went with the men in his command to Ross Sea and made his head-quarters
near the head of that body of water. He at once sent out exploring
parties, one of which started for the pole. According to reports made in
April, 1912, he had accomplished a great deal of work in surveys and
geological research, probably more than all that of his predecessors.

The same reports brought also word that the Japanese expedition under
Lieutenant Shirase had surveyed a considerable extent of the Antarctic
coast.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 2: In April, 1831, Ross had the honor of fixing the location
of the north magnetic pole on the Boothia Peninsula in latitude 70 deg. 5'
north and longitude 96 deg. 46' west.]

[Footnote 3: According to the observations of Ross its altitude was
twelve thousand three hundred and sixty-seven feet. Inasmuch as a change
in altitude results from each eruption, both determinations may be
correct. The admiralty charts give twelve thousand nine hundred and
twenty-two feet, the determination of the expedition of 1901.]

CHAPTER XIII

ICELAND, THE MAID OF THE NORTH

Several thousand years ago a mighty conflict occurred between the sea
and the subterranean forces in the north Atlantic five hundred miles
northwest of Scot