For all those who aspire to the North Pole, the road lies over the
frozen surface of an ocean, the ice on which breaks up completely
every summer, drifting about under the influence of wind and tide,
and may crack into numerous fissures and lanes of open water at any
time, even in the depth of the severest winter, under the influence
of storms. For those who aspire to the South Pole, the road lies over
an eternal, immovable surface, the latter part rising ten thousand and
eleven thousand feet above sea level. And herein lies the inestimable
advantage to the South Polar explorer which enables him to make his
depots at convenient distances, and thus lighten his load and increase
his speed.
[Illustration: Copr., 1913, by International News Service