EXPLORATION OF THE BARRIER 171 



of very fine rope, soft as silk, specially suited for use in 

 low temperatures. 



After a hurried dinner four of us set out. This first 

 excursion was quite a solemn affair; so much depended 

 on it. The weather was of the very best, calm with 

 brilliant sunshine, and a few light, feathery clouds in 

 the beautiful, pale blue sky. There was warmth in the 

 air which could be felt, even on this immense ice-field. 

 Seals were lying along the ice-foot as far as the eye 

 could reach great, fat mountains of flesh ; food enough 

 to last us and the dogs for years. 



The going was ideal; our ski glided easily and 

 pleasantly through the newly fallen loose snow. But 

 none of us was exactly in training after the long five 

 months' sea voyage, so that the pace was not great. 

 After half an hour's march we were already at the 

 first important point the connection between the 

 sea-ice and the Barrier. This connection had always 

 haunted our brains. What would it be like? A high, 

 perpendicular face of ice, up which we should have to 

 haul our things laboriously with the help of tackles? 

 Or a great and dangerous fissure, which we should not 

 be able to cross without going a long way round? We 

 naturally expected something of the sort. This mighty 

 and terrible monster would, of course, offer resistance in 

 some form or other. 



The mystic Barrier! All accounts without excep- 

 tion, from the days of Ross to the present time, had 



