192 ON THE BARRIER 



showed himself to be possessed of eminent talents as 

 cook for the day. His special dish was penguins and 

 skua gulls in cream sauce. It was served under the 

 name of ptarmigan, of which it really reminded one. 



That Sunday we all went on board with the ex- 

 ception of the necessary tent guards for both camps 

 and enjoyed life. We had worked hard enough that 

 week. 



On Monday, January 23, we began to carry up the 

 provisions. In order to save time, we had decided not 

 to bring the provisions right up to the hut, but to store 

 them for the time being on an elevation that lay on the 

 other side, to the south of Mount Nelson. This spot 

 was not more than 600 yards from the hut, but as the 

 surface was rather rough here, we should save a good 

 deal in the long-run. Afterwards when the Fram had 

 sailed, we could take them the rest of the way. As it 

 turned out, we never had time for this, so that our 

 mam store remained here. Sledging up to this point 

 offered some difficulties at first. The dogs, who were 

 accustomed to take the road to the lower camp 

 between Nelson and Ronniken could not under- 

 stand why they might not do the same now. The 

 journey with empty sledges down to the ship was often 

 particularly troublesome. From this point the dogs 

 could hear their companions on the other side of 

 Nelson in the lower camp, and then it happened 

 more than once that the dogs took command. If they 



