ORDER OF MARCH 211 



was important to us to get seals enough to enable us 

 all, men and dogs, to live in plenty. And there were 

 enough to be had. If we ran short of fresh meat in the 

 course of the winter, it would be entirely our own fault. 



It was a good thing we had help for the climb. 

 Short as it was, it caused us a good deal of trouble; 

 but we had dogs enough, and by harnessing a sufficient 

 number we got the sledges up. I should like to know 

 what they thought on board. They could see we were 

 already hard put to it to get up here. What would it 

 be like when we had to get on to the plateau? I do 

 not know whether they thought of the old saying: 

 Practice makes perfect. 



We halted at the starting-place, where we were to 

 separate from our comrades. None of us was parti- 

 cularly sentimental. An honest shake of the hand, and 



mf 



so " Good-bye." The order of our march was as follows: 

 Prestrud first on ski, to show the direction and en- 

 courage the dogs. We always went better with some- 

 one going in front. Next came Helmer Hanssen. He 

 kept this place on all our journeys the leading sledge. 

 I knew him well from our previous work together, and 

 regarded him as the most efficient dog-driver I had met. 

 He carried the standard compass on his sledge and 

 checked Prestrud's direction. After him came Johan- 

 sen, also with a compass. Lastly, I came, with 

 sledge-meter and compass. I preferred to take the 

 last sledge because it enabled me to see what was 



