VISIT OF THE " TERRA NOVA" 203 



the happy idea of combining the Alaska and the Green- 

 land harness. The result satisfied all requirements; in 

 future we always used this construction, and we all 

 agreed that it was much superior to any other harness. 

 The dogs also seemed to be more comfortable in it. 

 That they worked better and more easily is certain, and 

 raw places, so common with Greenland harness, were 

 absolutely unknown. 



February 4 was an eventful day. As usual, we all 

 came down to the Fram, driving our empty sledges, at 

 half-past six in the morning. When the first man got 

 to the top of the ridge, he began to wave his arms about 

 and gesticulate like a madman. I understood, of course, 

 that he saw something, but what? The next man 

 gesticulated even worse, and tried to shout to me. But 

 it was no use; I could not make anything of it. Then 

 it was my turn to go over the ridge, and, as was natural, 

 I began to feel rather curious. I had only a few yards 

 more to go and then it was explained. Along the 

 edge of the ice, just to the south of the Fram, a large 

 barque lay moored. We had talked of the possibility 

 of meeting the Terra Nova Captain Scott's vessel- 

 when she was on her way to King Edward VII. Land ; 

 but it was a great surprise all the same. Now it was my 

 turn to wave my arms, and I am sure I did it no worse 

 than the two first. And the same thing was repeated 

 with all of us, as soon as each one reached the top of the 

 ridge. What the last man did I have never been able 



