214 DEPOT JOURNEYS 



what conditions? Much lay between that moment and 

 the next time we should see her. The mighty ocean 

 on one side, and the unknown region of ice on the other ; 

 so many things might happen. Her flag floats out, 

 waves us a last adieu, and disappears. We are on our 

 way to the South. 



This first inland trip on the Barrier was undeniably 

 exciting. The ground was absolutely unknown, and 

 our outfit untried. What kind of country should we 

 have to deal with? Would it continue in this bound- 

 less plain without hindrance of any kind? Or would 

 Nature present insurmountable difficulties? Were we 

 right in supposing that dogs were the best means of 

 transport in these regions, or should we have done better 

 to take reindeer, ponies, motor-cars, aeroplanes, or any- 

 thing else? We went forward at a rattling pace; the 

 going was perfect. The dogs' feet trod on a thin layer 

 of loose snow, just enough to give them a secure hold. 



The weather conditions were not quite what we should 

 have wished in an unknown country. It is true that it 

 was calm and mild, and altogether pleasant for travelling, 

 but the light was not good. A grey haze, the most un- 

 pleasant kind of light after fog, lay upon the land- 

 scape, making the Barrier and the sky merge into one. 

 There was no horizon to be seen. This grey haze, pre- 

 sumably a younger sister of fog, is extremely disagree- 

 able. One can never be certain of one's surroundings. 

 There are no shadows; everything looks the same. In 



