BACK TO CAMP 55 



our excursion, and find out what was here concealed. 

 Our work to-day would make our progress to-morrow 

 so much the easier. We therefore went on, and laid 

 our course straight over the topmost flat terrace of the 

 Heiberg Glacier. As we advanced, the ground between 

 Nansen and Engelstad opened out more and more, and 

 without going any farther we were able to decide from 

 the formations that here we should undoubtedly find the 

 best way up. If the final ascent at the end of the 

 glacier, which was only partly visible, should present 

 difficulties, we could make out from where we stood 

 that it would be possible, without any great trouble, to 

 work our way over the upper end of the Nansen Moun- 

 tain itself, which here passed into the plateau by a not 

 too difficult glacier. Yes, now we were certain that it 

 was indeed the great plateau and nothing else that we 

 saw before us. In the pass between the two mountains, 

 and some little distance within the plateau, Helland 

 Hansen showed up, a very curious peak to look at. It 

 seemed to stick its nose up through the plateau, and no 

 more; its shape was long, and it reminded one of 

 nothing so much as the ridge of a roof. Although this 

 peak was thus only just visible, it stood 11,000 feet 

 above the sea. 



After we had examined the conditions here, and found 

 out that on the following day — if the weather per- 

 mitted — we should reach the plateau, we turned back, 

 well satisfied with the result of our trip. We all agreed 



