38 THE START FOR THE POLE 



that afternoon. After JNIount Betty the ascent became 

 rather steep, but the surface was even, and the going 

 splendid, so we got on fast. First we came up a smooth 

 mountain-side, about 1,200 feet above the sea, then 

 over a Httle plateau ; after that another smooth slope like 

 the first, and then down a rather long, flat stretch, which 

 after a time began to rise very gradually, until it finally 

 passed Into small glacier formations. Our reconnais- 

 sance extended to these small glaciers. We had ascer- 

 tained that the way was practicable, as far as we were 

 able to see; we had gone about five and a half miles 

 from the tent, and ascended 2,000 feet. On the way 

 back we went gloriously; the last two slopes down to 

 the Barrier gave us all the speed we wanted. Bjaaland 

 and I had decided to take a turn round by Mount Betty 

 for the sake of having real bare ground under our feet ; 

 we had not felt it since Madeira in September, 1910, 

 and now we were in November, 1911. No sooner said 

 than done. Bjaaland prepared for an elegant " Tele- 

 mark swing," and executed it in fine style. What I 

 prepared to do, I am still not quite sure. What I did 

 was to roll over, and I did it with great effect. I was 

 very soon on my feet again, and glanced at Bjaaland; 

 wliether he had seen my tumble, I am not certain. 

 However, I pulled myself together after this unfor- 

 tunate performance, and remarked casually that it is 

 not so easy to forget what one has once learnt. No 

 doubt he thought that I had managed the " Telemark 



