28 THE START FOR THE POLE 



at — namely, transferring our base from 78° 38' to 82° S. 

 Jaala had to follow Uranus; they were both laid on 

 the top of the depot, beside eight little ones that never 

 saw the light of day. During our stay here we decided 

 to build beacons at every fifth kilometre, and to lay 

 down depots at every degree of latitude. Although 

 the dogs were drawing the sledges easily at present, we 

 knew well enough that in the long-run they would find 

 it hard work if they were always to have heavy weights 

 to pull. The more we could get rid of, and the sooner 

 we could begin to do so, the better. 



On November 6, at 8 a.m., we left 82° S. Now the 

 unknown lay before us ; now our work began in earnest. 

 The appearance of the Barrier was the same every where — 

 flat, with a splendid surface. At the first beacon we put 

 up we had to shoot Lucy. We were sorry to put an 

 end to this beautiful creature, but there was nothing 

 else to be done. Her friends — Karenius, Sauen, and 

 Schwartz — scowled up at the beacon where she lay 

 as they passed, but duty called, and the whip sang 

 dangerously near them, though they did not seem to 

 hear it. We had now extended our daily march to 

 twenty -three miles; in this way we should do a degree 

 in three days. 



On the 7th we decided to stop for a day's rest. The 

 dogs had been picking up wonderfully every day, and 

 were now at the top of their condition, as far as health 

 and training went. With the greatest ease they covered 



