DUE EAST 227 



easterly course from here ; but as our dogs seemed to be 

 capable of more and better work than we had expected, 

 and as there was believed to be a j)ossibility that bare 

 land was to be found due east of the spot where we 

 were, it was decided to make an attempt in that 

 direction. 



Our old enemy the fog had made its appearance in 

 the course of the night, and now hung, grey and dis- 

 gusting, under the sky, when we broke camp at the 

 depot on the morning of November 13. However, it 

 was not so bad as to prevent our following the flags 

 that marked the depot on the east. 



My duty as forerunner was immediately found to be 

 considerably lighter than before. With the greatly 

 increased weight behind them the dogs had all they 

 could do to follow, if I went at an ordinary walking 

 pace. At 11 a.m. we passed the easternmost flag, at 

 flve geographical miles from the depot, and then we 

 found ourselves on untrodden ground. A light southerly 

 breeze appeared very opportunely and swept away the 

 fog; the sun again shed its light over the Barrier, 

 which lay before us, shining and level, as we had been 

 accustomed to see it. There was, however, one difference: 

 with every mile we covered there was the possibility of 

 seeing something new. The going was excellent, although 

 the surface was rather looser than one could have wished. 

 The ski flew over it finely, of course, while dogs' feet and 

 sledge-runners sank in. I hope I shall never have to go 



