290 THE VOYAGE OF THE " FRAjNI " 



As already mentioned, we left Norway on August 9, 



1910, and arrived at our final moorings on January 14, 



1911, in the course of which time we had only called 

 at Madeira. The Barrier is 16,000 geographical miles 

 from Norway, a distance which we took five months 

 to cover. From Madeira we had had 127 days in open 

 sea, and therewith the first part of the voyage was 

 brought to an end. 



II. 



Off the Barrier. 



As soon as we had moored, the Chief, Prestrud, 

 Johansen and I went up on to the Barrier on a tour 

 of reconnaissance. The ascent from the sea-ice to the 

 Barrier was fine, a perfectly even slope. When no 

 more than a mile from the ship, we found a good site 

 for the first dog-camp, and another mile to the south it 

 was decided that the house was to stand, on the slope 

 of a hill, where it would be least exposed to the strong 

 south-easterly gales which might be expected from 

 previous descriptions. Up on the Barrier all was abso- 

 lutely still, and there was not a sign of life; indeed, 

 what should anytliing live on? This deliglitful ski-run 

 was extended a little farther to the south, and after 

 a couple of hours we returned on board. Here in the 

 meantime the slaughtering of seals had been going on. 



