igii] 
BALLOON BIGHT GONE 
85 
In the afternoon the weather cleared and we were 
able to get sights, showing wc were still to tlie eastward 
of Balloon Bight. By 9 a.m. we were off tlie place 
where Balloon Bight should iiavc been, and our sights 
put us south of the old Barrier edge. There was no 
doubt about it ; Balloon Bight had gone. By midnight 
we were off Shackleton's Bay of Whales. On rounding 
the eastern point our surprise can be imagined when 
we saw a ship, which I recognised as the Frarn^ made 
fast alongside the sea ice. 
Standing in, we made fast a little way ahead of her 
and hoisted our colours, she answerine; with the Norweirian 
ensign. There was no doubt it was Captain Amundsen. 
Pennell and I immediately went on board and saw 
Lieutenant Neilscn, who was in command. He told us 
Amundsen was up at the camp about three miles in, 
over the sea ice, but would be down about 9 o'clock, and 
accordingly soon after 9 I returned on board and saw 
Amundsen, who told me his plans. He had been liere 
since January 4, after a good passage, having been held 
only four days in the pack. He had intended wintering 
at Balloon Bight, but on finding that had gone, luid fixed 
on the Bay of Whales as the best place. 
He asked me to come up and see his camp, so Pennell, 
Levick and I went up, and found he had erected his hut 
on the Barrier, about 3 miles from the coast. The camp 
presented a very workmanlike appearance, with a good- 
sized hut containing a kitchen and living-room witli a 
double tier of bunks round the walls, while outside several 
tents were up and 116 fine Greenland dogs picketed round. 
