At this time our dog-harness underwent important alterations, as one of the members of the expedition had the happy idea of combining the Alaska and the Greenland harness.  The result satisfied all requirements; in future we always used this construction, and we all agreed that it was much superior to any other harness.  The dogs also seemed to be more comfortable in it.  That they worked better and more easily is certain, and raw places, so common with Greenland harness, were absolutely unknown.

February 4 was an eventful day.  As usual, we all came down to the Fram, driving our empty sledges, at half-past six in the morning.  When the first man got to the top of the ridge, he began to wave his arms about and gesticulate like a madman.  I understood, of course, that he saw something, but what?  The next man gesticulated even worse, and tried to shout to me.  But it was no use; I could not make anything of it.  Then it was my turn to go over the ridge, and, as was natural, I began to feel rather curious.  I had only a few yards more to go —­ and then it was explained.  Along the edge of the ice, just to the south of the Fram, a large barque lay moored.  We had talked of the possibility of meeting the Terra Nova —­ Captain Scott’s vessel —­ when she was on her way to King Edward VII.  Land; but it was a great surprise all the same.  Now it was my turn to wave my arms, and I am sure I did it no worse than the two first.  And the same thing was repeated with all of us, as soon as each one reached the top of the ridge.  What the last man did I have never been able to find out for certain —­ but no doubt he waved his arms too.  If a stranger had stood and watched us that morning on the ridge, he would surely have taken us for a lot of incurable lunatics.  The way seemed long that day, but at last we got there and heard the full explanation.  The Terra Nova had come in at midnight.  Our watchman had just gone below for a cup of coffee —­ there was no harm in that —­ and when he came up again, there was another ship lying off the foot of the Barrier.  He rubbed his eyes, pinched his leg, and tried other means of convincing himself that he was asleep, but it was no good.  The pinch especially, he told us afterwards, was horribly painful, and all this led him to the conclusion that there really was a second vessel there.

Lieutenant Campbell, the leader of the eastern party, which was to explore King Edward VII.  Land, came on board first, and paid Nilsen a visit.  He brought the news that they had not been able to reach land, and were now on their way back to McMurdo Sound.  From thence it was their intention to go to Cape North and explore the land there.  Immediately after my arrival Lieutenant Campbell came on board again and gave me the news himself.

We then loaded our sledges and drove home.  At nine o’clock we had the great pleasure of receiving Lieutenant Pennell, the commander of the Terra Nova, Lieutenant Campbell, and the surgeon of the expedition, as the first guests in our new home.  We spent a couple of very agreeable hours together.  Later in the day three of us paid a visit to the Terra Nova, and stayed on board to lunch.  Our hosts were extremely kind, and offered to take our mail to New Zealand.  If I had had time, I should have been glad to avail myself of this friendly offer, but every hour was precious.  It was no use to think of writing now.