December 9 arrived with the same fine weather and sunshine.  True, we felt our frost-sores rather sharply that day, with -18.4deg.  F. and a little breeze dead against us, but that could not be helped.  We at once began to put up beacons —­ a work which was continued with great regularity right up to the Pole.  These beacons were not so big as those we had built down on the Barrier; we could see that they would be quite large enough with a height of about 3 feet, as it was, very easy to see the slightest irregularity on this perfectly flat surface.  While thus engaged we had an opportunity of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the snow.  Often —­ very often indeed —­ on this part of the plateau, to the south of 88deg. 25’, we had difficulty in getting snow good enough —­ that is, solid enough for cutting blocks.  The snow up here seemed to have fallen very quietly, in light breezes or calms.  We could thrust the tent-pole, which was 6 feet long, right down without meeting resistance, which showed that there was no hard layer of snow.  The surface was also perfectly level; there was not a sign of sastrugi in any direction.

Every step we now took in advance brought us rapidly nearer the goal; we could feel fairly certain of reaching it on the afternoon of the 14th.  It was very natural that our conversation should be chiefly concerned with the time of arrival.  None of us would admit that he was nervous, but I am inclined to think that we all had a little touch of that malady.  What should we see when we got there?  A vast, endless plain, that no eye had yet seen and no foot yet trodden; or —­ No, it was an impossibility; with the speed at which we had travelled, we must reach the goal first, there could be no doubt about that.  And yet —­ and yet —­ Wherever there is the smallest loophole, doubt creeps in and gnaws and gnaws and never leaves a poor wretch in peace.  “What on earth is Uroa scenting?” It was Bjaaland who made this remark, on one of these last days, when I was going by the side of his sledge and talking to him.  “And the strange thing is that he’s scenting to the south.  It can never be —­ " Mylius, Ring, and Suggen, showed the same interest in the southerly direction; it was quite extraordinary to see how they raised their heads, with every sign of curiosity, put their noses in the air, and sniffed due south.  One would really have thought there was something remarkable to be found there.

From 88deg. 25’ S. the barometer and hypsometer indicated slowly but surely that the plateau was beginning to descend towards the other side.  This was a pleasant surprise to us; we had thus not only found the very summit of the plateau, but also the slope down on the far side.  This would have a very important bearing for obtaining an idea of the construction of the whole plateau.  On December 9 observations and dead reckoning agreed within a mile.  The same result again on the 10th:  observation 2 kilometres