On the 26th we passed 88deg.  S., going well.  The surface appeared to have been exposed to powerful sunshine since we left it, as it had become quite polished.  Going over these polished levels was like crossing smooth ice, but with the important difference that here the dogs had a good foothold.  This time we sighted high land even in 88deg., and it had great surprises in store for us.  It was clear that this was the same mighty range running to the south-east as we had seen before, but this time it stretched considerably farther to the south.  The weather was radiantly clear, and we could see by the land that the range of vision was very great.  Summit after summit the range extended to the south-east, until it gradually disappeared; but to judge from the atmosphere, it was continued beyond our range of vision in the same direction.  That this chain traverses the Antarctic continent I therefore consider beyond a doubt.  Here we had a very good example of how deceptive the atmosphere is in these regions.  On a day that appeared perfectly clear we had lost sight of the mountains in 87deg., and now we saw them as far as the eye could reach in 88deg..  That we were astonished is a mild expression.  We looked and looked, entirely unable to recognize our position; little did we guess that the huge mountain-mass that stood up so high and clear on the horizon was Mount Thorvald Nilsen.  How utterly different it had looked in the misty air when we said good-bye to it.  It is amusing to read my diary of this time and see how persistently we took the bearings of land every day, and thought it was new.  We did not recognize that vast mountain until Mount Helmer Hanssen began to stick up out of the plain.

On December 28 we left the summit of the plateau, and began the descent.  Although the incline was not perceptible to the naked eye, its effect could easily be seen in the dogs.  Wisting now used a sail on his sledge, and was thus able to keep up with Hanssen.  If anyone had seen the procession that came marching over the plateau at that time, he would hardly have thought we had been out for seventy days at a stretch, for we came at a swinging pace.  We always had the wind at our backs, with sunshine and warmth the whole time.  There was never a thought of using the whip now; the dogs were bursting with health, and tugged at their harness to get away.  It was a hard time for our worthy forerunner; he often had to spurt as much as he could to keep clear of Hanssen’s dogs.  Wisting in full sail, with his dogs howling for joy, came close behind.  Hassel had his work cut out to follow, and, indeed, I had the same.  The surface was absolutely polished, and for long stretches at a time we could push ourselves along with our sticks.  The dogs were completely changed since we had left the Pole; strange as it may sound, it is nevertheless true that they were putting on flesh day by day, and getting quite fat.  I believe it must have been feeding them on fresh meat and pemmican together that did this.  We were again able to increase our ration of pemmican from December 28; the daily ration was 1 pound (450 grams) per man, and we could not manage more —­ at least, I think not.