On the 26th Camilla came back, after an absence of ten days.  She had been let loose sixty-eight miles from Framheim on the last trip.  When she came in, she was as fat as ever; probably she had been feasting in her solitude on one of her comrades.  She was received with great ovations by her many admirers.

On September 29 a still more certain sign of spring appeared —­ a flight of Antarctic petrels.  They came flying up to us to bring the news that now spring had come —­ this time in earnest.  We were delighted to see these fine, swift birds again.  They flew round the house several times to see whether we were all there still; and we were not long in going out to receive them.  It was amusing to watch the dogs:  at first the birds flew pretty near the ground; when the dogs caught sight of them, they rushed out —­ the whole lot of them —­ to catch them.  They tore along, scouring the ground, and, of course, all wanted to be first.  Then the birds suddenly rose into the air, and presently the dogs lost sight of them.  They stood still for a moment, glaring at each other, evidently uncertain of what was the best thing to do.  Such uncertainty does not, as a rule, last long.  They made up their minds with all desirable promptitude and flew at each other’s throats.

So now spring had really arrived; we had only to cure the frost-bitten heels and then away.

CHAPTER X

The Start for the Pole

At last we got away, on October 19.  The weather for the past few days had not been altogether reliable; now windy, now calm —­ now snowing, now clear:  regular spring weather, in other words.  That day it continued unsettled; it was misty and thick in the morning, and did not promise well for the day, but by 9.30 there was a light breeze from the east, and at the same time it cleared.

There was no need for a prolonged inquiry into the sentiments of the party. —­ What do you think?  Shall we start?” —­ Yes, of course.  Let’s be jogging on.”  There was only one opinion about it.  Our coursers were harnessed in a jiffy, and with a little nod —­ as much as to say, “See you to-morrow” —­ we were off.  I don’t believe Lindstrom even came out of doors to see us start.  “Such an everyday affair:  what’s the use of making a fuss about it?”

There were five of us —­ Hanssen, Wisting, Hassel, Bjaaland, and myself.  We had four sledges, with thirteen dogs to each.  At the start our sledges were very light, as we were only taking supplies for the trip to 80deg.  S., where all our cases were waiting for us; we could therefore sit on the sledges and flourish our whips with a jaunty air.  I sat astride on Wisting’s sledge, and anyone who had seen us would no doubt have thought a Polar journey looked very inviting.