On the way to the depot, about thirty geographical miles south of Framheim, we had the nasty crevassed surface that had been met with for the first time on the third depot journey in the autumn of 1911 —­ in the month of April.  At that time we came upon it altogether unawares, and it was somewhat remarkable that we escaped from it with the loss of two dogs.  This broken surface lay in a depression about a mile to the west of the route originally marked out; but, however it may have been, it seems ever since that time to have exercised an irresistible attraction.  On our first attempt to go south, in September, 1911, we came right into the middle of it, in spite of the fact that it was then perfectly clear.  I afterwards heard that in spite of all their efforts, the southern party, on their last trip, landed in this dangerous region, and that one man had a very narrow escape of falling in with sledge and dogs.  I had no wish to expose myself to the risk of such accidents —­ at any rate, while we were on familiar ground.  That would have been a bad beginning to my first independent piece of work as a Polar explorer.  A day or two of fine weather to begin with would enable us to follow the line originally marked out, and thus keep safe ground under our feet until the ugly place was passed.

In the opening days of November the weather conditions began to improve somewhat; in any case, there was not the continual driving snow.  Lindstrom asked us before we left to bring up a sufficient quantity of seals, to save him that work as long as possible.  The supply we had had during the winter was almost exhausted; there was only a certain amount of blubber left.  We thought it only fair to accede to his wish, as it is an awkward business to transport those heavy beasts alone, especially when one has only a pack of unbroken puppies to drive.  We afterwards heard that Lindstrom had some amusing experiences with them during the time he was left alone.

Leaving the transport out of the question, this seal-hunting is a very tame sport.  An old Arctic hand or an Eskimo would certainly be astounded to see the placid calm with which the Antarctic seal allows itself to be shot and cut up.  To them Antarctica would landed in this dangerous region, and that one man had a very narrow escape of falling in with sledge and dogs.  I had no wish to expose myself to the risk of such accidents —­ at any rate, while we were on familiar ground.  That would have been a bad beginning to my first independent piece of work as a Polar explorer.  A day or two of fine weather to begin with would enable us to follow the line originally marked out, and thus keep safe ground under our feet until the ugly place was passed.

In the opening days of November the weather conditions began to improve somewhat; in any case, there was not the continual driving snow.  Lindstrom asked us before we left to bring up a sufficient quantity of seals, to save him that work as long as possible.  The supply we had had during the winter was almost exhausted; there was only a certain amount of blubber left.  We thought it only fair to accede to his wish, as it is an awkward business to transport those heavy beasts alone, especially when one has only a pack of unbroken puppies to drive.  We afterwards heard that Lindstrom had some amusing experiences with them during the time he was left alone.