I took the observation for longitude and latitude, found the height by hypsometer, and took some photographs.  After laying down the depot and erecting beacons, we broke camp at 3 p.m.  South of the head of the bay there were a number of elevations and pressure masses, exactly like the formations to be found about Framheim.  To the east a prominent ridge appeared, and with the glass it could be seen to extend inland in a south-easterly direction.  According to our observations this must be the same that Captain Scott has marked with land-shading on his chart.

We made a wide detour outside the worst pressure-ridges, and then set our course east-north-east towards the ridge just mentioned.  It was a pretty steep rise, which was not at all a good thing for the dogs.  They had overeaten themselves shockingly, and most of the seal’s flesh came up again.  So that their feast should not be altogether wasted, we stopped as soon as we had come far enough up the ridge to be able to regard the surface as comparatively safe; for in the depression round the bay it was somewhat doubtful.

On the following morning —­ Sunday, November 26 —­ there was a gale from the north-east with sky and Barrier lost in driving snow.  That put an end to our plans of a long Sunday march.  In the midst of our disappointment I had a sudden bright idea.  It was Queen Maud’s birthday!  If we could not go on, we could at least celebrate the day in a modest fashion.  In one of the provision cases there was still a solitary Stavanger tin, containing salt beef and peas.  It was opened at once, and its contents provided a banquet that tasted better to us than the most carefully chosen menu had ever done.  In this connection I cannot help thinking of the joy it would bring to many a household in this world if its master were possessed of an appetite like ours.  The wife would then have no need to dread the consequences, however serious the shortcomings of the cuisine might be.  But to return to the feast.  Her Majesty’s health was drunk in a very small, but, at the same time, very good tot of aquavit, served in enamelled iron mugs.  Carrying alcohol was, of course, against regulations, strictly speaking; but, as everyone knows, prohibition is not an easy thing to put into practice.  Even in Antarctica this proved to be the case.  Lindstrom had a habit of sending a little surprise packet with each sledging party that went out, and on our departure he had handed us one of these, with the injunction that the packet was only to be opened on some festive occasion; we chose as such Her Majesty’s birthday.  On examination the packet was found to contain a little flask of spirits, in which we at once agreed to drink the Queen’s health.