On the night of the 24th there was a stiff breeze from the west, and we drifted so far out in the thick snow that it was only on the afternoon of the 27th that we could make our way in again through a mass of ice.  In the course of these two days so much ice had broken up that we came right in to fat. 78deg.39’ S., or almost to Framheim, and that was very lucky.  As we stood in over the Bay of Whales, we caught sight of a big Norwegian naval ensign flying on the Barrier at Cape Man’s Head, and I then knew that the southern party had arrived.  We went therefore as far south as possible and blew our powerful siren; nor was it very long before eight men came tearing down.  There was great enthusiasm.  The first man on board was the Chief; I was so certain he had reached the goal that I never asked him.  Not till an hour later, when we had discussed all kinds of other things, did I enquire “Well, of course you have been at the South Pole?”

We lay there for a couple of days; on account of the short distance from Framheim, provisions, outfit, etc., were brought on board.  If such great masses of ice had not drifted out in the last few days, it would probably have taken us a week or two to get the same quantity on board.

At 9.30 p.m. on January 30, 1912, in a thick fog, we took our moorings on board and waved a last farewell to the mighty Barrier.

From the Barrier to Buenos Aires, Via Hobart.

The first day after our departure from the Barrier everything we had taken on board was stowed away, so that one would not have thought our numbers were doubled, or that we had taken several hundred cases and a lot of outfit on board.  The change was only noticed on deck, where thirty-nine powerful dogs made an uproar all day long, and in the fore-saloon, which was entirely changed.  This saloon, after being deserted for a year, was now full of men, and it was a pleasure to be there; especially as everyone had something to tell —­ the Chief of his trip, Prestrud of his, and Gjertsen and I of the Fram’s.

However, there was not very much time for yarning.  The Chief at once began writing cablegrams and lectures, which Prestrud and I translated into English, and the Chief then copied again on a typewriter.  In addition to this I was occupied the whole time in drawing charts, so that on arrival at Hobart everything was ready; the time passed quickly, though the voyage was fearfully long.

As regards the pack-ice we were extremely lucky.  It lay in exactly the same spot where we had met with it in 1911 —­ that is, in about lat. 75deg.  S. We went along the edge of it for a very short time, and then it was done with.  To the north of 75deg. we saw nothing but a few small icebergs.

We made terribly slow progress to the northward, how slow may perhaps be understood if I quote my diary for February 27: