The South Pole, vol 2 | Page 8

of our precautions, we
had arrived at this ugly place. We should have to look about for a place
for the tent, but that was easier said than done. There was no possibility
of finding a place large enough for both the tent and the guy-ropes; the
tent was set up on a small, apparently solid spot, and the guys stretched
across crevasses in all directions. We were beginning to be quite
familiar with the place. That crevasse ran there and there, and it had a
side-fissure that went so and so -- just like schoolboys learning a
lesson.
Meanwhile we had brought all our things as far as possible into a place
of safety; the dogs lay harnessed to reduce the risk of losing them.
Wisting was just going over to his sledge -- he had gone the same way
several times before -- when suddenly I saw nothing but his head,
shoulders and arms above the snow. He had fallen through, but saved
himself by stretching his arms out as he fell. The crevasse was

bottomless, like the rest. We went into the tent and cooked lobscouse.
Leaving the weather to take care of itself, we made ourselves as
comfortable as we could. It was then one o'clock in the afternoon. The
wind had fallen considerably since we came in, and before we knew
what was happening, it was perfectly calm. It began to brighten a little
about three, and we went out to look at it.
The weather was evidently improving, and on the northern horizon
there was a sign of blue sky. On the south it was thick. Far off, in the
densest part of the mist, we could vaguely see the outline of a
dome-like elevation, and Wisting and Hanssen went off to examine it.
The dome turned out to be one of the small haycock formations that we
had seen before in this district. They struck at it with their poles, and
just as they expected -- it was hollow, and revealed the darkest abyss.
Hanssen was positively chuckling with delight when he told us about it;
Hassel sent him an envious glance.
By 4 p.m. it cleared, and a small reconnoitring party, composed of three,
started to find a way out of this. I was one of the three, so we had a
long Alpine rope between us; I don't like tumbling in, if I can avoid it
by such simple means. We set out to the east -- the direction that had
brought us out of the same broken ground before -- and we had not
gone more than a few paces when we were quite out of it. It was now
clear enough to look about us. Our tent stood at the north-eastern corner
of a tract that was full of hummocks; we could decide beyond a doubt
that this was the dreaded trap. We continued a little way to the east
until we saw our course clearly, and then returned to camp. We did not
waste much time in getting things ready and leaving the place. It was a
genuine relief to find ourselves once more on good ground, and we
resumed our journey southward at a brisk pace.
That we were not quite out of the dangerous zone was shown by a
number of small hummocks to the south of us. They extended across
our course at right angles. We could also see from some long but
narrow crevasses we crossed that we must keep a good look-out. When
we came into the vicinity of the line of hummocks that lay in our
course, we stopped and discussed our prospects. "We shall save a lot of

time by going straight on through here instead of going round," said
Hanssen. I had to admit this; but, on the other hand, the risk was much
greater. "Oh, let's try it," he went on; "if we can't do it, we can't." I was
weak, and allowed myself to be persuaded, and away we went among
the haycocks. I could see how Hanssen was enjoying himself; this was
just what he wanted. We went faster and faster. Curiously enough, we
passed several of these formations without noticing anything, and
began to hope that we should get through. Then suddenly Hanssen's
three leading dogs disappeared, and the others stopped abruptly. He got
them hauled up without much trouble and came over. We others, who
were following, crossed without accident, but our further progress
seemed doubtful, for after a few more paces the same three dogs fell in
again. We were now in exactly the same kind of place as before;
crevasses ran in every direction, like a broken pane of glass. I had had
enough, and would take no more part in this death-ride. I announced