424 'ABRUZZI, THE ROYAL ITALIAN EXPLORER 



managed to cut a way up the ice to the summit, though the struggle 

 was a terrible strain on his strength and skill. When, at last, he 

 reached the summit, he was met by a new difficulty. He did not 

 know where he was, nor in which direction the camp lay. He was 

 without food, or refreshment, but he made his way to a higher 

 point, from whence he was, fortunately, able to see the top of the 

 ship's masts showing over the ice. This gave him the direction of 

 the camp at Teplitz Bay, and he made his way thither, with as 

 much speed as he could. When he arrived, he had been battling 

 his way for over twenty-four hours, from the time he lost his 

 kayak, a feat of very great endurance. 



In answer to anxious questions as to the first detachment, he 

 said he and all the rest believed the first detachment was in the 

 camp, for it had left the main body in time to reach Cape Fligely 

 by April 2d. At the time it started back, owing to the drift of the 

 ice, the island could be distinctly seen, so that there could be no 

 difficulty as to the men knowing which way to go. Moreover, a 

 change had been made in the command, and the first detachment 

 had left under the command of Lieutenant Querini, Dr. Cavalli 

 having been placed at the head of the second detachment owing to 

 his showing greater staying powers on the march than the lieu- 

 tenant. 



As soon as the rest of the detachment had been conveyed from 

 the ice pack to the camp, Dr. Cavalli corroborated the story and 

 shared, with the rest of the expedition, the anxiety at the non- 

 arrival of the little band. His detachment, he said, had parted 

 with the main party on March 3ist, and had seen Captain Cagni 

 and his companions continue their way to the north, with a train 

 of six sledges and forty-eight dogs. The first detachment might, 

 he suggested, have been carried away to the east, and, as they had 

 no kayak with them, they might have been cut off by an open 

 channel and so prevented from reaching the island. Relief parties 

 were immediately sent out to search the ice in that direction, and 



