426 ABRUZZI, THE ROYAL ITALIAN EXPLORER 



the remainder of the expedition became alarmed. The disappear- 

 ance of Lieutenant Querini and his companions did not tend to 

 alleviate their anxiety. A week passed without any sign; June 

 2Oth came and went, and the next two days saw the little com- 

 munity depressed and sad at what they regarded as the fatal silence. 

 On the 23d they barely exchanged words with one another, lest 

 they should add to each other's sorrow by expressing the almost 

 hopeless fear that every one felt. 



On the evening of that day the watch party at Cape Fligely 

 had retired to their shelter when they heard the barking of dogs. 

 Hastily going outside, they saw a man, with a sledge, advancing 

 from the direction of Teplitz Bay. They waited in silence for him 

 to come up, fearing he brought news of disaster. But their fears 

 were turned to joy when he shouted the news that the third detach- 

 ment had safely returned to camp, having penetrated as far as 

 86 degrees 34 minutes north, and so established the "farthest north" 

 record of any expedition yet despatched to the Arctic. It was 

 twenty geographic miles farther north than Nansen had reached. 



The story Captain Cagni had to tell was one of persistent 

 courage and determination. The straits to which he and his com- 

 panions were reduced were shown by the condition of their equip- 

 ment. They had a single sledge in a very damaged state, a bottom- 

 less saucepan, a broken cooking lamp, and a ragged tent. Their 

 dogs were reduced to seven, the others having been killed to feed 

 the survivors as well as the men. On the return journey the drift 

 of the ice had carried them to the west, so that when they reached 

 the latitude of Teplitz Bay they were many miles to the west of it. 

 The condition of the ice had compelled them to go still further away 

 before they were able to turn and head direct for the camp. 



From March nth to April 24th they marched steadily towards 

 the north, and covered something like six hundred miles in ninety- 

 five days. For the whole period of 104 days they marched 753 

 miles. During the first stage of the journey they maintained a 



