THE ITALIANS 1 FARTHEST NORTH 81 



ice, even for half a day, we would gain very few miles 

 and besides run the risk of losing a sledge. The dogs 

 are very tired, and we too feel the effects of yesterday's 

 strain. I therefore consider that it is more prudent to 

 stop here, and both the guides are of the same opinion. 

 The sun is unclouded. I bring out the sextant and 

 take altitudes of the sun to calculate the longitude 

 (65 19' 45" E.) while Fenoillet and Canepa put the 

 sledges in order and pitch the tent in a sort of small 

 amphitheatre of hillocks which shelter us from the 

 north wind. On that farthest to the north, which is 

 almost touched by the water of the channel, we plant 

 the staff from which our flag waves. The air is very 

 clear ; between the north-east and the north-west there 

 stand out distinctly, some sharply pointed, others 

 rounded, dark or blue and white, often with strange 

 shapes, the innumerable pinnacles of the great blocks of 

 ice raised up by the pressure. Farther away again on 

 the bright horizon in a chain from east to west is a 

 great azure wall which from afar seems insurmount- 

 able." The latitude was 86 34'. 



The outward journey took forty-five days ; the home- 

 ward took sixty, and proved a perilous adventure 

 owing to the drift of the pack to the westward and its 

 breaking up as the weather became warmer and the 

 southern boundary was approached. At first there 

 was good promise. The dogs knew they were going 

 back, and followed the outward track so fast that the 

 men, failing to keep up with them, for the first time 

 took a seat on the sledges and were drawn along at 

 four miles an hour. Progress was rapid for a few days 

 owing to there being now only four sledges and, in a 



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