356 THE DUKE OF ABRUZZI 



thickest mists. The marches became extremely arduous. Already the thin at- 

 mosphere which the members of the expedition had been breathing for many 

 days began to show its depressing effects. Work which under other conditions 

 would have been quite normal was accomplished now with three times the 

 amount of effort that would ordinarily have been expended on it. The duke's 

 companions began to lose their appetites, to feel disgust at the unchanging diet 

 of canned meat, to snatch only brief and troubled naps. Abruzzi himself, how- 

 ever, seemed to keep all his powers intact. At meals his appetite was unim- 

 paired ; his periods of sleep continued to be long and refreshing. 



The duke and his three companions, Marquis Negrotto, Sella and De Fi- 

 Hppi, reached the foot of Bride Peak together. Negrotto and De Filippi re- 

 mained there in order to make botanical investigations in the neighborhood 

 and do topographical work. Sella, after a little climbing, turned back toward 

 Rokass in order to take a panoramic view of the Mustag chain of mountains. 



HIS SUPREME EFFORT. 



As for the duke himself, he began with his three guides the ascent of the 

 mountain, choosing as his starting point a camp located at a height of about 

 21,000 feet high. 



The weather, which was very cloudy, compelled him to stay there for 

 several days; but just as soon as the mists began to clear he ascended in two 

 successive days' marches to a point nearly 2,000 feet higher up. From there 

 some of the guides who had followed him thus far and who had been able to 

 carry with them tents and provisions sufficient only for four persons returned 

 to the camp situated near the base of the mountain. 



The duke remained where he was one whole day. At dawn of the next, July 

 17, he began his ascent once again toward the peak. 



He was making his supreme effort. 



At II in the morning he had managed to get somewhere more than 1,200 

 feet higher. He now stood 24,000 feet above the sea. With him were three 

 guides — Petigax and two named Brocherel. The mist had become so dense 

 that further progress seemed out of the question. The four men, exposed at 

 any instant to annihilation from falling masses of snow, shut themselves up in 

 their shelters, waiting patiently on the perilous slope. 



They waited until 3 in the afternoon. The mist became constantly thicker 

 and thicker. The three mountaineers, without a word, turned their eyes on 

 the duke. 



