AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EXPEDITION (1874) 115 



thermometer were left with the remaining party. The 

 tent was divided in two, each party receiving a half. 

 The advance party took provisions for eight days, and 

 the two remaining dogs had to drag the sledge with a 

 weight of about 4 cwt. 



As they approached the promontory on the south of 

 Crown-Prince Rudolf's Land, numerous icebergs were met, 

 which according to Payer were from 100 to 200 feet high. 

 The Middendorf Glacier was now reached, and an attempt 

 was made to cross it. Towards its lower part many 

 crevasses were bridged over with snow. Farther on, the 

 glacier appeared smooth and free from crevasses, and it 

 was anticipated that it could be crossed without difficulty. 

 Here, Klotz confessed to Payer that one of his feet was 

 swollen and ulcerated. Payer decided at once that it 

 would be necessary to send Klotz back to the other party 

 at Hohenlohe Island. Laden with a sack and earrving 

 a revolver, he set off', and soon disappeared. 



Meanwhile Payer and the other two men had again 

 packed the sledge and harnessed the dogs, and were 

 setting out, when, without the slightest warning, the snow 

 gave way beneath the sledge, and Zaninovich, the dogs, 

 and the sledge disappeared in a crevasse. Payer, who 

 was attached to the rope, was dragged backwards to the 

 edge of the crevasse, and expected to be precipitated into 

 it, but at this moment the sledge stuck fast between the 

 sides of the crevasse. Orel now advanced to the edge 

 and stated that he could see Zaninovich lying on a ledge 

 of snow in the crevasse, with precipices all round him, 

 and the dogs attached to the traces of the sledge. 

 Payer, who was lying on his stomach near the edge of 

 the crevasse, had still one of the traces fastened round 

 his waist. This he decided to cut, although Zaninovich 

 cried up that he was afraid that the sledge would then 

 fall on him. When the trace was cut, the sledge made 



