268 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



about 45 miles distant from the island which had 

 been seen two days previously. Nothing more was ever 

 heard of this detachment. The Duke came to the con- 

 clusion that an accident must have happened. It is quite 

 possible, however, if not probable, that the party was 

 drifted so far out of the proper course that the island 

 could not be reached before all the food had been con- 

 sumed. It will be seen that the third detachment failed 

 to make headway against this drift, and was saved only by 

 giving up the attempt to reach Prince Rudolf Island, 

 and by making its way towards the islands in the south. 



Some of the dogs caused a great deal of trouble. One 

 had deserted on two occasions. It was a fine, strong 

 animal, and it would have been a pity to kill it. The 

 doctor undertook to tame it and prevent it deserting. 

 He secured it with two chains and a steel-wire rope. In 

 spite of this, it was found trying to escape, and the doctor 

 gave it a severe beating. During the night the dog broke 

 the two chains, and in some incredible way managed to 

 get free. As if to be revenged on its tamer, it made a 

 hole in the doctor's tent and stole all the butter which 

 was to serve for the detachment's breakfast. 



Towards the end of March the temperature was still 

 very low, and Captain Cagni suffered greatly from one of 

 his forefingers which had already been twice frost-bitten. 

 The sleeping-bag slowly filled with snow formed by the 

 frozen moisture of the breath. During the night their 

 bodies gradually thawed this snow, and they rose in a 

 cold bath in the morning. Soon after getting up, the 

 moisture froze again into a mass of ice. On 27th and 

 28th March the temperature was more than 40° F. below 

 zero. 



On the 28th March, Captain Cagni was able to take an 

 observation for latitude, and was astonished to find that 

 it was only 83°. He had calculated that it ought to be 



