The former held a steel bar in blue, frost-cracked hands and twisted it in the cavity while his companion struck the end.

He knelt, in a cramped pose, in the snow, and Festing smiled.

Bob was fond of comfort, and it was strange to see him occupied like this.

Then, noting the length of the bar, he thought they would not sink the hole deep enough for the blasting charge before dinner, which was unfortunate, because the powder fumes are poisonous and would hang about the spot for some time.
A few moments later the whistle blew, but Charnock and his companion did not stop, and Festing heard the thud of the hammer as he went on.

This rather puzzled him.