Beverley was always at his side ready to undertake any task, accept any risk; his ardor made his face glow, and he seemed to thrive upon hardships.

The two men were a source of inspiration--their followers could not flag and hesitate while under the influence of their example.
Toward the end of the long march a decided fall of temperature added ice to the water through which our dauntless patriots waded and swam for miles.

The wind shifted northwesterly, taking on a searching chill.
Each gust, indeed, seemed to shoot wintry splinters into the very marrow of the men's bones.

The weaker ones began to show the approach of utter exhaustion just at the time when a final spurt of unflinching power was needed.

True, they struggled heroically; but nature was nearing the inexorable limit of endurance.