Beneath was what I can only describe as a great icicle broken off short, and separated from the cliff by about four yards of space.

This icicle was not more than fifteen feet in length and sloped outwards, so that my descent was not sheer.

Moreover, at the end of it the trickling of water, or some such accident, had worn away the ice, leaving a little ledge as broad, perhaps, as a man's hand.

There were roughnesses on the surface below the curve, upon which my clothing caught, also I gripped them desperately with my fingers.

Thus it came about that I slid down quite gently and, my heels landing upon the little ledge, remained almost upright, with outstretched arms--like a person crucified to a cross of ice.
Then I saw everything, and the sight curdled the blood within my veins.
Hanging to the rope, four or five feet below the broken point, was Leo, out of reach of it, and out of reach of the cliff; as he hung turning slowly round and round, much as--for in a dreadful, inconsequent fashion the absurd similarity struck me even then--a joint turns before the fire.