He was giving them explicit directions in a way that showed a perfect command of the situation.

It now appeared that each sled had a coil of rope, which was evidently supplied from an apprehension of some such accident as this.

Hastily yet dextrously the foreign gentleman took one of these coils, and then binding a blanket around his waist, he passed the rope around this, so that it would press against the blanket without cutting him.

Having secured this tightly, he gave some further directions to the drivers, and then prepared to go down.
Hitherto the drivers had acted in sullen submission rather than with ready acquiescence.

They were evidently afraid of another avalanche; and the frequent glances which they threw at the slope above them plainly showed that they expected this snow to follow the example of the other.