He even, after a moment, took out a cigarette and lighted it.

The sun shone full in his eyes, and he seemed to revel in it.

A sun-worshipper also, apparently! He smoked his cigarette to the end very deliberately, flicking the ash from time to time towards the raging water below.

When he had quite finished, he stretched his arms wide with a gesture of sublime self-confidence, faced about, and very composedly continued his climb.
It grew more and more arduous as he neared the frowning summit.

He had to feel his way with the utmost caution.