No description can give an idea of the terrific violence of the gale as it beat upon the unprotected coast.
Happily the pile of rocks which formed the Chimneys was solid.

It was composed of enormous blocks of granite, a few of which, insecurely balanced, seemed to tremble on their foundations, and Pencroft could feel rapid quiverings under his head as it rested on the rock.

But he repeated to himself, and rightly, that there was nothing to fear, and that their retreat would not give way.

However he heard the noise of stones torn from the summit of the plateau by the wind, falling down on to the beach.

A few even rolled on to the upper part of the Chimneys, or flew off in fragments when they were projected perpendicularly.