It was all the way downhill.

I thought I could do it, and I did.

My feet were balled with snow; I was hotter than I had been for years; I was completely out of breath; but when I puffed into the little road-side station, five minutes after the train was due, I could see that it was not yet in, and that Ralph and Charles were waiting on the platform.
"My word, Middleton!" said Charles, coming to meet me.

"I thought I had seen the last of you when I left you reclining on George in the drift.

I do believe you have got yourself into this state of fever-heat purely to be of use to us two; and I treated you very cavalierly, I am sure.