Jones gave out completely several times, saying the exertion affected his heart.

What with my rifle, my camera and Jude, I could offer him no assistance, and was really in need of that myself.

When it seemed as if one more step would kill us, we reached the rim, and fell panting with labored chests and dripping skins.

We could not speak.

Jones had worn a pair of ordinary shoes without thick soles and nails, and it seemed well to speak of them in the past tense.