Soon climbing meant trapeze work--long reach of arm, and pull of weight, high step of foot, and spring of body.

Where I had slid down with ease, I had to strain and raise myself by sheer muscle.

I wore my left glove to tatters and threw it away to put the right one on my left hand.

I thought many times I could not make another move; I thought my lungs would burst, but I kept on.

When at last I surmounted the rim, I saw Jones, and flopped down beside him, and lay panting, dripping, boiling, with scorched feet, aching limbs and numb chest.
"I've been here two hours," he said, "and I knew things were happening below; but to climb up that slide would kill me.