Had the wind blown crosswise, or in any other way than that in which it came, they would have been swept off before twenty yards were accomplished.

As it was, they were almost pinned to the cliff by the fury of the blast.
They must have proceeded a quarter of the way across, and had reached a spot where the ledge rose slightly.

Even up this slight incline, with the mist freezing under them, it was impossible to crawl; and Percy, drawing himself cautiously to his feet, attempted to stand.
As he did so, the wind, gathering itself into a furious blast, caught him and hurled him against the rocky wall.

He recoiled with a sharp cry of pain, and next moment would have fallen into the abyss beneath, had not Jeffreys' strong arm caught him and held him.

His legs were actually off the ledge, and for a moment it seemed as if both he and his protector were doomed.