What form were you in ?" Then followed a desperate half-hour of cross-examination, Jeffreys coming down with a question at the slightest symptom of drowsiness, and Percy, with all the cunning of a "somno-maniac," taking time to think before each answer, and even shirking a syllable here or there in order to snatch a wink.
The daylight slowly faded out of the mist, but still the wind howled and shook them on their narrow perch at every gust.

Jeffreys, with dismay, found his limbs growing cramped and stiff, boding ill, unless relief soon came, for the possibility of moving at all.
Surely, though, the wind was abating.

The dash overhead sounded a trifle less deafening; and the driving sleet, which an hour ago had struck on their faces, now froze their ears.
Yes, the wind was shifting and falling.
In the half-minute which it took Jeffreys to make this discovery Percy had once more fallen asleep, and it required a shake more prolonged than ever to arouse him.
"What!" said he, as he slowly raised his head, "are they here?
Is father there ?" "No, old boy, but the wind is going down, and we may be able to move soon.

Where did you field in that cricket match you were telling me of ?" "Short leg, and I made two catches." "Bravo! Were they hard ones?
Tell me." So for another half-hour this struggle with sleep went on.

Jeffreys had more to do than keep his companion awake.