The pole had run into a crevice, and there it was jammed.
Flung down by the collision, every one thought for a few moments that some serious injury had been done to the ship.
In this belief they were undeceived, as soon as they got upon their feet and saw how she struck.
The cyclone had by this time hit the cliffs.
Huge fragments of ice were torn off and hurled in the air, and a shower of splintered particles rained down in the ravine.
They drove Frank and his companions inside.
Further retreat was cut off by the dead wall, and the boat could not move any way on account of the bowsprit being caught.
All they could do was to wait.
The storm cloud raged fiercely about the cliffs.
It seemed to make an effort to tear them to pieces.