They plodded thus for an hour, during which time they had only traversed half a mile. Their lower limbs, unaccustomed to the violent muscular efforts required to lift them clear of the snow, felt numb and as heavy as lead. They were glad when O'Donovan called for a ten minutes' halt.
Huddled together for mutual protection, and with their backs to the wind, the jaded men strove to withstand the almost overpowering desire to sleep. Even as they sat, the snow drifted until it was level with their shoulders.
All around came the thunder of the falling debris from the top of the cliffs, punctuated by the deeper roar which O'Donovan and the Russians understood. Fortunately, perhaps, Leslie was in ignorance of the meaning of the low rumble. It was the rapid breaking up of the lower portion of the glacier.
Presently one of the Russians clapped his gloved hands. O'Donovan, who was actually dozing, opened his eyes. He regained his feet, painfully and laboriously.
"Time!" he exclaimed.
Before a fresh start could be made, the accumulation of snow on the sleigh had to be removed and the vehicle dragged from under two feet of drift. Leslie and O'Donovan took their turns at the drag-ropes, the Russians following. It was evident that these men were more accustomed to the severe wintry conditions than even the weather-beaten seamen.
Presently one of the Russians noticed that the lad was making very slow headway. Without a word he took the rope from his hand. As he did so, he looked into the youth's face, then, stooping and picking up a handful of snow, he dashed it against Leslie's nose and began to rub that organ with the utmost vigour.
"Sure, I didn't notice it myself, bad cess to me," exclaimed O'Donovan. "Don't you worry, Master Leslie. It's for your good."
Leslie had been too taken aback by this sudden attack to offer any resistance, even if he retained sufficient energy to do so. Quite unconscious of the fact, his nose was showing signs of frostbite, and the Russian had taken drastic but effectual steps to ward off the dire consequences.
"Halt!" ordered O'Donovan in a loud voice.