Stumbling，andpowerlesstoretainmyfooting，Iblundereddownuponmykneesinhelplessastonishment；andthen，asIglancedupstream，feargrippedatmythroat，deprivedmeofspeech，anddarkenedallmyvision。Forthewholesubstanceofthegreyice-corehadcometolifeandbeguntoheaveitselfupwards！
Yes，thehithertolevelsurfacewasthrustingforthsharpangularridges，andtheairseemedfullofastrangesoundlikethetramplingofsomeheavybeingoverbrokenglass。
Withaquiettrickletherecameaswirlofwateraroundme，whileanadjacentpineboughcrackedandsqueakedasthoughittoohadcometolife。Mycompanionsshouted，andcollectedintoaknot；whereupon，atoncedominatingandquellingthetense，painfulhubbubofsounds，thererangforththevoiceofOssip。
“MotherofGod！“heshouted。“Scatter，lads！Getawayfromoneanother，andkeepeachtohimself！Now！Courage！“
Withthat，springingtowardsusasthoughwaspshadbeenafterhim，andgraspingthespirit-levelasthoughithadbeenaweapon，hejabbedittoeveryside，asthoughfightinginvisiblefoes，while，justasthequiveringtownbegan，seemingly，toglidepastus，andtheiceatmyfeetgaveascreechandcrumbledtofragmentsbeneathme，sothatwaterbubbledtomyknees。IleaptupfromwhereIwas，andrushedblindlyinOssip’sdirection。