Festing moved a pace or two and went on talking, but Charnock fixed his eyes on the snow.  The part above the track overhung the gap in a bulging cornice, as if it was moving down hill, and in a few moments a heavier shower began.  The bulge got more prominent, but the cornice did not break off, and while he watched it, wondering whether he should call out the men, a stone fell from the wall and dropped at his feet.  This was ominous, but next moment a mass of snow struck his head, nearly knocking him down, and when he recovered his balance and wiped his face he noted with alarm that the stones were opening and the big post leaned outwards.

“Jump for your lives, boys!” he shouted, and throwing himself on Festing, drove him back.

Then there was a roar of falling stones and a crash.  The massive post lurched towards him and the air was filled with snow.  He heard struts and braces crack as the post tore them out, and thought Festing turned round in order to see what was happening.  He pushed him away, and then sank into loose snow and fell.  Before he could get up there was a deafening noise, something struck him a heavy blow, and he was buried.

After a short struggle he got his head out, and finding that he was thinly covered, made an effort to extricate himself.  When he had done so, he saw the men some distance up the bank.  They were all there except Festing, but he noticed a heap of big stones and broken beams close by.

“Back here, boys!  The boss is underneath!” he shouted, and threw himself upon the stones as the others ran up.

For a minute or two they worked desperately, flinging the lumps of rock about and dragging away the beams; and then stopped as they uncovered Festing.  His face looked very white, although a red stain ran down his forehead.  Charnock shivered and glanced at the break in the white mass above the track.

“It’s risky, but we’ve got to pull him out before some more snow comes down,” he said in a hoarse voice.  “Scrape the snow off carefully, Tom.  Get hold here with me, Pete.”

After two or three minutes’ cautious work they lifted Festing out of the hole.  He was unconscious and his arm looked short and distorted.  Charnock felt horror-struck and dizzy, but pulled himself together.

“Go for Kerr, one of you,” he said.  “Then I want the stretcher and a hand-sledge.  Bring a blast-lamp; ours is smashed.”

The men scattered, except for one who stayed with him, and kneeling in the snow he opened Festing’s fur-coat and took off his cap.  His head was cut and his arm broken, but Charnock did not think this altogether accounted for his unconsciousness.  He suspected broken ribs, but could detect nothing unusual when he felt his comrade’s side.

Kerr arrived first and looked at Festing.

“Unconscious all the time?” he asked, and when Charnock nodded resumed:  “Most important thing’s to get a doctor, and I’ll see to that.  Then I’ll get some brandy.”