Then he used the adz of his ax.

A few steps still, and he halted.
"Ice," he said, and from that spot to the mountain top he used the pick.
The slope was at a steep angle, the ice very hard, and each step had to be cut with care, especially on the traverse where the whole party moved across the mountain upon the same level, and there was no friendly hand above to give a pull upon the rope.

The slope ran steeply down beneath them, then curved over a brow and steepened yet more.
"Are the steps near enough together ?" Chayne asked.
"Yes," she replied, though she had to stretch in her stride.
And upon that Jean dug his pick in the slope at his side and turned round.
"Lean well way from the slope, mademoiselle, not toward it.

There is less chance then of slipping from the steps," he said anxiously, and there came a look of surprise upon his face.

For he saw that already of her own thought she was standing straight in her steps, thrusting herself out from the slope by pressing the pick of her ax against it at the level of her waist.