He would have kept on through torture tenfold worse, and he showed himself no mercy.
Few people who have not been called upon to undertake such a work can form an idea of its exhausting nature.

It would be hard to think of anyone better prepared than Fred Greenwood to stand the terrific draught upon his strength; but while a long way from the top, and while there was no lack of supports for his hands and feet, and in the face of his unshakable resolve, he was compelled to doubt his success.

It seemed as if the dizzy height did not diminish.

When he had climbed for a long time and stopped, panting and suffering, the stars appeared to be as far away as ever.

He felt as if he ought to have been out of the ravine long before, but the opening looked to be as unattainable as at the beginning.
His whole experience was remarkable to that extent that it can be explained only on the ground that the intense mental strain prevented his seeing things as they were.