The obstacle was all the more formidable, as the upper end was inclined towards them, greatly increasing the difficulty in using the chisel.

Beyond this, as far as they could see, there was merely a mass of smaller stones.
The party who had been working upon this block were much disheartened, when Stanley went up to relieve them.

Owing to the inclination of the stone, their chisels could get but little bite and, though they had been working for six hours at it, they had scarcely made any impression; indeed, at only one point had they so far broken the face that the chisel would cut.

Meinik had come down two hours before, to report to Stanley the nature of the obstacle and, when he went up, he took with him the second ramrod, which had not hitherto been used.
He saw at once that, as Meinik had told him, it would be impossible to get through this block by the same means as before for, as the groove deepened, the labour would become greater and greater and, from the inclination of the stone, they would in time arrive at a point where the axe could no longer be used to strike the chisel.
The point at which the slight indentation had been made was nearly at the corner of the stone.

This was gradually enlarged, by hammering upon it with the head of the axe and, after an hour's work, the surface had been so far pounded that the chisel could get a flat hold upon it.