Then the entire ceiling of the passage descended with a crash upon his head!
THE dropping roof would have crushed the life from a body a whit less like springy steel than Doc's. The mass of monster timbers must have weighed a full ton. The innocent-looking up-and-down beams at the passage sides formed guides upon which the ugly trap operated.
Doc caught the tremendous weight on broad, arched shoulders. He put forth gigantic effort. He broke the deadly force somewhat. But the shock bore him to hands and knees
- The Land of Terror (1933) Chapter 11
"Hey!" barked another an instant later. "What's the noise?"
Men could be heard, charging wildly onto the Jolly Roger! "We gotta look into this!"
Doc's assailants hurried away.
The moment they were gone, Doc employed the full power of his huge muscles and lifted the deadfall. He worked clear, afterward easing the deadfall down so as not to make a thump.
- The Land of Terror (1933) Chapter 13
