Between the stonework
of a chimney and the barred door he laid it horizontally, jamming
in some pieces of wood to wedge it tighter.
Then he began to pump on the handle vigorously. The almost
impregnable door seemed slowly to bulge. Still there was no sign
of life from within. Had the bomb-maker left before we arrived?
"This is my scientific sledge-hammer," panted Kennedy, as he
worked the little lever backward and forward more quickly--"a
hydraulic ram. There is no swinging of axes or wielding of
crowbars necessary in breaking down an obstruction like this,
nowadays. Such things are obsolete. This little jimmy, if you want
to call it that, has a power of ten tons. That ought to be
enough."
It seemed as if the door were slowly being crushed in before the
irresistible ten-ton punch of the hydraulic ram.
Kennedy stopped. Evidently he did not dare to crush the door in
altogether. Quickly he released the ram and placed it vertically.
Under the now-yawning door jamb he inserted a powerful claw of the
ram and again he began to work the handle.
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