The lookout quickly had fled and drawn the bolts of a strong inner
door, and the police began battering that impediment.
Instantly, Clutching Hand turned to LeCroix at the F-ray machine.
"Finish them!" he shouted.
We were now backed up against a small ell in the wall of the
cellar. It was barely large enough to hold us, but by crowding we
were able to keep out of the reach of the ray. The ray shot past
the ell and struck a wall a couple of inches from us.
I looked. The cement began to crumble under the intense heat.
Meanwhile, the police were having great difficulty with the
steelbolt-studded door into the room. Still, it was yielding a
bit.
"Hurry!" shouted Clutching Hand to LeCroix.
Kennedy had voluntarily placed himself in front of me in the ell.
Carefully, to avoid the ray, he took the asbestos-platinum shield
from his pocket and slid it forward as best he could over the wall
to the spot where the ray struck.
It deflected the ray.
But so powerful was it that even that part of the ray which was
deflected could be seen to strike the ceiling in the corner which
was of wood. Instantly, before Kennedy could even move the shield,
the wood burst into flames.
Above us now smoke was pouring into the room where the deflected
ray struck the floor and flames broke out.
"Confound him!" ground out Clutching Hand, as they saw it.
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