Almost before he could cry out and retreat to give a warning, they had reached the door and the first resounding blows had been struck.
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.