The cord, stretched taut, struck him under the chin.
Back he reeled.
The cord was about his throat!
"God!" he choked, and thrust up his hands.
Madly, he strove to pluck the deadly silken thing from his neck. It was useless. A grip of steel was drawing it tightly—and ever more tightly—about him....
Despair touched him, and almost he resigned himself. Then,
"Rob! Rob! open the door!"
A new strength came—and he knew that it was the last atom left to him. To remove the rope was humanly impossible. He dropped his cramped hands, bent his body by a mighty physical effort, and hurled himself forward upon the door.
The latch, now, was just above his head.