It became a pendulum, swinging wider and wider with every lunge of his weight.

Then he reversed suddenly, just before the downward swing was completed.

Her grips were torn loose, and, screaming, she was hurled toward the ground.
But she righted herself in mid-air and descended feet first.

Ordinarily, from such a height, the spring in her legs would have eased the shock of impact with the ground.

But she was exhausted.