There were groans now, besides the strained breathing and the soft shuffling of many feet on the thick carpets.

Each time some one went down there was a groan, stifled as instantly and surely as though the lips from which it came were quickly thrust under water.
Schreiermeyer knew well enough that if nothing could be done within the next two minutes there would be an awful catastrophe; but he was helpless.

No doubt the electricians were at work; in ten minutes the damage would be repaired and the lights would be up again; but the house would be empty then, except for the dead and the dying.
Another groan was heard, and another quickly after it.

The wretched manager yelled, stormed, stamped, entreated, and promised, but with no effect.

In the very faint red light from the doors he saw a moving sea of black and heard it surging to his very feet.