In the absence of a leader its anger would pass like a storm overhead.

If a leader should appear, it would be time to interfere; and then it would be necessary to do so before the crowd got into action.
A half hour passed with nothing more exciting than the frantic appeals of the janitor of the building for police protection.

Failing to obtain it he implored the depositors to leave.

He might as well have appealed to the ocean tide to change its course.
Britz consulted his watch.
"I wonder whether I've miscalculated this time ?" he remarked.
Greig, having but a vague idea of Britz's plan, vouchsafed no reply.

He remained close to the other's elbow.
Another ten minutes passed and Britz began to look uneasily at the door.
A shade of disappointment crossed his face, and did not go unobserved by his assistant.
The crowd was growing unwieldy.