It CRUNCHED them.

Plain through the turmoil came a dreadful--bursting roar.
Down from the closing jaws of the vise dripped a stream of fragments that flashed and flickered--and died.

And now in the wall was no trace of the breach.
A hurricane of radiant lances swept it.

Under them a mile wide section of the living scarp split away; dropped like an avalanche.

Its fall revealed great spaces, huge vaults and chambers filled with warring lightnings--out from them came roaring, bellowing thunders.