They straddled on two chairs, the flour sacks beneath them on the floor and held together by rope-lashings.

Many of the men were able, in this manner, to lift four or five hundred pounds, while some succeeded with as high as six hundred.

Then the two giants took a hand, tying at seven hundred.
French Louis then added another sack, and swung seven hundred and fifty clear.

Olaf duplicated the performance, whereupon both failed to clear eight hundred.

Again and again they strove, their foreheads beaded with sweat, their frames crackling with the effort.