The following is what takes place: A large concourse of people of all ages assemble, and sit down round a circle of stones, which is erected by the side of a road (really a narrow path).
— from The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

That, perhaps, it was a little unreasonable that these registrars in the receipt of profits amounting to eight or nine thousand pounds a year (to say nothing of the profits of the deputy registrars, and clerks of seats), should not be obliged to spend a little of that money, in finding a reasonably safe place for the important documents which all classes of people were compelled to hand over to them, whether they would or no.
— from David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Here they come, the rascals!" There's whoop and a scamper, and along the deck rushes a couple of six- or seven-year old youngsters, that makes a dive for the Cap'n, catches him around either leg, and almost upsets him.
— from Side-stepping with Shorty by Sewell Ford

There was a blinding flash, a deafening roar, a cloud of sulphurous smoke, followed by the rattle of hundreds of pieces of stonework.
— from The Young Cavalier: A Story of the Civil Wars by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

He built him a fine castle of red brick, full of wide halls and drawing rooms and chambers of state, and filled it with fabulous paintings, Gobelin tapestries, and black walnut wainscot.
— from The Puppet Crown by Harold MacGrath

"That's the sense of the boys, just the same," retorted Denslow, retreating a couple of steps.
— from The Skipper and the Skipped: Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul by Holman Day

There was a deafening roar, a cloud of smoke, a sheet of fire, and a black projectile was sent hurtling on its way against the hill, up the side of which Paul was climbing with his soldiers.
— from The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays Or, The Sham Battles at Oak Farm by Laura Lee Hope

Then they had a fighting scene, where everybody gets mad and goes out into the dressing room and clashes old swords together, and come back wounded.
— from Peck's Compendium of Fun Comprising the Choicest Gems of Wit, Humor, Sarcasm and Pathos of America's Favorite Humorist by George W. (George Wilbur) Peck

So, as he stood regarding the well-covered table and the tall armchair at the head of it where he would presently take his seat, a distinct feeling of elation seized him at the prospect of being in a position to pass the decanter round a circle of such undeniable breeding.
— from The Passionate Elopement by Compton MacKenzie

We are indebted to Professor Heer, of Zurich, for the description, restoration, and classification of several hundred species and varieties of these fossil plants, the whole of which he has illustrated by excellent figures in his “Flora Tertiaria Helvetiæ.”
— from The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir