saltatory spasm

Essentially, this is no more than a spasm of mindless and brutal high summer destruction.

Here the Dimbula shot down a hollow, lying almost on her side—righting at the bottom with a wrench and a spasm.

It might be a spasm of pain, and his somewhat pale face became paler; but he did not speak.

What he dreaded was the spasm of dying—the convulsion that was to snap the thousand silver strings in the harp of life.

Richard thought to see him fell the Greek to the stones; but his uplifted arm lowered, the spasm of madness passed.

But what a contrast to this spasm of local statesmanship the earlier years of that drink-sodden century display!