21.   The dull thuds of IRA bombs, the plumes of smoke that rose Monday afternoon high above the rolling countryside that surrounds Lisburn, were depressingly familiar.

22.   The sound begins with dull thuds, activating the drum, but builds to a low, resonant rumble as much felt as heard.

23.   This one lands with a dull thud.

24.   You may still hear the dripping but it will make a dull thud rather than a ping.

25.   A few minutes earlier, reporters in Baghdad had heard dull thuds, indicating bombardment in the distance, possibly outside Baghdad.

26.   A short time later, another passenger heard a dull thud on the roof and alerted police at the next stop.

27.   Almost instantaneously the round is propelled with a dull thud into government-held territory.

28.   As he was briefing a group of visiting reporters, the dull thud of mortars was heard on the hillside just opposite.

29.   By afternoon, Tuzla streets were empty, with the dull thud of fighting audible in the distance, residents said by telephone.

30.   Dull thuds were heard in the distance, indicating that the missiles had fallen outside the capital or in its outskirts.