My pistol jerked upwards, and exploded the same moment, and then dropped powerlessly from my hand, which I now felt was covered with warm blood from a wound near the elbow.
"The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer, Complete"
Charles James Lever (1806-1872)
There was nothing to do, it seemed, but powerlessly to await what destiny would bring forth.
"The Border Boys Across the Frontier"
Fremont B. Deering
He tried to lift his hand to the place where he had been hit, but it sank powerlessly.
"The Coming Conquest of England"
August Niemann