This type of construction is known as the " absolute accusative " ( cf . absolute ablative in Latin grammar ).
2.
Brevity of the narration can be achieved by the following devices : emphasis, articulus, absolute ablative " without a rower " [ i . e . a preposition ], skillful indication of one thing among the rest, " chains removed from between clauses " [ i . e . omitting conjunctions ], the sense of many clauses in one, and omitting repetition of the same word.