He _did_ feel a sensation as if his bowels had suddenly melted into water! Let not our reader think the worse of Dick for this.

There is not a man living who, having met with a huge grizzly bear for the first time in his life in a wild, solitary place, all alone, has not experienced some such sensation.

There was no cowardice in this feeling.
Fear is not cowardice.

Acting in a wrong and contemptible manner because of our fear is cowardice.
It is said that Wellington or Napoleon, we forget which, once stood watching the muster of the men who were to form the forlorn-hope in storming a citadel.

There were many brave, strong, stalwart men there, in the prime of life, and flushed with the blood of high health and courage.