In truth, he had never fired a gun in all his peaceful life.
"The gun--get it--and shoot!" Her eyes moved quickly in a cautious, side-long glance that commanded impatiently.

Her straight eyebrows drew together imperiously.

Then, when he met her eyes with that same helpless look, she said another word that hurt.

It was "Coward!" Thurston looked down at the gun, and at the huddled form.

A tiny river of blood was creeping toward him.