I think no more of shooting them than of smashing a clay pigeon.

Killing a mad dog is perhaps a better simile." "But, Robert dear, how long can we hold out ?" "What! Are you growing tired of me already ?" He hoped to divert her thoughts from this constantly recurring topic.
Twice within the hour had it been broached and dismissed, but Iris would not permit him to shirk it again.

She made no reply, simply regarding him with a wistful smile.
So Jenks sat down by her side, and rehearsed the hopes and fears which perplexed him.

He determined that there should be no further concealment between them.

If they failed to secure water that night, if the Dyaks maintained a strict siege of the rock throughout the whole of next day, well--they might survive--it was problematical.