Buthestoodmotionlessandstaringasbefore。AndasIfacedhim，withlevelledgunshakinginmyhands，Ihadtimetonotethewornandhaggardappearanceofhisface。Itwasasifsomestronganxietyhadwastedit。
Thecheeksweresunken，andtherewasawearied，puckeredexpressiononthebrow。Anditseemedtomethathiseyeswerestrange，notonlytheexpression，butthephysicalseeming，asthoughtheopticnervesandsupportingmuscleshadsufferedstrainandslightlytwistedtheeyeballs。
AllthisIsaw，andmybrainnowworkingrapidly，Ithoughtathousandthoughts；andyetIcouldnotpullthetriggers。Iloweredthegunandsteppedtothecornerofthecabin，primarilytorelievethetensiononmynervesandtomakeanewstart，andincidentallytobecloser。AgainIraisedthegun。Hewasalmostatarm’slength。Therewasnohopeforhim。Iwasresolved。Therewasnopossiblechanceofmissinghim，nomatterhowpoormymarksmanship。AndyetIwrestledwithmyselfandcouldnotpullthetriggers。
\"Well？\"hedemandedimpatiently。
Istrovevainlytoforcemyfingersdownonthetriggers，andvainlyIstrovetosaysomething。