Possibly this sudden change of expression caused Farnsworth to hesitate for a mere point of time.

Then there was the swish of a woman's skirts; a light step pattered on the frozen ground, and Alice sprang between the men, facing Farnsworth.

As she did this something small and yellow,--the locket at her throat,--fell and rolled under her feet.

Nobody saw it.
In her hand she held an immense horse pistol, which she leveled in the Captain's face, its flaring, bugle-shaped muzzle gaping not a yard from his nose.

The heavy tube was as steady as if in a vise.
"Drop that sword!" That was all she said; but her finger was pressing the trigger, and the flint in the backward slanting hammer was ready to click against the steel.