To his surprise it was not a revolver, not even a knife; it looked like a small electric torch, though instead of a bulb and a bull's-eye glass, there was a pepper-box perforation at one end.
He handled it carefully and was about to press the small nickel knob when a strangled cry of horror broke from Kara.
"For God's sake be careful!" he gasped.

"You're pointing it at me! Do not press that lever, I beg!" "Will it explode!" asked T.X.

curiously.
"No, no!" T.X.pointed the thing downward to the carpet and pressed the knob cautiously.

As he did so there was a sharp hiss and the floor was stained with the liquid which the instrument contained.

Just one gush of fluid and no more.