CHAPTER Nine TWO WOMEN AND THE REVOLVER.
'YOU--you're only doing that to frighten me,' stammered Miss Spencer, in a low, quavering voice.
'Am I ?' Nella replied, as firmly as she could, though her hand shook violently with excitement, could Miss Spencer but have observed it.

'Am I?
You said just now that I might be a Yankee girl, but I was a fool.
Well, I am a Yankee girl, as you call it; and in my country, if they don't teach revolver-shooting in boarding-schools, there are at least a lot of girls who can handle a revolver.

I happen to be one of them.

I tell you that if you ring that bell you will suffer.' Most of this was simple bluff on Nella's part, and she trembled lest Miss Spencer should perceive that it was simple bluff.

Happily for her, Miss Spencer belonged to that order of women who have every sort of courage except physical courage.