Citations:hang fire


 * 1876, Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, chapter 4
 * Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. He blushed, now, and his eyes fell. Mr. Walters' heart sank within him. He said to himself, it is not possible that the boy can answer the simplest question -- why did the Judge ask him? Yet he felt obliged to speak up and say: "Answer the gentleman, Thomas -- don't be afraid." Tom still hung fire. "Now I know you'll tell me," said the lady. "The names of the first two disciples were --" "David and Goliath!"