For example, courage is the moderate virtue between the extremes of cowardice and recklessness. Vices of courage must also be identified which are cowardice and recklessness. Simmerson is protected by his influential friends and escapes punishment for his cowardice and incompetence. Others, like cowardice, desertion, and insubordination, are purely military crimes. Those who committed cowardice and dereliction of duty were stoned to death by their comrades. Morgan lashed the decision, calling it "a shameless act of broadcasting cowardice and political subservience". The exchanges would become extremely provocative, often involving accusations of cowardice or sexual perversion. She refuses to go back to Devdas and chides him for his cowardice and vacillation. This led the king to accuse him of cowardice. The novel closes with Njoroge feeling hopeless, and ashamed of cowardice. Their cowardice and lack of political faith make them scarcely interesting. He tried to deflect the blame by emphasising the alleged cowardice of Byng. Both display tendencies toward loafing and cowardice. Flashman survives the ensuing debacle by a mixture of sheer luck and unstinting cowardice. In spite of his self-professed cowardice, Sam is highly intelligent, resourceful, and loyal.