He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom, and let fly a charge of Number 6 shot into the darkness. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. Everyone fled to his own sleeping-place. The birds jumped onto their perches, the animals settled down in the straw, and the whole farm was asleep in a moment.
– George Orwell
Animal Farm. Chapter 1. After Old Major’s rebellion speech, a reminder that Mr. Jones is very much in charge and is indeed a tyrant.