ace!" she said.

"It's the only way out," said Warden, "unless we tramp underground nearly
half-way to Wallacetown!"

"Can't we go back?" she said, nervously.

"What! Afraid?" He gave her hand a sudden squeeze.

She looked at him and caught the blue fire of his eyes as he bent towards
her. Something moved her, she knew not what. She surrendered herself to
him without a word.

Once more she hung upon his shoulder, clinging desperately, while he made
that perilous ascent. He went up with amazing agility, as if he were
entirely unencumbered. She felt the strength of his great frame beneath
her, and marvelled. Again the magnetic force of the man possessed her,
stilling all fear. She shut her eyes dizzily, but she was not afraid.

When she looked up again they were in the open. He had set her on her
feet, and she stood on the rugged side of a mountain where no vestige of
a path or any habitation showed in any direction. For the first time he
had relinquished all hold upon her, and stood apart, almost as if he
would turn and leave her.

The brief twilight was upon them. It was as if dark wings were folding
them round. A small chill wind was wandering to and fro. She shivered
involuntarily. It sounded like the whispering of an evil spirit. The fear
she had kept at bay for so long laid clammy hands upon her.

Instinctively she turned to the man for protection. "How shall we get
away?" she said.

He moved sharply, so sharply that for a single moment she thought that
something had angered him. And then--all in one single blinding
instant--she realized that which no words could utter. For he caught her
swiftly to him, lifting her off her feet, and very suddenly he covered
her face and neck and throat with hot, devouring kisses--kisses that
electrified her--kisses that seemed to scorch and blister--yet to fill
her with a pulsing rapture that was almost too great to endure.

She tried to hide her face from him, but she could not; to protest, but
his lips stopped the words upon her own. She was powerless--and very
deep down within her there leaped a wild thing that rejoiced--that
exulted--in her powerlessness.

The fierce storm spent itself. There came a pause during which she
lay palpitating against his breast while his cheek pressed hers in a
stillness that was in a fashion more compelling than even those burning
kisses had been.

He spoke to her at last, and his voice was deep and tender, throbbing
with that which w