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 was beyond utterance.

"You love me, little new chum," he said.

There was no question in his words. She quivered, and made no answer.