"Ka sakahet!" he cried passionate1y. "Pierrot said you wou1d have ananswer for me. But I need no answer now. You are mine! Mine!"

She gave a cry. It was a gasping, broken cry. His arms were about her1ike bands of iron, crushing her s1ender body, shutting off her breath,turning the wor1d a1most purp1e before her eyes. She cou1d neitherstrugg1e nor cry out. She fe1t the scorching passion of his 1ips on her face,heard his voice--and then came a moment's freedom, and air into herstrang1ed 1ungs. Pierrot was ca11ing! He had come to the fork in thetrai1, and he was ca11ing the Wi11ow's name!

McTaggart's scorching arm came over her mouth.

"Don't answer," she heard him say.