第5页 / 共439页

Her little fist beat against his face and he captured it, but as

he looked at her something that had come into the girl's face

moved his not very accessible heart. The salt of the adventure

was gone, his victory worse than a barren one. For stark fear

stared at him, naked and unconcealed, and back of that he

glimpsed a subtle something that he dimly recognized for the

outraged maidenly modesty he had so ruthlessly trampled upon. His

hands fell to his side reluctantly.

She stumbled back against the tree trunk, watching him with

fascinated eyes that searched him anxiously. They found their

answer, and with a long ragged breath the girl turned and burst

into hysterical tears.