Page:The Cross Pull.pdf/171

 and clanged against the cliff face behind; savage, powerful, exultant!

Moran released her and stepped back.

“I won’t do that again but I wanted you to be sure. You heard that cry. I’ve never had a mate. I’ve waited long years for the right one. You’ve given me your love. That’s all that matters to me. I’ve lived so long alone among wild things that perhaps I’ve absorbed some of their philosophy of life. I’ll keep that love you’ve given me. If there’s no other way to keep it for ourselves I’ll keep it as the beast that made that cry would keep it—as Flash would hold his mate!”