At last the forest came to an end, and their ways parted.
Once again in the broad sunshine Amer breathed in the fresh air with delight and gratitude. His way led through fields full of brightly coloured flowers. The air was laden with their scent, and vibrated with the song of birds. Having so lately emerged from such a dark and dreary passage, the sunshine, the sounds, and the scents, filled him with delight, and that which rejoiced him still more was the fact that his path lay up the side of a hill, and every step he took found him higher, in fresher air, with a clearer view of the Radiant City. He had the joy also of meeting his old friends Belthiah and Iddo, who, after welcoming him, looked earnestly in his face.
"Amer," they said, "you have grown into a man since last we saw you. There are marks of victory and strength on your face. You have passed through some great experience."
"I have been in the dark forest," he answered gravely, for even now the remembrance was painful to him, "and I found light in the darkness."
[CHAPTER XII.]
DANGEROUS HEIGHTS.
Amer's path did not lay long beside that of his friends. He parted from them at the top of a beautiful green hill, dotted over with flowers.
He had been climbing ever since he had left the dark forest, but now as he looked up and saw the towering mountains before him, the green hill dwindled to a valley in his estimation. Stern rocks and steep precipices confronted him, as after waving his farewell to his friends whose path still lay along the gentle slopes, he eagerly set out alone again on his journey.
Where his path would lead him he did not know. He only knew he was on the way to his King, and instead of having to walk through the darkness, he was to scale the heights, and somewhere, far, far above him was the Radiant City.