“I must wait in patience,” thought David to himself. “Wait and watch. I will learn something of the manners and customs of this strange monarch.”
So he hid himself in the thicket to watch and see what might develop in and around the Palace. He could hear the servants moving about, and now and then he caught a glimpse of someone inside the Castle. Soon he judged that breakfast was being served. Not long after this, great preparations were made for something—some kind of expedition. David watched and waited in curiosity to know what was going to happen. Soon the King, with a number of his followers, appeared at the great gateway. All of them were armed with spears and hunting-knives. The grooms brought horses from the royal stables, which the great men mounted; and soon they rode away into the distant forest that covered the hillsides on either hand.
“Now,” thought David, “if the King and his followers have left the Palace, it is time for me to try to prove in some way whether or not Ruth really is here.”
Just as the thought passed through his mind, someone moved at one of the upper windows. He looked more closely. The next instant, to his wonder and delight, he recognized his dearly loved Ruth! She opened the casement window and leaned far out, gazing up into the clear sky above. The bright sunlight touched her hair so that it seemed like a crown of gold upon her head. Her eyes, upturned, held the wondrous beauty of the sky in their depths.
“Ruth!” he called. She heeded not. He dared not call louder, lest others within the Palace might hear. He watched her, spellbound. Suddenly she moved and turned as if to leave the window. Without even giving a thought to what he was doing, David shaped his lips to give a low, clear, sweet whistle—the call they had used together at the Cobbler’s cottage.
The girl turned toward the window, her face very white and her breath coming in short, quick gasps. He knew that she had heard, for her eyes searched the garden below, her delicate hand resting on her throat, her whole expression one of fear and wonder.
“Here wings to serve you true—
Try what written words will do.”
Yes, it was the song of the ever faithful Blue Bird. David saw the little creature hopping on a twig close by.
“Good!” cried the boy. Then, searching in his pocket, he found a pencil and a bit of paper and wrote hastily:
“Ruth, it is I, David, come to rescue you. We must flee together. Come to me!”