Slowly the creature moved, walked forward a few steps; then, carrying its precious burden, it spread its great pale-coloured wings and rose up into the air; up, over the tree tops, over the roof of the great Castle, over the capstone of the high, high wall that enclosed the garden; then on over the iron pickets that made the place seem impregnable. Ruth’s hair had fallen loose, and its silk-like strands blew across David’s face and blinded his eyes as they moved forward through the vastness of the night.
Below them raged the fire, which had spread with incredible fury and speed. All at once there was a terrific noise, louder than the explosion of the largest bomb. David and Ruth looked below them toward the spot where the Bronze King’s Palace had stood. They saw fiery broken fragments falling to the earth like rain; and where the mighty Palace had once stood, there was nothing to be seen save burning desolation and wreckage. The Bronze King, his Palace, his chained Lions and prancing horses had all been annihilated in one huge explosion. The terrific heat had caused such pressure within the Bronze King’s body, whose blood was but fuel and whose flesh but gas, that at last it exploded with a tremendous detonation; and the spot where he had lived in such mighty glory knew him no more.
CHAPTER XIII
THE BURNING MOUNTAIN
ON, on through the night they rode, and one by one the stars appeared as the great storm clouds drifted away, borne on the current of friendly winds.
“Where are we going?” asked Ruth.
“We will let the Horse take us where he will,” said David. “He deserves to have his own way now, having served us so faithfully and so well.”
On they flew; and as morning stole into the sky and the stars began to grow pale, the great wingèd creature dropped down nearer to the earth, so that they just skimmed over the tree tops. In a few moments they came to the wonderful crystal pool where David
THEY TOLD ONE ANOTHER OF ALL
THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE