had waited and watched so patiently a short time before.
“Ruth,” he cried in delight, “here we are at the beautiful pool again! We will linger here till noontime and refresh ourselves. It is the most beautiful spot imaginable, and I longed to have you see it.”
The Horse settled down on the soft sward, and David and Ruth sprang from its back, glad to feel once more the firm earth under them. They refreshed themselves, drinking of the clear cool water; they rested in the soft moss; they gathered fruit and berries in the woods near at hand. They told one another of all that had taken place; and there was much to relate, much to rejoice over, much to remember, and much to regret. They were so happy that time passed by unheeded, and the great sun touched the horizon before they noticed that the day was spent.
“David,” cried Ruth, “the day is gone! and we have done nothing to bring us nearer to the Garden.”
“Nothing, save to free you from the Bronze King’s Palace,” answered David laughing. “To-day you were to be his bride.”
Ruth shuddered. “It all seems so long ago—I forgot it happened but to-day,” she said.
They called their faithful Horse to them and mounted upon his back.
“Up!” said David, “up into the sky above, till through the darkness from some great height we can see the Burning Mountain.” The Horse obeyed, and they rose into the night as the twilight deepened. Up, up, till the stars overhead seemed so near that they fancied they could almost touch them. Far, far away in the distance they saw the Burning Mountain.
“There!” cried David. “We must go over that, for beyond that lies the Garden.”