“Is Ruth really there?” he thought to himself. “How can I be sure of this? and, being sure, how can I ever free her?” “Wait in patience, doubt no more; And never try to force the door,” came the song again. “That’s all right,” said David, “but how can a man be patient for ever? I must and will rescue Ruth!” As he spoke there appeared, in the window above him, the Bronze King himself. David hid in the leaves of a neighbouring thicket so that the King could not see him, though he himself could gaze with safety upon the unearthly and monstrous visage of the King. The thought of Ruth’s being a captive in that monster’s Palace was almost more than he could endure. The sun shone through the window right into the King’s face. It was a curious fact, and one which had been noticed by Ruth as well as by others in the Palace, that in the bright sunlight the King’s face always seemed to grow a still darker bronze. The more light shone upon him, the darker he seemed to grow. Now, in this brilliant morning light, his face was darker than the moon when, in eclipse, it takes on a strange and terrifying cast which no one can look at without a shudder. A surge of repulsion swept over David as he gazed; he thought he had never seen any being so thoroughly ugly and so altogether awful. Then the thought of sweet, gentle Ruth filled his heart, and in a moment he grew strong and fearless. He resolved to rescue her, no matter what the cost might be. “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.