“How?” repeated David. “I can sit upon its back, tame and subdue it, so that it will know me for its master; then ride upon it to the Palace and fly down into the Garden where Ruth is permitted to walk--the royal Garden surrounded by the high red wall with the iron pickets on the top. There Ruth can spring upon the Horse beside me, and the splendid creature can carry us up into the air, up, away, safe from the Bronze King, his terrible Palace, and his great chained Lions.” “Has he Lions, too?” asked the wood-cutter. “Yes,” said David, “a dozen of them, chained outside the Palace.” “How do you know that?” “Because I have seen them and walked through their midst.” “Walked through their midst! What do you mean?” So David told him of his adventure with the Lions; of how he had followed the little winding path and had seen that the fierce creatures were chained and unable to reach him, so long as he walked wisely and fearlessly. “Well, well, well!” said the old man. “You certainly are a brave lad, David! You deserve help, indeed, and I stand ready to help you. Come with me.” David followed wherever the old man led till they came to a tiny log cabin. Here his guide pushed open the door and stepped back, waiting for David to enter first. The interior of the cottage was modestly furnished, but it seemed very homelike and comfortable. “We will have supper together, and you shall spend the night here with me; in the meantime I can tell you how best to capture the Wingèd Horse.” So David remained with the kind old man and listened eagerly to all he had to say. “How did you happen to come here, anyway, David? It must be a long way from your home?” “Yes,” said David thoughtfully, “it is. But, you see, I had to follow the Blue Bird, [Illustration: KNEELING BESIDE A LOW OAK CHEST HE TOOK A RUSTY KEY AND FITTED THIS INTO THE WORN KEYHOLE] and he led me here. First to the tree with the little door; then to the Cobbler’s cottage where I met Ruth; then through the forest to the Mansion of Happiness (I stayed too long a time there--I seemed to forget); then on till I came to the Bronze King’s Palace and saw Ruth again.” Here he related to his new-found friend how he had seen Ruth, sent a message to her, and received a message from her; then how he had started on his way again. “But tell me more about the Wingèd Horse,” he added hastily.