On the third day, just as the coolness of the coming dawn stirred the air, he was startled by a whinny very near at hand. He knelt cautiously and looked all about him, but could see nothing. There he rested, sitting back upon his heels, the precious bridle over his arm and his hands folded. Then, slowly, fearlessly, and calmly, from the depths of the birchen woodlands before David came the most exquisite creature one could ever wish to see--a beautiful Pale-Coloured Horse, slender in build, its neck curved in an arch of spirited pride, its head beautiful in every detail of proportion and alight with intelligence. Two great feathered wings lay folded against its sides. Its tail was long and flowing. David, holding his breath, gazed and gazed. The Horse walked to the water’s edge and drank. Then, lifting its head and facing the golden sunrise with ears forward, it raised and folded its great wings like a bird preparing to fly. Again the sound of its whinny broke forth, and a wild woodland bird rose close at hand, sending its answering call as it, the lesser wingèd creature, sailed away. The Horse dropped its head to drink, closing its eyes as if more thoroughly to enjoy the cool, refreshing draught. Quick as thought David rose, sprang forward, grasped the forelock and mane of the startled creature, the bridle hanging over his arm ready to be fitted when the right instant should come. The struggle was intense. The Horse reared, plunged, reared again, but David held firmly to the forelock and mane. The Horse stirred its wings as if about to fly. At the same instant it uttered again its whinnying call, which sounded, this time, petulant, terrified, and wild. This was David’s opportunity. The impatient sound was checked as the golden bit slipped into the creature’s open mouth, David holding firmly to the forelock while with his other hand he adjusted the bridle and fitted it to the trembling, quivering head. “I have you! My beautiful Horse, I have you!” he cried. “Ruth shall be saved!” [Illustration: “YOU MUST TAKE ME TO THE BRONZE KING’S DOMAIN”] The Horse turned and rubbed its soft velvet nose against David’s cheek. Yes, David was his master, to be recognized as such. The wonderful bridle had given them both the power to understand and trust each other. “You must take me to the Bronze King’s domain, dear Wingèd Horse,” said David. “We are to rescue Ruth, the sweetest and most beautiful little girl in all the world. It is for this I have sought and captured you; for the Bronze King is keeping her a prisoner in his great Palace. I fear what may happen to her. Come, we must go to the Palace and hide in the woodlands and watch and wait. Perhaps this very night we can rescue Ruth.” Thus David became the master of the Pale-Coloured Wingèd Horse, whose only desire now was to obey and serve him. CHAPTER XI THE DAY BEFORE THE WEDDING