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own。 What it is I do not know。'
'And I do not wish to know；' said Gimli。 'Let nothing that dwells in
Fangorn be troubled on my account！'
They now drew lots for the watches； and the lot for the first watch
fell to Gimli。 The others lay down。 Almost at once sleep laid hold on them。
'Gimli！' said Aragorn drowsily。 'Remember； it is perilous to cut bough or
twig from a living tree in Fangorn。 But do not stray far in search of dead
wood。 Let the fire die rather！ Call me at need！'
With that he fell asleep。 Legolas already lay motionless； his fair
hands folded upon his breast； his eyes unclosed； blending living night and
deep dream； as is the way with Elves。 Gimli sat hunched by the fire； running
his thumb thoughtfully along the edge of his axe。 The tree rustled。 There
was no other sound。
Suddenly Gimli looked up； and there just on the edge of the fire…light
stood an old bent man； leaning on a staff； and wrapped in a great cloak； his
wide…brimmed hat was pulled down over his eyes。 Gimli sprang up； too amazed
for the moment to cry out； though at once the thought flashed into his mind
that Saruman had caught them。 Both Aragorn and Legolas； roused by his sudden
movement； sat up and stared。 The old man did not speak or make； sign。
'Well； father； what can we do for you？' said Aragorn； leaping to his
feet。 'e and be warm； if you are cold！' He strode forward； but the old
man was gone。 There was no trace of him to be found near at hand； and they
did not dare to wander far。 The moon had set and the night was very dark。
Suddenly Legolas gave a cry。 'The horses！ The horses！'
The horses were gone。 They had dragged their pickets and disappeared。
For me time the three panions stood still and silent； troubled by this
new stroke of ill fortune。 They were under the eaves of Fangorn； and endless
leagues lay between them and the Men of Rohan； their only friends in this
wide and dangerous land。 As they stood； it seemed to them that they heard；
far off in the night。 the sound of horses whinnying and neighing。 Then all
was quiet again； except for the cold rustle of the wind。
'Well； they are gone；' said Aragorn at last。 'We cannot find them or
catch them； so that if they do not return of their own will； we must do
without。 We started on our feet； and we have those still。'
'Feet！' said Gimli。 'But we cannot eat them as well as walk on them '
He threw some fuel on the fire and slumped down beside it。
'Only a few hours ago you were unwilling to sit on a horse of Rohan；'
laughed Legolas。 'You will make a rider yet。'
'It seems unlikely that I shall have the chance；' said Gimli。
'If you wish to know what I think；' he began again after a while 'I
think it was Saruman。 Who else？ Remember the words of Jomer： he walks about
like an old man hooded and cloaked。 Those were the words。 He has gone off
with our horses； or scared them away； and here we are。 There is more trouble
ing to us； mark my words！'
'I mark them；' said Aragorn。 'But I marked also that this old man had a
hat not a hood。 Still I do not doubt that you guess right； and that we are
in peril here； by night or day。 Yet in the meantime there is nothing that we
can do but rest； while we may。 I will watch for a while now； Gimli。 I have
more need of thought than of sleep。'
The night passed slowly。 Legolas followed Aragorn； and Gimli followed
Legolas； and their watches wore away。 But nothing happened。 The old man did
not appear again； and the horses did not return。
Chapter 3。 The Uruk…Hai
Pippin lay in a dark and troubled dream： it seemed that he could hear
his own small voice echoing in black tunnels； calling Frodo； Frodo！ But
instead of Frodo hundreds of hideous orc…faces grinned at him out of the
shadows； hundreds of hideous arms grasped at him from every side。 Where was
Merry？
He woke。 Cold air blew on his face。 He was lying on his back。 Evening
was ing and the sky above was growing dim。 He turned and found that the
dream was little worse than the waking。 His wrists； legs； and ankles were
tied with cords。 Beside him Merry lay； white…faced； with a dirty rag bound
across his brows。 All about them sat or stood a great pany of Orcs。
Slowly in Pippin's aching head memory pieced itself together and became
separated from dream…shadows。 Of course： he and Merry had run off into the
woods。 What had e over them？ Why had they dashed off like that； taking no
notice of old Strider？ They had run a long way shoutinghe could not
remember how far or how long； and then suddenly they had crashed right into
a group of Orcs： they were standing listening； and they did not appear to
see Merry and Pippin until they were almost in their arms。 Then they yelled
and dozens of other goblins had sprung out of the trees。 Merry and he had
drawn their swords； but the Orcs did not wish to fight； and had tried only
to lay hold of them； even when Merry had cut off several of their arms and
hands。 Good old Merry！
Then Boromir had e leaping through the trees。 He had made them
fight。 He slew many of them and the rest fled。 But they had not gone far on
the way back when they were attacked again。 by a hundred Orcs at least； some
of them very large； and they shot a rain of arrows： always at Boromir。
Boromir had blown his great horn till the woods rang； and at first the Orcs
had been dismayed and had drawn back； but when no answer but the echoes
came； they had attacked more fierce than ever。 Pippin did not remember much
more。 His last memo was of Boromir leaning against a tree； plucking out an
arrow； then darkness fell suddenly。
'I suppose I was knocked on the head；' he said to himself。 'I wonder if
poor Merry is much hurt。 What has happened to Boromir？ Why didn't the Orcs
kill us？ Where are we； and where are we going？'
He could not answer the questions。 He felt cold and sick。 'I wish
Gandalf had never persuaded Elrond to let us e；' he thought。 'What good
have I been？ Just a nuisance： a passenger； a piece of luggage。 And now I
have been stolen and I am just a piece of luggage for the Orcs。 I hope
Strider or someone will e and claim us！ But ought I to hope for it？ Won't
that throw out all the plans？ I wish I could get free！'
He struggled a little； quite uselessly。 One of the Orcs sitting near
laughed and said something to a panion in their abominable tongue。 'Rest
while you can； little fool！' he said then to Pippin； in the mon Speech；
which he made almost as hideous as his own language。 'Rest while you can！
We'll find a use for your legs before long。 You'll wish you had got none
before we get home。'
'If I had my way； you'd wish you were dead now；' said the other。 'I'd
make you squeak； you miserable rat。' He stooped over Pippin bringing his
yellow fangs close to his face。 He had a black knife with a long jagged
blade in his hand。 'Lie quiet； or I'll tickle you w