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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 with this；' he hissed。
'Don't draw attention to yourself； or I may forget my orders。 Curse the
Isengarders！ Ugl甼 u bagronk sha pushdug Saruman…glob b産hosh skai'： he
passed into a long angry speech in his own tongue that slowly died away into
muttering and snarling。
Terrified Pippin lay still； though the pain at his wrists and ankles
was growing； and the stones beneath him were boring into his back。 To take
his mind off himself he listened intently to all that he could hear。 There
were many voices round about； and though orc…speech sounded at all times
full of hate and anger； it seemed plain that something like a quarrel had
begun； and was getting hotter。
To Pippin's surprise he found that much of the talk was intelligible
many of the Orcs were using ordinary language。 Apparently the members of two
or three quite different tribes were present； and they could not understand
one another's orc…speech。 There was an angry debate concerning what they
were to do now： which way they were to take and what should be done with the
prisoners。
'There's no time to kill them properly；' said one。 'No time for play on
this trip。'
'That can't be helped；' said another。 'But why not kill them quick；
kill them now？ They're a cursed nuisance； and we're in a hurry。 Evening's
ing on； and we ought to get a move on。'
'Orders。' said a third voice in a deep growl。 'Kill all but NOT the
Halfings； they are to be brought back ALIVE as quickly as possible。 That's
my orders。'
'What are they wanted for？' asked several voices。 'Why alive？ Do they
give good sport？'
'No！ I heard that one of them has got something； something that's
wanted for the War； some elvish plot or other。 Anyway they'll both be
questioned。'
'Is that all you know？ Why don't we search them and find out？ We might
find something that we could use ourselves。'
'That is a very interesting remark；' sneered a voice； softer than the
others but more evil。 'I may have to report that。 The prisoners are NOT to
be searched or plundered： those are my orders。'
'And mine too；' said the deep voice。 'Alive and as captured； no
spoiling。 That's my orders。'
'Not our orders！' said one of the earlier voices。 'We have e all the
way from the Mines to kill； and avenge our folk。 I wish to kill； and then go
back north。'
'Then you can wish again；' said the growling voice。 'I am Ugl甼。 I
mand。 I return to Isengard by the shortest road。'
'Is Saruman the master or the Great Eye？' said the evil voice。 'We
should go back at once to Lugb畆z。'
'If we could cross the Great River； we might；' said another voice。 'But
there are not enough of us to venture down to the bridges。'
'I came across；' said the evil voice。 'A winged Nazgyl awaits us
northward on the east…bank。'
'Maybe； maybe！ Then you'll fly off with our prisoners； and get all the
pay and praise in Lugb畆z； and leave us to foot it as best we can through
the Horse…country。 No； we must stick together。 These lands are dangerous：
full of foul rebels and brigands。'
'Aye； we must stick together；' growled Ugl甼。 'I don't trust you little
swine。 You've no guts outside your own sties。 But for us you'd all have run
away。 We are the fighting Uruk…hai！ We slew the great warrior。 We took the
prisoners。 We are the servants of Saruman the Wise； the White Hand： the Hand
that gives us man's…flesh to eat。 We came out of Isengard； and led you here；
and we shall lead you back by the way we choose。 I am Ugl甼。 I have spoken。'
'You have spoken more than enough； Ugl甼；' sneered the evil voice。 'I
wonder how they would like it in Lugb畆z。 They might think that Ugl甼's
shoulders needed relieving of a swollen head。 They might ask where his
strange ideas came from。 Did they e from Saruman； perhaps？ Who does he
think he is； setting up on his own with his filthy white badges？ They might
agree with me； with Grishnbkh their trusted messenger； and I Grishnbkh say
this： Saruman is a fool。 and a dirty treacherous fool。 But the Great Eye is
on him。
'Swine is it？ How do you folk like being called swine by the
muck…rakers of a dirty little wizard？ It's orc…flesh they eat； I'll
warrant。'
Many loud yells in orc…speech answered him； and the ringing clash of
weapons being drawn。 Cautiously Pippin rolled over； hoping to see what would
happen。 His guards had gone to join in the fray。 In the twilight he saw a
large black Orc； probably Ugl甼； standing facing Grishnbkh； a short
crook…legged creature； very broad and with long arms that hung almost to the
ground。 Round them were many smaller goblins。 Pippin supposed that these
were the ones from the North。 They had drawn their knives and swords； but
hesitated to attack Ugl甼。
Ugl甼 shouted； and a number of other Orcs of nearly his own size ran
up。 Then suddenly； without warning； Ugl甼 sprang forwards； and with two
swift strokes swept the heads off two of his opponents。 Grishnbkh stepped
aside and vanished into the shadows。 The others gave way； and one stepped
backwards and fell over Merry's prostrate form with a curse。 Yet that
probably saved his life； for Ugl甼's followers leaped over him and cut down
another with their broad…bladed swords。 It was the yellow…fanged guard。 His
body fell right on top of Pippin； still clutching its long saw…edged knife。
'Put up your weapons！' shouted Ugl甼。 'And let's have no more nonsense！
We go straight west from here； and down the stair。 From there straight to
the downs； then along the river to the forest。 And we march day and night。
That clear？'
'Now；' thought Pippin； 'if only it takes that ugly fellow a little
while to get his troop under control； I've got a chance。' A gleam of hope
had e to him。 The edge of the black knife had snicked his arm； and then
slid down to his wrist。 He felt the blood trickling on to his hand； but he
also felt the cold touch of steel against his skin。
The Orcs were getting ready to march again； but some of the Northerners
were still unwilling； and the Isengarders slew two more before the rest were
cowed。 There was much cursing and confusion。 For the moment Pippin was
unwatched。 His legs were securely bound； but his arms were only tied about
the wrists； and his hands were in front of him。 He could move them both
together； though the bonds were cruelly tight。 He pushed the dead Orc to one
side； then hardly daring to breathe； he drew the knot of the wrist…cord up
and down against the blade of the knife。 It was sharp and the dead hand held
it fast。 The cord was cut！ Quickly Pippin took it in his fingers and knotted
it again into a loose bracelet of two loops and slipped it over his hands。
Then he lay very still。
'Pick up those prisoners！' sho