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again。 Suddenly he fell face downward on the turf。 Hard hands with rending
nails gripped and lifted him。 He was carried like a sack once more； and
darkness grew about him： whether the darkness of another night； or a
blindness of his eyes； he could not tell。
Dimly he became aware of voices clamouring： it seemed that many of the
Orcs were demanding a halt。 Ugl甼 was shouting。 He felt himself flung to the
ground； and he lay as he fell； till black dreams took him。 But he did not
long escape from pain； soon the iron grip of merciless hands was on him
again。 For a long time he was tossed and shaken； and then slowly the
darkness gave way； and he came back to the waking world and found that it
was morning。 Orders were shouted and he was thrown roughly on the grass。
There he lay for a while； fighting with despair。 His head swam； but
from the heat in his body he guessed that he had been given another draught。
An Orc stooped over him； and flung him some bread and a strip of raw dried
flesh。 He ate the stale grey bread hungrily； but not the meat。 He was
famished but not yet so famished as to eat flesh flung to him by an Orc； the
flesh of he dared not guess what creature。
He sat up and looked about。 Merry was not far away。 They were by the
banks of a swift narrow river。 Ahead mountains loomed： a tall peak was
catching the first rays of the sun。 A dark smudge of forest lay on the lower
slopes before them。
There was much shouting and debating among the Orcs； a quarrel seemed
on the point of breaking out again between the Northerners and the
Isengarders。 Some were pointing back away south； and some were pointing
eastward。
'Very well；' said Ugl甼。 'Leave them to me then！ No killing； as I've
told you before； but if you want to throw away what we've e all the way
to get； throw it away！ I'll look after it。 Let the fighting Uruk…hai do the
work； as usual。 If you're afraid of the Whiteskins； run！ Run！ There's the
forest；' he shouted； pointing ahead。 'Get to it！ It's your best hope。 Off
you go！ And quick； before I knock a few more heads off； to put some sense
into the others。'
There was some cursing and scuffling； and then most of the Northerners
broke away and dashed off； over a hundred of them； running wildly along the
river towards the mountains。 The hobbits were left with the Isengarders： a
grim dark band； four score at least of large； swart； slant…eyed Orcs with
great bows and short broad…bladed swords。 A few of the larger and bolder
Northerners remained with them。
'Now we'll deal with Grishnbkh；' said Ugl甼； but some even of his own
followers were looking uneasily southwards。
'I know；' growled Ugl甼。 'The cursed horse…boys have got wind of us。
But that's all your fault； Snaga。 You and the other scouts ought to have
your ears cut off。 But we are the fighters。 We'll feast on horseflesh yet；
or something better。'
At that moment Pippin saw why some of the troop had been pointing
eastward。 From that direction there now came hoarse cries； and there was
Grishnbkh again； and at his back a couple of score of others like him：
long…armed crook…legged Orcs。 They had a red eye painted on their shields。
Ugl甼 stepped forward to meet them。 'So you've e back？' he said。 'Thought
better of it； eh？'
'I've returned to see that Orders are carried out and the prisoners
safe；' answered Grishnbkh。
'Indeed！' said Ugl甼。 'Waste of effort。 I'll see that orders are
carried out in my mand。 And what else did you e back for？ You went in
a hurry。 Did you leave anything behind？'
'I left a fool；' snarled Grishnbkh。 'But there were some stout fellows
with him that are too good to lose。 I knew you'd lead them into a mess。 I've
e to help them。'
'Splendid！' laughed Ugl甼。 'But unless you've got some guts for
fighting； you've taken the wrong way。 Lugb畆z was your road。 The Whiteskins
are ing。 What's happened to your precious Nazgyl？ Has he had another
mount shot under him？ Now； if you'd brought him along； that might have been
useful…if these Nazgyl are all they make out。'
'Nazgyl； Nazgyl；' said Grishnbkh； shivering and licking his lips； as if
the word had a foul taste that he savoured painfully。 'You speak of what is
deep beyond the reach of your muddy dreams； Ugl甼；' he said。 'Nazgyl！ Ah！
All that they make out！ One day you'll wish that you had not said that。
Ape！' he snarled fiercely。 'You ought to know that they're the apple of the
Great Eye。 But the winged Nazgyl： not yet； not yet。 He won't let them show
themselves across the Great River yet； not too soon。 They're for the War…and
other purposes。'
'You seem to know a lot；' said Ugl甼。 'More than is good for you； I
guess。 Perhaps those in Lugb畆z might wonder how； and why。 But in the
meantime the Uruk…hai of Isengard can do the dirty work； as usual。 Don't
stand slavering there！ Get your rabble together！ The other swine are legging
it to the forest。 You'd better follow。 You wouldn't get back to the Great
River alive。 Right off the mark！ Now！ I'll be on your heels。'
The Isengarders seized Merry and Pippin again and slung them on their
backs。 Then the troop started off。 Hour after hour they ran； pausing now and
again only to sling the hobbits to fresh carriers。 Either because they were
quicker and hardier； or because of some plan of Grishnbkh's； the Isengarders
gradually passed through the Orcs of Mordor； and Grishnbkh's folk closed in
behind。 Soon they were gaining also on the Northerners ahead。 The forest
began to draw nearer。
Pippin was bruised and torn； his aching head was grated by the filthy
jowl and hairy ear of the Orc that held him。 Immediately in front were bowed
backs； and tough thick legs going up and down； up and down； unresting； as if
they were made of wire and horn； beating out the nightmare seconds of an
endless time。
In the afternoon Ugl甼's troop overtook the Northerners。 They were
flagging in the rays of the bright sun； winter sun shining in a pale cool
sky though it was； their heads were down and their tongues lolling out。
'Maggots！' jeered the Isengarders。 'You're cooked。 The Whiteskins will
catch you and eat you。 They're ing！'
A cry from Grishnbkh showed that this was not mere jest。 Horsemen；
riding very swiftly； had indeed been sighted： still far behind； but gaining
on the Orcs； gaining on them like a tide over the flats on folk straying in
a quicksand。
The Isengarders began to run with a redoubled pace that astonished
Pippin； a terrific spurt it seemed for the end of a race。 Then he saw that
the sun was sinking； falling behind the Misty Mountains； shadows reached
over the land。 The soldiers of Mordor lifted their heads and also began to
put on speed。 The forest was dark and close。 Already they had passed a few
outlying trees。 The land was beginning to slope upwards。 ever more ste