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outlying trees。 The land was beginning to slope upwards。 ever more steeply；
but the Orcs did not halt。 Both Ugl甼 and Grishnbkh shouted； spurring them
on to a last effort。
'They will make it yet。 They will escape；' thought Pippin。 And then he
managed to twist his neck。 so as to glance back with one eye over his
shoulder。 He saw that riders away eastward were already level with the Orcs；
galloping over the plain。 The sunset gilded their spears and helmets； and
glinted in their pale flowing hair。 They were hemming the Orcs in；
preventing them from scattering； and driving them along the line of the
river。
He wondered very much what kind of folk they were。 He wished now that
he had learned more in Rivendell； and looked more at maps and things； but in
those days the plans for the journey seemed to be in more petent hands；
and he had never reckoned with being cut off from Gandalf； or from Strider；
and even from Frodo。 All that he could remember about Rohan was that
Gandalf's horse； Shadowfax； had e from that land。 That sounded hopeful；
as far as it went。
'But how will they know that we are not Orcs？' he thought。 'I don't
suppose they've ever heard of hobbits down here。 I suppose I ought to be
glad that the beastly Orcs look like being destroyed； but I would rather be
saved myself。' The chances were that he and Merry would be killed together
with their captors； before ever the Men of Rohan were aware of them。
A few of the riders appeared to be bowmen； skilled at shooting from a
running horse。 Riding swiftly into range they shot arrows at the Orcs that
straggled behind； and several of them fell； then the riders wheeled away out
of the range of the answering bows of their enemies； who shot wildly； not
daring to halt。 This happened many times； and on one occasion arrows fell
among the Isengarders。 One of them； just in front of Pippin； stumbled and
did not get up again。
Night came down without the Riders closing in for battle。 Many Orcs had
fallen； but fully two hundred remained。 In the early darkness the Orcs came
to a hillock。 The eaves of the forest were very near； probably no more than
three furlongs away； but they could go no further。 The horsemen had
encircled them。 A small band disobeyed Ugl甼's mand； and ran on towards
the forest： only three returned。
'Well； here we are；' sneered Grishnbkh。 'Fine leadership！ I hope the
great Ugl甼 will lead us out again。'
'Put those Halflings down！' ordered Ugl甼； taking no notice of
Grishnbkh。 'You； Lugdush； get two others and stand guard over them！ They're
not to be killed； unless the filthy Whiteskins break through。 Understand？ As
long as I'm alive； I want 'em。 But they're not to cry out； and they're not
to be rescued。 Bind their legs！'
The last part of the order was carried out mercilessly。 But Pippin
found that for the first time he was close to Merry。 The Orcs were making a
great deal of noise； shouting and clashing their weapons； and the hobbits
managed to whisper together for a while。
'I don't think much of this；' said Merry。 'I feel nearly done in。 Don't
think I could crawl away far； even if I was free。'
'Lembas！' whispered Pippin。 'Lembas： I've got some。 Have you？ I don't
think they've taken anything but our swords。'
'Yes； I had a packet in my pocket；' answered Merry； 'but it must be
battered to crumbs。 Anyway I can't put my mouth in my pocket！'
'You won't have to。 I've'； but just then a savage kick warned Pippin
that the noise had died down； and the guards were watchful。
The night was cold and still。 All round the knoll on which the Orcs
were gathered little watch…fires sprang up； golden…red in the darkness； a
plete ring of them。 They were within a long bowshot。 but the riders did
not show themselves against the light； and the Orcs wasted many arrows
shooting at the fires； until Ugl甼 stopped them。 The riders made no sound。
Later in the night when the moon came out of the mist； then occasionally
they could be seen； shadowy shapes that glinted now and again in the white
light； as they moved in ceaseless patrol。
'They'll wait for the Sun； curse them！' growled one of the guards。 'Why
don't we get together and charge through？ What's old Ugl甼 think he's doing；
I should like to know？'
'I daresay you would；' snarled Ugl甼 stepping up from behind。 'Meaning
I don't think at all； eh？ Curse you！ You're as bad as the other rabble： the
maggots and the apes of Lugb畆z。 No good trying to charge with them。 They'd
just squeal and bolt； and there are more than enough of these filthy
horse…boys to mop up our lot on the flat。
'There's only one thing those maggots can do： they can see like gimlets
in the dark。 But these Whiteskins have better night…eyes than most Men； from
all I've heard； and don't forget their horses！ They can see the
night…breeze； or so it's said。 Still there's one thing the fine fellows
don't know： Mauh畆 and his lads are in the forest； and they should turn up
any time now。'
Ugl甼's words were enough； apparently； to satisfy the Isengarders； but
the other Orcs were both dispirited and rebellious。 They posted a few
watchers； but most of them lay on the ground； resting in the pleasant
darkness。 It did indeed bee very dark again； for the moon passed westward
into thick cloud； and Pippin could not see anything a few feet away。 The
fires brought no light to the hillock。 The riders were not； however； content
merely to wait for the dawn and let their enemies rest。 A sudden outcry on
the east side of the knoll showed that something was wrong。 It seemed that
some of the Men had ridden in close； slipped off their horses； crawled to
the edge of the camp and killed several Orcs； and then had faded away again。
Ugl甼 dashed off to stop a stampede。
Pippin and Merry sat up。 Their guards； Isengarders； had gone with
Ugl甼。 But if the hobbits had any thought of escape； it was soon dashed。 A
long hairy arm took each of them by the neck and drew them close together。
Dimly they were aware of Grishnbkh's great head and hideous face between
them； his foul breath was on their cheeks。 He began to paw them and feel
them。 Pippin shuddered as hard cold fingers groped down his back。
'Well； my little ones！' said Grishnbkh in a soft whisper。 'Enjoying
your nice rest？ Or not？ A little awkwardly placed； perhaps： swords and whips
on one side； and nasty spears on the other！ Little people should not meddle
_in affairs that are too big for them。' His fingers continued to grope。
There was a light like a pale but hot fire behind his eyes。
The thought came suddenly into Pippin's mind； as if caught direct from
the urgent thought of his enemy： 'Grishnbkh knows about the Ring！ He's
looking for it； while Ugl甼 is busy： he probably wants it for himself。' Cold
fear was in Pippin's heart； yet at the same time he was