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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 wondering what use
he could make of Grishnbkh's desire。
'I don't think you will find it that way；' he whispered。 'It isn't easy
to find。'
'Find it？' said Grishnbkh： his fingers stopped crawling and gripped
Pippin's shoulder。 'Find what？ What are you talking about； little one？'。 For
a moment Pippin was silent。 Then suddenly in the darkness he made a noise in
his throat： gollum； gollum。 'Nothing； my precious；' he added。
The hobbits felt Grishnbkh's fingers twitch。 'O ho！' hissed the goblin
softly。 'That's what he means； is it？ O ho！ Very ve…ry dangerous； my little
ones。'
'Perhaps；' said Merry； now alert and aware of Pippin's guess。 'Perhaps；
and not only for us。 Still you know your own business best。 Do you want it；
or not？ And what would you give for it？'
'Do I want it？ Do I want it？' said Grishnbkh； as if puzzled； but his
arms were trembling。 'What would I give for it？ What do you mean？'
'We mean；' said Pippin； choosing his words carefully； 'that it's no
good groping in the dark。 We could save you time and trouble。 But you must
untie our legs first； or we'll do nothing； and say nothing。'
'My dear tender little fools；' hissed Grishnbkh； 'everything you have；
and everything you know； will be got out of you in due time： everything！
You'll wish there was more that you could tell to satisfy the Questioner；
indeed you will： quite soon。 We shan't hurry the enquiry。 Oh dear no！ What
do you think you've been kept alive for？ My dear little fellows； please
believe me when I say that it was not out of kindness： that's not even one
of Ugl甼's faults。'
'I find it quite easy to believe；' said Merry。 'But you haven't got
your prey home yet。 And it doesn't seem to be going your way； whatever
happens。 If we e to Isengard； it won't be the great Grishnbkh that
benefits： Saruman will take all that he can find。 If you want anything for
yourself； now's the time to do a deal。'
Grishnbkh began to lose his temper。 The name of Saruman seemed
specially to enrage him。 Time was passing and the disturbance was dying
down。 Ugl甼 or the Isengarders might return at any minute。
'Have you got it either of you？' he snarled。
'Gollum； gollum！' said Pippin。
'Untie our legs！' said Merry。
They felt the Orc's arms trembling violently。 'Curse you； you filthy
little vermin！' he hissed。 'Untie your legs？ I'll untie every string in your
bodies。 Do you think I can't search you to the bones？ Search you！ I'll cut
you both to quivering shreds。 I don't need the help of your legs to get you
away…and have you all to myself！'
Suddenly he seized them。 The strength in his long arms and shoulders
was terrifying。 He tucked them one under each armpit； and crushed them
fiercely to his sides； a great stifling hand was clapped over each of their
mouths。 Then he sprang forward； stooping low。 Quickly and silently he went；
until he came to the edge of the knoll。 There； choosing a gap between the
watchers； he passed like an evil shadow out into the night； down the slope
and away westward towards the river that flowed out of the forest。 In that
direction there was a wide open space with only one fire。
After going a dozen yards he halted； peering and listening。 Nothing
could be seen or heard。 He crept slowly on； bent almost double。 Then he
squatted and listened again。 Then he stood up； as if to risk a sudden dash。
At that very moment the dark form of a rider loomed up right in front of
him。 A horse snorted and reared。 A man called out。
Grishnbkh flung himself on the ground flat； dragging the hobbits under
him； then he drew his sword。 No doubt he meant to kill his captives； rather
than allow them to escape or to be rescued； but it was his undoing。 The
sword rang faintly； and glinted a little in the light of the fire away to
his left。 An arrow came whistling out of the gloom： it was aimed with skill；
or guided by fate； and it pierced his right hand。 He dropped the sword and
shrieked。 There was a quick beat of hoofs； and even as Grishnbkh leaped up
and ran； he was ridden down and a spear passed through him。 He gave a
hideous shivering cry and lay still。
The hobbits remained flat on the ground； as Grishnbkh had left them。
Another horseman came riding swiftly to his rade's aid。 Whether because
of some special keenness of sight； or because of some other sense； the horse
lifted and sprang lightly over them； but its rider did not see them； lying
covered in their elven…cloaks； too crushed for the moment； and too afraid to
move。
At last Merry stirred and whispered softly： 'So far so good： but how
are we to avoid being spitted？'
The answer came almost immediately。 The cries of Grishnbkh had roused
the Orcs。 From the yells and screeches that came from the knoll the hobbits
guessed that their disappearance had been discovered： Ugl甼 was probably
knocking off a few more heads。 Then suddenly the answering cries of
orc…voices came from the right； outside the circle of watch…fires； from the
direction of the forest and the mountains。 Mauh畆 had apparently arrived and
was attacking the besiegers。 There was the sound of galloping horses。 The
Riders were drawing in their ring close round the knoll； risking the
orc…arrows； so as to prevent any sortie； while a pany rode off to deal
with the newers。 Suddenly Merry and Pippin realized that without moving
they were now outside the circle： there was nothing between them and escape。
'Now；' said Merry； 'if only we had our legs and hands free； we might
get away。 But I can't touch the knots； and I can't bite them。'
'No need to try；' said Pippin。 'I was going to tell you： I've managed
to free my hands。 These loops are only left for show。 You'd better have a
bit of lembas first。'
He slipped the cords off his wrists； and fished out a packet。 The cakes
were broken； but good； still in their leaf…wrappings。 The hobbits each ate
two or three pieces。 The taste brought back to them the memory of fair
faces； and laughter； and wholesome food in quiet days now far away。 For a
while they ate thoughtfully； sitting in the dark； heedless of the cries and
sounds of battle nearby。 Pippin was the first to e back to the present。
'We must be off；' he said。 'Half a moment！' Grishnbkh's sword was lying
close at hand； but it was too heavy and clumsy for him to use； so he crawled
forward； and finding the body of the goblin he drew from its sheath a long
sharp knife。 With this he quickly cut their bonds。
'Now for it！' he said。 'When we've warmed up a bit； perhaps we shall be
able to stand again； and walk。 But in any case we had better start by
crawling。'
They crawled。 The turf was deep and yielding； and that helped them： but
it seemed a long slow busine