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crawling。'
They crawled。 The turf was deep and yielding； and that helped them： but
it seemed a long slow business。 They gave the watch…fire a wide berth； and
wormed their way forward bit by bit； until they came to the edge of the
river； gurgling away in the black shadows under its deep banks。 Then they
looked back。
The sounds had died away。 Evidently Mauh畆 and his 'lads' had been
killed or driven off。 The Riders had returned to their silent ominous vigil。
It would not last very much longer。 Already the night was old。 In the East；
which had remained unclouded； the sky was beginning to grow pale。
'We must get under cover；' said Pippin； 'or we shall be seen。 It will
not be any fort to us； if these riders discover that we are not Orcs
after we are dead。' He got up and stamped his feet。 'Those cords have cut me
like wires； but my feet are getting warm again。 I could stagger on now。 What
about you； Merry？'
Merry got up。 'Yes；' he said； 'I can manage it。 Lembas does put heart
into you！ A more wholesome sort of feeling； too； than the heat of that
orc…draught。 I wonder what it was made of。 Better not to know； I expect。
Let's get a drink of water to wash away the thought of it！'
'Not here； the banks are too steep；' said Pippin。 'Forward now！'
They turned and walked side by side slowly along the line of the river。
Behind them the light grew in the East。 As they walked they pared notes；
talking lightly in hobbit…fashion of the things that had happened since
their capture。 No listener would have guessed from their words that they had
suffered cruelly； and been in dire peril； going without hope towards torment
and death； or that even now； as they knew well； they had little chance of
ever finding friend or safety again。
'You seem to have been doing well； Master Took；' said Merry。 'You will
get almost a chapter in old Bilbo's book； if ever I get a chance to report
to him。 Good work： especially guessing that hairy villain's little game； and
playing up to him。 But I wonder if anyone will ever pick up your trail and
find that brooch。 I should hate to lose mine； but I am afraid yours is gone
for good。
'I shall have to brush up my toes； if I am to get level with you。
Indeed Cousin Brandybuck is going in front now。 This is where he es in。 I
don't suppose you have much notion where we are； but I spent my time at
Rivendell rather better。 We are walking west along the Entwash。 The butt…end
of the Misty Mountains is in front； and Fangorn Forest。'
Even as he spoke the dark edge of the forest loomed up straight before
them。 Night seemed to have taken refuge under its great trees； creeping away
from the ing Dawn。
'Lead on； Master Brandybuck！' said Pippin。 'Or lead back！ We have been
warned against Fangorn。 But one so knowing will not have forgotten that。'
'I have not；' answered Merry； 'but the forest seems better to me； all
the same； than turning back into the middle of a battle。'
He led the way in under the huge branches of the trees。 Old beyond
guessing； they seemed。 Great trailing beards of lichen hung from them；
blowing and swaying in the breeze。 Out of the shadows the hobbits peeped；
gazing back down the slope： little furtive figures that in the dim light
looked like elf…children in the deeps of time peering out of the Wild Wood
in wonder at their first Dawn。
Far over the Great River； and the Brown Lands； leagues upon grey
leagues away； the Dawn came； red as flame。 Loud rang the hunting…horns to
greet it。 The Riders of Rohan sprang suddenly to life。 Horn answered horn
again。
Merry and Pippin heard； clear in the cold air； the neighing of
war…horses； and the sudden singing of many men。 The Sun's limb was lifted；
an arc of fire； above the margin of the world。 Then with a great cry the
Riders charged from the East； the red light gleamed on mail and spear。 The
Orcs yelled and shot all the arrows that remained to them。 The hobbits saw
several horsemen fall； but their line held on up the hill and over it； and
wheeled round and charged again。 Most of the raiders that were left alive
then broke and fled； this way and that； pursued one by one to the death。 But
one band； holding together in a black wedge； drove forward resolutely in the
direction of the forest。 Straight up the slope they charged towards the
watchers。 Now they were drawing near； and it seemed certain that they would
escape： they had already hewn down three Riders that barred their way。
'We have watched too long；' said Merry。 'There's Ugl甼！ I don't want to
meet him again。' The hobbits turned and fled deep into the shadows of the
wood。
So it was that they did not sec the last stand； when Ugl甼 was
overtaken and brought to bay at the very edge of Fangorn。 There he was slain
at last by Jomer； the Third Marshal of the Mark； who dismounted and fought
him sword to sword。 And over the wide fields the keen…eyed Riders hunted
down the few Orcs that had escaped and still had strength to fly。
Then when they had laid their fallen rades in a mound and had sung
their praises； the Riders made a great fire and scattered the ashes of their
enemies。 So ended the raid； and no news of it came ever back either to
Mordor or to Isengard； but the smoke of the burning rose high to heaven and
was seen by many watchful eyes。
Chapter 4。 Treebeard
Meanwhile the hobbits went with as much speed as the dark and tangled
forest allowed； following the line of the running stream； westward and up
towards the slopes of the mountains； deeper and deeper into Fangorn。 Slowly
their fear of the Orcs died away； and their pace slackened。 A queer stifling
feeling came over them； as if the air were too thin or too scanty for
breathing。
At last Merry halted。 'We can't go on like this；' he panted。 'I want
some air。'
'Let's have a drink at any rate；' said Pippin。 'I'm parched。' He
clambered on to a great tree…root that wound down into the stream； and
stooping drew up some water in his cupped hands。 It was clear and cold； and
he took many draughts。 Merry followed him。 The water refreshed them and
seemed to cheer their hearts； for a while they sat together on the brink of
the stream； dabbling their sore feet and legs； and peering round at the
trees that stood silently about them； rank upon rank； until they faded away
into grey twilight in every direction。
'I suppose you haven't lost us already？' said Pippin； leaning back
against a great tree…trunk。 'We can at least follow the course of this
stream； the Entwash or whatever you call it； and get out again the way we
came。'
'We could； if our legs would do it；' said Merry； 'and if we could
breathe properly。'
'Yes； it is all very dim； and stuffy； in here；' said Pippin。 'It
reminds me； somehow； of the old room in the Great Place of the Tooks away
back in t