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rather vague report by Sam of what Gandalf had told the Council。 But they
were clear at any rate that Ugl甼 and his troop came from Isengard； and
spoke of Saruman as their master。
'Hm； hoom！' said Treebeard； when at last their story had wound and
wandered down to the battle of the Orcs and the Riders of Rohan。 'Well；
well！ That is a bundle of news and no mistake。 You have not told me all； no
indeed； not by a long way。 But I do not doubt that you are doing as Gandalf
would wish。 There is something very big going on； that I can see； and what
it is maybe I shall learn in good time； or in bad time。 By root and twig；
but it is a strange business： up sprout a little folk that are not in the
old lists； and behold the Nine forgotten Riders reappear to hunt them； and
Gandalf takes them on a great journey； and Galadriel harbours them in Caras
Galadhon； and Orcs pursue them down all the leagues of Wilderland： indeed
they seem to be caught up in a great storm。 I hope they weather it！'
'And what about yourself？' asked Merry。
'Hoom； hm； I have not troubled about the Great Wars；' said Treebeard；
'they mostly concern Elves and Men。 That is the business of Wizards： Wizards
are always troubled about the future。 I do not like worrying about the
future。 I am not altogether on anybody's side； because nobody is altogether
on my side； if you understand me： nobody cares for the woods as I care for
them； not even Elves nowadays。 Still； I take more kindly to Elves than to
others： it was the Elves that cured us of dumbness long ago； and that was a
great gift that cannot be forgotten； though our ways have parted since。 And
there are some things； of course； whose side I am altogether not on； I am
against them altogether： these burbrum' （he again made a deep rumble of
disgust）' these Orcs； and their masters。
'I used to be anxious when the shadow lay on Mirkwood； but when it
removed to Mordor； I did not trouble for a while： Mordor is a long way away。
But it seems that the wind is setting East； and the withering of all woods
may be drawing near。 There is naught that an old Ent can do to hold back
that storm： he must weather it or crack。
'But Saruman now！ Saruman is a neighbour： I cannot overlook him。 I must
do something。 I suppose。 I have often wondered lately what I should do about
Saruman。'
'Who is Saruman？' asked Pippin。 'Do you know anything about his
history？' 'Saruman is a Wizard；' answered Treebeard。 'More than that I
cannot say。 I do not know the history of Wizards。 They appeared first after
the Great Ships came over the Sea； but if they came with the Ships I never
can tell。 Saruman was reckoned great among them。 I believe。 He gave up
wandering about and minding the affairs of Men and Elves； some time ago
you would call it a very long time ago： and he settled down at Angrenost； or
Isengard as the Men of Rohan call it。 He was very quiet to begin with； but
his fame began to grow。 He was chosen to be head of the White Council； they
say； but that did not turn out too well。 I wonder now if even then Saruman
was not turning to evil ways。 But at any rate he used to give no trouble to
his neighbours。 I used to talk to him。 There was a time when he was always
walking about my woods。 He was polite in those days； always asking my leave
（at least when he met me）； and always eager to listen。 I told him many
things that he would never have found out by himself； but he never repaid me
in like kind。 I cannot remember that he ever told。 me anything。 And he got
more and more like that； his face； as I remember it…I have not seen it for
many a day…became like windows in a stone wall： windows with shutters
inside。
'I think that I now understand what he is up to。 He is plotting to
bee a Power。 He has a mind of metal and wheels； and he does not care for
growing things； except as far as they serve him for the moment。 And now it
is clear that he is a black traitor。 He has taken up with foul folk； with
the Orcs。 Brm； hoom！ Worse than that： he has been doing something to them；
something dangerous。 For these Isengarders are more like wicked Men。 It is a
mark of evil things that came in the Great Darkness that they cannot abide
the Sun； but Saruman's Orcs can endure it； even if they hate it。 I wonder
what he has done？ Are they Men he has ruined； or has he blended the races of
Orcs and Men？ That would be a black evil！'
Treebeard rumbled for a moment； as if he were pronouncing some deep；
subterranean Entish malediction。 'Some time ago I began to wonder how Orcs
dared to pass through my woods so freely；' he went on。 'Only lately did I
guess that Saruman was to blame； and that long ago he had been spying out
all the ways； and discovering my secrets。 He and his foul folk are making
havoc now。 Down on the borders they are felling trees…good trees。 Some of
the trees they just cut down and leave to rot orc…mischief that； but most
are hewn up and carried off to feed the fires of Orthanc。 There is always a
smoke rising from Isengard these days。
'Curse him； root and branch！ Many of those trees were my friends
creatures I had known from nut and acorn； many had voices of their own that
are lost for ever now。 And there are wastes of stump and bramble where once
there were singing groves。 I have been idle。 I have let things slip。 It must
stop！'
Treebeard raised himself from his bed with a jerk； stood up； and
thumped his hand on the table。 The vessels of light trembled and sent up two
jets of flame。 There was a flicker like green fire in his eyes； and his
beard stood out stiff as a great besom。
'I will stop it！' he boomed。 'And you shall e with me。 You may be
able to help me。 You will be helping your own friends that way； too； for if
Saruman is not checked Rohan and Gondor will have an enemy behind as well as
in front。 Our roads go together to Isengard！'
'We will e with you；' said Merry。 'We will do what we can。'
'Yes！' said Pippin。 'I should like to see the White Hand overthrown。 I
should like to be there； even if I could not be of much use： I shall never
forget Ugl甼 and the crossing of Rohan。'
'Good！ Good！' said Treebeard。 'But I spoke hastily。 We must not be
hasty。 I have bee too hot。 I must cool myself and think； fur it is easier
to shout stop！ than to do it。'
He strode to the archway and stood for some time under the falling rain
of the spring。 Then he laughed and shook himself； and wherever the drops of
water fell glittering from him to the ground they glinted like red and green
sparks。 He came back and laid himself on the bed again and was silent。
After some time the hobbits heard him murmuring again。 He seemed to be
counting on his fingers。 'Fangorn； Finglas； Fladrif； aye； aye；' he sighed。
'The trouble is that there are so few of us left；' he said turning towards
the hobbits。 'Only three remain of the first Ents that walke