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at the rim with the high dark evergreen hedge。 It was smooth and grassclad
inside； and there were no trees except three very tall and beautiful
silver…birches that stood at the bottom of the bowl。 Two other paths led
down into the dingle： from the west and from the east。
Several Ents had already arrived。 More were ing in down the other
paths； and some were now following Treebeard。 As they drew near the hobbits
gazed at them。 They had expected to see a number of creatures as much like
Treebeard as one hobbit is like another （at any rate to a stranger's eye）；
and they were very much surprised to see nothing of the kind。 The Ents were
as different from one another as trees from trees： some as different as one
tree is from another of the same name but quite different growth and
history； and some as different as one tree…kind from another； as birch from
beech； oak from fir。 There were a few older Ents； bearded and gnarled like
hale but ancient trees （though none looked as ancient as Treebeard）； and
there were tall strong Ents； clean…limbed and smooth…skinned like
forest…trees in their prime； but there were no young Ents； no saplings。
Altogether there were about two dozen standing on the wide grassy floor of
the dingle； and as many more were marching in。
At first Merry and Pippin were struck chiefly by the variety that they
saw： the many shapes； and colours； the differences in girth； and height； and
length of leg and arm； and in the number of toes and fingers （anything from
three to nine）。 A few seemed more or less related to Treebeard； and reminded
them of beech…trees or oaks。 But there were other kinds。 Some recalled the
chestnut： brown…skinned Ents with large splayfingered hands； and short thick
legs。 Some recalled the ash： tall straight grey Ents with many…fingered
hands and long legs； some the fir （the tallest Ents）； and others the birch；
the rowan； and the linden。 But when the Ents all gathered round Treebeard；
bowing their heads slightly； murmuring in their slow musical voices； and
looking long and intently at the strangers； then the hobbits saw that they
were all of the same kindred； and all had the same eyes： not all so old or
so deep as Treebeard's； but all with the same slow； steady； thoughtful
expression； and the same green flicker。
As soon as the whole pany was assembled； standing in a wide circle
round Treebeard； a curious and unintelligible conversation began。 The Ents
began to murmur slowly： first one joined and then another； until they were
all chanting together in a long rising and falling rhythm； now louder on one
side of the ring； now dying away there and rising to a great boom on the
other side。 Though he could not catch or understand any of the words he
supposed the language was Entish Pippin found the sound very pleasant to
listen to at first； but gradually his attention wavered。 After a long time
（and the chant showed no signs of slackening） he found himself wondering；
since Entish was such an 'unhasty' language； whether they had yet got
further than Good Morning； and if Treebeard was to call the roll； how many
days it would take to sing all their names。 'I wonder what the Entish is for
yes or no；' he thought。 He yawned。
Treebeard was immediately aware of him。 'Hm； ha； hey； my Pippin！' he
said； and the other Ents all stopped their chant。 'You are a hasty folk； I
was forgetting； and anyway it is wearisome listening to a speech you do not
understand。 You may get down now。 I have told your names to the Entmoot； and
they have seen you； and they have agreed that you are not Orcs； and that a
new line shall be put in the old lists。 We have got no further yet； but that
is quick work for an Entmoot。 You and Merry can stroll about in the dingle；
if you like。 There is a well of good water； if you need refreshing； away
yonder in the north bank。 There are still some words to speak before the
Moot really begins。 I will e and see you again； and tell you how things
are going。'
He put the hobbits down。 Before they walked away； they bowed low。 This
feat seemed to amuse the Ents very much； to judge by the tone of their
murmurs； and the flicker of their eyes； but they soon turned back to their
own business。 Merry and Pippin climbed up the path that came in from the
west； and looked through the opening in the great hedge。 Long tree…clad
slopes rose from the lip of the dingle； and away beyond them； above the
fir…trees of the furthest ridge there rose； sharp and white； the peak of a
high mountain。 Southwards to their left they could see the forest falling
away down into the grey distance。 There far away there was a pale green
glimmer that Merry guessed to be a glimpse of the plains of Rohan。
'I wonder where Isengard is？' said Pippin。
'I don't know quite where we are；' said Merry； 'but that peak is
probably Methedras。 and as far as I can remember the ring of Isengard lies
in a fork or deep cleft at the end of the mountains。 It is probably down
behind this great ridge。 There seems to be a smoke or haze over there； left
of the peak； don't you think？'
'What is Isengard like？' said Pippin。 'I wonder what Ents can do about
it anyway。' 'So do I；' said Merry。 'Isengard is a sort of ring of rocks or
hills； I think； with a flat space inside and an island or pillar of rock in
the middle； called Orthanc。 Saruman has a tower on it。 There is a gate；
perhaps more than one； in the encircling wall； and I believe there is a
stream running through it； it es out of the mountains； and flows on
across the Gap of Rohan。 It does not seem the sort of place for Ents to
tackle。 But I have an odd feeling about these Ents： somehow I don't think
they are quite as safe and； well funny as they seem。 They seem slow； queer；
and patient； almost sad； and yet I believe they could be roused。 If that
happened； I would rather not be on the other side。'
'Yes！' said Pippin。 'I know what you mean。 There might be all the
difference between an old cow sitting and thoughtfully chewing； and a bull
charging； and the change might e suddenly。 I wonder if Treebeard will
rouse them。 I am sure he means to try。 But they don't like being roused。
Treebeard got roused himself last night； and then bottled it up again。'
The hobbits turned back。 The voices of the Ents were still rising and
falling in their conclave。 The sun had now risen high enough to look over
the high hedge： it gleamed on the tops of the birches and lit the northward
side of the dingle with a cool yellow light。 There they saw a little
glittering fountain。 They walked along the rim of the great bowl at the feet
of the evergreens…it was pleasant to feel cool grass about their toes again；
and not to be in a hurry…and then they climbed down to the gushing water。
They drank a little； a clean； cold； sharp draught； and sat down on a mossy
stone； watchi