按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
late night。 They went on for a mile or more northwards。 Aragorn was
searching。 bent towards the ground； among the folds and gullies leading up
into the western ridge。 Legolas was some way ahead。 Suddenly the Elf gave a
cry and the others came running towards him。
'We have already overtaken some of those that we are hunting；' he said。
'Look！' He pointed； and they saw that what they had at first taken to be
boulders lying at the foot of the slope were huddled bodies。 Five dead Orcs
lay there。 They had been hewn with many cruel strokes； and two had been
beheaded。 The ground was wet with their dark blood。
'Here is another riddle！' said Gimli。 'But it needs the light of day
and for that we cannot wait。'
'Yet however you read it； it seems not unhopeful；' said Legolas。
'Enemies of the Orcs are likely to be our friends。 Do any folk dwell in
these hills？'
'No；' said Aragorn。 'The Rohirrim seldom e here； and it is far from
Minas Tirith。 It might be that some pany of Men were hunting here for
reasons that we do not know。 Yet I think not。'
'What do you think？' said Gimli。
'I think that the enemy brought his own enemy with him；' answered
Aragorn。 'These are Northern Orcs from far away。 Among the slain are none of
the great Orcs with the strange badges。 There was a quarrel； I guess： it is
no unmon thing with these foul folk。 Maybe there was some dispute about
the road。'
'Or about the captives；' said Gimli。 'Let us hope that they； too； did
not meet their end here。'
Aragorn searched the ground in a wide circle； but no other traces of
the fight could be found。 They went on。 Already the eastward sky was turning
pale； the stars were fading； and a grey light was slowly growing。 A little
further north they came to a fold in which a tiny stream； falling and
winding； had cut a stony path down into the valley。 In it some bushes grew；
and there were patches of grass upon its sides。
'At last！' said Aragorn。 'Here are the tracks that we seek！ Up this
water…channel： this is the way that the Orcs went after their debate。'
Swiftly now the pursuers turned and followed the new path。 As if fresh
from a night's rest they sprang from stone to stone。 At last they reached
the crest of the grey hill； and a sudden breeze blew in their hair and
stirred their cloaks： the chill wind of dawn。
Turning back they saw across the River the far hills kindled。 Day
leaped into the sky。 The red rim of the sun rose over the shoulders of the
dark land。 Before them in the West the world lay still； formless and grey；
but even as they looked； the shadows of night melted； the colours of the
waking earth returned： green flowed over the wide meads of Rohan； the white
mists shimmered in the watervales； and far off to the left； thirty leagues
or more； blue and purple stood the White Mountains； rising into peaks of
jet； tipped with glimmering snows； flushed with the rose of morning。
'Gondor！ Gondor！' cried Aragorn。 'Would that I looked on you again in
happier hour！ Not yet does my road lie southward to your bright streams。
Gondor！ Gondor； between the Mountains and the Sea！
West Wind blew there； the light upon the Silver Tree
Fell like bright rain in gardens of the Kings of old。
O proud walls！ White towers！ O winged crown and throne of gold！
O Gondor； Gondor！ Shall Men behold the Silver Tree；
Or West Wind blow again between the Mountains and the Sea？
Now let us go！' he said； drawing his eyes away from the South； and
looking out west and north to the way that he must tread。
The ridge upon which the panions stood went down steeply before
their feet。 Below it twenty fathoms or more； there was a wide and rugged
shelf which ended suddenly in the brink of a sheer cliff： the East Wall of
Rohan。 So ended the Emyn Muil； and the green plains of the Rohirrim
stretched away before them to the edge of sight。
'Look！' cried Legolas； pointing up into the pale sky above them。 'There
is the eagle again！ He is very high。 He seems to be flying now away； from
this land back to the North。 He is going with great speed。 Look！'
'No； not even my eyes can see him； my good Legolas；' said Aragorn。 'He
must be far aloft indeed。 I wonder what is his errand； if he is the same
bird that I have seen before。 But look！ I can see something nearer at hand
and more urgent； there is something moving over the plain！'
'Many things；' said Legolas。 'It is a great pany on foot； but I
cannot say more； nor see what kind of folk they may be。 They are many
leagues away： twelve； I guess； but the flatness of the plain is hard to
measure。'
'I think； nonetheless； that we no longer need any trail to tell us
which way to go；' said Gimli。 'Let us find a path down to the fields as
quick as may be。'
'I doubt if you will find a path quicker than the one that the Orcs
chose；' said Aragorn。
They followed their enemies now by the clear light of day。 It seemed
that the Orcs had pressed on with all possible speed。 Every now and again
the pursuers found things that had been dropped or cast away： food…bags； the
rinds and crusts of hard grey bread。 a torn black cloak； a heavy iron…nailed
shoe broken on the stones。 The trail led them north along the top of the
escarpment； and at length they came to a deep cleft carved in the rock by a
stream that splashed noisily down。 In the narrow ravine a rough path
descended like a steep stair into the plain。
At the bottom they came with a strange suddenness on the grass of
Rohan。 It swelled like a green sea up to the very foot of the Emyn Muil。 The
falling stream vanished into a deep growth of cresses and water…plants； and
they could hear it tinkling away in green tunnels； down long gentle slopes
towards the fens of Entwash Vale far away。 They seemed to have left winter
clinging to the hills behind。 Here the air was softer and warmer； and
faintly scented； as if spring was already stirring and the sap was flowing
again in herb and leaf。 Legolas took a deep breath； like one that drinks a
great draught after long thirst in barren places。
'Ah！ the green smell！' he said。 'It is better than much sleep。 Let us
run！'
'Light feet may run swiftly here；' said Aragorn。 'More swiftly； maybe；
than iron…shod Orcs。 Now we have a chance to lessen their lead！'
They went in single file； running like hounds on a strong scent； and an
eager light was in their eyes。 Nearly due west the broad swath of the
marching Orcs tramped its ugly slot； the sweet grass of Rohan had been
bruised and blackened as they passed。 Presently Aragorn gave a cry and
turned aside。 'Stay！' he shouted。 'Do not follow me yet！' He ran quickly to
the right； away from the main trail； for he had seen footprints that went
that way； branching off from the others； the marks of small unshod fee