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Snowmane snorted and reared； eager to follow； but only a swift bird on the
wing could have overtaken him。
'What does that mean？' said one of the guard to Hbma。
'That Gandalf Greyhame has need of haste；' answered Hbma。 'Ever he goes
and es unlooked…for：'
'Wormtongue； were he here； would not find it hard to explain 'Said the
other。
'True enough；' said Hbma； 'but for myself； I will wait until I see
Gandalf again。'
'Maybe you will wait long；' said the other。
The host turned away now from the road to the Fords of Isen and bent
their course southward。 Night fell； and still they rode on。 The hills drew
near； but the tall peaks of Thrihyrne were already dim against the darkening
sky。 Still some miles away； on the far side of the Westfold Vale； lay a
green coomb； a great bay in the mountains； out of which a gorge opened in
the hills。 Men of that land called it Helm's Deep； after a hero of old wars
who had made his refuge there。 Ever steeper and narrower it wound inward
from the north under the shadow of the Thrihyrne； till the crow…haunted
cliffs rose like mighty towers on either side； shutting out the light。
At Helm's Gate； before the mouth of the Deep； there was a heel of rock
thrust outward by the northern cliff。 There upon its spur stood high walls
of ancient stone； and within them was a lofty tower。 Men said that in the
far…off days of the glory of Gondor the sea…kings had built here this
fastness with the hands of giants。 The Hornburg it was called； for a trumpet
sounded upon the tower echoed in the Deep behind； as if armies
long…forgotten were issuing to war from caves beneath the hills。 A wall；
too； the men of old had made from the Hornburg to the southern cliff；
barring the entrance to the gorge。 Beneath it by a wide culvert the
Deeping…stream passed out。 About the feet of the Hornrock it wound； and
flowed then in a gully through the midst of a wide green gore； sloping
gently down from Helm's Gate to Helm's Dike。 Thence it fell into the
Deeping…coomb and out into the Westfold Vale。 There in the Hornburg at
Helm's Gate Erkenbrand； master of Westfold on the borders of the Mark； now
dwelt。 As the days darkened with threat of war； being wise； he had repaired
the wall and made the fastness strong。
The Riders were still in the low valley before the mouth of the Coomb；
when cries and hornblasts were heard from their scouts that went in front。
Out of the darkness arrows whistled。 Swiftly a scout rode back and reported
that wolf…riders were abroad in the valley； and that a host of Orcs and wild
men were hurrying southward from the Fords of Isen and seemed to be making
for Helm's Deep。
'We have found many of our folk lying slain as they fled thither；' said
the scout。 'And we have met scattered panies； going this way and that；
leaderless。 What has bee of Erkenbrand none seem to know。 It is likely
that he will be overtaken ere he can reach Helm's Gate； if he has not
already perished。'
'Has aught been seen of Gandalf？' asked Thjoden。
'Yes； lord。 Many have seen an old man in white upon a horse； passing
hither and thither over the plains like wind in the grass。 Some thought he
was Saruman。 It is said that he went away ere nightfall towards Isengard。
Some say also that Wormtongue was seen earlier； going northward with a
pany of Orcs。'
'It will go ill with Wormtongue； if Gandalf es upon him said
Thjoden。 'Nonetheless I miss now both my counsellors； the old and the new。
But in this need we have no better choice than to go on； as Gandalf said； to
Helm's Gate； whether Erkenbrand be there or no。 Is it known how great is the
host that es from the North？'
'It is very great；' said the scout。 'He that flies counts every foeman
twice； yet I have spoken to stouthearted men； and I do not doubt that the
main strength of the enemy is many times as great as all that we have here。'
'Then let us be swift；' said Jomer。 'Let us drive through such foes as
are already between us and the fastness。 There are caves in Helm's Deep
where hundreds may lie hid； and secret ways lead thence up on to the hills。
'Trust not to secret ways；' said the king。 'Saruman has long spied out
this land。 Still in that place our defence may last long。 Let us go！'
Aragorn and Legolas went now with Jomer in the van。 On through the dark
night they rode； ever slower as the darkness deepened and their way climbed
southward； higher and higher into the dim folds about the mountains' feet。
They found few of the enemy before them。 Here and there they came upon
roving bands of Orcs； but they fled ere the Riders could take or slay them。
'It will not be long I fear；' said Jomer； 'ere the ing of the king's
host will be known to the leader of our enemies； Saruman or whatever captain
he has sent forth。'
The rumour of war grew behind them。 Now they could hear； borne over the
dark； the sound of harsh singing。 They had climbed far up into the
Deeping…coomb when they looked back。 Then they saw torches countless points
of fiery light upon the black fields behind； scattered like red flowers； or
winding up from the lowlands in long flickering lines。 Here and there a
larger blaze leapt up。
'It is a great host and follows us hard；' said Aragorn。
'They bring fire；' said Thjoden； 'and they are burning as they e；
rick； cot； and tree。 This was a rich vale and had many homesteads。 Alas for
my folk！'
'Would that day was here and we might ride down upon them like a storm
out of the mountains！' said Aragorn。 'It grieves me to fly before them。'
'We need not fly much further；' said Jomer。 'Not far ahead now lies
Helm's Dike； an ancient trench and rampart scored across the coomb； two
furlongs below Helm's Gate。 There we can turn and give battle。'
'Nay； we are too few to defend the Dike；' said Thjoden。 'It is a mile
long or more； and the breach in it is wide。'
'At the breach our rearguard must stand； if we are pressed；' said
Jomer。
There was neither star nor moon when the Riders came to the breach in
the Dike； where the stream from above passed out； and the road beside it ran
down from the Hornburg。 The rampart loomed suddenly before them； a high
shadow beyond a dark pit。 As they rode up a sentinel challenged them。
'The Lord of the Mark rides to Helm's Gate；' Jomer answered。 'I； Jomer
son of Jomund； speak。'
'This is good tidings beyond hope；' said the sentinel。 'Hasten！ The
enemy is on your heels。'
The host passed through the breach and halted on the sloping sward
above。 They now learned to their joy that Erkenbrand had left many men to
hold Helm's Gate； and more had since escaped thither。
'Maybe； we have a thousand fit to fight on foot；' said Gamling； an old
man； the leader of those that watched the Dike。 'But most of them have seen
too many winters；