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sending a hail of darts against the bowmen on the walls。 They gained the
gates。 The trees； swung by strong arms； smote the timbers with a rending
boom。 If any man fell； crushed by a stone hurtling from above； two others
sprang to take his place。 Again and again the great rams swung and crashed。
Jomer and Aragorn stood together on the Deeping Wall。 They heard the
roar of voices and the thudding of the rams； and then in a sudden flash of
light they beheld the peril of the gates。
'e！' said Aragorn。 'This is the hour when we draw swords together！'
Running like fire； they sped along the wall； and up the steps； and
passed into the outer court upon the Rock。 As they ran they gathered a
handful of stout swordsmen。 There was a small postern…door that opened in an
angle of the burg…wall on the west； where the cliff stretched out to meet
it。 On that side a narrow path ran round towards the great gate； between the
wall and the sheer brink of the Rock。 Together Jomer and Aragorn sprang
through the door； their men close behind。 The swords flashed from the sheath
as one。
'G畉hwinl！' cried Jomer。 'G畉hwinl for the Mark！'
'And畆il！' cried Aragorn。 'And畆il for the D畁edain！'
Charging from the side； they hurled themselves upon the wild men。
And畆il rose and fell； gleaming with white fire。 A shout went up from wall
and tower： 'And畆il！ And畆il goes to war。 The Blade that was Broken shines
again！'
Dismayed the rammers let fall the trees and turned to fight； but the
wall of their shields was broken as by a lightning…stroke； and they were
swept away； hewn down； or cast over the Rock into the stony stream below。
The orc…archers shot wildly and then fled。
For a moment Jomer and Aragorn halted before the gates。 The thunder was
rumbling in the distance now。 The lightning flickered still； far off among
the mountains in the South。 A keen wind was blowing from the North again。
The clouds were torn and drifting； and stars peeped out； and above the hills
of the Coomb…side the westering moon rode； glimmering yellow in the
storm…wrack。
'We did not e too soon；' said Aragorn； looking at the gates。 Their
great hinges and iron bars were wrenched and bent； many of their timbers
were cracked。
'Yet we cannot stay here beyond the walls to defend them；' said Jomer。
'Look！' He pointed to the causeway。 Already a great press of Orcs and Men
were gathering again beyond the stream。 Arrows whined； and skipped on the
stones about them。 'e！ We must get back and see what we can do to pile
stone and beam across the gates within。 e now！'
They turned and ran。 At that moment some dozen Orcs that had lain
motionless among the slain leaped to their feet； and came silently and
swiftly behind。 Two flung themselves to the ground at Jomer's heels； tripped
him； and in a moment they were on top of him。 But a small dark figure that
none had observed sprang out of the shadows and gave a hoarse shout： Baruk
Khazvd！ Khazvd ai…mknu！ An axe swung and swept back。 Two Orcs fell headless。
The rest fled。
Jomer struggled to his feet； even as Aragorn ran back to his aid。
The postern was closed again； the iron door was barred and piled inside
with stones。 When all were safe within； Jomer turned： 'I thank you； Gimli
son of Gluin！' he said。 'I did not know that you were with us in the sortie。
But oft the unbidden guest proves the best pany。 How came you there？'
'I followed you to shake off sleep；' said Gimli； 'but I looked on the
hillmen and they seemed over large for me； so I sat beside a stone to see
your sword…play。'
'I shall not find it easy to repay you；' said Jomer。
'There may be many a chance ere the night is over；' laughed the Dwarf。
'But I am content。 Till now I have hewn naught but wood since I left Moria。'
'Two！' said Gimli； patting his axe。 He had returned to his place on the
wall。
'Two？' said Legolas。 'I have done better； though now I must grope for
spent arrows； all mine are gone。 Yet I make my tale twenty at the least。 But
that is only a few leaves in a forest。'
The sky now was quickly clearing and the sinking moon was shining
brightly。 But the light brought little hope to the Riders of the Mark。 The
enemy before them seemed to have grown rather than diminished； still more
were pressing up from the valley through the breach。 The sortie upon the
Rock gained only a brief respite。 The assault on the gates was redoubled。
Against the Deeping Wall the hosts of Isengard roared like a sea。 Orcs and
hillmen swarmed about its feet from end to end。 Ropes with grappling hooks
were hurled over the parapet faster than men could cut them or fling them
back。 Hundreds of long ladders were lifted up。 Many were cast down in ruin；
but many more replaced them； and Orcs sprang up them like apes in the dark
forests of the South。 Before the wall's foot the dead and broken were piled
like shingle in a storm； ever higher rose the hideous mounds； and still the
enemy came on。
The men of Rohan grew weary。 All their arrows were spent； and every
shaft was shot； their swords were notched； and their shields were riven。
Three times Aragorn and Jomer rallied them； and three times And畆il flamed
in a desperate charge that drove the enemy from the wall。
Then a clamour arose in the Deep behind。 Orcs had crept like rats
through the culvert through which the stream flowed out。 There they had
gathered in the shadow of the cliffs； until the assault above was hottest
and nearly all the men of the defence had rushed to the wall's top。 Then
they sprang out。 Already some had passed into the jaws of the Deep and were
among the horses； fighting with the guards。
Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the
cliffs。 'Khazvd！ Khazvd！' He soon had work enough。
'Ai…oi！' he shouted。 'The Orcs are behind the wall。 Ai…oi！ e；
Legolas！ There are enough for us both。 Khazvd ai…mknu！'
Gamling the Old looked down from the Hornburg； hearing the great voice
of the dwarf above all the tumult。 'The Orcs are in the Deep！' he cried。
'Helm！ Helm！ Forth Helmingas。 he shouted as he leaped down the stair from
the Rock with many men of Westfold at his back。
Their onset was fierce and sudden； and the Orcs gave way before them。
Ere long they were hemmed in in the narrows of the gorge； and all were slain
or driven shrieking into the chasm of the Deep to fall before the guardians
of the hidden caves。
'Twenty…one！' cried Gimli。 He hewed a two…handed stroke and laid the
last Orc before his feet。 'Now my count passes Master Legolas again。'
'We must stop this rat…hole；' said Gamling。 'Dwarves are said to be
cunning folk with stone。 Lend us your aid； master！'
'We do not shape stone with battle…axes； nor with our finger…nails；'
said Gimli。 'But I will help as I may。'
They gathered such small boulders and b