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until all above the Dike was empty of them； but below it they were packed
like swarming flies。 Vainly they crawled and clambered about the walls of
the coomb。 seeking to escape。 Upon the east too sheer and stony was the
valley's side； upon the left； from the west； their final doom approached。
There suddenly upon a ridge appeared a rider； clad in white； shining in
the rising sun。 Over the low hills the horns were sounding。 Behind him；
hastening down the long slopes； were a thousand men on foot； their swords
were in their hands。 Amid them strode a man tall and strong。 His shield was
red。 As he came to the valley's brink； he set to his lips a great black horn
and blew a ringing blast。
'Erkenbrand！' the Riders shouted。 'Erkenbrand！'
'Behold the White Rider！' cried Aragorn。 'Gandalf is e again！'
'Mithrandir； Mithrandir！' said Legolas。 'This is wizardry indeed！ e！
I would look on this forest； ere the spell changes。'
The hosts of Isengard roared； swaying this way and that； turning from
fear to fear。 Again the horn sounded from the tower。 Down through the breach
of the Dike charged the king's pany。 Down from the hills leaped
Erkenbrand； lord of Westfold。 Down leaped Shadowfax； like a deer that runs
surefooted in the mountains。 The White Rider was upon them； and the terror
of his ing filled the enemy with madness。 The wild men fell on their
faces before him。 The Orcs reeled and screamed and cast aside both sword and
spear。 Like a black smoke driven by a mounting wind they fled。 Wailing they
passed under the waiting shadow of the trees； and from that shadow none ever
came again。
Chapter 8。 The Road to Isengard
So it was that in the light of a fair morning King Thjoden and Gandalf
the White Rider met again upon the green grass beside the Deeping…stream。
There was also Aragorn son of Arathorn； and Legolas the Elf； and Erkenbrand
of Westfold； and the lords of the Golden House。 About them were gathered the
Rohirrim； the Riders of the Mark： wonder overcame their joy in victory； and
their eyes were turned towards the wood。
Suddenly there was a great shout； and down from the Dike came those who
had been driven back into the Deep。 There came Gamling the Old； and Jomer
son of Jomund； and beside them walked Gimli the dwarf。 He had no helm； and
about his head was a linen band stained with blood； but his voice was loud
and strong。
'Forty…two； Master Legolas！' he cried。 'Alas！ My axe is notched： the
forty…second had an iron collar on his neck。 How is it with you？'
'You have passed my score by one；' answered Legolas。 'But I do not
grudge you the game； so glad am I to see you on your legs！'
'Wele； Jomer； sister…son！' said Thjoden。 'Now that I see you safe； I
am glad indeed。'
'Hail； Lord of the Mark！' said Jomer。 'The dark night has passed and
day has e again。 But the day has brought strange tidings。' He turned and
gazed in wonder； first at the wood and then at Gandalf。 'Once more you e
in the hour of need； unlooked…for；' he said。
'Unlooked…for？' said Gandalf。 'I said that I would return and meet you
here。'
'But you did not name the hour； nor foretell the manner of your ing。
Strange help you bring。 You are mighty in wizardry； Gandalf the White！'
'That may be。 But if so； I have not shown it yet。 I have but given good
counsel in peril； and made use of the speed of Shadowfax。 Your own valour
has done more； and the stout legs of the Westfold…men marching through the
night。'
Then they all gazed at Gandalf with still greater wonder。 Some glanced
darkly at the wood； and passed their hands over their brows； as if they
thought their eyes saw otherwise than his。
Gandalf laughed long and merrily。 'The trees？' he said。 'Nay； I see the
wood as plainly as do you。 But that is no deed of mine。 It is a thing beyond
the counsel of the wise。 Better than my design； and better even than my hope
the event has proved。'
'Then if not yours； whose is the wizardry？' said Thjoden。 'Not
Saruman's； that is plain。 Is there some mightier sage； of whom we have yet
to learn？'
'It is not wizardry； but a power far older；' said Gandalf： 'a power
that walked the earth； ere elf sang or hammer rang。
Ere iron was found or tree was hewn；
When young was mountain under moon；
Ere ring was made； or wrought was woe；
It walked the forests long ago。'
'And what may be the answer to your riddle？' said Thjoden。
'If you would learn that； you should e with me to Isengard '
answered Gandalf。
'To Isengard？' they cried。
'Yes；' said Gandalf。 'I shall return to Isengard； and those who will
may e with me。 There we may see strange things。'
'But there are not men enough in the Mark； not if they were all
gathered together and healed of wounds and weariness； to assault the
stronghold of Saruman；' said Thjoden。
'Nevertheless to Isengard I go；' said Gandalf。 'I shall not stay there
long。 My way lies now eastward。 Look for me in Edoras； ere the waning of the
moon！'
'Nay！' said Thjoden。 'In the dark hour before dawn I doubted； but we
will not part now。 I will e with you； if that is your counsel。'
'I wish to speak with Saruman； as soon as may be now；' said Gandalf；
'and since he has done you great injury； it would be fitting if you were
there。 But how soon and how swiftly will you ride？'
'My men are weary with battle；' said the King； 'and I am weary also。
For I have ridden far and slept little。 Alas！ My old age is not feigned nor
due only to the whisperings of Wormtongue。 It is an ill that no leech can
wholly cure； not even Gandalf。'
'Then let all who are to ride with me rest now；' said Gandalf。 'We will
journey under the shadow of evening。 It is as well； for it is my counsel
that all our ings and goings should be as secret as may be； henceforth。
But do not mand many men to go with you； Thjoden。 We go to a parley not
to a fight。'
The King then chose men that were unhurt and had swift horses； and he
sent them forth with tidings of the victory into every vale of the Mark； and
they bore his summons also； bidding all men； young and old； to e in haste
to Edoras。 There the Lord of the Mark would hold an assembly of all that
could bear arms； on the second day after the full moon。 To ride with him to
Isengard the King chose Jomer and twenty men of his household。 With Gandalf
would go Aragorn； and Legolas； and Gimli。 In spite of his hurt the dwarf
would not stay behind。
'It was only a feeble blow and the cap turned it；' he said。 'It would
take more than such an orc…scratch to keep me back。'
'I will tend it； while you rest；' said Aragorn。
The king now returned to the Hornburg； and slept； such a sleep of quiet
as he had not known for many years； and the remainder of his chosen pany
rested also。 But the others； all that were not hurt or wounded； began a
great labour； fo