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that way； branching off from the others； the marks of small unshod feet。
These； however； did not go far before they were crossed by orc…prints； also
ing out from the main trail behind and in front； and then they curved
sharply back again and were lost in the trampling。 At the furthest point
Aragorn stooped and picked up something from the grass； then he ran back。
'Yes；' he said； 'they are quite plain： a hobbit's footprints。 Pippin's
I think。 He is smaller than the other。 And look at this！ He held up a thing
that glittered in the sunlight。 It looked like the new…opened leaf of a
beech…tree； fair and strange in that treeless plain。
'The brooch of an elven…cloak！' cried Legolas and Gimli together。
'Not idly do the leaves of Lurien fall；' said Aragorn。 'This did not
drop by chance： it was cast away as a token to any that might follow。 I
think Pippin ran away from the trail for that purpose。'
'Then he at least was alive；' said Gimli。 'And he had the use of his
wits； and of his legs too。 That is heartening。 We do not pursue in vain。'
'Let us hope that he did not pay too dearly for his boldness；' said
Legolas。 'e！ Let us go on！ The thought of those merry young folk driven
like cattle burns my heart。'
The sun climbed to the noon and then rode slowly down the sky。 Light
clouds came up out of the sea in the distant South and were blown away upon
the breeze。 The sun sank。 Shadows rose behind and reached out long arms from
the East。 Still the hunters held on。 One day now had passed since Boromir
fell； and the Orcs were yet far ahead。 No longer could any sight of them be
seen in the level plains。
As nightshade was closing about them Aragorn halted。 Only twice in the
day's march had they rested for a brief while； and twelve leagues now lay
between them and the eastern wall where they had stood at dawn。
'We have e at last to a hard choice；' he said。 'Shall we rest by
night； or shall we go on while our will and strength hold？'
'Unless our enemies rest also； they will leave us far behind； if we
stay to sleep。' said Legolas。 'Surely even Orcs must pause on the march？'
said Gimli。 'Seldom will Orcs journey in the open under the sun。 yet these
have done so；' said Legolas。 'Certainly they will not rest by night。'
'But if we walk by night； we cannot follow their trail；' said Gimli。
'The trail is straight； and turns neither right nor left； as far as my
eyes can see；' said Legolas。
'Maybe； I could lead you at guess in the darkness and hold to the
line；' said Aragorn； 'but if we strayed； or they turned aside； then when
light came there might be long delay before the trail was found again。'
'And there is this also；' said Gimli： 'only by day can we see if any
tracks lead away。 If a prisoner should escape； or if one should be carried
off； eastward； say； to the Great River； towards Mordor； we might pass the
signs and never know it。'
'That is true；' said Aragorn。 'But if I read the signs back yonder
rightly； the Orcs of the White Hand prevailed； and the whole pany is now
bound for Isengard。 Their present course bears me out。'
'Yet it would be rash to be sure of their counsels；' said Gimli。 'And
what of escape？ In the dark we should have passed the signs that led you to
the brooch。'
'The Orcs will be doubly on their guard since then； and the prisoners
even wearier；' said Legolas。 'There will be no escape again； if we do not
contrive it。 How that is to be done cannot be guessed； but first we must
overtake them。'
'And yet even I； Dwarf of many journeys； and not the least hardy of my
folk； cannot run all the way to Isengard without any pause ' said Gimli。 'My
heart burns me too； and I would have started sooner but now I must rest a
little to run the better。 And if we rest； then the blind night is the time
to do so。'
'I said that it was a hard choice；' said Aragorn。 'How shall we end
this debate？'
'You are our guide；' said Gimli； 'and you are skilled in the chase。 You
shall choose。'
'My heart bids me go on；' said Legolas。 'But we must hold together。 I
will follow your counsel。'
'You give the choice to an ill chooser；' said Aragorn。 'Since we passed
through the Argonath my choices have gone amiss。' He fell silent gazing
north and west into the gathering night for a long while。
'We will not walk in the dark；' he said at length。 'The peril of
missing the trail or signs of other ing and going seems to me the
greater。 If the Moon gave enough light； we would use it； but alas！ he sets
early and is yet young and pale。'
'And tonight he is shrouded anyway；' Gimli murmured。 'Would that the
Lady had given us a light； such a gift as she gave to Frodo！'
'It will be more needed where it is bestowed；' said Aragorn。 'With him
lies the true Quest。 Ours is but a small matter in the great deeds of this
time。 A vain pursuit from its beginning； maybe； which no choice of mine can
mar or mend。 Well； I have chosen。 So let us use the time as best we may！'
He cast himself on the ground and fell at once into sleep； for he had
not slept since their night under the shadow of Tol Brandir。 Before dawn was
in the sky he woke and rose。 Gimli was still deep in slumber； but Legolas
was standing； gazing northwards into the darkness； thoughtful and silent as
a young tree in a windless night。
'They are far far away；' he said sadly； turning to Aragorn。 'I know in
my heart that they have not rested this night。 Only an eagle could overtake
them now。'
'Nonetheless we will still follow as we may；' said Aragorn。 Stooping he
roused the Dwarf。 'e！ We must go；' he said。 'The scent is growing cold。'
'But it is still dark；' said Gimli。 'Even Legolas on a hill…top could
not see them till the Sun is up。'
'I fear they have passed beyond my sight from hill or plain； under moon
or sun；' said Legolas。
'Where sight fails the earth may bring us rumour；' said Aragorn。 'The
land must groan under their hated feet。' He stretched himself upon the
ground with his ear pressed against the turf。 He lay there motionless； for
so long a time that Gimli wondered if he had swooned or fallen asleep again。
Dawn came glimmering； and slowly a grey light grew about them。 At last he
rose； and now his friends could see his face： it was pale and drawn； and his
look was troubled。
'The rumour of the earth is dim and confused；' he said。 'Nothing walks
upon it for many miles about us。 Faint and far are the feet of our enemies。
But loud are the hoofs of the horses。 It es to my mind that I heard them；
even as I lay on the ground in sleep； and they troubled my dreams： horses
galloping； passing in the West。 But now they are drawing ever further from
us； riding northward。 I wonder what is happening in this land！'
'Let us go！' said Legolas。
So the third day of their pursuit began。 During all its long hours of
cloud