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the river it rolled towards them； going northward。
'Stay where you are！' said Gandalf。 'Draw no weapons！ Wait！ and it will
pass you by！'
A mist gathered about them。 Above them a few stars still glimmered
faintly； but on either side there arose walls of impenetrable gloom； they
were in a narrow lane between moving towers of shadow。 Voices they heard；
whisperings and groanings and an endless rustling sigh； the earth shook
under them。 Long it seemed to them that they sat and were afraid； but at
last the darkness and the rumour passed； and vanished between the mountain's
arms。
Away south upon the Hornburg； in the middle night men heard a great
noise； as a wind in the valley； and the ground trembled； and all were afraid
and no one ventured to go forth。 But in the morning they went out and were
amazed； for the slain Orcs were gone； and the trees also。 Far down into the
valley of the Deep the grass was crushed and trampled brown； as if giant
herdsmen had pastured great droves of cattle there； but a mile below the
Dike a huge pit had been delved in the earth； and over it stones were piled
into a hill。 Men believed that the Orcs whom they had slain were buried
there； but whether those who had fled into the wood were with them； none
could say； for no man ever set foot upon that hill。 The Death Down it was
afterwards called； and no grass would grow there。 But the strange trees were
never seen in Deeping…coomb again； they had returned at night； and had gone
far away to the dark dales of Fangorn。 Thus they were revenged upon the
Orcs。
The king and his pany slept no more that night； but they saw and
heard no other strange thing； save one： the voice of the river beside them
suddenly awoke。 There was a rush of water hurrying down among the stones；
and when it had passed； the Isen flowed and bubbled in its bed again； as it
had ever done。
At dawn they made ready to go on。 The light came grey and pale； and
they did not see the rising of the sun。 The air above was heavy with fog；
and a reek lay on the land about them。 They went slowly； riding now upon the
highway。 It was broad and hard； and well…tended。 Dimly through the mists
they could descry the long arm of the mountains rising on their left。 They
had passed into Nan Curunnr； the Wizard's Vale。 That was a sheltered valley；
open only to the South。 Once it had been fair and green； and through it the
Isen flowed； already deep and strong before it found the plains； for it was
fed by many springs and lesser streams among the rain…washed hills。 and all
about it there had lain a pleasant； fertile land。
It was not so now。 Beneath the walls of Isengard there still were acres
tilled by the slaves of Saruman； but most of the valley had bee a
wilderness of weeds and thorns。 Brambles trailed upon the ground； or
clambering over bush and bank； made shaggy caves where small beasts housed。
No trees grew there； but among the rank grasses could still be seen the
burned and axe…hewn stumps of ancient groves。 It was a sad country； silent
now but for the stony noise of quick waters。 Smokes and steams drifted in
sullen clouds and lurked in the hollows。 The riders did not speak。 Many
doubted in their hearts； wondering to what dismal end their journey led。
After they had ridden for some miles； the highway became a wide street；
paved with great flat stones； squared and laid with skill； no blade of grass
was seen in any joint。 Deep gutters； filled with trickling water。 ran down
on either side。 Suddenly a tall pillar loomed up before them。 It was black；
and set upon it was a great stone； carved and painted in the likeness of a
long White Hand。 Its finger pointed north。 Not far now they knew that the
gates of Isengard must stand； and their hearts were heavy； but their eyes
could not pierce the mists ahead。
Beneath the mountain's arm within the Wizard's Vale through years
uncounted had stood that ancient place that Men called Isengard。 Partly it
was shaped in the making of the mountains； but mighty works the Men of
Westernesse had wrought there of old； and Saruman had dwelt there long and
had not been idle。
This was its fashion； while Saruman was at his height； accounted by
many the chief of Wizards。 A great ring…wall of stone； like towering cliffs；
stood out from the shelter of the mountain…side； from which it ran and then
returned again。 One entrance only was there made in it； a great arch delved
in the southern wall。 Here through the black rock a long tunnel had been
hewn； closed at either end with mighty doors of iron。 They were so wrought
and poised upon their huge hinges； posts of steel driven into the living
stone； that when unbarred they could be moved with a light thrust of the
arms； noiselessly。 One who passed in and came at length out of the echoing
tunnel； beheld a plain； a great circle； somewhat hollowed like a vast
shallow bowl： a mile it measured from rim to rim。 Once it had been green and
filled with avenues； and groves of fruitful trees； watered by streams that
flowed from the mountains to a lake。 But no green thing grew there in the
latter days of Saruman。 The roads were paved with stone…flags； dark and
hard； and beside their borders instead of trees there marched long lines of
pillars； some of marble； some of copper and of iron。 joined by heavy chains。
Many houses there were； chambers； halls； and passages； cut and
tunnelled back into the walls upon their inner side； so that all the open
circle was overlooked by countless windows and dark doors。 Thousands could
dwell there； workers； servants； slaves； and warriors with great store of
arms； wolves were fed and stabled in deep dens beneath。 The plain； too； was
bored and delved。 Shafts were driven deep into the ground； their upper ends
were covered by low mounds and domes of stone； so that in the moonlight the
Ring of Isengard looked like a graveyard of unquiet dead。 For the ground
trembled。 The shafts ran down by many slopes and spiral stairs to caverns
far under； there Saruman had treasuries； store…houses； armouries； smithies；
and great furnaces。 Iron wheels revolved there endlessly； and hammers
thudded。 At night plumes of vapour steamed from the vents； lit from beneath
with red light； or blue； or venomous green。
To the centre all the roads ran between their chains。 There stood a
tower of marvellous shape。 It was fashioned by the builders of old； who
smoothed the Ring of Isengard； and yet it seemed a thing not made by the
craft of Men； but riven from the bones of the earth in the ancient torment
of the hills。 A peak and isle of rock it was。 black and gleaming hard： four
mighty piers of many…sided stone were welded into one； but near the summit
they opened into gaping horns。 their pinnacles sharp as the points of
spears； keen…edged as knives。 Between them was a narrow space； an