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spears； keen…edged as knives。 Between them was a narrow space； and there
upon a floor of polished stone； written with strange signs； a man might
stand five hundred feet above the plain。 This was Orthanc； the citadel of
Saruman； the name of which had （by design or chance） a twofold meaning； for
in the Elvish speech orthanc signifies Mount Fang； but in the language of
the Mark of old the Cunning Mind。
A strong place and wonderful was Isengard； and long it had been
beautiful； and there great lords had dwelt； the wardens of Gondor upon the
West； and wise men that watched the stars。 But Saruman had slowly shaped it
to his shifting purposes； and made it better。 as he thought； being
deceived…for all those arts and subtle devices； for which he forsook his
former wisdom； and which fondly he imagined were his own。 came but from
Mordor； so that what he made was naught； only a little copy； a child's model
or a slave's flattery； of that vast fortress。 armoury； prison； furnace of
great power； Barad…dyr； the Dark Tower； which suffered no rival； and laughed
at flattery； biding its time； secure in its pride and its immeasurable
strength。
This was the stronghold of Saruman； as fame reported it； for within
living memory the men of Rohan had not passed its gates； save perhaps a few；
such as Wormtongue； who came in secret and told no man what they saw。
Now Gandalf rode to the great pillar of the Hand； and passed it： and as
he did so the Riders saw to their wonder that the Hand appeared no longer
white。 It was stained as with dried blood； and looking closer they perceived
that its nails were red。 Unheeding Gandalf rode on into the mist； and
reluctantly they followed him。 All about them now； as if there had been a
sudden flood。 wide pools of water lay beside the road； filling the hollows。
and rills went trickling down among the stones。
At last Gandalf halted and beckoned to them； and they came； and saw
that beyond him the mists had cleared； and a pale sunlight shone。 The hour
of noon had passed。 They were e to the doors of Isengard。
But the doors lay hurled and twisted on the ground。 And all about；
stone； cracked and splintered into countless jagged shards； was scattered
far and wide； or piled in ruinous heaps。 The great arch still stood； but it
opened now upon a roofless chasm： the tunnel was laid bare。 and through the
cliff…like walls on either side great rents and breaches had been torn；
their towers were beaten into dust。 If the Great Sea had risen in wrath and
fallen on the hills with storm。 it could have worked no greater ruin。
The ring beyond was filled with steaming water： a bubbling cauldron； in
which there heaved and floated a wreckage of beams and spars； chests and
casks and broken gear。 Twisted and leaning pillars reared their splintered
stems above the flood。 but all the roads were drowned。 Far off； it seemed；
half veiled in winding cloud； there loomed the island rock。 Still dark and
tall； unbroken by the storm； the tower of Orthanc stood。 Pale waters lapped
about its feet。
The king and all his pany sat silent on their horses； marvelling；
perceiving that the power of Saruman was overthrown； but how they could not
guess。 And now they turned their eyes towards the archway and the ruined
gates。 There they saw close beside them a great rubble…heap； and suddenly
they were aware of two small figures lying on it at their ease； grey…clad；
hardly to be seen among the stones。 There were bottles and bowls and
platters laid beside them； as if they had just eaten well； and now rested
from their labour。 One seemed asleep； the other； with crossed legs and arms
behind his head； leaned back against a broken rock and sent from his mouth
long wisps and little rings of thin blue smoke。
For a moment Thjoden and Jomer and all his men stared at them in
wonder。 Amid all the wreck of Isengard this seemed to them the strangest
sight。 But before the king could speak； the small smoke…breathing figure
became suddenly aware of them； as they sat there silent on the edge of the
mist。 He sprang to his feet。 A young man he looked； or like one； though not
much more than half a man in height； his head of brown curling hair was
uncovered； but he was clad in a travel…stained cloak of the same hue and
shape as the panions of Gandalf had worn when they rode to Edoras。 He
bowed very low。 putting his hand upon his breast。 Then； seeming not to
observe the wizard and his friends； he turned to Jomer and the king。
'Wele； my lords； to Isengard！' he said。 'We are the doorwardens。
Meriadoc； son of Saradoc is my name； and my panion； who； alas！ is
overe with weariness' here he gave the other a dig with his foot
'is Peregrin； son of Paladin； of the house of Took。 Far in the North is our
home。 The Lord Saruman is within； but at the moment he is closeted with one
Wormtongue； or doubtless he would be here to wele such honourable
guests。'
'Doubtless he would！' laughed Gandalf。 'And was it Saruman that ordered
you to guard his damaged doors； and watch for the arrival of guests； when
your attention could be spared from plate and bottle？'
'No； good sir； the matter escaped him；' answered Merry gravely 'He has
been much occupied。 Our orders came from Treebeard； who has taken over the
management of Isengard。 He manded me to wele the Lord of Rohan with
fitting words。 I have done my best。'
'And what about your panions？ What about Legolas and me？' cried
Gimli； unable to contain himself longer。 'You rascals； you woolly…footed and
wool…pated truants！ A fine hunt you have led us！ Two hundred leagues；
through fen and forest； battle and death； to rescue you！ And here we find
you feasting and idling…and smoking！ Smoking！ Where did you e by the
weed； you villains？ Hammer and tongs！ I am so torn between rage and joy；
that if I do not burst。 it will be a marvel！'
'You speak for me； Gimli；' laughed Legolas。 'Though I would sooner
learn how they came by the wine。'
'One thing you have not found in your hunting； and that's brighter
wits；' said Pippin； opening an eye。 'Here you find us sitting on a field of
victory； amid the plunder of armies； and you wonder how we came by a few
well…earned forts！'
'Well…earned？' said Gimli。 'I cannot believe that！'
The Riders laughed。 'It cannot be doubted that we witness the meeting
of dear friends；' said Thjoden。 'So these are the lost ones of your pany；
Gandalf？ The days are fated to be filled with marvels。 Already I have seen
many since I left my house； and now here before my eyes stand yet another of
the folk of legend。 Are not these the Halflings； that some among us call the
Holbytlan？'
'Hobbits； if you please； lord；' said Pippin。
'Hobbits？' said Thjoden。 'Your tongue is strangely changed； but the
name sounds not unfitting so。 Hobbits！ No rep