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'Hobbits？' said Thjoden。 'Your tongue is strangely changed； but the
name sounds not unfitting so。 Hobbits！ No report that I have heard does
justice to the truth。'
Merry bowed； and Pippin got up and bowed low。 'You are gracious； lord；
or I hope that I may so take your words；' he said。 'And here is another
marvel！ I have wandered in many lands； since I left my home； and never till
now have I found people that knew any story concerning hobbits。'
'My people came out of the North long ago；' said Thjoden。 'But I will
not deceive you： we know no tales about hobbits。 All that is said among us
is that far away； over many hills and rivers； live the halfling folk that
dwell in holes in sand…dunes。 But there are no legends of their deeds。 for
it is said that they do little； and avoid the sight of men； being able to
vanish in a twinkling： and they can change their voices to resemble the
piping of birds。 But it seems that more could be said。'
'It could indeed； lord；' said Merry。
'For one thing；' said Thjoden； 'I had not heard that they spouted smoke
from their mouths。'
'That is not surprising；' answered Merry； 'for it is an art which we
have not practised for more than a few generations。 It was Tobold
Hornblower； of Longbottom in the Southfarthing； who first grew the true
pipe…weed in his gardens； about the year 1070 according to our reckoning。
How old Toby came by the plant。。。'
'You do not know your danger； Thjoden；' interrupted Gandalf。 'These
hobbits will sit on the edge of ruin and discuss the pleasures of the table；
or the small doings of their fathers； grandfathers； and great…grandfathers；
and remoter cousins to the ninth degree； if you encourage them with undue
patience。 Some other time would be more fitting for the history of smoking。
Where is Treebeard； Merry？'
'Away on the north side； I believe。 He went to get a drink…of clean
water。 Most of the other Ents are with him； still busy at their work over
there。' Merry waved his hand towards the steaming lake； and as they looked；
they heard a distant rumbling and rattling； as if an avalanche was falling
from the mountain…side。 Far away came a hoom…hom； as of horns blowing
triumphantly。
'And is Orthanc then left unguarded？' asked Gandalf。
'There is the water；' said Merry。 'But Quickbeam and some others are
watching it。 Not all those posts and pillars in the plain are of Saruman's
planting。 Quickbeam； I think； is by the rock； near the foot of the stair。'
'Yes； a tall grey Ent is there；' said Legolas； 'but his arms are at his
sides； and he stands as still as a door…tree。'
'It is past noon；' said Gandalf； 'and we at any rate have not eaten
since early morning。 Yet I wish to see Treebeard as soon as may be。 Did he
leave me no message； or has plate and bottle driven it from your mind？'
'He left a message；' said Merry； 'and I was ing to it； but I have
been hindered by many other questions。 I was to say that； if the Lord of the
Mark and Gandalf will ride to the northern wall they will find Treebeard
there； and he will wele them。 I may add that they will also find food of
the best there； it was discovered and selected by your humble servants。' He
bowed。
Gandalf laughed。 'That is better！' he said。 'Well； Thjoden。 will you
ride with me to find Treebeard？ We must go round about； but it is not far。
When you see Treebeard； you will learn much。 For Treebeard is Fangorn； and
the eldest and chief of the Ents； and when you speak with him you will hear
the speech of the oldest of all living things。'
'I will e with you；' said Thjoden。 'Farewell； my hobbits！ May we
meet again in my house！ There you shall sit beside me and tell me all that
your hearts desire： the deeds of your grandsires； as far as you can reckon
them； and we will speak also of Tobold the Old and his herb…lore。 Farewell！'
The hobbits bowed low。 'So that is the King of Rohan！' said Pippin in
an undertone。 'A fine old fellow。 Very polite。'
Chapter 9。 Flotsam and Jetsam
Gandalf and the King's pany rode away； turning eastward to make the
circuit of the ruined walls of Isengard。 But Aragorn； Gimli； and Legolas
remained behind。 Leaving Arod and Hasufel to stray in search of grass； they
came and sat beside the hobbits。
'Well； well！ The hunt is over； and we meet again at last； where none of
us ever thought to e；' said Aragorn。
'And now that the great ones have gone to discuss high matters；' said
Legolas； 'the hunters can perhaps learn the answers to their own small
riddles。 We tracked you as far as the forest； but there are still many
things that I should like to know the truth of。'
'And there is a great deal； too； that we want to know about you ' said
Merry。 'We have learnt a few things through Treebeard； the Old Ent； but that
is not nearly enough。'
'All in good time；' said Legolas。 'We were the hunters； and you should
give an account of yourselves to us first。'
'Or second；' said Gimli。 'It would go better after a meal。 t have a
sore head； and it is past mid…day。 You truants might make amends by finding
us some of the plunder that you spoke of。 Food and drink would pay off some
of my score against you。'
'Then you shall have it；' said Pippin。 'Will you have it here； or in
more fort in what's left of Saruman's guard…houseover there under the
arch？ We had to picnic out here； so as to keep an eye on the road。'
'Less than an eye！' said Gimli。 'But I will not go into any orc…house
nor touch Orcs' meat or anything that they have mauled。'
'We wouldn't ask you to；' said Merry。 'We have had enough of Orcs
ourselves to last a life…time。 But there were many other folk in Isengard。
Saruman kept enough wisdom not to trust his Orcs。 He had Men to guard his
gates： some of his most faithful servants； I suppose。 Anyway they were
favoured and got good provisions。'
'And pipe…weed？' asked Gimli。
'No； I don't think so；' Merry laughed。 'But that is another story；
which can wait until after lunch。'
'Well let us go and have lunch then！' said the Dwarf。
The hobbits led the way； and they passed under the arch and came to a
wide door upon the left； at the top of a stair。 It opened direct into a
large chamber； with other smaller doors at the far end； and a hearth and
chimney at one side。 The chamber was hewn out of the stone； and it must once
have been dark； for its windows looked out only into the tunnel。 But light
came in now through the broken roof。 On the hearth wood was burning。
'I lit a bit of fire；' said Pippin。 'It cheered us up in the fogs。
There were few faggots about； and most of the wood we could find was wet。
But there is a great draught in the chimney： it seems to wind away up
through the rock； and fortunately it has not been blocked。 A fire is handy。
I will make you some toast。 The bread is three or four d