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underground places are drowned； and the outlets blocked； then Saruman must
stay upstairs and look out of the windows。'
'Leave it to the Ents！' said Treebeard。 'We shall search the valley
from head to foot and peer under every pebble。 Trees are ing back to live
here； old trees； wild trees。 The Watchwood we will call it。 Not a squirrel
will go here； but I shall know of it。 Leave it to Ents！ Until seven times
the years in which he tormented us have passed； we shall not tire of
watching him。'
Chapter 11。 The Palantnr
The sun was sinking behind the long western arm of the mountains when
Gandalf and his panions； and the king with his Riders； set out again from
Isengard。 Gandalf took Merry behind him； and Aragorn took Pippin。 Two of the
king's men went on ahead； riding swiftly； and passed soon out of sight down
into the valley。 The others followed at an easy pace。
Ents in a solemn row stood like statues at the gate； with their long
arms uplifted； but they made no sound。 Merry and Pippin looked back； when
they had passed some way down the winding road。 Sunlight was still shining
in the sky； but long shadows reached over Isengard： grey ruins falling into
darkness。 Treebeard stood alone there now； like the distant stump of an old
tree： the hobbits thought of their first meeting； upon the sunny ledge far
away on the borders of Fangorn。
They came to the pillar of the White Hand。 The pillar was still
standing； but the graven hand had been thrown down and broken into small
pieces。 Right in the middle of the road the long forefinger lay； white in
the dusk； its red nail darkening to black。
'The Ents pay attention to every detail！' said Gandalf。
They rode on； and evening deepened in the valley。
'Are we riding far tonight； Gandalf？' asked Merry after a while。 'I
don't know how you feel with small rag…tag dangling behind you； but the
rag…tag is tired and will be glad to stop dangling and lie down。'
'So you heard that？' said Gandalf。 'Don't let it rankle！ Be thankful no
longer words were aimed at you。 He had his eyes on you。 If it is any fort
to your pride； I should say that； at the moment； you and Pippin are more in
his thoughts than all the rest of us。 Who you are； how you came there； and
why； what you know； whether you were captured； and if so； how you escaped
when all the Orcs perished it is with those little riddles that the great
mind Saruman is troubled。 A sneer from him； Meriadoc； is a pliment； if
you feel honoured by his concern。'
'Thank you！' said Merry。 'But it is a greater honour to dangle at your
tail； Gandalf。 For one thing； in that position one has a chance of putting a
question a second time。 Are we riding far tonight？'
Gandalf laughed。 'A most unquenchable hobbit！ All Wizards should have a
hobbit or two in their care to teach them the meaning of the word； and to
correct them。 I beg your pardon。 But I have given thought even to these
simple matters。 We will ride for a few hours； gently； until we e to the
end of the valley。 Tomorrow we must ride faster。
'When we came； we meant to go straight from Isengard back to the king's
house at Edoras over the plains； a ride of some days。 But we have taken
thought and changed the plan。 Messengers have gone ahead to Helm's Deep； to
warn them that the king is returning tomorrow。 He will ride from there with
many men to Dunharrow by paths among the hills。 From now on no more than two
or three together are to go openly over the land； by day or night； when it
can be avoided。'
'Nothing or a double helping is your way！' said Merry。 'I am afraid I
was not looking beyond tonight's bed。 Where and what are Helm's Deep and all
the rest of it？ I don't know anything about this country。'
'Then you'd best learn something； if you wish to understand what is
happening。 But not just now； and not from me： I have too many pressing
things to think about。'
'All right； I'll tackle Strider by the camp…fire： he's less testy。 But
why all this secrecy？ I thought we'd won the battle！'
Yes； we have won； but only the first victor and that in itself
increases our danger。 There was some link between Isengard and Mordor； which
I have not yet fathomed。 How they exchanged news I am not sure； but they did
so。 The Eye of Barad…dyr will be looking impatiently towards the Wizard's
Vale； I think； and towards Rohan。 The less it sees the better。'
The road passed slowly； winding down the valley。 Now further； and now
nearer Isen flowed in its stony bed。 Night came down from the mountains。 All
the mists were gone。 A chill wind blew。 The moon； now waxing round； filled
the eastern sky with a pale cold sheen。 The shoulders of the mountain to
their right sloped down to bare hills。 The wide plains opened grey before
them。
At last they halted。 Then they turned aside； leaving the highway and
taking to the sweet upland turf again。 Going westward a mile or so they came
to a dale。 It opened southward； leaning back into the slope of round Dol
Baran； the last hill of the northern ranges； greenfooted； crowned with
heather。 The sides of the glen were shaggy with last year's bracken； among
which the tight…curled fronds of spring were just thrusting through the
sweet…scented earth。 Thornbushes grew thick upon the low banks； and under
them they made their camp； two hours or so before the middle of the night。
They lit a fire in a hollow； down among the roots of a spreading hawthorn；
tall as a tree； writhen with age； but hale in every limb。 Buds were swelling
at each twig's tip。
Guards were set； two at a watch。 The rest； after they had supped；
wrapped themselves in a cloak and blanket and slept。 The hobbits lay in a
corner by themselves upon a pile of old bracken。 Merry was sleepy； but
Pippin now seemed curiously restless。 The bracken cracked and rustled； as he
twisted and turned。
'What's the matter？' asked Merry。 'Are you lying on an ant…hill？'
'No；' said Pippin； 'but I'm not fortable。 I wonder how long it is
since I slept in a bed？'
Merry yawned。 'Work it out on your fingers！' he said。 'But you must
know how long it is since we left Lurien。'
'Oh； that！' said Pippin。 'I mean a real bed in a bedroom。'
'Well； Rivendell then；' said Merry。 'But I could sleep anywhere
tonight。'
'You had the luck； Merry；' said Pippin softly； after a long pause。 'You
were riding with Gandalf。'
'Well； what of it？'
'Did you get any news； any information out of him？'
'Yes； a good deal。 More than usual。 But you heard it all or most of it：
you were close by； and we were talking no secrets。 But you can go with him
tomorrow； if you think you can get more out of him…and if he'll have you。'
'Can I？ Good！ But he's close； isn't he？ Not changed at all。'
'Oh yes； he is！' said Merry； waking up a little； and beginning to
wonder what was bothering his panion。