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withstood the storms of time； so there the palantnr of that tower has
remained。 But alone it could do nothing but see small images of things far
off and days remote。 Very useful； no doubt； that was to Saruman； yet it
seems that he was not content。 Further and further abroad he gazed； until he
cast his gaze upon Barad…dyr。 Then he was caught！
'Who knows where the lost Stones of Arnor and Gondor now lie buried； or
drowned deep？ But one。 at least Sauron must have obtained and mastered to
his purposes。 I guess that it was the Ithil…stone； for he took Minas Ithil
long ago and turned it into an evil place： Minas Morgul； it has bee。
'Easy it is now to guess how quickly the roving eye of Saruman was
trapped and held； and how ever since he has been persuaded from afar； and
daunted when persuasion would not serve。 The biter bit； the hawk under the
eagle's foot； the spider in a steel web！ How long； I wonder； has he been
constrained to e often to his glass for inspection and instruction； and
the Orthanc…stone so bent towards Barad…dyr that； if any save a will of
adamant now looks into it； it will bear his mind and sight swiftly thither？
And how it draws one to itself！ Have I not felt it？ Even now my heart
desires to test my will upon it； to see if I could not wrench it from him
and turn it where I would…to look across the wide seas of water and of time
to Tirion the Fair； and perceive the unimaginable hand and mind of Flanor at
their work； while both the White Tree and the Golden were in flower！' He
sighed and fell silent。
'I wish I had known all this before；' said Pippin。 'I had no notion of
what I was doing。'
'Oh yes； you had；' said Gandalf。 'You knew you were behaving wrongly
and foolishly； and you told yourself so； though you did not listen。 I did
not tell you all this before； because it is only by musing on all that has
happened that I have at last understood； even as we ride together。 But if I
had spoken sooner； it would not have lessened your desire； or made it easier
to resist。 On the contrary！ No； the burned hand teaches best。 After that
advice about fire goes to the heart。'
'It does；' said Pippin。 'If all the seven stones were laid out before
me now； I should shut my eyes and put my hands in my pockets。'
'Good！' said Gandalf。 'That is what I hoped。'
'But I should like to know' Pippin began。
'Mercy！' cried Gandalf。 'If the giving of information is to be the cure
of your inquisitiveness； I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering
you。 What more do you want to know？'
'The names of all the stars； and of all living things； and the whole
history of Middle…earth and Over…heaven and of the Sundering Seas ' laughed
Pippin。 'Of course！ What less？ But I am not in a hurry tonight。 At the
moment I was just wondering about the black shadow。 I heard you shout
〃messenger of Mordor〃。 What was it？ What could it do at Isengard？'
'It was a Black Rider on wings； a Nazgyl；' said Gandalf。 'It could have
taken you away to the Dark Tower。'
'But it was not ing for me； was it？' faltered Pippin。 'I mean； it
didn't know that I had。。。 '
'Of course not；' said Gandalf。 'It is two hundred leagues or more in
straight flight from Barad…dyr to Orthanc； and even a Nazgyl would take a
few hours to fly between them。 But Saruman certainly looked in the Stone
since the orc…raid； and more of his secret thought； I do not doubt； has been
read than he intended。 A messenger has been sent to find out what he is
doing。 And after what has happened tonight another will e； I think； and
swiftly。 So Saruman will e to the last pinch of the vice that he has put
his hand in。 He has no captive to send。 He has no Stone to see with； and
cannot answer the summons。 Sauron will only believe that he is withholding
the captive and refusing to use the Stone。 It will not help Saruman to tell
the truth to the messenger。 For Isengard may be ruined； yet he is still safe
in Orthanc。 So whether he will or no； he will appear a rebel。 Yet he
rejected us； so as to avoid that very thing！ What he will do in such a
plight； I cannot guess。 He has power still； I think； while in Orthanc； to
resist the Nine Riders。 He may try to do so。 He may try to trap the Nazgyl；
or at least to slay the thing on which it now rides the air。 In that case
let Rohan look to its horses！
'But I cannot tell how it will fall out； well or ill for us。 It may be
that the counsels of the Enemy will be confused； or hindered by his wrath
with Saruman。 It may be that he will learn that I was there and stood upon
the stairs of Orthanc…with hobbits at my tail。 Or that an heir of Elendil
lives and stood beside me。 If Wormtongue was not deceived by the armour of
Rohan； he would remember Aragorn and the title that he claimed。 That is what
I fear。 And so we fly not from danger but into greater danger。 Every
stride of Shadowfax bears you nearer to the Land of Shadow； Peregrin Took。'
Pippin made no answer； but clutched his cloak； as if a sudden chill had
struck him。 Grey land passed under them。
'See now！' said Gandalf。 'The Westfold dales are opening before us。
Here we e back to the eastward road。 The dark shadow yonder is the mouth
of the Deeping…coomb。 That way lies Aglarond and the Glittering Caves。 Do
not ask me about them。 Ask Gimli； if you meet again； and for the first time
you may get an answer longer than you wish。 You will not see the caves
yourself； not on this journey。 Soon they will be far behind。'
'I thought you were going to stop at Helm's Deep！' said Pippin。 'Where
are you going then？'
'To Minas Tirith； before the seas of war surround it。'
'Oh！ And how far is that？'
'Leagues upon leagues；' answered Gandalf。 'Thrice as far as the
dwellings of King Thjoden； and they are more than a hundred miles east from
here； as the messengers of Mordor fly。 Shadowfax must run a longer road。
Which will prove the swifter？
'We shall ride now till daybreak； and that is some hours away。 Then
even Shadowfax must rest； in some hollow of the hills： at Edoras； I hope。
Sleep； if you can！ You may see the first glimmer of dawn upon the golden
roof of the house of Eorl。 And in two days thence you shall see the purple
shadow of Mount Mindolluin and the walls of the tower of Denethor white in
the morning。
'Away now； Shadowfax！ Run； greatheart； run as you have never run
before！ Now we are e to the lands where you were foaled and every stone
you know。 Run now！ Hope is in speed！'
Shadowfax tossed his head and cried aloud； as if a trumpet had summoned
him to battle。 Then he sprang forward。 Fire flew from his feet； night rushed
over him。
As he fell slowly into sleep； Pippin had a strange feeling： he and
Gandalf were still as stone； seated upon the statue of a running horse；
while the world rolled away beneath his feet with a great no