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Frodo and Gimli standing at his side could see； as he gingerly turned the leaves； that they were written by many different hands； in runes； both of Moria and of Dale； and here and there in Elvish script。
At last Gandalf looked up。 'It seems to be a record of the fortunes of Balin's folk；' he said。 ‘I guess that it began with their ing to Dimrill Dale nigh on thirty years ago： the pages seem to have numbers referring to the years after their arrival。 The top page is marked one … three； so at least two are missing from the beginning。 Listen to this！
'We drove out orcs from the great gate and guard … I think； the next word is blurred and burned； probably room … we slew many in the bright … I think … sun in the dale。 Flói was killed by an arrow。 He slew the great。 Then there is a blur followed by Flói under grass near Mirror mere。 The next line or two I cannot read。 Then es We have taken the twentyfirst hall of North end to dwell in。 There is I cannot read what。 A shaft is mentioned。 Then Balin has set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul。'
'The Chamber of Records；' said Gimli。 ‘I guess that is where we now stand。'
‘Well； I can read no more for a long way；' said Gandalf； 'except the word gold； and Durin's Axe and something helm。 Then Balin is now lord of Moria。 That seems to end a chapter。 After some stars another hand begins； and I can see we found truesilver； and later the word wellforged and then something； I have it！ mithril； and the last two lines óin to seek for the upper armouries of Third Deep； something go westwards； a blur； to Hollin gate。'
Gandalf paused and set a few leaves aside。 'There are several pages of the same sort； rather hastily written and much damaged； he said； ‘but I can make little of them in this light。 Now there must be a number of leaves missing； because they begin to be numbered five； the fifth year of the colony； I suppose。 Let me see！ No； they are too cut and stained； I cannot read them。 We might do better in the sunlight。 Wait！ Here is something： a large bold hand using an Elvish script。'
'That would be Ori's hand；' said Gimli； looking over the wizard's arm。 ‘He could write well and speedily； and often used the Elvish characters。'
‘I fear he had ill tidings to record in a fair hand；' said Gandalf。 'The first clear word is sorrow； but the rest of the line is lost； unless it ends in estre。 Yes； it must be yestre followed by day being the tenth of novembre Balin lord of Moria fell in Dimrill Dale。 He went alone to look in Mirror mere。 an orc shot him from behind a stone。 we slew the orc； hut many more 。。。 up from east up the Silverlode。 The remainder of the page is so blurred that I can hardly make anything out； but I think I can read we have barred the gates； and then can hold them long if； and then perhaps horrible and suffer。 Poor Balin！ He seems to have kept the title that he took for less than five years。 I wonder what happened afterwards； but there is no time to puzzle out the last few pages。 Here is the last page of all。' He paused and sighed。
‘It is grim reading；' he said。 'I fear their end was cruel。 Listen！ We cannot get out。 We cannot get out。 They have taken the Bridge and second hall。 Frár and Lóni and Náli fell there。 Then there are four lines smeared so that I can only read went 5 days ago。 The last lines run the pool is up to the wall at Westgate。 The Watcher in the Water took óin。 We cannot get out。 The end es； and then drums； drums in the deep。 I wonder what that means。 The last thing written is in a trailing scrawl of elf…letters： they are ing。 There is nothing more。' Gandalf paused and stood in silent thought。
A sudden dread and a horror of the chamber fell on the pany。 ‘We cannot get out；' muttered Gimli。 'It was well for us that the pool had sunk a little； and that the Watcher was sleeping down at the southern end。'
Gandalf raised his head and looked round。 ‘They seem to have made a last stand by both doors；' he said； 'but there were not many left by that time。 So ended the attempt to retake Moria！ It was valiant but foolish。 The time is not e yet。 Now； I fear； we must say farewell to Balin son of Fundin。 Here he must lie in the halls of his fathers。 We will take this book； the Book of Mazarbul； and look at it more closely later。 You had better keep it； Gimli； and take it back to Dáin； if you get a chance。 It will interest him； though it will grieve him deeply。 e； let us go！ The morning is passing。'
'Which way shall we go？ ' asked Boromir。
'Back to the hall；' answered Gandalf。 'But our visit to this room has not been in vain。 I now know where we are。 This must be； as Gimli says； the Chamber of Mazarbul； and the hall must be the twenty…first of the North…end。 Therefore we should leave by the eastern arch of the hall； and bear right and south； and go downwards。 The Twenty…first Hall should be on the Seventh Level； that is six above the level of the Gates。 e now！ Back to the hall！ '
Gandalf had hardly spoken these words； when there came a great noise： a rolling Boom that seemed to e from depths far below； and to tremble in the stone at their feet。 They sprang towards the door in alarm。 Doom； doom it rolled again； as if huge hands were turning the very caverns of Moria into a vast drum。 Then there came an echoing blast： a great horn was blown in the hall； and answering horns and harsh cries were heard further off。 There was a hurrying sound of many feet。
‘They are ing！ ' cried Legolas。
'We cannot get out；' said Gimli。
‘Trapped！ ' cried Gandalf。 ‘Why did I delay？ Here we are； caught； just as they were before。 But I was not here then。 We will see what '
Doom； doom came the drum…beat and the walls shook。
'Slam the doors and wedge them！ ' shouted Aragorn。 'And keep your packs on as long as you can： we may get a chance to cut our way out yet。'
‘No！ ' said Gandalf。 'We must not get shut in。 Keep the east door ajar！ We will go that way； if we get a chance。'
Another harsh horn…call and shrill cries rang out。 Feet were ing down the corridor。 There was a ring and clatter as the pany drew their swords。 Glamdring shone with a pale light； and Sting glinted at the edges。 Boromir set his shoulder against the western door。
‘Wait a moment！ Do not close it yet！ ' said Gandalf。 He sprang forward to Boromir's side and drew himself up to his full height。
'Who es hither to disturb the rest of Balin Lord of Moria？ ' he cried in a loud voice。
There was a rush of hoarse laughter； like the fall of sliding stones into a pit； amid the clamour a deep voice was raised in mand。 Doom； boom； doom went the drums in the deep。
With a quick movement Gandalf stepped before the narrow opening of the door and thrust forward his staff： There was a dazzling flash that lit the chamber and the passage outside。 For an instant the wizard looked out。 Arrows whined and whistled down the corridor as he sprang back。
'There are Orcs； very many of them；' he said。 ‘And some are large and evil： black Uruks of Mordor。 For the moment they are hanging back； but there is something else there。 A great cave…troll； I think； or more than one。 There is no hope of escape that way。'
'And no hope at all； if they e at the other door as well；