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here with us。 Whatever may be instore for old Gandalf； I'll wager it isn't a wolf's belly。'
For their defence in the night the pany climbed to the top of thesmall hill under which they had been sheltering。 it was crowned with a knot ofold and twisted trees； about which lay a broken circle of boulder stones。 Inthe midst of this they lit a fire； for there was no hope that darkness andsilence would keep their trail from discovery by the hunting packs。
Round the fire they sat； and those that were not on guard dozed uneasily。
Poor Bill the pony trembled and sweated where he stood。 The howling of thewolves was now all round them； sometimes nearer and sometimes further off。 Inthe dead of the night many shining eyes were seen peering over the brow of thehill。 Some advanced almost to the ring of stones。 At a gap in the circle agreat dark wolf…shape could be seen halted； gazing at them。 A shuddering howlbroke from him； as if he were a captain summoning his pack to the assault。
Gandalf stood up and strode forward； holding his staff aloft。 'Listen；
Hound of Sauron！ ' he cried。 ‘Gandalf is here。 Fly； if you value your foulskin！ I will shrivel you from tail to snout； if you e within this ring。'
The wolf snarled and sprang towards them with a great leap。 At thatmoment there was a sharp twang。 Legolas had loosed his bow。 There was ahideous yell； and the leaping shape thudded to the ground； the elvish arrowhad pierced its throat。 The watching eyes were suddenly extinguished。 Gandalfand Aragorn strode forward； but the hill was deserted； the hunting packs hadfled。 All about them the darkness grew silent； and no cry came on the sighingwind。
The night was old； and westward the waning moon was setting。 gleamingfitfully through the breaking clouds。 Suddenly Frodo started from sleep。
Without warning a storm of howls broke out fierce and wild all about the camp。
A great host of Wargs had gathered silently and was now attacking them fromevery side at once。
‘Fling fuel on the fire！' cried Gandalf to the hobbits。 ‘Draw yourblades； and stand back to back！'
In the leaping light； as the fresh wood blazed up； Frodo saw many greyshapes spring over the ring of stones。 More and more followed。 Through thethroat of one huge leader Aragorn passed his sword with a thrust； with a greatsweep Boromir hewed the head off another。 Beside them Gimli stood with hisstout legs apart； wielding his dwarf…axe。 The bow of Legolas was singing。
In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed suddenly to grow： he rose up； agreat menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upona hill。 Stooping like a cloud； he lifted a burning branch and strode to meetthe wolves。 They gave back before him。 High in the air he tossed the blazingbrand。 It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning； and his voicerolled like thunder。
‘_Naur an edraith ammen！ Naur dan i ngaurhoth！_' he cried。
There was a roar and a crackle； and the tree above him burst into a leafand bloom of blinding flame。 The fire leapt from tree…top to tree…top。 Thewhole hill was crowned with dazzling light。 The swords and knives of thedefenders shone and flickered。 The last arrow of Legolas kindled in the air asit flew； and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolf…chieftain。 All theothers fled。
Slowly the fire died till nothing was left but falling ash and sparks； abitter smoke curled above the burned tree…stumps； and blew darkly from thehill； as the first light of dawn came dimly in the sky。 Their enemies wererouted and did not return。
‘What did I tell you； Mr。 Pippin？ ' said Sam； she/thing his sword。
‘Wolves won't get him。 That was an eye…opener； and no mistake！ Nearly singedthe hair off my head！'
When the full light of the morning came no signs of the wolves were to befound； and they looked in vain for the bodies of the dead。 No trace of thefight remained but the charred trees and the arrows of Legolas lying on thehill…top。 All were undamaged save one of which only the point was left。
‘It is as I feared；' said Gandalf。 ‘These were no ordinary wolves huntingfor food in the wilderness。 Let us eat quickly and go！'
That day the weather changed again； almost as if it was at the mand ofsome power that had no longer any use for snow； since they had retreated fromthe pass； a power that wished now to have a clear light in which things thatmoved in the wild could be seen from far away。 The wind had been turningthrough north to north…west during the night； and now it failed。 The cloudsvanished southwards and the sky was opened； high and blue。 As they stood uponthe hill…side； ready to depart； a pale sunlight gleamed over the mountaintops。
‘We must reach the doors before sunset；' said Gandalf； 'or I fear weshall not reach them at all。 It is not far； but our path may be winding； forhere Aragorn cannot guide us； he has seldom walked in this country； and onlyonce have I been under the west wall of Moria； and that was long ago。
‘There it lies；' he said； pointing away south…eastwards to where themountains' sides fell sheer into the shadows at their feet。 In the distance
could be dimly seen a line of bare cliffs； and in their midst； taller than therest； one great grey wall。 ‘When we left the pass I led you southwards； andnot back to our starting point； as some of you may have noticed。 It is wellthat I did so； for now we have several miles less to cross； and haste isneeded。 Let us go！ '
‘I do not know which to hope；' said Boromir grimly： ‘that Gandalf willfind what he seeks； or that ing to the cliff we shall find the gates lostfor ever。 All choices seem ill； and to be caught between wolves and the wallthe likeliest chance。 Lead on！'
Gimli now walked ahead by the wizard's side； so eager was he to e toMoria。 Together they led the pany back towards the mountains。 The only roadof old to Moria from the west had lain along the course of a stream； theSirannon； that ran out from the feet of the cliffs near where the doors hadstood。 But either Gandalf was astray； or else the land had changed in recentyears； for he did not strike the stream where he looked to find it； only a fewmiles southwards from their start。
The morning was passing towards noon； and still the pany wandered andscrambled in a barren country of red stones。 Nowhere could they see any gleamof water or hear any sound of it。 All was bleak and dry。 Their hearts sank。
They saw no living thing； and not a bird was in the sky； but what the nightwould bring； if it caught them in that lost land； none of them cared to think。
Suddenly Gimli； who had pressed on ahead； called back to them。 He wasstanding on a knoll and pointing to the right。 Hurrying up they saw below thema deep and narrow channel。 It was empty and silent； and hardly a trickle ofwater flowed among the brown and red…stained stones of its bed； but on thenear side there was a path； much broken and decayed； that wound its way amongthe ruined walls and paving…stones of an ancient highroad。
'Ah！ Here it is at last！ ' said Gandalf。 ‘This is where the stream ran：
Sirannon； the Gate…stream； they used to call it。 But what has happened to thewater； I cannot guess； it used to be swift and noisy。 e！ We must hurry on。
We are late。'
The pany were footsore