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ut intoemptiness。
With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward； and its shadow plunged downand vanished。 But even as it fell it swung its whip； and the thongs lashed andcurled about the wizard's knees； dragging him to the brink。 He staggered andfell； grasped vainly at the stone； and slid into the abyss。 'Fly； you fools！
' he cried； and was gone。
The fires went out； and blank darkness fell。 The pany stood rootedwith horror staring into the pit。 Even as Aragorn and Boromir came flyingback； the rest of the bridge cracked and fell。 With a cry Aragorn roused them。
'e！ I will lead you now！ ' he called。 'We must obey his last mand。
Follow me！ '
They stumbled wildly up the great stairs beyond the door。 Aragornleading； Boromir at the rear。 At the top was a wide echoing passage。 Alongthis they fled。 Frodo heard Sam at his side weeping； and then he found that hehimself was weeping as he ran。 _Doom； doom； doom_ the drum…beats rolledbehind； mournful now and slow； _doom！_
They ran on。 The light grew before them； great shafts pierced the roof。
They ran swifter。 They passed into a hall； bright with daylight from its highwindows in the east。 They fled across it。 Through its huge broken doors theypassed； and suddenly before them the Great Gates opened； an arch of blazing
light。
There was a guard of orcs crouching in the shadows behind the great doorposts towering on either side； but the gates were shattered and cast down。
Aragorn smote to the ground the captain that stood in his path； and the restfled in terror of his wrath。 The pany swept past them and took no heed ofthem。 Out of the Gates they ran and sprang down the huge and age…worn steps；
the threshold of Moria。
Thus； at last； they came beyond hope under the sky and felt the wind ontheir faces。
They did not halt until they were out of bowshot from the walls。 DimrillDale lay about them。 The shadow of the Misty Mountains lay upon it； buteastwards there was a golden light on the land。 It was but one hour afternoon。 The sun was shining； the clouds were white and high。
They looked back。 Dark yawned the archway of the Gates under themountain…shadow。 Faint and far beneath the earth rolled the slow drum…beats：
_doom_。 A thin black smoke trailed out。 Nothing else was to be seen； the daleall around was empty。 _Doom_。 Grief at last wholly overcame them； and theywept long： some standing and silent； some cast upon the ground。 _Doom； doom_。
The drum…beats faded。
_Chapter 6_
Lothlórien
'Alas！ I Fear we cannot stay here longer；' said Aragorn。 He lookedtowards the mountains and held up his sword。 ‘Farewell； Gandalf！ ' he cried。
'Did I not say to you： _if you pass the doors of Moria； beware_？ Alas that Ispoke true！ What hope have we without you？ '
He turned to the pany。 ‘We must do without hope；' he said。 ‘At leastwe may yet be avenged。 Let us gird ourselves and weep no more！ e！ We have along road； and much to do。'
They rose and looked about them。 Northward the dale ran up into a glen ofshadows between two great arms of the mountains； above which three white peakswere shining： Celebdil； Fanuidhol； Caradhras。 the Mountains of Moria。 At thehead of the glen a torrent flowed like a white lace over an endless ladder ofshort falls； and a mist of foam hung in the air about the mountains' feet。
‘Yonder is the Dimrill Stair；' said Aragorn； pointing to the falls。 'Downthe deep…cloven way that climbs beside the torrent we should have e； iffortune had been kinder。'
‘Or Caradhras less cruel；' said Gimli。 ‘There he stands smiling in thesun！ ' He shook his fist at the furthest of the snow…capped peaks and turnedaway。
To the east the outflung arm of the mountains marched to a sudden end；
and far lands could be descried beyond them； wide and vague。 To the south theMisty Mountains receded endlessly as far as sight could reach。 Less than amile away； and a little below them； for they still stood high up on the westside of the dale； there lay a mere。 It was long and oval； shaped like a greatspear…head thrust deep into the northern glen； but its southern end was beyondthe shadows under the sunlit sky。 Yet its waters were dark： a deep blue likeclear evening sky seen from a lamp…lit room。 Its face was still and unruffled。
About it lay a smooth sward； shelving down on all sides to its bare unbrokenrim。
‘There lies the Mirrormere； deep Kheled…zaram！ ' said Gimli sadly。 ‘Iremember that he said： 〃May you have joy of the sight！ But we cannot lingerthere。〃 Now long shall I journey ere I have joy again。 It is I that musthasten away； and he that must remain。'
The pany now went down the road from the Gates。 It was rough andbroken； fading to a winding track between heather and whin that thrust amidthe cracking stones。 But still it could be seen that once long ago a greatpaved way had wound upwards from the lowlands of the Dwarf…kingdom。 In placesthere were ruined works of stone beside the path； and mounds of green toppedwith slender birches； or fir…trees sighing in the wind。 An eastward bend ledthem hard by the sward of Mirrormere； and there not far from the roadsidestood a single column broken at the top。
'That is Durin's Stone！ ' cried Gimli。 ‘I cannot pass without turningaside for a moment to look at the wonder of the dale！ '
‘Be swift then！ ' said Aragorn； looking back towards the Gates。 ‘The Sunsinks early。 The Orcs will not； maybe； e out till after dusk； but we mustbe far away before nightfall。 The Moon is almost spent； and it will be darktonight。'
'e with me； Frodo！ ' cried the dwarf； springing from the road。 ‘Iwould not have you go without seeing Kheled…zaram。' He ran down the long greenslope。 Frodo followed slowly； drawn by the still blue water in spite of hurtand weariness； Sam came up behind。
Beside the standing stone Gimli halted and looked up。 It was cracked andweather…worn； and the faint runes upon its side could not be read。 ‘Thispillar marks the spot where Durin first looked in the Mirrormere；' said thedwarf。 'Let us look ourselves once； ere we go！'
They stooped over the dark water。 At first they could see nothing。 Thenslowly they saw the forms of the encircling mountains mirrored in a profoundblue； and the peaks were like plumes of white flame above them； beyond therewas a space of sky。 There like jewels sunk in the deep shone glinting stars；
though sunlight was in the sky above。 Of their own stooping forms no shadowcould be seen。
'O Kheled…zaram fair and wonderful！ ' said Gimli。 ‘There lies the Crown
of Durin till he wakes。 Farewell！ ' He bowed； and turned away； and hastenedback up the green…sward to the road again。
‘What did you see？ ' said Pippin to Sam； but Sam was too deep in thoughtto answer。
The road now turned south and went quickly downwards； running out frombetween the arms of the dale。 Some way below the mere they came on a deep wellof water； clear as crystal； from which a freshet fell over a stone lip and ranglistening and gurgling down a steep rocky channel。
'Here is the spring from which the Silverlode rises。' said Gimli。 ‘Do notdrink of it！ It is icy cold。'
'Soon it bees a swift river； and it gathers water from many othermountain…streams；' said Aragorn。 ‘Our road leads beside it for many miles。 ForI shall take