great¡¡spear¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡thrust¡¡of¡¡his¡¡huge¡¡hide¡¡shield¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡Boromir's¡¡sword¡¡and¡¡bore¡¡him¡¡backwards£»¡¡throwing¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡Diving¡¡under¡¡Aragorn's¡¡blow¡¡with¡¡the¡¡speed¡¡of¡¡a¡¡striking¡¡snake¡¡he¡¡charged¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡and¡¡thrust¡¡with¡¡his¡¡spear¡¡straight¡¡at¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡The¡¡blow¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡right¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡¡was¡¡hurled¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡pinned¡£¡¡Sam£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cry£»¡¡hacked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡spearshaft£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡broke¡£¡¡But¡¡even¡¡as¡¡the¡¡orc¡¡flung¡¡down¡¡the¡¡truncheon¡¡and¡¡swept¡¡out¡¡his¡¡scimitar£»¡¡And¨²ril¡¡came¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡helm¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡like¡¡flame¡¡and¡¡the¡¡helm¡¡burst¡¡asunder¡£¡¡The¡¡orc¡¡fell¡¡with¡¡cloven¡¡head¡£¡¡His¡¡followers¡¡fled¡¡howling£»¡¡as¡¡Boromir¡¡and¡¡Aragorn¡¡sprang¡¡at¡¡them¡£
Doom£»¡¡doom¡¡went¡¡the¡¡drums¡¡in¡¡the¡¡deep¡£¡¡The¡¡great¡¡voice¡¡rolled¡¡out¡¡again¡£
'Now£¡¡¡'¡¡shouted¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'Now¡¡is¡¡the¡¡last¡¡chance¡£¡¡Run¡¡for¡¡it£¡¡¡'
Aragorn¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡Frodo¡¡where¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡stair£»¡¡pushing¡¡Merry¡¡and¡¡Pippin¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡others¡¡followed£»¡¡but¡¡Gimli¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡dragged¡¡away¡¡by¡¡Legolas£º¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡he¡¡lingered¡¡by¡¡Balin's¡¡tomb¡¡with¡¡his¡¡head¡¡bowed¡£¡¡Boromir¡¡hauled¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡door¡¡to£»¡¡grinding¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡hinges£º¡¡it¡¡had¡¡great¡¡iron¡¡rings¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡but¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡fastened¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡all¡¡right£»'¡¡gasped¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'I¡¡can¡¡walk¡£¡¡Put¡¡me¡¡down£¡¡¡'
Aragorn¡¡nearly¡¡dropped¡¡him¡¡in¡¡his¡¡amazement¡£¡¡'I¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡were¡¡dead£¡¡¡'¡¡he¡¡cried¡£
'Not¡¡yet£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'But¡¡there¡¡is¡¡time¡¡for¡¡wonder¡£¡¡Off¡¡you¡¡go£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stairs£¡¡¡Wait¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡for¡¡me¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡e¡¡soon£»¡¡go¡¡on£¡¡¡Go¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡choose¡¡paths¡¡leading¡¡right¡¡and¡¡downwards¡£'
'We¡¡cannot¡¡leave¡¡you¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡the¡¡door¡¡alone£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£
'Do¡¡as¡¡I¡¡say£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡¡fiercely¡£¡¡'Swords¡¡are¡¡no¡¡more¡¡use¡¡here¡£¡¡Go£¡'
The¡¡passage¡¡was¡¡lit¡¡by¡¡no¡¡shaft¡¡and¡¡was¡¡utterly¡¡dark¡£¡¡They¡¡groped¡¡their¡¡way¡¡down¡¡a¡¡long¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡steps£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡nothing£»¡¡except¡¡high¡¡above¡¡them¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡glimmer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wizard's¡¡staff¡£¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡still¡¡standing¡¡on¡¡guard¡¡by¡¡the¡¡closed¡¡door¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡breathed¡¡heavily¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡against¡¡Sam£»¡¡who¡¡put¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡about¡¡him¡£¡¡They¡¡stood¡¡peering¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡Gandalf¡¡above£»¡¡muttering¡¡words¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡the¡¡sloping¡¡roof¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sighing¡¡echo¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡catch¡¡what¡¡was¡¡said¡£¡¡The¡¡walls¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡trembling¡£¡¡Every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡drumbeats¡¡throbbed¡¡and¡¡rolled£º¡¡doom£»¡¡doom¡£
Suddenly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stair¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stab¡¡of¡¡white¡¡light¡£¡¡Then¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡rumble¡¡and¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡thud¡£¡¡The¡¡drumbeats¡¡broke¡¡out¡¡wildly£º¡¡doomboom£»¡¡doomboom£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡stopped¡£¡¡Gandalf¡¡came¡¡flying¡¡down¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡£
'Well£»¡¡well£¡¡¡That's¡¡over£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡done¡¡all¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡have¡¡met¡¡my¡¡match£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡nearly¡¡been¡¡destroyed¡£¡¡But¡¡don't¡¡stand¡¡here£¡¡¡Go¡¡on£¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡without¡¡light¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£º¡¡I¡¡am¡¡rather¡¡shaken¡£¡¡Go¡¡on£¡¡¡Go¡¡on£¡¡¡Where¡¡are¡¡you£»¡¡Gimli£¿¡¡e¡¡ahead¡¡with¡¡me£¡¡¡Keep¡¡close¡¡behind£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡you£¡'
They¡¡stumbled¡¡after¡¡him¡¡wondering¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡£¡¡Doom£»¡¡doom¡¡went¡¡the¡¡drumbeats¡¡again£º¡¡they¡¡now¡¡sounded¡¡muffled¡¡and¡¡far¡¡away£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡following¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡pursuit£»¡¡neither¡¡tramp¡¡of¡¡feet£»¡¡nor¡¡any¡¡voice¡£¡¡Gandalf¡¡took¡¡no¡¡turns£»¡¡right¡¡or¡¡left£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡going¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡that¡¡he¡¡desired¡£¡¡Every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡it¡¡descended¡¡a¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡steps£»¡¡fifty¡¡or¡¡more£»¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lower¡¡level¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡was¡¡their¡¡chief¡¡danger£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡a¡¡descent£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡came¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡their¡¡feet¡¡out¡¡into¡¡emptiness¡£¡¡Gandalf¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡his¡¡staff¡¡like¡¡a¡¡blind¡¡man¡£
At¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡a¡¡mile£»¡¡or¡¡maybe¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡descended¡¡many¡¡flights¡¡of¡¡stairs¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡still¡¡no¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡Almost¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡escape¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡flight¡¡Gandalf¡¡halted¡£
'It¡¡is¡¡getting¡¡hot£¡¡¡'¡¡he¡¡gasped¡£¡¡'We¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡down¡¡at¡¡least¡¡to¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Gates¡¡now¡£¡¡Soon¡¡I¡¡think¡¡we¡¡should¡¡look¡¡for¡¡a¡¡lefthand¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡take¡¡us¡¡east¡£¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡far¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡weary¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡rest¡¡here¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡all¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡ever¡¡spawned¡¡are¡¡after¡¡us¡£'
Gimli¡¡took¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡helped¡¡him¡¡down¡¡to¡¡a¡¡seat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡step¡£¡¡'What¡¡happened¡¡away¡¡up¡¡there¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door£¿¡¡'¡¡he¡¡asked¡£¡¡'Did¡¡you¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡beater¡¡of¡¡the¡¡drums£¿¡¡'
'I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know£»'¡¡answered¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'But¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡suddenly¡¡faced¡¡by¡¡something¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡met¡¡before¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡but¡¡to¡¡try¡¡and¡¡put¡¡a¡¡shuttingspell¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡many£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡do¡¡things¡¡of¡¡that¡¡kind¡¡rightly¡¡requires¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡then¡¡the¡¡door¡¡can¡¡be¡¡broken¡¡by¡¡strength¡£
'As¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡I¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡orcvoices¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side£º¡¡at¡¡any¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡they¡¡would¡¡burst¡¡it¡¡open¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡was¡¡said£»¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡talking¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡hideous¡¡language¡£¡¡All¡¡I¡¡caught¡¡was¡¡ghash£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡¡¨fire¡¨¡£¡¡Then¡¡something¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡through¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡themselves¡¡were¡¡afraid¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡silent¡£¡¡It¡¡laid¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡ring£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡perceived¡¡me¡¡and¡¡my¡¡spell¡£
'What¡¡it¡¡was¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡guess£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡felt¡¡such¡¡a¡¡challenge¡£¡¡The¡¡counterspell¡¡was¡¡terrible¡£¡¡It¡¡nearly¡¡broke¡¡me¡£¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡door¡¡left¡¡my¡¡control¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡open£¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡a¡¡word¡¡of¡¡mand¡£¡¡That¡¡proved¡¡too¡¡great¡¡a¡¡strain¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡burst¡¡in¡¡pieces¡£¡¡Something¡¡dark¡¡as¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡was¡¡blocking¡¡out¡¡all¡¡the¡¡light¡¡inside£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thrown¡¡backwards¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stairs¡£¡¡All¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡gave¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡Balin¡¡is¡¡buried¡¡deep£»¡¡and¡¡maybe¡¡something¡¡else¡¡is¡¡buried¡¡there¡¡too¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡say¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡least¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡behind¡¡us¡¡was¡¡pletely¡¡blocked¡£¡¡Ah£¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡spent£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡passing¡£¡¡And¡¡now¡¡what¡¡about¡¡you£»¡¡Frodo£¿¡¡There¡¡was¡¡not¡¡time¡¡to¡¡say¡¡so£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡been¡¡more¡¡delighted¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡¡than¡¡when¡¡you¡¡spoke¡£¡¡I¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡brave¡¡but¡¡dead¡¡hobbit¡¡that¡¡Aragorn¡¡was¡¡carrying¡£'
'What¡¡about¡¡me£¿¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡alive£»¡¡and¡¡whole¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡bruised¡¡and¡¡in¡¡pain£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡too¡¡bad¡£'
'Well£»'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn£»¡¡'I¡¡can¡¡only¡¡say¡¡that¡¡hobbits¡¡are¡¡made¡¡of¡¡a¡¡stuff¡¡so¡¡tough¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡met¡¡the¡¡like¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Had¡¡I¡¡known£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡spoken¡¡softer¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Inn¡¡at¡¡Bree£¡¡¡That¡¡spearthrust¡¡would¡¡have¡¡skewered¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡boar£¡¡¡'
'Well£»¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡skewer¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡say£»'¡¡said¡¡Frodo£»¡¡'though¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡caught¡¡between¡¡a¡¡hammer¡¡and¡¡an¡¡anvil¡£'¡¡He¡¡said¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡breathing¡¡painful¡£
'You¡¡take¡¡after¡¡Bilbo£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'There¡¡is¡¡more¡¡about¡¡you¡¡than¡¡meets¡¡the¡¡eye£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡said¡¡of¡¡him¡¡long¡¡ago¡£'¡¡Frodo¡¡wondered¡¡if¡¡the¡¡remark¡¡meant¡¡more¡¡than¡¡it¡¡said¡£
They¡¡now¡¡went¡¡on¡¡again¡£¡¡Before¡¡long¡¡Gimli¡¡spoke¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡keen¡¡eyes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡£¡¡'I¡¡think£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡light¡¡ahead¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡daylight¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡red¡£¡¡What¡¡can¡¡it¡¡be£¿¡¡'
'Ghash£¡'¡¡muttered¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'I¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡that¡¡is¡¡what¡¡they¡¡meant£º¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡levels¡¡are¡¡on¡¡fire£¿¡¡Still£»¡¡we¡¡can¡¡only¡¡go¡¡on¡£'
Soon¡¡the¡¡light¡¡became¡¡unmistakable£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡by¡¡all¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡flickering¡¡and¡¡glowing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡away¡¡down¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡now¡¡see¡¡their¡¡way£º¡¡in¡¡front¡¡the¡¡road¡¡sloped¡¡down¡¡swiftly£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡way¡¡ahead¡¡there¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡low¡¡archway£»¡¡through¡¡it¡¡the¡¡glowing¡¡light¡¡came¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡became¡¡very¡¡hot¡£
When¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡Gandalf¡¡went¡¡through£»¡¡signing¡¡to¡¡them¡¡to¡¡wait¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡stood¡¡just¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡face¡¡lit¡¡by¡¡a¡¡red¡¡glow¡£¡¡Quickly¡¡he¡¡stepped¡¡back¡£
'There¡¡is¡¡some¡¡new¡¡devilry¡¡here£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'devised¡¡for¡¡our¡¡wele¡¡no¡¡doubt¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡know¡¡now¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are£º¡¡we¡¡have¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Deep£»¡¡the¡¡level¡¡immediately¡¡below¡¡the¡¡Gates¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Second¡¡Hall¡¡of¡¡Old¡¡Moria£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Gates¡¡are¡¡near£º¡¡away¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡eastern¡¡end£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mile¡£¡¡Across¡¡the¡¡Bridge£»¡¡up¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡stair£»¡¡along¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡road¡¡through¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Hall£»¡¡and¡¡out£¡¡¡But¡¡e¡¡and¡¡look£¡¡¡'
They¡¡peered¡¡out¡£¡¡Before¡¡them¡¡was¡¡another¡¡cavernous¡¡hall¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡loftier¡¡and¡¡far¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡the¡¡one¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡slept¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡near¡¡its¡¡eastern¡¡end£»¡¡westward¡¡it¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡into¡¡darkness¡£¡¡Down¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡stalked¡¡a¡¡double¡¡line¡¡of¡¡towering¡¡pillars¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡carved¡¡like¡¡boles¡¡of¡¡mighty¡¡trees¡¡whose¡¡boughs¡¡upheld¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡with¡¡a¡¡branching¡¡tracery¡¡of¡¡stone¡£¡¡Their¡¡stems¡¡were¡¡smooth¡¡and¡¡black£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡red¡¡glow¡¡was¡¡darkly¡¡mirrored¡¡in¡¡their¡¡sides¡£¡¡Right¡¡across¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡two¡¡huge¡¡pillars¡¡a¡¡great¡¡fissure¡¡had¡¡opened¡£¡¡Out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡a¡¡fierce¡¡red¡¡light¡¡came£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡flames¡¡licked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡and¡¡curled¡¡about¡¡the¡¡bases¡¡of¡¡the¡¡columns¡£¡¡Wisps¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡smoke¡¡wavered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hot¡¡air¡£
'If¡¡we¡¡had¡¡e¡¡by¡¡the¡¡main¡¡road¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡halls£»¡¡we¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡trapped¡¡here£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'Let¡¡us¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡now¡¡lies¡¡between¡¡us¡¡and¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡e£¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡time¡¡to¡¡lose¡£'
Even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡again¡¡the¡¡pursuing¡¡drumbeat£º¡¡Doom£»¡¡doom£»¡¡doom¡£¡¡Away¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡at¡¡the¡¡western¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡there¡¡came¡¡cries¡¡and¡¡horncalls¡£¡¡Doom£»¡¡doom£º¡¡the¡¡pillars¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡tremble¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡to¡¡quiver¡£
'Now¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡race£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'If¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡is¡¡shining¡¡outside¡¡we¡¡may¡¡still¡¡escape¡£¡¡After¡¡me£¡¡¡'
He¡¡turned¡¡left¡¡and¡¡sped¡¡across¡¡the¡¡smooth¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡The¡¡distance¡¡was¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡it¡¡had¡¡looked¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡ran¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡beat¡¡and¡¡echo¡¡of¡¡many¡¡hurrying¡¡feet¡¡behind¡£¡¡A¡¡shrill¡¡yell¡¡went¡¡up£º¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡seen¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡ring¡¡and¡¡clash¡¡of¡¡steel¡£¡¡An¡¡arrow¡¡whistled¡¡over¡¡Frodo's¡¡head¡£
Boromir¡¡laughed¡£¡¡'They¡¡did¡¡not¡¡expect¡¡this£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'The¡¡fire¡¡has¡¡cut¡¡them¡¡off¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡side£¡¡¡'
'Look¡¡ahead£¡¡¡'¡¡called¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'The¡¡Bridge¡¡is¡¡near¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡dangerous¡¡and¡¡narrow¡£'
Suddenly¡¡Frodo¡¡saw¡¡before¡¡him¡¡a¡¡black¡¡chasm¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡vanished¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡an¡¡unknown¡¡depth¡£¡¡The¡¡outer¡¡door¡¡could¡¡only¡¡be¡¡reached¡¡by¡¡a¡¡slender¡¡bridge¡¡of¡¡stone£»¡¡without¡¡kerb¡¡or¡¡rail£»¡¡that¡¡spanned¡¡the¡¡chasm¡¡with¡¡one¡¡curving¡¡spring¡¡of¡¡fifty¡¡feet¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡ancient¡¡defence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dwarves¡¡against¡¡any¡¡enemy¡¡that¡¡might¡¡capture¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Hall¡¡and¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡passages¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡only¡¡pass¡¡across¡¡it¡¡in¡¡single¡¡file¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡Gandalf¡¡halted¡¡and¡¡the¡¡others¡¡came¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pack¡¡behind¡£
'Lead¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡Gimli£¡¡¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'Pippin¡¡and¡¡Merry¡¡next¡£¡¡Straight¡¡on¡¡and¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stair¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡door£¡¡¡'
Arrows¡¡fell¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡One¡¡struck¡¡Frodo¡¡and¡¡sprang¡¡back¡£¡¡Another¡¡pierced¡¡Gandalf's¡¡hat¡¡and¡¡stuck¡¡there¡¡like¡¡a¡¡black¡¡feather¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡looked¡¡behind¡£¡¡Beyond¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡swarming¡¡black¡¡figures£º¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡orcs¡£¡¡They¡¡brandished¡¡spears¡¡and¡¡scimitars¡¡which¡¡shone¡¡red¡¡as¡¡blood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡firelight¡£¡¡Doom£»¡¡doom¡¡rolled¡¡the¡¡drumbeats£»¡¡growing¡¡louder¡¡and¡¡louder£»¡¡doom£»¡¡doom¡£
Legolas¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡set¡¡an¡¡arrow¡¡to¡¡the¡¡string£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long¡¡shot¡¡for¡¡his¡¡small¡¡bow¡£¡¡He¡¡drew£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡fell£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡arrow¡¡slipped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡dismay¡¡and¡¡fear¡£¡¡Two¡¡great¡¡trolls¡¡appeared£»¡¡they¡¡bore¡¡great¡¡slabs¡¡of¡¡stone£»¡¡and¡¡flung¡¡them¡¡down¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡as¡¡gangways¡¡over¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡trolls¡¡that¡¡had¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡Elf¡¡with¡¡terror¡£¡¡The¡¡ranks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡had¡¡opened£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡crowded¡¡away£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡themselves¡¡were¡¡afraid¡£¡¡Something¡¡was¡¡ing¡¡up¡¡behind¡¡them¡£¡¡What¡¡it¡¡was¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡seen£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡great¡¡shadow£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡form£»¡¡of¡¡manshape¡¡maybe£»¡¡yet¡¡greater£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡power¡¡and¡¡terror¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡it¡¡and¡¡to¡¡go¡¡before¡¡it¡£
It¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡the¡¡light¡¡faded¡¡as¡¡if¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡had¡¡bent¡¡over¡¡it¡£¡¡Then¡¡wi