Down the hillside the young Entwash； leaping from its springs high above；
ran noisily from step to step to meet them。 On the right of the stream there
was a long slope； clad with grass； now grey in the twilight。 No trees grew
there and it was open to the sky； stars were shining already in lakes
between shores of cloud。
Treebeard strode up the slope； hardly slackening his pace。 Suddenly
before them the hobbits saw a wide opening。 Two great trees stood there； one
on either side； like living gate…posts； but there was no gate save their
crossing and interwoven boughs。 As the old Ent approached； the trees lifted
up their branches； and all their leaves quivered and rustled。 For they were
evergreen trees； and their leaves were dark and polished； and gleamed in the
twilight。 Beyond them was a wide level space； as though the floor of a great
hall had been cut in the side of the hill。 On either hand the walls sloped
upwards； until they were fifty feet high or more； and along each wall stood
an aisle of trees that also increased in height as they marched inwards。
At the far end the rock…wall was sheer； but at the bottom it had been
hollowed back into a shallow bay with an arched roof： the only roof of the
hall； save the branches of the trees； which at the inner end overshadowed
all the ground leaving only a broad open path in the middle。 A little stream
escaped from the springs above； and leaving the main water； fell tinkling
down the sheer face of the wall； pouring in silver drops； like a fine
curtain in front of the arched bay。 The water was gathered again into a
stone basin in the floor between the trees； and thence it spilled and flowed
away beside the open path； out to rejoin the Entwash in its journey through
the forest。
'Hm！ Here we are！' said Treebeard； breaking his long silence。 'I have
brought you about seventy thousand ent…strides； but what that es to in
the measurement of your land I do not know。 Anyhow we are near the roots of
the Last Mountain。 Part of the name of this place might be Wellinghall； if
it were turned into your language。 I like it。 We will stay here tonight。' He
set them down on the grass between the aisles of the trees； and they
followed him towards the great arch。 The hobbits now noticed that as he
walked his knees hardly bent； but his legs opened in a great stride。 He
planted his big toes （and they were indeed big； and very broad） on the
ground first； before any other part of his feet。
For a moment Treebeard stood under the rain of the falling spring； and
took a deep breath； then he laughed； and passed inside。 A great stone table
stood there； but no chairs。 At the back of the bay it was already quite
dark。 Treebeard lifted two great vessels and stood them on the table。 They
seemed to be filled with water； but he held his hands over them； and
immediately they began to glow； one with a golden and the other with a rich
green light； and the blending of the two lights lit the bay； as if the sun
of summer was shining through a roof of young leaves。 Looking back； the
hobbits saw that the trees in the court had also begun to glow； faintly at
first； but steadily quickening； until every leaf was edged with light： some
green； some gold； some red as copper； while the tree…trunks looked like
pillars moulded out of luminous stone。
'Well； well； now we can talk again；' said Treebeard。 'You are thirsty I
expect。 Perhaps you are also tired。 Drink this！' He went to the back of the
bay； and then they saw that several tall stone jars stood there； with heavy
lids。 He removed one of the lids； and dipped in a great ladle； and with it
filled three bowls； one very large bowl； and two smaller ones。
'This is an ent…house；' he said； 'and there are no seats； I fear。 But
you may sit on the table。' Picking up the hobbits he set them on the great
stone slab； six feet above the ground； and there they sat dangling their
legs； and drinking in sips。
The drink was like water； indeed very like the taste of the draughts
they had drunk from the Entwash near； the borders of the forest； and yet
there was some scent or savour in it which they could not describe： it was
faint； but it reminded them of the smell of a distant wood borne from afar
by a cool breeze at night。 The effect of the draught began at the toes； and
rose steadily through every limb； bringing refreshment and vigour as it
coursed upwards； right to the tips of the hair。 Indeed the hobbits felt that
the hair on their heads was actually standing up； waving and curling and
growing。 As for Treebeard； he first laved his feet in the basin beyond the
arch； and then he drained his bowl at one draught； one long； slow draught。
The hobbits thought he would never stop。
At last he set the bowl down again。 'Ah ah；' he sighed。 'Hm； hoom；
now we can talk easier。 You can sit on the floor； and I will lie down； that
will prevent this drink from rising to my head and sending me to sleep。'
On the right side of the bay there was a great bed on low legs； not
more than a couple of feet high； covered deep in dried grass and bracken。
Treebeard lowered himself slowly on to this （with only the slightest sign of
bending at his middle）； until he lay at full length； with his arms behind
his head； looking up at the ceiling。 upon which lights were flickering； like
the play of leaves in the sunshine。 Merry and Pippin sat beside him on
pillows of grass。
'Now tell me your tale； and do not hurry！' said Treebeard。
The hobbits began to tell him the story of their adventures ever since
they left Hobbiton。 They followed no very clear order； for they interrupted
one another continually； and Treebeard often stopped the speaker； and went
back to some earlier point； or jumped forward asking questions about later
events。 They said nothing whatever about the Ring； and did not tell him why
they set out or where they were going to； and he did not ask for any
reasons。
He was immensely interested in everything： in the Black Riders； in
Elrond； and Rivendell； in the Old Forest； and Tom Bombadil； in the Mines of
Moria； and in Lothlurien and Galadriel。 He made them describe the Shire and
its country over and over again。 He said an odd thing at this point。 'You
never see any； hm； any Ents round there do you？' he asked。 'Well； not Ents；
Entwives I should really say。'
'Entwives？' said Pippin。 'Are they like you at all？'
Yes； hm； well no： I do not really know now； said Treebeard
thoughtfully。 'But they would like your country； so I just wondered。'
Treebeard was however especially interested in everything that
concerned Gandalf； and most interested of all in Saruman's doings。 The
hobbits regretted very much that they knew so little about them： only a
rather vague report by Sam of what Gandalf had told the Council。 But they
were clear at any rate that Ug