could see the print of a boot。'
'Why would that make you happy？' said Legolas。
'Because an old man with feet that leave marks might be no more than he
seemed；' answered the Dwarf。
'Maybe；' said the Elf； 'but a heavy boot might leave no print here： the
grass is deep and springy。'
'That would not baffle a Ranger；' said Gimli。 'A bent blade is enough
for Aragorn to read。 But I do not expect him to find any traces。 It was an
evil phantom of Saruman that we saw last night。 I am sure of it； even under
the light of morning。 His eyes are looking out on us from Fangorn even now；
maybe。'
'It is likely enough；' said Aragorn； 'yet I am not sure。 I am thinking
of the horses。 You said last night； Gimli； that they were scared away。 But I
did not think so。 Did you hear them； Legolas？ Did they sound to you like
beasts in terror？'
'No；' said Legolas。 'I heard them clearly。 But for the darkness and our
own fear I should have guessed that they were beasts wild with some sudden
gladness。 They spoke as horses will when they meet a friend that they have
long missed。'
'So I thought；' said Aragorn； 'but I cannot read the riddle； unless
they return。 e！ The light is growing fast。 Let us look first and guess
later！ We should begin here； near to our own camping…ground； searching
carefully all about； and working up the slope towards the forest。 To find
the hobbits is our errand； whatever we may think of our visitor in the
night。 If they escaped by some chance； then they must have hidden in the
trees； or they would have been seen。 If we find nothing between here and the
eaves of the wood； then we will make a last search upon the battle…field and
among the ashes。 But there is little hope there： the horsemen of Rohan did
their work too well。'
For some time the panions crawled and groped upon the ground。 The
tree stood mournfully above them； its dry leaves now hanging limp； and
rattling in the chill easterly wind。 Aragorn moved slowly away。 He came to
the ashes of the watch…fire near the river…bank； and then began to retrace
the ground back towards the knoll where the battle had been fought。 Suddenly
he stooped and bent low with his face almost in the grass。 Then he called to
the others。 They came running up。
'Here at last we find news！' said Aragorn。 He lifted up a broken leaf
for them to see； a large pale leaf of golden hue； now fading and turning
brown。 'Here is a mallorn…leaf of Lurien； and there are small crumbs on it；
and a few more crumbs in the grass。 And see！ there are some pieces of cut
cord lying nearby！'
'And here is the knife that cut them！' said Gimli。 He stooped and drew
out of a tussock； into which some heavy foot had trampled it； a short jagged
blade。 The haft from which it had been snapped was beside it。 'It was an
orc…weapon；' he said； holding it gingerly； and looking with disgust at the
carved handle： it had been shaped like a hideous head with squinting eyes
and leering mouth。
'Well； here is the strangest riddle that we have yet found！' exclaimed
Legolas。 'A bound prisoner escapes both from the Orcs and from the
surrounding horsemen。 He then stops； while still in the open； and cuts his
bonds with an orc…knife。 But how and why？ For if his legs were tied； how did
he walk？ And if his arms were tied； how did he use the knife？ And if neither
were tied； why did he cut the cords at all？ Being pleased with his skill； he
then sat down and quietly ate some waybread！ That at least is enough to show
that he was a hobbit； without the mallorn…leaf。 After that； I suppose； he
turned his arms into wings and flew away singing into the trees。 It should
be easy to find him： we only need wings ourselves！'
'There was sorcery here right enough；' said Gimli。 'What was that old
man doing？ What have you to say； Aragorn； to the reading of Legolas。 Can you
better it？'
'Maybe； I could；' said Aragorn； smiling。 'There are some other signs
near at hand that you have not considered。 I agree that the prisoner was a
hobbit and must have had either legs or hands free； before he came here。 I
guess that it was hands； because the riddle then bees easier； and also
because； as I read the marks； he was carried to this point by an Orc。 Blood
was spilled there； a few paces away； orc…blood。 There are deep prints of
hoofs all about this spot； and signs that a heavy thing was dragged away。
The Orc was slain by horsemen； and later his body was hauled to the fire。
But the hobbit was not seen： he was not 〃in the open〃； for it was night and
he still had his elven…cloak。 He was exhausted and hungry； and it is not to
be wondered at that； when he had cut his bonds with the knife of his fallen
enemy； he rested and ate a little before he crept away。 But it is a fort
to know that he had some lembas in his pocket； even though he ran away
without gear or pack； that； perhaps； is like a hobbit。 I say he； though I
hope and guess that both Merry and Pippin were here together。 There is；
however； nothing to show that for certain。'
'And how do you suppose that either of our friends came to have a hand
free？' asked Gimli。
'I do not know how it happened；' answered Aragorn。 'Nor do I know why
an Orc was carrying them away。 Not to help them to escape； we may be sure。
Nay； rather I think that I now begin to understand a matter that has puzzled
me from the beginning： why when Boromir had fallen were the Orcs content
with the capture of Merry and Pippin？ They did not seek out the rest of us；
nor attack our camp； but instead they went with all speed towards Isengard。
Did they suppose they had captured the Ring…bearer and his faithful rade？
I think not。 Their masters would not dare to give such plain orders to Orcs；
even if they knew so much themselves； they would not speak openly to them of
the Ring： they are not trusty servants。 But I think the Orcs had been
manded to capture hobbits； alive； at all costs。 An attempt was made to
slip out with the precious prisoners before the battle。 Treachery perhaps；
likely enough with such folk； some large and bold Orc may have been trying
to escape with the prize alone； for his own ends。 There； that is my tale。
Others might be devised。 But on this we may count in any case： one at least
of our friends escaped。 It is our task to find him and help him before we
return to Rohan。 We must not be daunted by Fangorn； since need drove him
into that dark place。'
'I do not know which daunts me more： Fangorn； or the thought of the
long road through Rohan on foot；' said Gimli。
'Then let us go to the forest；' said Aragorn。
It was not long before Aragorn found fresh signs。 At one point； near
the bank of the Entwash； he came upon footprints： hobbit…prints； but too
light for much to be made of them。 Then again beneath the bole of a great
tree on the very edge of the wood more prints were discovered。 The earth was
bare and d