tree on the very edge of the wood more prints were discovered。 The earth was
bare and dry； and did not reveal much。
'One hobbit at least stood here for a while and looked back； and then
he turned away into the forest；' said Aragorn。
'Then we must go in； too；' said Gimli。 'But I do not like the look of
this Fangorn： and we were warned against it。 I wish the chase had led
anywhere else！'
'I do not think the wood feels evil； whatever tales may say；' said
Legolas。 He stood under the eaves of the forest； stooping forward； as if he
were listening； and peering with wide eyes into the shadows。 'No； it is not
evil； or what evil is in it is far away。 I catch only the faintest echoes of
dark places where the hearts of the trees are black。 There is no malice near
us； but there is watchfulness； and anger。'
'Well； it has no cause to be angry with me；' said Gimli。 'I have done
it no harm。 '
'That is just as well；' said Legolas。 'But nonetheless it has suffered
harm。 There is something happening inside； or going to happen。 Do you not
feel the tenseness？ It takes my breath。'
'I feel the air is stuffy；' said the Dwarf。 'This wood is lighter than
Mirkwood； but it is musty and shabby。'
'It is old； very old；' said the Elf。 'So old that almost I feel young
again； as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children。 It is old and
full of memory。 I could have been happy here； if I had e in days of
peace。'
'I dare say you could；' snorted Gimli。 'You are a Wood…elf； anyway；
though Elves of any kind are strange folk。 Yet you fort me。 Where you go；
I will go。 But keep your bow ready to hand； and I will keep my axe loose in
my belt。 Not for use on trees；' he added hastily； looking up at the tree
under which they stood。 'I do not wish to meet that old man at unawares
without an argument ready to hand； that is all。 Let us go！'
With that the three hunters plunged into the forest of Fangorn。 Legolas
and Gimli left the tracking to Aragorn。 There was little for him to see。 The
floor of the forest was dry and covered with a drift of leaves； but guessing
that the fugitives would stay near the water； he returned often to the banks
of the stream。 So it was that he came upon the place where Merry and Pippin
had drunk and bathed their feet。 There plain for all to see were the
footprints of two hobbits； one somewhat smaller than the other。
'This is good tidings；' said Aragorn。 'Yet the marks are two days old
And it seems that at this point the hobbits left the water…side。'
'Then what shall we do now？' said Gimli。 'We cannot pursue them through
the whole fastness of Fangorn。 We have e ill supplied。 If we do not find
them soon； we shall be of no use to them； except to sit down beside them and
show our friendship by starving together。'
'If that is indeed all we can do； then we must do that；' said Aragorn。
'Let us go on。'
They came at length to the steep abrupt end of Treebeard's Hill and
looked up at the rock…wall with its rough steps leading to the high shelf。
Gleams of sun were striking through the hurrying clouds； and the forest now
looked less grey and drear。
'Let us go up and look about us！' said Legolas。 'I will feel my breath
short。 I should like to taste a freer air for a while。'
The panions climbed up。 Aragorn came last； moving slowly： he was
scanning the steps and ledges closely。
'I am almost sure that the hobbits have been up here；' he said。 'But
there are other marks； very strange marks； which I do not understand。 I
wonder if we can see anything from this ledge which will help us to guess
which way they went next？'
He stood up and looked about； but he saw nothing that was of any use。
The shelf faced southward and eastward； but only on the east was the view
open。 There he could see the heads of the trees descending in ranks towards
the plain from which they had e。
'We have journeyed a long way round；' said Legolas。 'We could have all
e here safe together； if we had left the Great River on the second or
third day and struck west。 Few can foresee whither their road will lead
them； till they e to its end。'
'But we did not wish to e to Fangorn；' said Gimli。
'Yet here we are…and nicely caught in the net；' said Legolas。 'Look！'
'Look at what？' said Gimli。
'There in the trees。'
'Where？ I have not elf…eyes。'
'Hush！ Speak more softly！ Look！' said Legolas pointing。 'Down in the
wood； back in the Way that we have just e。 It is he。 Cannot you see him；
passing from tree to tree？'
'I see； I see now！' hissed Gimli。 'Look； Aragorn！ Did I not warn you？
There is the old man。 All in dirty grey rags： that is why I could not see
him at first。'
Aragorn looked and beheld a bent figure moving slowly。 It was not far
away。 It looked like an old beggar…man； walking wearily； leaning on a rough
staff。 His head was bowed； and he did not look towards them。 In other lands
they would have greeted him with kind words； but now they stood silent； each
feeling a strange expectancy： something was approaching that held a hidden
power…or menace。
Gimli gazed with wide eyes for a while； as step by step the figure drew
nearer。 Then suddenly； unable to contain himself longer； he burst out： 'Your
bow； Legolas！ Bend it！ Get ready！ It is Saruman。 Do not let him speak； or
put a spell upon us！ Shoot first！'
Legolas took his bow and bent it； slowly and as if some other will
resisted him。 He held an arrow loosely in his hand but did not fit it to the
string。 Aragorn stood silent； his face was watchful and intent。
'Why are you waiting？ What is the matter with you？' said Gimli in a
hissing whisper。
'Legolas is right；' said Aragorn quietly。 'We may not shoot an old man
so； at unawares and unchallenged； whatever fear or doubt be on us。 Watch and
wait！'
At that moment the old man quickened his pace and came with surprising
speed to the foot of the rock…wall。 Then suddenly he looked up； while they
stood motionless looking down。 There was no sound。
They could not see his face： he was hooded； and above the hood he wore
a wide…brimmed hat； so that all his features were over…shadowed； except for
the end of his nose and his grey beard。 Yet it seemed to Aragorn that he
caught the gleam of eyes keen and bright from within the shadow of the
hooded brows。
At last the old man broke the silence。 'Well met indeed； my friends；'
he said in a soft voice。 'I wish to speak to you。 Will you e down or
shall I e up？' Without waiting for an answer he began to climb。
'Now！' said Gimli。 'Stop him； Legolas！'
'Did I not say that I wished to speak to you？' said the old man。 'Put
away that bow； Master Elf！'
The bow and arrow fell from Legolas' hands； and his arms hung loose at
his sides。
'And you； Master Dwarf； pray take your hand from your axe…haft； till I
am up！ You will not need such argumen