said Gimli。 'But I will help as I may。'
They gathered such small boulders and broken stones as they could find
to hand； and under Gimli's direction the Westfold…men blocked up the inner
end of the culvert； until only a narrow outlet remained。 Then the
Deeping…stream； swollen by the rain； churned and fretted in its choked path；
and spread slowly in cold pools from cliff to cliff。
'It will be drier above；' said Gimli。 'e； Gamling； let us see how
things go on the wall！'
He climbed up and found Legolas beside Aragorn and Jomer。 The elf was
whetting his long knife。 There was for a while a lull in the assault； since
the attempt to break in through the culvert had been foiled。
'Twenty…one！' said Gimli。
'Good！' said Legolas。 'But my count is now two dozen。 It has been
knife…work up here。'
Jomer and Aragorn leant wearily on their swords。 Away on the left the
crash and clamour of the battle on the Rock rose loud again。 But the
Hornburg still held fast； like an island in the sea。 Its gates lay in ruin；
but over the barricade of beams and stones within no enemy as yet had
passed。
Aragorn looked at the pale stars； and at the moon； now sloping behind
the western hills that enclosed the valley。 'This is a night as long as
years；' he said。 'How long will the day tarry？'
'Dawn is not far off；' said Gamling； who had now climbed up beside him。
'But dawn will not help us； I fear。'
'Yet dawn is ever the hope of men；' said Aragorn。
'But these creatures of Isengard； these half…orcs and goblin…men that
the foul craft of Saruman has bred； they will not quail at the sun；' said
Gamling。 'And neither will the wild men of the hills。 Do you not hear their
voices？'
'I hear them；' said Jomer； 'but they are only the scream of birds and
the bellowing of beasts to my ears。'
'Yet there are many that cry in the Dunland tongue；' said Gamling。 'I
know that tongue。 It is an ancient speech of men； and once was spoken in
many western valleys of the Mark。 Hark！ They hate us； and they are glad； for
our doom seems certain to them。 'The king the king！' they cry。 'We will take
their king。 Death to the Forgoil！ Death to the Strawheads！ Death to the
robbers of the North！' Such names they have for us。 Not in half a thousand
years have they forgotten their grievance that the lords of Gondor gave the
Mark to Eorl the Young and made alliance with him。 That old hatred Saruman
has inflamed。 They are fierce folk when roused。 They will not give way now
for dusk or dawn； until Thjoden is taken； or they themselves are slain。'
'Nonetheless day will bring hope to me；' said Aragorn。 'Is it not said
that no foe has ever taken the Hornburg； if men defended it？'
'So the minstrels say；' said Jomer。
'Then let us defend it； and hope！' said Aragorn。
Even as they spoke there came a blare of trumpets。 Then there was a
crash and a flash of flame and smoke。 The waters of the Deeping…stream
poured out hissing and foaming： they were choked no longer； a gaping hole
was blasted in the wall。 A host of dark shapes poured in。
'Devilry of Saruman！' cried Aragorn。 'They have crept in the culvert
again； while we talked； and they have lit the fire of Orthanc beneath our
feet。 Elendil； Elendil！' he shouted； as he leaped down into the breach； but
even as he did so a hundred ladders were raised against the battlements。
Over the wall and under the wall the last assault came sweeping like a dark
wave upon a hill of sand。 The defence was swept away。 Some of the Riders
were driven back； further and further into the Deep； falling and fighting as
they gave way； step by step； towards the caves。 Others cut their way back
towards the citadel。
A broad stairway； climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the
rear…gate of the Hornburg。 Near the bottom stood Aragorn。 In his hand still
And畆il gleamed； and the terror of the sword for a while held back the
enemy； as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the
gate。 Behind on the upper steps knelt Legolas。 His bow was bent； but one
gleaned arrow was all that he had left； and he peered out now； ready to
shoot the first Orc that should dare to approach the stair。
'All who can have now got safe within； Aragorn；' he called。 'e
back！'
Aragorn turned and sped up the stair； but as he ran he stumbled in his
weariness。 At once his enemies leapt forward。 Up came the Orcs； yelling；
with their long arms stretched out to seize him。 The foremost fell with
Legolas' last arrow in his throat。 but the rest sprang over him。 Then a
great boulder； cast from the outer wall above； crashed down upon the stair；
and hurled them back into the Deep。 Aragorn gained the door； and swiftly it
clanged to behind him。
'Things go ill； my friends；' he said； wiping the sweat from his brow
with his arm。
'Ill enough；' said Legolas； 'but not yet hopeless； while we have you
with us。 Where is Gimli？'
'I do not know。' said Aragorn。 'I last saw him fighting on the ground
behind the wall； but the enemy swept us apart。'
'Alas！ That is evil news；' said Legolas。
'He is stout and strong；' said Aragorn。 'Let us hope that he will
escape back to the caves。 There he would be safe for a while。 Safer than we。
Such a refuge would be to the liking of a dwarf。'
'That must be my hope'' said Legolas。 'But I wish that he had e this
way。 I desired to tell Master Gimli that my tale is now thirty…nine。'
'If he wins back to the caves； he will pass your count again；' laughed
Aragorn。 'Never did I see an axe so wielded。'
'I must go and seek some arrows；' said Legolas。 'Would that this night
would end； and I could have better light for shooting。'
Aragorn now passed into the citadel。 There to his dismay he learned
that Jomer had not reached the Hornburg。
'Nay； he did not e to the Rock；' said one of the Westfold…men； 'I
last saw him gathering men about him and fighting in the mouth of the Deep。
Gamling was with him； and the dwarf； but I could not e to them。'
Aragorn strode on through the inner court； and mounted to a high
chamber in the tower。 There stood the king； dark against a narrow window；
looking out upon the vale。
'What is the news； Aragorn？' he said。
'The Deeping Wall is taken； lord； and all the defence swept away； but
many have escaped hither to the Rock。'
'Is Jomer here？'
'No； lord。 But many of your men retreated into the Deep； and some say
that Jomer was amongst them。 In the narrows they may hold back the enemy and
e within the caves。 What hope they may have then I do not know。'
'More than we。 Good provision； it is said。 And the air is wholesome
there because of the outlets through fissures in the rock far above。 None
can force an entrance against determined men。 They may hold out long。'
'But the Orcs have brought a devilry fro