with clear glass； cities。 such as the mind of Durin could scarce have
imagined in his sleep； stretch on through avenues and pillared courts； on
into the dark recesses where no light can e。 And plink！ a silver drop
falls； and the round wrinkles in the glass make all the towers bend and
waver like weeds and corals in a grotto of the sea。 Then evening es： they
fade and twinkle out； the torches pass on into another chamber and another
dream。 There is chamber after chamber； Legolas； hall opening out of hall；
dome after dome； stair beyond stair； and still the winding paths lead on
into the mountains' heart。 Caves！ The Caverns of Helm's Deep！ Happy was the
chance that drove me there！ It makes me weep to leave them。'
'Then I will wish you this fortune for your fort； Gimli；' said the
Elf； 'that you may e safe from war and return to see them again。 But do
not tell all your kindred！ There seems little left for them to do； from your
account。 Maybe the men of this land are wise to say little： one family of
busy dwarves with hammer and chisel might mar more than they made。'
'No； you do not understand；' said Gimli。 'No dwarf could be unmoved by
such loveliness。 None of Durin's race would mine those caves for stones or
ore； not if diamonds and gold could be got there。 Do you cut down groves of
blossoming trees in the spring…time for firewood？ We would tend these glades
of flowering stone； not quarry them。 With cautious skill； tap by tap a
small chip of rock and no more； perhaps； in a whole anxious day so we
could work； and as the years went by； we should open up new ways； and
display far chambers that are still dark； glimpsed only as a void beyond
fissures in the rock。 And lights； Legolas！ We should make lights； such lamps
as once shone in Khazad…dym； and when we wished we would drive away the
night that has lain there since the hills were made； and when we desired
rest； we would let the night return。'
'You move me； Gimli；' said Legolas。 'I have never heard you speak like
this before。 Almost you make me regret that I have not seen these caves。
e！ Let us make this bargain…if we both return safe out of the perils that
await us； we will journey for a while together。 You shall visit Fangorn with
me； and then I will e with you to see Helm's Deep。'
'That would not be the way of return that I should choose；' said Gimli。
'But I will endure Fangorn； if I have your promise to e back to the caves
and share their wonder with me。'
'You have my promise；' said Legolas。 'But alas！ Now we must leave
behind both cave and wood for a while： See！ We are ing to the end of the
trees。 How far is it to Isengard； Gandalf？'
'About fifteen leagues； as the crows of Saruman make it。' said Gandalf：
'five from the mouth of Deeping…coomb to the Fords： and ten more from there
to the gates of Isengard。 But we shall not ride all the way this night。'
'And when we e there； what shall we see？' asked Gimli。 'You may
know； but I cannot guess。'
'I do not know myself for certain；' answered the wizard。 'I was there
at nightfall yesterday； but much may have happened since。 Yet I think that
you will not say that the journey was in vain not though the Glittering
Caves of Aglarond be left behind。'
At last the pany passed through the trees； and found that they had
e to the bottom of the Coomb； where the road from Helm's Deep branched；
going one way east to Edoras； and the other north to the Fords of Isen。 As
they rode from under the eaves of the wood； Legolas halted and looked back
with regret。 Then he gave a sudden cry。
'There are eyes！' he said。 'Eyes looking out from the shadows of the
boughs！ I never saw such eyes before。'
The others； surprised by his cry； halted and turned； but Legolas
started to ride back。
'No； no！' cried Gimli。 'Do as you please in your madness； but let me
first get down from this horse！ I wish to see no eyes！' 'Stay； Legolas
Greenleaf！' said Gandalf。 'Do not go back into the wood； not yet！ Now is not
your time。'
Even as he spoke； there came forward out of the trees three strange
shapes。 As tall as trolls they were； twelve feet or more in height； their
strong bodies； stout as young trees； seemed to be clad with raiment or with
hide of close…fitting grey and brown。 Their limbs were long； and their hands
had many fingers； their hair was stiff； and their beards grey…green as moss。
They gazed out with solemn eyes； but they were not looking at the riders：
their eyes were bent northwards。 Suddenly they lifted their long hands to
their mouths； and sent forth ringing calls； clear as notes of a horn； but
more musical and various。 The calls were answered； and turning again； the
riders saw other creatures of the same kind approaching； striding through
the grass。 They came swiftly from the North； walking like wading herons in
their gait； but not in their speed； for their legs in their long paces beat
quicker than the heron's wings。 The riders cried aloud in wonder； and some
set their hands upon their sword…hilts。
'You need no weapons；' said Gandalf。 'These are but herdsmen。 They are
not enemies； indeed they are not concerned with us at all。'
So it seemed to be； for as he spoke the tall creatures； without a
glance at the riders； strode into the wood and vanished。
'Herdsmen！' said Thjoden。 'Where are their flocks？ What are they；
Gandalf？ For it is plain that to you； at any rate； they are not strange。'
'They are the shepherds of the trees；' answered Gandalf。 'Is it so long
since you listened to tales by the fireside？ There are children in your land
who； out of the twisted threads of story； could pick the answer to your
question。 You have seen Ents； O King； Ents out of Fangorn Forest； which in
your tongue you call the Entwood。 Did you think that the name was given only
in idle fancy？ Nay； Thjoden； it is otherwise： to them you are but the
passing tale； all the years from Eorl the Young to Thjoden the Old are of
little count to them； and all the deeds of your house but a small matter。'
The king was silent。 'Ents！' he said at length。 'Out of the shadows of
legend I begin a little to understand the marvel of the trees； I think。 I
have lived to see strange days。 Long we have tended our beasts and our
fields； built our houses； wrought our tools； or ridden away to help in the
wars of Minas Tirith。 And that we called the life of Men； the way of the
world。 We cared little for what lay beyond the borders of our land。 Songs we
have that tell of these things； but we are forgetting them； teaching them
only to children； as a careless custom。 And now the songs have e down
among us out of strange places； and walk visible under the Sun。'
'You should be glad； Thjoden King；' said Gandalf。 'For not only the
little life of Men is now endangered； but the life also of those things
which you have deemed the matter o