Southerner at Bree： only he was not so obviously orc…like as most of these
were。'
'I thought of him too；' said Aragorn。 'We had many of these half…orcs
to deal with at Helm's Deep。 It seems plain now that that Southerner was a
spy of Saruman's； but whether he was working with the Black Riders； or for
Saruman alone； I do not know。 It is difficult with these evil folk to know
when they are in league； and when they are cheating one another。'
'Well； of all sorts together； there must have been ten thousand at the
very least；' said Merry。 'They took an hour to pass out of the gates。 Some
went off down the highway to the Fords； and some turned away ？ and went
eastward。 A bridge has been built down there； about a mile away； where the
river runs in a very deep channel。 You could see it now； if you stood up。
They were all singing with harsh voices； and laughing； making a hideous din。
I thought things looked very black for Rohan。 But Treebeard did not move。 He
said： 'My business is with Isengard tonight； with rock and stone。'
'But； though I could not see what was happening in the dark； I believe
that Huorns began to move south； as soon as the gates were shut again。 Their
business was with Orcs I think。 They were far down the valley in the
morning； or any rate there was a shadow there that one couldn't see through。
'As soon as Saruman had sent off all his army； our turn came。 Treebeard
put us down； and went up to the gates； and began hammering on the doors； and
calling for Saruman。 There was no answer； except arrows and stones from the
walls。 But arrows are no use against Ents。 They hurt them； of course； and
infuriate them： like stinging flies。 But an Ent can be stuck as full of
orc…arrows as a pin…cushion； and take no serious harm。 They cannot be
poisoned； for one thing； and their skin seems to be very thick； and tougher
than bark。 It takes a very heavy axe…stroke to wound them seriously。 They
don't like axes。 But there would have to be a great many axe…men to one Ent：
a man that hacks once at an Ent never gets a chance of a second blow。 A
punch from an Ent…fist crumples up iron like thin tin。
'When Treebeard had got a few arrows in him； he began to warm up； to
get positively 〃hasty〃； as he would say。 He let out a great hoom…hom； and a
dozen more Ents came striding up。 An angry Ent is terrifying。 Their fingers；
and their toes； just freeze on to rock； and they tear it up like
bread…crust。 It was like watching the work of great tree…roots in a hundred
years； all packed into a few moments。
'They pushed； pulled； tore； shook； and hammered； and clang…bang；
crash…crack； in five minutes they had these huge gates just lying in ruin；
and some were already beginning to eat into the walls； like rabbits in a
sand…pit。 I don't know what Saruman thought was happening； but anyway he did
not know how to deal with it。 His wizardry may have been falling off lately；
of course； but anyway I think he has not much grit； not much plain courage
alone in a tight place without a lot of slaves and machines and things； if
you know what I mean。 Very different from old Gandalf。 I wonder if his fame
was not all along mainly due to his cleverness in settling at Isengard。'
'No；' said Aragorn。 'Once he was as great as his fame made him。 His
knowledge was deep； his thought was subtle； and his hands marvellously
skilled； and he had a power over the minds of others。 The wise he could
persuade； and the smaller folk he could daunt。 That power he certainly still
keeps。 There are not many in Middle…earth that I should say were safe； if
they were left alone to talk with him； even now when he has suffered a
defeat。 Gandalf； Elrond； and Galadriel； perhaps； now that his wickedness has
been laid bare； but very few others。'
'The Ents are safe；' said Pippin。 'He seems at one time to have got
round them； but never again。 And anyway he did not understand them； and he
made the great mistake of leaving them out of his calculations。 He had no
plan for them； and there was no time to make any； once they had set to work。
As soon as our attack began； the few remaining rats in Isengard started
bolting through every hole that the Ents made。 The Ents let the Men go；
after they had questioned them； two or three dozen only down at this end。 I
don't think many orc…folk； of any size； escaped。 Not from the Huorns： there
was a wood full of them all round Isengard by that time； as well as those
that had gone down the valley。
'When the Ents had reduced a large part of the southern walls to
rubbish； and what was left of his people had bolted and deserted him；
Saruman fled in a panic。 He seems to have been at the gates when we arrived：
I expect he came to watch his splendid army march out。 When the Ents broke
their way in； he left in a hurry。 They did not spot him at first。 But the
night had opened out； and there was a great light of stars； quite enough for
Ents to see by； and suddenly Quickbeam gave a cry 〃The tree…killer； the
tree…killer！〃 Quickbeam is a gentle creature； but he hates Saruman all the
more fiercely for that： his people suffered cruelly from orc…axes。 He leapt
down the path from the inner gate； and he can move like a wind when he is
roused。 There was a pale figure hurrying away in and out of the shadows of
the pillars； and it had nearly reached the stairs to the tower…door。 But it
was a near thing。 Quickbeam was so hot after him； that he was within a step
or two of being caught and strangled when he slipped in through the door。
'When Saruman was safe back in Orthanc； it was not long before he set
some of his precious machinery to work。 By that time there were many Ents
inside Isengard： some had followed Quickbeam； and others had burst in from
the north and east； they were roaming about and doing a great deal of
damage。 Suddenly up came fires and foul fumes： the vents and shafts all over
the plain began to spout and belch。 Several of the Ents got scorched and
blistered。 One of them； Beechbone I think he was called； a very tall
handsome Ent； got caught in a spray of some liquid fire and burned like a
torch： a horrible sight。
'That sent them mad。 I thought that they had been really roused before；
but I was wrong。 I saw what it was like at last。 It was staggering。 They
roared and boomed and trumpeted； until stones began to crack and fall at the
mere noise of them。 Merry and I lay on the ground and stuffed our cloaks
into our ears。 Round and round the rock of Orthanc the Ents went striding
and storming like a howling gale； breaking pillars； hurling avalanches of
boulders down the shafts； tossing up huge slabs of stone into the air like
leaves。 The tower was in the middle of a spinning whirlwind。 I saw iron
posts and blocks of masonry go rocketing up hundreds of feet； and smash
against the windows of Orthanc。 But Treebeard kept his head