against the windows of Orthanc。 But Treebeard kept his head。 He had not had
any burns； luckily。 He did not want his folk to hurt themselves in their
fury； and he did not want Saruman to escape out of some hole in the
confusion。 Many of the Ents were hurling themselves against the
Orthanc…rock； but that defeated them。 It is very smooth and hard。 Some
wizardry is in it； perhaps； older and stronger than Saruman's。 Anyway they
could not get a grip on it； or make a crack in it； and they were bruising
and wounding themselves against it。 'So Treebeard went out into the ring and
shouted。 His enormous voice rose above all the din。 There was a dead
silence； suddenly。 In it we heard a shrill laugh from a high window in the
tower。 That had a queer effect on the Ents。 They had been boiling over； now
they became cold； grim as ice； and quiet。 They left the plain and gathered
round Treebeard； standing quite still。 He spoke to them for a little in
their own language； I think he was telling them of a plan he had made in his
old head long before。 Then they just faded silently away in the grey light。
Day was dawning by that time。
'They set a watch on the tower； I believe； but the watchers were so
well hidden in shadows and kept so still； that I could not see them。 The
others went away north。 All that day they were busy； out of sight。 Most of
the time we were left alone。 It was a dreary day； and we wandered about a
bit； though we kept out of the view of the windows of Orthanc； as much as we
could： they stared at us so threateningly。 A good deal of the time we spent
looking for something to eat。 And also we sat and talked； wondering what was
happening away south in Rohan； and what had bee of all the rest of our
pany。 Every now and then we could hear in the distance the rattle and
fall of stone； and thudding noises echoing in the hills。
'In the afternoon we walked round the circle； and went to have a look
at what was going on。 There was a great shadowy wood of Huorns at the head
of the valley； and another round the northern wall。 We did not dare to go
in。 But there was a rending； tearing noise of work going on inside。 Ents and
Huorns were digging great pits and trenches； and making great pools and
dams； gathering all the waters of the Isen and every other spring and stream
that they could find。 We left them to it。
'At dusk Treebeard came back to the gate。 He was humming and booming to
himself； and seemed pleased。 He stood and stretched his great arms and legs
and breathed deep。 I asked him if he was tired。
' 〃Tired？〃 he said； 〃tired？ Well no； not tired； but stiff。 I need a
good draught of Entwash。 We have worked hard； we have done more
stone…cracking and earth…gnawing today than we have done in many a long year
before。 But it is nearly finished。 When night falls do not linger near this
gate or in the old tunnel！ Water may e through…and it will be foul water
for a while； until all the filth of Saruman is washed away。 Then Isen can
run clean again。〃 He began to pull down a bit more of the walls； in a
leisurely sort of way； just to amuse himself。
'We were just wondering where it would be safe to lie and get some
sleep； when the most amazing thing of all happened。 There was the sound of a
rider ing swiftly up the road。 Merry and I lay quiet； and Treebeard hid
himself in the shadows under the arch。 Suddenly a great horse came striding
up； like a flash of silver。 It was already dark。 but I could see the rider's
face clearly： it seemed to shine； and all his clothes were white。 I just sat
up； staring； with my mouth open。 I tried to call out； and couldn't。
'There was no need。 He halted just by us and looked down at us。
'Gandalf！' I said at last。 but my voice was only a whisper。 Did he say：
〃Hullo； Pippin！ This is a pleasant surprise！〃？ No； indeed！ He said： 〃Get up；
you tom…fool of a Took！ Where； in the name of wonder； in all this ruin is
Treebeard？ I want him。 Quick！〃
'Treebeard heard his voice and came out of the shadows at once； and
there was a strange meeting。 I was surprised； because neither of them seemed
surprised at all。 Gandalf obviously expected to find Treebeard here； and
Treebeard might almost have been loitering about near the gates on purpose
to meet him。 Yet we had told the old Ent all about Moria。 But then I
remembered a queer look he gave us at the time。 I can only suppose that he
had seen Gandalf or had some news of him； but would not say anything in a
hurry。 〃Don't be hasty〃 is his motto； but nobody； not even Elves； will say
much about Gandalf's movements when he is not there。
'〃Hoom！ Gandalf！〃 said Treebeard。 〃I am glad you have e。 Wood and
water； stock and stone； I can master； but there is a Wizard to manage here。〃
'〃Treebeard；〃 said Gandalf。 〃I need your help。 You have done much； but
I need more。 I have about ten thousand Orcs to manage。〃
'Then those two went off and had a council together in some corner。 It
must have seemed very hasty to Treebeard； for Gandalf was in a tremendous
hurry； and was already talking at a great pace； before they passed out of
hearing。 They were only away a matter of minutes； perhaps a quarter of an
hour。 Then Gandalf came back to us； and he seemed relieved； almost merry。 He
did say he was glad to see us； then。
'〃But Gandalf；〃 I cried； 〃where have you been？ And have you seen the
others？〃
'〃Wherever I have been； I am back；〃 he answered in the genuine Gandalf
manner。 〃Yes； I have seen some of the others。 But news must wait。 This is a
perilous night； and I must ride fast。 But the dawn may be brighter； and if
so； we shall meet again。 Take care of yourselves； and keep away from
Orthanc！ Good…bye！〃
'Treebeard was very thoughtful after Gandalf had gone。 He had evidently
learnt a lot in a short time and was digesting it。 He looked at us and said：
〃Hm； well； I find you are not such hasty folk as I thought。 You said much
less than you might； and not more than you should。 Hm； this is a bundle of
news and no mistake！ Well； now Treebeard must get busy again。〃
'Before he went； we got a little news out of him； and it did not cheer
us up at all。 But for the moment we thought more about you three than about
Frodo and Sam； or about poor Boromir。 For we gathered that there was a great
battle going on； or soon would be； and that you were in it； and might never
e out of it。
'〃Huorns will help；〃 said Treebeard。 Then he went away and we did not
see him again until this morning。
'It was deep night。 We lay on top of a pile of stone； and could see
nothing beyond it。 Mist or shadows blotted out everything like a great
blanket all round us。 The air seemed hot and heavy； and it was full of
rustlings； creakings； and a murmur like voices passing。 I think that
hundreds more of the Huorns must have been passing by to help in the battle。
Later the