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 there was a great rumble of thunder away south； and flashes of
lightning far away across Rohan。 Every now and then we could see
mountain…peaks； miles and miles away； stab out suddenly； black and white；
and then vanish。 And behind us there were noises like thunder in hills； but
different。 At times the whole valley echoed。
'It must have been about midnight when the Ents broke the dams and
poured all the gathered waters through a gap in the northern wall； down into
Isengard。 The Huorn…dark had passed； and the thunder had rolled away。 The
Moon was sinking behind the western mountains。
'Isengard began to fill up with black creeping streams and pools。 They
glittered in the last light of the Moon； as they spread over the plain。
Every now and then the waters found their way down into some shaft or
spouthole。 Great white steams hissed up。 Smoke rose in billows。 There were
explosions and gusts of fire。 One great coil of vapour went whirling up；
twisting round and round Orthanc； until it looked like a tall peak of cloud；
fiery underneath and moonlit above。 And still more water poured in； until at
last Isengard looked like a huge flat saucepan； all steaming and bubbling。'
'We saw a cloud of smoke and steam from the south last night when we
came to the mouth of Nan Curunnr；' said Aragorn。 'We feared that Saruman was
brewing some new devilry for us。'
'Not he！' said Pippin。 'He was probably choking and not laughing any
more。 By the morning； yesterday morning； the water had sunk down into all
the holes； and there was a dense fog。 We took refuge in that guardroom over
there； and we had rather a fright。 The lake began to overflow and pour out
through the old tunnel； and the water was rapidly rising up the steps。 We
thought we were going to get caught like Orcs in a hole； but we found a
winding stair at the back of the store…room that brought us out on top of
the arch。 It was a squeeze to get out； as the passages had been cracked and
half blocked with fallen stone near the top。 There we sat high up above the
floods and watched the drowning of Isengard。 The Ents kept on pouring in
more water； till all the fires were quenched and every cave filled。 The fogs
slowly gathered together and steamed up into a huge umbrella of cloud： it
must have been a mile high。 In the evening there was a great rainbow over
the eastern hills； and then the sunset was blotted out by a thick drizzle on
the mountain…sides。 It all went very quiet。 A few wolves howled mournfully；
far away。 The Ents stopped the inflow in the night； and sent the Isen back
into its old course。 And that was the end of it all。
'Since then the water has been sinking again。 There must be outlets
somewhere from the caves underneath； I think。 If Saruman peeps out of any of
his windows； it must look an untidy； dreary mess。 We felt very lonely。 Not
even a visible Ent to talk to in all the ruin； and no news。 We spent the
night up on top there above the arch； and it was cold and damp and we did
not sleep。 We had a feeling that anything might happen at any minute。
Saruman is still in his tower。 There was a noise in the night like a wind
ing up the valley。 I think the Ents and Huorns that had been away came
back then； but where they have all gone to now； I don't know。 It was a
misty； moisty morning when we climbed down and looked round again； and
nobody was about。 And that is about all there is to tell。 It seems almost
peaceful now after all the turmoil。 And safer too； somehow； since Gandalf
came back。 I could sleep！'
They all fell silent for a while。 Gimli re…filled his pipe。 'There is
one thing I wonder about；' he said as he lit it with his flint and tinder：
'Wormtongue。 You told Thjoden he was with Saruman。 How did he get there？'
'Oh yes； I forgot about him；' said Pippin。 'He did not get here till
this morning。 We had just lit the fire and had some breakfast when Treebeard
appeared again。 We heard him hooming and calling our names outside。
'〃I have just e round to see how you are faring； my lads；' he said；
'and to give you some news。 Huorns have e back。 All's well； aye very well
indeed！〃 he laughed； and slapped his thighs。 〃No more Orcs in Isengard； no
more axes！ And there will be folk ing up from the South before the day is
old； some that you may be glad to see。〃
'He had hardly said that； when we heard the sound of hoofs on the road。
We rushed out before the gates； and I stood and stared； half expecting to
see Strider and Gandalf e riding up at the head of an army。 But out of
the mist there rode a man on an old tired horse； and he looked a queer
twisted sort of creature himself。 There was no one else。 When he came。 out
of the mist and suddenly saw all the ruin and wreckage in front of him； he
sat and gaped； and his face went almost green。 He was so bewildered that he
did not seem to notice us at first。 When he did； he gave a cry； and tried to
turn his horse round and ride off。 But Treebeard took three strides； put out
a long arm； and lifted him out of the saddle。 His horse bolted in terror；
and he grovelled on the ground。 He said he was Grnma； friend and counsellor
of the king； and had been sent with important messages from Thjoden to
Saruman。
'〃No one else would dare to ride through the open land； so full of foul
Orcs；〃 he said； 〃so I was sent。 And I have had a perilous journey； and I am
hungry and weary。 I fled far north out of my way； pursued by wolves。〃
'I caught the sidelong looks he gave to Treebeard； and I said to myself
〃liar〃。 Treebeard looked at him in his long slow way for several minutes；
till the wretched man was squirming on the floor。 Then at last he said： 〃Ha；
hm； I was expecting you； Master Wormtongue。〃 The man started at that name。
〃Gandalf got here first。 So I know as much about you as I need； and I know
what to do with you。 Put all the rats in one trap； said Gandalf； and I will。
I am the master of Isengard now； but Saruman is locked in his tower； and you
can go there and give him all the messages that you can think of。〃
'〃Let me go； let me go！〃 said Wormtongue。 〃I know the way。〃
'〃You knew the way； I don't doubt；〃 said Treebeard。 〃But things have
changed here a little。 Go and see！〃
'He let Wormtongue go； and he limped off through the arch with us close
behind； until he came inside the ring and could see all the floods that lay
between him and Orthanc。 Then he turned to us。
'〃Let me go away！〃 he whined。 〃Let me go away！ My messages are useless
now。〃
'〃They are indeed；〃 said Treebeard。 〃But you have only two choices： to
stay with me until Gandalf and your master arrive； or to cross the water。
Which will you have？〃
'The man shivered at the mention of his master； and put a f