Which will you have？〃
'The man shivered at the mention of his master； and put a foot into the
water； but he drew back。 〃I cannot swim；〃 he said。
'〃The water is not deep；〃 said Treebeard。 〃It is dirty； but that will
not harm you； Master Wormtongue。 In you go now！〃
'With that the wretch floundered off into the flood。 It rose up nearly
to his neck before he got too far away for me to see him。 The last I saw of
him was clinging to some old barrel or piece of wood。 But Treebeard waded
after him； and watched his progress。
'〃Well； he has gone in；〃 he said when he returned。 〃I saw him crawling
up the steps like a draggled rat。 There is someone in the tower still： a
hand came out and pulled him in。 So there he is； and I hope the wele is
to his liking。 Now I must go and wash myself clean of the slime。 I'll be
away up on the north side； if anyone wants to see me。 There is no clean
water down here fit for an Ent to drink。 or to bathe in。 So I will ask you
two lads to keep a watch at the gate for the folk that are ing。 There'll
be the Lord of the Fields of Rohan； mark you！ You must wele him as well
as you know how： his men have fought a great fight with the Orcs。 Maybe； you
know the right fashion of Men's words for such a lord； better than Ents。
There have been many lords in the green fields in my time； and I have never
learned their speech or their names。 They will be wanting man…food； and you
know all about that； I guess。 So find what you think is fit for a king to
eat； if you can。〃 And that is the end of the story。 Though I should like to
know who this Wormtongue is。 Was he really the king's counsellor？'
'He was；' said Aragorn； 'and also Saruman's spy and servant in Rohan。
Fate has not been kinder to him than he deserves。 The sight of the ruin of
all that he thought so strong and magnificent must have been almost
punishment enough。 But I fear that worse awaits him。'
'Yes； I don't suppose Treebeard sent him to Orthanc out of kindness；'
said Merry。 'He seemed rather grimly delighted with the business and was
laughing to himself when he went to get his bathe and drink。 We spent a busy
time after that； searching the flotsam； and rummaging about。 We found two or
three store…rooms in different places nearby； above the flood…level。 But
Treebeard sent some Ents down； and they carried off a great deal of the
stuff。
'〃We want man…food for twenty…five；〃 the Ents said； so you can see that
somebody had counted your pany carefully before you arrived。 You three
were evidently meant to go with the great people。 But you would not have
fared any better。 We kept as good as we sent； I promise you。 Better； because
we sent no drink。
'〃What about drink？〃 I said to the Ents。
'〃There is water of Isen；〃 they said； 〃and that is good enough for Ents
and Men。〃 But I hope that the Ents may have found time to brew some of their
draughts from the mountain…springs； and we shall see Gandalf's beard curling
when he returns。 After the Ents had gone； we felt tired； and hungry。 But we
did not grumble our labours had been well rewarded。 It was through our
search for man…food that Pippin discovered the prize of all the flotsam；
those Hornblower barrels。 〃Pipe…weed is better after food；〃 said Pippin；
that is how the situation arose。'
'We understand it all perfectly now；' said Gimli。
'All except one thing；' said Aragorn： 'leaf from the Southfarthing in
Isengard。 The more I consider it； the more curious I find it。 I have never
been in Isengard； but I have journeyed in this land； and I know well the
empty countries that lie between Rohan and the Shire。 Neither goods nor folk
have passed that way for many a long year； not openly。 Saruman had secret
dealings with someone in the Shire； I guess。 Wormtongues may be found in
other houses than King Thjoden's。 Was there a date on the barrels？'
'Yes；' said Pippin。 'It was the 1417 crop； that is last year's； no； the
year before； of course； now： a good year。'
'Ah well； whatever evil was afoot is over now； I hope； or else it is
beyond our reach at present；' said Aragorn。 'Yet I think I shall mention it
to Gandalf； small matter though it may seem among his great affairs。'
'I wonder what he is doing；' said Merry。 'The afternoon is getting on。
Let us go and look round！ You can enter Isengard now at any rate； Strider；
if you want to。 But it is not a very cheerful sight。'
Chapter 10。 The Voice of Saruman
They passed through the ruined tunnel and stood upon a heap of stones；
gazing at the dark rock of Orthanc； and its many windows； a menace still in
the desolation that lay all about it。 The waters had now nearly all
subsided。 Here and there gloomy pools remained； covered with scum and
wreckage； but most of the wide circle was bare again； a wilderness of slime
and tumbled rock； pitted with blackened holes； and dotted with posts and
pillars leaning drunkenly this way and that。 At the rim of the shattered
bowl there lay vast mounds and slopes； like the shingles cast up by a great
storm； and beyond them the green and tangled valley ran up into the long
ravine between the dark arms of the mountains。 Across the waste they saw
riders picking their way； they were ing from the north side； and already
they were drawing near to Orthanc。
'There is Gandalf； and Thjoden and his men！' said Legolas。 'Let us go
and meet them！'
'Walk warily！' said Merry。 'There are loose slabs that may tilt up and
throw you down into a pit； if you don't take care。'
They followed what was left of the road from the gates to Orthanc；
going slowly； for the flag…stones were cracked and slimed。 The riders；
seeing them approach； halted under the shadow of the rock and waited for
them。 Gandalf rode forward to meet them。
'Well； Treebeard and I have had some interesting discussions； and made
a few plans；' he said； 'and we have all had some much…needed rest。 Now we
must be going on again。 I hope you panions have all rested； too； and
refreshed yourselves？'
'We have；' said Merry。 'But our discussions began and ended in smoke。
Still we feel less ill…disposed towards Saruman than we did。'
'Do you indeed？' said Gandalf。 'Well； I do not。 I have now a last task
to do before I go： I must pay Saruman a farewell visit。 Dangerous； and
probably useless； but it must be done。 Those of you who wish may e with
me but beware！ And do not jest！ This is not the time for it。'
'I will e；' said Gimli。 'I wish to see him and learn if he really
looks like you。'
'And how will you learn that； Master Dwarf？' said Gandalf。 'Saruman
could look like me in your eyes； if it suited his purpose with you。 And are
you yet wise enough to detect all his counterfeits？ Well； we shall see；
perhaps。 He may be shy of showing himself before many different eyes
together。 But I have ordered all the Ents to remove them