the dark globe from the hobbit； wrapping it in the folds of his cloak。 'I
will take care of this；' he said。 'It is not a thing； I guess； that Saruman
would have chosen to cast away。'
'But he may have other things to cast；' said Gimli。 'If that is the end
of the debate； let us go out of stone's throw； at least！'
'It is the end；' said Gandalf。 'Let us go。'
They turned their backs on the doors of Orthanc； and went down。 The
riders hailed the king with joy； and saluted Gandalf。 The spell of Saruman
was broken： they had seen him e at call； and crawl away； dismissed。
'Well； that is done；' said Gandalf。 'Now I must find Treebeard and tell
him how things have gone。'
'He will have guessed； surely？' said Merry。 'Were they likely to end
any other way？'
'Not likely；' answered Gandalf； 'though they came to the balance of a
hair。 But I had reasons for trying； some merciful and some less so。 First
Saruman was shown that the power of his voice was waning。 He cannot be both
tyrant and counsellor。 When the plot is ripe it remains no longer secret。
Yet he fell into the trap； and tried to deal with his victims piece…meal；
while others listened。 Then I gave him a last choice and a fair one： to
renounce both Mordor and his private schemes； and make amends by helping us
in our need。 He knows our need； none better。 Great service he could have
rendered。 But he has chosen to withhold it； and keep the power of Orthanc。
He will not serve； only mand。 He lives now in terror of the shadow of
Mordor； and yet he still dreams of riding the storm。 Unhappy fool！ He will
be devoured； if the power of the East stretches out its arms to Isengard。 We
cannot destroy Orthanc from without； but Sauron who knows what he can
do？'
'And what if Sauron does not conquer？ What will you do to him？' asked
Pippin。
'I？ Nothing！' said Gandalf。 'I will do nothing to him。 I do not wish
for mastery。 What w ill bee of him？ I cannot say。 I grieve that so much
that was good now festers in the tower。 Still for us things have not gone
badly。 Strange are the turns of fortune！ Often does hatred hurt itself！ I
guess that； even if we had entered in； we could have found few treasures in
Orthanc more precious than the thing which Wormtongue threw down at us。'
A shrill shriek； suddenly cut off； came from an open window high above。
'It seems that Saruman thinks so too；' said Gandalf。 'Let us leave
them！'
They returned now to the ruins of the gate。 Hardly had they passed out
under the arch； when； from among the shadows of the piled stones where they
had stood； Treebeard and a dozen other Ents came striding up。 Aragorn； Gimli
and Legolas gazed at them in wonder。
'Here are three of my panions； Treebeard；' said Gandalf。 'I have
spoken of them； but you have not yet seen them。' He named them one by one。
The Old Ent looked at them long and searchingly； and spoke to them in
turn。 Last he turned to Legolas。 'So you have e all the way from
Mirkwood； my good Elf？ A very great forest it used to be！'
'And still is；' said Legolas。 'But not so great that we who dwell there
ever tire of seeing new trees。 I should dearly love to journey in Fangorn's
Wood。 I scarcely passed beyond the eaves of it； and I did not wish to turn
back。'
Treebeard's eyes gleamed with pleasure。 'I hope you may have your wish；
ere the hills be much older；' he said。
'I will e； if I have the fortune；' said Legolas。 'I have made a
bargain with my friend that； if all goes well； we will visit Fangorn
together by your leave。'
'Any Elf that es with you will be wele；' said Treebeard。
'The friend I speak of is not an Elf；' said Legolas； 'I mean Gimli；
Gluin's son here。' Gimli bowed low； and the axe slipped from his belt and
clattered on the ground。
'Hoom； hm！ Ah now；' said Treebeard； looking dark…eyed at him。 'A dwarf
and an axe…bearer！ Hoom！ I have good will to Elves； but you ask much。 This
is a strange friendship！' 'Strange it may seem；' said Legolas； 'but while
Gimli lives I shall not e to Fangorn alone。 His axe is not for trees； but
for orc…necks； O Fangorn； Master of Fangorn's Wood。 Forty…two he hewed in
the battle。'
'Hoo！ e now！' said Treebeard。 'That is a better story！ Well； well；
things will go as they will； and there is no need to hurry to meet them。 But
now we must part for a while。 Day is drawing to an end； yet Gandalf says you
must go ere nightfall； and the Lord of the Mark is eager for his own house。'
'Yes； we must go； and go now；' said Gandalf。 'I fear that I must take
your gatekeepers from you。 But you will manage well enough without them。'
'Maybe I shall；' said Treebeard。 'But I shall miss them。 We have bee
friends in so short a while that I think I must be getting hasty growing
backwards towards youth； perhaps。 But there； they are the first new thing
under Sun or Moon that I have seen for many a long； long day。 I shall not
forget them。 I have put their names into the Long List。 Ents will remember
it。
Ents the earthborn； old as mountains；
the wide…walkers； water drinking；
and hungry as hunters； the Hobbit children；
the laughing…folk； the little people；
they shall remain friends as long as leaves are renewed。 Fare you well！
But if you hear news up in your pleasant land； in the Shire； send me word！
You know what I mean： word or sight of the Entwives。 e yourselves if you
can！'
'We will！' said Merry and Pippin together； and they turned away
hastily。 Treebeard looked at them； and was silent for a while； shaking his
head thoughtfully。 Then he turned to Gandalf。
'So Saruman would not leave？' he said。 'I did not think he would。 His
heart is as rotten as a black Huorn's。 Still； if I were overe and all my
trees destroyed； I would not e while I had one dark hole left to hide
in。'
'No；' said Gandalf。 'But you have not plotted to cover all the world
with your trees and choke all other living things。 But there it is； Saruman
remains to nurse his hatred and weave again such webs as he can。 He has the
Key of Orthanc。 But he must not be allowed to escape。'
'Indeed no！ Ents will see to that；' said Treebeard。 'Saruman shall not
set foot beyond the rock； without my leave。 Ents will watch over him。'
'Good！' said Gandalf。 'That is what I hoped。 Now I can go and turn to
other matters with one care the less。 But you must be wary。 The waters have
gone down。 It will not be enough to put sentinels round the tower； I fear。 I
do not doubt that there were deep ways delved under Orthanc； and that
Saruman hopes to go and e unmarked； before long。 If you will undertake
the labour； I beg you to pour in the waters again； and do so； until Isengard
remains a standing pool； or you discover the outlets。 When all the
underground places are drowned； and the outlets blocked； then Saruman must
stay upstairs and look out of the windows。'