'Oh yes； he is！' said Merry； waking up a little； and beginning to
wonder what was bothering his panion。 'He has grown； or something。 He can
be both kinder and more alarming； merrier and more solemn than before； I
think。 He has changed； but we have not had a chance to see how much； yet。
But think of the last part of that business with Saruman！ Remember Saruman
was once Gandalf's superior： head of the Council； whatever that may be
exactly。 He was Saruman the White。 Gandalf is the White now。 Saruman came
when he was told； and his rod was taken； and then he was just told to go；
and he went！'
'Well； if Gandalf has changed at all； then he's closer than ever that's
all；' Pippin argued。 'That…glass ball； now。 He seemed mighty pleased with
it。 He knows or guesses something about it。 But does he tell us what？ No；
not a word。 Yet I picked it up； and I saved it from rolling into a pool。
Here； I'll take that； my lad that's all。 I wonder what it is？ It felt so
very heavy。' Pippin's voice fell very low as if he was talking to himself。
'Hullo！' said Merry。 'So that's what is bothering you？ Now； Pippin my
lad； don't forget Gildor's saying the one Sam used to quote： Do not
meddle in the at Fairs of Wizards； for they are subtle and quick to anger。'
'But our whole life for months has been one long meddling in the
affairs of Wizards；' said Pippin。 'I should like a bit of information as
well as danger。 I should like a look at that ball。'
'Go to sleep！' said Merry。 'You'll get information enough； sooner or
later。 My dear Pippin； no Took ever beat a Brandybuck for inquisitiveness；
but is this the time； I ask you？'
'All right！ What's the harm in my telling you what I should like： a
look at that stone？ I know I can't have it； with old Gandalf sitting on it；
like a hen on an egg。 But it doesn't help much to get no more from you than
a you…can't…have…it so…go…to…sleep！'
'Well； what else could I say？' said Merry。 'I'm sorry； Pippin； but you
really must wait till the morning。 I'll be as curious as you like after
breakfast； and I'll help in any way I can at wizard…wheedling。 But I can't
keep awake any longer。 If I yawn any more； I shall split at the ears。 Good
night！'
Pippin said no more。 He lay still now； but sleep remained far away； and
it was not encouraged by the sound of Merry breathing softly； asleep in a
few minutes after saying good night。 'The thought of the dark globe seemed
to grow stronger as all grew quiet。 Pippin felt again its weight in his
hands； and saw again the mysterious red depths into which he had looked for
a moment。 He tossed and turned and tried to think of something else。
At last he could stand it no longer。 He got up and looked round。 It was
chilly； and he wrapped his cloak about him。 The moon was shining cold and
white； down into the dell； and the shadows of the bushes were black。 All
about lay sleeping shapes。 The two guards were not in view： they were up on
the hill； perhaps； or hidden in the bracken。 Driven by some impulse that he
did not understand； Pippin walked softly to where Gandalf lay。 He looked
down at him。 The wizard seemed asleep； but with lids not fully closed： there
was a glitter of eyes under his long lashes。 Pippin stepped back hastily。
But Gandalf made no sign； and drawn forward once more； half against his
will； the hobbit crept up again from behind the wizard's head。 He was rolled
in a blanket； with his cloak spread over the top； and close beside him；
between his right side and his bent arm； there was a hummock； something
round wrapped in a dark cloth； his hand seemed only just to have slipped off
it to the ground。
Hardly breathing； Pippin crept nearer； foot by foot。 At last he knelt
down。 Then he put his hands out stealthily； and slowly lifted the lump up：
it did not seem quite so heavy as he had expected。 'Only some bundle of
oddments； perhaps； after all；' he thought with a strange sense of relief；
but he did not put the bundle down again。 He stood for a moment clasping it。
Then an idea came into his mind。 He tiptoed away； found a large stone； and
came back。
Quickly now he drew off the cloth； wrapped the stone in it and kneeling
down； laid it back by the wizard's hand。 Then at last he looked at the thing
that he had uncovered。 There it was： a smooth globe of crystal； now dark and
dead； lying bare before his knees。 Pippin lifted it； covered it hurriedly in
his own cloak； and half turned to go back to his bed。 At that moment Gandalf
moved in his sleep； and muttered some words： they seemed to be in a strange
tongue； his hand groped out and clasped the wrapped stone； then he sighed
and did not move again。
'You idiotic fool！' Pippin muttered to himself。 'You're going to get
yourself into frightful trouble。 Put it back quick！' But he found now that
his knees quaked； and he did not dare to go near enough to the wizard to
reach the bundle。 'I'll never get it back now without waking him；' he
thought； 'not till I'm a bit calmer。 S？I may as well have a look first。 Not
just here though！' He stole away； and sat down on a green hillock not far
from his bed。 The moon looked in over the edge of the dell。
Pippin sat with his knees drawn up and the ball between them。 He bent
low over it； looking like a greedy child stooping over a bowl of food； in a
corner away from others。 He drew his cloak aside and gazed at it。 The air
seemed still and tense about him。 At first the globe was dark； black as jet；
with the moonlight gleaming on its surface。 Then there came a faint glow and
stir in the heart of it； and it held his eyes； so that now he could not look
away。 Soon all the inside seemed on fire； the ball was spinning； or the
lights within were revolving。 Suddenly the lights went out。 He gave a gasp
and struggled； but he remained bent； clasping the ball with both hands。
Closer and closer he bent； and then became rigid； his lips moved soundlessly
for a while。 Then with a strangled cry he fell back and lay still。
The cry was piercing。 The guards leapt down from the banks。 All the
camp was soon astir。
'So this is the thief！' said Gandalf。 Hastily he cast his cloak over
the globe where it lay。 'But you； Pippin！ This is a grievous turn to
things！' He knelt by Pippin's body： the hobbit was lying on his back rigid；
with unseeing eyes staring up at the sky。 'The devilry！ What mischief has he
done…to himself； and to all of us？' The wizard's face was drawn and haggard。
He took Pippin's hand and bent over his face； listening for his breath；
then he laid his hands on his brow。 The hobbit shuddered。 His eyes closed。
He cried out； and sat up。 staring in bewilderment at all the faces round
him； pale in the moonlight。
'It is not for you； Saruman！' he cried in a shrill and toneless voice
shrinking away from Gandalf。 'I will send for it at once。 Do you understand？
Say just that！'