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stones。 At a gap in the circle a great dark wolfshape could be seen halted； gazing at them。 A shuddering howl broke from him； as if he were a captain summoning his pack to the assault。
Gandalf stood up and strode forward； holding his staff aloft。 'Listen； Hound of Sauron！ ' he cried。 'Gandalf is here。 Fly； if you value your foul skin！ I will shrivel you from tail to snout； if you e within this ring。'
The wolf snarled and sprang towards them with a great leap。 At that moment there was a sharp twang。 Legolas had loosed his bow。 There was a hideous yell； and the leaping shape thudded to the ground； the elvish arrow had pierced its throat。 The watching eyes were suddenly extinguished。 Gandalf and Aragorn strode forward； but the hill was deserted； the hunting packs had fled。 All about them the darkness grew silent； and no cry came on the sighing wind。
The night was old； and westward the waning moon was setting。 gleaming fitfully through the breaking clouds。 Suddenly Frodo started from sleep。 Without warning a storm of howls broke out fierce and wild all about the camp。 A great host of Wargs had gathered silently and was now attacking them from every side at once。
'Fling fuel on the fire！' cried Gandalf to the hobbits。 'Draw your blades； and stand back to back！'
In the leaping light； as the fresh wood blazed up； Frodo saw many grey shapes spring over the ring of stones。 More and more followed。 Through the throat of one huge leader Aragorn passed his sword with a thrust； with a great sweep Boromir hewed the head off another。 Beside them Gimli stood with his stout legs apart； wielding his dwarfaxe。 The bow of Legolas was singing。
In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed suddenly to grow： he rose up； a great menacing shape like the monument of some ancient king of stone set upon a hill。 Stooping like a cloud； he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wolves。 They gave back before him。 High in the air he tossed the blazing brand。 It flared with a sudden white radiance like lightning； and his voice rolled like thunder。
'Naur an edraith ammen！ Naur dan i ngaurhoth！' he cried。
There was a roar and a crackle； and the tree above him burst into a leaf and bloom of blinding flame。 The fire leapt from treetop to treetop。 The whole hill was crowned with dazzling light。 The swords and knives of the defenders shone and flickered。 The last arrow of Legolas kindled in the air as it flew； and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolfchieftain。 All the others fled。
Slowly the fire died till nothing was left but falling ash and sparks； a bitter smoke curled above the burned treestumps； and blew darkly from the hill； as the first light of dawn came dimly in the sky。 Their enemies were routed and did not return。
'What did I tell you； Mr。 Pippin？ ' said Sam； she/thing his sword。 'Wolves won't get him。 That was an eyeopener； and no mistake！ Nearly singed the hair off my head！'
When the full light of the morning came no signs of the wolves were to be found； and they looked in vain for the bodies of the dead。 No trace of the fight remained but the charred trees and the arrows of Legolas lying on the hilltop。 All were undamaged save one of which only the point was left。
'It is as I feared；' said Gandalf。 'These were no ordinary wolves hunting for food in the wilderness。 Let us eat quickly and go！'
That day the weather changed again； almost as if it was at the mand of some power that had no longer any use for snow； since they had retreated from the pass； a power that wished now to have a clear light in which things that moved in the wild could be seen from far away。 The wind had been turning through north to northwest during the night； and now it failed。 The clouds vanished southwards and the sky was opened； high and blue。 As they stood upon the hillside； ready to depart； a pale sunlight gleamed over the mountain tops。
'We must reach the doors before sunset；' said Gandalf； 'or I fear we shall not reach them at all。 It is not far； but our path may be winding； for here Aragorn cannot guide us； he has seldom walked in this country； and only once have I been under the west wall of Moria； and that was long ago。
'There it lies；' he said； pointing away southeastwards to where the mountains' sides fell sheer into the shadows at their feet。 In the distance could be dimly seen a line of bare cliffs； and in their midst； taller than the rest； one great grey wall。 'When we left the pass I led you southwards； and not back to our starting point； as some of you may have noticed。 It is well that I did so； for now we have several miles less to cross； and haste is needed。 Let us go！ '
'I do not know which to hope；' said Boromir grimly： 'that Gandalf will find what he seeks； or that ing to the cliff we shall find the gates lost for ever。 All choices seem ill； and to be caught between wolves and the wall the likeliest chance。 Lead on！'
Gimli now walked ahead by the wizard's side； so eager was he to e to Moria。 Together they led the pany back towards the mountains。 The only road of old to Moria from the west had lain along the course of a stream； the Sirannon； that ran out from the feet of the cliffs near where the doors had stood。 But either Gandalf was astray； or else the land had changed in recent years； for he did not strike the stream where he looked to find it； only a few miles southwards from their start。
The morning was passing towards noon； and still the pany wandered and scrambled in a barren country of red stones。 Nowhere could they see any gleam of water or hear any sound of it。 All was bleak and dry。 Their hearts sank。 They saw no living thing； and not a bird was in the sky； but what the night would bring； if it caught them in that lost land； none of them cared to think。
Suddenly Gimli； who had pressed on ahead； called back to them。 He was standing on a knoll and pointing to the right。 Hurrying up they saw below them a deep and narrow channel。 It was empty and silent； and hardly a trickle of water flowed among the brown and redstained stones of its bed； but on the near side there was a path； much broken and decayed； that wound its way among the ruined walls and pavingstones of an ancient highroad。
'Ah！ Here it is at last！ ' said Gandalf。 'This is where the stream ran： Sirannon； the Gatestream； they used to call it。 But what has happened to the water； I cannot guess； it used to be swift and noisy。 e！ We must hurry on。 We are late。'
The pany were footsore and tired； but they trudged doggedly along the rough and winding track for many miles。 The sun turned from the noon and began to go west。 After a brief halt and a hasty meal they went on again。 Before them the mountains frowned； but their path lay in a deep trough of land and they could see only the higher shoulders and the far eastward peaks。
At length they came to a sharp bend。 There the road； which had been veering southwards between the brink of the channel and a steep fall of the land to the left； turned and went due east again。 Rounding the corner they saw before them a low cliff； some five fathoms high； with a broken and jagged top。 Over it a trickling water dripped； through a wide cleft that seemed to have been carved out by a fall that had once been strong and full。
'Indeed things have changed！ ' said Gandalf。 'But there is no mistaking the place。 There is all that remains of the Stair Falls。 If I remember right； there was a flight of steps cut in the rock at their side； but the main road wound away left and climbed with several loops up to the level ground at the top。 There used to be a shallow valley beyond the falls right up to the Walls of Moria； and the Sirannon flowed through it with the road beside it。 Let us go and see what things are like now！ '
They found the stone steps without difficulty； and Gimli sprang swiftly up them； followed by Gandalf and Frodo。 When they reached the top they saw that they could go no further that way； and the reason for the drying up of the Gatestream was revealed。 Behind them the sinking Sun filled the cool western sky with glimmering gold。 Before them stretched a dark still lake。 Neither sky nor sunset was reflected on its sullen surface。 The Sirannon had been dammed and had filled all the valley