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fewmiles southwards from their start。
The morning was passing towards noon； and still the pany wandered andscrambled in a barren country of red stones。 Nowhere could they see any gleamof 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 nightwould 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 wasstanding on a knoll and pointing to the right。 Hurrying up they saw below thema deep and narrow channel。 It was empty and silent； and hardly a trickle ofwater flowed among the brown and red…stained stones of its bed； but on thenear side there was a path； much broken and decayed； that wound its way amongthe ruined walls and paving…stones of an ancient highroad。
'Ah！ Here it is at last！ ' said Gandalf。 ‘This is where the stream ran：
Sirannon； the Gate…stream； they used to call it。 But what has happened to thewater； 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 therough 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。 Beforethem the mountains frowned； but their path lay in a deep trough of land andthey could see only the higher shoulders and the far eastward peaks。
At length they came to a sharp bend。 There the road； which had beenveering southwards between the brink of the channel and a steep fall of theland to the left； turned and went due east again。 Rounding the corner they sawbefore 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 havebeen carved out by a fall that had once been strong and full。
‘Indeed things have changed！ ' said Gandalf。 ‘But there is no mistakingthe 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 roadwound away left and climbed with several loops up to the level ground at thetop。 There used to be a shallow valley beyond the falls right up to the Wallsof Moria； and the Sirannon flowed through it with the road beside it。 Let usgo and see what things are like now！ '
They found the stone steps without difficulty； and Gimli sprang swiftlyup them； followed by Gandalf and Frodo。 When they reached the top they sawthat they could go no further that way； and the reason for the drying up ofthe Gate…stream was revealed。 Behind them the sinking Sun filled the coolwestern sky with glimmering gold。 Before them stretched a dark still lake。
Neither sky nor sunset was reflected on its sullen surface。 The Sirannon hadbeen dammed and had filled all the valley。 Beyond the ominous water werereared vast cliffs； their stern faces pallid in the fading light： final andimpassable。 No sign of gate or entrance； not a fissure or crack could Frodosee in the frowning stone。
‘There are the Walls of Moria；' said Gandalf； pointing across the water。
‘And there the Gate stood once upon a time； the Elven Door at the end of theroad from Hollin by which we have e。 But this way is blocked。 None of thepany； I guess； will wish to swim this gloomy water at the end of the day。
It has an unwholesome look。'
‘We must find a way round the northern edge；' said Gimli。 ‘The firstthing for the pany to do is to climb up by the main path and see where thatwill lead us。 Even if there were no lake； we could not get our baggage…pony upthis stair。'
‘But in any case we cannot take the poor beast into the Mines；' saidGandalf。 ‘The road under the mountains is a dark road； and there are placesnarrow and steep which he cannot tread； even if we can。'
‘Poor old Bill！ ' said Frodo。 ‘I had not thought of that。 And poor Sam！ Iwonder what he will say？ '
‘I am sorry；' said Gandalf。 ‘Poor Bill has been a useful panion and itgoes to my heart to turn him adrift now。 I would have travelled lighter andbrought no animal； least of all this one that Sam is fond of； if I had had myway。 I feared all along that we should be obliged to take this road。'
The day was drawing to its end； and cold stars were glinting in the skyhigh above the sunset； when the pany； with all the speed they could；
climbed up the slopes and reached the side of the lake。 In breadth it lookedto be no more than two or three furlongs at the widest point。 How far itstretched away southward they could not see in the failing light； but itsnorthern end was no more than half a mile from where they stood； and betweenthe stony ridges that enclosed the valley and the water's edge there was a rimof open ground。 They hurried forward； for they had still a mile or two to gobefore they could reach the point on the far shore that Gandalf was makingfor； and then he had still to find the doors。
When they came to the northernmost corner of the lake they found a narrowcreek that barred their way。 It was green and stagnant； thrust out like aslimy arm towards the enclosing hills。 Gimli strode forward undeterred； andfound that the water was shallow； no more than ankle…deep at the edge。 Behindhim they walked in file； threading their way with care； for under the weedypools were sliding and greasy stones； and footing was treacherous。 Frodo
shuddered with disgust at the touch of the dark unclean water on his feet。
As Sam； the last of the pany； led Bill up on to the dry ground on thefar side； there came a soft sound： a swish； followed by a plop； as if a fishhad disturbed the still surface of the water。 Turning quickly they sawripples； black…edged with shadow in the waning light： great rings werewidening outwards from a point far out in the lake。 There was a bubblingnoise； and then silence。 The dusk deepened； and the last gleams of the sunsetwere veiled in cloud。
Gandalf now pressed on at a great pace； and the others followed asquickly as they could。 They reached the strip of dry land between the lake andthe cliffs： it was narrow； often hardly a dozen yards across； and encumberedwith fallen rock and stones； but they found a way； hugging the cliff； andkeeping as far from the dark water as they might。 A mile southwards along theshore they came upon holly trees。 Stumps and dead boughs were rotting in theshallows； the remains it seemed of old thickets； or of a hedge that had oncelined the road across the drowned valley。 But close under the cliff therestood； still strong and living； 。 two tall trees； larger than any trees ofholly that Frodo had ever seen or imagined。 Their great roots spread from thewall to the water。 Under the looming cliffs they had looked like mere bushes；
when seen far off from the top of the Stair； but now they towered overhead；
stiff； dark； and silent； throwing deep night…shadows about their feet；
standing like sentinel pillars at the end of the road。
‘Well； here we are at last！ ' said Gandalf。 'Here the Elven…way fromHollin ended。 Holly was the token of the people of that land； and they plantedit here to mark the end of their domain； for the West…door was made chieflyfor their use in their traffic with the Lords of Moria。 Those were happierdays； when there was still close friendship at times between folk of differentrace； even between Dwarves and Elves。'
'It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned；' saidGimli。
'I have not heard that it was the fault of the Elves；' said Legolas。
'I have heard both；' said Gandalf； 'and I will not give judgement now。
But I beg you two； Legolas and Gimli； at least to be friends； and to help me。
I need you both。 The doors are shut and hidden； and the sooner we find themthe better。 Night is at hand！ '
Turning to the others he said： 'While I am searching； will you each makeready to enter the Mines？ For here I fear we must say farewell to our goodbeast of burden。 You must lay aside much of the stuff that we brought againstbitter weather： you will not need it inside； nor； I hope； when we e throughand journey on down into the South。 Instead each of us must take a share ofwhat the pony carried； especially the food and the water…skins。'
'But you can't leave poor old Bill behind in this forsaken place； Mr。
Gandalf！ ' cried Sam； angry and distressed。 ‘I won't have it； and that's flat。
After he has e so far and all！ '
'I am sorry； Sam；' said the wizard。 ‘But when the Door opens I do notthink you will be able to drag your Bill inside； into the long dark of Moria。
You will have to choose between Bill and your master。'
'He'd follow Mr。 Frodo into a dragon's den； if I led him；' protested Sam。
‘It'd be nothing short of murder to turn him loose with all these wolvesabout。'
'It will be short of murder； I hope；' said Gandalf。 He laid his hand onthe pony's head； and spoke in a low voice。 ‘Go with words of guard and guidingon you；' he said。 ‘You are a wise beast； and have learned much in Rivendell。
Make your ways to places where you can find grass； and so e in time toElrond's house； or wherever you wish to go。
‘There； Sam！ He will have quite as much chance of escaping wolves andgetting home as we have。'
Sam stood sullenly by the pony and return