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the pass…word the guard saluted him and let him pass through； and what was more； he allowed him
to take his panion with him。
'That is good！' said Bergil。 'We boys are no longer allowed to pass the Gate without an elder。
Now we shall see better。'
Beyond the Gate there was a crowd of men along the verge of the road and of the great paved
space into which all the ways to Minas Tirith ran。 All eyes were turned southwards； and soon a
murmur rose： 'There is dust away there！ They are ing！'
Pippin and Bergil edged their way forward to the front of the crowd； and waited。 Horns sounded
at some distance； and the noise of cheering rolled towards them like a gathering wind。 Then there
was a loud trumpet…blast； and all about them people were shouting。
'Forlong！ Forlong！' Pippin heard men calling。 'What do they say？' he asked。
'Forlong has e；' Bergil answered； 'old Forlong the Fat； the Lord of Lossarnach。 That is where
my grandsire lives。 Hurrah！ Here he is。 Good old Forlong！'
Leading the line there came walking a big thick…limbed horse； and on it sat a man of wide
shoulders and huge girth； but old and grey…bearded； yet mail…clad and black…helmed and bearing a
long heavy spear。 Behind him marched proudly a dusty line of men； well…armed and bearing great
battle…axes； grim…faced they were； and shorter and somewhat swarthier than any men that Pippin
had yet seen in Gondor。
'Forlong！' men shouted。 'True heart； true friend！ Forlong！' But when the men of Lossarnach had
passed they muttered： 'So few！ Two hundreds； what are they？ We hoped for ten times the number。
That will be the new tidings of the black fleet。 They are sparing only a tithe of their strength。 Still
every little is a gain。'
And so the panies came and were hailed and cheered and passed through the Gate； men of
the Outlands marching to defend the City of Gondor in a dark hour； but always too few； always less
than hope looked for or need asked。 The men of Ringló Vale behind the son of their lord； Dervorin
striding on foot： three hundreds。 From the uplands of Morthond； the great Blackroot Vale； tall
Duinhir with his sons； Duilin and Derufin； and five hundred bowmen。 From the Anfalas； the
Langstrand far away； a long line of men of many sorts； hunters and herdsmen and men of little
villages； scantily equipped save for the household of Golasgil their lord。 From Lamedon； a few
grim hillmen without a captain。 Fisher…folk of the Ethir； some hundred or more spared from the
ships。 Hirluin the Fair of the Green Hills from Pinnath Gelin with three hundreds of gallant green…
clad men。 And last and proudest； Imrahil； Prince of Dol Amroth； kinsman of the Lord； with gilded
banners bearing his token of the Ship and the Silver Swan； and a pany of knights in full harness
riding grey horses； and behind them seven hundreds of men at arms； tall as lords； grey…eyed； dark…
haired； singing as they came。
And that was all； less than three thousands full told。 No more would e。 Their cries and the
tramp of their feet passed into the City and died away。 The onlookers stood silent for a while。 Dust
hung in the air； for the wind had died and the evening was heavy。 Already the closing hour was
drawing nigh； and the red sun had gone behind Mindolluin。 Shadow came down on the City。
Pippin looked up； and it seemed to him that the sky had grown ashen…grey； as if a vast dust and
smoke hung above them； and light came dully through it。 But in the West the dying sun had set all
the fume on fire； and now Mindolluin stood black against a burning smoulder flecked with embers。
'So ends a fair day in wrath！' he said forgetful of the lad at his side。
'So it will； if I have not returned before the sundown…bells；' said Bergil。 'e！ There goes the
trumpet for the closing of the Gate。'
Hand in hand they went back into the City； the last to pass the Gate before it was shut； and as
they reached the Lampwrights' Street all the bells in the towers tolled solemnly。 Lights sprang in
many windows； and from the houses and wards of the men at arms along the walls there came the
sound of song。
'Farewell for this time；' said Bergil。 'Take my greetings to my ：father； and thank him for the
pany that he sent。 e again soon； I beg。 Almost I wish now that there was no war； for we
might have had some merry times。 We might have journeyed to Lossarnach； to my grandsire's
house； it is good to be there in Spring； the woods and fields are full of flowers。 But maybe we will
go thither together yet。 They will never overe our Lord； and my father is very valiant。 Farewell
and return！'
They parted and Pippin hurried back towards the citadel。 It seemed a long way； and he grew hot
and very hungry； and night closed down swift and dark。 Not a star pricked the sky。 He was late for
the daymeal in the mess； and Beregond greeted him gladly； and sat him at his side to hear news of
his son。 After the meal Pippin stayed a while； and then took his leave； for a strange gloom was on
him； and now he desired very much to see Gandalf again。
'Can you find your way？' said Beregond at the door of the small hall； on the north side of the
citadel； where they had sat。 'It is a black night； and all the blacker since orders came that lights are
to be dimmed within the City； and none are to shine out from the walls。 And I can give you news of
another order： you will be summoned to the Lord Denethor early tomorrow。 I fear you will not be
for the Third pany。 Still we may hope to meet again。 Farewell and sleep in peace！'
The lodging was dark； save for a little lantern set on the table。 Gandalf was not there。 Gloom
settled still more heavily on Pippin。 He climbed on the bench and tried to peer out of a window； but
it was like looking into a pool of ink。 He got down and closed the shutter and went to bed。 For a
while he lay and listened for sounds of Gandalf's return； and then he fell into an uneasy sleep。
In the night he was wakened by a light； and he saw that Gandalf had e and was pacing to
and fro in the room beyond the curtain of the alcove。 There were candles on the table and rolls of
parchment。 He heard the wizard sigh； and mutter： 'When will Faramir return？'
'Hullo！' said Pippin； poking his head round the curtain。 'I thought you had forgotten all about me。
I am glad to see you back。 It has been a long day。'
'But the night will be too short；' said Gandalf。 'I have e back here； for I must have a little
peace； alone。 You should sleep； in a bed while you still may。 At the sunrise I shall take you to the
Lord Denethor again。 No； when the summons es； not at sunrise。 The Darkness has begun。
There will be no dawn。'
_Chapter 2_
The Passing of the Grey pany
Gandalf was gone； and the thudding hoofs of Shadowfax were lost in the night； when Merry
came back to Aragorn。 He had only a light bundle； for he had lost his pack at Parth Galen； and all
he had was a few useful things he had picked up among the wreckage of Isengard。 Hasufel was
already saddled。 Legolas and Gimli with their horse stood close by。
'So four of the pany still remain；' said Aragorn。 'We will ride on together。 But we shall not
go alone； as I thought。 The king is now determined to set out at once。 Since the ing of the
winged shadow； he desires to return to the hills under cover of night。'
'And then whither？' said Legolas。
'I cannot say yet；' Aragorn answered。 'As for the king； he will go to the muster that he
manded at Edoras； four nights from now。 And there； I think； he will hear tidings of war； and the
Riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith。 But for myself； and any that will go with me 。 。 。'
'I for one！' cried Legolas。 'And Gimli with him！' said the Dwarf。
'Well； for myself；' said Aragorn； 'it is dark before me。 I must go down also to Minas Tirith； but I
do not yet see the road。 An hour long prepared approaches。'
'Don't leave me behind！' said Merry。 'I have not been of much use yet； but I don't want to be laid
aside； like baggage to be called for when all is over。 I don't think the Riders will want to be
bothered with me now。 Though； of course； the king did say that I was to sit by him when he came
to his house and tell him all about the Shire。'
'Yes；' said Aragorn； 'and your road lies with him； I think； Merry。 But do not look for mirth at the
ending。 It will be long； I fear； ere Théoden sits at ease again in Meduseld。 Many hopes will wither
in this bitter Spring。'
Soon all were ready to depart： twenty…four horses； with Gimli behind Legolas； and Merry in
front of Aragorn。 Presently they were riding swiftly through the night。 They had not long passed the
mounds at the Fords of Isen； when a Rider galloped up from the rear of their line。
'My lord；' he said to the king； 'there are horsemen behind us。 As we crossed the fords I thought
that I heard them。 Now we are sure。 They are overtaking us； riding hard。'
Théoden at once called a halt。 The Riders turned about and seized their spears。 Aragorn
dismounted and set Merry on the ground； and drawing his sword he stood by