' 〃In which case it is no longer white；〃 said I。 〃And he that breaks athing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom。〃
' 〃You need not speak to me as to one of the fools that you take forfriends；〃 said he。 〃I have not brought you hither to be instructed by you； butto give you a choice。〃
'He drew himself up then and began to declaim； as if he were making aspeech long rehearsed。 〃The Elder Days are gone。 The Middle Days are passing。
The Younger Days are beginning。 The time of the Elves is over； but our time isat hand： the world of Men； which we must rule。 But we must have power； powerto order all things as we will； for that good which only the Wise can see。
' 〃And listen； Gandalf； my old friend and helper！ 〃 he said； ing nearand speaking now in a softer voice。 〃I said we； for we it may be； if you willjoin with me。 A new Power is rising。 Against it the old allies and policieswill not avail us at all。 There is no hope left in Elves or dying Númenor。
This then is one choice before you。 before us。 We may join with that Power。 Itwould be wise； Gandalf。 There is hope that way。 Its victory is at hand； andthere will be rich reward for those that aided it。 As the Power grows； itsproved friends will also grow； and the Wise； such as you and I； may withpatience e at last to direct its courses； to control it。 We can bide ourtime； we can keep our thoughts in our hearts； deploring maybe evils done bythe way； but approving the high and ultimate purpose： Knowledge； Rule； Order；
all the things that we have so far striven in vain to acplish； hinderedrather than helped by our weak or idle friends。 There need not be； there wouldnot be； any real change in our designs； only in our means。〃
' 〃Saruman；〃 I said； 〃I have heard speeches of this kind before； but onlyin the mouths of emissaries sent from Mordor to deceive the ignorant。 I cannotthink that you brought me so far only to weary my ears。〃
'He looked at me sidelong； and paused a while considering。 〃Well； I seethat this wise course does not mend itself to you；〃 he said。 〃Not yet？ Notif some better way can be contrived？ 〃
‘He came and laid his long hand on my arm。 〃And why not； Gandalf？ 〃 hewhispered。 〃Why not？ The Ruling Ring？ If we could mand that； then the Powerwould pass to us。 That is in truth why I brought you here。 For I have manyeyes in my service； and I believe that you know where this precious thing nowlies。 Is it not so？ Or why do the Nine ask for the Shire； and what is yourbusiness there？ 〃 As he said this a lust which he could not conceal shone
suddenly in his eyes。
' 〃Saruman；〃 I said； standing away from him； 〃only one hand at a time canwield the One； and you know that well； so do not trouble to say we！ But Iwould not give it； nay； I would not give even news of it to you； now that Ilearn your mind。 You were head of the Council； but you have unmasked yourselfat last。 Well； the choices are； it seems； to submit to Sauron； or to yourself。
I will take neither。 Have you others to offer？ 〃
'He was cold now and perilous。 〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃I did not expect you toshow wisdom； even in your own behalf； but I gave you the chance of aiding mewillingly。 and so saving yourself much trouble and pain。 The third choice isto stay here； until the end。〃
' 〃Until what end？ 〃
' 〃Until you reveal to me where the One may be found。 I may find means topersuade you。 Or until it is found in your despite； and the Ruler has time toturn to lighter matters： to devise； say； a fitting reward for the hindranceand insolence of Gandalf the Grey。〃
' 〃That may not prove to be one of the lighter matters；〃 said I。 Helaughed at me； for my words were empty； and he knew it。
‘They took me and they set me alone on the pinnacle of Orthanc； in the
place where Saruman was accustomed to watch the stars。 There is no descentsave by a narrow stair of many thousand steps； and the valley below seems faraway。 I looked on it and saw that； whereas it had once been green and fair； itwas now filled with pits and forges。 Wolves and orcs were housed in Isengard；
for Saruman was mustering a great force on his own account； in rivalry ofSauron and not in his service yet。 Over all his works a dark smoke hung andwrapped itself about the sides of Orthanc。 I stood alone on an island in theclouds； and I had no chance of escape； and my days were bitter。 I was piercedwith cold； and I had but little room in which to pace to and fro； brooding onthe ing of the Riders to the North。
‘That the Nine had indeed arisen I felt assured； apart from the words ofSaruman which might be lies。 Long ere I came to Isengard I had heard tidingsby the way that could not be mistaken。 Fear was ever in my heart for myfriends in the Shire； but still I had some hope。 I hoped that Frodo had setforth at once； as my letter had urged； and that he had reached Rivendellbefore the deadly pursuit began。 And both my fear and my hope proved ill…
founded。 For my hope was founded on a fat man in Bree； and my fear was foundedon the cunning of Sauron。 But fat men who sell ale have many calls to answer；
and the power of Sauron is still less than fear makes it。 But in the circle ofIsengard； trapped and alone； it was not easy to think that the hunters beforewhom all have fled or fallen would falter in the Shire far away。'
‘I saw you！' cried Frodo。 ‘You were walking backwards and forwards。 Themoon shone in your hair。'
Gandalf paused astonished and looked at him。 'It was only a dream' saidFrodo； ‘but it suddenly came back to me。 I had quite forgotten it。 It camesome time ago； after I left the Shire； I think。'
‘Then it was late in ing；' said Gandalf； 'as you will see。 I was in anevil plight。 And those who know me will agree that I have seldom been in suchneed； and do not bear such misfortune well。 Gandalf the Grey caught like a flyin a spider's treacherous web！ Yet even the most subtle spiders may leave aweak thread。
‘At first I feared； as Saruman no doubt intended； that Radagast had alsofallen。 Yet I had caught no hint of anything wrong in his voice or in his eyeat our meeting。 If I had； I should never have gone to Isengard； or I shouldhave gone more warily。 So Saruman guessed； and he had concealed his mind anddeceived his messenger。 It would have been useless in any case to try and winover the honest Radagast to treachery。 He sought me in good faith； and sopersuaded me。
‘That was the undoing of Saruman's plot。 For Radagast knew no reason whyhe should not do as I asked； and he rode away towards Mirkwood where he hadmany friends of old。 And the Eagles of the Mountains went far and wide； andthey saw many things： the gathering of wolves and the mustering of Orcs； andthe Nine Riders going hither and thither in the lands； and they heard news ofthe escape of Gollum。 And they sent a messenger to bring these tidings to me。
‘So it was that when summer waned； there came a night of moon； andGwaihir the Windlord； swiftest of the Great Eagles； came unlooked…for toOrthanc； and he found me standing on the pinnacle。 Then I spoke to him and hebore me away； before Saruman was aware。 I was far from Isengard； ere thewolves and orcs issued from the gate to pursue me。
‘ 〃How far can you bear me？ 〃 I said to Gwaihir。
‘ 〃Many leagues；〃 said he； 〃but not to the ends of the earth。 I was sentto bear tidings not burdens。〃
‘ 〃Then I must have a steed on land；〃 I said； 〃and a steed surpassinglyswift； for I have never had such need of haste before。〃
‘ 〃Then I will bear you to Edoras； where the Lord of Rohan sits in hishalls；〃 he said； 〃for that is not very far off。〃 And I was glad； for in theRiddermark of Rohan the Rohirrim； the Horse…lords； dwell； and there are nohorses like those that are bred in that great vale between the Misty Mountainsand the White。
‘ 〃Are the Men of Rohan still to be trusted； do you think？ 〃 I said to
Gwaihir； for the treason of Saruman had shaken my faith。
‘ 〃They pay a tribute of horses；〃 he answered； 〃and send many yearly toMordor； or so it is said； but they are not yet under the yoke。 But if Sarumanhas bee evil； as you say； then their doom cannot be long delayed。〃
‘He set me down in the land of Rohan ere dawn； and now I have lengthenedmy tale over long。 The rest must be more brief。 In Rohan I found evil alreadyat work： the lies of Saruman； and the king of the land would not listen to mywarnings。 He bade me take a horse and be gone； and I chose one much to myliking。 but little to his。 I took the best horse in his land； and I have neverseen the like of him。'
'Then he must be a noble beast indeed；' said Aragorn； 'and it grieves memore than many tidings that might seem worse to learn that Sauron levies suchtribute。 It was not so when last I was in that land。'
‘Nor is it now； I will swear；' said Boromir。 ‘It is a lie that es fromthe Enemy。 I know the Men of Rohan； true and valiant； our allies； dwellingstill in the lands that we gave them long ago。'
‘The shadow of Mordor lies on distant lands；' answered Aragorn。 'Sarumanhas fallen under it。 Rohan is beset。 Who knows what you will find there； ifever you return？'
‘Not this at least。' said Boromir； 'that they will buy their lives withhorses。 They love their horses next to their kin。 And not without reason； forthe horses of the Riddermark e from the fields of the North； far from theShadow。 and their race； as that of their masters； is descended from the freedays of old。'
'True indeed！' said Gandalf。 ‘And there is one among them that might havebeen foaled in the morning of the world。 The horses of the Nine cannot viewith him； tireless； swift as the flowing wind。 Shadowfax they called him。 Byday his coat glistens like silver； and by night it is like a shade； and hepasses unseen。 Light is his footfall！ Never before had any man mounted him；
but I took him and I tamed him； and so speedily he bore me that I reached theShire when Frodo was on the Barrow…downs； though I set out from Rohan onlywhen he set out from Hobbiton。
'But fear grew in me as I rode。 Ever as I came north I heard tidings ofthe Riders； and though I gained on them day by day； they were ever before me。
They had divided their forces； I learned： some remained on the easternborders； not far from the Greenway。 and some invaded the Shire from the south。
I came to Hobbiton and Frodo had gone； but I had words with old