ke this book； the Book of Mazarbul； and look at it more closely later。 You had better keep it； Gimli； and take it back to Dáin； if you get a chance。 It will interest him； though it will grieve him deeply。 e； let us go！ The morning is passing。'
'Which way shall we go？ ' asked Boromir。
'Back to the hall；' answered Gandalf。 'But our visit to this room has not been in vain。 I now know where we are。 This must be； as Gimli says； the Chamber of Mazarbul； and the hall must be the twentyfirst of the Northend。 Therefore we should leave by the eastern arch of the hall； and bear right and south； and go downwards。 The Twentyfirst Hall should be on the Seventh Level； that is six above the level of the Gates。 e now！ Back to the hall！ '
Gandalf had hardly spoken these words； when there came a great noise： a rolling Boom that seemed to e from depths far below； and to tremble in the stone at their feet。 They sprang towards the door in alarm。 Doom； doom it rolled again； as if huge hands were turning the very caverns of Moria into a vast drum。 Then there came an echoing blast： a great horn was blown in the hall； and answering horns and harsh cries were heard further off。 There was a hurrying sound of many feet。
'They are ing！ ' cried Legolas。
'We cannot get out；' said Gimli。
'Trapped！ ' cried Gandalf。 'Why did I delay？ Here we are； caught； just as they were before。 But I was not here then。 We will see what—？'
Doom； doom came the drumbeat and the walls shook。
'Slam the doors and wedge them！ ' shouted Aragorn。 'And keep your packs on as long as you can： we may get a chance to cut our way out yet。'
'No！ ' said Gandalf。 'We must not get shut in。 Keep the east door ajar！ We will go that way； if we get a chance。'
Another harsh horncall and shrill cries rang out。 Feet were ing down the corridor。 There was a ring and clatter as the pany drew their swords。 Glamdring shone with a pale light； and Sting glinted at the edges。 Boromir set his shoulder against the western door。
'Wait a moment！ Do not close it yet！ ' said Gandalf。 He sprang forward to Boromir's side and drew himself up to his full height。
'Who es hither to disturb the rest of Balin Lord of Moria？ ' he cried in a loud voice。
There was a rush of hoarse laughter； like the fall of sliding stones into a pit； amid the clamour a deep voice was raised in mand。 Doom； boom； doom went the drums in the deep。
ent Gandalf stepped before the narrow opening of the door and thrust forward his staff： There was a dazzling flash that lit the chamber and the passage outside。 For an instant the wizard looked out。 Arrows whined and whistled down the corridor as he sprang back。
'There are Orcs； very many of them；' he said。 'And some are large and evil： black Uruks of Mordor。 For the moment they are hanging back； but there is something else there。 A great cavetroll； I think； or more than one。 There is no hope of escape that way。'
'And no hope at all； if they e at the other door as well；' said Boromir。
'There is no sound outside here yet；' said Aragorn； who was standing by the eastern door listening。 'The passage on this side plunges straight down a stair： it plainly does not lead back towards the hall。 But it is no good flying blindly this way with the pursuit just behind。 We cannot block the door。 Its key is gone and the lock is broken； and it opens inwards。 We must do something to delay the enemy first。 We will make them fear the Chamber of Mazarbul！' he said grimly feeling the edge of his sword； Andúril。
Heavy feet were heard in the corridor。 Boromir flung himself against the door and heaved it to； then he wedged it with broken swordblades and splinters of wood。 The pany retreated to the other side of the chamber。 But they had no chance to fly yet。 There was a blow on the door that made it quiver； and then it began to grind slowly open； driving back the wedges。 A huge arm and shoulder； with a dark skin of greenish scales； was thrust through the widening gap。 Then a great； flat； toeless foot was forced through below。 There was a dead silence outside。
Boromir leaped forward and hewed at the arm with all his might； but his sword rang； glanced aside； and fell from his shaken hand。 The blade was notched。
Suddenly； and to his own surprise； Frodo felt a hot wrath blaze up in his heart。 'The Shire！ ' he cried； and springing beside Boromir； he stooped； and stabbed with Sting at the hideous foot。 There was a bellow； and the foot jerked back； nearly wrenching Sting from Frodo's arm。 Black drops dripped from the blade and smoked on the floor。 Boromir hurled himself against the door and slammed it again。
'One for the Shire！ ' cried Aragorn。 'The hobbit's bite is deep！ You have a good blade； Frodo son of Drogo！ '
There was a crash on the door； followed by crash after crash。 Rams and hammers were beating against it。 It cracked and staggered back； and the opening grew suddenly wide。 Arrows came whistling in； but struck the northern wall； and fell harmlessly to the floor。 There was a hornblast and a rush of feet； and orcs one after another leaped into the chamber。
How many there were the pany could not count。 The affray was sharp； but the orcs were dismayed by the fierceness of the defence。 Legolas shot two through the throat。 Gimli hewed the legs from under another that had sprung up on Balin's tomb。 Boromir and Aragorn slew many。 When thirteen had fallen the rest fled shrieking。 leaving the defenders unharmed； except for Sam who had a scratch along the scalp。 A quick duck had saved him； and he had felled his orc： a sturdy thrust with his Barrowblade。 A fire was smouldering in his brown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards； if he had seen it。
'Now is the time！ ' cried Gandalf。 'Let us go； before the troll returns！'
But even as they retreated； and before Pippin and Merry had reached the stair outside； a huge orcchieftain； almost manhigh； clad in black mail from head to foot； leaped into the chamber； behind him his followers clustered in the doorway。 His broad flat face was swart； his eyes were like coals； and his tongue was red； he wielded a great spear。 With a thrust of his huge hide shield he turned Boromir's sword and bore him backwards； throwing him to the ground。 Diving under Aragorn's blow with the speed of a striking snake he charged into the pany and thrust with his spear straight at Frodo。 The blow caught him on the right side； and Frodo was hurled against the wall and pinned。 Sam； with a cry； hacked at the spearshaft； and it broke。 But even as the orc flung down the truncheon and swept out his scimitar； Andúril came down upon his helm。 There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder。 The orc fell with cloven head。 His followers fled howling； as Boromir and Aragorn sprang at them。
Doom； doom went the drums in the deep。 The great voice rolled out again。
'Now！ ' shouted Gandalf。 'Now is the last chance。 Run for it！ '
Aragorn picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair； pushing Merry and Pippin in front of him。 The others followed； but Gimli had to be dragged away by Legolas： in spite of the peril he lingered by Balin's tomb with his head bowed。 Boromir hauled the eastern door to； grinding upon its hinges： it had great iron rings on either side； but could not be fastened。
'I am all right；' gasped Frodo。 'I can walk。 Put me down！ '
Aragorn nearly dropped him in his amazement。 'I thought you were dead！ ' he cried。
'Not yet！ ' said Gandalf。 'But there is time for wonder。 Off you go； all of you； down the stairs！ Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom； but if I do not e soon； go on！ Go quickly and choose paths leading right and downwards。'
'We cannot leave you to hold the door alone！ ' said Aragorn。
'Do as I say！ ' said Gandalf fiercely。 'Swords are no more use here。 Go！'
The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark。 They groped their way down a long flight of steps； and then looked back； but they could see nothing； except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff。 He seemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door。 Frodo breathed heavily and leaned against Sam； who put his arms about him。 They stood peering up the stairs into the darkness。 Frodo thought he could hear the voice of Gandalf above； muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighing echo。 He could not catch what was said。 The walls seemed to be trembling。 Every now and again the drumbeats throbbed and rolled： doom； doom。
Suddenly at the top of the stair there was a stab of white light。 Then there was a dull rumble and a heavy thud。 The drumbeats broke out wildly： doomboom； doomboom； and then stopped。 Gandalf came flying down the steps and fell to the ground in the midst of the pany。
'Well； well！ That's over！ ' said the wizard struggling to his feet。 'I have done all that I could。 But I have met my match； and have nearly been destroyed。 But don't stand here！ Go on！ You will have to do without light for a while： I am rather shaken。 Go on！ Go on！ Where are you； Gimli？ e ahead with me！ Keep close behind； all of you！'
They stumbled after him wondering what had happened。 Doom； doom went the drumbeats again： they now sounded muffled and far away； but they were following。 There was no other sound of pursuit； neither tramp of feet； nor any voice。 Gandalf took no turns； right or left； for the passage seemed to be going in the direction that he desired。 Every now and again it descended a flight of steps； fifty or more； to a lower level。 At the moment that was their chief danger； for in the dark they could not see a descent； until they came on it； and put their feet out into emptiness。 Gandalf felt the ground with his staff like a blind man。
At the end of an hour they had gone a mile； or maybe a little more； and had descended many flights of stairs。 There was still no sound of pursuit。 Almost they began to hope that they would escape。 At the bottom of the seventh flight Gandalf halted。
'It is getting hot！ ' he gasped。 'We ought to be down at least to the level of the Gates now。 Soon I think we should look for a lefthand turn to take us east。 I hope it is not far。 I am very weary。 I must rest here a moment； even if all the orcs ever spawned are after us。'
Gimli took his arm and helped him do