Book III

           Aragornspedonupthehill.Everynowandagainhebenttotheground.Hobbitsgolight,andtheirfootprintsarenoteasyevenforaRangertoread,butnotfarfromthetopaspringcrossedthepath,andinthewetearthhesawwhathewasseeking.

           ’Ireadthesignsaright,’hesaidtohimself.’Frodorantothehill-top.Iwonderwhathesawthere?Buthereturnedbythesameway,andwentdownthehillagain.’

           Aragornhesitated.Hedesiredtogotothehighseathimself,hopingtoseetheresomethingthatwouldguidehiminhisperplexities;buttimewaspressing.Suddenlyheleapedforward,andrantothesummit,acrossthegreatflag-stones,andupthesteps.Thensittinginthehighseathelookedout.Butthesunseemeddarkened,andtheworlddimandremote.HeturnedfromtheNorthbackagaintoNorth,andsawnothingsavethedistanthills,unlessitwerethatfarawayhecouldseeagainagreatbirdlikeaneaglehighintheair,descendingslowlyinwidecirclesdowntowardstheearth.

           Evenashegazedhisquickearscaughtsoundsinthewoodlandsbelow,onthewestsideoftheRiver.Hestiffened.Therewerecries,andamongthem,tohishorror,hecoulddistinguishtheharshvoicesofOrcs.Thensuddenlywithadeep-throatedcallagreathornblew,andtheblastsofitsmotethehillsandechoedinthehollows,risinginamightyshoutabovetheroaringofthefalls.

           ’ThehornofBoromir!’hecried.’Heisinneed!’Hesprangdownthestepsandaway,leapingdownthepath.’Alas!Anillfateisonmethisday,andallthatIdogoesamiss.