Властелин колец: Две башни
The White Rider
Letuslookfirstandguesslater!Weshouldbeginhere,neartoourowncamping-ground,searchingcarefullyallabout,andworkinguptheslopetowardstheforest.Tofindthehobbitsisourerrand,whateverwemaythinkofourvisitorinthenight.Iftheyescapedbysomechance,thentheymusthavehiddeninthetrees,ortheywouldhavebeenseen.Ifwefindnothingbetweenhereandtheeavesofthewood,thenwewillmakealastsearchuponthebattle-fieldandamongtheashes.Butthereislittlehopethere:thehorsemenofRohandidtheirworktoowell.’
Forsometimethecompanionscrawledandgropedupontheground.Thetreestoodmournfullyabovethem,itsdryleavesnowhanginglimp,andrattlinginthechilleasterlywind.Aragornmovedslowlyaway.Hecametotheashesofthewatch-fireneartheriver-bank,andthenbegantoretracethegroundbacktowardstheknollwherethebattlehadbeenfought.Suddenlyhestoopedandbentlowwithhisfacealmostinthegrass.Thenhecalledtotheothers.Theycamerunningup.
’Hereatlastwefindnews!’saidAragorn.Heliftedupabrokenleafforthemtosee,alargepaleleafofgoldenhue,nowfadingandturningbrown.’Hereisamallorn-leafofLórien,andtherearesmallcrumbsonit,andafewmorecrumbsinthegrass.Andsee!therearesomepiecesofcutcordlyingnearby!’
’Andhereistheknifethatcutthem!’saidGimli.Hestoopedanddrewoutofatussock,intowhichsomeheavyfoothadtrampledit,ashortjaggedblade.Thehaftfromwhichithadbeensnappedwasbesideit.
