Властелин колец: Две башни
The White Rider
Theflooroftheforestwasdryandcoveredwithadriftofleaves;butguessingthatthefugitiveswouldstaynearthewater,hereturnedoftentothebanksofthestream.SoitwasthathecameupontheplacewhereMerryandPippinhaddrunkandbathedtheirfeet.Thereplainforalltoseewerethefootprintsoftwohobbits,onesomewhatsmallerthantheother.
’Thisisgoodtidings,’saidAragorn.’YetthemarksaretwodaysoldAnditseemsthatatthispointthehobbitsleftthewater-side.’
’Thenwhatshallwedonow?’saidGimli.’WecannotpursuethemthroughthewholefastnessofFangorn.Wehavecomeillsupplied.Ifwedonotfindthemsoon,weshallbeofnousetothem,excepttositdownbesidethemandshowourfriendshipbystarvingtogether.’
’Ifthatisindeedallwecando,thenwemustdothat,’saidAragorn.’Letusgoon.’
TheycameatlengthtothesteepabruptendofTreebeard’sHillandlookedupattherock-wallwithitsroughstepsleadingtothehighshelf.Gleamsofsunwerestrikingthroughthehurryingclouds,andtheforestnowlookedlessgreyanddrear.
’Letusgoupandlookaboutus!’saidLegolas.’Iwillfeelmybreathshort.Ishouldliketotasteafreerairforawhile.’
Thecompanionsclimbedup.Aragorncamelast,movingslowly:hewasscanningthestepsandledgesclosely.
’Iamalmostsurethatthehobbitshavebeenuphere,’hesaid.’Butthereareothermarks,verystrangemarks,whichIdonotunderstand.
