Flotsam and Jetsam

           GandalfandtheKing’scompanyrodeaway,turningeastwardtomakethecircuitoftheruinedwallsofIsengard.ButAragorn,Gimli,andLegolasremainedbehind.LeavingArodandHasufeltostrayinsearchofgrass,theycameandsatbesidethehobbits.

           ’Well,well!Thehuntisover,andwemeetagainatlast,wherenoneofuseverthoughttocome,’saidAragorn.

           ’Andnowthatthegreatoneshavegonetodiscusshighmatters,’saidLegolas,’thehunterscanperhapslearntheanswerstotheirownsmallriddles.Wetrackedyouasfarastheforest,buttherearestillmanythingsthatIshouldliketoknowthetruthof.’

           ’Andthereisagreatdeal,too,thatwewanttoknowaboutyou’saidMerry.’WehavelearntafewthingsthroughTreebeard,theOldEnt,butthatisnotnearlyenough.’

           ’Allingoodtime,’saidLegolas.’Wewerethehunters,andyoushouldgiveanaccountofyourselvestousfirst.’

           ’Orsecond,’saidGimli.’Itwouldgobetterafterameal.thaveasorehead;anditispastmid-day.Youtruantsmightmakeamendsbyfindingussomeoftheplunderthatyouspokeof.Foodanddrinkwouldpayoffsomeofmyscoreagainstyou.’

           ’Thenyoushallhaveit,’saidPippin.’Willyouhaveithere,orinmorecomfortinwhat’sleftofSaruman’sguard-house—overthereunderthearch?Wehadtopicnicouthere,soastokeepaneyeontheroad.’

           ’Lessthananeye!’saidGimli.’ButIwillnotgointoanyorc-housenortouchOrcs’meatoranythingthattheyhavemauled.’

           ’Wewouldn’taskyouto,’saidMerry.