Treebeard

           Meanwhilethehobbitswentwithasmuchspeedasthedarkandtangledforestallowed,followingthelineoftherunningstream,westwardanduptowardstheslopesofthemountains,deeperanddeeperintoFangorn.SlowlytheirfearoftheOrcsdiedaway,andtheirpaceslackened.Aqueerstiflingfeelingcameoverthem,asiftheairweretoothinortooscantyforbreathing.

           AtlastMerryhalted.’Wecan’tgoonlikethis,’hepanted.’Iwantsomeair.’

           ’Let’shaveadrinkatanyrate,’saidPippin.’I’mparched.’Heclamberedontoagreattree-rootthatwounddownintothestream,andstoopingdrewupsomewaterinhiscuppedhands.Itwasclearandcold,andhetookmanydraughts.Merryfollowedhim.Thewaterrefreshedthemandseemedtocheertheirhearts;forawhiletheysattogetheronthebrinkofthestream,dabblingtheirsorefeetandlegs,andpeeringroundatthetreesthatstoodsilentlyaboutthem,rankuponrank,untiltheyfadedawayintogreytwilightineverydirection.

           ’Isupposeyouhaven’tlostusalready?’saidPippin,leaningbackagainstagreattree-trunk.’Wecanatleastfollowthecourseofthisstream,theEntwashorwhateveryoucallit,andgetoutagainthewaywecame.’

           ’Wecould,ifourlegswoulddoit,’saidMerry;’andifwecouldbreatheproperly.’

           ’Yes,itisallverydim,andstuffy,inhere,’saidPippin.