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g。 leaving the defenders unharmed； except for Sam who had ascratch along the scalp。 A quick duck had saved him； and he had felled hisorc： a sturdy thrust with his Barrow…blade。 A fire was smouldering in hisbrown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards； if he had seenit。
‘Now is the time！ ' cried Gandalf。 ‘Let us go； before the troll returns！'
But even as they retreated； and before Pippin and Merry had reached thestair outside； a huge orc…chieftain； almost man…high； clad in black mail fromhead to foot； leaped into the chamber； behind him his followers clustered inthe doorway。 His broad flat face was swart； his eyes were like coals； and histongue was red； he wielded a great spear。 With a thrust of his huge hideshield he turned Boromir's sword and bore him backwards； throwing him to theground。 Diving under Aragorn's blow with the speed of a striking snake hecharged into the pany and thrust with his spear straight at Frodo。 The blowcaught him on the right side； and Frodo was hurled against the wall andpinned。 Sam； with a cry； hacked at the spear…shaft； and it broke。 But even asthe orc flung down the truncheon and swept out his scimitar； Andúril came downupon his helm。 There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder。 Theorc fell with cloven head。 His followers fled howling； as Boromir and Aragornsprang at them。
again。
_Doom； doom_ went the drums in the deep。 The great voice rolled out
'Now！ ' shouted Gandalf。 'Now is the last chance。 Run for it！ '
Aragorn picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair；
pushing Merry and Pippin in front of him。 The others followed； but Gimli had
to be dragged away by Legolas： in spite of the peril he lingered by Balin'stomb with his head bowed。 Boromir hauled the eastern door to； grinding uponits hinges： it had great iron rings on either side； but could not be fastened。
'I am all right；' gasped Frodo。 ‘I can walk。 Put me down！ '
Aragorn nearly dropped him in his amazement。 'I thought you were dead！ '
he cried。
'Not yet！ ' said Gandalf。 'But there is time for wonder。 Off you go； allof you； down the stairs！ Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom； but if I donot e soon； go on！ Go quickly and choose paths leading right anddownwards。'
'We cannot leave you to hold the door alone！ ' said Aragorn。
‘Do as I say！ ' said Gandalf fiercely。 ‘Swords are no more use here。 Go！'
The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark。 They groped theirway down a long flight of steps； and then looked back； but they could seenothing； except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff。 Heseemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door。 Frodo breathedheavily and leaned against Sam； who put his arms about him。 They stood peeringup the stairs into the darkness。 Frodo thought he could hear the voice ofGandalf above； muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighingecho。 He could not catch what was said。 The walls seemed to be trembling。
Every now and again the drum…beats throbbed and rolled： _doom； doom_。
Suddenly at the top of the stair there was a stab of white light。 Thenthere was a dull rumble and a heavy thud。 The drum…beats broke out wildly：
_doom…boom； doom…boom_； and then stopped。 Gandalf came flying down the stepsand fell to the ground in the midst of the pany。
‘Well； well！ That's over！ ' said the wizard struggling to his feet。 ‘Ihave done all that I could。 But I have met my match； and have nearly beendestroyed。 But don't stand here！ Go on！ You will have to do without light fora while： I am rather shaken。 Go on！ Go on！ Where are you； Gimli？ e aheadwith me！ Keep close behind； all of you！'
They stumbled after him wondering what had happened。 _Doom； doom_ wentthe drum…beats again： they now sounded muffled and far away； but they werefollowing。 There was no other sound of pursuit； neither tramp of feet； nor anyvoice。 Gandalf took no turns； right or left； for the passage seemed to begoing in the direction that he desired。 Every now and again it descended aflight of steps； fifty or more； to a lower level。 At the moment that was theirchief danger； for in the dark they could not see a descent； until they came onit； and put their feet out into emptiness。 Gandalf felt the ground with hisstaff like a blind man。
At the end of an hour they had gone a mile； or maybe a little more； andhad descended many flights of stairs。 There was still no sound of pursuit。
Almost they began to hope that they would escape。 At the bottom of the seventhflight Gandalf halted。
‘It is getting hot！ ' he gasped。 ‘We ought to be down at least to thelevel of the Gates now。 Soon I think we should look for a left…hand turn to
take us east。 I hope it is not far。 I am very weary。 I must rest here amoment； even if all the orcs ever spawned are after us。'
Gimli took his arm and helped him down to a seat on the step。 ‘Whathappened away up there at the door？ ' he asked。 ‘Did you meet the beater ofthe drums？ '
'I do not know；' answered Gandalf。 ‘But I found myself suddenly faced bysomething that I have not met before。 I could think of nothing to do but totry and put a shutting…spell on the door。 I know many； but to do things ofthat kind rightly requires time； and even then the door can be broken bystrength。
‘As I stood there I could hear orc…voices on the other side： at anymoment I thought they would burst it open。 I could not hear what was said；
they seemed to be talking in their own hideous language。 All I caught was_ghash；_ that is 〃fire〃。 Then something came into the chamber – I felt it
through the door； and the orcs themselves were afraid and fell silent。 It laidhold of the iron ring； and then it perceived me and my spell。
'What it was I cannot guess； but I have never felt such a challenge。 Thecounter…spell was terrible。 It nearly broke me。 For an instant the door leftmy control and began to open！ I had to speak a word of mand。 That provedtoo great a strain。 The door burst in pieces。 Something dark as a cloud wasblocking out all the light inside； and I was thrown backwards down the stairs。
All the wall gave way； and the roof of the chamber as well； I think。
‘I am afraid Balin is buried deep； and maybe something else is buriedthere too。 I cannot say。 But at least the passage behind us was pletelyblocked。 Ah！ I have never felt so spent； but it is passing。 And now what aboutyou； Frodo？ There was not time to say so； but I have never been more delightedin my life than when you spoke。 I feared that it was a brave but dead hobbitthat Aragorn was carrying。'
‘What about me？ ' said Frodo。 'I am alive； and whole I think。 I ambruised and in pain； but it is not too bad。'
‘Well；' said Aragorn； ‘I can only say that hobbits are made of a stuff sotough that I have never met the like of it。 Had I known； I would have spokensofter in the Inn at Bree！ That spear…thrust would have skewered a wild boar！
'
'Well； it did not skewer me； I am glad to say；' said Frodo； ‘though Ifeel as if I had been caught between a hammer and an anvil。' He said no more。
He found breathing painful。
'You take after Bilbo；' said Gandalf。 ‘There is more about you than meetsthe eye； as I said of him long ago。' Frodo wondered if the remark meant morethan it said。
They now went on again。 Before long Gimli spoke。 He had keen eyes in thedark。 ‘I think；' he said； ‘that there is a light ahead。 But it is notdaylight。 It is red。 What can it be？ '
‘_Ghash！_' muttered Gandalf。 ‘I wonder if that is what they meant： thatthe lower levels are on fire？ Still； we can only go on。'
Soon the light became unmistakable； and could be seen by all。 It wasflickering and glowing on the walls away down the passage before them。 Theycould now see their way： in front the road sloped down swiftly； and some wayahead there stood a low archway； through it the glowing light came。 The airbecame very hot。
When they came to the arch Gandalf went through； signing to them to wait。
As he stood just beyond the opening they saw his face lit by a red glow。
Quickly he stepped back。
‘There is some new devilry here；' he said； 'devised for our wele nodoubt。 But I know now where we are： we have reached the First Deep； the levelimmediately below the Gates。 This is the Second Hall of Old