towers

552 the two towers
that might follow. I think Pippin ran away from the trail for
that purpose.’
‘Then he at least was alive,’ said Gimli. ‘And he had the
use of his wits, and of his legs too. That is heartening. We
do not pursue in vain.’
‘Let us hope that he did not pay too dearly for his boldness,’
said Legolas. ‘Come! Let us go on! The thought of those
merry young folk driven like cattle burns my heart.’
The sun climbed to the noon and then rode slowly down
the sky. Light clouds came up out of the sea in the distant
South and were blown away upon the breeze. The sun sank.
Shadows rose behind and reached out long arms from the
East. Still the hunters held on. One day now had passed since
Boromir fell, and the Orcs were yet far ahead. No longer
could any sight of them be seen in the level plains.
As nightshade was closing about them Aragorn halted.
Only twice in the day’s march had they rested for a brief
while, and twelve leagues now lay between them and the
eastern wall where they had stood at dawn.
‘We have come at last to a hard choice,’ he said. ‘Shall we
rest by night, or shall we go on while our will and strength
hold?’
‘Unless our enemies rest also, they will leave us far behind,
if we stay to sleep,’ said Legolas.
‘Surely even Orcs must pause on the march?’ said Gimli.
‘Seldom will Orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet
these have done so,’ said Legolas. ‘Certainly they will not rest
by night.’
‘But if we walk by night, we cannot follow their trail,’ said
Gimli.
‘The trail is straight, and turns neither right nor left, as far
as my eyes can see,’ said Legolas.
‘Maybe, I could lead you at guess in the darkness and hold
to the line,’ said Aragorn; ‘but if we strayed, or they turned
aside, then when light came there might be long delay before
the trail was found again.’