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told us of great strength drawing ever to the Black Gate。 More than one host may issue from it； and
strike for more than one passage。'
'Much must be risked in war；' said Denethor。 'Cair Andros is manned and no more can be sent so
far。 But I will not yield the River and the Pelennor unfought – not if there is a captain here who has
still the courage to do his lord's will。'
Then all were silent； but at length Faramir said： 'I do not oppose your will； sire。 Since you are
robbed of Boromir； I will go and do what I can in his stead – if you mand it。'
'I do so；' said Denethor。
'Then farewell！' said Faramir。 'But if I should return； think better of me！'
'That depends on the manner of your return；' said Denethor。
Gandalf it was that last spoke to Faramir ere he rode east。 'Do not throw your live away rashly or
in bitterness；' he said。 'You will be needed here； for other things than war。 Your father loves you；
Faramir； and will remember it ere the end。 Farewell！'
So now the Lord Faramir had gone forth again； and had taken with him such strength of men as
were willing to go or could be spared。 On the walls some gazed through the gloom towards the
ruined city； and they wondered what chanced there； for nothing could be seen。 And others； as ever；
looked north and counted the leagues to Théoden in Rohan。 'Will he e？ Will he remember our
old alliance？' they said。
'Yes； he will e；' said Gandalf； 'even if he es too late。 But think！ At best the Red Arrow
cannot have reached him more than two days ago； and the miles are long from Edoras。'
It was night again ere news came。 A man rode in haste from the fords； saying that a host had
issued from Minas Morgul and was already drawing nigh to Osgiliath； and it had been joined by
regiments from the South； Haradrim； cruel and tall。 'And we have learned ' said the messenger； 'that
the Black Captain leads them once again； and the fear of him has passed before him over the River。'
With those ill…boding words the third day closed since Pippin came to Minas Tirith。 Few went to
rest； for small hope had any now that even Faramir could hold the fords for long。
The next day； though the darkness had reached its full and grew no deeper； it weighed heavier
on men's hearts； and a great dread was on them。 Ill news came soon again。 The passage of Anduin
was won by the Enemy。 Faramir was retreating to the wall of the Pelennor； rallying his men to the
Causeway Forts； but he was ten times outnumbered。
'If he wins back at all across the Pelennor； his enemies will be on his heels；' said the messenger。
'They have paid dear for the crossing but less dearly than we hoped。 The plan has been well laid。 It
is now seen that in secret they have long been building floats and barges in great numbers in East
Osgiliath。 They swarmed across like beetles。 But it is the Black Captain that defeats us。 Few will
stand and abide even the rumour of his ing。 His own folk quail at him； and they would slay
themselves at his bidding。'
'Then I am needed there more than here；' said Gandalf； and rode off at once； and the glimmer of
him faded soon from sight。 And all that night Pippin alone and sleepless stood upon the wall and
gazed eastward。
The bells of day had scarcely rung out again； a mockery in the unlightened dark； when far away
he saw fires spring up； across in the dim spaces where the walls of the Pelennor stood。 The
watchmen cried aloud； and all men in the City stood to arms。 Now ever and anon there was a red
flash； and slowly through the heavy air dull rumbles could be heard。
'They have taken the wall！' men cried。 'They are blasting breaches in it。 They are ing！'
'Where is Faramir？' cried Beregond in dismay。 'Say not that he has fallen！'
It was Gandalf that brought the first tidings。 With a handful of horsemen he came in the middle
morning； riding as escort to a line of wains。 They were filled with wounded men； all that could be
saved from the wreck of the Causeway Forts。 At once he went to Denethor。 The Lord of the City
sat now in a high chamber above the Hall of the White Tower with Pippin at his side； and through
the dim windows； north and south and east； he bent his dark eyes； as if to pierce the shadows of
doom that ringed him round。 Most to the north he looked； and would pause at whiles to listen as if
by some ancient art his ears might hear the thunder of hoofs on the plains far away。
'Is Faramir e？' he asked。
'No；' said Gandalf。 'But he still lived when I left him。 Yet he is resolved to stay with the
rearguard； lest the retreat over the Pelennor bee a rout。 He may； perhaps； hold his men together
long enough； but I doubt it。 He is pitted against a foe too great。 For one has e that I feared。'
'Not – the Dark Lord？' cried Pippin； forgetting his place in his terror。
Denethor laughed bitterly。 'Nay； not yet； Master Peregrin！ He will not e save only to
triumph over me when all is won。 He uses others as his weapons。 So do all great lords； if they are
wise； Master Halfling。 Or why should I sit here in my tower and think； and watch； and wait；
spending even my sons？ For I can still wield a brand。'
He stood up and cast open his long black cloak； and behold！ he was clad in mail beneath； and
girt with a long sword； great…hilted in a sheath of black and silver。 'Thus have I walked； and thus
now for many years have I slept；' he said； 'lest with age the body should grow soft and timid。'
'Yet now under the Lord of Barad…d？r the most fell of all his captains is already master of your
outer walls；' said Gandalf。 'King of Angmar long ago； Sorcerer； Ringwraith； Lord of the Nazg？l； a
spear of terror in the hand of Sauron； shadow of despair。'
'Then； Mithrandir； you had a foe to match you；' said Denethor。 'For myself； I have long known
who is the chief captain of the hosts of the Dark Tower。 Is this all that you have returned to say？ Or
can it be that you have withdrawn because you are overmatched？'
Pippin trembled； fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath； but his fear was needless。
'It might be so