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go no longer。 Road is forgotten； but not by Wild Men。 Over hill and behind hill it lies still under
grass and tree； there behind Rimmon and down to D？n； and back at the end to Horse…men's road。
Wild Men will show you that road。 Then you will kill _gorg？n_ and drive away bad dark with
bright iron； and Wild Men can go back to sleep in the wild woods。'
éomer and the king spoke together in their own tongue。 At length Théoden turned to the Wild
Man。 'We will receive your offer；' he said。 'For though we leave a host of foes behind； what matter？
If the Stone…city falls； then we shall have no returning。 If it is saved； then the orc…host itself will be
cut off。 If you are faithful； Ghan…buri…Ghan； then we will give you rich reward； and you shall have
the friendship of the Mark for ever。'
'Dead men are not friends to living men； and give them no gifts；' said the Wild Man。 'But if you
live after the Darkness； then leave Wild Men alone in the woods and do not hunt them like beasts
any more。 Ghan…buri…Ghan will not lead you into trap。 He will go himself with father of Horse…men；
and if he leads you wrong； you will kill him。'
'So be it！' said Théoden。
'How long will it take to pass by the enemy and e back to the road？' asked éomer。 'We must
go at foot…pace； if you guide us； and I doubt not the way is narrow。'
'Wild Men go quick on feet；' said Ghan。 'Way is wide for four horses in Stonewain Valley
yonder；' he waved his hand southwards； 'but narrow at beginning and at end。 Wild Man could walk
from here to D？n between sunrise and noon。'
'Then we must allow at least seven hours for the leaders；' said éomer； 'but we must reckon rather
on some ten hours for all。 Things unforeseen may hinder us； and if our host is all strung out； it will
be long ere it can be set in order when we issue from the hills。 What is the hour now？'
'Who knows？' said Théoden。 'All is night now。'
'It is all dark； but it is not all night。' said Ghan。 'When Sun es we feel her； even when she is
hidden。 Already she climbs over East…mountains。 It is the opening of day in the sky…fields。'
'Then we must set out as soon as may be；' said éomer。 'Even so we cannot hope to e to
Gondor's aid today。'
Merry waited to hear no more； but slipped away to get ready for the summons to the march。 This
was the last stage before the battle。 It did not seem likely to him that many of them would survive it。
But he thought of Pippin and the flames in Minas Tirith and thrust down his own dread。
All went well that day； and no sight or sound had they of the enemy waiting to waylay them。
The Wild Men had put out a screen of wary hunters； so that no orc or roving spy should learn of the
movements in the hills。 The light was more dim than ever as they drew nearer to the beleaguered
city； and the Riders passed in long files like dark shadows of men and horses。 Each pany was
guided by a wild woodman； but old Ghan walked beside the king。 The start had been slower than
was hoped； for it had taken time for the Riders； walking and leading their horses； to find paths over
the thickly wooded ridges behind their camp and down into the hidden Stonewain Valley。 It was
late in the afternoon when the leaders came to wide grey thickets stretching beyond the eastward
side of Amon D？n； and masking a great gap in the line of hills that from Nardol to D？n ran east and
west。 Through the gap the forgotten wain…road long ago had run down； back into the main horse…
way from the City through Anórien； but now for many lives of men trees had had their way with it；
and it had vanished； broken and buried under the leaves of uncounted years。 But the thickets
offered to the Riders their last hope of cover before they went into open battle； for beyond them lay
the road and the plains of Anduin； while east and southwards the slopes were bare and rocky； as the
writhen hills gathered themselves together and climbed up； bastion upon bastion； into the great
mass and shoulders of Mindolluin。
The leading pany was halted； and as those behind filed up out of the trough of the
Stonewain Valley they spread out and passed to camping…places under the grey trees。 The king
summoned the captains to council。 éomer sent out scouts to spy upon the road； but old Ghan shook
his head。
'No good to send Horse…men；' he said。 'Wild Men have already seen all that can be seen in the
bad air。 They will e soon and speak to me here。'
The captains came； and then out of the trees crept warily other púkel…shapes so like old Ghan
that Merry could hardly tell them apart。 They spoke to Ghan in a strange throaty language。
Presently Ghan turned to the king。 'Wild Men say many things ' he said。 'First； be wary！ Still
many men in camp beyond D？n； an hour's walk yonder；' he waved his arm west towards the black
beacon。 'But none to see between here and Stone…folk's new walls。 Many busy there。 Walls stand up
no longer： _gorg？n_ knock them down with earth…thunder and with clubs of black iron。 They are
unwary and do not look about them。 They think their friends watch all roads！' At that old Ghan
made a curious gurgling noise； and it seemed that he was laughing。
'Good tidings！' cried éomer。 'Even in this gloom hope gleams again。 Our Enemy's devices oft
serve us in his despite。 The accursed darkness itself has been a cloak to us。 And now； lusting to
destroy Gondor and throw it down stone from stone； his orcs have taken away my greatest fear。 The
out…wall could have been held long against us。 Now we can sweep through – if once we win so far。'
'Once again I thank you； Ghan…buri…Ghan of the woods；' said Théoden。 'Good fortune go with
you for tidings and for guidance！'
'Kill _gorg？n_！ Kill orc…folk！ No other words please Wild Men ' answered Ghan。 'Drive away
bad air and darkness with bright iron！'
'To do these things we have ridden far；' said the king； 'and we shall attempt them。 But what we
shall achieve only tomorrow will show。'
Ghan…buri…Ghan squatted down and touched the earth with his horny brow in token of farewell。
Then he got up as if to depart。