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When the battle was over； we found that Gollum was gone； and his guards wereslain or taken。 It then seemed plain to us that the attack had been made forhis rescue； and that he knew of it beforehand。 How that was contrived wecannot guess； but Gollum is cunning； and the spies of the Enemy are many。 The
dark things that were driven out in the year of the Dragon's fall havereturned in greater numbers； and Mirkwood is again an evil place； save whereour realm is maintained。
‘We have failed to recapture Gollum。 We came on his trail among those ofmany Orcs； and it plunged deep into the Forest； going south。 But ere long itescaped our skill； and we dared not continue the hunt； for we were drawingnigh to Dol Guldur； and that is still a very evil place； we do not go thatway。'
‘Well； well； he is gone；' said Gandalf。 'We have no time to seek for himagain。 He must do what he will。 But he may play a part yet that neither he norSauron have foreseen。
'And now I will answer Galdor's other questions。 What of Saruman？ Whatare his counsels to us in this need？ This tale I must tell in full； for onlyElrond has heard it yet； and that in brief； but it will bear on all that wemust resolve。 It is the last chapter in the Tale of the Ring； so far as it hasyet gone。
'At the end of June I was in the Shire； but a cloud of anxiety was on mymind； and I rode to the southern borders of the little land； for I had aforeboding of some danger； still hidden from me but drawing near。 Theremessages reached me telling me of war and defeat in Gondor； and when I heardof the Black Shadow a chill smote my heart。 But I found nothing save a fewfugitives from the South； yet it seemed to me that on them sat a fear of whichthey would not speak。 I turned then east and north and journeyed along theGreenway； and not far from Bree I came upon a traveller sitting on a bankbeside the road with his grazing horse beside him。 It was Radagast the Brown；
who at one time dwelt at Rhosgobel； near the borders of Mirkwood。 He is one ofmy order； but I had not seen him for many a year。
‘ 〃Gandalf！ 〃 he cried。 〃I was seeking you。 But I am a stranger in theseparts。 All I knew was that you might be found in a wild region with theuncouth name of Shire。〃
' 〃Your information was correct；〃 I said。 〃But do not put it that way； ifyou meet any of the inhabitants。 You are near the borders of the Shire now。
And what do you want with me？ It must be pressing。 You were never a traveller；
unless driven by great need。〃
' 〃I have an urgent errand；〃 he said。 〃My news is evil。〃 Then he lookedabout him； as if the hedges might have ears。 〃Nazg。l；〃 he whispered。 〃The Nineare abroad again。 They have crossed the River secretly and are movingwestward。 They have taken the guise of riders in black。〃
'I knew then what I had dreaded without knowing it。
‘ 〃The enemy must have some great need or purpose；〃 said Radagast； 〃butwhat it is that makes him look to these distant and desolate parts； I cannotguess。〃
‘ 〃What do you mean？ 〃 said I。
‘ 〃I have been told that wherever they go the Riders ask for news of aland called Shire。〃
' 〃_The_ Shire；〃 I said； but my heart sank。 For even the Wise might fearto withstand the Nine； when they are gathered together under their fellchieftain。 A great king and sorcerer he was of old； and now he wields a deadlyfear。 〃Who told you； and who sent you？ 〃 I asked。
' 〃Saruman the White；〃 answered Radagast。 〃And he told me to say that ifyou feel the need； he will help； but you must seek his aid at once； or it willbe too late。〃
'And that message brought me hope。 For Saruman the White is the greatestof my order。 Radagast is； of course； a worthy Wizard； a master of shapes andchanges of hue； and he has much lore of herbs and beasts； and birds areespecially his friends。 But Saruman has long studied the arts of the Enemyhimself； and thus we have often been able to forestall him。 It was by thedevices of Saruman that we drove him from Dol Guldur。 It might be that he hadfound some weapons that would drive back the Nine。
' 〃I will go to Saruman；〃 I said。
' 〃Then you must go _now_；〃 said Radagast； 〃for I have wasted time inlooking for you； and the days are running short。 I was told to find you beforeMidsummer； and that is now here。 Even if you set out from this spot； you willhardly reach him before the Nine discover the land that they seek。 I myselfshall turn back at once。〃 And with that he mounted and would have ridden
straight off。
‘ 〃Stay a moment！ 〃 I said。 〃We shall need your help； and the help of allthings that will give it。 Send out messages to all the beasts and birds thatare your friends。 Tell them to bring news of anything that bears on thismatter to Saruman and Gandalf。 Let messages be sent to Orthanc。〃
‘ 〃I will do that；〃 he said； and rode off as if the Nine were after him。
‘I could not follow him then and there。 I had ridden very far alreadythat day； and I was as weary as my horse； and I needed to consider matters。 Istayed the night in Bree； and decided that I had no time to return to theShire。 Never did I make a greater mistake！
‘However； I wrote a message to Frodo； and trusted to my friend theinnkeeper to send it to him。 I rode away at dawn； and I came at long last tothe dwelling of Saruman。 That is far south in Isengard； in the end of theMisty Mountains； not far from the Gap of Rohan。 And Boromir will tell you thatthat is a great open vale that lies between the Misty Mountains and thenorthmost foothills of Ered Nimrais； the White Mountains of his home。 ButIsengard is a circle of sheer rocks that enclose a valley as with a wall； andin the midst of that valley is a tower of stone called Orthanc。 It was notmade by Saruman； but by the Men of Númenor long ago； and it is very tall andhas many secrets； yet it looks not to be a work of craft。 It cannot be reachedsave by passing the circle of Isengard； and in that circle there is only one
gate。
'Late one evening I came to the gate； like a great arch in the wall ofrock； and it was strongly guarded。 But the keepers of the gate were on thewatch for me and told me that Saruman awaited me。 I rode under the arch； andthe gate closed silently behind me； and suddenly I was afraid； though I knewno