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arrow； often hardly a dozen yards across； and encumberedwith fallen rock and stones； but they found a way； hugging the cliff； andkeeping as far from the dark water as they might。 A mile southwards along theshore they came upon holly trees。 Stumps and dead boughs were rotting in theshallows； the remains it seemed of old thickets； or of a hedge that had oncelined the road across the drowned valley。 But close under the cliff therestood； still strong and living； 。 two tall trees； larger than any trees ofholly that Frodo had ever seen or imagined。 Their great roots spread from thewall to the water。 Under the looming cliffs they had looked like mere bushes；
when seen far off from the top of the Stair； but now they towered overhead；
stiff； dark； and silent； throwing deep night…shadows about their feet；
standing like sentinel pillars at the end of the road。
‘Well； here we are at last！ ' said Gandalf。 'Here the Elven…way fromHollin ended。 Holly was the token of the people of that land； and they plantedit here to mark the end of their domain； for the West…door was made chieflyfor their use in their traffic with the Lords of Moria。 Those were happierdays； when there was still close friendship at times between folk of differentrace； even between Dwarves and Elves。'
'It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned；' saidGimli。
'I have not heard that it was the fault of the Elves；' said Legolas。
'I have heard both；' said Gandalf； 'and I will not give judgement now。
But I beg you two； Legolas and Gimli； at least to be friends； and to help me。
I need you both。 The doors are shut and hidden； and the sooner we find themthe better。 Night is at hand！ '
Turning to the others he said： 'While I am searching； will you each makeready to enter the Mines？ For here I fear we must say farewell to our goodbeast of burden。 You must lay aside much of the stuff that we brought againstbitter weather： you will not need it inside； nor； I hope； when we e throughand journey on down into the South。 Instead each of us must take a share ofwhat the pony carried； especially the food and the water…skins。'
'But you can't leave poor old Bill behind in this forsaken place； Mr。
Gandalf！ ' cried Sam； angry and distressed。 ‘I won't have it； and that's flat。
After he has e so far and all！ '
'I am sorry； Sam；' said the wizard。 ‘But when the Door opens I do notthink you will be able to drag your Bill inside； into the long dark of Moria。
You will have to choose between Bill and your master。'
'He'd follow Mr。 Frodo into a dragon's den； if I led him；' protested Sam。
‘It'd be nothing short of murder to turn him loose with all these wolvesabout。'
'It will be short of murder； I hope；' said Gandalf。 He laid his hand onthe pony's head； and spoke in a low voice。 ‘Go with words of guard and guidingon you；' he said。 ‘You are a wise beast； and have learned much in Rivendell。
Make your ways to places where you can find grass； and so e in time toElrond's house； or wherever you wish to go。
‘There； Sam！ He will have quite as much chance of escaping wolves andgetting home as we have。'
Sam stood sullenly by the pony and returned no answer。 Bill； seeming tounderstand well what was going on； nuzzled up to him； putting his nose toSam's ear。 Sam burst into tears； and fumbled with the straps； unlading all the
pony's packs and throwing them on the ground。 The others sorted out the goods；
making a pile of all that could be left behind； and dividing up the rest。
When this was done they turned to watch Gandalf。 He appeared to have donenothing。 He was standing between the two trees gazing at the blank wall of thecliff； as if he would bore a hole into it with his eyes。 Gimli was wanderingabout； tapping the stone here and there with his axe。 Legolas was pressedagainst the rock； as if listening。
'Well； here we are and all ready；' said Merry； ‘but where are the Doors？
I can't see any sign of them。'
'Dwarf…doors are not made to be seen when shut；' said Gimli。 ‘They areinvisible； and their own masters cannot find them or open them； if theirsecret is forgotten。'
'But this Door was not made to be a secret known only to Dwarves；' saidGandalf； ing suddenly to life and turning round。 ‘Unless things arealtogether changed； eyes that know what to look for may discover the signs。'
He walked forward to the wall。 Right between the shadow of the treesthere was a smooth space； and over this he passed his hands to and fro；
muttering words under his breath。 Then he stepped back。
'Look！' he said。 ‘Can you see anything now？'
The Moon now shone upon the grey face of the rock； but they could seenothing else for a while。 Then slowly on the surface； where the wizard's handshad passed； faint lines appeared； like slender veins of silver running in thestone。 At first they were no more than pale gossamer…threads； so fine thatthey only twinkled fitfully where the Moon caught them； but steadily they grewbroader and clearer； until their design could be guessed。
At the top； as high as Gandalf could reach； was an arch of interlacingletters in an Elvish character。 Below； though the threads were in placesblurred or broken； the outline could be seen of an anvil and a hammersurmounted by a crown with seven stars。 Beneath these again were two trees；
each bearing crescent moons。 More clearly than all else there shone forth inthe middle of the door a single star with many rays。
‘There are the emblems of Durin！' cried Gimli。
‘And there is the Tree of the High Elves！' said Legolas。
‘And the Star of the House of F。anor；' said Gandalf。 ‘They are wrought of_ithildin_ that mirrors only starlight and moonlight； and sleeps until it istouched by one who speaks words now long forgotten in Middle…earth。 It is longsince I heard them； and I thought deeply before I could recall them to mymind。'
'What does the writing say？' asked Frodo； who was trying to decipher theinscription on the arch。 'I thought I knew the elf…letters but I cannot readthese。'
‘The words are in the elven…tongue of the West of Middle…earth in theElder Days；' answered Gandalf。 'But they do not say anything of importance tous。 They say only： _The Doors of Durin； Lord of Moria。 Speak； friend； a