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He strode forward and set his foot on the lowest step。 But at that momentseveral things happened。 Frodo felt something seize him by the ankle； and hefell with a cry。 Bill the pony gave a wild neigh of fear； and turned tail anddashed away along the lakeside into the darkness。 Sam leaped after him； andthen hearing Frodo's cry he ran back again； weeping and cursing。 The othersswung round and saw the waters of the lake seething； as if a host of snakeswere swimming up from the southern end。
Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled； it was pale…greenand luminous and wet。 Its fingered end had hold of Frodo's foot and wasdragging him into the water。 Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with aknife。
The arm let go of Frodo； and Sam pulled him away； crying out for help。
Twenty others arms came rippling out。 The dark water boiled； and there was ahideous stench。
‘Into the gateway！ Up the stairs！ Quick！ ' shouted Gandalf leaping back。
Rousing them from the horror that seemed to have rooted all but Sam to theground where they stood； he drove them forward。
They were just in time。 Sam and Frodo were only a few steps up； andGandalf had just begun to climb； when the groping tentacles writhed across thenarrow shore and fingered the cliff…wall and the doors。 One came wrigglingover the threshold； glistening in the starlight。 Gandalf turned and paused。 Ifhe was considering what word would close the gate again from within； there wasno need。 Many coiling arms seized the doors on either side； and with horriblestrength； swung them round。 With a shattering echo they slammed； and all lightwas lost。 A noise of rending and crashing came dully through the ponderousstone。
Sam； clinging to Frodo's arm； collapsed on a step in the black darkness。
‘Poor old Bill！ ' he said in a choking voice。 ‘Poor old Bill！ Wolves andsnakes！ But the snakes were too much for him。 I had to choose； Mr。 Frodo。 Ihad to e with you。'
They heard Gandalf go back down the steps and thrust his staff againstthe doors。 There was a quiver in the stone and the stairs trembled； 。but thedoors did not open。 ‘Well； well！ ' said the wizard。 ‘The passage is blockedbehind us now and there is only one way out–on the other side of themountains。 I fear from the sounds that boulders have been piled up； and thetrees uprooted and thrown across the gate。 I am sorry； for the trees werebeautiful； and had stood so long。'
‘I felt that something horrible was near from the moment that my footfirst touched the water；' said Frodo。 'What was the thing； or were there manyof them？ '
'I do not know；' answered Gandalf； 'but the arms were all guided by onepurpose。 Something has crept； or has been driven out of dark waters under themountains。 There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places ofthe world。' He did not speak aloud his thought that whatever it was that dweltin the lake； it had seized on Frodo first among all the pany。
Boromir muttered under his breath； but the echoing stone magnified thesound to a hoarse whisper that all could hear： ‘In the deep places of theworld！ And thither we are going against my wish。 Who will lead us now in thisdeadly dark？ '
'I will；' said Gandalf； 'and Gimli shall walk with me。 Follow my staff！ '
As the wizard passed on ahead up the great steps； he held his staffaloft； and from its tip there came a faint radiance。 The wide stairway wassound and undamaged。 Two hundred steps they counted； broad and shallow； and atthe top they found an arched passage with a level floor leading on into thedark。
‘Let us sit and rest and have something to eat； here on the landing；
since we can't find a dining…room！ ' said Frodo。 He had begun to shake off theterror of the clutching arm； and suddenly he felt extremely hungry。
The proposal was weled by all； and they sat down on the upper steps；
dim figures in the gloom。 After they had eaten； Gandalf gave them each a thirdsip of the miruvor of Rivendell。
‘It will not last much longer； I am afraid；' he said； 'but I think weneed it after that horror at the gate。 And unless we have great luck； we shallneed all that is left before we see the other side！ Go carefully with thewater； too！ There are many streams and wells in the Mines； but they should notbe touched。 We may not have a chance of filling our skins and bottles till wee down into Dimrill Dale。'
'How long is that going to take us？ ' asked Frodo。
'I cannot say；' answered Gandalf。 'It depends on many chances。 But goingstraight； without mishap or losing our way； we shall take three or fourmarches； I expect。 It cannot be less than forty miles from West…door to East…
gate in a direct line； and the road may wind much。'
After only a brief rest they started on their way again。 All were eagerto get the journey over as quickly as possible； and were willing； tired asthey were； to go on marching still for several hours。 Gandalf walked in frontas before。 In his left hand he held up his glimmering staff； the light ofwhich just showed the ground before his feet； in his right he held his swordGlamdring。 Behind him came Gimli； his eyes glinting in the dim light as heturned his head from side to side。 Behind the dwarf walked Frodo； and he haddrawn the short sword； Sting。 No gleam came from the blades of Sting or ofGlamdring； and that was some fort； for being the work of Elvish smiths inthe Elder Days these swords shone with a cold light； if any Orcs were near athand。 Behind Frodo went Sam； and after him Legolas； and the young hobbits； andBoromir。 In the dark at the rear； grim and silent； walked Aragorn。
The passage twisted round a few turns； and then began to descend。 It wentsteadily down for a long while before it became level once again。 The air grewhot and stifling； but it was not foul； and at times they felt currents ofcooler air upon their faces； issuing from half…guessed openings in the walls。
There were many of these。 In the pale ray of the wizard's staff； Frodo caughtglimpses of stairs and arches and of other passages and tunnels； sloping up；
or running steeply down； or opening blankly dark on either side。 It wasbewildering beyond hope of remembering。
Gimli aided Gandalf very little； except by his stout courage。 At least he