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ds。 We must dosomething to delay the enemy first。 We will make them fear the Chamber ofMazarbul！' he said grimly feeling the edge of his sword； Andúril。
Heavy feet were heard in the corridor。 Boromir flung himself against thedoor and heaved it to； then he wedged it with broken sword…blades andsplinters of wood。 The pany retreated to the other side of the chamber。 Butthey had no chance to fly yet。 There was a blow on the door that made itquiver； and then it began to grind slowly open； driving back the wedges。 Ahuge arm and shoulder； with a dark skin of greenish scales； was thrust throughthe widening gap。 Then a great； flat； toeless foot was forced through below。
There was a dead silence outside。
Boromir leaped forward and hewed at the arm with all his might； but hissword rang； glanced aside； and fell from his shaken hand。 The blade wasnotched。
Suddenly； and to his own surprise； Frodo felt a hot wrath blaze up in hisheart。 ‘The Shire！ ' he cried； and springing beside Boromir； he stooped； andstabbed with Sting at the hideous foot。 There was a bellow； and the footjerked back； nearly wrenching Sting from Frodo's arm。 Black drops dripped fromthe blade and smoked on the floor。 Boromir hurled himself against the door andslammed it again。
‘One for the Shire！ ' cried Aragorn。 ‘The hobbit's bite is deep！ You havea good blade； Frodo son of Drogo！ '
There was a crash on the door； followed by crash after crash。 Rams andhammers were beating against it。 It cracked and staggered back； and theopening grew suddenly wide。 Arrows came whistling in； but struck the northernwall； and fell harmlessly to the floor。 There was a horn…blast and a rush offeet； and orcs one after another leaped into the chamber。
How many there were the pany could not count。 The affray was sharp；
but the orcs were dismayed by the fierceness of the defence。 Legolas shot twothrough the throat。 Gimli hewed the legs from under another that had sprung upon Balin's tomb。 Boromir and Aragorn slew many。 When thirteen had fallen therest fled shrieking。 leaving the defenders unharmed； except for Sam who had ascratch along the scalp。 A quick duck had saved him； and he had felled hisorc： a sturdy thrust with his Barrow…blade。 A fire was smouldering in hisbrown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards； if he had seenit。
‘Now is the time！ ' cried Gandalf。 ‘Let us go； before the troll returns！'
But even as they retreated； and before Pippin and Merry had reached thestair outside； a huge orc…chieftain； almost man…high； clad in black mail fromhead to foot； leaped into the chamber； behind him his followers clustered inthe doorway。 His broad flat face was swart； his eyes were like coals； and histongue was red； he wielded a great spear。 With a thrust of his huge hideshield he turned Boromir's sword and bore him backwards； throwing him to theground。 Diving under Aragorn's blow with the speed of a striking snake hecharged into the pany and thrust with his spear straight at Frodo。 The blowcaught him on the right side； and Frodo was hurled against the wall andpinned。 Sam； with a cry； hacked at the spear…shaft； and it broke。 But even asthe orc flung down the truncheon and swept out his scimitar； Andúril came downupon his helm。 There was a flash like flame and the helm burst asunder。 Theorc fell with cloven head。 His followers fled howling； as Boromir and Aragornsprang at them。
again。
_Doom； doom_ went the drums in the deep。 The great voice rolled out
'Now！ ' shouted Gandalf。 'Now is the last chance。 Run for it！ '
Aragorn picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair；
pushing Merry and Pippin in front of him。 The others followed； but Gimli had
to be dragged away by Legolas： in spite of the peril he lingered by Balin'stomb with his head bowed。 Boromir hauled the eastern door to； grinding uponits hinges： it had great iron rings on either side； but could not be fastened。
'I am all right；' gasped Frodo。 ‘I can walk。 Put me down！ '
Aragorn nearly dropped him in his amazement。 'I thought you were dead！ '
he cried。
'Not yet！ ' said Gandalf。 'But there is time for wonder。 Off you go； allof you； down the stairs！ Wait a few minutes for me at the bottom； but if I donot e soon； go on！ Go quickly and choose paths leading right anddownwards。'
'We cannot leave you to hold the door alone！ ' said Aragorn。
‘Do as I say！ ' said Gandalf fiercely。 ‘Swords are no more use here。 Go！'
The passage was lit by no shaft and was utterly dark。 They groped theirway down a long flight of steps； and then looked back； but they could seenothing； except high above them the faint glimmer of the wizard's staff。 Heseemed to be still standing on guard by the closed door。 Frodo breathedheavily and leaned against Sam； who put his arms about him。 They stood peeringup the stairs into the darkness。 Frodo thought he could hear the voice ofGandalf above； muttering words that ran down the sloping roof with a sighingecho。 He could not catch what was said。 The walls seemed to be trembling。
Every now and again the drum…beats throbbed and rolled： _doom； doom_。
Suddenly at the top of the stair there was a stab of white light。 Thenthere was a dull rumble and a heavy thud。 The drum…beats broke out wildly：
_doom…boom； doom…boom_； and then stopped。 Gandalf came flying down the stepsand fell to the ground in the midst of the pany。
‘Well； well！ That's over！ ' said the wizard struggling to his feet。 ‘Ihave done all that I could。 But I have met my match； and have nearly beendestroyed。 But don't stand here！ Go on！ You will have to do without light fora while： I am rather shaken。 Go on！ Go on！ Where are you； Gimli？ e aheadwith me！ Keep close behind； all of you！'
They stumbled after him wondering what had happened。 _Doom； doom_ wentthe drum…beats again： they now sounded muffled and far away； but they werefollowing。 There was no other sound of pursuit； neither tramp of feet； nor anyvoice。 Gandalf took no turns； right or left； for the passage seemed to begoing in the direction that he desired。 Every now and again it descended aflight of steps； fifty or more； to a lower level。 At the moment that was theirchief danger； for in the dark they could not see a descent； unt