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‘Look ahead！ ' called Gandalf。 ‘The Bridge is near。 It is dangerous andnarrow。'
Suddenly Frodo saw before him a black chasm。 At the end of the hall thefloor vanished and fell to an unknown depth。 The outer door could only bereached by a slender bridge of stone； without kerb or rail； that spanned thechasm with one curving spring of fifty feet。 It was an ancient defence of theDwarves against any enemy that might capture the First Hall and the outerpassages。 They could only pass across it in single file。 At the brink Gandalfhalted and the others came up in a pack behind。
'Lead the way； Gimli！ ' he said。 'Pippin and Merry next。 Straight on andup the stair beyond the door！ '
Arrows fell among them。 One struck Frodo and sprang back。 Another piercedGandalf's hat and stuck there like a black feather。 Frodo looked behind。
Beyond the fire he saw swarming black figures： there seemed to be hundreds oforcs。 They brandished spears and scimitars which shone red as blood in thefirelight。 _Doom； doom_ rolled the drum…beats； growing louder and louder；
_doom； doom_。
Legolas turned and set an arrow to the string； though it was a long shotfor his small bow。 He drew； but his hand fell； and the arrow slipped to theground。 He gave a cry of dismay and fear。 Two great trolls appeared； they boregreat slabs of stone； and flung them down to serve as gangways over the fire。
But it was not the trolls that had filled the Elf with terror。 The ranks of
the orcs had opened； and they crowded away； as if they themselves were afraid。
Something was ing up behind them。 What it was could not be seen： it waslike a great shadow； in the middle of which was a dark form； of man…shapemaybe； yet greater； and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go beforeit。
It came to the edge of the fire and the light faded as if a cloud hadbent over it。 Then with a rush it leaped across the fissure。 The flames roaredup to greet it； and wreathed about it； and a black smoke swirled in the air。
Its streaming mane kindled； and blazed behind it。 In its right hand was ablade like a stabbing tongue of fire； in its left it held a whip of manythongs。
'Ai！ ai！ ' wailed Legolas。 'A Balrog！ A Balrog is e！ '
Gimli stared with wide eyes。 ‘Durin's Bane！ ' he cried； and letting hisaxe fall he covered his face。
'A Balrog；' muttered Gandalf。 ‘Now I understand。' He faltered and leanedheavily on his staff。 ‘What an evil fortune！ And I am already weary。'
The dark figure streaming with fire raced towards them。 The orcs yelledand poured over the stone gangways。 Then Boromir raised his horn and blew。
Loud the challenge rang and bellowed； like the shout of many throats under thecavernous roof。 For a moment the orcs quailed and the fiery shadow halted。
Then the echoes died as suddenly as a flame blown out by a dark wind； and theenemy advanced again。
'Over the bridge！' cried Gandalf； recalling his strength。 ‘Fly！ This is afoe beyond any of you。 I must hold the narrow way。 Fly！ ' Aragorn and Boromirdid not heed the mand； but still held their ground； side by side； behindGandalf at the far end of the bridge。 The others halted just within the
doorway at the hall's end； and turned； unable to leave their leader to facethe enemy alone。
The Balrog reached the bridge。 Gandalf stood in the middle of the span；
leaning on the staff in his left hand； but in his other hand Glamdringgleamed； cold and white。 His enemy halted again； facing him； and the shadowabout it reached out like two vast wings。 It raised the whip； and the thongswhined and cracked。 Fire came from its nostrils。 But Gandalf stood firm。
‘You cannot pass；' he said。 The orcs stood still； and a dead silencefell。 ‘I am a servant of the Secret Fire； wielder of the flame of Anor。 Youcannot pass。 The dark fire will not avail you； flame of Ud。n。 Go back to theShadow！ You cannot pass。'
The Balrog made no answer。 The fire in it seemed to die； but the darknessgrew。 It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge； and suddenly it drew itselfup to a great height； and its wings were spread from wall to wall； but stillGandalf could be seen； glimmering in the gloom； he seemed small； andaltogether alone： grey and bent； like a wizened tree before the onset of astorm。
From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming。
Glamdring glittered white in answer。
There was a ringing clash and a stab of white fire。 The Balrog fell backand its sword flew up in molten fragments。 The wizard swayed on the bridge；
stepped back a pace； and then again stood still。
'You cannot pass！ ' he said。
With a bound the Balrog leaped full upon the bridge。 Its whip whirled andhissed。
'He cannot stand alone！ ' cried Aragorn suddenly and ran back along thebridge。 '_Elendil！_' he shouted。 'I am with you； Gandalf！ '
‘Gondor！ ' cried Boromir and leaped after him。
At that moment Gandalf lifted his staff； and crying aloud he smote thebridge before him。 The staff broke asunder and fell from his hand。 A blindingsheet of white flame sprang up。 The bridge cracked。 Right at the Balrog's feetit broke； and the stone upon which it stood crashed into the gulf； while therest remained； poised； quivering like a tongue of rock thrust out intoemptiness。
With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward； and its shadow plunged downand vanished。 But even as it fell it swung its whip； and the thongs lashed andcurled about the wizard's knees； dragging him to the brink。 He staggered andfell； grasped vainly at the stone； and slid into the abyss。 'Fly； you fools！
' he cried； and was gone。
The fires went out； and blank darkness fell。 The pany stood rootedwith horror staring into the pit。 Even as Aragorn and Boromir came flyingback； the rest of the bridge cracked and fell。 With a cry Aragorn roused them。
'e！ I will lead you now！ ' he called。 'We must obey his last mand。
Follow me！ '
They stumbled wildly up the great stairs beyond the door。 Aragornleading； Boromir at the rear。 At the top was a wide echoing passage。 Alongthis they fled。 Frodo heard Sam at his side weeping； and then he found that hehimself was weeping as he ran。 _Doom； doom； doom_ the drum…beats rolledbehind； mournful now and slow； _doom！_
They ran on。 The light grew before them； great sh