is a serious journey； not a hobbit walkingparty。 Throw yourself in next time； and then you will be no further nuisance。 Now be quiet！ '
Nothing more was heard for several minutes； but then there came out of the depths faint knocks： tomtap； taptom。 They stopped； and when the echoes had died away； they were repeated： taptom； tomtap； taptap； tom。 They sounded disquietingly like signals of some sort； but after a while the knocking died away and was not heard again。
'That was the sound of a hammer； or I have never heard one；' said Gimli。
'Yes；' said Gandalf； 'and I do not like it。 It may have nothing to do with Peregrin's foolish stone； but probably something has been disturbed that would have been better left quiet。 Pray； do nothing of the kind again！ Let us hope we shall get some rest without further trouble。 You； Pippin； can go on the first watch； as a reward；' he growled； as he rolled himself in a blanket。
Pippin sat miserably by the door in the pitch dark； but he kept on turning round； fearing that some unknown thing would crawl up out of the well。 He wished he could cover the hole； if only with a blanket； but he dared not move or go near it； even though Gandalf seemed to be asleep。
Actually Gandalf was awake； though lying still and silent。 He was deep in thought； trying to recall every memory of his former journey in the Mines； and considering anxiously the next course that he should take； a false turn now might be disastrous。 After an hour he rose up and came over to Pippin。
'Get into a corner and have a sleep； my lad；' he said in a kindly tone。 'You want to sleep； I expect。 I cannot get a wink； so I may as well do the watching。'
'I know what is the matter with me；' he muttered； as he sat down by the door。 'I need smoke！ I have not tasted it since the morning before the snowstorm。'
The last thing that Pippin saw； as sleep took him； was a dark glimpse of the old wizard huddled on the floor； shielding a glowing chip in his gnarled hands between his knees。 The flicker for a moment showed his sharp nose。 and the puff of smoke。
It was Gandalf who roused them all from sleep。 He had sat and watched all alone for about six hours； and had let the others rest。 'And in the watches I have made up my mind；' he said。 'I do not like the feel of the middle way； and I do not like the smell of the lefthand way： there is foul air down there； or I am no guide。 I shall take the righthand passage。 It is time we began to climb up again。'
For eight dark hours； not counting two brief halts； they marched on； and they met no danger； and heard nothing； and saw nothing but the faint gleam of the wizard's light； bobbing like a willo'thewisp in front of them。 The passage they had chosen wound steadily upwards。 As far as they could judge it went in great mounting curves； and as it rose it grew loftier and wider。 There were now no openings to other galleries or tunnels on either side； and the floor was level and sound； without pits or cracks。 Evidently they had struck what once had been an important road； and they went forward quicker than they had done on their first march。
In this way they advanced some fifteen miles； measured in a direct line east； though they must have actually walked twenty miles or more。 As the road climbed upwards’ Frodo's spirits rose a little； but he still felt oppressed； and still at times he heard； or thought he heard； away behind the pany and beyond the fall and patter of their feet； a following footstep that was not an echo。
They had marched as far as the hobbits could endure without a rest； and all were thinking of a place where they could sleep； when suddenly the walls to right and left vanished。 They seemed to have passed through some arched doorway into a black and empty space。 There was a great draught of warmer air behind them； and before them the darkness was cold on their faces。 They halted and crowded anxiously together。
Gandalf seemed pleased。 'I chose the right way；' he said。 'At last we are ing to the habitable parts； and I guess that we are not far now from the eastern side。 But we are high up； a good deal higher than the Dimrill Gate； unless I am mistaken。 From the feeling of the air we must be in a wide hall。 I will now risk a little real light。'
He raised his staff； and for a brief instant there was blaze like a flash of lightning。 Great shadows sprang up and fled； and for a second they saw a vast roof far above their heads upheld by many mighty pillars hewn of stone。 Before them and on either side stretched a huge empty hall； its black walls； polished and smooth as glass； flashed and glittered。 Three other entrances they saw； dark black arches： one straight before them eastwards； and one on either side。 Then the light went out。
'That is all that I shall venture on for the present；' said Gandalf。 'There used to be great windows on the mountainside； and shafts leading out to the light in the upper reaches of the Mines。 I think we have reached them now； but it is night outside again； and we cannot tell until morning。 If I am right； tomorrow we may actually see the morning peeping in。 But in the meanwhile we had better go no further。 Let us rest； if we can。 Things have gone well so far； and the greater part of the dark road is over。 But we are not through yet； and it is a long way down to the Gates that open on the world。'
The pany spent that night in the great cavernous hall； huddled close together in a corner to escape the draught： there seemed to be a steady inflow of chill air through the eastern archway。 All about them as they lay hung the darkness； hollow and immense； and they were oppressed by the loneliness and vastness of the dolven halls and endlessly branching stairs and passages。 The wildest imaginings that dark rumour had ever suggested to the hobbits fell altogether short of the actual dread and wonder of Moria。
'There must have been a mighty crowd of dwarves here at one time ' said Sam； 'and every one of them busier than badgers for five hundred years to make all this； and most in hard rock too！ What did they do it all for？ They didn't live in these darksome holes surely？ '
'These are not holes；' said Gimli。 'This is the great realm and city of the Dwarrowdelf。 And of old it was not darksome； but full of light and splendour； as is still remembered in our songs。'
He rose and standing in the dark he began to chant in a deep voice； while the echoes ran away into the roof。
The world was young； the mountains green；
No stain yet on the Moon was seen；
No words were laid on stream or stone
When Durin woke and walked alone。
He named the nameless hills and dells；
He drank from yet untasted wells；
He stooped and looked in Mirrormere；
And saw a crown of stars appear；
As gems upon a silver thread；
Above the shadow of his head。
The world was fair； the mountains tall；
In Elder Days before the fall
Of mighty kings in Nargothrond
And Gondolin； who now beyond
The Western Seas have passed away：
The world was fair in Durin's Day。
A king he was on carven throne
In manypillared halls of stone
With golden roof and silver floor；
And runes of power upon the door。
The light of sun and star and moon
In shining lamps of crystal hewn
Undimmed by c