nset was reflected on its sullen surface。 The Sirannon had been dammed and had filled all the valley。 Beyond the ominous water were reared vast cliffs； their stern faces pallid in the fading light： final and impassable。 No sign of gate or entrance； not a fissure or crack could Frodo see in the frowning stone。
'There are the Walls of Moria；' said Gandalf； pointing across the water。 'And there the Gate stood once upon a time； the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin by which we have e。 But this way is blocked。 None of the pany； I guess； will wish to swim this gloomy water at the end of the day。 It has an unwholesome look。'
'We must find a way round the northern edge；' said Gimli。 'The first thing for the pany to do is to climb up by the main path and see where that will lead us。 Even if there were no lake； we could not get our baggagepony up this stair。'
'But in any case we cannot take the poor beast into the Mines；' said Gandalf。 'The road under the mountains is a dark road； and there are places narrow and steep which he cannot tread； even if we can。'
'Poor old Bill！ ' said Frodo。 'I had not thought of that。 And poor Sam！ I wonder what he will say？ '
'I am sorry；' said Gandalf。 'Poor Bill has been a useful panion and it goes to my heart to turn him adrift now。 I would have travelled lighter and brought no animal； least of all this one that Sam is fond of； if I had had my way。 I feared all along that we should be obliged to take this road。'
The day was drawing to its end； and cold stars were glinting in the sky high above the sunset； when the pany； with all the speed they could； climbed up the slopes and reached the side of the lake。 In breadth it looked to be no more than two or three furlongs at the widest point。 How far it stretched away southward they could not see in the failing light； but its northern end was no more than half a mile from where they stood； and between the stony ridges that enclosed the valley and the water's edge there was a rim of open ground。 They hurried forward； for they had still a mile or two to go before they could reach the point on the far shore that Gandalf was making for； and then he had still to find the doors。
When they came to the northernmost corner of the lake they found a narrow creek that barred their way。 It was green and stagnant； thrust out like a slimy arm towards the enclosing hills。 Gimli strode forward undeterred； and found that the water was shallow； no more than ankledeep at the edge。 Behind him they walked in file； threading their way with care； for under the weedy pools were sliding and greasy stones； and footing was treacherous。 Frodo shuddered with disgust at the touch of the dark unclean water on his feet。
As Sam； the last of the pany； led Bill up on to the dry ground on the far side； there came a soft sound： a swish； followed by a plop； as if a fish had disturbed the still surface of the water。 Turning quickly they saw ripples； blackedged with shadow in the waning light： great rings were widening outwards from a point far out in the lake。 There was a bubbling noise； and then silence。 The dusk deepened； and the last gleams of the sunset were veiled in cloud。
Gandalf now pressed on at a great pace； and the others followed as quickly as they could。 They reached the strip of dry land between the lake and the cliffs： it was narrow； often hardly a dozen yards across； and encumbered with fallen rock and stones； but they found a way； hugging the cliff； and keeping as far from the dark water as they might。 A mile southwards along the shore they came upon holly trees。 Stumps and dead boughs were rotting in the shallows； the remains it seemed of old thickets； or of a hedge that had once lined the road across the drowned valley。 But close under the cliff there stood； still strong and living； 。 two tall trees； larger than any trees of holly that Frodo had ever seen or imagined。 Their great roots spread from the wall 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 nightshadows about their feet； standing like sentinel pillars at the end of the road。
'Well； here we are at last！ ' said Gandalf。 'Here the Elvenway from Hollin ended。 Holly was the token of the people of that land； and they planted it here to mark the end of their domain； for the Westdoor was made chiefly for their use in their traffic with the Lords of Moria。 Those were happier days； when there was still close friendship at times between folk of different race； even between Dwarves and Elves。'
'It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned；' said Gimli。
'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 them the better。 Night is at hand！ '
Turning to the others he said： 'While I am searching； will you each make ready to enter the Mines？ For here I fear we must say farewell to our good beast of burden。 You must lay aside much of the stuff that we brought against bitter weather： you will not need it inside； nor； I hope； when we e through and journey on down into the South。 Instead each of us must take a share of what the pony carried； especially the food and the waterskins。'
'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 not think 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 wolves about。'
'It will be short of murder； I hope；' said Gandalf。 He laid his hand on the pony's head； and spoke in a low voice。 'Go with words of guard and guiding on 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 to Elrond's house； or wherever you wish to go。
'There； Sam！ He uch chance of escaping wolves and getting home as we have。'
Sam stood sullenly by the pony and returned no answer。 Bill； seeming to understand well what was going on； nuzzled up to him； putting his nose to Sam'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 done nothing。 He was standing between the two trees gazing at the blank wall of the cliff； as if he would bore a hole into it with his eyes。 Gimli was wandering about； tapping the stone here and there with his axe。 Legolas was pressed against the rock； as if listening。
'Well； here we are and all ready；' said Merry； 'but wh