in a green floor. No moving thing could be seen. Often Aragorn
wondered that they saw no sign of beast or man. The dwellings of the
Rohirrim were for the most part many leagues away to the South, under
the wooded eaves of the White Mountains, now hidden in mist and cloud;
yet the Horse-lords had formerly kept many herds and studs in the
Eastemnet, this easterly region of their realm, and there the herdsmen
had wandered much, living in camp and tent, even in winter-time. But
now all the land was empty, and there was silence that did not seem to
be the quiet of peace.
     At dusk they halted again. Now twice twelve leagues they had passed
over the plains of Rohan and the wall of the Emyn Muil was lost in the
shadows of the East. The young moon was glimmering in a misty sky, but
it gave small light, and the stars were veiled.
     'Now do I most grudge a time of rest or any halt in our chase ' said
Legolas. 'The Orcs have run before us, as if the very whips of Sauron
were behind them. I fear they have already reached the forest and the
dark hills, and even now are passing into the shadows of the trees.'
     Gimli ground his teeth. 'This is a bitter end to our hope and to all
our toil!' he said.
     'To hope, maybe, but not to toil,' said Aragorn. 'We shall not turn