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The arm let go of Frodo； and Sam pulled him away； crying out for help。 Twenty others arms came rippling out。 The dark water boiled； and there was a hideous stench。
'Into the gateway！ Up the stairs！ Quick！ ' shouted Gandalf leaping back。 Rousing them from the horror that seemed to have rooted all but Sam to the ground where they stood； he drove them forward。
They were just in time。 Sam and Frodo were only a few steps up； and Gandalf had just begun to climb； when the groping tentacles writhed across the narrow shore and fingered the cliffwall and the doors。 One came wriggling over the threshold； glistening in the starlight。 Gandalf turned and paused。 If he was considering what word would close the gate again from within； there was no need。 Many coiling arms seized the doors on either side； and with horrible strength； swung them round。 With a shattering echo they slammed； and all light was lost。 A noise of rending and crashing came dully through the ponderous stone。
Sam； clinging to Frodo's arm； collapsed on a step in the black darkness。 'Poor old Bill！ ' he said in a choking voice。 'Poor old Bill！ Wolves and snakes！ But the snakes were too much for him。 I had to choose； Mr。 Frodo。 I had to e with you。'
They heard Gandalf go back down the steps and thrust his staff against the doors。 There was a quiver in the stone and the stairs trembled； 。but the doors did not open。 'Well； well！ ' said the wizard。 'The passage is blocked behind us now and there is only one way out。on the other side of the mountains。 I fear from the sounds that boulders have been piled up； and the trees uprooted and thrown across the gate。 I am sorry； for the trees were beautiful； and had stood so long。'
'I felt that something horrible was near from the moment that my foot first touched the water；' said Frodo。 'What was the thing； or were there many of them？ '
'I do not know；' answered Gandalf； 'but the arms were all guided by one purpose。 Something has crept； or has been driven out of dark waters under the mountains。 There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world。' He did not speak aloud his thought that whatever it was that dwelt in the lake； it had seized on Frodo first among all the pany。
Boromir muttered under his breath； but the echoing stone magnified the sound to a hoarse whisper that all could hear： 'In the deep places of the world！ And thither we are going against my wish。 Who will lead us now in this deadly dark？ '
'I will；' said Gandalf； 'and Gimli shall walk with me。 Follow my staff！ '
As the wizard passed on ahead up the great steps； he held his staff aloft； and from its tip there came a faint radiance。 The wide stairway was sound and undamaged。 Two hundred steps they counted； broad and shallow； and at the top they found an arched passage with a level floor leading on into the dark。
'Let us sit and rest and have something to eat； here on the landing； since we can't find a diningroom！ ' said Frodo。 He had begun to shake off the terror of the clutching arm； and suddenly he felt extremely hungry。
The proposal was weled by all； and they sat down on the upper steps； dim figures in the gloom。 After they had eaten； Gandalf gave them each a third sip of the miruvor of Rivendell。
'It will not last much longer； I am afraid；' he said； 'but I think we need it after that horror at the gate。 And unless we have great luck； we shall need all that is left before we see the other side！ Go carefully with the water； too！ There are many streams and wells in the Mines； but they should not be touched。 We may not have a chance of filling our skins and bottles till we e down into Dimrill Dale。'
'How long is that going to take us？ ' asked Frodo。
'I cannot say；' answered Gandalf。 'It depends on many chances。 But going straight； without mishap or losing our way； we shall take three or four marches； I expect。 It cannot be less than forty miles from Westdoor to East gate in a direct line； and the road may wind much。'
After only a brief rest they started on their way again。 All were eager to get the journey over as quickly as possible； and were willing； tired as they were； to go on marching still for several hours。 Gandalf walked in front as before。 In his left hand he held up his glimmering staff； the light of which just showed the ground before his feet； in his right he held his sword Glamdring。 Behind him came Gimli； his eyes glinting in the dim light as he turned his head from side to side。 Behind the dwarf walked Frodo； and he had drawn the short sword； Sting。 No gleam came from the blades of Sting or of Glamdring； and that was some fort； for being the work of Elvish smiths in the Elder Days these swords shone with a cold light； if any Orcs were near at hand。 Behind Frodo went Sam； and after him Legolas； and the young hobbits； and Boromir。 In the dark at the rear； grim and silent； walked Aragorn。
The passage twisted round a few turns； and then began to descend。 It went steadily down for a long while before it became level once again。 The air grew hot and stifling； but it was not foul； and at times they felt currents of cooler air upon their faces； issuing from halfguessed openings in the walls。 There were many of these。 In the pale ray of the wizard's staff； Frodo caught glimpses of stairs and arches and of other passages and tunnels； sloping up； or running steeply down； or opening blankly dark on either side。 It was bewildering beyond hope of remembering。
Gimli aided Gandalf very little； except by his stout courage。 At least he was not； as were most of the others； troubled by the mere darkness in itself。 Often the wizard consulted him at points where the choice of way was doubtful； but it was always Gandalf who had the final word。 The Mines of Moria were vast and intricate beyond the imagination of Gimli； Glóin's son； dwarf of the mountainrace though he was。 To Gandalf the faroff memories of a journey long before were now of little help； but even in the gloom and despite all windings of the road he knew whither he wished to go； and he did not falter； as long as there was a path that led towards his goal。
'Do not be afraid！ ' said Aragorn。 There was a pause longer than usual； and Gandalf and Gimli were whispering together； the others were crowded behind； waiting anxiously。 'Do not be afraid！ I have been with him on many a journey； if never on one so dark； and there are tales of Rivendell of greater deeds of his than any that I have seen。 He will not go astrayif there is any path to find。 He has led us in here against our fears； but he will lead us out again； at whatever cost to himself。 He is surer of finding the way home in a blind night than the cats of Queen Berúthiel。'
It was well for the pany that they had such a guide。 They had no fuel nor any means of making torches； in the desperate scramble at the doors many things had been left behind。 But without any light they would soon have e to grief。 There were not only many roads to choose from； there were also in many places holes and pitfalls； and dark wells beside the path in which their passing feet echoed。 There were fissures and chasms in the walls and floor； and every now and then a crack would open right before their feet。 The widest was more than seven feet across； and it was long before Pippin could summon enough courage to leap over the dreadful gap。 The noise of churning water came up from far below； as if some great millwheel was turning in the depths。
'Rope！ ' muttered Sam。 'I knew I'd want it； if I hadn't got it！ '
As these dangers became more frequent their march became slower。 Already they seemed to have been tramping on； on； endlessly to the mountains' roots。 They were more than weary； and yet there seemed no fort in the thought of halting anywhere。 Frodo's spirits had risen for a while after his escape； and after food and a draught of the cordial； but now a deep uneasiness； growing to dread； crept over him again。 Though he had been healed in Rivendell of the knifestroke； that grim wound had not been without effect。 His senses were sharper and more aware of things that could not be seen。 One sign of change that he soon had noticed was that he could see more in the dark than any of his panions； save perhaps Gandalf。 And