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he said in a manding voice。 The silver lines faded； but the blank greystone did not stir。
Many times he repeated these words in different order； or varied them。
Then he tried other spells。 one after another； speaking now faster and louder；
now soft and slow。 Then he spoke many single words of Elvish speech。 Nothinghappened。 The cliff towered into the night； the countless stars were kindled；
the wind blew cold； and the doors stood fast。
Again Gandalf approached the wall； and lifting up his arms he spoke intones of mand and rising wrath。 _Edro； edro！_ he cried； and struck the rockwith his staff。 _Open； open！_ he shouted； and followed it with the samemand in every language that had ever been spoken in the West of Middle…
earth。 Then he threw his staff on the ground； and sat down in silence。
At that moment from far off the wind bore to their listening ears thehowling of wolves。 Bill the pony started in fear； and Sam sprang to his sideand whispered softly to him。
'Do not let him run away！ ' said Boromir。 'It seems that we shall needhim still； if the wolves do not find us。 How I hate this foul pool！ ' Hestooped and picking up a large stone he cast it far into the dark water。
The stone vanished with a soft slap； but at the same instant there was aswish and a bubble。 Great rippling rings formed on the surface out beyondwhere the stone had fallen； and they moved slowly towards the foot of thecliff。
'Why did you do that； Boromir？ ' said Frodo。 ‘I hate this place； too； andI am afraid。 I don't know of what： not of wolves； or the dark behind thedoors； but of something else。 I am afraid of the pool。 Don't disturb it！ '
'l wish we could get away！ ' said Merry。
'Why doesn't Gandalf do something quick？ ' said Pippin。
Gandalf took no notice of them。 He sat with his head bowed； either indespair or in anxious thought。 The mournful howling of the wolves was heardagain。 The ripples on the water grew and came closer； some were alreadylapping on the shore。
With a suddenness that startled them all the wizard sprang to his feet。
He was laughing！ ‘I have it！ ' he cried。 'Of course； of course！ Absurdlysimple； like most riddles when you see the answer。'
Picking up his staff he stood before the rock and said in a clear voice：
_Mellon！_
The star shone out briefly and faded again。 Then silently a great doorwaywas outlined； though not a crack or joint had been visible before。 Slowly itdivided in the middle and swung outwards inch by inch； until both doors layback against the wall。 Through the opening a shadowy stair could be seenclimbing steeply up； but beyond the lower steps the darkness was deeper thanthe night。 The pany stared in wonder。
‘I was wrong after all；' said Gandalf； 'and Gimli too。 Merry； of allpeople； was on the right track。 The opening word was inscribed on the archwayall the time！ The translation should have been： _Say 〃Friend〃 and enter。_ Ihad only to speak the Elvish word for _friend_ and the doors opened。 Quitesimple。 Too simple for a learned lore…master in these suspicious days。 Thosewere happier times。 Now let us go！'
He strode forward and set his foot on the lowest step。 But at that momentseveral things happened。 Frodo felt something seize him by the ankle； and hefell with a cry。 Bill the pony gave a wild neigh of fear； and turned tail anddashed away along the lakeside into the darkness。 Sam leaped after him； andthen hearing Frodo's cry he ran back again； weeping and cursing。 The othersswung round and saw the waters of the lake seething； as if a host of snakeswere swimming up from the southern end。
Out from the water a long sinuous tentacle had crawled； it was pale…greenand luminous and wet。 Its fingered end had hold of Frodo's foot and wasdragging him into the water。 Sam on his knees was now slashing at it with aknife。
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 ahideous 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 theground where they stood； he drove them forward。
They were just in time。 Sam and Frodo were only a few steps up； andGandalf had just begun to climb； when the groping tentacles writhed across thenarrow shore and fingered the cliff…wall and the doors。 One came wrigglingover the threshold； glistening in the starlight。 Gandalf turned and paused。 Ifhe was considering what word would close the gate again from within； there wasno need。 Many coiling arms seized the doors on either side； and with horriblestrength； swung them round。 With a shattering echo they slammed； and all lightwas lost。 A noise of rending and crashing came dully through the ponderousstone。
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 andsnakes！ But the snakes were too much for him。 I had to choose； Mr。 Frodo。 Ihad to e with you。'
They heard Gandalf go back down the steps and thrust his staff againstthe doors。 There was a quiver in the stone and the stairs trembled； 。but thedoors did not open。 ‘Well； well！ ' said the wizard。 ‘The passage is blockedbehind us now and there is only one way out–on the other side of themountains。 I fear from the sounds that boulders have been piled up； and thetrees uprooted and thrown across the gate。 I am sorry； for the trees werebeautiful； and had stood so long。'
‘I felt that something horrible was near from the moment that my footfirst touched the water；' said Frodo。 'What was the thing； or were there manyof them？ '
'I do not know；' answered Gandalf； 'but the arms were all guided by onepurpose。 Something has crept； or has been driven out of dark waters under themountains。 There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places ofthe world。' He did not speak aloud his thought that whatever it was that dweltin the lake； it had seized on Frodo first among all the pany。
Boromir muttered under his breath； but the echoing stone magnified thesound to a hoarse whisper that all could hear： ‘In the deep places of theworld！ And thither we are going against my wish。 Who will lead us now in thisdeadly 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 staffaloft； and from its tip there came a faint radiance。 The wide stairway wassound and undamaged。 Two hundred steps they counted； broad and shallow； and atthe top they found an arched passage with a level floor leading on into thedark。
‘Let us sit and rest and have something to eat； here on the landing；
since we can't find a dining…room！ ' said Frodo。 He had begun to shake off theterror 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 thirdsip of the miruvor of Rivendell。
‘It will not last much longer； I am afraid；' he said； 'but I think weneed it after that horror at the gate。 And unless we have great luck； we shallneed all that is left before we see the o