This rain was but the spray of
the great force up to whose steps they were climbing.
Now the way got rougher as they mounted; but this toil was caused by
their gain; for the rock-wall, which thrust out a buttress there as
if it would have gone to the very edge of the gap where-through the
flood ran, and so have cut the way off utterly, was here somewhat
broken down, and its stones scattered down the steep bent, so that
there was a passage, though a toilsome one.
Thus then through the wind-borne drift of the great force, through
which men could see the white waters tossing down below, amidst the
clattering thunder of the Shivering Flood and the rumble of the wind
of the gap, that tore through their garments and hair as if it would
rend all to rags and bear it away, the banners of the Wolf won their
way to the crest of the midmost height of the pass, and the long line
of the Host came clambering after them; and each band of warriors as
it reached the top cast an unheard shout from amidst the tangled fury
of wind and waters.
A little further on and all that turmoil was behind them; the sun,
now grown low, smote the wavering column of spray from the force at
their backs, till the rainbows lay bright across it; and the sunshine
lay wide over a little valley that sloped somewhat steeply to the
west right up from the edge of the river; and beyond these western
slopes could men see a low peak spreading down on all sides to the
plain, till it was like to a bossed shield, and the name of it was
Shield-broad.
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