But Folk-might led the banners to where a great buttress of the
cliffs thrust itself into the way, coming well-nigh down to the
water, just at the corner where the river turned eastward, and they
got them about it as they might, and on the other side thereof lo!
another gap exceeding strait, scarce twenty foot over, wall-sided,
rugged beyond measure, going up steeply from the great valley: a
little water ran through it, mostly filling up the floor of it from
side to side; but it was but shallow. This was now the battle-road
of the Host, and the vanward entered it at once, turning their backs
upon the Shivering Flood.
Full toilsome and dreary was that strait way; often great stones hung
above their heads, bridging the gap and hiding the sky from them; nor
was there any path for them save the stream itself; so that whiles
were they wading its waters to the knee or higher, and whiles were
they striding from stone to stone amidst the rattle of the waters,
and whiles were they stepping warily along the ledges of rock above
the deeper pools, and in all wise labouring in overcoming the rugged
road amidst the twilight of the gap.
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