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saved from the wreck of the Causeway Forts。 At once he went to Denethor。 The Lord of the City
sat now in a high chamber above the Hall of the White Tower with Pippin at his side； and through
the dim windows； north and south and east； he bent his dark eyes； as if to pierce the shadows of
doom that ringed him round。 Most to the north he looked； and would pause at whiles to listen as if
by some ancient art his ears might hear the thunder of hoofs on the plains far away。
'Is Faramir e？' he asked。
'No；' said Gandalf。 'But he still lived when I left him。 Yet he is resolved to stay with the
rearguard； lest the retreat over the Pelennor bee a rout。 He may； perhaps； hold his men together
long enough； but I doubt it。 He is pitted against a foe too great。 For one has e that I feared。'
'Not – the Dark Lord？' cried Pippin； forgetting his place in his terror。
Denethor laughed bitterly。 'Nay； not yet； Master Peregrin！ He will not e save only to
triumph over me when all is won。 He uses others as his weapons。 So do all great lords； if they are
wise； Master Halfling。 Or why should I sit here in my tower and think； and watch； and wait；
spending even my sons？ For I can still wield a brand。'
He stood up and cast open his long black cloak； and behold！ he was clad in mail beneath； and
girt with a long sword； great…hilted in a sheath of black and silver。 'Thus have I walked； and thus
now for many years have I slept；' he said； 'lest with age the body should grow soft and timid。'
'Yet now under the Lord of Barad…d？r the most fell of all his captains is already master of your
outer walls；' said Gandalf。 'King of Angmar long ago； Sorcerer； Ringwraith； Lord of the Nazg？l； a
spear of terror in the hand of Sauron； shadow of despair。'
'Then； Mithrandir； you had a foe to match you；' said Denethor。 'For myself； I have long known
who is the chief captain of the hosts of the Dark Tower。 Is this all that you have returned to say？ Or
can it be that you have withdrawn because you are overmatched？'
Pippin trembled； fearing that Gandalf would be stung to sudden wrath； but his fear was needless。
'It might be so；' Gandalf answered softly。 'But our trial of strength is not yet e。 And if words
spoken of old be true； not by the hand of man shall he fall； and hidden from the Wise is the doom
that awaits him。 However that may be； the Captain of Despair does not press forward； yet。 He rules
rather according to the wisdom that you have just spoken； from the rear； driving his slaves in
madness on before。
'Nay； I came rather to guard the hurt men that can yet be healed； for the Rammas is breached far
and wide； and soon the host of Morgul will enter in at many points。 And I came chiefly to say this。
Soon there will be battle on the fields。 A sortie must be made ready。 Let it be of mounted men。 In
them lies our brief hope； for in one thing only is the enemy still poorly provided： he has few
horsemen。'
'And we also have few。 Now would the ing of Rohan be in the nick of time；' said Denethor。
'We are likely to see other newers first；' said Gandalf。 'Fugitives from Cair Andros have
already reached us。 The isle has fallen。 Another army is e from the Black Gate； crossing from
the north…east。'
'Some have accused you； Mithrandir； of delighting to bear ill news；' said Denethor； 'but to me
this is no longer news： it was known to mw ere nightfall yesterday。 As for the sortie； I had already
given thought to it。 Let us go down。'
Time passed。 At length watchers on the walls could see the retreat of the out…panies。 Small
bands of weary and often wounded men came first with little order； some were running wildly as if
pursued。 Away to the eastward the distant fires flickered； and now it seemed that here and there
they crept across the plain。 Houses and barns were burning。 Then from many points little rivers of
red flame came hurrying on； winding through the gloom； converging towards the line of the broad
road that led from the City…gate to Osgiliath。
'The enemy；' men murmured。 'The dike is down。 Here they e pouring through the breaches！
And they carry torches； it seems。 Where are our own folk？'
It drew now to evening by the hour； and the light was so dim that even far…sighted men upon the
Citadel could discern little clearly out upon the fields； save only the burnings that ever multiplied；
and the lines of fire that grew in length and speed。 At last； less than a mile from the City； a more
ordered mass of men came into view； marching not running； still holding together。
The watchers held their breath。 'Faramir must be there；' they said。 'He can govern man and beast。
He will make it yet。'
Now the main retreat was scarcely two furlongs distant。 Out of the gloom behind a small
pany of horsemen galloped； all that was left of the rearguard。 Once again they turned at bay；
facing the oning lines of fire。 Then suddenly there was a tumult of fierce cries。 Horsemen of
the enemy swept up。 The lines of fire became flowing torrents； file upon file of Orcs bearing flames；
and wild Southron men with red banners； shouting with harsh tongues； surging up； overtaking the
retreat。 And with a piercing cry out of the dim sky fell the winged shadows； the Nazg？l stooping to
the kill。
The retreat became a rout。 Already men were breaking away； flying wild and witless here and
there； flinging away their weapons； crying out in fear； falling to the ground。
And then a trumpet rang from the Citadel； and Denethor at last released the sortie。 Drawn up
within the shadow of the Gate and under the looming walls outside they had waited for his signal：
all the mounted men that were left in the City。 Now they sprang forward； formed； quickened to a
gallop； and charged with a great shout。 And from the walls an answering shout went up； for
foremost on the field rode the swan…knights of Dol Amroth with their Prince and his blue banner at
their head。
'Amroth for Gondor！' they cried。 'Amroth to Faramir！'
Like thunder they broke upon the enemy on either flank of the retreat； but one rider outran them
all； swift as the wind in the grass： Shadowfax bore him； shining； unveiled once more； a light
starting from his upraised hand。
The Nazg？l screeched and swept away； for their Captain was not yet e to challenge the
white fire of his foe。 The hosts of Morgul intent on their prey； taken at unawares in wild career；
broke； scattering like sparks in a gale。 The out…panies with a great cheer turned and smote their
pursuers。 Hunters became the hunted。 The retreat became an onslaught。 The field was strewn with
stricken orcs and men； and a reek arose of torches cast away； sputtering out in swirling smoke。 The
cavalry rode on。
But Denethor did not permit them to go far。 Though the enemy was checked； and for the
moment driven back； great forces were flowing in from the East。 Again the trumpet rang； sounding
the retreat。 The cavalry of Gondor halted。 Behind their screen the out…panies re…formed。 Now
steadily they came marching back。 They reached the Gate of the City and entered； stepping proudly：
and proudly the people of the City looked on them and cried their praise； and yet they were
troubled in heart。 For the panies were grievously reduced。 Faramir had lost a third of his men。
And where was he？
Last of all he came。 His men passed in。 The mounted knights returned； and at their rear the
banner of Dol Amroth； and the Prince。 And in his arms before him on his horse he bore the body of
his kinsman； Faramir son of Denethor； found upon the stricken field。
'Faramir！ Faramir！' men cried； weeping in the streets。 But he did not answer； and they bore him
away up the winding road to the Citadel and his father。 Even as the Nazg？l had swerved aside from
the onset of the White Rider； there came flying a deadly dart； and Faramir； as he held at bay a
mounted champion of Harad； had fallen to the earth。 Only the charge of Dol Amroth had saved him
from the red southland swords that would have hewed him as he lay。
The Prince Imrahil brought Faramir to the White Tower； and he said： Your son has