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him.'
    24. In addition, the form Rohir is found in this chapter; this has occurred in the manuscript of 'The White Rider' (VII.433 note 8).

    Rohirrim is found in the completed manuscript of 'Helm's Deep', but it was not yet established, for Rohir appears in the final fair copy manuscript of 'The Road to Isengard' (p. 40), and much later, in 'Faramir' ('The Window on the West'), both Rohir and Rohiroth are used (pp. 155-6).
    III.

    THE ROAD TO ISENGARD.

    This chapter was at first continuous with 'Helm's Deep', and when the division was made it received the title 'To Isengard' (Chapter XXIX).
    The preparatory drafting was here much more voluminous than that of 'Helm's Deep', because the first form of the story had reached a developed form and a clear manuscript before it was rejected. The interpretation of the very confused papers for this chapter is particularly difficult, since it is necessary to distinguish between drafts (often closely similar) for passages in the first version and drafts for passages in the second.
    The essential differences in the original version from the form in The Two Towers are these: Gandalf and Theoden and their companions left Helm's Deep shortly after the end of the battle (see p. 5, $ III); they did not see the Ents as they left the mysterious wood, and they did not go down to the Fords of Isen; but they encountered, and spoke with, Bregalad the Ent, bearing a message from Treebeard, in the course of their ride to Isengard, which they reached on the same day. In this chapter I shall give those parts of the original version that are significantly different from the later form, citing them from the completed manuscript of that version but with certain passages from the initial drafts given in the notes.(1)
    First, however, there is an outline that my father evidently set down before he began work on the chapter. This was written in the rapid and often barely legible soft pencil that was usual for these preliminary sketches, but in this case a good deal of the outline was inked over.

    Meeting of the chieftains. Eomer and Gimli return from Deep. (Both wounded and are tended by Aragorn?) Gandalf explains that he had ridden ranged about gathering scattered men. The coming of the King had diverted Isengard from Eodoras. But he [Gandalf] had sent some men back to defend it against marauders. Erkenbrand (2) had been [? ambushed] and the few horses remaining after the disaster at Isenford had been lost.
    He had [?perforce retreated] into hills.

    They ask Gandalf about the Trees. The answer lies in Isengard, he said. We go now thither speedily - such as will.
    Aragorn, Eomer, Gimli, Legolas, King Theoden and his company and [?a force] .... to Isengard. Erkenbrand. Gamling.
    Repair of Hornburg.
    They pass down a great.... aisle among the trees that [?seems now to have opened]. No orcs to be seen. Strange murmurs and noises and half-voices among the trees. [Added: Gandalf discusses his tactics. Gimli describes the caves. Here the overwriting in ink begins:]
    The sun shines in the plain. They see a tall giant figure striding towards them. The Riders draw swords, and are astonished.
    The figure greets Gandalf.
    I am Bregalad the Quickbeam, he said. I come from Treebeard.
    What does he wish? said Gandalf.
    He wishes you to hasten. He wants to know what he is to do with Saruman!
    Hm! said Gandalf. That is a problem. Tell him I am coming!
    What was that, said Theoden. And who is Treebeard?
    He was an Ent, said Gandalf. And so is Treebeard.
    They hasten and enter Nan Gurunir. There they find a heap of ruins. The great walls of Isengard were burst and flung down in confusion. Only the tower of Orthanc stood alone in the midst of desolation, from which a great smoke went up. The great arch still stands, but a pile of rubble stands before it.
    On the top of the pile sat - Merry and Pippin, having lunch.(3) They jumped up, and as Pippin had his mouth full, Merry spoke.
    'Welcome, lords, to Isengard!' he said. 'We