There was a crash on the door,
followed by crash after crash. Rams and hammers were beating against it. It cracked and
staggered back, and the opening grew suddenly wide. Arrows came whistling in, but struck
the northern wall, and fell harmlessly to the floor. There was a horn-blast and a rush of
feet, and orcs one after another leaped into the chamber.
How many there were the Company could not count. The affray was sharp, but the orcs were
dismayed by the fierceness of the defence. Legolas shot two through the throat. Gimli
hewed the legs from under another that had sprung up on Balin's tomb. Boromir and Aragorn
slew many. When thirteen had fallen the rest fled shrieking, leaving the defenders
unharmed, except for Sam who had a scratch along the scalp. A quick duck had saved him;
and he had felled his orc: a sturdy thrust with his Barrow-blade. A fire was smouldering
in his brown eyes that would have made Ted Sandyman step backwards, if he had seen it.
'Now is the time!' cried Gandalf. 'Let us go, before the troll returns!'
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