A whirl of bats frightened from slumber by their smoking torches
flurried over them; as they sprang forward their feet slithered on
stones rubbed smooth and slimed by the passing of the dragon. Now before
them the water fell noisily outward and foamed down towards the valley.
They flung their pale torches to the ground, and stood gazing out with
dazzled eyes. They were come to the Front Gate, and were looking out