And
here they looked for the King of Shadow Valley; and then Rodriguez
called him; and then all three of them called him, shouting "King
of Shadow Valley" all together. No answer came: the woods were
without echo: nothing stirred but fallen leaves. But before those
miles of silence could depress them Rodriguez hit upon a simple
plan, which was that he and Alderon should search all round, far
from the track, while Morano stayed in the camp and shouted
frequently, and they would not go out of hearing of his voice: for
Shadow Valley had a reputation of being a bad forest for
travellers to find their way there; indeed, few ever attempted to.
So they did as he said, he and Alderon searching in different
directions, while Morano remained in the camp, lifting a large and
melancholy voice. And though rumour said it was hard to find the
way when twenty yards from the track in Shadow Valley, it did not
say it was hard to find the green bowmen: and Rodriguez, knowing
that they guarded the forest as the shadows of trees guard the
coolness, was assured he would meet with some of them even though
he should miss their master. So he and Alderon searched till the
forest darkness came and only birds on high branches still had
light; and they never saw the King of Shadow Valley or any trace
whatever of any man. And Alderon first returned to the encampment;
but Rodriguez searched on into the night, searching and calling
through the darkness, and feeling, as every minute went by and
every faint call of Morano, that his castle was fading away,
slipping past oak-tree and thorn-bush, to take its place among the
unpitying stars.
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