so cunning however was his leading that at last after many days the chase fell far away , and no longer did they see or hear anything of the bands of orcs ; no goblins waylaid them nor did the howling of any evil wolves come upon the airs at night , and belike that was because already they had stepped within the circle of gwendeling 's magic that hid the paths from evil things and kept harm from the regions of the woodelves .