Either there's some mystery to unravel here, or Tolkien slipped up. There are mistakes in the text, points where Tolkien simply forgot what he had written, or failed to take into account changes he made during revision. The most obvious as regards the passage you quote is:
Quote:
He knelt for a while, bent with weeping, still clasping
Boromir’s hand. So it was that Legolas and Gimli found
him. They came from the western slopes of the hill, silently,
creeping through the trees as if they were hunting. Gimli
had his axe in hand, and Legolas his long knife: all his arrows
were spent. When they came into the glade they halted in
amazement; and then they stood a moment with heads
bowed in grief, for it seemed to them plain what had
happened.
‘Alas!’ said Legolas, coming to Aragorn’s side. ‘We have
hunted and slain many Orcs in the woods, but we should
have been of more use here. (Departure of Boromir)
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Quote:
The postern was closed again, the iron door was barred and piled inside with stones. When all were safe within, Éomer turned: 'I thank you, Gimli son of Glóin!' he said. 'I did not know that you were with us in the sortie. But oft the unbidden guest proves the best company. How came you there?'
......'I followed you to shake off sleep,' said Gimli; 'but I looked on the hillmen and they seemed overlarge for me, so I sat beside the stone to see your sword-play.'
......'I shall not find it easy to repay you,' said Éomer.
......'There may be many a chance ere the night is over,' laughed the Dwarf. 'But I am content. Till now I have hewn naught but wood since I left Moria.'"(Helm's Deep
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