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On the way back Gandalf explained that the black ball was one of the ancient palantírs. Magic stones of the old which could contact each other in any distance. He told that there had been nine palantírs but now there are only few left. Of the stone of Orthanc he had known long and he also knew of two other stones. The stones of Fornost, the capital of the old norhtern kingdom of the Dunedain, and Minas Morgul, the fortress of sorcery, had been caught by the dark lord and brought to Barad-dúr. He also guessed of the stone of Minas Tirith to remain there in the hands of Denethor, steward of Gondor.
In the night Pippin had an uneasy sleep and awoke around midnight. He sneaked to Gandalf's sleepingplace and took the Palantír because he could not forget it. He looked in the stone and suddenly saw the dark tower and the lord of the Nazgűl speak to him. fortunately Gandalf recognised it in time and so he saved their plans from the enemy, for no one without a very strong will could dare to fight a spiritual duel against the leader of the ringwraiths.
So Gandalf gave the Palantír to Aragorn the next day and then rode on with Pippin towards Minas Tirith, to save him from the stone, while the others are on their way back to Edoras to be present at the muster of Rohan.
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