Actually, this is a good point. Although one of your last statements is not entirely correct; Morgoth guessed at the whereabouts of Gondolin through the unwitting Hurin, some years after the Nirnaeth, although he did not know how to approach it or where it was exactly until, as you say, it was betrayed by one from within it. Such vague information, thanks to the effectiveness of the hiding-place, would be all that any spy of Morgoth could hope to relay to Angband.
(Edit: Maeglin, it is true that Ulmo's power assisted in protecting Gondolin; but still, even with this, it is unlikely that he could have screened out the sight of Turgon's 10,000 marching men from the sight of an observer. I've though of some other (more down-to-earth) factors, below.)
Morgoth did know that Turgon's army had gone southward, but thence they had disapeared from his knowledge. I would probably guess that this was due to three things, principally. A massive scouring, by the Eagles and the Eldar of Gondolin, would probably have been undertaken shortly before the departure of the army, thereby locating and killing off any servants of Morgoth that might be lurking around. The skill of the Elves and Eagles at this search would have been very effective.
Secondly, the land south of Serech and Anfauglith was at this time -- temporarily -- controlled by the forces of the Union of Maedhros, and the main power of Morgoth had withdrawn back to Angband (soon, of course, to break out again and cover all the lands). Upon departure from Gondolin, the army of Turgon would have had a considerable 'screen' to hide behind here; on their return, the hosts of Morgoth were stopped by the Men of Hador while Turgon escaped Southward, again, under an effective screen as Morgoth's forces were held back. Moving quickly, they could have withdrawn with a speed rapid enough to be out of harm's way in sufficient time.
On the retreat and after the fall of Hurin's men, they would probably have left the odd company of hidden ambushers to waylay advancing searchers, or perhaps the Eagles covered them as they hurried back to Tumladen. In other words, it was probably an effective retreat.
To summarise; not only was Gondolin exceptionally well-hidden and protected, but, I should think, Turgon's army itself was covered, the whole way through.
[ August 19, 2003: Message edited by: Gwaihir the Windlord ]
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