按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Hastily they crept away and slipped down the north side of the hill to find their panions。
Sam and Peregrin had not been idle。 They had explored the small dell and the surrounding slopes。 Not far away they found a spring of clear water in the hillside； and near it footprints not more than a day or two old。 In the dell itself they found recent traces of a fire； and other signs of a hasty camp。 There were some fallen rocks on the edge of the dell nearest to the hill。 Behind them Sam came upon a small store of firewood neatly stacked。
'I wonder if old Gandalf has been here；' he said to Pippin。 'Whoever it was put this stuff here meant to e back it seems。'
Strider was greatly interested in these discoveries。 'I wish I had waited and explored the ground down here myself；' he said； hurrying off to the spring to examine the footprints。
'It is just as I feared；' he said； when he came back。 'Sam and Pippin have trampled the soft ground； and the marks are spoilt or confused。 Rangers have been here lately。 It is they who left the firewood behind。 But there are also several newer tracks that were not made by Rangers。 At least one set was made； only a day or two ago； by heavy boots。 At least one。 I cannot now be certain； but I think there were many booted feet。' He paused and stood in anxious thought。
Each of the hobbits saw in his mind a vision of the cloaked and booted Riders。 If the horsemen had already found the dell； the sooner Strider led them somewhere else the better。 Sam viewed the hollow with great dislike； now that he had heard news of their enemies on the Road； only a few miles away。
'Hadn't r。 Strider？' he asked impatiently。 'It is getting late； and I don't like this hole： it makes my heart sink somehow。'
'Yes； we certainly must decide what to do at once；' answered Strider； looking up and considering the time and the weather。 'Well； Sam；' he said at last； 'I do not like this place either； but I cannot think of anywhere better that we could reach before nightfall。 At least we are out of sight for the moment； and if we moved we should be much more likely to be seen by spies。 All we could do would be to go right out of our way back north on this side of the line of hills； where the land is all much the same as it is here。 The Road is watched； but we should have to cross it； if we tried to take cover in the thickets away to the south。 On the north side of the Road beyond the hills the country is bare and flat for miles。'
'Can the Riders see？' asked Merry。 'I mean； they seem usually to have used their noses rather than their eyes； smelling for us； if smelling is the right word； at least in the daylight。 But you made us lie down flat when you saw them down below； and now you talk of being seen； if we move。'
'I was too careless on the hilltop；' answered Strider。 'I was very anxious to find some sign of Gandalf； but it was a mistake for three of us to go up and stand there so long。 For the black horses can see； and the Riders can use men and other creatures as spies； as we found at Bree。 They themselves do not see the world of light as we do； but our shapes cast shadows in their minds； which only the noon sun destroys； and in the dark they perceive many signs and forms that are hidden from us： then they are most to be feared。 And at all times they smell the blood of living things； desiring and hating it。 Senses； too； there are other than sight or smell。 We can feel their presence； it troubled our hearts； as soon as we came here； and before we saw them； they feel ours more keenly。 Also；' he added； and his voice sank to a whisper； 'the Ring draws them。'
'Is there no escape then？' said Frodo； looking round wildly。 'If I move I shall be seen and hunted！ If I stay； I shall draw them to me！'
Strider laid his hand on his shoulder。 'There is still hope；' he said。 'You are not alone。 Let us take this wood that is set ready for the fire as a sign。 There is little shelter or defence here； but fire shall serve for both。 Sauron can put fire to his evil uses； as he can all things； but these Riders do not love it； and fear those who wield it。 Fire is our friend in the wilderness。'
'Maybe；' muttered Sam。 'It is also as good a way of saying 〃here we are〃 as I can think of； bar shouting。'
Down in the lowest and most sheltered corner of the dell they lit a fire； and prepared a meal。 The shades of evening began to fall； and it grew cold。 They were suddenly aware of great hunger； for they had not eaten anything since breakfast； but they dared not make more than a frugal supper。 The lands ahead were empty of all save birds and beasts； unfriendly places deserted by all the races of the world。 Rangers passed at times beyond the hills； but they were few and did not stay。 Other wanderers were rare； and of evil sort： trolls might stray down at times out of the northern valleys of the Misty Mountains。 Only on the Road would travellers be found； most often dwarves； hurrying along on business of their own； and with no help and few words to spare for strangers。
'I don't see how our food can be made to last；' said Frodo。 'We have been careful enough in the last few days； and this supper is no feast； but we have used more than we ought； if we have two weeks still to go； and perhaps more。'
'There is food in the wild；' said Strider； 'berry； root； and herb； and I have some skill as a hunter at need。 You need not be afraid of starving before winter es。 But gathering and catching food is long and weary work； and we need haste。 So tighten your belts； and think with hope of the tables of Elrond's house！'
The cold increased as darkness came on。 Peering out from the edge of the dell they could see nothing but a grey land now vanishing quickly into shadow。 The sky above had cleared again and was slowly filled with twinkling stars。 Frodo and his panions huddled round the fire； wrapped in every garment and blanket they possessed； but Strider was content with a single cloak； and sat a little apart； drawing thoughtfully at his pipe。
As night fell and the light of the fire began to shine out brightly he began to tell them tales to keep their minds from fear。 He knew many histories and legends of long ago； of Elves and Men and the good and evil deeds of the Elder Days。 They wondered how old he was； and where he had learned all this lore。
'Tell us of Gilgalad；' said Merry suddenly； when he paused at the end of a story of the ElfKingdoms。 'Do you know any more of that old lay that you spoke of？'
'I do indeed；' answered Strider。 'So also does Frodo； for it concerns us closely。' Merry and Pippin looked at Frodo； who was staring into the fire。
'I know only the little that Gandalf has told me；' said Frodo slowly。 'Gilgalad was the last of the great Elfkings of Middleearth。 Gilgalad is Starlight in their tongue。 With Elendil； the Elffriend； he went to the land of—？
'No！' said Strider interrupting； 'I do not think that tale should be told now with the servants of the Enemy at hand。 If we win through to the house of Elrond； you may hear it there； told in full。'
'Then tell us some other tale of the old days；' begged Sam； 'a tale about the Elves before the fading time。 I would dearly like to hear more about Elves； the dark seems to press round so close。'
'I will tell you the tale of Tinúviel；' said Strider； 'in brief 。 for it is a long tale of which the end is not known； and there are none now； except Elrond； that remember it aright as it was told of old。 It is a fair tale； though it is sad； as are all the tales of Middleearth； and yet it may lift up your hearts。' He was silent for some time； and then he began not to speak but to chant softly：
The leaves were long； the grass was green；
The hemlockumbels tall and fair；
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering。
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen；
And light of stars was in her hair；
And in her raiment glimmering。
There Beren came from mountains cold；
And lost he wandered under leaves；
And where the Elvenriver rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing。
He peered between the hemlockleaves
And saw in wander flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves；
And her hair like shadow following。
Enchantment healed his weary feet
T