the fellowship of the ring-µÚ26ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
There¡¡was¡¡not¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡any¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡a¡¡path£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡seemed¡¡constantlyto¡¡bar¡¡their¡¡way¡£¡¡Pippin¡¡suddenly¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡it¡¡any¡¡longer£»¡¡
and¡¡without¡¡warning¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡shout¡£¡¡'Oi£¡¡¡Oi£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡doanything¡£¡¡Just¡¡let¡¡me¡¡pass¡¡through£»¡¡will¡¡you£¡'¡¡
The¡¡others¡¡halted¡¡startled£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡cry¡¡fell¡¡as¡¡if¡¡muffled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡heavycurtain¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡echo¡¡or¡¡answer¡¡though¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡bee¡¡morecrowded¡¡and¡¡more¡¡watchful¡¡than¡¡before¡£¡¡
good¡£'¡¡
'I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡shout£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡Merry¡£¡¡It¡¡does¡¡more¡¡harm¡¡than¡¡¡¡
Frodo¡¡began¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡possible¡¡to¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡through£»¡¡and¡¡ifhe¡¡had¡¡been¡¡right¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡others¡¡e¡¡into¡¡this¡¡abominable¡¡wood¡£¡¡Merry¡¡waslooking¡¡from¡¡side¡¡to¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡already¡¡uncertain¡¡which¡¡way¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¡
Pippin¡¡noticed¡¡it¡£¡¡'It¡¡has¡¡not¡¡taken¡¡you¡¡long¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡us£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡But¡¡atthat¡¡moment¡¡Merry¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡whistle¡¡of¡¡relief¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡ahead¡£¡¡
'Well£»¡¡well£¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'These¡¡trees¡¡_do_¡¡shift¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Bonfire¡¡¡¡
¡¡
Glade¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡us¡¡£¨or¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡so£©£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡path¡¡to¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡movedaway£¡'¡¡
The¡¡light¡¡grew¡¡clearer¡¡as¡¡they¡¡went¡¡forward¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡they¡¡came¡¡out¡¡ofthe¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡circular¡¡space¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡sky¡¡abovethem£»¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡their¡¡surprise£»¡¡for¡¡down¡¡under¡¡the¡¡Forest¡roof¡¡theyhad¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡rising¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lifting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mist¡£¡¡Thesun¡¡was¡¡not£»¡¡however£»¡¡high¡¡enough¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡shine¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡clearing£»¡¡thoughits¡¡light¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tree¡tops¡£¡¡The¡¡leaves¡¡were¡¡all¡¡thicker¡¡and¡¡greener¡¡aboutthe¡¡edges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glade£»¡¡enclosing¡¡it¡¡with¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡solid¡¡wall¡£¡¡No¡¡tree¡¡grewthere£»¡¡only¡¡rough¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡many¡¡tall¡¡plants£º¡¡stalky¡¡and¡¡faded¡¡hemlocks¡¡andwood¡parsley£»¡¡fire¡weed¡¡seeding¡¡into¡¡fluffy¡¡ashes£»¡¡and¡¡rampant¡¡nettles¡¡andthistles¡£¡¡A¡¡dreary¡¡place£º¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡charming¡¡and¡¡cheerful¡¡garden¡¡afterthe¡¡close¡¡Forest¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡hobbits¡¡felt¡¡encouraged£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡hopefully¡¡at¡¡the¡¡broadeningdaylight¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glade¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡break¡¡in¡¡thewall¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡clear¡¡path¡¡beyond¡¡it¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡see¡¡it¡¡running¡¡on¡¡intothe¡¡wood£»¡¡wide¡¡in¡¡places¡¡and¡¡open¡¡above£»¡¡though¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡treesdrew¡¡in¡¡and¡¡overshadowed¡¡it¡¡with¡¡their¡¡dark¡¡boughs¡£¡¡Up¡¡this¡¡path¡¡they¡¡rode¡£¡¡
They¡¡were¡¡still¡¡climbing¡¡gently£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡now¡¡went¡¡much¡¡quicker£»¡¡and¡¡withbetter¡¡heart£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡them¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡had¡¡relented£»¡¡and¡¡wasgoing¡¡to¡¡let¡¡them¡¡pass¡¡unhindered¡¡after¡¡all¡£¡¡
But¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡the¡¡air¡¡began¡¡to¡¡get¡¡hot¡¡and¡¡stuffy¡£¡¡The¡¡trees¡¡drewclose¡¡again¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡see¡¡far¡¡ahead¡£¡¡Nowstronger¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡they¡¡felt¡¡again¡¡the¡¡ill¡¡will¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡pressing¡¡on¡¡them¡£¡¡
So¡¡silent¡¡was¡¡it¡¡that¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡their¡¡ponies'¡¡hoofs£»¡¡rustling¡¡on¡¡dead¡¡leavesand¡¡occasionally¡¡stumbling¡¡on¡¡hidden¡¡roots£»¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡thud¡¡in¡¡their¡¡ears¡£¡¡
Frodo¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡sing¡¡a¡¡song¡¡to¡¡encourage¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡sank¡¡to¡¡a¡¡murmur¡£¡¡¡¡
O£¡¡¡Wanderers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadowed¡¡land¡¡¡¡
despair¡¡not£¡¡¡For¡¡though¡¡dark¡¡they¡¡stand£»¡¡
all¡¡woods¡¡there¡¡be¡¡must¡¡end¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡
and¡¡see¡¡the¡¡open¡¡sun¡¡go¡¡past£º¡¡
the¡¡setting¡¡sun£»¡¡the¡¡rising¡¡sun£»¡¡
the¡¡day's¡¡end£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡day¡¡begun¡£¡¡
For¡¡east¡¡or¡¡west¡¡all¡¡woods¡¡must¡¡fail¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡¡¡
_Fail¡¡¡_¡¡even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡said¡¡the¡¡word¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡faded¡¡into¡¡silence¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡¡¡
seemed¡¡heavy¡¡and¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡words¡¡wearisome¡£¡¡Just¡¡behind¡¡them¡¡a¡¡largebranch¡¡fell¡¡from¡¡an¡¡old¡¡overhanging¡¡tree¡¡with¡¡a¡¡crash¡¡into¡¡the¡¡path¡£¡¡The¡¡treesseemed¡¡to¡¡close¡¡in¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡
'They¡¡do¡¡not¡¡like¡¡all¡¡that¡¡about¡¡ending¡¡and¡¡failing£»'¡¡said¡¡Merry¡£¡¡'Ishould¡¡not¡¡sing¡¡any¡¡more¡¡at¡¡present¡£¡¡Wait¡¡till¡¡we¡¡do¡¡get¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge£»¡¡and¡¡thenwe'll¡¡turn¡¡and¡¡give¡¡them¡¡a¡¡rousing¡¡chorus£¡'¡¡
He¡¡spoke¡¡cheerfully£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡any¡¡great¡¡anxiety£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡showit¡£¡¡The¡¡others¡¡did¡¡not¡¡answer¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡depressed¡£¡¡A¡¡heavy¡¡weight¡¡wassettling¡¡steadily¡¡on¡¡Frodo's¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡regretted¡¡now¡¡with¡¡every¡¡stepforward¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡challenging¡¡the¡¡menace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡Hewas£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡just¡¡about¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡and¡¡propose¡¡going¡¡back¡¡£¨if¡¡that¡¡was¡¡stillpossible£©£»¡¡when¡¡things¡¡took¡¡a¡¡new¡¡turn¡£¡¡The¡¡path¡¡stopped¡¡climbing£»¡¡and¡¡becamefor¡¡a¡¡while¡¡nearly¡¡level¡£¡¡The¡¡dark¡¡trees¡¡drew¡¡aside£»¡¡and¡¡ahead¡¡they¡¡could¡¡seethe¡¡path¡¡going¡¡almost¡¡straight¡¡forward¡£¡¡Before¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡off£»¡¡
there¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡green¡¡hill¡top£»¡¡treeless£»¡¡rising¡¡like¡¡a¡¡bald¡¡head¡¡out¡¡of¡¡theencircling¡¡wood¡£¡¡The¡¡path¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡making¡¡directly¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡
They¡¡now¡¡hurried¡¡forward¡¡again£»¡¡delighted¡¡with¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡climbingout¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡¡above¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡£¡¡The¡¡path¡¡dipped£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡againbegan¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡upwards£»¡¡leading¡¡them¡¡at¡¡last¡¡to¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steephillside¡£¡¡There¡¡it¡¡left¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡faded¡¡into¡¡the¡¡turf¡£¡¡The¡¡wood¡¡stood¡¡all¡¡¡¡
round¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡like¡¡thick¡¡hair¡¡that¡¡ended¡¡sharply¡¡in¡¡a¡¡circle¡¡round¡¡a¡¡shavencrown¡£¡¡¡¡
¡¡
The¡¡hobbits¡¡led¡¡their¡¡ponies¡¡up£»¡¡winding¡¡round¡¡and¡¡round¡¡until¡¡theyreached¡¡the¡¡top¡£¡¡There¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡and¡¡gazed¡¡about¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡gleamingand¡¡sunlit£»¡¡but¡¡hazy£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡to¡¡any¡¡great¡¡distance¡£¡¡Near¡¡athand¡¡the¡¡mist¡¡was¡¡now¡¡almost¡¡gone£»¡¡though¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡it¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡hollows¡¡ofthe¡¡wood£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡fold¡¡cutting¡¡right¡¡acrossthe¡¡Forest£»¡¡the¡¡fog¡¡still¡¡rose¡¡like¡¡steam¡¡or¡¡wisps¡¡of¡¡white¡¡smoke¡£¡¡
'That£»'¡¡said¡¡Merry£»¡¡pointing¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hand£»¡¡'that¡¡is¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡theWithywindle¡£¡¡It¡¡es¡¡down¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Downs¡¡and¡¡flows¡¡south¡west¡¡through¡¡themidst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡Brandywine¡¡below¡¡Haysend¡£¡¡We¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go_that_¡¡way£¡¡¡The¡¡Withywindle¡¡valley¡¡is¡¡said¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡queerest¡¡part¡¡of¡¡thewhole¡¡wood¡¡¨C¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡from¡¡which¡¡all¡¡the¡¡queerness¡¡es£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were¡£'¡¡
The¡¡others¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡that¡¡Merry¡¡pointed¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡couldsee¡¡little¡¡but¡¡mists¡¡over¡¡the¡¡damp¡¡and¡¡deep¡cut¡¡valley£»¡¡and¡¡beyond¡¡it¡¡thesouthern¡¡half¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡faded¡¡from¡¡view¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡sun¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hill¡lop¡¡was¡¡now¡¡getting¡¡hot¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡abouteleven¡¡o'clock£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡autumn¡¡haze¡¡still¡¡prevented¡¡them¡¡from¡¡seeing¡¡much¡¡inother¡¡directions¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡west¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡make¡¡out¡¡either¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡theHedge¡¡or¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Brandywine¡¡beyond¡¡it¡£¡¡Northward£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡lookedmost¡¡hopefully£»¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡nothing¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatEast¡¡Road£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡making¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡on¡¡an¡¡island¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sea¡¡oftrees£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡horizon¡¡was¡¡veiled¡£¡¡
On¡¡the¡¡south¡eastern¡¡side¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡fell¡¡very¡¡steeply£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡slopesof¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡were¡¡continued¡¡far¡¡down¡¡under¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡like¡¡island¡shores¡¡thatreally¡¡are¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mountain¡¡rising¡¡out¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡waters¡£¡¡They¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡thegreen¡¡edge¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡below¡¡them£»¡¡while¡¡they¡¡ate¡¡their¡¡midday¡¡¡¡
meal¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡rose¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡noon¡¡they¡¡glimpsed¡¡far¡¡off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eastthe¡¡grey¡green¡¡lines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Downs¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Forest¡¡on¡¡that¡¡side¡£¡¡
That¡¡cheered¡¡them¡¡greatly£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡good¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡beyondthe¡¡wood's¡¡borders£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡go¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡couldhelp¡¡it£º¡¡the¡¡Barrow¡downs¡¡had¡¡as¡¡sinister¡¡a¡¡reputation¡¡in¡¡hobbit¡legend¡¡as¡¡theForest¡¡itself¡£¡¡¡¡
At¡¡length¡¡they¡¡made¡¡up¡¡their¡¡minds¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡path¡¡that¡¡hadbrought¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hill¡¡reappeared¡¡on¡¡the¡¡northward¡¡side£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡had¡¡notfollowed¡¡it¡¡far¡¡before¡¡they¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡bending¡¡steadily¡¡to¡¡theright¡£¡¡Soon¡¡it¡¡began¡¡to¡¡descend¡¡rapidly¡¡and¡¡they¡¡guessed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡must¡¡actuallybe¡¡heading¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡Withywindle¡¡valley£º¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡theywished¡¡lo¡¡take¡£¡¡After¡¡some¡¡discussion¡¡they¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡misleadingpath¡¡and¡¡strike¡¡northward£»¡¡for¡¡although¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡¡fromthe¡¡hill¡top£»¡¡the¡¡Road¡¡must¡¡lie¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡off¡£¡¡
Also¡¡northward£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡of¡¡the¡¡path£»¡¡the¡¡land¡¡seemed¡¡lo¡¡be¡¡drier¡¡andmore¡¡open£»¡¡climbing¡¡up¡¡to¡¡slopes¡¡where¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡were¡¡thinner£»¡¡and¡¡pines¡¡andfirs¡¡replaced¡¡the¡¡oaks¡¡and¡¡ashes¡¡and¡¡other¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡nameless¡¡trees¡¡of¡¡thedenser¡¡wood¡£¡¡¡¡
At¡¡first¡¡their¡¡choice¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡good£º¡¡they¡¡got¡¡along¡¡at¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡speed£»¡¡
though¡¡whenever¡¡they¡¡got¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡in¡¡an¡¡open¡¡glade¡¡they¡¡seemedunaccountably¡¡to¡¡have¡¡veered¡¡eastwards¡£¡¡But¡¡after¡¡a¡¡time¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡began¡¡toclose¡¡in¡¡again£»¡¡just¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡be¡¡thinner¡¡andless¡¡tangled¡£¡¡Then¡¡deep¡¡folds¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡were¡¡discovered¡¡unexpectedly£»¡¡likethe¡¡ruts¡¡of¡¡great¡¡giant¡wheels¡¡or¡¡wide¡¡moats¡¡and¡¡sunken¡¡roads¡¡long¡¡disused¡¡andchoked¡¡with¡¡brambles¡£¡¡These¡¡lay¡¡usually¡¡right¡¡across¡¡their¡¡line¡¡of¡¡march£»¡¡andcould¡¡only¡¡be¡¡crossed¡¡by¡¡scrambling¡¡down¡¡and¡¡out¡¡again£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡troublesomeand¡¡difficult¡¡with¡¡their¡¡ponies¡£¡¡Each¡¡time¡¡they¡¡climbed¡¡down¡¡they¡¡found¡¡thehollow¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡thick¡¡bushes¡¡and¡¡matted¡¡undergrowth£»¡¡which¡¡somehow¡¡wouldnot¡¡yield¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left£»¡¡but¡¡only¡¡gave¡¡way¡¡when¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡andthey¡¡had¡¡to¡¡go¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡along¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡upthe¡¡further¡¡bank¡£¡¡Each¡¡time¡¡they¡¡clambered¡¡out£»¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡seemed¡¡deeper¡¡anddarker£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡and¡¡upwards¡¡it¡¡was¡¡most¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡find¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡and¡¡downwards¡£¡¡
After¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡two¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡clear¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡direction£»¡¡thoughthey¡¡knew¡¡well¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡long¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡go¡¡northward¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡They¡¡¡¡
¡¡
were¡¡being¡¡headed¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡simply¡¡following¡¡a¡¡course¡¡chosen¡¡for¡¡them¡¡¨C¡¡
eastwards¡¡and¡¡southwards£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡and¡¡not¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡
The¡¡afternoon¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡away¡¡when¡¡they¡¡scrambled¡¡and¡¡stumbled¡¡into¡¡afold¡¡that¡¡was¡¡wider¡¡and¡¡deeper¡¡than¡¡any¡¡they¡¡had¡¡yet¡¡met¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡so¡¡sleep¡¡andoverhung¡¡that¡¡it¡¡proved¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡again£»¡¡either¡¡forwardsor¡¡backwards£»¡¡without¡¡leaving¡¡their¡¡ponies¡¡and¡¡their¡¡baggage¡¡behind¡£¡¡All¡¡theycould¡¡do¡¡was¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡fold¡¡¨C¡¡downwards¡£¡¡The¡¡ground¡¡grew¡¡soft£»¡¡and¡¡inplaces¡¡boggy£»¡¡springs¡¡appeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡banks£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡they¡¡found¡¡themselvesfollowing¡¡a¡¡brook¡¡that¡¡trickled¡¡and¡¡babbled¡¡through¡¡a¡¡weedy¡¡bed¡£¡¡Then¡¡theground¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡rapidly£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡brook¡¡growing¡¡strong¡¡and¡¡noisy£»¡¡flowedand¡¡leaped¡¡swiftly¡¡downhill¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡dim¡lit¡¡gully¡¡over¡arched¡¡bytrees¡¡high¡¡above¡¡them¡£¡¡
After¡¡stumbling¡¡along¡¡for¡¡some¡¡way¡¡along¡¡the¡¡stream£»¡¡they¡¡came¡¡quitesuddenly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gloom¡£¡¡As¡¡if¡¡through¡¡a¡¡gate¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡sunlight¡¡beforethem¡£¡¡ing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡they¡¡found¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡made¡¡their¡¡way¡¡downthrough¡¡a¡¡cleft¡¡in¡¡a¡¡high¡¡sleep¡¡bank£»¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡cliff¡£¡¡At¡¡its¡¡feet¡¡was¡¡a¡¡widespace¡¡of¡¡grass¡¡and¡¡reeds£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance¡¡could¡¡be¡¡glimpsed¡¡another¡¡bankalmost¡¡as¡¡steep¡£¡¡A¡¡golden¡¡afternoon¡¡of¡¡late¡¡sunshine¡¡lay¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡drowsy¡¡uponthe¡¡hidden¡¡land¡¡between¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡it¡¡there¡¡wound¡¡lazily¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡river¡¡ofbrown¡¡water£»¡¡bordered¡¡with¡¡ancient¡¡willows£»¡¡arched¡¡over¡¡with¡¡willows£»¡¡blockedwith¡¡fallen¡¡willows£»¡¡and¡¡flecked¡¡with¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡faded¡¡willow¡leaves¡£¡¡Theair¡¡was¡¡thick¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡fluttering¡¡yellow¡¡from¡¡the¡¡branches£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡awarm¡¡and¡¡gentle¡¡breeze¡¡blowing¡¡softly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡valley£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reeds¡¡wererustling£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡willow¡boughs¡¡were¡¡creaking¡£¡¡
'Well£»¡¡now¡¡I¡¡have¡¡at¡¡least¡¡some¡¡notion¡¡of¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are£¡'¡¡said¡¡Merry¡£¡¡'Wehave¡¡e¡¡almost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction¡¡to¡¡which¡¡we¡¡intended¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡theRiver¡¡Withywindle£¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡on¡¡and¡¡explore¡£'¡¡
He¡¡passed¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡sunshine¡¡and¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡long¡¡grasses¡£¡¡
After¡¡a¡¡while¡¡he¡¡reappeared£»¡¡and¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡fairly¡¡solid¡¡groundbetween¡¡the¡¡cliff¡foot¡¡and¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡in¡¡some¡¡places¡¡firm¡¡turf¡¡went¡¡down¡¡tothe¡¡water's¡¡edge¡£¡¡'What's¡¡more£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'there¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡¡something¡¡like¡¡afootpath¡¡winding¡¡along¡¡on¡¡this¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡turn¡¡left¡¡and¡¡followit£»¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡e¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡east¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Forest¡¡eventually¡£'¡¡