the fellowship of the ring-第44章

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ight。　
Sam　and　Merry　got　up　and　walked　away　from　the　fire。　Frodo　and　Pippinremained　seated　in　silence。　Strider　was　watching　the　moonlight　on　the　hillintently。　All　seemed　quiet　and　still；　but　Frodo　felt　a　cold　dread　creepingover　his　heart；　now　that　Strider　was　no　longer　speaking。　He　huddled　closer　tothe　fire。　At　that　moment　Sam　came　running　back　from　the　edge　of　the　dell。　
'I　don't　know　what　it　is；'　he　said；　'but　I　suddenly　felt　afraid。　Idurstn't　go　outside　this　dell　for　any　money；　I　felt　that　something　wascreeping　up　the　slope。'　
'Did　you　_see_　anything？'　asked　Frodo；　springing　to　his　feet。　
'No；　sir。　I　saw　nothing；　but　I　didn't　stop　to　look。'　
'I　saw　something；'　said　Merry；　'or　I　thought　I　did　–　away　westwards　wherethe　moonlight　was　falling　on　the　flats　beyond　the　shadow　of　the　hill…tops；　I_thought_　there　were　two　or　three　black　shapes。　They　seemed　to　be　moving　thisway。'　
'Keep　close　to　the　fire；　with　your　faces　outward！'　cried　Strider。　'Getsome　of　the　longer　sticks　ready　in　your　hands！'　
For　a　breathless　time　they　sat　there；　silent　and　alert；　with　their　backsturned　to　the　wood…fire；　each　gazing　into　the　shadows　that　encircled　them。　
Nothing　happened。　There　was　no　sound　or　movement　in　the　night。　Frodo　stirred；　
feeling　that　he　must　break　the　silence：　he　longed　to　shout　out　aloud。　
'Hush！'　whispered　Strider。　'What's　that？'　gasped　Pippin　at　the　samemoment。　　
Over　the　lip　of　the　little　dell；　on　the　side　away　from　the　hill；　theyfelt；　rather　than　saw；　a　shadow　rise；　one　shadow　or　more　than　one。　Theystrained　their　eyes；　and　the　shadows　seemed　to　grow。　Soon　there　could　be　nodoubt：　　
three　or　four　tall　black　figures　were　standing　there　on　the　slope；　
looking　down　on　them。　So　black　were　they　that　they　seemed　like　black　holes　inthe　deep　shade　behind　them。　Frodo　thought　that　he　heard　a　faint　hiss　as　ofvenomous　breath　and　felt　a　thin　piercing　chill。　Then　the　shapes　slowlyadvanced。　　
Terror　overcame　Pippin　and　Merry；　and　they　threw　themselves　flat　on　theground。　Sam　shrank　to　Frodo's　side。　Frodo　was　hardly　less　terrified　than　hispanions；　he　was　quaking　as　if　he　was　bitter　cold；　but　his　terror　wasswallowed　up　in　a　sudden　temptation　to　put　on　the　Ring。　The　desire　to　do　thislaid　hold　of　him；　and　he　could　think　of　nothing　else。　He　did　not　forget　theBarrow；　nor　the　message　of　Gandalf；　but　something　seemed　to　be　pelling　himto　disregard　all　warnings；　and　he　longed　to　yield。　Not　with　the　hope　ofescape；　or　of　doing　anything；　either　good　or　bad：　he　simply　felt　that　he　musttake　the　Ring　and　put　it　on　his　finger。　He　could　not　speak。　He　felt　Samlooking　at　him；　as　if　he　knew　that　his　master　was　in　some　great　trouble；　buthe　could　not　turn　towards　him。　He　shut　his　eyes　and　struggled　for　a　while；　butresistance　became　unbearable；　and　at　last　he　slowly　drew　out　the　chain；　andslipped　the　Ring　on　the　forefinger　of　his　left　hand。　　
　
Immediately；　though　everything　else　remained　as　before；　dim　and　dark；　theshapes　became　terribly　clear。　He　was　able　to　see　beneath　their　blackwrappings。　There　were　five　tall　figures：　two　standing　on　the　lip　of　the　dell；　
three　advancing。　In　their　white　faces　burned　keen　and　merciless　eyes；　undertheir　mantles　were　long　grey　robes；　upon　their　grey　hairs　were　helms　ofsilver；　in　their　haggard　hands　were　swords　of　steel。　Their　eyes　fell　on　himand　pierced　him；　as　they　rushed　towards　him。　Desperate；　he　drew　his　own　sword；　
and　it　seemed　to　him　that　it　flickered　red；　as　if　it　was　a　firebrand。　Two　ofthe　figures　halted。　The　third　was　taller　than　the　others：　his　hair　was　longand　gleaming　and　on　his　helm　was　a　crown。　In　one　hand　he　held　a　long　sword；　
and　in　the　other　a　knife；　both　the　knife　and　the　hand　that　held　it　glowed　witha　pale　light。　He　sprang　forward　and　bore　down　on　Frodo。　
At　that　moment　Frodo　threw　himself　forward　on　the　ground；　and　he　heardhimself　crying　aloud：　O　_Elbereth！　Gilthoniel！_　At　the　same　time　he　struck　atthe　feet　of　his　enemy。　A　shrill　cry　rang　out　in　the　night；　and　he　felt　a　painlike　a　dart　of　poisoned　ice　pierce　his　left　shoulder。　Even　as　he　swooned　hecaught；　as　through　a　swirling　mist；　a　glimpse　of　Strider　leaping　out　of　thedarkness　with　a　flaming　brand　of　wood　in　either　hand。　With　a　last　effortFrodo；　dropping　his　sword；　slipped　the　Ring　from　his　finger　and　closed　hisright　hand　tight　upon　it。　　
_Chapter　12_　
Flight　to　the　Ford　　
When　Frodo　came　to　himself　he　was　still　clutching　the　Ring　desperately。　
He　was　lying　by　the　fire；　which　was　now　piled　high　and　burning　brightly。　Histhree　panions　were　bending　over　him。　'What　has　happened？　Where　is　the　paleking？'　he　asked　wildly。　They　were　too　overjoyed　to　hear　him　speak　to　answerfor　a　while；　nor　did　they　understand　his　question。　At　length　he　gathered　fromSam　that　they　had　seen　nothing　but　the　vague　shadowy　shapes　ing　towardsthem。　Suddenly　to　his　horror　Sam　found　that　his　master　had　vanished；　and　atthat　moment　a　black　shadow　rushed　past　him；　and　he　fell。　He　heard　Frodo'svoice；　but　it　seemed　to　e　from　a　great　distance；　or　from　under　the　earth；　
crying　out　strange　words。　They　saw　nothing　more；　until　they　stumbled　over　thebody　of　Frodo；　lying　as　if　dead；　face　downwards　on　the　grass　with　his　swordbeneath　him。　Strider　ordered　them　to　pick　him　up　and　lay　him　near　the　fire；　
and　then　he　disappeared。　That　was　now　a　good　while　ago。　
Sam　plainly　was　beginning　to　have　doubts　again　about　Strider；　but　whilethey　were　talking　he　returned；　appearing　suddenly　out　of　the　shadows。　Theystarted；　and　Sam　drew　his　sword　and　stood　over　Frodo；　but　Strider　knelt　downswiftly　at　his　side。　
'I　am　not　a　Black　Rider；　Sam；'　he　said　gently；　'nor　in　league　with　them。　
I　have　been　trying　to　discover　something　of　their　movements；　but　I　have　foundnothing。　I　cannot　think　why　they　have　gone　and　do　not　attack　again。　But　thereis　no　feeling　of　their　presence　anywhere　at　hand。'　
When　he　heard　what　Frodo　had　to　tell；　he　became　full　of　concern；　andshook　his　head　and　sighed。　Then　he　ordered　Pippin　and　Merry　to　heat　as　muchwater　as　they　could　in　their　small　kettles；　and　to　bathe　the　wound　with　it。　
'Keep　the　fire　going　well；　and　keep　Frodo　warm！'　he　said。　Then　he　got　up　andwalked　away；　and　called　Sam　to　him。　'I　think　I　understand　things　better　now；'　
he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'There　seem　only　to　have　been　five　of　the　enemy。　Whythey　were　not　all　here；　I　don't　know；　but　I　don't　think　they　expected　to　beresisted。　They　have　drawn　off　for　the　time　being。　But　not　far；　I　fear。　Theywill　e　again　another　night；　if　we　cannot　escape。　They　are　only　waiting；　
because　they　think　that　their　purpose　is　almost　acplished；　and　that　theRing　cannot　fly　much　further。　I　fear；　Sam；　that　they　believe　your　master　has　adeadly　wound　that　will　subdue　him　to　their　will。　We　shall　see！'　Sam　chokedwith　tears。　'Don't　despair！'　said　Strider。　'You　must　trust　me　now。　Your　Frodois　made　of　sterner　stuff　than　I　had　guessed；　though　Gandalf　hinted　that　it　　
　
might　prove　so。　He　is　not　slain；　and　I　think　he　will　resist　the　evil　power　ofthe　wound　longer　than　his　enemies　expect。　I　will　do　all　I　can　to　help　and　healhim。　Guard　him　well；　while　I　am　away！'　He　hurried　off　and　disappeared　againinto　the　darkness。　　
Frodo　dozed；　though　the　pain　of　his　wound　was　slowly　growing；　and　adeadly　chill　was　spreading　from　his　shoulder　to　his　arm　and　side。　His　friendswatched　over　him；　warming　him；　and　bathing　his　wound。　The　night　passed　slowlyand　wearily。　Dawn　was　growing　in　the　sky；　and　the　dell　was　filling　with　greylight；　when　Strider　at　last　returned。　
'Look！'　he　cried；　and　stooping　he　lifted　from　the　ground　a　black　cloakthat　had　lain　there　hidden　by　the　darkness。　A　foot　above　the　lower　hem　therewas　a　slash。　'This　was　the　stroke　of　Frodo's　sword；'　he　said。　'The　only　hurtthat　it　did　to　his　enemy；　I　fear；　for　it　is　unharmed；　but　all　blades　perishthat　pierce　that　dreadful　King。　More　deadly　to　him　was　the　name　of　Elbereth。'　
'And　more　deadly　to　Frodo　was　this！'　He　stooped　again　and　lifted　up　along　thin　knife。　There　was　a　cold　gleam　in　it。　As　Strider　raised　it　they　sawthat　near　the　end　its　edge　was　notched　and　the　point　was　broken　off。　But　evenas　he　held　it　up　in　the　growing　light；　they　gazed　in　astonishment；　for　theblade　seemed　to　melt；　and　vanished　like　a　smoke　in　the　air；　leaving　only　thehilt　in　Strider's　hand。　'Alas！'　he　cried。　'It　was　this　accursed　knife　that　　
gave　the　wound。　Few　now　have　the　skill　in　healing　to　match　such　evil　weapons。　
But　I　will　do　what　I　can。'　　
He　sat　down　on　the　ground；　and　taking　the　dagger…hilt　laid　it　on　hisknees；　and　he　sang　over　it　a　slow　song　in　a　strange　tongue。　Then　setting　itaside；　he　turned　to　Frodo　and　in　a　soft　tone　spoke　words　the　others　could　notcatch。　From　the　pouch　at　his　belt　he　drew　out　the　long　leaves　of　a　plant。　
'These　leaves；'　he　said；　'I　have　walked　far　to　find；　for　this　plant　doesnot　grow　in　the　bare　hills；　but　in　the　thickets　away　south　of　the　Road　I　foundit　in　the　dark　by　the　scent　of　its　leaves。'　He　crushed　a　leaf　in　his　fingers；　
and　it　gave　out　a　sweet　and　pungent　fragrance。　'It　is　fortunate　that　I　couldfind　it；　for　it　is　a　healing　plant　that　the　Men　of　the　West　brought　to　Middle…　
earth。　_Athelas_　they　named　it；　and　it　grows　now　sparsely　and　only　near　placeswhere　they　dwelt　or　camped　of　old；　and　it　is　not　known　in　the　North；　except　tosome　of　those　who　wander　in　the　Wild。　It　has　great　virtues；　but　over　such　awound　as　this　its　healing　powers　may　be　small。'　
He　threw　the　leaves　into　boiling　water　and　bathed　Frodo's　shoulder。　Thefragrance　of　the　steam　was　refreshing；　and　those　that　were　unhurt　felt　theirminds　calmed　and　cleared。　The　herb　had　also　some　power　over　the　wound；　forFrodo　felt　the　pain　and　also　the　sense　of　frozen　cold　lessen　in　his　side；　butthe　life　did　not　return　to　his　arm；　and　he　could　not　raise　or　use　his　hand。　Hebitterly　regretted　his　foolishness；　and　reproached　himself　for　weakness　ofwill；　for　he　now　perceived　that　in　putting　on　the　Ring　he　obeyed　not　his　owndesire　but　the　manding　wish　of　his　enemies。　He　wondered　if　he　would　remainmaimed　for　life；　and　how　they　would　now　manage　to　continue　their　journey。　Hefell　too　weak　to　stand。　　
The　others　were　discussing　this　very　question。　They　quickly　decided　toleave　Weathertop　as　soon　as　possible。　'I　think　now；'　said　Strider；　'that　theenemy　has　been　watching　this　place　for　some　days。　If　Gandalf　ever　came　here；　
then　he　must　have　been　forced　to　ride　away；　and　he　will　not　return。　In　anycase　we　are　in　great　peril　here　after　dark；　since　the　attack　of　last　night；　
and　we　can　hardly　meet　greater　danger　wherever　we　go。'　
As　soon　as　the　daylight　was　full；　they　had　some　hurried　food　and　packed。　
It　was　impossible　for　Frodo　to　walk；　so　they　divided　the　greater　part　of　theirbaggage　among　the　four　of　them；　and　put　Frodo　on　the　pony。　In　the　last　fewdays　the　poor　beast　had　improved　wonderfully；　it　already　seemed　fatter　andstronger；　and　had　begun　to　show　an　affection　for　its　new　masters；　especiallyfor　Sam。　Bill　Ferny's　treatment　must　have　been　very　hard　for　the　journey　inthe　wild　to　seem　so　much　better　than　its　former　life。　　
They　started　off　in　a　southerly　direction。　This　would　mean　crossing　theRoad；　but。　it　was　the　quickest　way　to　more　wooded　country。　And　they　needed　　
　
fuel；　for　Strider　said　that　Frodo　must　be　kept　warm；　especially　at　night；　
while　fire　would　be　some　protection　for　them　all。　It　was　also　his　plan　toshorten　their　journey　by　cutting　across　an