jrt.fellowshipofring-第52节

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time　fully　realized　his　homelessness　and　danger。　He　wished　bitterly　that　his　fortune　had　left　him　in　the　quiet　and　beloved　Shire。　He　stared　down　at　the　hateful　Road；　leading　back　westward　…　to　his　home。　Suddenly　he　was　aware　that　two　black　specks　were　moving　slowly　along　it；　going　westward；　and　looking　again　he　saw　that　three　others　were　creeping　eastward　to　meet　them。　He　gave　a　cry　and　clutched　Strider's　arm。
　　　'Look；'　he　said；　pointing　downwards。
　　　At　once　Strider　flung　himself　on　the　ground　behind　the　ruined　circle；　pulling　Frodo　down　beside　him。　Merry　threw　himself　alongside。
　　　'What　is　it？'　he　whispered。
　　　'I　do　not　know；　but　I　fear　the　worst；'　answered　Strider。
　　　Slowly　they　crawled　up　to　the　edge　of　the　ring　again；　and　peered　through　a　cleft　between　two　jagged　stones。　The　light　was　no　longer　bright；　for　the　clear　morning　had　faded；　and　clouds　creeping　out　of　the　East　had　now　overtaken　the　sun；　as　it　began　to　go　down。　They　could　all　see　the　black　specks；　but　neither　Frodo　nor　Merry　could　make　out　their　shapes　for　certain；　yet　something　told　them　that　there；　far　below；　were　Black　Riders　assembling　on　the　Road　beyond　the　foot　of　the　hill。
　　　'Yes；'　said　Strider；　whose　keener　sight　left　him　in　no　doubt。　'The　enemy　is　here！'
　　　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　we　better　clear　out　quick；　Mr。　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　hill…top；'　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　Gil…galad；'　said　Merry　suddenly；　when　he　paused　at　the　end　of　a　story　of　the　Elf…Kingdoms。　'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。　'Gil…galad　was　the　last　of　the　great　Elf…kings　of　Middle…earth。　Gil…galad　is　Starlight　in　their　tongue。　With　Elendil；　the　Elf…friend；　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　Middle…earth；　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　hemlock…umbels　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　fr