the fellowship of the ring- 第45部分

　
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　another　great　loop　of　the　Road：　eastbeyond　Weathertop　it　changed　its　course　and　took　a　wide　bend　northwards。　
They　made　their　way　slowly　and　cautiously　round　the　south…western　slopesof　the　hill；　and　came　in　a　little　while　to　the　edge　of　the　Road。　There　was　nosign　of　the　Riders。　But　even　as　they　were　hurrying　across　they　heard　far　awaytwo　cries：　a　cold　voice　calling　and　a　cold　voice　answering。　Trembling　theysprang　forward；　and　made　for　the　thickets　that　lay　ahead。　The　land　before　themsloped　away　southwards；　but　it　was　wild　and　pathless；　bushes　and　stunted　treesgrew　in　dense　patches　with　wide　barren　spaces　in　between。　The　grass　wasscanty；　coarse；　and　grey；　and　the　leaves　in　the　thickets　were　faded　andfalling。　It　was　a　cheerless　land；　and　their　journey　was　slow　and　gloomy。　Theyspoke　little　as　they　trudged　along。　Frodo's　heart　was　grieved　as　he　watchedthem　walking　beside　him　with　their　heads　down；　and　their　backs　bowed　undertheir　burdens。　Even　Strider　seemed　tired　and　heavy…hearted。　
Before　the　first　day's　march　was　over　Frodo's　pain　began　to　grow　again；　
but　he　did　not　speak　of　it　for　a　long　time。　Four　days　passed；　without　theground　or　the　scene　changing　much；　except　that　behind　them　Weathertop　slowlysank；　and　before　them　the　distant　mountains　loomed　a　little　nearer。　Yet　sincethat　far　cry　they　had　seen　and　heard　no　sign　that　the　enemy　had　marked　theirflight　or　followed　them。　They　dreaded　the　dark　hours；　and　kept　watch　in　pairsby　night；　expecting　at　any　time　to　see　black　shapes　stalking　in　the　greynight；　dimly　lit　by　the　cloud…veiled　moon；　but　they　saw　nothing；　and　heard　nosound　but　the　sigh　of　withered　leaves　and　grass。　Not　once　did　they　feel　thesense　of　present　evil　that　had　assailed　them　before　the　attack　in　the　dell。　Itseemed　too　much　to　hope　that　the　Riders　had　already　lost　their　trail　again。　
Perhaps　they　were　waiting　to　make　some　ambush　in　a　narrow　place？　
At　the　end　of　the　fifth　day　the　ground　began　once　more　to　rise　slowly　outof　the　wide　shallow　valley　into　which　they　had　descended。　Strider　now　turnedtheir　course　again　north…eastwards；　and　on　the　sixth　day　they　reached　the　topof　a　long　slow…climbing　slope；　and　saw　far　ahead　a　huddle　of　wooded　hills。　
Away　below　them　they　could　see　the　Road　sweeping　round　the　feet　of　the　hills；　
and　to　their　right　a　grey　river　gleamed　pale　in　the　thin　sunshine。　In　thedistance　they　glimpsed　yet　another　river　in　a　stony　valley　half…veiled　inmist。　　
〃I　am　afraid　we　must　go　back　to　the　Road　here　for　a　while；'　said　Strider。　
'We　have　now　e　to　the　River　Hoarwell；　that　the　Elves　call　Mitheithel。　Itflows　down　out　of　the　Ettenmoors；　the　troll…fells　north　of　Rivendell；　andjoins　the　Loudwater　away　in　the　South。　Some　call　it　the　Greyflood　after　that。　
It　is　a　great　water　before　it　finds　the　Sea。　There　is　no　way　over　it　below　itssources　in　the　Ettenmoors；　except　by　the　Last　Bridge　on　which　the　Roadcrosses。'　　
'What　is　that　other　river　we　can　see　far　away　there？'　asked　Merry。　
'That　is　Loudwater；　the　Bruinen　of　Rivendell；'　answered　Strider。　'TheRoad　runs　along　the　edge　of　the　hills　for　many　miles　from　the　Bridge　to　theFord　of　Bruinen。　But　I　have　not　yet　thought　how　we　shall　cross　that　water。　Oneriver　at　a　time！　We　shall　be　fortunate　indeed　if　we　do　not　find　the　Last　　
Bridge　held　against　us。'　
Next　day；　early　in　the　morning；　they　came　down　again　to　the　borders　ofthe　Road。　Sam　and　Strider　went　forward；　but　they　found　no　sign　of　anytravellers　or　riders。　Here　under　the　shadow　of　the　hills　there　had　been　some　　
rain。　Strider　judged　that　it　had　fallen　two　days　before；　and　had　washed　awayall　footprints。　No　horseman　had　passed　since　then；　as　far　as　he　could　see。　
They　hurried　along　with　all　the　speed　they　could　make；　and　after　a　mileor　two　they　saw　the　Last　Bridge　ahead；　at　the　bottom　of　a　short　steep　slope。　
They　dreaded　to　see　black　figures　waiting　there；　but　they　saw　none。　Stridermade　them　take　cover　in　a　thicket　at　the　side　of　the　Road；　while　he　wentforward　to　explore。　
Before　long　he　came　hurrying　back。　'I　can　see　no　sign　of　the　enemy；'　he　　
　
said；　'and　I　wonder　very　much　what　that　means。　But　I　have　found　something　verystrange。'　
He　held　out　his　hand；　and　showed　a　single　pale…green　jewel。　'I　found　itin　the　mud　in　the　middle　of　the　Bridge；'　he　said。　'It　is　a　beryl；　an　elf…　
stone。　Whether　it　was　set　there；　or　let　fall　by　chance；　I　cannot　say；　but　itbrings　hope　to　me。　I　will　take　it　as　a　sign　that　we　may　pass　the　Bridge；　butbeyond　that　I　dare　not　keep　to　the　Road；　without　some　clearer　token。'　
At　once　they　went　on　again。　They　crossed　the　Bridge　in　safety；　hearing　nosound　but　the　water　swirling　against　its　three　great　arches。　A　mile　further　onthey　came　to　a　narrow　ravine　that　led　away　northwards　through　the　steep　landson　the　left　of　the　Road。　Here　Strider　turned　aside；　and　soon　they　were　lost　ina　sombre　country　of　dark　trees　winding　among　the　feet　of　sullen　hills。　
The　hobbits　were　glad　to　leave　the　cheerless　lands　and　the　perilous　Roadbehind　them；　but　this　new　country　seemed　threatening　and　unfriendly。　As　theywent　forward　the　hills　about　them　steadily　rose。　Here　and　there　upon　heightsand　ridges　they　caught　glimpses　of　ancient　walls　of　stone；　and　the　ruins　oftowers：　they　had　an　ominous　look。　Frodo；　who　was　not　walking；　had　time　to　gazeahead　and　to　think。　He　recalled　Bilbo's　account　of　his　journey　and　thethreatening　towers　on　the　hills　north　of　the　Road；　in　the　country　near　theTroll's　wood　where　his　first　serious　adventure　had　happened。　Frodo　guessedthat　they　were　now　in　the　same　region；　and　wondered　if　by　chance　they　wouldpass　near　the　spot。　
'Who　lives　in　this　land？'　he　asked。　'And　who　built　these　towers？　Is　this　　
troll…country？'　
'No！'　said　Strider。　'Trolls　do　not　build。　No　one　lives　in　this　land。　Men　　
once　dwelt　here；　ages　ago；　but　none　remain　now。　They　became　an　evil　people；　aslegends　tell；　for　they　fell　under　the　shadow　of　Angmar。　But　all　were　destroyedin　the　war　that　brought　the　North　Kingdom　to　its　end。　But　that　is　now　so　longago　that　the　hills　have　forgotten　them；　though　a　shadow　still　lies　on　theland。'　　
'Where　did　you　learn　such　tales；　if　all　the　land　is　empty　andforgetful？'　asked　Peregrin。　'The　birds　and　beasts　do　not　tell　tales　of　thatson。'　　
'The　heirs　of　Elendil　do　not　forget　all　things　past；'　said　Strider；　'andmany　more　things　than　I　can　tell　are　remembered　in　Rivendell。'　'Have　you　oftenbeen　to　Rivendell？'　said　Frodo。　'I　have；'　said　Strider。　'I　dwelt　there　once；　
and　still　I　return　when　I　may。　
There　my　heart　is；　but　it　is　not　my　fate　to　sit　in　peace；　even　in　thefair　house　of　Elrond。'　　
The　hills　now　began　to　shut　them　in。　The　Road　behind　held　on　its　way　tothe　River　Bruinen；　but　both　were　now　hidden　from　view。　The　travellers　cameinto　a　long　valley；　narrow；　deeply　cloven；　dark　and　silent。　Trees　with　old　andtwisted　roots　hung　over　cliffs；　and　piled　up　behind　into　mounting　slopes　ofpine…wood。　
The　hobbits　grew　very　weary。　They　advanced　slowly；　for　they　had　to　picktheir　way　through　a　pathless　country；　encumbered　by　fallen　trees　and　tumbledrocks。　As　long　as　they　could　they　avoided　climbing　for　Frodo's　sake；　andbecause　it　was　in　fact　difficult　to　find　any　way　up　out　of　the　narrow　dales。　
They　had　been　two　days　in　this　country　when　the　weather　turned　wet。　The　windbegan　to　blow　steadily　out　of　the　West　and　pour　the　water　of　the　distant　season　the　dark　heads　of　the　hills　in　fine　drenching　rain。　By　nightfall　they　wereall　soaked；　and　their　camp　was　cheerless；　for　they　could　not　get　any　fire　toburn。　The　next　day　the　hills　rose　still　higher　and　steeper　before　them；　andthey　were　forced　to　turn　away　northwards　out　of　their　course。　Strider　seemedto　be　getting　anxious：　they　were　nearly　ten　days　out　from　Weathertop；　andtheir　stock　of　provisions　was　beginning　to　run　low。　It　went　on　raining。　
That　night　they　camped　on　a　stony　shelf　with　a　rock…wall　behind　them；　inwhich　there　was　a　shallow　cave；　a　mere　scoop　in　the　cliff。　Frodo　was　restless。　
The　cold　and　wet　had　made　his　wound　more　painful　than　ever；　and　the　ache　andsense　of　deadly　chill　took　away　all　sleep。　He　lay　tossing　and　turning　and　　
　
listening　fearfully　to　the　stealthy　night…noises：　wind　in　chinks　of　rock；　
water　dripping；　a　crack；　the　sudden　rattling　fall　of　a　loosened　stone。　He　feltthat　black　shapes　were　advancing　to　smother　him；　but　when　he　sat　up　he　sawnothing　but　the　back　of　Strider　sitting　hunched　up；　smoking　his　pipe；　andwatching。　He　lay　down　again　and　passed　into　an　uneasy　dream；　in　which　hewalked　on　the　grass　in　his　garden　in　the　Shire；　but　it　seemed　faint　and　dim；　
less　clear　than　the　tall　black　shadows　that　stood　looking　over　the　hedge。　
In　the　morning　he　woke　to　find　that　the　rain　had　stopped。　The　clouds　werestill　thick；　but　they　were　breaking；　and　pale　strips　of　blue　appeared　betweenthem。　The　wind　was　shifting　again。　They　did　not　start　early。　Immediately　aftertheir　cold　and　fortless　breakfast　Strider　went　off　alone；　telling　theothers　to　remain　under　the　shelter　of　the　cliff；　until　he　came　back。　He　wasgoing　to　climb　up；　if　he　could；　and　get　a　look　at　the　lie　of　the　land。　
When　he　returned　he　was　not　reassuring。　'We　have　e　too　far　to　thenorth；'　he　said；　'and　we　must　find　some　way　to　turn　back　southwards　again。　Ifwe　keep　on　as　we　are　going　we　shall　get　up　into　the　Ettendales　far　north　ofRivendell。　That　is　troll…country；　and　little　known　to　me。　We　could　perhapsfind　our　way　through　and　e　round　to　Rivendell　from　the　north；　but　it　wouldtake　too　long；　for　I　do　not　know　the　way；　and　our　food　would　not　last。　Sosomehow　or　other　we　must　find　the　Ford　of　Bruinen。'　　
The　rest　of　that　day　they　spent　scrambling　over　rocky　ground。　They　founda　passage　between　two　hills　that　led　them　into　a　valley　running　south…east；　
the　direction　that　they　wished　to　take；　but　towards　the　end　of　the　day　theyfound　their　road　again　barred　by　a　ridge　of　high　land；　its　dark　edge　againstthe　sky　was　broken　into　many　bare　points　like　teeth　of　a　blunted　saw。　They　hada　choice　between　going　back　or　climbing　over　it。　
They　decided　to　attempt　the　climb；　but　it　proved　very　difficult。　Beforelong　Frodo　was　obliged　to　dismount　and　struggle　along　on　foot。　Even　so　theyoften　despaired　of　getting　their　pony　up；　or　indeed　of　finding　a　path　forthemselves；　burdened　as　they　were。　The　light　was　nearly　gone；　and　they　wereall　exhausted；　when　at　last　they　reached　the　top。　They　had　climbed　on　to　anarrow　saddle　between　two　higher　points；　and　the　land　fell　steeply　away　again；　
only　a　short　distance　ahead。　Frodo　threw　himself　down；　and　lay　on　the　groundshivering。　His　left　arm　was　lifeless；　and　his　side　and　shoulder　felt　as　if　icyclaws　were　laid　upon　them。　The　trees　and　rocks　about　him　seemed　shadowy　anddim。　　
'We　cannot　go　any　further；'　said　Merry　to　Strider。　'I　am　afraid　this　hasbeen　too　much　for　Frodo。　I　am　dreadfully　anxious　about　him。　What　are　we　to　do？　
Do　you　think　they　will　be　able　to　cure　him　in　Rivendell；　if　we　ever　getthere？'　　
'We　shall　see；'　answered　Strider。　'There　is　nothing　more　that　I　can　do　inthe　wilderness；　and　it　is　chiefly　because　of　his　wound　that　I　am　so　anxious　topress　on。　But　I　agree　that　we　can　go　no　further　tonight。'　
'What　is　the　matter　with　my　master？'　asked