The Road lay quiet under the long shadows of early evening。 There was nosign of any other travellers to be seen。 As there was now no other possiblecourse for them to take； they climbed down the bank； and turning left went offas fast as they could。 Soon a shoulder of the hills cut off the light of thefast westering sun。 A cold wind flowed down to meet them from the mountainsahead。
They were beginning to look out for a place off the Road； where theycould camp for the night； when they heard a sound that brought sudden fearback into their hearts： the noise of hoofs behind them。 They looked back； butthey could not see far because of the many windings and rollings of the Road。
As quickly as they could they scrambled off the beaten way and up into thedeep heather and bilberry brushwood on the slopes above； until they came to asmall patch of thick…growing hazels。 As they peered out from among the bushes；
they could see the Road； faint and grey in the failing light； some thirty feelbelow them。 The sound of hoofs drew nearer。 They were going fast； with a light_clippety…clippely…clip。_ Then faintly； as if it was blown away from them bythe breeze； they seemed to catch a dim ringing； as of small bells tinkling。
'That does not sound like a Black Rider's horse！' said Frodo； listeningintently。 The other hobbits agreed hopefully that it did not； but they allremained full of suspicion。 They had been in fear of pursuit for so long thatany sound from behind seemed ominous and unfriendly。 But Strider was nowleaning forward； stooped to the ground； with a hand to his ear； and a look ofjoy on his face。
The light faded； and the leaves on the bushes rustled softly。 Clearer andnearer now the bells jingled； and _clippety…clip_ came the quick trottingfeet。 Suddenly into view below came a white horse； gleaming in the shadows；
running swiftly。 In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed； as if itwere studded with gems like living stars。 The rider's cloak streamed behindhim； and his hood was thrown back； his golden hair flowed shimmering in thewind of his speed。 To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining throughthe form and raiment of the rider； as if through a thin veil。
Strider sprang from hiding and dashed down towards the Road； leaping witha cry through the heather； but even before he had moved or called； the riderhad reined in his horse and halted； looking up towards the thicket where theystood。 When he saw Strider； he dismounted and ran to meet him calling out： _Aina vedui Dúnadan！ Mae govannen！_ His speech and clear ringing voice left nodoubt in their hearts： the rider was of the Elven…folk。 No others that dwelt
in the wide world had voices so fair to hear。 But there seemed to be a note of
haste or fear in his call； and they saw that he was now speaking quickly andurgently to Strider。
Soon Strider beckoned to them； and the hobbits left the bushes andhurried down to the Road。 'This is Glorfindel； who dwells in the house ofElrond；' said Strider。
'Hail； and well met at last！' said the Elf…lord to Frodo。 'I was sentfrom Rivendell to look for you。 We feared that you were in danger upon theroad。'
'Then Gandalf has reached Rivendell？' cried Frodo joyfully。
'No。 He had not when I departed； but that was nine days ago；' answeredGlorfindel。 'Elrond received news that troubled him。 Some of my kindred；
journeying in your land beyond the Baranduin； learned that things were amiss；
and sent messages as swiftly as they could。 They said that the Nine wereabroad； and that you were astray bearing a great burden without guidance； for
Gandalf had not returned。 There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openlyagainst the Nine； but such as there were； Elrond sent out north； west； andsouth。 It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit； andbee lost in the Wilderness。
'It was my lot to take the Road； and I came to the Bridge of Mitheithel；
and left a token there； nigh on seven days ago。 Three of the servants ofSauron were upon the Bridge； but they withdrew and I pursued them westward。 Icame also upon two others； but they turned away southward。 Since then I havesearched for your trail。 Two days ago I found it； and followed it over theBridge； and today I marked where you descended from the hills again。 But e！
There is no time for further news。 Since you are here we must risk the perilof the Road and go。 There are five behind us； and when they find your trailupon the Road they will ride after us like the wind。 And they are not all。
Where the other four may be； I do not know。 I fear that we may find the Fordis already held against us。'
While Glorfindel was speaking the shades of evening deepened。 Frodo felta great weariness e over him。 Ever since the sun began to sink the mistbefore his eyes had darkened； and he felt that a shadow was ing between himand the faces of his friends。 Now pain assailed him； and he felt cold。 Heswayed； clutching at Sam's arm。
'My master is sick and wounded；' said Sam angrily。 'He can't go on ridingafter nightfall。 He needs rest。'
Glorfindel caught Frodo as he sank to the ground； and taking him gentlyin his arms he looked in his face with grave anxiety。
Briefly Strider told of the attack on their camp under Weathertop； and ofthe deadly knife。 He drew out the hilt； which he had kept； and handed it tothe Elf。 Glorfindel shuddered as he took it； but he looked intently at it。
'There are evil things written on this hilt；' he said； 'though maybe youreyes cannot see them。 Keep it； Aragorn； till we reach the house of Elrond！ Butbe wary； and handle it as little as you may！ Alas！ the wounds of this weaponare beyond my skill to heal。 I will do what I can – but all the more do I urgeyou now to go on without rest。'
He searched the wound on Frodo's shoulder with his fingers； and his facegrew graver； as if what he learned disquieted him。 But Frodo felt the chilllessen in his side and arm； a little warmth crept down from his shoulder tohis hand； and the pain grew easier。 The dusk of evening seemed to grow lighterabout him； as if a cloud had been withdrawn。 He saw his friends' faces moreclearly again； and a measure of new hope and strength returned。
'You shall ride my horse；' said Glorfindel。 'I will shorten the stirrupsup to the saddle…skins； and you must sit as tight as you can。 But you need notfear： my horse will not let any rider fall that I mand him to bear。 Hispace is light and smooth； and if danger presses too near； he will bear youaway with a speed that even the black steeds of the enemy cannot rival。'
'No； he will not！' said Frodo。 'I shall not ride him； if I am to becarried off to Rivendell or anywhere else； leaving my friends behind indanger。'
Glorfindel smiled。 'I doubt very much；' he said； 'if your friends wouldbe in danger if you were not with them！ The pursuit would follow you and leaveus in peace； I think。 It is you； Frodo； and that which you bear that brings usall in peril。'
To that Frodo had no answer； and he was persuaded to mount Glorfindel'swhite horse。 The pony was laden instead with a great part of the others'burdens； so that they now marched lighter； and for a time made good speed； butthe hobbits began to find it hard to keep up with the swift tireless feet ofthe Elf。 On he led them； into the mouth of darkness； and still on under thedeep clouded night。 There was neither star nor moon。 Not until the grey ofdawn did he allow them to halt。 Pippin； Merry； and Sam were by that timenearly asleep on their stumbling legs； and even Strider seemed by the sag ofhis shoulders to be weary。 Frodo sat upon the horse in a dark dream。
They cast themselves down in the heather a few yards from the road…side；
and fell asleep immediately。 They seemed hardly to have closed their eyes whenGlorfindel； who had set himself to watch while they slept； awoke them again。
The sun had now climbed far into the morning； and the clouds and mists of thenight were gone。
'Drink this！' said Glorfindel to them； pouring for each in turn a littleliquor from his silver…studded flask of leather。 It was clear as spring waterand had no taste； and it did not feel either cool or warm in the mouth； butstrength and vigour seemed to flow into all their limbs as they drank it。
Eaten after that draught the stale bread and dried fruit （which was now allthat they had left） seemed to satisfy their hunger better than many a goodbreakfast in the Shire had done。
They had rested rather less than five hours when they took to the Roadagain。 Glorfindel still urged them on； and only allowed two brief halts duringthe day's march。 In this way they covered almost twenty miles beforenightfall； and came to a point where the Road bent right and ran down towardsthe bottom of the valley； now making straight for the Bruinen。 So far therehad been no sign or sound of pursuit that the hobbits could see or hear； butoften Glorfindel would halt and listen for a moment； if they lagged behind；
and a look of anxiety clouded his face。 Once or twice he spoke to Strider inthe elf…tongue。
But however anxious their guides might be； it was plain that the hobbitscould go no further that night。 They were stumbling along dizzy withweariness； and unable to think of anything but their feet and legs。 Frodo'spain had redoubled； and during the day things about him faded to shadows ofghostly grey。 He almost weled the ing of night； for then the worldseemed less pale and empty。
The hobbits were still weary； when they set out again early next morning。
There were many miles yet to go between them and the Ford； and they hobbledforward at the best pace they could manage。
'Our peril will be greatest just ere we reach the river；' saidGlorfindel； 'for my heart warns me that the pursuit is now swift behind us；
and other danger may be waiting by the Ford。'
The Road was still running steadily downhill； and there was now in placesmuch grass at either side； in which the hobbits walked when they could； toease their tired feet。 In the late afternoon they came to a place where theRoad went suddenly under the dark shadow of tall pine…trees； and then plungedinto a deep cutting with steep moist walls of red stone。 Echoes ran along asthey hurried forward； and there seemed to be a sound of many footfallsfollowing their own。 All at once； as if through a gate of light； the Road ranout again from the end of the tunnel into the open。 There at the bottom of asharp incline they saw before them a long flat mile； and beyond that the Fordof Rivendell。 On the further side was a steep brown bank； threaded by awinding path； and behind that the tall mountains climbed； shoulder aboveshoulder； and peak beyond peak； into the fading sky。
There was still an echo as of following feet in the cutting behind them；
a rushing noise as if a wind were rising and pouring through the branches ofthe pines。 One moment Glorfindel turned and listened； then he sprang forwardwith a loud cry。
'Fly！' he called。 'Fly！ The enemy is upon us！'
The white horse leaped forward。 The hobbits ran down the slope。
Glorfindel and Strider followed as rear…guard。 They were only half way acrossthe flat； when suddenly there was a noise of horses galloping。 Out of the gatein the trees that they had just left rode a Black Rider。 He reined his horsein； and halted； swaying in his saddle。 Another fo