the fellowship of the ring-第49部分

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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　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　a