the fellowship of the ring-第70部分

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The　pany　set　out　again　with　good　speed　at　first；　but　soon　their　waybecame　steep　and　difficult。　The　twisting　and　climbing　road　had　in　many　placesalmost　disappeared；　and　was　blocked　with　many　fallen　stones。　The　night　grewdeadly　dark　under　great　clouds。　A　bitter　wind　swirled　among　the　rocks。　Bymidnight　they　had　climbed　to　the　knees　of　the　great　mountains。　The　narrow　pathnow　wound　under　a　sheer　wall　of　cliffs　to　the　left；　above　which　the　grimflanks　of　Caradhras　towered　up　invisible　in　the　gloom；　on　the　right　was　a　gulfof　darkness　where　the　land　fell　suddenly　into　a　deep　ravine。　
Laboriously　they　climbed　a　sharp　slope　and　halted　for　a　moment　at　thetop。　Frodo　felt　a　soft　touch　on　his　face。　He　put　out　his　arm　and　saw　the　dimwhite　flakes　of　snow　settling　on　his　sleeve。　
They　went　on。　But　before　long　the　snow　was　falling　fast；　filling　all　theair；　and　swirling　into　Frodo's　eyes。　The　dark　bent　shapes　of　Gandalf　andAragorn　only　a　pace　or　two　ahead　could　hardly　be　seen。　
'I　don't　like　this　at　all；'　panted　Sam　just　behind。　'Snow's　all　right　on　　
　
a　fine　morning；　but　I　like　to　be　in　bed　while　it's　falling。　I　wish　this　lotwould　go　off　to　Hobbiton！　Folk　might　wele　it　there。'　Except　on　the　highmoors　of　the　Northfarthing　a　heavy　fall　was　rare　in　the　Shire；　and　wasregarded　as　a　pleasant　event　and　a　chance　for　fun。　No　living　hobbit　（saveBilbo）　could　remember　the　Fell　Winter　of　1311；　when　the　white　wolves　invadedthe　Shire　over　the　frozen　Brandywine。　
Gandalf　halted。　Snow　was　thick　on　his　hood　and　shoulders；　it　was　alreadyankle…deep　about　his　boots。　
〃This　is　what　I　feared；'　he　said。　‘What　do　you　say　now；　Aragorn？'　
'That　I　feared　it　too；'　Aragorn　answered；　‘but　less　than　other　things。　Iknew　the　risk　of　snow；　though　it　seldom　falls　heavily　so　far　south；　save　highup　in　the　mountains。　But　we　are　not　high　yet；　we　are　still　far　down；　where　thepaths　are　usually　open　all　the　winter。'　
'I　wonder　if　this　is　a　contrivance　of　the　Enemy；'　said　Boromir。　〃They　sayin　my　land　that　he　can　govern　the　storms　in　the　Mountains　of　Shadow　that　standupon　the　borders　of　Mordor。　He　has　strange　powers　and　many　allies。'　
'His　arm　has　grown　long　indeed；'　said　Gimli；　‘if　he　can　draw　snow　downfrom　the　North　to　trouble　us　here　three　hundred　leagues　away。'　
'His　arm　has　grown　long；'　said　Gandalf。　　
While　they　were　halted；　the　wind　died　down；　and　the　snow　slackened　untilit　almost　ceased。　They　tramped　on　again。　But　they　had　not　gone　more　than　afurlong　when　the　storm　returned　with　fresh　fury。　The　wind　whistled　and　thesnow　became　a　blinding　blizzard。　Soon　even　Boromir　found　it　hard　to　keepgoing。　The　hobbits；　bent　nearly　double；　toiled　along　behind　the　taller　folk；　
but　it　was　plain　that　they　could　not　go　much　further；　if　the　snow　continued。　
Frodo's　feet　felt　like　lead。　Pippin　was　dragging　behind。　Even　Gimli；　as　stoutas　any　dwarf　could　be；　was　grumbling　as　he　trudged。　
The　pany　halted　suddenly；　as　if　they　had　e　to　an　agreement　withoutany　words　being　spoken。　They　heard　eerie　noises　in　the　darkness　round　them。　Itmay　have　been　only　a　trick　of　the　wind　in　the　cracks　and　gullies　of　the　rockywall；　but　the　sounds　were　those　of　shrill　cries；　and　wild　howls　of　laughter。　
Stones　began　to　fall　from　the　mountain…side；　whistling　over　their　heads；　orcrashing　on　the　path　beside　them。　Every　now　and　again　they　heard　a　dullrumble；　as　a　great　boulder　rolled　down　from　hidden　heights　above。　
‘We　cannot　go　further　tonight；'　said　Boromir。　‘Let　those　call　it　the　windwho　will；　there　are　fell　voices　on　the　air；　and　these　stones　are　aimed　at　us。'　
‘I　do　call　it　the　wind；'　said　Aragorn。　‘But　that　does　not　make　what　yousay　untrue。　There　are　many　evil　and　unfriendly　things　in　the　world　that　havelittle　love　for　those　that　go　on　two　legs；　and　yet　are　not　in　league　withSauron；　but　have　purposes　of　their　own。　Some　have　been　in　this　world　longerthan　he。'　　
'Caradhras　was　called　the　Cruel；　and　had　an　ill　name；　said　Gimli；　‘longyears　ago；　when　rumour　of　Sauron　had　not　been　heard　in　these　lands。'　
‘It　matters　little　who　is　the　enemy；　if　we　cannot　beat　off　his　attack；　
said　Gandalf。　　
'But　what　can　we　do？'　cried　Pippin　miserably。　He　was　leaning　on　Merry　andFrodo；　and　he　was　shivering。　
‘Either　stop　where　we　are；　or　go　back；'　said　Gandalf。　'It　is　no　goodgoing　on。　Only　a　little　higher；　if　I　remember　rightly；　this　path　leaves　thecliff　and　runs　into　a　wide　shallow　trough　at　the　bottom　of　a　long　hard　slope。　
We　should　have　no　shelter　there　from　snow；　or　stones　–　or　anything　else。'　
‘And　it　is　no　good　going　back　while　the　storm　holds；'　said　Aragorn。　‘Wehave　passed　no　place　on　the　way　up　that　offered　more　shelter　than　this　cliff…　
wall　we　are　under　now。'　　
‘Shelter！'　muttered　Sam。　‘If　this　is　shelter；　then　one　wall　and　no　roofmake　a　house。'　　
The　pany　now　gathered　together　as　close　to　the　cliff　as　they　could。　Itfaced　southwards；　and　near　the　bottom　it　leaned　out　a　little；　so　that　they　　
　
hoped　it　would　give　them　some　protection　from　the　northerly　wind　and　from　thefalling　stones。　But　eddying　blasts　swirled　round　them　from　every　side；　and　thesnow　flowed　down　in　ever　denser　clouds。　　
They　huddled　together　with　their　backs　to　the　wall。　Bill　the　pony　stoodpatiently　but　dejectedly　in　front　of　the　hobbits；　and　screened　them　a　little；　
but　before　long　the　drifting　snow　was　above　his　hocks；　and　it　went　onmounting。　If　they　had　had　no　larger　panions　the　hobbits　would　soon　havebeen　entirely　buried。　
A　great　sleepiness　came　over　Frodo；　he　felt　himself　sinking　fast　into　awarm　and　hazy　dream。　He　thought　a　fire　was　heating　his　toes；　and　out　of　theshadows　on　the　other　side　of　the　hearth　he　heard　Bilbo's　voice　speaking_。　Idon't　think　much　of　your　diary_；　he　said。　_Snowstorms　on　January　the　twelfth：　
there　was　no　need　to　e　back　to　report　that！_　
_But　I　wanted　rest　and　sleep；　Bilbo_；　Frodo　answered　with　an　effort；　whenhe　felt　himself　shaken；　and　he　came　back　painfully　to　wakefulness。　Boromir　hadlifted　him　off　the　ground　out　of　a　nest　of　snow。　
‘This　will　be　the　death　of　the　halflings；　Gandalf；'　said　Boromir。　‘It　isuseless　to　sit　here　until　the　snow　goes　over　our　heads。　We　must　do　somethingto　save　ourselves。'　　
‘Give　them　this；'　said　Gandalf；　searching　in　his　pack　and　drawing　out　aleathern　flask。　‘Just　a　mouthful　each　–　for　all　of　us。　It　is　very　precious。　Itis　_miruvor_；　the　cordial　of　Imladris。　Elrond　gave　it　to　me　at　our　parting。　
Pass　it　round！'　　
As　soon　as　Frodo　had　swallowed　a　little　of　the　warm　and　fragrant　liquorhe　felt　a　new　strength　of　heart；　and　the　heavy　drowsiness　left　his　limbs。　Theothers　also　revived　and　found　fresh　hope　and　vigour。　But　the　snow　did　notrelent。　It　whirled　about　them　thicker　than　ever；　and　the　wind　blew　louder。　
'What　do　you　say　to　fire？'　asked　Boromir　suddenly。　'The　choice　seems　nearnow　between　fire　and　death；　Gandalf。　Doubtless　we　shall　be　hidden　from　allunfriendly　eyes　when　the　snow　has　covered　us；　but　that　will　not　help　us。'　
'You　may　make　a　fire；　if　you　can；'　answered　Gandalf。　'If　there　are　anywatchers　that　can　endure　this　storm；　then　they　can　see　us；　fire　or　no。'　Butthough　they　had　brought　wood　and　kindlings　by　the　advice　of　Boromir；　it　passedthe　skill　of　Elf　or　even　Dwarf　to　strike　a　flame　that　would　hold　amid　the　　
swirling　wind　or　catch　in　the　wet　fuel。　At　last　reluctantly　Gandalf　himselftook　a　hand。　Picking　up　a　faggot　he　held　it　aloft　for　a　moment；　and　then　witha　word　of　mand_；　naur　an　edraith　ammen！_　he　thrust　the　end　of　his　staffinto　the　midst　of　it。　At　once　a　great　spout　of　green　and　blue　flame　sprangout；　and　the　wood　flared　and　sputtered。　
‘If　there　are　any　to　see；　then　I　at　least　am　revealed　to　them；'　he　said。　
'I　have　written　_Gandalf　is　here_　in　signs　that　all　can　read　from　Rivendell　tothe　mouths　of　Anduin。'　　
But　the　pany　cared　no　longer　for　watchers　or　unfriendly　eyes。　Theirhearts　were　rejoiced　to　see　the　light　of　the　fire。　The　wood　burned　merrily；　
and　though　all　round　it　the　snow　hissed；　and　pools　of　slush　crept　under　theirfeet；　they　warmed　their　hands　gladly　at　the　blaze。　There　they　stood；　stoopingin　a　circle　round　the　little　dancing　and　blowing　flames。　A　red　light　was　ontheir　tired　and　anxious　faces；　behind　them　the　night　was　like　a　black　wall。　
But　the　wood　was　burning　fast；　and　the　snow　still　fell。　　
The　fire　burned　low。　and　the　last　faggot　was　thrown　on。　
The　night　is　getting　old；'　said　Aragorn。　〃The　dawn　is　not　far　off。'　
‘If　any　dawn　can　pierce　these　clouds；'　said　Gimli。　
Boromir　stepped　out　of　the　circle　and　stared　up　into　the　blackness。　'Thesnow　is　growing　less；'　he　said；　‘and　the　wind　is　quieter。'　
Frodo　gazed　wearily　at　the　flakes　still　falling　out　of　the　dark　to　berevealed　white　for　a　moment　in　the　light　of　the　dying　fire；　but　for　a　longtime　he　could　see　no　sign　of　their　slackening。　Then　suddenly；　as　sleep　wasbeginning　to　creep　over　him　again；　he　was　aware　that　the　wind　had　indeedfallen；　and　the　flakes　were　being　larger　and　fewer。　Very　slowly　a　dim　light　　
　
began　to　grow。　At　last　the　snow　stopped　altogether。　
As　the　light　grew　stronger　it　showed　a　silent　shrouded　world。　Below　theirrefuge　were　white　humps　and　domes　and　shapeless　deeps　beneath　which　the　paththat　they　had　trodden　was　altogether　lost；　but　the　heights　above　were　hiddenin　great　clouds　still　heavy　with　the　threat　of　snow。　
Gimli　looked　up　and　shook　his　head。　‘Caradhras　has　not　forgiven　us。'　hesaid。　‘He　has　more　snow　yet　to　fling　at　us；　if　we　go　on。　The　sooner　we　go　backand　down　the　better。'　　
To　this　all　agreed；　but　their　retreat　was　now　difficult。　It　might　wellprove　impossible。　Only　a　few　paces　from　the　ashes　of　their　fire　the　snow　laymany　feet　deep；　higher　than　the　heads　of　the　hobbits；　in　places　it　had　beenscooped　and　piled　by　the　wind　into　great　drifts　against　the　cliff。　
‘If　Gandalf　would　go　before　us　with　a　bright　flame；　he　might　melt　a　pathfor　you；'　said　Legolas。　The　storm　had　troubled　him　little；　and　he　alone　of　thepany　remained　still　light　of　heart。　
‘If　Elves　could　fly　over　mountains；　they　might　fetch　the　Sun　to　saveus；'　answered　Gandalf。　‘But　I　must　have　something　to　work　on。　I　cannot　burnsnow。'　　
‘Well；'　said　Boromir；　‘when　heads　are　at　a　loss　bodies　must　serve；　as　wesay　in　my　country。　The　strongest　of　us　must　seek　a　way。　See！　Though　all　is　nowsnow…clad；　our　path；　as　we　came　up；　turned　about　that　shoulder　of　rock　downyonder。　It　was　there　that　the　snow　first　began　to　b