the fellowship of the ring-第92部分

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ers。　
Their　dark　withered　plumes　bent　and　tossed　in　the　light　cold　airs；　hissingsoftly　and　sadly。　Here　and　there　through　openings　Frodo　could　catch　suddenglimpses　of　rolling　meads；　and　far　beyond　them　hills　in　the　sunset；　and　awayon　the　edge　of　sight　a　dark　line；　where　marched　the　southernmost　ranks　of　theMisty　Mountains。　
There　was　no　sign　of　living　moving　things；　save　birds。　Of　these　therewere　many：　small　fowl　whistling　and　piping　in　the　reeds；　but　they　were　seldomseen。　Once　or　twice　the　travellers　heard　the　rush　and　whine　of　swan…wings；　andlooking　up　they　saw　a　great　phalanx　streaming　along　the　sky。　
‘Swans！　'　said　Sam。　‘And　mighty　big　ones　too！　'　
‘Yes；'　said　Aragorn；　'and　they　are　black　swans。'　
‘How　wide　and　empty　and　mournful　all　this　country　looks！　'　said　Frodo。　‘Ialways　imagined　that　as　one　journeyed　south　it　got　warmer　and　merrier；　untilwinter　was　left　behind　for　ever。'　　
'But　we　have　not　journeyed　far　south　yet；'　answered　Aragorn。　‘It　is　stillwinter；　and　we　are　far　from　the　sea。　Here　the　world　is　cold　until　the　suddenspring；　and　we　may　yet　have　snow　again。　Far　away　down　in　the　Bay　of　Belfalas；　
to　which　Anduin　runs；　it　is　warm　and　merry；　maybe；　or　would　be　but　for　theEnemy。　But　here　we　are　not　above　sixty　leagues；　I　guess；　south　of　theSouthfarthing　away　in　your　Shire；　hundreds　of　long　miles　yonder。　You　arelooking　now　south…west　across　the　north　plains　of　the　Riddermark；　Rohan　theland　of　the　Horse…lords。　Ere　long　we　shall　e　to　the　mouth　of　the　Limlightthat　runs　down　from　Fangorn　to　join　the　Great　River。　That　is　the　northboundary　of　Rohan；　and　of　old　all　that　lay　between　Limlight　and　the　WhiteMountains　belonged　to　the　Rohirrim。　It　is　a　rich　and　pleasant　land；　and　itsgrass　has　no　rival；　but　in　these　evil　days　folk　do　not　dwell　by　the　River　orride　often　to　its　shores。　Anduin　is　wide；　yet　the　orcs　can　shoot　their　arrowsfar　across　the　stream；　and　of　late；　it　is　said；　they　have　dared　to　cross　thewater　and　raid　the　herds　and　studs　of　Rohan。'　　
Sam　looked　from　bank　to　bank　uneasily。　The　trees　had　seemed　hostilebefore；　as　if　they　harboured　secret　eyes　and　lurking　dangers；　now　he　wishedthat　the　trees　were　still　there。　He　felt　that　the　pany　was　too　naked；　
afloat　in　little　open　boats　in　the　midst　of　shelterless　lands；　and　on　a　riverthat　was　the　frontier　of　war。　　
In　the　next　day　or　two；　as　they　went　on；　borne　steadily　southwards；　thisfeeling　of　insecurity　grew　on　all　the　pany。　For　a　whole　day　they　took　totheir　paddles　and　hastened　forward。　The　banks　slid　by。　Soon　the　Riverbroadened　and　grew　more　shallow；　long　stony　beaches　lay　upon　the　east；　andthere　were　gravel…shoals　in　the　water；　so　that　careful　steering　was　needed。　
The　Brown　Lands　rose　into　bleak　wolds；　over　which　flowed　a　chill　air　from　theEast。　On　the　other　side　the　meads　had　bee　rolling　downs　of　withered　grassamidst　a　land　of　fen　and　tussock。　Frodo　shivered；　thinking　of　the　lawns　andfountains；　the　clear　sun　and　gentle　rains　of　Lothlórien。　There　was　littlespeech　and　no　laughter　in　any　of　the　boats。　Each　member　of　the　pany　wasbusy　with　his　own　thoughts。　
The　heart　of　Legolas　was　running　under　the　stars　of　a　summer　night　insome　northern　glade　amid　the　beech…woods；　Gimli　was　fingering　gold　in　hismind；　and　wondering　if　it　were　fit　to　be　wrought　into　the　housing　of　theLady's　gift。　Merry　and　Pippin　in　the　middle　boat　were　ill　at　ease；　for　Boromirsat　muttering　to　himself；　sometimes　biting　his　nails；　as　if　some　restlessnessor　doubt　consumed　him；　sometimes　seizing　a　paddle　and　driving　the　boat　close　　
　
behind　Aragorn's。　Then　Pippin；　who　sat　in　the　bow　looking　back；　caught　a　queergleam　in　his　eye；　as　he　peered　forward　gazing　at　Frodo。　Sam　had　long　ago　madeup　his　mind　that；　though　boats　were　maybe　not　as　dangerous　as　he　had　beenbrought　up　to　believe；　they　were　far　more　unfortable　than　even　he　hadimagined。　He　was　cramped　and　miserable；　having　nothing　to　do　but　stare　at　thewinter…lands　crawling　by　and　the　grey　water　on　either　side　of　him。　Even　whenthe　paddles　were　in　use　they　did　not　trust　Sam　with　one。　
As　dusk　drew　down　on　the　fourth　day；　he　was　looking　back　over　the　bowedheads　of　Frodo　and　Aragorn　and　the　following　boats；　he　was　drowsy　and　longedfor　camp　and　the　feel　of　earth　under　his　toes。　Suddenly　something　caught　hissight：　at　first　he　stared　at　it　listlessly；　then　he　sat　up　and　rubbed　hiseyes；　but　when　he　looked　again　he　could　not　see　it　any　more。　　
That　night　they　camped　on　a　small　eyot　close　to　the　western　bank。　Sam　layrolled　in　blankets　beside　Frodo。　‘I　had　a　funny　dream　an　hour　or　two　before　westopped；　Mr。　Frodo；'　he　said。　‘Or　maybe　it　wasn't　a　dream。　Funny　it　wasanyway。'　
‘Well；　what　was　it？　'　said　Frodo；　knowing　that　Sam　would　not　settle　downuntil　he　had　told　his　tale；　whatever　it　was。　'I　haven't　seen　or　thought　ofanything　to　make　me　smile　since　we　left　Lothlórien。'　
‘It　wasn't　funny　that　way；　Mr。　Frodo。　It　was　queer。　All　wrong；　if　itwasn't　a　dream。　And　you　had　best　hear　it。　It　was　like　this：　I　saw　a　log　witheyes！　'　
‘The　log's　all　right；'　said　Frodo。　‘There　are　many　in　the　River。　Butleave　out　the　eyes！　'　
‘That　I　won't；'　said　Sam。　‘　'Twas　the　eyes　as　made　me　sit　up；　so　tospeak。　I　saw　what　I　took　to　be　a　log　floating　along　in　the　half…light　behindGimli's　boat；　but　I　didn't　give　much　heed　to　it。　Then　it　seemed　as　if　the　logwas　slowly　catching　us　up。　And　that　was　peculiar；　as　you　might　say；　seeing　aswe　were　all　floating　on　the　stream　together。　Just　then　I　saw　the　eyes：　twopale　sort　of　points；　shiny…like；　on　a　hump　at　the　near　end　of　the　log。　What'smore；　it　wasn't　a　log；　for　it　had　paddle…feet；　like　a　swan's　almost；　only　theyseemed　bigger；　and　kept　dipping　in　and　out　of　the　water。　
'That's　when　I　sat　right　up　and　rubbed　my　eyes；　meaning　to　give　a　shout；　
if　it　was　still　there　when　I　had　rubbed　the　drowse　out　of　my　head。　For　thewhatever…it…was　was　ing　along　fast　now　and　getting　close　behind　Gimli。　Butwhether　those　two　lamps　spotted　me　moving　and　staring；　or　whether　I　came　to　mysenses；　I　don't　know。　When　I　looked　again；　it　wasn't　there。　Yet　I　think　Icaught　a　glimpse　with　the　tail　of…my　eye；　as　the　saying　is；　of　something　darkshooting　under　the　shadow　of　the　bank。　I　couldn't　see　no　more　eyes　though。　
‘I　said　to　myself：　〃dreaming　again；　Sam　Gamgee；〃　I　said：　and　I　said　nomore　just　then。　But　I've　been　thinking　since。　and　now　I'm　not　so　sure。　What　doyou　make　of　it；　Mr。　Frodo？　'　
'I　should　make　nothing　of　it　but　a　log　and　the　dusk　and　sleep　in　youreyes　Sam；　said　Frodo；　if　this　was　the　first　time　that　those　eyes　had　beenseen。　But　it　isn't。　I　saw　them　away　back　north　before　we　reached　Lórien。　And　Isaw　a　strange　creature　with　eyes　climbing　to　the　flet　that　night。　Haldir　sawit　too。　And　do　you　remember　the　report　of　the　Elves　that　went　after　the　orcband？　　
'　　
‘Ah；'　said　Sam。　‘I　do；　and　I　remember　more　too。　I　don't　like　my　thoughts；　
but　thinking　of　one　thing　and　another；　and　Mr。　Bilbo's　stories　and　all；　Ifancy　I　could　put　a　name　on　the　creature；　at　a　guess。　A　nasty　name。　Gollum；　
maybe？　'　
‘Yes；　that　is　what　I　have　feared　for　some　time；'　said　Frodo。　‘Ever　sincethe　night　on　the　flet。　I　suppose　he　was　lurking　in　Moria；　and　picked　up　ourtrail　then；　but　I　hoped　that　our　stay　in　Lórien　would　throw　him　off　the　scentagain。　The　miserable　creature　must　have　been　hiding　in　the　woods　by　theSilverlode；　watching　us　start　off！　'　
‘That's　about　it；'　said　Sam。　‘And　we'd　better　be　a　bit　more　watchfulourselves；　or　we'll　feel　some　nasty　fingers　round　our　necks　one　of　these　　
　
nights；　if　we　ever　wake　up　to　feel　anything。　And　that's　what　I　was　leading　upto。　No　need　to　trouble　Strider　or　the　others　tonight。　I'll　keep　watch。　I　cansleep　tomorrow；　being　no　more　than　luggage　in　a　boat；　as　you　might　say。'　
‘I　might；'　said　Frodo；　‘and　I　might　say　〃luggage　with　eyes〃。　You　shallwatch；　but　only　if　you　promise　to　wake　me　halfway　towards　morning；　if　nothinghappens　before　then。'　
In　the　dead　hours　Frodo　came　out　of　a　deep　dark　sleep　to　find　Sam　shakinghim。　‘It's　a　shame　to　wake　you；'　whispered　Sam；　‘but　that's　what　you　said。　
There's　nothing　to　tell；　or　not　much。　I　thought　I　heard　some　soft　plashing　anda　sniffing　noise；　a　while　back；　but　you　hear　a　lot　of　such　queer　sounds　by　ariver　at　night。'　
He　lay　down；　and　Frodo　sat　up；　huddled　in　his　blankets；　and　fought　offhis　sleep。　Minutes　or　hours　passed　slowly；　and　nothing　happened。　Frodo　wasjust　yielding　to　the　temptation　to　lie　down　again　when　a　dark　shape；　hardlyvisible；　floated　close　to　one　of　the　moored　boats。　A　long　whitish　hand　couldbe　dimly　seen　as　it　shot　out　and　grabbed　the　gunwale；　two　pale　lamplike　eyesshone　coldly　as　they　peered　inside；　and　then　they　lifted　and　gazed　up　at　Frodoon　the　eyot。　They　were　not　more　than　a　yard　or　two　away；　and　Frodo　heard　thesoft　hiss　of　intaken　breath。　He　stood　up；　drawing　Sting　from　its　sheath；　andfaced　the　eyes。　Immediately　their　light　was　shut　off。　There　was　another　hissand　a　splash；　and　the　dark　log…shape　shot　away　downstream　into　the　night。　
Aragorn　stirred　in　his　sleep；　turned　over；　and　sat　up‘　
'What　is　it？　'　he　whispered；　springing　up　and　ing　to　Frodo。　‘I　feltsomething　in　my　sleep。　Why　have　you　drawn　your　sword？　'　
‘Gollum；'　answered　Frodo。　'Or　at　least；　so　I　guess。'　
‘Ah！　'　said　Aragorn。　‘So　you　know　about　our　little　footpad；　do　you？　Hepadded　after　us　all　through　Moria　and　right　down　to　Nimrodel。　Since　we　took　toboats；　he　has　been　lying　on　a　log　and　paddling　with　hands　and　feet。　I　havetried　to　catch　him　once　or　twice　at　night；　but　he　is　slier　than　a　fox；　and　asslippery　as　a　fish。　I　hoped　the　river…voyage　would　beat　him；　but　he　is　tooclever　a　waterman。　　
‘We　shall　have　to　try　going　faster　tomorrow。　You　lie　down　now；　and　I　willkeep　watch　for　what　is　left　of　the　night。　I　wish　I　could　lay　my　hands　on　thewretch。　We　might　make　him　useful。　But　if　I　cannot；　we　shall　have　to　try　andlose　him。　He　is　very　dangerous。　Quite　apart　from　murder　by　night　on　his　ownaccount；　he　may　put　any　enemy　that　is　about　on　our　track。'　
The　night　passed　without　Gollum　showing　so　much　as　a　shadow　again。　Afterthat　the　pany　kept　a　sharp　look…out；　but　they　saw　no　more　of　Gollum　whilethe　voyage　lasted。　If　he　was　still　following；　he　was　very　wary　and　cunning。　AtAragorn's　bidding　they　paddled　now　for　long　spells；　and　the　banks　went　swiftlyby。　But　they　saw　little　of　the　country；　for　they　journeyed　mostly　by　night　andtwilight；　restin