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one of those foul flying Riders was about； up in the blackness where he can't be seen。'
He opened the bundle。 Frodo looked in disgust at the contents； but there was nothing for it： he
had to put the things on； or go naked。 There were long hairy breeches of some unclean beast…fell；
and a tunic of dirty leather。 He drew them on。 Over the tunic went a coat of stout ring…mail； short
for a full…sized orc； too long for Frodo and heavy。 About it he clasped a belt； at which there hung a
short sheath holding a broad…bladed stabbing…sword。 Sam had brought several orc…helmets。 One of
them fitted Frodo well enough； a black cap with iron rim； and iron hoops covered with leather upon
which the evil Eye was painted in red above the beaklike nose…guard。
‘The Morgul…stuff； Gorbag's gear； was a better fit and better made；' said Sam； ‘but it wouldn't do；
I guess； to go carrying his tokens into Mordor； not after this business here。 Well； there you are； Mr。
Frodo。 A perfect little orc； if I may make so bold…at least you would be； if we could cover your face
with a mask； give you longer arms； and make you bow…legged。 This will hide some of the tell…tales。'
He put a large black cloak round Frodo's shoulders。 ‘Now you're ready！ You can pick up a shield as
we go。'
'What about you； Sam？' said Frodo。 ‘Aren't we going to match？'
‘Well； Mr。 Frodo； I've been thinking；' said Sam。 'I'd best not leave any of my stuff behind； and
we can't destroy it。 And I can't wear orc…mail over all my clothes； can I？ I'll just have to cover up。'
He knelt down and carefully folded his elven…cloak。 It went into a surprisingly small roll。 This
he put into his pack that lay on the floor。 Standing up； he slung it behind his back； put an orc…helm
on his head； and cast another black cloak about his shoulders。 ‘There！' he said。 ‘Now we match；
near enough。 And now we must be off！'
'I can't go all the way at a run； Sam；' said Frodo with a wry smile。 'I hope you've made inquiries
about inns along the road？ Or have you forgotten about food and drink？'
‘Save me； but so I had！' said Sam。 He whistled in dismay。 'Bless me； Mr。 Frodo； but you've gone
and made me that hungry and thirsty！ I don't know when drop or morsel last passed my lips。 I'd
forgotten it； trying to find you。 But let me think！ Last time I looked I'd got about enough of that
waybread； and of what Captain Faramir gave us； to keep me on my legs for a couple of weeks at a
pinch。 But if there's a drop left in my bottle； there's no more。 That's not going to be enough for two；
nohow。 Don't ores eat； and don't they drink？ Or do they just live on foul air and poison？'
‘No； they eat and drink； Sam。 The Shadow that bred them can only mock； it cannot make： not
real new things of its own。 I don't think it gave life to the ores； it only ruined them and twisted them；
and if they are to live at all； they have to live like other living creatures。 Foul waters and foul meats
they'll take； if they can get no better； but not poison。 They've fed me； and so I'm better off than you。
There must be food and water somewhere in this place。' ‘But there's no time to look for them；' said
Sam。
‘Well； things are a bit better than you think；' said Frodo。 'I have had a bit of luck while you were
away。 Indeed they did not take everything。 I've found my food…bag among some rags on the floor。
They've rummaged it； of course。 But I guess they disliked the very look and smell of the _lembas_；
worse than Gollum did。 It's scattered about and some of it is trampled and broken； but I've gathered
it together。 It's not far short of what you've got。 But they've taken Faramir's food； and they've
slashed up my water…bottle。'
‘Well； there's no more to be said；' said Sam。 ‘We've got enough to start on。 But the water's going
to be a bad business。 But e Mr。 Frodo！ Off we go； or a whole lake of it won't do us any good！'
'Not till you've had a mouthful； Sam；' said Frodo。 ‘I won't budge。 Here； take this elven…cake； and
drink that last drop in your bottle！ The whole thing is quite hopeless； so it's no good worrying about
tomorrow。 It probably won't e。'
At last they started。 Down the ladder they climbed； and then Sam took it and laid it in the
passage beside the huddled body of the fallen orc。 The stair was dark； but on the roof…top the glare
of the Mountain could still be seen； though it was dying down now to a sullen red。 They picked up
two shields to plete their disguise and then went on。
Down the great stairway they plodded。 The high chamber of the turret behind； where they had
met again； seemed almost homely： they were out in the open again now； and terror ran along the
walls。 All might be dead in the Tower of Cirith Ungol； but it was steeped in fear and evil still。
At length they came to the door upon the outer court； and they halted。 Even from where they
stood they felt the malice of the Watchers beating on them； black silent shapes on either side of the
gate through which the glare of Mordor dimly showed。 As they threaded their way among the
hideous bodies of the ores each step became more difficult。 Before they even reached the archway
they were brought to a stand。 To move an inch further was a pain and weariness to will and limb。
Frodo had no strength for such a battle。 He sank to the ground。 ‘I can't go on； Sam；' he
murmured。 ‘I'm going to faint。 I don't know what's e over me。'
‘I do； Mr。 Frodo。 Hold up now！ It's the gate。 There's some devilry there。 But I got through； and
I'm going to get out。 It can't be more dangerous than before。 Now for it！'
Sam drew out the elven…glass of Galadriel again。 As if to do honour to his hardihood； and to
grace with splendour his faithful brown hobbit…hand that had done such deeds； the phial blazed
forth suddenly； so that all the shadowy court was lit with a dazzling radiance like lightning； but it
remained steady and did not pass。
'_Gilthoniel； A Elbereth！_' Sam cried。 For； why he did not know； his thought sprang back
suddenly to the Elves in the Shire； and the song that drove away the Black Rider in the trees。
'_Aiya elenion ancalima！_' cried Frodo once again behind him。
The will of the Watchers was broken with a suddenness like the snapping of a cord； and Frodo
and Sam stumbled forward。 Then they ran。 Through the gate and past the great seated figures with
their glittering eyes。 There was a crack。 The keystone of the arch crashed almost on their heels； and
the wall above crumbled； and fell in ruin。 Only by a hair did they escape。 A bell clanged； and from
the Watchers there went up a high and dreadful wail。 Far up above in the darkness it was answered。
Out of the black sky there came dropping like a bolt a winged shape； rending the clouds with a
ghastly shriek。
_Chapter 2_
The Land of Shadow
Sam had just wits enough left to thrust the phial back into his breast。 'Run； Mr。 Frodo！' he cried。
'No； not that way！ There's a sheer drop over the wall。 Follow me！'
Down the road from the gate they fled。 In fifty paces； with a swift bend round a jutting bastion