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appointed to us。'
Frodo had felt himself trembling as the first shock of fear passed。 Now
a great weariness came down on him like a cloud。 He could dissemble and
resist no longer。
'I was going to find a way into Mordor;' he said faintly。 ‘I was going
to Gorgoroth。 I must find the Mountain of Fire and cast the thing into the
gulf of Doom。 Gandalf said so。 I do not think I shall ever get there。'
Faramir stared at him for a moment in grave astonishment。 Then suddenly
he caught him as he swayed; and lifting him gently; carried him to the bed
and laid him there; and covered him warmly。 At once he fell into a deep
sleep。
Another bed was set beside him for his servant。 Sam hesitated for a
moment; then bowing very low: ‘Good night; Captain; my lord;' he said。 ‘You
took the chance; sir。'
‘Did I so?' said Faramir。
‘Yes sir; and showed your quality: the very highest。'
Faramir smiled。 'A pert servant; Master Samwise。 But nay: the praise of
the praiseworthy is above all rewards。 Yet there was naught in this to
praise。 I had no lure or desire to do other than I have done。'
‘Ah well; sir;' said Sam; ‘you said my master had an elvish air and
that was good and true。 But I can say this: you have an air too; sir; that
reminds me of; of well; Gandalf; of wizards。
'Maybe;' said Faramir。 ‘Maybe you discern from far away the air of
N甿enor。 Good night!'
Chapter 6。 The Forbidden Pool
Frodo woke to find Faramir bending over him。 For a second old fears
seized him and he sat up and shrank away。
‘There is nothing to fear;' said Faramir。
'Is it morning already? ' said Frodo yawning。
‘Not yet; but night is drawing to an end; and the full moon is setting。
Will you e and see it? Also there is a matter on which I desire your
counsel。 I am sorry to rouse you from sleep; but will you e? '
‘I will;' said Frodo; rising and shivering a little as he left the warm
blanket and pelts。 It seemed cold in the fireless cave。 The noise of the
water was loud in the stillness。 He put on his cloak and followed Faramir。
Sam; waking suddenly by some instinct of watchfulness; saw first his
master's empty bed and leapt to his feet。 Then he saw two dark figures;
Frodo and a man; framed against the archway; which was now filled with a
pale white light。 He hurried after them; past rows of men sleeping on
mattresses along the wall。 As he went by the cave…mouth he saw that the
Curtain was now bee a dazzling veil of silk and pearls and silver thread:
melting icicles of moonlight。 But he did not pause to admire it; and turning
aside he followed his master through the narrow doorway in the wall of the
cave。
They went first along a black passage; then up many wet steps; and so
came to a small flat landing cut in the stone and lit by the pale sky;
gleaming high above through a long deep shaft。 From here two flights of
steps led: one going on; as it seemed; up on to the high bank of the stream;
the other turning away to the left。 This they followed。 It wound its way up
like a turret…stair。
At last they came out of the stony darkness and looked about。 They were
on a wide flat rock without rail or parapet。 At their right; eastwards; the
torrent fell; splashing over many terraces; and then; pouring down a steep
race; it filled a smooth…hewn channel with a dark force of water flecked
with foam; and curling and rushing almost at their feet it plunged sheer
over the edge that yawned upon their left。 A man stood there; near the
brink; silent; gazing down。
Frodo turned to watch the sleek necks of the water as they curved and
dived。 Then he lifted his eyes and gazed far away。 The world was quiet and
cold; as if dawn were near。 Far off in the West the full moon was sinking;
round and white。 Pale mists shimmered in the great vale below: a wide gulf
of silver fume; beneath which rolled the cool night…waters of the Anduin。 A
black darkness loomed beyond; and in it glinted; here and there; cold;
sharp; remote; white as the teeth of ghosts; the peaks of Ered Nimrais; the
White Mountains of the Realm of Gondor; tipped with everlasting snow。
For a while Frodo stood there on the high stone; and a shiver ran
through him; wondering if anywhere in the vastness of the night…lands his
old panions walked or slept; or lay dead shrouded in mist。 Why was he
brought here out of forgetful sleep?
Sam was eager for an answer to the same question and could not refrain
himself from muttering; for his master's ear alone as he thought: 'It's a
fine view; no doubt; Mr。 Frodo; but chilly to the heart; not to mention the
bones! What's going on? '
Faramir heard and answered。 ‘Moonset over Gondor。 Fair Ithil as he goes
from Middle…earth; glances upon the white locks of old Mindolluin。 It is
worth a few shivers。 But that is not what I brought you to see…though as for
you; Samwise; you were not brought; and do but pay the penalty of your
watchfulness。 A draught of wine shall amend it。 e; look now! '
He stepped up beside the silent sentinel on the dark edge。 and Frodo
followed。 Sam hung back。 He already felt insecure enough on this high wet
platform。 Faramir and Frodo looked down。 Far below them they saw the white
waters pour into a foaming bowl; and then swirl darkly about a deep oval
basin in the rocks。 until they found their way out again through a narrow
gate; and flowed away; fuming and chattering; into calmer and more level
reaches。 The moonlight still slanted down to the fall's foot and gleamed on
the ripples of the basin。 Presently Frodo was aware of a small dark thing on
the near bank; but even as he looked at it; it dived and vanished just
beyond the boil and bubble of the fall; cleaving the black water as neatly
as an arrow or an edgewise stone。
Faramir turned to the man at his side。 ‘Now what would you say that it
is; Anborn? A squirrel; or a kingfisher? Are there black kingfishers in the
night…pools of Mirkwood? '
‘'Tis not a bird; whatever else it be;' answered Anborn。 ‘It has four
limbs and dives manwise; a pretty mastery of the craft it shows; too。 What
is it at? Seeking a way up behind the Curtain to our hidings? It seems we
are discovered at last。 I have my bow here; and I have posted other archers;
nigh as good marksmen as myself; on either bank。 We wait only for your
mand to shoot; Captain。'
‘Shall we shoot? ' said Faramir; turning quickly to Frodo。
Frodo did not answer for a moment。 Then ‘No! ' he said。 ‘No! I beg you
not to。' If Sam had dared; he would have said ‘Yes;' quicker and louder。 He
could not see; but he guessed well enough from their words what they were
looking at。
'You know; then; what this thing is? ' said Faramir。 ‘e; now you
have seen; tell me why it should be spared。 In all our words together you
have not once spoken of your gangrel panion; and I