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have not once spoken of your gangrel panion； and I let him be for the
time。 He could wait till he was caught and brought before me。 I sent my
keenest huntsmen to seek him； but he slipped them； and they had no sight of
him till now； save Anborn here； once at dusk yesterevening。 But now he has
done worse trespass than only to go coney…snaring in the uplands： he has
dared to e to Henneth Annyn； and his life is forfeit。 I marvel at the
creature： so secret and so sly as he is； to e sporting in the pool before
our very window。 Does he think that men sleep without watch all night？ Why
does he so？'
'There are two answers； I think；' said Frodo。 ‘For one thing； he knows
little of Men； and sly though he is； your refuge is so hidden that perhaps
he does not know that Men are concealed here。 For another； I think he is
allured here by a mastering desire； stronger than his caution。'
‘He is lured here； you say？ ' said Faramir in a low voice。 ‘Can he；
does he then know of your burden？ '
‘Indeed yes。 He bore it himself for many years。'
'He bore it？ ' said Faramir； breathing sharply in his wonder。 ‘This
matter winds itself ever in new riddles。 Then he is pursuing it？ '
'Maybe。 It is precious to him。 But I did not speak of that。'
‘What then does the creature seek？ '
‘Fish；' said Frodo。 ‘Look！ '
They peered down at the dark pool。 A little black head appeared at the
far end of the basin； just out of the deep shadow of the rocks。 There was a
brief silver glint； and a swirl of tiny ripples。 It swam to the side； and
then with marvellous agility a froglike figure climbed out of the water and
up the bank。 At once it sat down and began to gnaw at the small silver thing
that glittered as it turned： the last rays of the moon were now falling
behind the stony wall at the pool's end。
Faramir laughed softly。 ‘Fish！ ' he said。 ‘It is a less perilous
hunger。 Or maybe not： fish from the pool of Henneth Annyn may cost him all
he has to give。'
‘Now I have him at the arrow…point；' said Anborn。 ‘Shall I not shoot；
Captain？ For ing unbidden to this place death is our law。'
‘Wait； Anborn；' said Faramir。 ‘This is a harder matter than it seems。
What have you to say now； Frodo？ Why should we spare？ '
‘The creature is wretched and hungry；' said Frodo； ‘and unaware of his
danger。 And Gandalf； your Mithrandir； he would have bidden you not to slay
him for that reason； and for others。 He forbade the Elves to do so。 I do not
know clearly why； and of what I guess I cannot speak openly out here。 But
this creature is in some way bound up with my errand。 Until you found us and
took us； he was my guide。'
‘Your guide！ ' said Faramir。 ‘The matter bees ever stranger。 I would
do much for you； Frodo； but this I cannot grant： to let this sly wanderer go
free at his own will from here； to join you later if it please him； or to be
caught by Orcs and tell all he knows under threat of pain。 He must be slain
or taken。 Slain； if he be not taken very swiftly。 But how can this slippery
thing of many guises be caught； save by a feathered shaft？ '
‘Let me go down quietly to him；' said Frodo。 ‘You may keep your bows
bent； and shoot me at least； if I fail。 I shall not run away。'
‘Go then and be swift！ ' said Faramir。 ‘If he es off alive； he
should be your faithful servant for the rest of his unhappy days。 Lead Frodo
down to the bank； Anborn； and go softly。 The thing has a nose and ears。 Give
me your bow。'
Anborn grunted and led the way down the winding stair to the landing；
and then up the other stair； until at last they came to a narrow opening
shrouded with thick bushes。 Passing silently through； Frodo found himself on
the top of the southern bank above the pool。 It was now dark and the falls
were pale and grey； reflecting only the lingering moonlight of the western
sky。 He could not see Gollum。 He went forward a short way and Anborn came
softly behind him。
‘Go on！ ' he breathed in Frodo's ear。 ‘Have a care to your right。 If
you fall in the pool； then no one but your fishing friend can help you。 And
forget not that there are bowmen near at hand； though you may not see them。'
Frodo crept forward； using his hands Gollum…like to feel his way and to
steady himself。 The rocks were for the most part flat and smooth but
slippery。 He halted listening。 At first he could hear no sound but the
unceasing rush of the fall behind him。 Then presently he heard； not far
ahead； a hissing murmur。
'Fissh； nice fissh。 White Face has vanished； my precious； at last； yes。
Now we can eat fish in peace。 No； not in peace； precious。 For Precious is
lost； yes； lost。 Dirty hobbits； nasty hobbits。 Gone and left us； gollum； and
Precious is gone。 Only poor Smjagol all alone。 No Precious。 Nasty Men；
they'll take it； steal my Precious。 Thieves。 We hates them。 Fissh； nice
fissh： Makes us strong。 Makes eyes bright； fingers tight； yes。 Throttle
them； precious。 Throttle them all； yes； if we gets chances。 Nice fissh。 Nice
fissh！ '
So it went on； almost as unceasing as the waterfall； only interrupted
by a faint noise of slavering and gurgling。 Frodo shivered； listening with
pity and disgust。 He wished it would stop； and that he never need hear that
voice again。 Anborn was not far behind。 He could creep back and ask him to
get the huntsmen to shoot。 They would probably get close enough； while
Gollum was gorging and off his guard。 Only one true shot； and Frodo would be
rid of the miserable voice for ever。 But no； Gollum had a claim on him now。
The servant has a claim on the master for service； even service in fear。
They would have foundered in the Dead Marshes but for Gollum。 Frodo knew；
too； somehow； quite clearly that Gandalf would not have wished it。
‘Smjagol！ ' he said softly。
‘Fissh； nice fissh；' said the voice。
‘Smjagol！ ' he said； a little louder。 The voice stopped。
‘Smjagol； Master has e to look for you。 Master is here。 e；
Smjagol！ ' There was no answer but a soft hiss； as of intaken breath。
'e； Smjagol！ ' said Frodo。 ‘We are in danger。 Men will kill you； if
they find you here。 e quickly； if you wish to escape death。 e to
Master！'
'No！' said the voice。 ‘Not nice Master。 Leaves poor Smjagol and goes
with new friends。 Master can wait。 Smjagol hasn't finished。'
‘There's no time；' said Frodo。 ‘Bring fish with you。 e！ '
‘No！ Must finish fish。'
'Smjagol！ ' said Frodo desperately。 'Precious will be angry。 I shall
take Precious； and I shall say： make him swallow the bones and choke。 Never
taste fish again。 e； Precious is waiting！ '
There was a sharp hiss。 Presently out of the darkness Gollum came
crawling on all fours； like an erring dog called to heel。 He had a
half…eaten fish in his mouth and another in his hand。 He came close to
Frodo； almost nose to nose； and sniffed at him。 His pale eyes were