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'Right or wrong； we must take the other。'
'And quick！ ' Sam panted。 'There's something worse than Gollum about。 I
can feel something looking at us。'
They had not gone more than a few yards when from behind them came a
sound； startling and horrible in the heavy padded silence： a gurgling；
bubbling noise； and a long venomous hiss。 They wheeled round； but nothing
could be seen。 Still as stones they stood； staring； waiting for they did not
know what。
‘It's a trap！' said Sam； and he laid his hand upon the hilt of his
sword； and as he did so； he thought of the darkness of the barrow whence it
came。 'I wish old Tom was near us now！' he thought。 Then as he stood；
darkness about him and a blackness of despair and anger in his heart。 it
seemed to him that he saw a light： a light in his mind； almost unbearably
bright at first； as a sun…ray to the eyes of one long hidden in a windowless
pit。 Then the light became colour： green； gold； silver； white。 Far off； as
in a little picture drawn by elven…fingers he saw the Lady Galadriel
standing on the grass in Lurien； and gifts were in her hands。 And you；
Ring…bearer； he heard her say； remote but clear； for you I have prepared
this。
The bubbling hiss drew nearer； and there was a creaking as of some
great jointed thing that moved with slow purpose in the dark。 A reek came on
before it。 'Master； master！' cried Sam； and the life and urgency came back
into his voice。 'The Lady's gift！ The star…glass！ A light to you in dark
places； she said it was to be。 The star…glass！ '
‘The star…glass？' muttered Frodo； as one answering out of sleep； hardly
prehending。 ‘Why yes！ Why had I forgotten it？ A light when all other
lights go out！ And now indeed light alone can help us。'
Slowly his hand went to his bosom； and slowly he held aloft the Phial
of Galadriel。 For a moment it glimmered； faint as a rising star struggling
in heavy earthward mists； and then as its power waxed； and hope grew in
Frodo's mind； it began to burn； and kindled to a silver flame； a minute
heart of dazzling light； as though Edrendil had himself e down from the
high sunset paths with the last Silmaril upon his brow。 The darkness receded
from it until it seemed to shine in the centre of a globe of airy crystal；
and the hand that held it sparkled with white fire。
Frodo gazed in wonder at this marvellous gift that he had so long
carried； not guessing its full worth and potency。 Seldom had he remembered
it on the road； until they came to Morgul Vale； and never had he used it for
fear of its revealing light。 Aiya Edrendil Elenion Ancalima！ he cried； and
knew not what he had spoken； for it seemed that another voice spoke through
his； clear； untroubled by the foul air of the pit。
But other potencies there are in Middle…earth； powers of night； and
they are old and strong。 And She that walked in the darkness had heard the
Elves cry that cry far back in the deeps of time； and she had not heeded it；
and it did not daunt her now。 Even as Frodo spoke he felt a great malice
bent upon him； and a deadly regard considering him。 Not far down the tunnel；
between them and the opening where they had reeled and stumbled； he was
aware of eyes growing visible； two great clusters of many…windowed eyes
the ing menace was unmasked at last。 The radiance of the star…glass was
broken and thrown back from their thousand facets； but behind the glitter a
pale deadly fire began steadily to glow within； a flame kindled in some deep
pit of evil thought。 Monstrous and abominable eyes they were； bestial and
yet filled with purpose and with hideous delight； gloating over their prey
trapped beyond all hope of escape。
Frodo and Sam； horror…stricken； began slowly to back away； their own
gaze held by the dreadful stare of those baleful eyes； but as they backed so
the eyes advanced。 Frodo's hand wavered； and slowly the Phial drooped。 Then
suddenly； released from the holding spell to run a little while in vain
panic for the amusement of the eyes； they both turned and fled together； but
even as they ran Frodo looked back and saw with terror that at once the eyes
came leaping up behind。 The stench of death was like a cloud about him。
'Stand！ stand！ ' he cried desperately。 ‘Running is no use。'
Slowly the eyes crept nearer。
‘Galadriel！ ' he called； and gathering his courage he lifted up the
Phial once more。 The eyes halted。 For a moment their regard relaxed； as if
some hint of doubt troubled them。 Then Frodo's heart flamed within him； and
without thinking what he did； whether it was folly or despair or courage； he
took the Phial in his left hand； and with his right hand drew his sword。
Sting flashed out； and the sharp elven…blade sparkled in the silver light；
but at its edges a blue fire flicked。 Then holding the star aloft and the
bright sword advanced； Frodo； hobbit of the Shire； walked steadily down to
meet the eyes。
They wavered。 Doubt came into them as the light approached。 One by one
they dimmed； and slowly they drew back。 No brightness so deadly had ever
afflicted them before。 From sun and moon and star they had been safe
underground； but now a star had descended into the very earth。 Still it
approached； and the eyes began to quail。 One by one they all went dark； they
turned away； and a great bulk； beyond the light's reach； heaved its huge
shadow in between。 They were gone。
'Master； master！' cried Sam。 He was close behind； his own sword drawn
and ready。 'Stars and glory！ But the Elves would make a song of that； if
ever they heard of it！ And may I live to tell them and hear them sing。 But
don't go on； master。 Don't go down to that den！ Now's our only chance。 Now
let's get out of this foul hole！'
And so back they turned once more； first walking and then running； for
as they went the floor of the tunnel rose steeply； and with every stride
they climbed higher above the stenches of the unseen lair； and strength
returned to limb and heart。 But still the hatred of the Watcher lurked
behind them； blind for a while； perhaps； but undefeated； still bent on
death。 And now there came a flow of air to meet them； cold and thin。 The
opening； the tunnel's end； at last it was before them。 Panting； yearning for
a roofless place； they flung themselves forward； and then in amazement they
staggered； tumbling back。 The outlet was blocked with some barrier； but not
of stone： soft and a little yielding it seemed； and yet strong and
impervious； air filtered through； hut not a glimmer of any light。 Once more
they charged and were hurled back。
Holding aloft the Phial Frodo looked and before him he saw a greyness
which the radiance of the star…glass did not pierce and did not illuminate；
as if it were a shadow that being cast by no light； no light could
dissipate。 Across the width and height of the tunnel a vast