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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 web was spun；
orderly as the web of some huge spider； but denser…woven and far greater；
and each thread was as thick as rope。
Sam laughed grimly。 ‘Cobwebs！ ' he said。 ‘Is that all？ Cobwebs！ But
what a spider！ Have at 'em； down with 'em！ '
In a fury he hewed at them with his sword； but the thread that he
struck did not break。 It gave a little and then sprang back like a plucked
bowstring； turning the blade and tossing up both sword and arm。 Three times
Sam struck with all his force； and at last one single cord of all the
countless cords snapped and twisted； curling and whipping through the air。
One end of it lashed Sam's hand； and he cried out in pain； starting back and
drawing his hand across his mouth。
‘It will take days to clear the road like this；' he said。 ‘What's to be
done？ Have those eyes e back？ '
‘No； not to be seen；' said Frodo。 ‘But I still feel that they are
looking at me； or thinking about me： making some other plan； perhaps。 If
this light were lowered； or if it failed； they would quickly e again。'
‘Trapped in the end！ ' said Sam bitterly； his anger rising again above
weariness and despair。 ‘Gnats in a net。 May the curse of Faramir bite that
Gollum and bite him quick！ '
'That would not help us now；' said Frodo。 ‘e！ Let us see what Sting
can do。 It is an elven…blade。 There were webs of horror in the dark ravines
of Beleriand where it was forged。 But you must be the guard and hold back
the eyes。 Here； take the star…glass。 Do not be afraid。 Hold it up and
watch！'
Then Frodo stepped up to the great grey net； and hewed it with a wide
sweeping stroke； drawing the bitter edge swiftly across a ladder of
close…strung cords； and at once springing away。 The blue…gleaming blade
shore through them like a scythe through grass； and they leaped and writhed
and then hung loose。 A great rent was made。
Stroke after stroke he dealt； until at last all the web within his
reach was shattered； and the upper portion blew and swayed like a loose veil
in the ining wind。 The trap was broken。
‘e！ ' cried Frodo。 ‘On！ On！ ' Wild joy at their escape from the very
mouth of despair suddenly filled all his mind。 His head whirled as with a
draught of potent wine。 He sprang out； shouting as he came。
It seemed light in that dark land to his eyes that had passed through
the den of night。 The great smokes had risen and grown thinner； and the last
hours of a sombre day were passing； the red glare of Mordor had died away in
sullen gloom。 Yet it seemed to Frodo that he looked upon a morning of sudden
hope。 Almost he had reached the summit of the wall。 Only a little higher
now。 The Cleft； Cirith Ungol； was before him； a dim notch in the black
ridge； and the horns of rock darkling in the sky on either side。 A short
race； a sprinter's course and he would be through！
‘The pass； Sam！ ' he cried； not heeding the shrillness of his voice；
that released from the choking airs of the tunnel rang out now high and
wild。 'The pass！ Run； run； and we'll be through…through before any one can
stop us！ '
Sam came up behind as fast as he could urge his legs； but glad as he
was to be free； he was uneasy； and as he ran； he kept on glancing back at
the dark arch of the tunnel； fearing to see eyes； or some shape beyond his
imagining； spring out in pursuit。 Too little did he or his master know of
the craft of Shelob。 She had many exits from her lair。
There agelong she had dwelt； an evil thing in spider…form； even such as
once of old had lived in the Land of the Elves in the West that is now under
the Sea； such as Beren fought in the Mountains of Terror in Doriath； and so
came to L畉hien upon the green sward amid the hemlocks in the moonlight long
ago。 How Shelob came there； flying from ruin； no tale tells； for out of the
Dark Years few tales have e。 But still she was there； who was there
before Sauron； and before the first stone of Barad…dyr； and she served none
but herself； drinking the blood of Elves and Men； bloated and grown fat with
endless brooding on her feasts； weaving webs of shadow； for all living
things were her food； and her vomit darkness。 Far and wide her lesser
broods； bastards of the miserable mates； her own offspring； that she slew；
spread from glen to glen； from the Ephel D產th to the eastern hills； to Dol
Guldur and the fastnesses of Mirkwood。 But none could rival her； Shelob the
Great； last child of Ungoliant to trouble the unhappy world。
Already； years before； Gollum had beheld her； Smjagol who pried into
all dark holes； and in past days he had bowed and worshipped her； and the
darkness of her evil will walked through all the ways of his weariness
beside him； cutting him off from light and from regret。 And he had promised
to bring her food。 But her lust was not his lust。 Little she knew of or
cared for towers； or rings； or anything devised by mind or hand； who only
desired death for all others； mind and body； and for herself a glut of life。
alone； swollen till the mountains could no longer hold her up and the
darkness could not contain her。
But that desire was yet far away； and long now had she been hungry；
lurking in her den； while the power of Sauron grew； and light and living
things forsook his borders； and the city in the valley was dead； and no Elf
or Man came near； only the unhappy Orcs。 Poor food and wary。 But she must
eat； and however busily they delved new winding passages from the pass and
from their tower； ever she found some way to snare them。 But she lusted for
sweeter meat。 And Gollum had brought it to her。
‘We'll see； we'll see；' he said often to himself； when the evil mood
was on him； as he walked the dangerous road from Emyn Muil to Morgul Vale；
'we'll see。 It may well be； O yes； it may well be that when She throws away
the bones and the empty garments； we shall find it； we shall get it； the
Precious； a reward for poor Smjagol who brings nice food。 And we'll save the
Precious； as we promised。 O yes。 And when we've got it safe； then She'll
know it； O yes； then we'll pay Her back； my precious。 Then we'll pay
everyone back！ '
So he thought in an inner chamber of his cunning； which he still hoped
to hide from her； even when he had e to her again and had bowed low
before her while his panions slept。
And as for Sauron： he knew where she lurked。 It pleased him that she
should dwell there hungry but unabated in malice； a more sure watch upon
that ancient path into his land than any other that his skill could have
devised。 And Orcs； they were useful slaves； but he had them in plenty。 If
now and again Shelob caught them to stay her appetite； she was wele： he
could spare them。 And sometimes as a man may cast a dai