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His cloven shield； his broken sword； they to the water brought。
His head so proud； his face so fair； his limbs they laid to rest；
And Rauros； golden Rauros…falls； bore him upon its breast。'
'O Boromir！ The Tower of Guard shall ever northward gaze
To Rauros； golden Rauros…falls； until the end of days。'
So they ended。 Then they turned their boat and drove it with all the
speed they could against the stream back to Parth Galen。
'You left the East Wind to me；' said Gimli； 'but I will say naught of
it。'
'That is as it should be；' said Aragorn。 'In Minas Tirith they endure
the East Wind； but they do not ask it for tidings。 But now Boromir has taken
his road。 and we must make haste to choose our own。'
He surveyed the green lawn； quickly but thoroughly； stooping often to
the earth。 'The Orcs have been on this ground；' he said。 'Otherwise nothing
can be made out for certain。 All our footprints are here； crossing and
re…crossing。 I cannot tell whether any of the hobbits have e back since
the search for Frodo began。' He returned to the bank； close to where the
rill from the spring trickled out into the River。 'There are some clear
prints here；' he said。 'A hobbit waded out into the water and back； but I
cannot say how long ago。'
'How then do you read this riddle？' asked Gimli。
Aragorn did not answer at once； but went back to the camping…place and
looked at the baggage。 'Two packs are missing。' he said； 'and one is
certainly Sam's： it was rather large and heavy。 This then is the answer：
Frodo has gone by boat； and his servant has gone with him。 Frodo must have
returned while we were all away。 I met Sam going up the hill and told him to
follow me； but plainly he did not do so。 He guessed his master s mind and
came back here before Frodo had gone。 He did not find it easy to leave Sam
behind！'
'But why should he leave us behind； and without a word？' said Gimli。
'That was a strange deed！'
'And a brave deed；' said Aragorn。 'Sam was right； I think。 Frodo did
not wish to lead any friend to death with him in Mordor。 But he knew that he
must go himself。 Something happened after he left us that overcame his fear
and doubt。'
'Maybe hunting Orcs came on him and he fled；' said Legolas。
'He fled； certainly；' said Aragorn； 'but not； I think； from Orcs。' What
he thought was the cause of Frodo's sudden resolve and flight Aragorn did
not say。 The last words of Boromir he long kept secret。
'Well； so much at least is now clear；' said Legolas： 'Frodo is no
longer on this side of the River： only he can have taken the boat。 And Sam
is with him； only he would have taken his pack。'
'Our choice then；' said Gimli； 'is either to take the remaining boat
and follow Frodo； or else to follow the Orcs on foot。 There is little hope
either way。 We have already lost precious hours。'
'Let me think！' said Aragorn。 'And now may I make a right choice and
change the evil fate of this unhappy day！' He stood silent for a moment。 'I
will follow the Orcs；' he said at last。 'I would have guided Frodo to Mordor
and gone with him to the end； but if I seek him now in the wilderness； I
must abandon the captives to torment and death。 My heart speaks clearly at
last： the fate of the Bearer is in my hands no longer。 The pany has
played its part。 Yet we that remain cannot forsake our panions while we
have strength left。 e！ We will go now。 Leave all that can be spared
behind！ We will press on by day and dark！'
They drew up the last boat and carried it to the trees。 They laid
beneath it such of their goods as they did not need and could not carry
away。 Then they left Parth Galen。 The afternoon was fading as they came back
to the glade where Boromir had fallen。 There they picked up the trail of the
Orcs。 It needed little skill to find。
'No other folk make such a trampling；' said Legolas。 'It seems their
delight to slash and beat down growing things that are not even in their
way。'
'But they go with a great speed for all that；' said Aragorn； 'and they
do not tire。 And later we may have to search for our path in hard bare
lands。'
'Well； after them！' said Gimli。 'Dwarves too can go swiftly； and they
do not tire sooner than Orcs。 But it will be a long chase： they have a long
start。'
'Yes；' said Aragorn； 'we shall all need the endurance of Dwarves。 But
e！ With hope or without hope we will follow the trail of our enemies。 And
woe to them； if we prove the swifter！ We will make such a chase as shall be
accounted a marvel among the Three Kindreds ？Elves。 Dwarves； and Men。 Forth
the Three Hunters！'
Like a deer he sprang away。 Through the trees he sped。 On and on he led
them； tireless and swift； now that his mind was at last made up。 The woods
about the lake they left behind。 Long slopes they climbed； dark； hard…edged
against the sky already red with sunset。 Dusk came。 They passed away； grey
shadows in a stony land。
Chapter 2。 The Riders of Rohan
Dusk deepened。 Mist lay behind them among the trees below； and brooded
on the pale margins of the Anduin； but the sky was clear。 Stars came out。
The waxing moon was riding in the West； and the shadows of the rocks were
black。 They had e to the feet of stony hills； and their pace was slower；
for the trail was no longer easy to follow。 Here the highlands of the Emyn
Muil ran from North to South in two long tumbled ridges。 The western side of
each ridge was steep and difficult； but the eastward slopes were gentler；
furrowed with many gullies and narrow ravines。 All night the three
panions scrambled in this bony land； climbing to the crest of the first
and tallest ridge； and down again into the darkness of a deep winding valley
on the other side。
There in the still cool hour before dawn they rested for a brief space。
The moon had long gone down before them； the stars glittered above them； the
first light of day had not yet e over the dark hills behind。 For the
moment Aragorn was at a loss： the orc…trail had descended into the valley；
but there it had vanished。
'Which way would they turn； do you think？' said Legolas。 'Northward to
take a straighter road to Isengard； or Fangorn； if that is their aim as you
guess？ Or southward to strike the Entwash？'
'They will not make for the river； whatever mark they aim at'' said
Aragorn。 'And unless there is much amiss in Rohan and the power of Saruman
is greatly increased； they will take the shortest way that they can find
over the fields of the Rohirrim。 Let us search northwards！'
The dale ran like a stony trough between the ridged hills； and a
trickling stream flowed among the boulders at the bottom。 A cliff frowned
upon their right； to their left rose grey slopes； dim and shadowy in the
late night。 They went on for a mile or more northwards。 Aragorn was
searching。 bent towards