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were miserably delayed in the hills。 But Samwise Gamgee； my dear hobbit
indeed； Sam my dearest hobbit； friend of friends I do not think we need
give thought to what es after that。 To do the job as you put it what
hope is there that we ever shall？ And if we do； who knows what will e of
that？ If the One goes into the Fire； and we are at hand？ I ask you； Sam； are
we ever likely to need bread again？ I think not。 If we can nurse our limbs
to bring us to Mount Doom； that is all we can do。 More than I can； I begin
to feel。'
Sam nodded silently。 He took his master's hand and bent over it。 He did
not kiss it； though his tears fell on it。 Then he turned away； drew his
sleeve over his nose； and got up； and stamped about； trying to whistle； and
saying between the efforts： 'Where's that dratted creature？'
It was actually not long before Gollum returned； but he came so quietly
that they did not hear him till he stood before them。 His fingers and face
were soiled with black mud。 He was still chewing and slavering。 What he was
chewing； they did not ask or like to think。
'Worms or beetles or something slimy out of holes；' thought Sam。 'Brr！
The nasty creature； the poor wretch！ '
Gollum said nothing to them； until he had drunk deeply and washed
himself in the stream。 Then he came up to them； licking his lips。 'Better
now；' he said。 ‘Are we rested？ Ready to go on？ Nice hobbits； they sleep
beautifully。 Trust Smjagol now？ Very； very good。'
The next stage of their journey was much the same as the last。 As they
went on the gully became ever shallower and the slope of its floor more
gradual。 Its bottom was less stony and more earthy； and slowly its sides
dwindled to mere banks。 It began to wind and wander。 That night drew to its
end； but clouds were now over moon and star； and they knew of the ing of
day only by the slow spreading of the thin grey light。
In a chill hour they came to the end of the water…course。 The banks
became moss…grown mounds。 Over the last shelf of rotting stone the stream
gurgled and fell down into a brown bog and was lost。 Dry reeds hissed and
rattled though they could feel no wind。
On either side and in front wide fens and mires now lay； stretching
away southward and eastward into the dim half…light。 Mists curled and smoked
from dark and noisome pools。 The reek of them hung stifling in the still
air。 Far away； now almost due south； the mountain…walls of Mordor loomed；
like a black bar of rugged clouds floating above a dangerous fog…bound sea。
The hobbits were now wholly in the hands of Gollum。 They did now know；
and could not guess in that misty light。 that they were in fact only just
within the northern borders of the marshes。 the main expanse of which lay
south of them。 They could； if they had known the lands； with some delay have
retraced their steps a little； and then turning east have e round over
hard roads to the bare plain of Dagorlad： the field of the ancient battle
before the gates of Mordor。 Not that there was great hope in such a course。
On that stony plain there was no cover； and across it ran the highways of
the Orcs and the soldiers of the Enemy。 Not even the cloaks of Lurien would
have concealed them there。
'How do we shape our course now； Smjagol？ ' asked Frodo。 'Must we cross
these evil…smelling fens？ '
‘No need； no need at all；' said Gollum。 'Not if hobbits want to reach
the dark mountains and go to see Him very quick。 Back a little； and round a
little' his skinny arm waved north and east ‘and you can e on hard
cold roads to the very gates of His country。 Lots of His people will be
there looking out for guests； very pleased to take them straight to Him； O
yes。 His Eye watches that way all the time。 It caught Smjagol there； long
ago。' Gollum shuddered。 'But Smjagol has used his eyes since then； yes； yes：
I've used eyes and feet and nose since then。 l know other ways。 More
difficult； not so quick； but better； if we don't want Him to see。 Follow
Smjagol！ He can take you through the marshes； through the mists。 nice thick
mists。 Follow Smjagol very carefully； and you may go a long way。 quite a
long way； before He catches you； yes perhaps。'
It was already day； a windless and sullen morning； and the marsh…reeks
lay in heavy banks。 No sun pierced the low clouded sky； and Gollum seemed
anxious to continue the journey at once。 So after a brief rest they set out
again and were soon lost in a shadowy silent world； cut off from all view of
the lands about； either the hills that they had left or the mountains that
they sought。 They went slowly in single file： Gollum； Sam； Frodo。
Frodo seemed the most weary of the three； and slow though they went。 he
often lagged。 The hobbits soon found that what had looked like one vast fen
was really an endless network of pools； and soft mires。 and winding
half…strangled water…courses。 Among these a cunning eye and foot could
thread a wandering path。 Gollum certainly had that cunning； and needed all
of it。 His head on its long neck was ever turning this way and that； while
he sniffed and muttered all the time to himself。 Sometimes he would hold up
his hand and halt them； while he went forward a little； crouching； testing
the ground with fingers or toes。 or merely listening with one ear pressed to
the earth。
It was dreary and wearisome。 Cold clammy winter still held sway in this
forsaken country。 The only green was the scum of livid weed on the dark
greasy surfaces of the sullen waters。 Dead grasses and rotting reeds loomed
up in the mists like ragged shadows of long…forgotten summers。
As the day wore on the light increased a little； and the mists lifted；
growing thinner and more transparent。 Far above the rot and vapours of the
world the Sun was riding high and golden now in a serene country with floors
of dazzling foam； but only a passing ghost of her could they see below；
bleared； pale； giving no colour and no warmth。 But even at this faint
reminder of her presence Gollum scowled and flinched。 He halted their
journey； and they rested； squatting like little hunted animals； in the
borders of a great brown reed…thicket。 There was a deep silence； only
scraped on its surfaces by the faint quiver of empty seed…plumes； and broken
grass…blades trembling in small air…movements that they could not feel。
'Not a bird！ ' said Sam mournfully。
‘No； no birds；' said Gollum。 ‘Nice birds！ ' He licked his teeth。 'No
birds here。 There are snakeses； wormses； things in the pools。 Lots of
things； lots of nasty things。 No birds；' he ended sadly。 Sam looked at him
with distaste。
So passed the third day of their journey with Gollum。 Before the
shadows of evening were long in happier lands； they went on again； always on
and on with only brief halts。 These they made not so much for rest as to
help Gollum； for now even he had t