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him with dog…like delight。 He chuckled and chattered； cracking his long
fingers； and pawing at Frodo's knees。 Frodo smiled at him。
'e！ ' he said。 ‘You have guided us well and faithfully。 This is the
last stage。 Bring us to the Gate； and then I will not ask you to go further。
Bring us to the Gate； and you may go where you wish only not to our
enemies。'
'To the Gate； eh？' Gollum squeaked； seeming surprised and frightened。
'To the Gate； master says！ Yes； he says so。 And good Smjagol does what he
asks； O yes。 But when we gets closer； we'll see perhaps we'll see then。 It
won't look nice at all。 O no！ O no！'
'Go on with you！ ' said Sam。 ‘Let's get it over！ '
In the falling dusk they scrambled out of the pit and slowly threaded
their way through the dead land。 They had not gone far before they felt once
more the fear that had fallen on them when the winged shape swept over the
marshes。 They halted； cowering on the evil…smelling ground； but they saw
nothing in the gloomy evening sky above； and soon the menace passed； high
overhead； going maybe on some swift errand from Barad…dyr。 After a while
Gollum got up and crept forward again； muttering and shaking。
About an hour after midnight the fear fell on them a third time； but it
now seemed more remote； as if it were passing far above the clouds； rushing
with terrible speed into the West。 Gollum； however； was helpless with
terror； and was convinced that they were being hunted； that their approach
was known。
‘Three times！ ' he whimpered。 'Three times is a threat。 They feel us
here； they feel the Precious。 The Precious is their master。 We cannot go any
further this way； no。 It's no use； no use！ '
Pleading and kind words were no longer of any avail。 It was not until
Frodo manded him angrily and laid a hand on his sword…hilt that Gollum
would get up again。 Then at last he rose with a snarl； and went before them
like a beaten dog。
So they stumbled on through the weary end of the night； and until the
ing of another day of fear they walked in silence with bowed heads；
seeing nothing； and hearing nothing but the wind hissing in their ears。
Chapter 3。 The Black Gate is Closed
Before the next day dawned their journey to Mordor was over。 The
marshes and the desert were behind them。 Before them； darkling against a
pallid sky； the great mountains reared their threatening heads。
Upon the west of Mordor marched the gloomy range of Ephel D產th； the
Mountains of Shadow； and upon the north the broken peaks and barren ridges
of Ered Lithui； grey as ash。 But as these ranges approached one another；
being indeed but parts of one great wall about the mournful plains of
Lithlad and of Gorgoroth； and the bitter inland sea of N畆nen amidmost； they
swung out long arms northward； and between these arms there was a deep
defile。 This was Cirith Gorgor； the Haunted Pass； the entrance to the land
of the Enemy。 High cliffs lowered upon either side； and thrust forward from
its mouth were two sheer hills； black…boned and bare。 Upon them stood the
Teeth of Mordor； two towers strong and tall。 In days long past they were
built by the Men of Gondor in their pride and power； after the overthrow of
Sauron and his flight； lest he should seek to return to his old realm。 But
the strength of Gondor failed； and men slept； and for long years the towers
stood empty。 Then Sauron returned。 Now the watch…towers； which had fallen
into decay； were repaired； and filled with arms； and garrisoned with
ceaseless vigilance。 Stony…faced they were； with dark window…holes staring
north and east and west； and each window was full of sleepless eyes。
Across the mouth of the pass； from cliff to cliff； the Dark Lord had
built a rampart of stone。 In it there was a single gate of iron； and upon
its battlement sentinels paced unceasingly。 Beneath the hills on either side
the rock was bored into a hundred caves and maggot…holes： there a host of
orcs lurked； ready at a signal to issue forth like black ants going to war。
None could pass the Teeth of Mordor and not feel their bite； unless they
were summoned by Sauron； or knew the secret passwords that would open the
Morannon； the black gate of his land。
The two hobbits gazed at the towers and the wall in despair。 Even from
a distance they could see in the dim light the movement of the black guards
upon the wall； and the patrols before the gate。 They lay now peering over
the edge of a rocky hollow beneath the out…stretched shadow of the northmost
buttress of Ephel D產th。 Winging the heavy air in a straight flight a crow；
maybe； would have flown but a furlong from their hiding…place to the black
summit of the nearer tower。 A faint smoke curled above it； as if fire
smouldered in the hill beneath。
Day came； and the fallow sun blinked over the lifeless ridges of Ered
Lithui。 Then suddenly the cry of brazen…throated trumpets was heard： from
the watch…towers they blared； and far away from hidden holds and outposts in
the hills came answering calls； and further still； remote but deep and
ominous； there echoed in the hollow land beyond the mighty horns and drums
of Barad…dyr。 Another dreadful day of fear and toil had e to Mordor； and
the night…guards were summoned to their dungeons and deep halls； and the
day…guards； evil…eyed and fell； were marching to their posts。 Steel gleamed
dimly on the battlement。
‘Well； here we are！ ' said Sam。 ‘Here's the Gate； and it looks to me as
if that's about as far as we are ever going to get。 My word； but the Gaffer
would have a thing or two to say； if he saw me now！ Often said I'd e to a
bad end； if I didn't watch my step； he did。 But now I don't suppose I'll
ever see the old fellow again。 He'll miss his chance of I told'ee so； Sam：
more's the pity。 He could go on telling me as long as he'd got breath； if
only I could see his old face again。 But I'd have to get a wash first； or he
wouldn't know me。
‘I suppose it's no good asking 〃what way do we go now？〃 We can't go no
further…unless we want to ask the orcs for a lift。'
‘No； no！ ' said Gollum。 ‘No use。 We can't go further。 Smjagol said so。
He said： we'll go to the Gate； and then we'll see。 And we do see。 O yes。 my
precious； we do see。 Smjagol knew hobbits could not go this way。 O yes。
Smjagol knew '
'Then what the plague did you bring us here for？ ' said Sam； not
feeling in the mood to be just or reasonable。
‘Master said so。 Master says： Bring us to the Gate。 So good Smjagol
does so。 Master said so； wise master。'
'I did；' said Frodo。 His face was grim and set。 but resolute。 He was
filthy； haggard； and pinched with weariness； but he cowered no longer； and
his eyes were clear。 ‘I said so； because I purpose to enter Mordor； and I
know no other way。 Therefore I shall go this way。 I do not ask anyone to go
with me。'
‘No； no； maste