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‘Yes； yes； master！ ' said Gollum。 ‘Dreadful danger！ Smjagol's bones
shake to think of it。 but he doesn't run away。 He must help nice master。'
'I did not mean the danger that we all share；' said Frodo。 'I mean a
danger to yourself alone。 You swore a promise by what you call the Precious。
Remember that！ It will hold you to it； but it will seek a way to twist it to
your own undoing。 Already you are being twisted。 You revealed yourself to me
just now； foolishly。 Give it back to Smjagol you said。 Do not say that
again！ Do not let that thought grow in you！ You will never get it back。 But
the desire of it may betray you to a bitter end。 You will never get it back。
In the last need； Smjagol； I should put on the Precious； and the Precious
mastered you long ago。 If I； wearing it； were to mand you； you would
obey； even if it were to leap from a precipice or to cast yourself into the
fire。 And such would be my mand。 So have a care； Smjagol！'
Sam looked at his master with approval； but also with surprise： there
was a look in his face and a tone in his voice that he had not known before。
It had always been a notion of his that the kindness of dear Mr。 Frodo was
of such a high degree that it must imply a fair measure of blindness。 Of
course； he also firmly held the inpatible belief that Mr。 Frodo was the
wisest person in the world （with the possible exception of Old Mr。 Bilbo and
of Gandalf）。 Gollum in his own way； and with much more excuse as his
acquaintance was much briefer； may have _made a similar mistake； confusing
kindness and blindness。 At any rate this speech abashed and terrified him。
He grovelled on the ground and could speak no clear words but nice master。
Frodo waited patiently for a while； then he spoke again less sternly。
‘e now； Gollum or Smjagol if you wish； tell me of this other way； and
show me； if you can； what hope there is in it； enough to justify me in
turning aside from my plain path。 I am in haste。'
But Gollum was in a pitiable state； and Frodo's threat had quite
unnerved him。 It was not easy to get any clear account out of him； amid his
mumblings and squeakings； and the frequent interruptions in which he crawled
on the floor and begged them both to be kind to ‘poor little Smjagol'。 After
a while he grew a little calmer； and Frodo gathered bit by bit that； if a
traveller followed the road that turned west of Ephel D產th； he would e
in time to a crossing in a circle of dark trees。 On the right a road went
down to Osgiliath and the bridges of the Anduin； in the middle the road went
on southwards。
‘On； on； on；' said Gollum。 ‘We never went that way； but they say it
goes a hundred leagues； until you can see the Great Water that is never
still。 There are lots of fishes there； and big birds eat fishes： nice birds：
but we never went there； alas no！ we never had a chance。 And further still
there are more lands； they say； but the Yellow Face is very hot there； and
there are seldom any clouds； and the men are fierce and have dark faces。 We
do not want to see that land。'
‘No！ ' said Frodo。 ‘But do not wander from your road。 What of the third
turning？ '
‘O yes； O yes； there is a third way；' said Gollum。 ‘That is the road to
the left。 At once it begins to climb up； up； winding and climbing back
towards the tall shadows。 When it turns round the black rock； you'll see it。
suddenly you'll see it above you； and you'll want to hide。'
‘See it； see it？ What will you see？ '
‘The old fortress； very old； very horrible now。 We used to hear tales
from the South； when Smjagol was young； long ago。 O yes。 we used to tell
lots of tales in the evening； sitting by the banks of the Great River； in
the willow…lands； when the River was younger too； gollum； gollum。' He began
to weep and mutter。 The hobbits waited patiently。
‘Tales out of the South；' Gollum went on again； ‘about the tall Men
with the shining eyes； and their houses like hills of stone； and the silver
crown of their King and his White Tree： wonderful tales。 They built very
tall towers； and one they raised was silver…white； and in it there was a
stone like the Moon； and round it were great white walls。 O yes； there were
many tales about the Tower of the Moon。'
‘That would be Minas Ithil that Isildur the son of Elendil built ' said
Frodo。 ‘It was Isildur who cut off the finger of the Enemy。'
‘Yes； He has only four on the Black Hand； but they are enough；' said
Gollum shuddering。 'And He hated Isildur's city。'
'What does he not hate？ ' said Frodo。 'But what has the Tower of the
Moon to do with us？ '
'Well； master； there it was and there it is： the tall tower and the
white houses and the wall； but not nice now； not beautiful。 He conquered it
long ago。 It is a very terrible place now。 Travellers shiver when they see
it； they creep out of sight； they avoid its shadow。 But master will have to
go that way。 That is the only other way； For the mountains are lower there；
and the old road goes up and up； until it reaches a dark pass at the top；
and then it goes down； down； again to Gorgoroth。' His voice sank to a
whisper and he shuddered。
‘But how will that help us？ ' asked Sam。 ‘Surely the Enemy knows all
about his own mountains； and that road will be guarded as close as this？ The
tower isn't empty； is it？ '
‘O no； not empty！ ' whispered Gollum。 ‘It seems empty； but it isn't； O
no！ Very dreadful things live there。 Orcs。 yes always Orcs； but worse
things； worse things live there too。 The road climbs right under the shadow
of the walls and passes the gate。 Nothing moves on the road that they don't
know about。 The things inside know： the Silent Watchers。'
‘So that's your advice is it；' said Sam； 'that we should go another
long march south； to find ourselves in the same fix or a worse one； when we
get there； if we ever do？ '
‘No； no indeed；' said Gollum。 ‘Hobbits must see； must try to
understand。 He does not expect attack that way。 His Eye is all round； but it
attends more to some places than to others。 He can't see everything all at
once； not yet。 You see； He has conquered all the country west of the Shadowy
Mountains down to the River； and He holds the bridges now。 He thinks no one
can e to the Moontower without fighting big battle at the bridges； or
getting lots of boats which they cannot hide and He will know about。'
'You seem to know a lot about what He's doing and thinking；' said Sam。
‘Have you been talking to Him lately？ Or just hobnobbing with Orcs？ '
'Not nice hobbit； not sensible；' said Gollum； giving Sam an angry
glance and turning to Frodo。 'Smjagol has talked to Orcs； yes of course；
before he met master； and to many peoples： he has walked very far。 And what
he says now many peoples are saying。 It's here in the North that the big
danger is for Him； and for us。 He will e out of the Black Gate one day；
one d