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was very dark。 A single red light burned high up in the Towers of the Teeth；
but otherwise no sign could be seen or heard of the sleepless watch on the
Morannon。
For many miles the red eye seemed to stare at them as they fled；
stumbling through a barren stony country。 They did not dare to take the
road； but they kept it on their left； following its line as well as they
could at a little distance。 At last； when night was growing old and they
were already weary； for they had taken only one short rest； the eye dwindled
to a small fiery point and then vanished： they had turned the dark northern
shoulder of the lower mountains and were heading southwards。
With hearts strangely lightened they now rested again； but not for
long。 They were not going quick enough for Gollum。 By his reckoning it was
nearly thirty leagues from the Morannon to the cross…roads above Osgiliath；
and he hoped to cover that distance in four journeys。 So soon they struggled
on once more； until the dawn began to spread slowly in the wide grey
solitude。 They had then walked almost eight leagues； and the hobbits could
not have gone any further； even if they had dared。
The growing light revealed to them a land already； less barren and
ruinous。 The mountains still loomed up ominously on their left； but near at
hand they could see the southward road； now bearing away from the black
roots of the hills and slanting westwards。 Beyond it were slopes covered
with sombre trees like dark clouds。 but all about them lay a tumbled
heathland； grown with ling and broom and cornel； and other shrubs that they
did not know。 Here and there they saw knots of tall pine…trees。 The hearts
of the hobbits rose again a little in spite of weariness： the air was fresh
and fragrant； and it reminded them of the uplands of the Northfarthing far
away。 It seemed good to be reprieved； to walk in a land that had only been
for a few years under the dominion of the Dark Lord and was not yet fallen
wholly into decay。 But they did not forget their danger； nor the Black Gate
that was still all too near； hidden though it was behind the gloomy heights。
They looked about for a hiding…place where they could shelter from evil eyes
while the light lasted。
The day passed uneasily。 They lay deep in the heather and counted out
the slow hours； in which there seemed little change； for they were still
under the shadows of the Ephel D產th； and the sun was veiled。 Frodo slept at
times； deeply and peacefully； either trusting Gollum or too tired to trouble
about him； but Sam found it difficult to do more than doze； even when Gollum
was plainly fast asleep； whiffling and twitching in his secret dreams。
Hunger； perhaps； more than mistrust kept him wakeful： he had begun to long
for a good homely meal； ‘something hot out of the pot'。
As soon as the land faded into a formless grey under ing night； they
started out again。 In a little while Gollum led them down on to the
southward road； and after that they went on more quickly； though the danger
was greater。 Their ears were strained for the sound of hoof or foot on the
road ahead； or following them from behind； but the night passed； and they
heard no sound of walker or rider。
The road had been made in a long lost time： and for perhaps thirty
miles below the Morannon it had been newly repaired； but as it went south
the wild encroached upon it。 The handiwork of Men of old could still be seen
in its straight sure flight and level course： now and again it cut its way
through hillside slopes； or leaped over a stream upon a wide shapely arch of
enduring masonry； but at last all signs of stonework faded； save for a
broken pillar here and there； peering out of bushes at the side； or old
paving…stones still lurking amid weeds and moss。 Heather and trees and
bracken scrambled down and overhung the banks； or sprawled out over the
surface。 It dwindled at last to a country cart…road little used； but it did
not wind： it held on its own sure course and guided them by the swiftest
way。
So they passed into the northern marches of that land that Men once
called Ithilien； a fair country of climbing woods and swift…falling streams。
The night became fine under star and round moon； and it seemed to the
hobbits that the fragrance of the air grew as they went forward； and from
the blowing and muttering of Gollum it seemed that he noticed it too； and
did not relish it。 At the first signs of day they halted again。 They had
e to the end of a long cutting； deep； and sheer…sided in the middle； by
which the road clove its way through a stony ridge。 Now they climbed up the
westward bank and looked abroad。
Day was opening in the sky； and they saw that the mountains were now
much further off； receding eastward in a long curve that was lost in the
distance。 Before them； as they turned west； gentle slopes ran down into dim
hazes far below。 All about them were small woods of resinous trees； fir and
cedar and cypress。 and other kinds unknown in the Shire； with wide glades
among them； and everywhere there was a wealth of sweet…smelling herbs and
shrubs。 The long journey from Rivendell had brought them far south of their
own land； but not until now in this more sheltered region had the hobbits
felt the change of clime。 Here Spring was already busy about them： fronds
pierced moss and mould； larches were green…fingered； small flowers were
opening in the turf； birds were singing。 Ithilien； the garden of Gondor now
desolate kept still a dishevelled dryad loveliness。
South and west it looked towards the warm lower vales of Anduin；
shielded from the east by the Ephel D產th and yet not under the
mountain…shadow； protected from the north by the Emyn Muil； open to the
southern airs and the moist winds from the Sea far away。 Many great trees
grew there； planted long ago； falling into untended age amid a riot of
careless descendants； and groves and thickets there were of tamarisk and
pungent terebinth； of olive and of bay； and there were junipers and myrtles；
and thymes that grew in bushes； or with their woody creeping stems mantled
in deep tapestries the hidden stones； sages of many kinds putting forth blue
flowers； or red； or pale green； and marjorams and new…sprouting parsleys；
and many herbs of forms and scents beyond the garden…lore of Sam。 The grots
and rocky walls were already starred with saxifrages and stonecrops。
Primeroles and anemones were awake in the filbert…brakes； and asphodel and
many lily…flowers nodded their half…opened heads in the grass： deep green
grass beside the pools； where falling streams halted in cool hollows on
their journey down to Anduin。
The travellers turned their backs on the road and went downhill。 As
they walked； brushing their way through bush and herb； sweet odours rose
about them。 Gollum coug