按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
they walked； brushing their way through bush and herb； sweet odours rose
about them。 Gollum coughed and retched； but the hobbits breathed deep； and
suddenly Sam laughed； for heart's ease not for jest。 They followed a stream
that went quickly down before them。 Presently it brought them to a small
clear lake in a shallow dell： it lay in the broken ruins of an ancient stone
basin； the carven rim of which was almost wholly covered with mosses and
rose…brambles； iris…swords stood in ranks about it。 and water…lily leaves
floated on its dark gently…rippling surface； but it was deep and fresh； and
spilled ever softly out over a stony lip at the far end。
Here they washed themselves and drank their fill at the in…falling
freshet。 Then they sought for a resting…place； and a hiding…place： for this
land； fair…seeming still； was nonetheless now territory of the Enemy。 They
had not e very far from the road； and yet even in so short a space they
had seen scars of the old wars； and the newer wounds made by the Orcs and
other foul servants of the Dark Lord： a pit of uncovered filth and refuse；
trees hewn down wantonly and left to die； with evil runes or the fell sign
of the Eye cut in rude strokes on their bark。
Sam scrambling below the outfall of the lake。 smelling and touching the
unfamiliar plants and trees； forgetful for the moment of Mordor； was
reminded suddenly of their ever…present peril。 He stumbled on a ring still
scorched by fire； and in the midst of it he found a pile of charred and
broken bones and skulls。 The swift growth of the wild with briar and
eglantine and trailing clematis was already drawing a veil over this place
of dreadful feast and slaughter； but it was not ancient。 He hurried back to
his panions； but he said nothing： the bones were best left in peace and
not pawed and routed by Gollum。
‘Let's find a place to lie up in；' he said。 'Not lower down。 Higher up
for me。'
A little way back above the lake they found a deep brown bed of last
year's fern。 Beyond it was a thicket of dark…leaved bay…trees climbing up a
steep bank that was crowned with old cedars。 Here they decided to rest and
pass the day； which already promised to be bright and warm。 A good day for
strolling on their way along the groves and glades of Ithilien； but though
Orcs may shun the sunlight。 there were too many places here where they could
lie hid and watch； and other evil eyes were abroad： Sauron had many
servants。 Gollum； in any case； would not move under the Yellow。 Face。 Soon
it would look over the dark ridges of the Ephel D產th； and he would faint
and cower in the light and heat。
Sam had been giving earnest thought to food as they marched。 Now that
the despair of the impassable Gate was behind him； he did not feel so
inclined as his master to take no thought for their livelihood beyond the
end of their errand； and anyway it seemed wiser to him to save the waybread
of the Elves for worse times ahead。 Six days or more had passed since he
reckoned that they had only a bare supply for three weeks。
'If we reach the Fire in that time； we'll be lucky at this rate！ ' he
thought。 ‘And we might be wanting to get back。 We might！ '
Besides； at the end of a long night…march； and after bathing and
drinking； he felt even more hungry than usual。 A supper； or a breakfast； by
the fire in the old kitchen at Bagshot Row was what he really wanted。 An
idea struck him and he turned to Gollum。 Gollum had just begun to sneak off
on his own； and he was crawling away on all fours through the fern。
‘Hi！ Gollum！ ' said Sam。 ‘Where are you going？ Hunting？ Well see here；
old noser； you don't like our food； and I'd not be sorry for a change
myself。 Your new motto's always ready to help。 Could you find anything fit
for a hungry hobbit？ '
‘Yes； perhaps； yes；' said Gollum。 ‘Smjagol always helps； if they asks
if they asks nicely。'
‘Right！' said Sam ‘I does ask。 And if that isn't nice enough； I begs。'
Gollum disappeared。 He was away some time； and Frodo after a few
mouthfuls of lembas settled deep into the brown fern and went to sleep。 Sam
looked at him。 The early daylight was only just creeping down into the
shadows under the trees； but he saw his master's face very clearly； and his
hands； too； lying at rest on the ground beside him。 He was reminded suddenly
of Frodo as he had lain； asleep in the house of Elrond； after his deadly
wound。 Then as he had kept watch Sam had noticed that at times a light
seemed to be shining faintly within； but now the light was even clearer and
stronger。 Frodo's face was peaceful； the marks of fear and care had left it；
but it looked old； old and beautiful； as if the chiselling of the shaping
years was now revealed in many fine lines that had before been hidden；
though the identity of the face was not changed。 Not that Sam Gamgee put it
that way to himself。 He shook his head； as if finding words useless； and
murmured： ‘I love him。 He's like that； and sometimes it shines through；
somehow。 But I love him； whether or no。'
Gollum returned quietly and peered over Sam's shoulder。 Looking at
Frodo； he shut his eyes and crawled away without a sound。 Sam came to him a
moment later and found him chewing something and muttering to himself。 On
the ground beside him lay two small rabbits； which he was beginning to eye
greedily。
'Smjagol always helps；' he said。 ‘He has brought rabbits； nice rabbits。
But master has gone to sleep； and perhaps Sam wants to sleep。 Doesn't want
rabbits now？ Smjagol tries to help； but he can't catch things all in a
minute。'
Sam； however； had no objection to rabbit at all； and said so。 At least
not to cooked rabbit。 All hobbits； of course； can cook； for they begin to
learn the art before their letters （which many never reach）： but Sam was a
good cook； even by hobbit reckoning； and he had done a good deal of the
camp…cooking on their travels； when there was a chance。 He still hopefully
carried some of his gear in his pack： a small tinder…box； two small shallow
pans； the smaller fitting into the larger； inside them a wooden spoon； a
short two…pronged fork and some skewers were stowed； and hidden at the
bottom of the pack in a flat wooden box a dwindling treasure； some salt。 But
he needed a fire； and other things besides。 He thought for a bit； while he
took out his knife； cleaned and whetted it； and began to dress the rabbits。
He was not going to leave Frodo alone asleep even for a few minutes。
'Now； Gollum；' he said； 'I've another job for you。 Go and fill these
pans with water； and bring 'em back！ '
'Smjagol will fetch water； yes；' said Gollum。 'But what does the hobbit
want all that water for？ He has drunk； he has washed。'
'Never you mind；' said Sam。 ‘If you can't guess； you'll soon find out。
And the sooner you fetch the water； the sooner yo