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leave two to guard you； for your good and for mine。 Wise man trusts not to
chance…meeting on the road in this land。 If I return； I will speak more with
you。'
'Farewell！' said Frodo； bowing low。 ‘Think what you will； I am a friend
of all enemies of the One Enemy。 We would go with you； if we halfling folk
could hope to serve you； such doughty men and strong as you seem； and if my
errand permitted it。 May the light shine on your swords！'
'The Halflings are courteous folk； whatever else they be；' said
Faramir。 ‘Farewell！'
The hobbits sat down again； but they said nothing to one another of
their thoughts and doubts。 Close by； just under the dappling shadow of the
dark bay…trees； two men remained on guard。 They took off their masks now and
again to cool them； as the day…heat grew； and Frodo saw that they were
goodly men； pale…skinned； dark of hair； with grey eyes and faces sad and
proud。 They spoke together in soft voices； at first using the mon Speech；
but after the manner of older days； and then changing to another language of
their own。 To his amazement； as he listened Frodo became aware that it was
the Elven…tongue that they spoke； or one but little different； and he looked
at them with wonder； for he knew then that they must be D畁edain of the
South； men of the line of the Lords of Westernesse。
After a while he spoke to them； but they were slow and cautious in
answering。 They named themselves Mablung and Damrod； soldiers of Gondor； and
they were Rangers of Ithilien； for they were descended from folk who lived
in Ithilien at one time； before it was overrun。 From such men the Lord
Denethor chose his forayers； who crossed the Anduin secretly （how or where；
they would not say） to harry the Orcs and other enemies that roamed between
the Ephel D產th and the River。
‘It is close on ten leagues hence to the east…shore of Anduin；' said
Mablung； 'and we seldom e so far afield。 But we have a new errand on this
journey： we e to ambush the Men of Harad。 Curse them！ '
'Aye； curse the Southrons！ ' said Damrod。 ‘ 'Tis said that there were
dealings of old between Gondor and the kingdoms of the Harad in the Far
South； though there was never friendship。 In those days our bounds were away
south beyond the mouths of Anduin； and Umbar； the nearest of their realms；
acknowledged our sway。 But that is long since。 'Tis many lives of Men since
any passed to or fro between us。 Now of late we have learned that the Enemy
has been among them； and they are gone over to Him； or back to Him…they were
ever ready to His will…as have so many also in the East。 I doubt not that
the days of Gondor are numbered； and the walls of Minas Tirith are doomed；
so great is His strength and malice。'
‘But still we will not sit idle and let Him do all as He would；' said
Mablung。 ‘These cursed Southrons e now marching up the ancient roads to
swell the hosts of the Dark Tower。 Yea； up the very roads that craft of
Gondor made。 And they go ever more heedlessly； we learn； thinking that the
power of their new master is great enough； so that the mere shadow of His
hills will protect them。 We e to teach them another lesson。 Great
strength of them was reported to us some days ago； marching north。 One of
their regiments is due by our reckoning to pass by； some time ere noon…up on
the road above； where it passes through the cloven way。 The road may pass；
but they shall not！ Not while Faramir is Captain。 He leads now in all
perilous ventures。 But his life is charmed； or fate spares him for some
other end。'
Their talk died down into a listening silence。 All seemed still and
watchful。 Sam； crouched by the edge of the fern…brake； peered out。 With his
keen hobbit…eyes he saw that many more Men were about。 He could see them
stealing up the slopes； singly or in long files； keeping always to the shade
of grove or thicket； or crawling； hardly visible in their brown and green
raiment； through grass and brake。 All were hooded and masked； and had
gauntlets on their hands； and were armed like Faramir and his panions。
Before long they had all passed and vanished。 The sun rose till it neared
the South。 The shadows shrank。
‘I wonder where that dratted Gollum is？ ' thought Sam； as he crawled
back into deeper shade。 ‘He stands a fair chance of being spitted for an
Orc； or of being roasted by the Yellow Face。 But I fancy he'll look after
himself。' He lay down beside Frodo and began to doze。
He woke； thinking that he had heard horns blowing。 He sat up。 It was
now high noon。 The guards stood alert and tense in the shadow of the trees。
Suddenly the horns rang out louder and beyond mistake from above； over the
top of the slope。 Sam thought that he heard cries and wild shouting also；
but the sound was faint； as if it came out of some distant cave。 Then
presently the noise of fighting broke out near at hand； just above their
hiding…place。 He could hear plainly the ringing grate of steel on steel； the
clang of sword on iron cap； the dull beat of blade on shield； men were
yelling and screaming； and one clear loud voice was calling Gondor！ Gondor！
‘It sounds like a hundred blacksmiths all smithying together；' said Sam
to Frodo。 'They're as near as I want them now。'
But the noise grew closer。 ‘They are ing！' cried Damrod。 ‘See！ Some
of the Southrons have broken from the trap and are flying from the road。
There they go！ Our men after them； and the Captain leading。'
Sam； eager to see more； went now and joined the guards。 He scrambled a
little way up into one of the larger of the bay…trees。 For a moment he
caught a glimpse of swarthy men in red running down the slope some way off
with green…clad warriors leaping after them； hewing them down as they fled。
Arrows were thick in the air。 Then suddenly straight over the rim of their
sheltering bank； a man fell； crashing through the slender trees； nearly on
top of them。 He came to rest in the fern a few feet away； face downward；
green arrow…feathers sticking from his neck below a golden collar。 His
scarlet robes were tattered； his corslet of overlapping brazen plates was
rent and hewn； his black plaits of hair braided with gold were drenched with
blood。 His brown hand still clutched the hilt of a broken sword。
It was Sam's first view of a battle of Men against Men； and he did not
like it much。 He was glad that he could not see the dead face。 He wondered
what the man's name was and where he came from； and if he was really evil of
heart； or what lies or threats had led him on the long march from his home；
and if he would not really rather have stayed there in peace…all in a flash
of thought which was quickly driven from his mind。 For just as Mablung
stepped towards the fallen body； there was a new noise。 Great crying and
shouting。 Amidst it Sam heard a shrill bellowing or trumpeting。 And then a
great thuddin