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！
shouting。 Amidst it Sam heard a shrill bellowing or trumpeting。 And then a
great thudding and bumping。 like huge rams dinning on the ground。
'Ware！ Ware！' cried Damrod to his panion。 'May the Valar turn him
aside！ Mymak！ Mymak！'
To his astonishment and terror； and lasting delight； Sam saw a vast
shape crash out of the trees and e careering down the slope。 Big as a
house； much bigger than a house； it looked to him； a grey…clad moving hill。
Fear and wonder； maybe； enlarged him in the hobbit's eyes； but the Mymak of
Harad was indeed a beast of vast bulk； and the like of him does not walk now
in Middle…earth； his kin that live still in latter days are but memories of
his girth and majesty。 On he came； straight towards the watchers； and then
swerved aside in the nick of time； passing only a few yards away； rocking
the ground beneath their feet： his great legs like trees； enormous sail…like
ears spread out； long snout upraised like a huge serpent about to strike。
his small red eyes raging。 His upturned hornlike tusks were bound with bands
of gold and dripped with blood。 His trappings of scarlet and gold flapped
about him in wild tatters。 The ruins of what seemed a very war…tower lay
upon his heaving back； smashed in his furious passage through the woods； and
high upon his neck still desperately clung a tiny figure…the body of a
mighty warrior； a giant among the Swertings。
On the great beast thundered； blundering in blind wrath through pool
and thicket。 Arrows skipped and snapped harmlessly about the triple hide of
his flanks。 Men of both sides fled before him； but many he overtook and
crushed to the ground。 Soon he was lost to view； still trumpeting and
stamping far away。 What became of him Sam never heard： whether he escaped to
roam the wild for a time； until he perished far from his home or was trapped
in some deep pit； or whether he raged on until he plunged in the Great River
and was swallowed up。
Sam drew a deep breath。 'An Oliphaunt it was！' he said。 ‘So there are
Oliphaunts； and I have seen one。 What a life！ But no one at home will ever
believe me。 Well； if that's over； I'll have a bit of sleep。'
'Sleep while you may；' said Mablung。 ‘But the Captain will return； if
he is unhurt； and when he es we shall depart swiftly。 We shall be pursued
as soon as news of our deed reaches the Enemy； and that will not be long。'
‘Go quietly when you must！' said Sam。 ‘No need to disturb my sleep。 I
was walking all night。'
Mablung laughed。 ‘I do not think the Captain will leave you here；
Master Samwise；' he said。 'But you shall see。'
Chapter 5。 The Window on the West
It seemed to Sam that he had only dozed for a few minutes when he awoke
to find that it was late afternoon and Faramir had e back。 He had brought
many men with him； indeed all the survivors of the foray were now gathered
on the slope nearby； two or three hundred strong。 They sat in a wide
semicircle； between the arms of which Faramir was seated on the ground；
while Frodo stood before him。 It looked strangely like the trial of a
prisoner。
Sam crept out from the fern； but no one paid any attention to him； and
he placed himself at the end of the rows of men； where he could see and hear
all that was going on。 He watched and listened intently； ready to dash to
his master's aid if needed。 He could see Faramir's face； which was now
unmasked： it was stern and manding； and a keen wit lay behind his
searching glance。 Doubt was in the grey eyes that gazed steadily at Frodo。
Sam soon became aware that the Captain was not satisfied with Frodo's
account of himself at several points： what part he had to play in the
pany that set out from Rivendell； why he had left Boromir； and where he
was now going。 In particular he returned often to Isildur's Bane。 Plainly he
saw that Frodo was concealing from him some matter of great importance。
'But it was at the ing of the Halfling that Isildur's Bane should
waken； or so one must read the words；' he insisted。 ‘If then you are the
Halfling that was named； doubtless you brought this thing； whatever it may
be； to the Council of which you speak； and there Boromir saw it。 Do you deny
it？ '
Frodo made no answer。 'So！ ' said Faramir。 ‘I wish then to learn from
you more of it； for what concerns Boromir concerns me。 An orc…arrow slew
Isildur； so far as old tales tell。 But orc…arrows are plenty； and the sight
of one would not be taken as a sign of Doom by Boromir of Gondor。 Had you
this thing in keeping？ It is hidden； you say； but is not that because you
choose to hide it？ '
'No； not because I choose；' answered Frodo。 ‘It does not belong to me。
It does not belong to any mortal； great or small； though if any could claim
it； it would be Aragorn son of Arathorn； whom I named； the leader of our
pany from Moria to Rauros。'
'Why so； and not Boromir； prince of the City that the sons of Elendil
founded？ '
'Because Aragorn is descended in direct lineage； father to father； from
Isildur Elendil's son himself。 And the sword that he bears was Elendil's
sword。'
A murmur of astonishment ran through all the ring of men。 Some cried
aloud： 'The sword of Elendil！ The sword of Elendil es to Minas Tirith！
Great tidings！ ' But Faramir's face was unmoved。
‘Maybe；' he said。 ‘But so great a claim will need to be established and
clear proofs will be required； should this Aragorn ever e to Minas
Tirith。 He had not e； nor any of your pany； when I set out six days
ago。'
'Boromir was satisfied of that claim；' said Frodo。 ‘Indeed； if Boromir
were here； he would answer all your questions。 And since he was already at
Rauros many days back； and intended then to go straight to your city； if you
return； you may soon learn the answers there。 My part in the pany was
known to him； as to all the others。 for it was appointed to me by Elrond of
Imladris himself before the whole Council。 On that errand I came into this
country； but it is not mine to reveal to any outside the pany。 Yet those
who claim to oppose the Enemy would do well not to hinder it。'
Frodo's tone was proud； whatever he felt； and Sam approved of it； but
it did not appease Faramir。
‘So！' he said。 ‘You bid me mind my own affairs； and get me back home；
and let you be。 Boromir will tell all； when he es。 When he es； say
you！ Were you a friend of Boromir？'
Vividly before Frodo's mind came the memory of Boromir's assault upon
him； and for a moment he hesitated。 Faramir's eyes watching him grew harder。
'Boromir was a valiant member of our pany ' said Frodo at length。 'Yes； I
was his friend； for my part。'
Faramir smiled grimly。 ‘Then you would grieve to learn that Boromir is
dead？ '
'I would grieve indeed；' said Frodo。 Then catching the look in
Faramir's eyes； he faltered。 'Dead？' he said。 ‘Do you mean that he is dead；
and that you