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he snow first began to burden us。 If we could reachthat point； maybe it would prove easier beyond。 It is no more than a furlongoff； I guess。'
‘Then let us force a path thither； you and I！' said Aragorn。
Aragorn was the tallest of the pany； but Boromir； little less inheight； was broader and heavier in build。 He led the way； and Aragorn followedhim。 Slowly they moved off； and were soon toiling heavily。 In places the snowwas breast…high； and often Boromir seemed to bc swimming or burrowing with hisgreat arms rather than walking。
Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips； and then heturned to the others。 ‘The strongest must seek a way； say you？ But I say： leta ploughman plough； but choose an otter for swimming； and for running lightover grass and leaf or over snow…an Elf。'
With that he sprang forth nimbly； and then Frodo noticed as if for thefirst time； though he had long known it； that the Elf had no boots； but woreonly light shoes； as he always did； and his feet made little imprint in thesnow。
'Farewell！' he said to Gandalf。 ‘I go to find the Sun！' Then swift as arunner over firm sand he shot away； and quickly overtaking the toiling men；
with a wave of his hand he passed them； and sped into the distance； andvanished round the rocky turn。
The others waited huddled together； watching until Boromir and Aragorndwindled into black specks in the whiteness。 At length they too passed fromsight。 The time dragged on。 The clouds lowered； and now a few flakes of snowcame curling down again。
An hour； maybe； went by； though it seemed far longer； and then at lastthey saw Legolas ing back。 At the same time Boromir and Aragorn reappearedround the bend far behind him and came labouring up the slope。
‘Well；' cried Legolas as he ran up； ‘I have not brought the Sun。 She iswalking in the blue fields of the South； and a little wreath of snow on thisRedhorn hillock troubles her not at all。 But I have brought back a gleam ofgood hope for those who are doomed to go on feet。 There is the greatest wind…
drift of all just beyond the turn； and there our Strong Men were almostburied。 They despaired； until I returned and told them that the drift waslittle wider than a wall。 And on the other side the snow suddenly grows less；
while further down it is no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbit's
toes。'
‘Ah； it is as I said；' growled Gimli。 'It was no ordinary storm。 It is
the ill will of Caradhras。 He does not love Elves and Dwarves； and that driftwas laid to cut off our escape。'
'But happily your Caradhras has forgotten that you have Men with you；'
said Boromir； who came up at that moment。 ‘And doughty Men too； if I may sayit； though lesser men with spades might have served you better。 Still； we havethrust a lane through the drift； and for that all here may be grateful whocannot run as light as Elves。'
‘But how are we to get down there； even if you have cut through thedrift？' said Pippin； voicing the thought of all the hobbits。
'Have hope！' said Boromir。 'I am weary； but I still have some strengthleft； and Aragorn too。 We will bear the little folk。 The others no doubt willmake shift to tread the path behind us。 e； Master Peregrin！ I will beginwith you。'
He lifted up the hobbit。 'Cling to my back！ I shall need my arms' he saidand strode forward。 Aragorn with Merry came behind。 Pippin marvelled at hisstrength； seeing the passage that he had already forced with no other toolthan his great limbs。 Even now； burdened as he was； he was widening the trackfor those who followed； thrusting the snow aside as he went。
They came at length to the great drift。 It was flung across the mountain…
path like a sheer and sudden wall； and its crest； sharp as if shaped withknives； reared up more than twice the height of Boromir； but through themiddle a passage had been beaten； rising and falling like a bridge。 On the farside Merry and Pippin were set down； and there they waited with Legolas forthe rest of the pany to arrive。
After a while Boromir returned carrying Sam。 Behind in the narrow but nowwell…trodden track came Gandalf； leading Bill with Gimli perched among thebaggage。 Last came Aragorn carrying Frodo。 They passed through the lane； buthardly had Frodo touched the ground when with a deep rumble there rolled downa fall of stones and slithering snow。 The spray of it half blinded the panyas they crouched against the cliff； and when the air cleared again they sawthat the path was blocked behind them。
‘Enough； enough！' cried Gimli。 'We are departing as quickly as we may！'
And indeed with that last stroke the malice of the mountain seemed to be
expended； as if Caradhras was satisfied that the invaders had been beaten offand would not dare to return。 The threat of snow lifted； the clouds began tobreak and the light grew broader。
As Legolas had reported； they found that the snow became steadily moreshallow as they went down； so that even the hobbits could trudge along。 Soonthey all stood once more on the flat shelf at the head of the steep slopewhere they had felt the first flakes of snow the night before。
The morning was now far advanced。 From the high place they looked backwestwards over the lower lands。 Far away in the tumble of country that lay atthe foot of the mountain was the dell from which they had started to climb thepass。
Frodo's legs ached。 He was chilled to the bone and hungry； and his headwas dizzy as he thought of the long and painful march downhill。 Black specksswam before his eyes。 He rubbed them； but the black specks remained。 In thedistance below him； but still high above the lower foothills； dark dots werecircling in the air。
‘The birds again！' said Aragorn； pointing down。
'That cannot be helped now；' said Gandalf。 ‘Whether they are good orevil； or have nothing to do with us at all； we must go down at once。 Not evenon the knees of Caradhras will we wait for another night…fall！'
A cold wind flowed down behind them； as they turned their backs on theRedhorn Gate； and stumbled wearily down the slope。 Caradhras had defeatedthem。
_Chapter 4_
A Journey in the Dark
It was evening； and the grey light was again waning fast； when theyhalted for the night。 They were very weary。 The mountains were veiled indeepening dusk； and the wind was cold。 Gandalf spared them one more mouthfuleach of the miruvor of Rivendell。 When they had eaten some food he called acouncil。
'We cannot； of course； go on again tonight；' he said。 ‘The attack on theRedhorn Gate has tired us out； and we must rest here for a while。'
‘And then where are we to go？ ' asked Frodo。
'We still have our journey and our errand before us；' answered Gandalf。
‘We have no choice but to go on； or to return to Rivendell。'
Pippin's face brightened visibly at the mere mention of return toRivendell； Merry and Sam looked up hopefully。 But Aragorn and Boromir made nosign。 Frodo looked troubled。
‘I wish I was back there；' he said。 ‘But how can I return without shame –
unless there is indeed no other way； and we are already defeated？ '
‘You are right； Frodo；' said Gandalf： ‘to go back is to admit defeat andface worse defeat to e。 If we go back now； then the Ring must remain there：
we shall not be able to set out ag