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let him go； for I had much else tothink of at that time； and I still trusted the lore of Saruman。
'Well； that was years ago。 I have paid for it since with many dark anddangerous days。 The trail was long cold when I took it up again； after Bilboleft here。 And my search would have been in vain； but for the help that I hadfrom a friend： Aragorn； the greatest traveller and huntsman of this age of theworld。 Together we sought for Gollum down the whole length of Wilderland；
without hope； and without success。 But at last； when I had given up the chaseand turned to other parts； Gollum was found。 My friend returned out of thegreat perils bringing the miserable creature with him。
'What he had been doing he would not say。 He only wept and called uscruel； with many a _gollum_ in his throat； and when we pressed him he whinedand cringed； and rubbed his long hands； licking his fingers as if they painedhim； as if he remembered some old torture。 But I am afraid there is nopossible doubt： he had made his slow； sneaking way； step by step； mile bymile； south； down at last to the Land of Mordor。'
A heavy silence fell in the room。 Frodo could hear his heart beating。
Even outside everything seemed still。 No sound of Sam's shears could now beheard。
'Yes； to Mordor；' said Gandalf。 'Alas！ Mordor draws all wicked things；
and the Dark Power was bending all its will to gather them there。 The Ring of
the Enemy would leave its mark； too； leave him open to the summons。 And allfolk were whispering then of the new Shadow in the South； and its hatred ofthe West。 There were his fine new friends； who would help him in his revenge！
'Wretched fool！ In that land he would learn much； too much for hisfort。 And sooner or later as he lurked and pried on the borders he would becaught； and taken – for examination。 That was the way of it； I fear。 When hewas found he had already been there long； and was on his way back。 On someerrand of mischief。 But that does not matter much now。 His worst mischief was
done。
'Yes； alas！ through him the Enemy has learned that the One has been foundagain。 He knows where Isildur fell。 He knows where Gollum found his ring。 Heknows that it is a Great Ring； for it gave long life。 He knows that it is notone of the Three； for they have never been lost； and they endure no evil。 Heknows that it is not one of the Seven； or the Nine； for they are accountedfor。 He knows that it is the One。 And he has at last heard； I think； of_hobbits_ and the _Shire。_
'The Shire – he may be seeking for it now； if he has not already foundout where it lies。 Indeed； Frodo； I fear that he may even think that the long…
unnoticed name of _Baggins_ has bee important。'
'But this is terrible！' cried Frodo。 'Far worse than the worst that I
imagined from your hints and warnings。 O Gandalf； best of friends； what am Ito do？ For now I am really afraid。 What am I to do？ What a pity that Bilbo didnot stab that vile creature； when he had a chance！'
'Pity？ It was Pity that stayed his hand。 Pity； and Mercy： not to strikewithout need。 And he has been well rewarded； Frodo。 Be sure that he took solittle hurt from the evil； and escaped in the end； because he began hisownership of the Ring so。 With Pity。'
'I am sorry；' said Frodo。 'But I am frightened； and I do not feel anypity for Gollum。'
'You have not seen him；' Gandalf broke in。
'No； and I don't want to；' said Frodo。 I can't understand you。 Do youmean to say that you； and the Elves； have let him live on after all thosehorrible deeds？ Now at any rate he is as bad as an Orc； and just an enemy。 Hedeserves death。'
'Deserves it！ I daresay he does。 Many that live deserve death。 And somethat die deserve life。 Can you give it to them？ Then do not be too eager todeal out death in judgement。 For even the very wise cannot see all ends。 Ihave not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies； but there is achance of it。 And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring。 My heart tells methat he has some part to play yet； for good or ill； before the end； and whenthat es； the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least。 Inany case we did not kill him： he is very old and very wretched。 The Wood…elveshave him in prison； but they treat him with such kindness as they can find intheir wise hearts。'
'All the same；' said Frodo； 'even if Bilbo could not kill Gollum； I wishhe had not kept the Ring。 I wish he had never found it； and that I had not gotit！ Why did you let me keep it？ Why didn't you make me throw it away； or； ordestroy it？'
'Let you？ Make you？' said the wizard。 'Haven't you been listening to allthat I have said？ You are not thinking of what you are saying。 But as forthrowing it away； that was obviously wrong。 These Rings have a way of beingfound。 In evil hands it might have done great evil。 Worst of all； it mighthave fallen into the hands of the Enemy。 Indeed it certainly would； for thisis the One； and he is exerting all his power to find it or draw it to himself。
'Of course； my dear Frodo； it was dangerous for you； and that hastroubled me deeply。 But there was so much at stake that I had to take somerisk – though even when I was far away there has never been a day when theShire has not been guarded by watchful eyes。 As long as you never used it； Idid not think that the Ring would have any lasting effect on you； not forevil； not at any rate for a very long time。 And you must remember that nine
years ago； when I last saw you； I still knew little for certain。'
'But why not destroy it； as you say should have been done long ago？'
cried Frodo again。 If you had warned me； or even sent me a message； I wouldhave done away with it。'
'Would you？ How would you do that？ Have you ever tried？'
'No。 But I suppose one could hammer it or melt it。'
'Try！' said Gandalf。 Try now！'
Frodo drew the Ring out of his pocket again and looked at it。 It nowappeared plain and smooth； without mark or device that he could see。 The goldlooked very fair and pure； and Frodo thought how rich and beautiful was itscolour； how perfect was its roundness。 It was an admirable thing andaltogether precious。 When he took it out he had intended to fling it from himinto the very hottest part of the fire。 But he found now that he could not doso； not without a great struggle。 He weighed the Ring in his hand； hesitating；
and forcing himself to remember all that Gandalf had told him； and then withan effort of will he made a movement； as if to cast it away – but he foundthat he had put it back in his pocket。
Gandalf laughed grimly。 'You see？ Already you too； Frodo； cannot easilylet it go； nor will to damage it。 And I could not 〃make〃 you – except byforce； which would break your mind。 But as for breaking the Ring； force isuseless。 Even if you took it and struck it with a heavy sledge…hammer； itwould make no dint in it。 It cannot be unmade by your hands； or by mine。
'Your small fire； of course； would not melt even ordinary gold。 This Ringhas already passed through it unscathed； and even unheated。 But there is nosmith's forge in this Shire that could change it at all。 Not even the anvilsand furnaces of the Dwarves could do that。 It has been said that dragon…firecould melt and consume the Rings of Power； bu