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veloping anunexpected talent for picking out a path； and for sparing its rider as manyjolts as possible。 The spirits of the party rose again。 Even Frodo felt betterin the morning light； but every now and again a mist seemed to obscure hissight； and he passed his hands over his eyes。
Pippin was a little ahead of the others。 Suddenly he turned round andcalled to them。 'There is a path here！' he cried。
When they came up with him； they saw that he had made no mistake：
there were clearly the beginnings of a path； that climbed with manywindings out of the woods below and faded away on the hill…top behind。 Inplaces it was now faint and overgrown； or choked with fallen stones and trees；
but at one time it seemed to have been much used。 It was a path made by strongarms and heavy feet。 Here and there old trees had been cut or broken down； andlarge rocks cloven or heaved aside to make a way。
They followed the track for some while； for it offered much the easiestway down； but they went cautiously； and their anxiety increased as they cameinto the dark woods； and the path grew plainer and broader。 Suddenly ingout of a belt of fir…trees it ran steeply down a slope； and turned sharply tothe left round the er of a rocky shoulder of the hill。 When they came tothe er they looked round and saw that the path ran on over a level stripunder the face of a low cliff overhung with trees。 In the stony wall there wasa door hanging crookedly ajar upon one great hinge。
Outside the door they all halted。 There was a cave or rock…chamberbehind； but in the gloom inside nothing could be seen。 Strider； Sam； and Merrypushing with all their strength managed to open the door a little wider； andthen Strider and Merry went in。 They did not go far； for on the floor lay manyold bones； and nothing else was to be seen near the entrance except some greatempty jars and broken pots。
'Surely this is a troll…hole； if ever there was one！' said Pippin。 'eout； you two； and let us get away。 Now we know who made the path …and we hadbetter get off it quick。'
'There is no need； I think；' said Strider； coining out。 'It is certainlya troll…hole； but it seems to have been long forsaken。 I don't think we needbe afraid。 But let us go on down warily； and we shall see。'
The path went on again from the door； and turning to the right againacross the level space plunged down a thick wooded slope。 Pippin； not likingto show Strider that he was still afraid； went on ahead with Merry。 Sam andStrider came behind； one on each side of Frodo's pony； for the path was nowbroad enough for four or five hobbits to walk abreast。 But they had not gonevery far before Pippin came running back； followed by Merry。 They both lookedterrified。
'There _are_ trolls！' Pippin panted。 'Down in a clearing in the woods notfar below。 We got a sight of them through the tree…trunks。 They are verylarge！'
'We will e and look at them；' said Strider； picking up a stick。 Frodosaid nothing； but Sam looked scared。
The sun was now high； and it shone down through the half…strippedbranches of the trees； and lit the clearing with bright patches of light。 They
halted suddenly on the edge； and peered through the tree…trunks； holding theirbreath。 There stood the trolls： three large trolls。 One was stooping； and theother two stood staring at him。
Strider walked forward unconcernedly。 'Get up； old stone！' he said； andbroke his stick upon the stooping troll。
Nothing happened。 There was a gasp of astonishment from the hobbits； andthen even Frodo laughed。 'Well！' he said。 'We are forgetting our familyhistory！ These must be the very three that were caught by Gandalf； quarrellingover the right way to cook thirteen dwarves and one hobbit。'
'I had no idea we were anywhere near the place！' said Pippin。 He knew thestory well。 Bilbo and Frodo had told it often； but as a matter of fact he hadnever more than half believed it。 Even now he looked at the stone trolls with
suspicion； wondering if some magic might not suddenly bring them to lifeagain。
'You are forgetting not only your family history； but all you ever knewabout trolls；' said Strider。 'It is broad daylight with a bright sun； and yetyou e back trying to scare me with a tale of live trolls waiting for us inthis glade！ In any case you might have noticed that one of them has an oldbird's nest behind his ear。 That would be a most unusual ornament for a live
troll！'
They all laughed。 Frodo felt his spirits reviving： the reminder ofBilbo's first successful adventure was heartening。 The sun； too； was warm andforting； and the mist before his eyes seemed to be lifting a little。 Theyrested for some time in the glade； and took their mid…day meal right under theshadow of the trolls' large legs。
'Won't somebody give us a bit of a song； while the sun is high？' saidMerry； when they had finished。 'We haven't had a song or a tale for days。'
'Not since Weathertop；' said Frodo。 The others looked at him。 'Don'tworry about me！' he added。 'I feel much better； but I don't think I couldsing。 Perhaps Sam could dig something out of his memory。'
'e on； Sam！' said Merry。 'There's more stored in your head than youlet on about。'
'I don't know about that；' said Sam。 'But how would this suit？ It ain'twhat I call proper poetry； if you understand me： just a bit of nonsense。 Butthese old images here brought it to my mind。' Standing up； with his handsbehind his back； as if he was at school； he began to sing to an old tune。
Troll sat alone on his seat of stone；
And munched and mumbled a bare old bone；
For many a year he had gnawed it near；
For meat was hard to e by。
Done by！ Gum by！
In a case in the hills he dwelt alone；
And meat was hard to e by。
Up came Tom with his big boots on。
Said he to Troll： 'Pray； what is yon？
For it looks like the shin o' my nuncle Tim；
As should be a…lyin' in graveyard。
Caveyard！ Paveyard！
This many a year has Tim been gone；
And I thought he were lyin' in graveyard。'
'My lad；' said Troll； 'this bone I stole。
But what be bones that lie in a hole？
Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o' lead；
Afore I found his shinbone。
Tinbone！ Thinbone！
He can spare a share for a poor old troll；
For he don't need his shinbone。'
Said Tom： 'I don't see why the likes o' thee
Without axin' leave should go makin' free
With the shank or the shin o' my father's kin；
So hand the old bone over！
Rover！ Trover！
Though dead he be； it belongs to he；
So hand the old bone over！'
'For a couple o' pins；' says Troll； and grins；
'I'll eat thee too； and gnaw thy shins。
A bit o' fresh meal will go down sweet！
I'll try my teeth on thee now。
Hee now！ See now！
I'm tired o' gnawing old bones and skins；
I've a mind to dine on thee now。'
But just as he thought his dinner was caught；
He found his hands had hold of naught。
Before he could mind； Tom slipped behind
And gave him the boot to larn him。
Warn him！ Darn him！
A bump o' the boot on the seat； Tom thought；
Would be the way to larn him。
But harder than stone is the flesh and bone
Of a troll that sits in the hills alone。
As well set your boot to the mountain's root；
For the seat of a troll don't feel it。
Peel it！ Heal it！
Old Troll la