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all e down by the Dimrill Stair into the deep vale of theDwarves。 There lies the Mirrormere； and there the River Silverlode rises inits icy springs。'
‘Dark is the water of Kheled…zaram；' said Gimli； ‘and cold are thesprings of Kibil…nala。 My heart trembles at the thought that I may see themsoon。'
‘May you have joy of the sight； my good dwarf l' said Gandalf。 'Butwhatever you may do； we at least cannot stay in that valley。 We must go downthe Silverlode into the secret woods； and so to the Great River； and then …'
He paused。
'Yes； and where then？' asked Merry。
'To the end of the journey – in the end；' said Gandalf。 'We cannot looktoo far ahead。 Let us be glad that the first stage is safely over。 I think wewill rest here； not only today but tonight as well。 There is a wholesome airabout Hollin。 Much evil must befall a country before it wholly forgets theElves； if once they dwelt there。'
'That is true；' said Legolas。 ‘But the Elves of this land were of a racestrange to us of the silvan folk； and the trees and the grass do not nowremember them： Only I hear the stones lament them： _deep they delved us； fairthey wrought us； high they builded us； but they are gone_。 They are gone。 Theysought the Havens long ago。'
That morning they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by great bushes ofholly； and their supper…breakfast was merrier than it had been since they setout。 They did not hurry to bed afterwards； for they expected to have all thenight to sleep in； and they did not mean to go on again until the evening ofthe next day。 Only Aragorn was silent and restless。 After a while he left thepany and wandered on to the ridge； there he stood in the shadow of a tree；
looking out southwards and westwards； with his head posed as if he waslistening。 Then he returned to the brink of the dell and looked down at theothers laughing and talking。
‘What is the matter； Strider？' Merry called up。 'What are you lookingfor？ Do you miss the East Wind？'
'No indeed；' he answered。 ‘But I miss something。 I have been in thecountry of Hollin in many seasons。 No folk dwell here now； but many othercreatures live here at all times； especially birds。 Yet now all things but youare silent。 I can feel it。 There is no sound for miles about us； and yourvoices seem to make the ground echo。 I do not understand it。'
Gandalf looked up with sudden interest。 ‘But what do you guess is thereason？' he asked。 ‘Is there more in it than surprise at seeing four hobbits；
not to mention the rest of us； where people are so seldom seen or heard？'
‘I hope that is it；' answered Aragorn。 ‘But I have a sense ofwatchfulness； and of fear； that I have never had here before。'
〃Then we must be more careful；' said Gandalf。 'If you bring a Ranger withyou； it is well to pay attention to him； especially if the Ranger is Aragorn。
We must stop talking aloud； rest quietly； and set the watch。'
It was Sam's turn that day to take the first watch； but Aragorn joinedhim。 The others fell asleep。 Then the silence grew until even Sam felt it。 Thebreathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard。 The swish of the pony's tailand the occasional movements of his feet became loud noises。 Sam could hear
his own joints creaking； if he stirred。 Dead silence was around him； and overall hung a clear blue sky； as the Sun rode up from the East。 Away in the Southa dark patch appeared； and grew； and drove north like flying smoke in thewind。
‘What's that； Strider？ It don't look like a cloud；' said Sam in a whisperto Aragorn。 He made no answer； he was gazing intently at the sky； but beforelong Sam could see for himself what was approaching。 Flocks of birds； flyingat great speed； were wheeling and circling； and traversing all the land as ifthey were searching for something； and they were steadily drawing nearer。
‘Lie flat and still！' hissed Aragorn； pulling Sam down into the shade ofa holly…bush； for a whole regiment of birds had broken away suddenly from themain host； and came； flying low； straight towards the ridge。 Sam thought theywere a kind of crow of large size。 As they passed overhead； in so dense athrong that their shadow followed them darkly over the ground below； one harshcroak was heard。
Not until they had dwindled into the distance； north and west； and thesky was again clear would Aragorn rise。 Then he sprang up and went and wakenedGandalf。
‘Regiments of black crows are flying over all the land between theMountains and the Greyflood；' he said； ‘and they have passed over Hollin。 They
are not natives here； they are _crebain_ out of Fangorn and Dunland。 I do notknow what they are about： possibly there is some trouble away south from whichthey are fleeing； but I think they are spying out the land。 I have alsoglimpsed many hawks flying high up in the sky。 I think we ought to move againthis evening。 Hollin is no longer wholesome for us： it is being watched。'
‘And in that case so is the Redhorn Gate；' said Gandalf； ‘and how we canget over that without being seen； I cannot imagine。 But we will think of thatwhen we must。 As for moving as soon as it is dark； I am afraid that you areright。'
‘Luckily our fire made little smoke； and had burned low before the_crebain_ came；' said Aragorn。 ‘It must be put out and not lit again。'
‘Well if that isn't a plague and a nuisance！' said Pippin。 The news： nofire； and a move again by night； had been broken to him； as soon as he woke inthe late afternoon。 'All because of a pack of crows！ I had looked forward to areal good meal tonight： something hot。'
‘Well； you can go on looking forward；' said Gandalf。 ‘There may be manyunexpected feasts ahead for you。 For myself I should like a pipe to smoke infort； and warmer feet。 However； we are certain of one thing at any rate： itwill get warmer as we get south。'
'Too warm； I shouldn't wonder；' muttered Sam to Frodo。 'But I'm beginningto think it's time we got a sight of that Fiery Mountain and saw the end ofthe Road； so to speak。 I thought at first that this here Redhorn； or whateverits name is； might be it； till Gimli spoke his piece。 A fair jaw…crackerdwarf…language must be！' Maps conveyed nothing to Sam's mind； and alldistances in these strange lands seemed so vast that he was quite out of hisreckoning。
All that day the pany remained in hiding。 The dark birds passed overnow and again； but as the westering Sun grew red they disappeared southwards。
At dusk the pany set out； and turning now half east they steered theircourse towards Caradhras； which far away still glowed faintly red in the lastlight of the vanished Sun。 One by one white stars sprang forth as the skyfaded。
Guided by Aragorn they struck a good path。 It looked to Frodo like theremains of an ancient road； that had once been broad and well planned； fromHollin to the mountain…pass。 The Moon； now at the full； rose over themountains； and cast a pale light in which the shadows of stones were black。
Many of them looked to have been worked by hands； though now they lay tumbledand ruinous in a bleak； barren land。
It was the cold chill hour before the first stir of dawn； and the moonwas low。 Frodo looked up at the sky。 Suddenly he saw or felt a shadow passover the high stars； as if for a moment they faded and then flashed o