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d it yesterday night。 We mightlabour far upstream and yet miss it in the fog。 I fear we must leave the Rivernow； and make for the portage…way as best we can from here。'
‘That would not be easy； even if we were all Men；' said Boromir。
‘Yet such as we are we will try it；' said Aragorn。
'Aye； we will；' said Gimli。 ‘The legs of Men will lag on a rough road；
while a Dwarf goes on； be the burden twice his own weight； Master Boromir！ '
The task proved hard indeed； yet in the end it was done。 The goods weretaken out of the boats and brought to the top of the bank； where there was alevel space。 Then the boats were drawn out of the water and carried up。 Theywere far less heavy than any had expected。 Of what tree growing in the elvishcountry they were made not even Legolas knew； but the wood was tough and yetstrangely light。 Merry and Pippin alone could carry their boat with ease alongthe flat。 Nonetheless it needed the strength of the two Men to lift and haulthem over the ground that the pany now had to cross。 It sloped up away fromthe River； a tumbled waste of grey limestone…boulders； with many hidden holes
shrouded with weeds and bushes； there were thickets of brambles； and sheerdells； and here and there boggy pools fed by waters trickling from theterraces further inland。
One by one Boromir and Aragorn carried the boats； while the others toiledand scrambled after them with the baggage。 At last all was removed and laid onthe portage…way。 Then with little further hindrance； save from sprawlingbriars and many fallen stones； they moved forward all together。 Fog still hungin veils upon the crumbling rock…wall； and to their left mist shrouded theRiver： they could hear it rushing and foaming over the sharp shelves and stonyteeth of Sarn Gebir； but they could not see it。 Twice they made the journey；
before all was brought safe to the southern landing。
There the portage…way； turning back to the water…side； ran gently down tothe shallow edge of a little pool。 It seemed to have been scooped in theriver…side； not by hand； but by the water swirling down from Sarn Gebiragainst a low pier of rock that jutted out some way into the stream。 Beyond itthe shore rose sheer into a grey cliff； and there was no further passage forthose on foot。
Already the short afternoon was past； and a dim cloudy dusk was closingin。 They sat beside the water listening to the confused rush and roar of theRapids hidden in the mist； they were tired and sleepy； and their hearts wereas gloomy as the dying day。
'Well； here we are； and here we must pass another night；' said Boromir。
‘We need sleep； and even if Aragorn had a mind to pass the Gates of Argonathby night； we are all too tired…except； no doubt； our sturdy dwarf。'
Gimli made no reply： he was nodding as he sat。
‘Let us rest as much as we can now；' said Aragorn。 ‘Tomorrow we mustjourney by day again。 Unless the weather changes once more and cheats us； weshall have a good chance of slipping through； unseen by any eyes on theeastern shore。 But tonight two must watch together in turns： three hours offand one on guard。'
Nothing happened that night worse than a brief drizzle of rain an hourbefore dawn。 As soon as it was fully light they started。 Already the fog wasthinning。 They kept as close as they could to the western side； and they couldsee the dim shapes of the low cliffs rising ever higher； shadowy walls withtheir feet in the hurrying river。 In the mid…morning the clouds drew downlower； and it began to rain heavily。 They drew the skin…covers over theirboats to prevent them from being flooded； and drifted on： little could be seenbefore them or about them through the grey falling curtains。
The rain； however； did not last long。 Slowly the sky above grew lighter；
and then suddenly the clouds broke； and their draggled fringes trailed awaynorthward up the River。 The fogs and mists were gone。 Before the travellerslay a wide ravine； with great rocky sides to which clung； upon shelves and innarrow crevices； a few thrawn trees。 The channel grew narrower and the Riverswifter。 Now they were speeding along with little hope of stopping or turning；
whatever they might meet ahead。 Over them was a lane of pale…blue sky； aroundthem the dark overshadowed River； and before them black； shutting out the sun；
the hills of Emyn Muil； in which no opening could be seen。
Frodo peering forward saw in the distance two great rocks approaching：
like great pinnacles or pillars of stone they seemed。 Tall and sheer andominous they stood upon either side of the stream。 A narrow gap appearedbetween them； and the River swept the boats towards it。
‘Behold the Argonath； the Pillars of the Kings！ ' cried Aragorn。 ‘Weshall pass them soon。 Keep the boats in line； and as far apart as you can！
Hold the middle of the stream！ '
As Frodo was borne towards them the great pillars rose like towers tomeet him。 Giants they seemed to him； vast grey figures silent but threatening。
Then he saw that they were indeed shaped and fashioned： the craft and power ofold had wrought upon them； and still they preserved through the suns and rainsof forgotten years the mighty likenesses in which they had been hewn。 Upongreat pedestals founded in the deep waters stood two great kings of stone：
still with blurred eyes and crannied brows they frowned upon the North。 Theleft hand of each was raised palm outwards in gesture of warning； in eachright hand there was an axe； upon each head there was a crumbling helm andcrown。 Great power and majesty they still wore； the silent wardens of a long…
vanished kingdom。 Awe and fear fell upon Frodo； and he cowered down； shuttinghis eyes and not daring to look up as the boat drew near。 Even Boromir bowedhis head as the boats whirled by。 frail and fleeting as little leaves； underthe enduring shadow of the sentinels of Númenor。 So they passed into the darkchasm of the Gates。
Sheer rose the dreadful cliffs to unguessed heights on either side。 Faroff was the dim sky。 The black waters roared and echoed； and a wind screamedover them。 Frodo crouching over his knees heard Sam in front muttering andgroaning： ‘What a place！ What a horrible place！ Just let me get out of thisboat； and I'll never wet my toes in a puddle again； let alone a river！ '
‘Fear not！ ' said a strange voice behind him。 Frodo turned and sawStrider； and yet not Strider； for the weatherworn Ranger was no longer there。
In the stern sat Aragorn son of Arathorn； proud and erect； guiding the boatwith skilful strokes； his hood was cast back； and his dark hair was blowing inthe wind； a light was in his eyes： a king returning from exile to his ownland。
'Fear not！ ' he said。 ‘Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses ofIsildur and Anárion； my sires of old。 Under their shadow Elessar； the Elfstoneson of Arathorn of the House of Valandil Isildur's son heir of Elendil； hasnought to dread！ '
Then the light of his eyes faded； and he spoke to himself： ‘Would thatGandalf were here！ How my heart yearns for Minas Anor and the walls of my owncity！ But whither now shall I go？ '
The chasm was long and dark； and filled with the noise of wind andrushing water and echoing stone。 It bent somewhat towards the west so that atfirst all was dark ahead； but soon Frodo saw a tall gap of light before him；
ever growing。 Swiftly it drew near； and suddenly the boats shot through； outinto a wide clear light。
The sun； already long fallen from the noon； was shining in a windy sky。
The pent waters spread out into a long oval lake； pale Nen Hithoel； fenced bysteep grey hills whose sides were clad with trees； but their heads were bare；
cold…gleaming in the sunlight。 At the far southern end rose three peaks。 Themidmost stood somewhat forward from the others and sundered from them； anisland in the waters； about which the flowing River flung pale shimmeringarms。 Distant but deep there came up on the wind a roaring sound like the rollof thunder heard far away。
‘Behold Tol Brandir！ ' said Aragorn； pointing south to the tall peak。
'Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw； and upon the right is Amon Hen the Hills ofHearing and of Sight。 In the days of the great kings there were high seatsupon them； and watch was kept there。 But it is said that no foot of man orbeast has ever been set upon Tol Brandir。 Ere the shade of night falls weshall e to them。 I hear the endless voice of Rauros calling。'
The pany rested now for a while； drifting south on the current thatflowed through the middle of the lake。 They ate some food； and then they tookto their paddles and hastened on their way。 The sides of the westward hillsfell into shadow； and the Sun grew round and red。 Here and there a misty starpeered out。 The three peaks loomed before them； darkling in the twilight。
Rauros was roaring with a great voice。 Already night was laid on the flowingwaters when the travellers came at last under the shadow of the hills。
The tenth day of their journey was over。 Wilderland was behind them。 Theycould go no further without choice between the east…way and the west。 The laststage of the Quest was before them。
_Chapter 10_
The Breaking of the Fellowship
Aragorn led them to the right arm of the River。 Here upon its westernside under the shadow of Tol Brandir a green lawn ran d