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itated。 'What can I do？ ' he muttered。 'Imust go now or I shall never go。 I shan't get a chance again。 I hate leavingthem； and like this without any explanation。 But surely they will understand。
Sam will。 And what else can I do？'
Slowly he drew out the Ring and put it on once more。 He vanished andpassed down the hill； less than a rustle of the wind。
The others remained long by the river…side。 For some time they had beensilent； moving restlessly about； but now they were sitting in a circle； andthey were talking。 Every now and again they made efforts to speak of otherthings； of their long road and many adventures； they questioned Aragornconcerning the realm of Gondor and its ancient history； and the remnants ofits great works that could still be seen in this strange border…land of theEmyn Muil： the stone kings and the seats of Lhaw and Hen； and the great Stairbeside the falls of Rauros。 But always their thoughts and words strayed backto Frodo and the Ring。 What would Frodo choose to do？ Why was he hesitating？
‘He is debating which course is the most desperate； I think；' saidAragorn。 'And well he may。 It is now more hopeless than ever for the panyto go east； since we have been tracked by Gollum； and must fear that thesecret of our journey is already betrayed。 But Minas Tirith is no nearer tothe Fire and the destruction of the Burden。
‘We may remain there for a while and make a brave stand； but the LordDenethor and all his men cannot hope to do what even Elrond said was beyondhis power： either to keep the Burden secret。 or to hold off the full might ofthe Enemy when he es to take it。 Which way would any of us choose inFrodo's place？ I do not know。 Now indeed we miss Gandalf most。'
'Grievous is our loss；' said Legolas。 'Yet we must needs make up ourminds without his aid。 Why cannot we decide； and so help Frodo？ Let us callhim back and then vote！ I should vote for Minas Tirith。'
‘And so should I；' said Gimli。 'We； of course； were only sent to help theBearer along the road； to go no further than we wished； and none of us isunder any oath or mand to seek Mount Doom。 Hard was my parting fromLothlórien。 Yet I have e so far； and I say this： now we have reached thelast choice； it is clear to me that I cannot leave Frodo。 I would choose MinasTirith； but if he does not； then I follow him。'
‘And I too will go with him；' said Legolas。 ‘It would be faithless now tosay farewell。'
'It would indeed be a betrayal； if we all left him；' said Aragorn。 'Butif he goes east； then all need not go with him； nor do I think that allshould。 That venture is desperate： as much so for eight as for three or two；
or one alone。 If you would let me choose； then I should appoint threepanions： Sam； who could not bear it otherwise； and Gimli； and myself。
Boromir will return to his own city； where his father and his people need him；
and with him the others should go； or at least Meriadoc and Peregrin； ifLegolas is not willing to leave us。'
‘That won't do at all！ ' cried Merry。 'We can't leave Frodo！ Pippin and Ialways intended to go wherever he went； and we still do。 But we did notrealize what that would mean。 It seemed different so far away； in the Shire orin Rivendell。 It would be mad and cruel to let Frodo go to Mordor。 Why can'twe stop him？'
'We must stop him；' said Pippin。 ‘And that is what he is worrying about；
I am sure。 He knows we shan't agree to his going east。 And he doesn't like toask anyone to go with him； poor old fellow。 Imagine it： going off to Mordoralone！ ' Pippin shuddered。 'But the dear silly old hobbit； he ought to knowthat he hasn't got to ask。 He ought to know that if we can't stop him； weshan't leave him。'
'Begging your pardon；' said Sam。 'I don't think you understand my masterat all。 He isn't hesitating about which way to go。 Of course not！ What's thegood of Minas Tirith anyway？ To him； I mean； begging your pardon； MasterBoromir；' he added； and turned。 It was then that they discovered that Boromir；
who at first had been sitting silent on the outside of the circle； was nolonger there。
‘Now where's he got to？ ' cried Sam； looking worried。 'He's been a bitqueer lately； to my mind。 But anyway he's not in this business。 He's off tohis home； as he always said； and no blame to him。 But Mr。 Frodo； he knows he'sgot to find the Cracks of Doom； if he can。 But he's _afraid_。 Now it's e tothe point； he's just plain terrified。 That's what his trouble is。 Of coursehe's had a bit of schooling； so to speak…we all have…since we left home； orhe'd be so terrified he'd just fling the Ring in the River and bolt。 But he'sstill too frightened to start。 And he isn't worrying about us either： whetherwe'll go along with him or no。 He knows we mean to。 That's another thingthat's bothering him。 If he screws himself up to go； he'll want to go alone。
Mark my words！ We're going to have trouble when he es back。 For he'll screwhimself up all right； as sure as his name's Baggins。'
'I believe you speak more wisely than any of us； Sam；' said Aragorn。 ‘Andwhat shall we do； if you prove right？ '
'Stop him！ Don't let him go！ ' cried Pippin。
'I wonder？ ' said Aragorn。 ‘He is the Bearer； and the fate of the Burdenis on him。 I do not think that it is our part to drive him one way or theother。 Nor do I think that we should succeed； if we tried。 There are otherpowers at work far stronger。'
‘Well； I wish Frodo would 〃screw himself up〃 and e back。 and let usget it over；' said Pippin。 ‘This waiting is horrible！ Surely the time is up？ '
‘Yes；' said Aragorn。 'The hour is long passed。 The morning is wearingaway。 We must call for him。'
At that moment Boromir reappeared。 He came out from the trees and walked
towards them without speaking。 His face looked grim and sad。 He paused as ifcounting those that were present； and then sat down aloof； with his eyes onthe ground。
‘Where have you been； Boromir？ ' asked Aragorn。 ‘Have you seen Frodo？ '
Boromir hesitated for a second。 ‘Yes； and no；' he answered slowly。 ‘Yes：
I found him some way up the hill； and I spoke to him。 I urged him to e toMinas Tirith and not to go east。 I grew angry and he left me。 He vanished。 Ihave never seen such a thing happen before。 though I have heard of it intales。 He must have put the Ring on。 I could not find him again。 I thought hewould return to you。'
'Is that all that you have to say？ ' said Aragorn； looking hard and nottoo kindly at Boromir。
‘Yes；' he answered。 ‘I will say no more yet。'
‘This is bad！' cried Sam； jumping up。 ‘I don't know what this Man hasbeen up to。 Why should Mr。 Frodo put the thing on？ He didn't ought to have；
and if he has； goodness knows what may have happened！'
'But he wouldn't keep it on‘' said Merry。 ‘Not when he had escaped theunwele visitor； like Bilbo used to。'
now。'
‘But where did he go？ Where is he？ ' cried Pippin。 'He's been away ages
‘How long is it since you saw Frodo last； Boromir？ ' asked Aragorn。
‘Half an hour； maybe；' he answered。 ‘Or it might be an hour。 I havewandered for some time since。 I do not know！ I do not know！ ' He put his headin his hands； and sat as if bowed with grief。
‘An hour since he vanished！ ' shouted Sam。 ‘We must try and find him atonce。 e on！ '
‘Wait a moment！ ' cried Aragorn。 ‘We must divide up into pairs； andarrange…here； hold on！ Wait！ '
It was no good。 They took no notice of him。 Sam had dashed off first。
Merry and Pippin had followed； and were already disappearing westward into thetrees by the shore； shouting： _Frodo！ Frodo！_ in their clear； high hobbit…
voices。 Legolas and Gimli were running。 A sudden panic or madness seemed tohave fallen on the pany。
‘We shall all be scattered and lost；' groaned Aragorn。 ‘Boromir！ I do notknow what part you have played in this mischief； but help now！ Go after thosetwo young hobbits； and guard them at the least； even if you cannot find Frodo。
e back to this spot； if you find him； or any traces of him。 I shall returnsoon。'
Aragorn sprang swiftly away and went in pursuit of Sam。 Just as hereached the little lawn among the rowans he overtook him； toiling uphill；
panting and calling； _Frodo！_
‘e with me； Sam！ ' he said。 ‘None of us should be alone。 There ismischief about。 I feel it。 I am going to the top； to the Seat of Amon Hen； tosee what may be seen。 And look！ It is as my heart guessed； Frodo went thisway。 Follow me； and keep your eyes open！ ' He sped up the path。
Sam did his best； but he could not keep up with Strider the Ranger； andsoon fell behind。 He had not gone far before Aragorn was out of sight ahead。
Sam stopped and puffed。 Suddenly he clapped his hand to his head。
‘Whoa； Sam Gamgee！ ' he said aloud。 ‘Your legs are too short； so use yourhead！ Let me see now！ Boromir isn't lying； that's not his way； but he hasn'ttold us everything。 Something scared Mr。 Frodo badly。 He screwed himself up tothe point； sudden。 He made up his mind at last to go。 Where to？ Off East。 Notwithout Sam？ Yes； without even his Sam。 That's hard； cruel hard。'
Sam passed his hand over his eyes； brushing away the tears。 'Steady；
Gamgee！ ' he said。 ‘Think； if you can！ He can't fly across rivers； and hecan't jump waterfalls。 He's got no gear。 So he's got to get back to the boats。
Back to the boats！ Back to the boats； Sam； like lightning！ '
Sa