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's got to get back to the boats。
Back to the boats！ Back to the boats； Sam； like lightning！ '
Sam turned and bolted back down the path。 He fell and cut his knees。 Uphe got and ran on。 He came to the edge of the lawn of Parth Galen by the
shore； where the boats were drawn up out of the water。 No one was there。 Thereseemed to be cries in the woods behind； but he did not heed them。 He stoodgazing for a moment。 stock…still； gaping。 A boat was sliding down the bank allby itself。 With a shout Sam raced across the grass。 The boat slipped into thewater。
‘ing； Mr。 Frodo！ ing！ ' called Sam； and flung himself from thebank； clutching at the departing boat。 He missed it by a yard。 With a cry anda splash he fell face downward into deep swift water。 Gurgling he went under；
and the River closed over his curly head。
An exclamation of dismay came from the empty boat。 A paddle swirled andthe boat put about。 Frodo was just in time to grasp Sam by the hair as he cameup； bubbling and struggling。 Fear was staring in his round brown eyes。
‘Up you e； Sam my lad！ ' said Frodo。 ‘Now take my hand！ '
‘Save me； Mr。 Frodo！ ' gasped Sam。 ‘I'm drownded。 I can't see your hand。'
‘Here it is。 Don't pinch； lad！ I won't let you go。 Tread water and don'tflounder； or you'll upset the boat。 There now； get hold of the side； and letme use the paddle！ '
With a few strokes Frodo brought the boat back to the bank。 and Sam wasable to scramble out； wet as a water…rat。 Frodo took off the Ring and steppedashore again。
‘Of all the confounded nuisances you are the worst； Sam！ ' he said。
'Oh； Mr。 Frodo； that's hard！ ' said Sam shivering。 ‘That's hard； tryingto go without me and all。 If I hadn't a guessed right； where would you be now？
'
‘Safely on my way。'
‘Safely！ ' said Sam。 ‘All alone and without me to help you？ I couldn'thave a borne it； it'd have been the death of me。'
'It would be the death of you to e with me； Sam；' said Frodo and Icould not have borne that。'
‘Not as certain as being left behind；' said Sam。
‘But I am going to Mordor。'
‘I know that well enough； Mr。 Frodo。 Of course you are。 And I'm ingwith you。'
‘Now； Sam；' said Frodo； ‘don't hinder me！ The others will be ing backat any minute。 If they catch me here。 I shall have to argue and explain； and Ishall never have the heart or the chance to get off。 But I must go at once。
It's the only way。'
‘Of course it is；' answered Sam。 'But not alone。 I'm ing too； orneither of us isn't going。 I'll knock holes in all the boats first。'
Frodo actually laughed。 A sudden warmth and gladness touched his heart。
‘Leave one！ 'he said。 ‘We'll need it。 But you can't e like this withoutyour gear or food or anything。'
'Just hold on a moment； and I'll get my stuff！' cried Sam eagerly。 'It'sall ready。 I thought we should be off today。' He rushed to the camping place；
fished out his pack from the pile where Frodo had laid it when he emptied theboat of his panions' goods grabbed a spare blanket； and some extra packagesof food； and ran back。
‘So all my plan is spoilt！ ' said Frodo。 ‘It is no good trying to escapeyou。 But I'm glad； Sam。 I cannot tell you how glad。 e along！ It is plainthat we were meant to go together。 We will go； and may the others find a saferoad！ Strider will look after them。 I don't suppose we shall see them again。'
‘Yet we may； Mr Frodo。 We may；' said Sam。
So Frodo and Sam set off on the last stage of the Quest together。 Frodopaddled away from the shore； and the River bore them swiftly away。 down thewestern arm； and past the frowning cliffs of Tol Brandir。 The roar of thegreat falls drew nearer。 Even with such help as Sam could give； it was hardwork to pass across the current at the southward end of the island and drivethe boat eastward towards the far shore。
At length they came to land again upon the southern slopes of Amon Lhaw。
There they found a shelving shore； and they drew the boat out； high above thewater； and hid it as well as they could behind a great boulder。 Thenshouldering their burdens； they set off； seeking a path that would bring themover the grey hills of the Emyn Muil； and down into the Land of Shadow。
_Here ends the first part of the history of the War of the Ring。_
_The second part is called_THE TWO TOWERS_； since the events recounted init are dominated by_ORTHANC_； the citadel of Saruman； and the fortressof_MINAS MORGUL_ that guards the secret entrance to Mordor； it tells of thedeeds and perils of all the members of the now sundered fellowship； until theing of the Great Darkness。_
_The third part tells of the last defence against the Shadow； and the endof the mission of the Ring…bearer in_THE RETURN OF THE KING。
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