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e the glintof water on dewy grass flashed from under her feet as she danced。
They hastened up the last slope； and stood breathless beside her。 Theybowed； but with a wave of her arm she bade them look round； and they lookedout from the hill…top over lands under the morning。 It was now as clear andfar…seen as it had been veiled and misty when they stood upon the knoll in theForest； which could now be seen rising pale and green out of the dark trees inthe West。 In that direction the land rose in wooded ridges； green； yellow；
russet under the sun； beyond which lay hidden the valley of the Brandywine。 Tothe South； over the line of the Withywindle； there was a distant glint likepale glass where the Brandywine River made a great loop in the lowlands andflowed away out of the knowledge of the hobbits。 Northward beyond thedwindling downs the land ran away in flats and swellings of grey and green andpale earth…colours； until it faded into a featureless and shadowy distance。
Eastward the Barrow…downs rose； ridge behind ridge into the morning； andvanished out of eyesight into a guess： it was no more than a guess of blue anda remote white glimmer blending with the hem of the sky； but it spoke to them；
out of memory and old tales； of the high and distant mountains。
They took a deep draught of the air； and felt that a skip and a few stoutstrides would bear them wherever they wished。 It seemed fainthearted to gojogging aside over the crumpled skirts of the downs towards the Road； whenthey should be leaping； as lusty as Tom； over the stepping stones of the hillsstraight towards the Mountains。
Goldberry spoke to them and recalled their eyes and thoughts。 'Speed now；
fair guests！' she said。 'And hold to your purpose！ North with the wind in theleft eye and a blessing on your footsteps！ Make haste while the Sun shines！'
And to Frodo she said： 'Farewell； Elf…friend； it was a merry meeting！'
But Frodo found no words to answer。 He bowed low； and mounted his pony；
and followed by his friends jogged slowly down the gentle slope behind thehill。 Tom Bombadil's house and the valley； and the Forest were lost to view。
The air grew warmer between the green walls of hillside and hillside； and thescent of turf rose strong and sweet as they breathed。 Turning back； when theyreached the bottom of the green hollow； they saw Goldberry； now small andslender like a sunlit flower against the sky： she was standing still watchingthem； and her hands were stretched out towards them。 As they looked she gave aclear call； and lifting up her hand she turned and vanished behind the hill。
Their way wound along the floor of the hollow； and round the green feetof a steep hill into another deeper and broader valley； and then over theshoulder of further hills； and down their long limbs； and up their smoothsides again； up on to new hill…tops and down into new valleys。 There was notree nor any visible water： it was a country of grass and short springy turf；
silent except for the whisper of the air over the edges of the land； and highlonely cries of strange birds。 As they journeyed the sun mounted； and grewhot。 Each time they climbed a ridge the breeze seemed to have grown less。 Whenthey caught a glimpse of the country westward the distant Forest seemed to besmoking； as if the fallen rain was steaming up again from leaf and root andmould。 A shadow now lay round the edge of sight； a dark haze above which theupper sky was like a blue cap； hot and heavy。
About mid…day they came to a hill whose top was wide and flattened； likea shallow saucer with a green mounded rim。 Inside there was no air stirring；
and the sky seemed near their heads。 They rode across and looked northwards。
Then their hearts rose； for it seemed plain that they had e further alreadythan they had expected。 Certainly the distances had now all bee hazy anddeceptive； but there could be no doubt that the Downs were ing to an end。 Along valley lay below them winding away northwards； until it came to anopening between two steep shoulders。 Beyond； there seemed to be no more hills。
Due north they faintly glimpsed a long dark line。 That is a line of trees；'
said Merry； 'and that must mark the Road。 All along it for many leagues eastof the Bridge there are trees growing。 Some say they were planted in the olddays。'
'Splendid！' said Frodo。 'If we make as good going this afternoon as wehave done this morning； we shall have left the Downs before the Sun sets and
be jogging on in search of a camping place。' But even as he spoke he turnedhis glance eastwards； and he saw that on that side the hills were higher andlooked down upon them； and all those hills were crowned with green mounds； andon some were standing stones； pointing upwards like jagged teeth out of green
gums。
That view was somehow disquieting； so they turned from the sight and wentdown into the hollow circle。 In the midst of it there stood a single stone；
standing tall under the sun above； and at this hour casting no shadow。 It wasshapeless and yet significant： like a landmark； or a guarding finger； or morelike a warning。 But they were now hungry； and the sun was still at thefearless noon； so they set their backs against the east side of the stone。 Itwas cool； as if the sun had had no power to warm it； but at that time thisseemed pleasant。 There they took food and drink； and made as good a noon…mealunder the open sky as anyone could wish； for the food came from 'down underHill'。 Tom had provided them with plenty for the fort of the day。 Theirponies unburdened strayed upon the grass。
Riding over the hills； and eating their fill； the warm sun and the scentof turf； lying a little too long； stretching out their legs and looking at thesky above their noses： these things are； perhaps； enough to explain whathappened。 However； that may be： they woke suddenly and unfortably from asleep they had never meant to take。 The standing stone was cold； and it cast along pale shadow that stretched eastward over them。 The sun； a pale and wateryyellow； was gleaming through the mist just above the west wall of the hollowin which they lay； north； south； and east； beyond the wall the fog was thick；
cold and white。 The air was silent； heavy and chill。 Their ponies werestanding crowded together with their heads down。
The hobbits sprang to their feet in alarm； and ran to the western rim。
They found that they were upon an island in the fog。 Even as they looked outin dismay towards the setting sun； it sank before their eyes into a white sea；
and a cold grey shadow sprang up in the East behind。 The fog rolled up to thewalls and rose above them； and as it mounted it bent over their heads until itbecame a roof： they were shut in a hall of mist whose central pillar was thestanding stone。
They felt as if a trap was closing about them； but they did not quitelose heart。 They still remembered the hopeful view they had had of the line ofthe Road ahead； and they still knew in which direction it lay。 In any case；
they now had so great a dislike for that hollow place about the stone that nothought of remaining there was in their minds。 They packed up as quickly astheir chilled fingers would work。
Soon they were leading their ponies in single file over the rim and downthe long northward slope of the hill； down into a foggy sea。 As they went downthe mist became colder and damper； and their hair hung lank and dripping ontheir foreheads。 When they reached the bottom it was so cold that they haltedand got out cloaks and hoods； which soon became bedewed with grey drops。 Then；
mounting their ponies； they went slowly on again； feeling their way by therise and fall of the ground。 They were steering； as well as they could guess；
for the gate…like opening at the far northward end of the long valley whichthey had seen in the morning。 Once they were through the gap； they had only lokeep on in anything like a straight line and they were bound in the end tostrike the Road。 Their thoughts did not go beyond that； except for a vaguehope that perhaps away beyond the Downs there might be no fog。
Their going was very slow。 To prevent their getting separated andwandering in different directions they went in file； with Frodo leading。 Samwas behind him； and after him came Pippin； and then Merry。 The valley seemedto stretch on endlessly。 Suddenly Frodo saw a hopeful sign。 On either sideahead a darkness began to loom through the mist； and he guessed that they wereat last approaching the gap in the hills； the north…gate of the Barrow…downs。
If they could pass that； they would be free。
'e on！ Follow me！' he called back over his shoulder； and he hurriedforward。 But his hope soon changed to bewilderment and alarm。 The dark patches
grew darker； but they shrank； and suddenly he saw； towering ominous before himand leaning slightly towards one another like the pillars of a headless door；
two huge standing stones。 He could not remember having seen any sign of thesein the valley； when he looked out from the hill in the morning。 He had passedbetween them almost before he was aware： and even as he did so darkness seemed
to fall round him。 His pony reared and snorted； and he fell off。 When helooked back he found that he was alone： the others had not followed him。
'Sam！' he