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'Look；' he said； pointing downwards。
At once Strider flung himself on the ground behind the ruined circle；
pulling Frodo down beside him。 Merry threw himself alongside。
'What is it？' he whispered。
'I do not know； but I fear the worst；' answered Strider。
Slowly they crawled up to the edge of the ring again； and peered througha cleft between two jagged stones。 The light was no longer bright； for theclear morning had faded； and clouds creeping out of the East had now overtakenthe sun； as it began to go down。 They could all see the black specks； butneither Frodo nor Merry could make out their shapes for certain； yet somethingtold them that there； far below； were Black Riders assembling on the Roadbeyond the foot of the hill。
'Yes；' said Strider； whose keener sight left him in no doubt。 'The enemyis here！'
Hastily they crept away and slipped down the north side of the hill tofind their panions。
Sam and Peregrin had not been idle。 They had explored the small dell andthe surrounding slopes。 Not far away they found a spring of clear water in thehillside； and near it footprints not more than a day or two old。 In the dellitself they found recent traces of a fire； and other signs of a hasty camp。
There were some fallen rocks on the edge of the dell nearest to the hill。
Behind them Sam came upon a small store of firewood neatly stacked。
'I wonder if old Gandalf has been here；' he said to Pippin。 'Whoever itwas put this stuff here meant to e back it seems。'
Strider was greatly interested in these discoveries。 'I wish I had waitedand explored the ground down here myself；' he said； hurrying off to the springto examine the footprints。
'It is just as I feared；' he said； when he came back。 'Sam and Pippinhave trampled the soft ground； and the marks are spoilt or confused。 Rangershave been here lately。 It is they who left the firewood behind。 But there arealso several newer tracks that were not made by Rangers。 At least one set wasmade； only a day or two ago； by heavy boots。 At least one。 I cannot now becertain； but I think there were many booted feet。' He paused and stood inanxious thought。
Each of the hobbits saw in his mind a vision of the cloaked and booted
Riders。 If the horsemen had already found the dell； the sooner Strider ledthem somewhere else the better。 Sam viewed the hollow with great dislike； nowthat he had heard news of their enemies on the Road； only a few miles away。
'Hadn't we better clear out quick； Mr。 Strider？' he asked impatiently。
'It is getting late； and I don't like this hole： it makes my heart sinksomehow。'
'Yes； we certainly must decide what to do at once；' answered Strider；
looking up and considering the time and the weather。 'Well； Sam；' he said atlast； 'I do not like this place either； but I cannot think of anywhere betterthat we could reach before nightfall。 At least we are out of sight for themoment； and if we moved we should be much more likely to be seen by spies。 Allwe could do would be to go right out of our way back north on this side of theline of hills； where the land is all much the same as it is here。 The Road iswatched； but we should have to cross it； if we tried to take cover in thethickets away to the south。 On the north side of the Road beyond the hills thecountry is bare and flat for miles。'
'Can the Riders _see？'_ asked Merry。 'I mean； they seem usually to haveused their noses rather than their eyes； smelling for us； if smelling is theright word； at least in the daylight。 But you made us lie down flat when yousaw them down below； and now you talk of being seen； if we move。'
'I was too careless on the hill…top；' answered Strider。 'I was veryanxious to find some sign of Gandalf； but it was a mistake for three of us togo up and stand there so long。 For the black horses can see； and the Riderscan use men and other creatures as spies； as we found at Bree。 They themselves
do not see the world of light as we do； but our shapes cast shadows in theirminds； which only the noon sun destroys； and in the dark they perceive manysigns and forms that are hidden from us： then they are most to be feared。 Andat all times they smell the blood of living things； desiring and hating it。
Senses； too； there are other than sight or smell。 We can feel their presence –
it troubled our hearts； as soon as we came here； and before we saw them； theyfeel ours more keenly。 Also；' he added； and his voice sank to a whisper； 'theRing draws them。'
'Is there no escape then？' said Frodo； looking round wildly。 'If I move Ishall be seen and hunted！ If I stay； I shall draw them to me！'
Strider laid his hand on his shoulder。 'There is still hope；' he said。
'You are not alone。 Let us take this wood that is set ready for the fire as asign。 There is little shelter or defence here； but fire shall serve for both。
Sauron can put fire to his evil uses； as he can all things； but these Ridersdo not love it； and fear those who wield it。 Fire is our friend in thewilderness。'
'Maybe；' muttered Sam。 'It is also as good a way of saying 〃here we are〃
as I can think of； bar shouting。'
Down in the lowest and most sheltered corner of the dell they lit a fire；
and prepared a meal。 The shades of evening began to fall； and it grew cold。
They were suddenly aware of great hunger； for they had not eaten anythingsince breakfast； but they dared not make more than a frugal supper。 The landsahead were empty of all save birds and beasts； unfriendly places deserted byall the races of the world。 Rangers passed at times beyond the hills； but theywere few and did not stay。 Other wanderers were rare； and of evil sort： trollsmight stray down at times out of the northern valleys of the Misty Mountains。
Only on the Road would travellers be found； most often dwarves； hurrying alongon business of their own； and with no help and few words to spare forstrangers。
'I don't see how our food can be made to last；' said Frodo。 'We have beencareful enough in the last few days； and this supper is no feast； but we haveused more than we ought； if we have two weeks still to go； and perhaps more。'
'There is food in the wild；' said Strider； 'berry； root； and herb； and Ihave some skill as a hunter at need。 You need not be afraid of starving beforewinter es。 But gathering and catching food is long and weary work； and weneed haste。 So tighten your belts； and think with hope of the tables ofElrond's house！'
The cold increased as darkness came on。 Peering out from the edge of thedell they could see nothing but a grey land now vanishing quickly into shadow。
The sky above had cleared again and was slowly filled with twinkling stars。
Frodo and his panions huddled round the fire； wrapped in every garment andblanket they possessed； but Strider was content with a single cloak； and sat alittle apart； drawing thoughtfully at his pipe。
As night fell and the light of the fire began to shine out brightly hebegan to tell them tales to keep their minds from fear。 He knew many historiesand legends of long ago； of Elves and Men and the good and evil deeds of theElder Days。 They wondered how old he was； and where he had learned all thislore。
'Tell us of Gil…galad；' said Merry suddenly； when he paused at the end ofa story of the Elf…Kingdoms。 'Do you know any more of that old lay that youspoke of？'
'I do indeed；' answered Strider。 'So also does Frodo； for it concerns usclosely。' Merry and Pippin looked at Frodo； who was staring into the fire。
'I know only the little that Gandalf has told me；' said Frodo slowly。
'Gil…galad was the last of the great Elf…kings of Middle…earth。 Gil…galad is_Starlight_ in their tongue。 With Elendil； the Elf…friend； he went to the landof–––'
'No！' said Strider interrupting； 'I do not think that tale should be toldnow with the servants of the Enemy at hand。 If we win through to the house ofElrond； you may hear it there； told in full。'
'Then tell us some other tale of the old days；' begged Sam； 'a tale aboutthe Elves before the fading time。 I would dearly like to hear more aboutElves； the dark seems to press round so close。'
'I will tell you the tale of Tinúviel；' said Strider； 'in brief – for itis a long tale of which the end is not known； and there are none now； exceptElrond； that remember it aright as it was told of old。 It is a fair tale；
though it is sad； as are all the tales of Middle…earth； and yet it may lift upyour hearts。' He was silent for some time； and then he began not to speak butto chant softly：
The leaves were long； the grass was green；
The hemlock…umbels tall and fair；
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering。
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen；
And light of stars was in her hair；
And in her raiment glimmering。
There Beren came from mountains cold；
And lost he wandered under leaves；
And where the Elven…river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing。
He peered between the hemlock…leaves
And saw in wander flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves；
And her hair like shadow following。
Enchantment healed his weary feet
That over hills were doomed to roam；
And forth he hastened； strong and fleet；
And grasped at moonbeams glistening。
Through woven woods in Elvenhome
She tightly fled