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mpse of Strider leaping out of thedarkness with a flaming brand of wood in either hand。 With a last effortFrodo； dropping his sword； slipped the Ring from his finger and closed hisright hand tight upon it。
_Chapter 12_
Flight to the Ford
When Frodo came to himself he was still clutching the Ring desperately。
He was lying by the fire； which was now piled high and burning brightly。 Histhree panions were bending over him。 'What has happened？ Where is the paleking？' he asked wildly。 They were too overjoyed to hear him speak to answerfor a while； nor did they understand his question。 At length he gathered fromSam that they had seen nothing but the vague shadowy shapes ing towardsthem。 Suddenly to his horror Sam found that his master had vanished； and atthat moment a black shadow rushed past him； and he fell。 He heard Frodo'svoice； but it seemed to e from a great distance； or from under the earth；
crying out strange words。 They saw nothing more； until they stumbled over thebody of Frodo； lying as if dead； face downwards on the grass with his swordbeneath him。 Strider ordered them to pick him up and lay him near the fire；
and then he disappeared。 That was now a good while ago。
Sam plainly was beginning to have doubts again about Strider； but whilethey were talking he returned； appearing suddenly out of the shadows。 Theystarted； and Sam drew his sword and stood over Frodo； but Strider knelt downswiftly at his side。
'I am not a Black Rider； Sam；' he said gently； 'nor in league with them。
I have been trying to discover something of their movements； but I have foundnothing。 I cannot think why they have gone and do not attack again。 But thereis no feeling of their presence anywhere at hand。'
When he heard what Frodo had to tell； he became full of concern； andshook his head and sighed。 Then he ordered Pippin and Merry to heat as muchwater as they could in their small kettles； and to bathe the wound with it。
'Keep the fire going well； and keep Frodo warm！' he said。 Then he got up andwalked away； and called Sam to him。 'I think I understand things better now；'
he said in a low voice。 'There seem only to have been five of the enemy。 Whythey were not all here； I don't know； but I don't think they expected to beresisted。 They have drawn off for the time being。 But not far； I fear。 Theywill e again another night； if we cannot escape。 They are only waiting；
because they think that their purpose is almost acplished； and that theRing cannot fly much further。 I fear； Sam； that they believe your master has adeadly wound that will subdue him to their will。 We shall see！' Sam chokedwith tears。 'Don't despair！' said Strider。 'You must trust me now。 Your Frodois made of sterner stuff than I had guessed； though Gandalf hinted that it
might prove so。 He is not slain； and I think he will resist the evil power ofthe wound longer than his enemies expect。 I will do all I can to help and healhim。 Guard him well； while I am away！' He hurried off and disappeared againinto the darkness。
Frodo dozed； though the pain of his wound was slowly growing； and adeadly chill was spreading from his shoulder to his arm and side。 His friendswatched over him； warming him； and bathing his wound。 The night passed slowlyand wearily。 Dawn was growing in the sky； and the dell was filling with greylight； when Strider at last returned。
'Look！' he cried； and stooping he lifted from the ground a black cloakthat had lain there hidden by the darkness。 A foot above the lower hem therewas a slash。 'This was the stroke of Frodo's sword；' he said。 'The only hurtthat it did to his enemy； I fear； for it is unharmed； but all blades perishthat pierce that dreadful King。 More deadly to him was the name of Elbereth。'
'And more deadly to Frodo was this！' He stooped again and lifted up along thin knife。 There was a cold gleam in it。 As Strider raised it they sawthat near the end its edge was notched and the point was broken off。 But evenas he held it up in the growing light； they gazed in astonishment； for theblade seemed to melt； and vanished like a smoke in the air； leaving only thehilt in Strider's hand。 'Alas！' he cried。 'It was this accursed knife that
gave the wound。 Few now have the skill in healing to match such evil weapons。
But I will do what I can。'
He sat down on the ground； and taking the dagger…hilt laid it on hisknees； and he sang over it a slow song in a strange tongue。 Then setting itaside； he turned to Frodo and in a soft tone spoke words the others could notcatch。 From the pouch at his belt he drew out the long leaves of a plant。
'These leaves；' he said； 'I have walked far to find； for this plant doesnot grow in the bare hills； but in the thickets away south of the Road I foundit in the dark by the scent of its leaves。' He crushed a leaf in his fingers；
and it gave out a sweet and pungent fragrance。 'It is fortunate that I couldfind it； for it is a healing plant that the Men of the West brought to Middle…
earth。 _Athelas_ they named it； and it grows now sparsely and only near placeswhere they dwelt or camped of old； and it is not known in the North； except tosome of those who wander in the Wild。 It has great virtues； but over such awound as this its healing powers may be small。'
He threw the leaves into boiling water and bathed Frodo's shoulder。 Thefragrance of the steam was refreshing； and those that were unhurt felt theirminds calmed and cleared。 The herb had also some power over the wound； forFrodo felt the pain and also the sense of frozen cold lessen in his side； butthe life did not return to his arm； and he could not raise or use his hand。 Hebitterly regretted his foolishness； and reproached himself for weakness ofwill； for he now perceived that in putting on the Ring he obeyed not his owndesire but the manding wish of his enemies。 He wondered if he would remainmaimed for life； and how they would now manage to continue their journey。 Hefell too weak to stand。
The others were discussing this very question。 They quickly decided toleave Weathertop as soon as possible。 'I think now；' said Strider； 'that theenemy has been watching this place for some days。 If Gandalf ever came here；
then he must have been forced to ride away； and he will not return。 In anycase we are in great peril here after dark； since the attack of last night；
and we can hardly meet greater danger wherever we go。'
As soon as the daylight was full； they had some hurried food and packed。
It was impossible for Frodo to walk； so they divided the greater part of theirbaggage among the four of them； and put Frodo on the pony。 In the last fewdays the poor beast had improved wonderfully； it already seemed fatter andstronger； and had begun to show an affection for its new masters； especiallyfor Sam。 Bill Ferny's treatment must have been very hard for the journey inthe wild to seem so much better than its former life。
They started off in a southerly direction。 This would mean crossing theRoad； but。 it was the quickest way to more wooded country。 And they needed
fuel； for Strider said that Frodo must be kept warm； especially at night；
while fire would be some protection for them all。 It was also his plan toshorten their journey by cutting across another great loop of the Road： eastbeyond Weathertop it changed its course and took a wide bend northwards。
They made their way slowly and cautiously round the south…western slopesof the hill； and came in a little while to the edge of the Road。 There was nosign of the Riders。 But even as they were hurrying across they heard far awaytwo cries： a cold voice calling and a cold voice answering。 Trembling theysprang forward； and made for the thickets that lay ahead。 The land before themsloped away southwards； but it was wild and pathless； bushes and stunted treesgrew in dense patches with wide barren spaces in between。 The grass wasscanty； coarse； and grey； and the leaves in the thickets were faded andfalling。 It was a cheerless land； and their journey was slow and gloomy。 Theyspoke little as they trudged along。 Frodo's heart was grieved as he watchedthem walking beside him with their heads down； and their backs bowed undertheir burdens。 Even Strider seemed tired and heavy…hearted。
Before the first day's march was over Frodo's pain began to grow again；
but he did not speak of it for a long time。 Four days passed； without theground or the scene changing much； except that behind them Weathertop slowlysank； and before them the distant mountains loomed a little nearer。 Yet sincethat far cry they had seen and heard no sign that the enemy had marked theirflight or followed them。 They dreaded the dark hours； and kept watch in pairsby night； expecting at any time to see black shapes stalking in the greynight； dimly lit by the cloud…veiled moon； but they saw nothing； and heard nosound but the sigh of withered leaves and grass。 Not once did they feel thesense of present evil that had assailed them before the attack in the dell。 Itseemed too much to hope that the Riders had already lost their trail again。
Perhaps they were waiting to make some ambush in a narrow place？
At the end of the fifth day the ground began once more to rise slowly outof the wide shallow valley into which they had descended。 Strider now turnedthei