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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 turnedtheir course again north…eastwards； and on the sixth day they reached the topof a long slow…climbing slope； and saw far ahead a huddle of wooded hills。
Away below them they could see the Road sweeping round the feet of the hills；
and to their right a grey river gleamed pale in the thin sunshine。 In thedistance they glimpsed yet another river in a stony valley half…veiled inmist。
〃I am afraid we must go back to the Road here for a while；' said Strider。
'We have now e to the River Hoarwell； that the Elves call Mitheithel。 Itflows down out of the Ettenmoors； the troll…fells north of Rivendell； andjoins the Loudwater away in the South。 Some call it the Greyflood after that。
It is a great water before it finds the Sea。 There is no way over it below itssources in the Ettenmoors； except by the Last Bridge on which the Roadcrosses。'
'What is that other river we can see far away there？' asked Merry。
'That is Loudwater； the Bruinen of Rivendell；' answered Strider。 'TheRoad runs along the edge of the hills for many miles from the Bridge to theFord of Bruinen。 But I have not yet thought how we shall cross that water。 Oneriver at a time！ We shall be fortunate indeed if we do not find the Last
Bridge held against us。'
Next day； early in the morning； they came down again to the borders ofthe Road。 Sam and Strider went forward； but they found no sign of anytravellers or riders。 Here under the shadow of the hills there had been some
rain。 Strider judged that it had fallen two days before； and had washed awayall footprints。 No horseman had passed since then； as far as he could see。
They hurried along with all the speed they could make； and after a mileor two they saw the Last Bridge ahead； at the bottom of a short steep slope。
They dreaded to see black figures waiting there； but they saw none。 Stridermade them take cover in a thicket at the side of the Road； while he wentforward to explore。
Before long he came hurrying back。 'I can see no sign of the enemy；' he
said； 'and I wonder very much what that means。 But I have found something verystrange。'
He held out his hand； and showed a single pale…green jewel。 'I found itin the mud in the middle of the Bridge；' he said。 'It is a beryl； an elf…
stone。 Whether it was set there； or let fall by chance； I cannot say； but itbrings hope to me。 I will take it as a sign that we may pass the Bridge； butbeyond that I dare not keep to the Road； without some clearer token。'
At once they went on again。 They crossed the Bridge in safety； hearing nosound but the water swirling against its three great arches。 A mile further onthey came to a narrow ravine that led away northwards through the steep landson the left of the Road。 Here Strider turned aside； and soon they were lost ina sombre country of dark trees winding among the feet of sullen hills。
The hobbits were glad to leave the cheerless lands and the perilous Roadbehind them； but this new country seemed threatening and unfriendly。 As theywent forward the hills about them steadily rose。 Here and there upon heightsand ridges they caught glimpses of ancient walls of stone； and the ruins oftowers： they had an ominous look。 Frodo； who was not walking； had time to gazeahead and to think。 He recalled Bilbo's account of his journey and thethreatening towers on the hills north of the Road； in the country near theTroll's wood where his first serious adventure had happened。 Frodo guessedthat they were now in the same region； and wondered if by chance they wouldpass near the spot。
'Who lives in this land？' he asked。 'And who built these towers？ Is this
troll…country？'
'No！' said Strider。 'Trolls do not build。 No one lives in this land。 Men
once dwelt here； ages ago； but none remain now。 They became an evil people； aslegends tell； for they fell under the shadow of Angmar。 But all were destroyedin the war that brought the North Kingdom to its end。 But that is now so longago that the hills have forgotten them； though a shadow still lies on theland。'
'Where did you learn such tales； if all the land is empty andforgetful？' asked Peregrin。 'The birds and beasts do not tell tales of thatson。'
'The heirs of Elendil do not forget all things past；' said Strider； 'andmany more things than I can tell are remembered in Rivendell。' 'Have you oftenbeen to Rivendell？' said Frodo。 'I have；' said Strider。 'I dwelt there once；
and still I return when I may。
There my heart is； but it is not my fate to sit in peace； even in thefair house of Elrond。'
The hills now began to shut them in。 The Road behind held on its way tothe River Bruinen； but both were now hidden from view。 The travellers cameinto a long valley； narrow； deeply cloven； dark and silent。 Trees with old andtwisted roots hung over cliffs； and piled up behind into mounting slopes ofpine…wood。
The hobbits grew very weary。 They advanced slowly； for they had to picktheir way through a pathless country； encumbered by fallen trees and tumbledrocks。 As long as they could they avoided climbing for Frodo's sake； andbecause it was in fact difficult to find any way up out of the narrow dales。
They had been two days in this country when the weather turned wet。 The windbegan to blow steadily out of the West and pour the water of the distant season the dark heads of the hills in fine drenching rain。 By nightfall they wereall soaked； and their camp was cheerless； for they could not get any fire toburn。 The next day the hills rose still higher and steeper before them； andthey were forced to turn away northwards out of their course。 Strider seemedto be getting anxious： they were nearly ten days out from Weathertop； andtheir stock of provisions was beginning to run low。 It went on raining。
That night they camped on a stony shelf with a rock…wall behind them； inwhich there was a shallow cave； a mere scoop in the cliff。 Frodo was restless。
The cold and wet had made his wound more painful than ever； and the ache andsense of deadly chill took away all sleep。 He lay tossing and turning and
listening fearfully to the stealthy night…noises： wind in chinks of rock；
water dripping； a crack； the sudden rattling fall of a loosened stone。 He feltthat black shapes were advancing to smother him； but when he sat up he sawnothing but the back of Strider sitting hunched up； smoking his pipe； andwatching。 He lay down again and passed into an uneasy dream； in which hewalked on the grass in his garden in the Shire； but it seemed faint and dim；
less clear than the tall black shadows that stood looking over the hedge。
In the morning he woke to find that the rain had stopped。 The clouds werestill thick； but they were breaking； and pale strips of blue appeared betweenthem。 The wind was shifting again。 They did not start early。 Immediately aftertheir cold and fortless breakfast Strider went off alone； telling theothers to remain under the shelter of the cliff； until he came back。 He wasgoing to climb up； if he could； and get a look at the lie of the land。
When he returned he was not reassuring。 'We have e too far to thenorth；' he said； 'and we must find some way to turn back southwards again。 Ifwe keep on as we are going we shall get up into the Ettendales far north ofRivendell。 That is troll…country； and little known to me。 We could perhapsfind our way through and e round to Rivendell from the north； but it wouldtake too long； for I do not know the way； and our food would not last。 Sosomehow or other we must find the Ford of Bruinen。'
The rest of that day they spent scrambling over rocky ground。 They founda passage between two hills that led them into a valley running south…east；
the direction that they wished to take； but towards the end of the day theyfound their road again barred by a ridge of high land； its dark edge againstthe sky was broken into many bare points like teeth of a blunted saw。 They hada choice between going back or climbing over it。
They decided to attempt the climb； but it proved very difficult。 Beforelong Frodo was obliged to dismount and struggle along on foot。 Even so theyoften despaired of getting their pony up； or indeed of finding a path forthemselves； burdened as they were。 The light was nearly gone； and they wereall exhausted； when at last they reached the top。 They had climbed on to anarrow saddle between two higher points； and the land fell steeply away again；
only a short distance ahead。 Frodo threw himself down； and lay on the groundshivering。 His left arm was lifeless； and his side and shoulder felt as if icyclaws were laid upon them。 The trees and rocks about him seemed shadowy anddim。
'We cannot go any further；' said Merry to Strider。 'I am afraid this hasbeen too much for Frodo。 I am dreadfully anxious about him。 What are we to do？
Do you think they will be able to cure him in Rivendell； if we ever getthere？'
'We shall see；' answered Strider。 'There is nothing more that I can do inthe wilderness； and it is chiefly because of his wound that I am so anxious topress on。 But I agree that we can go no further tonight。'
'What is the matter with my master？' asked Sam in a low voice； lookingappealingly a