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eless feet ofthe Elf。 On he led them； into the mouth of darkness； and still on under thedeep clouded night。 There was neither star nor moon。 Not until the grey ofdawn did he allow them to halt。 Pippin； Merry； and Sam were by that timenearly asleep on their stumbling legs； and even Strider seemed by the sag ofhis shoulders to be weary。 Frodo sat upon the horse in a dark dream。
They cast themselves down in the heather a few yards from the road…side；
and fell asleep immediately。 They seemed hardly to have closed their eyes whenGlorfindel； who had set himself to watch while they slept； awoke them again。
The sun had now climbed far into the morning； and the clouds and mists of thenight were gone。
'Drink this！' said Glorfindel to them； pouring for each in turn a littleliquor from his silver…studded flask of leather。 It was clear as spring waterand had no taste； and it did not feel either cool or warm in the mouth； butstrength and vigour seemed to flow into all their limbs as they drank it。
Eaten after that draught the stale bread and dried fruit （which was now allthat they had left） seemed to satisfy their hunger better than many a goodbreakfast in the Shire had done。
They had rested rather less than five hours when they took to the Roadagain。 Glorfindel still urged them on； and only allowed two brief halts duringthe day's march。 In this way they covered almost twenty miles beforenightfall； and came to a point where the Road bent right and ran down towardsthe bottom of the valley； now making straight for the Bruinen。 So far therehad been no sign or sound of pursuit that the hobbits could see or hear； butoften Glorfindel would halt and listen for a moment； if they lagged behind；
and a look of anxiety clouded his face。 Once or twice he spoke to Strider inthe elf…tongue。
But however anxious their guides might be； it was plain that the hobbitscould go no further that night。 They were stumbling along dizzy withweariness； and unable to think of anything but their feet and legs。 Frodo'spain had redoubled； and during the day things about him faded to shadows ofghostly grey。 He almost weled the ing of night； for then the worldseemed less pale and empty。
The hobbits were still weary； when they set out again early next morning。
There were many miles yet to go between them and the Ford； and they hobbledforward at the best pace they could manage。
'Our peril will be greatest just ere we reach the river；' saidGlorfindel； 'for my heart warns me that the pursuit is now swift behind us；
and other danger may be waiting by the Ford。'
The Road was still running steadily downhill； and there was now in placesmuch grass at either side； in which the hobbits walked when they could； toease their tired feet。 In the late afternoon they came to a place where theRoad went suddenly under the dark shadow of tall pine…trees； and then plungedinto a deep cutting with steep moist walls of red stone。 Echoes ran along asthey hurried forward； and there seemed to be a sound of many footfallsfollowing their own。 All at once； as if through a gate of light； the Road ranout again from the end of the tunnel into the open。 There at the bottom of asharp incline they saw before them a long flat mile； and beyond that the Fordof Rivendell。 On the further side was a steep brown bank； threaded by awinding path； and behind that the tall mountains climbed； shoulder aboveshoulder； and peak beyond peak； into the fading sky。
There was still an echo as of following feet in the cutting behind them；
a rushing noise as if a wind were rising and pouring through the branches ofthe pines。 One moment Glorfindel turned and listened； then he sprang forwardwith a loud cry。
'Fly！' he called。 'Fly！ The enemy is upon us！'
The white horse leaped forward。 The hobbits ran down the slope。
Glorfindel and Strider followed as rear…guard。 They were only half way acrossthe flat； when suddenly there was a noise of horses galloping。 Out of the gatein the trees that they had just left rode a Black Rider。 He reined his horsein； and halted； swaying in his saddle。 Another followed him； and then another；
then again two more。
'Ride forward！ Ride！' cried Glorfindel to Frodo。
He did not obey at once； for a strange reluctance seized him。 Checkingthe horse to a walk； he turned and looked back。 The Riders seemed to sit upontheir great steeds like threatening statues upon a hill； dark and solid； while
all the woods and land about them receded as if into a mist。 Suddenly he knewin his heart that they were silently manding him to wait。 Then at once fearand hatred awoke in him。 His hand left the bridle and gripped the hilt of hissword； and with a red flash he drew it。
'Ride on！ Ride on！' cried Glorfindel； and then loud and clear he calledto the horse in the elf…tongue： _noro lim； noro lim； Asfaloth！_
At once the white horse sprang away and sped like the wind along the lastlap of the Road。 At the same moment the black horses leaped down the hill inpursuit； and from the Riders came a terrible cry； such as Frodo had heardfilling the woods with horror in the Eastfarthing far away。 It was answered；
and to the dismay of Frodo and his friends out from the trees and rocks awayon the left four other Riders came flying。 Two rode towards Frodo： twogalloped madly towards the Ford to cut off his escape。 They seemed to him torun like the wind and to grow swiftly larger and darker； as their coursesconverged with his。
Frodo looked back for a moment over his shoulder。 He could no longer seehis friends。 The Riders behind were falling back： even their great steeds wereno match in speed for the white elf…horse of Glorfindel。 He looked forwardagain； and hope faded。 There seemed no chance of reaching the Ford before hewas cut off by the others that had lain in ambush。 He could see them clearlynow： they appeared to have cast aside their hoods and black cloaks； and theywere robed in white and grey。 Swords were naked in their pale hands； helmswere on their heads。 Their cold eyes glittered； and they called to him withfell voices。
Fear now filled all Frodo's mind。 He thought no longer of his sword。 Nocry came from him。 He shut his eyes and clung to the horse's mane。 The windwhistled in his ears； and the bells upon the harness rang wild and shrill。 Abreath of deadly cold pierced him like a spear； as with a last spurt； like aflash of white fire； the elf…horse speeding as if on wings； passed rightbefore the face of the foremost Rider。
Frodo heard the splash of water。 It foamed about his feet。 He felt thequick heave and surge as the horse left the river and struggled up the stonypath。 He was climbing the steep bank。 He was across the Ford。
But the pursuers were close behind。 At the top of the bank the horsehalted and turned about neighing fiercely。 There were Nine Riders at thewater's edge below； and Frodo's spirit quailed before the threat of theiruplifted faces。 He knew of nothing that would prevent them from crossing aseasily as he had done； and he felt that it was useless to try to escape overthe long uncertain path from the Ford to the edge of Rivendell； if once theRiders crossed。 In any case he felt that he was manded urgently to halt。
Hatred again stirred in him； but he had no longer the strength to refuse。
Suddenly the foremost Rider spurred his horse forward。 It checked at thewater and reared up。 With a great effort Frodo sat upright and brandished hissword。
'Go back！' he cried。 'Go back to the Land of Mordor； and follow me nomore！ ' His voice sounded thin and shrill in his own ears。 The Riders halted；
but Frodo had not the power of Bombadil。 His enemies laughed at him with aharsh and chilling laughter。 'e back！ e back！' they called。 'To Mordorwe will take you！'
'Go back！' he whispered。
'The Ring！ The Ring！' they cried with deadly voices； and immediatelytheir leader urged his horse forward into the water； followed closely by twoothers。
'By Elbereth and Lúthien the Fair；' said Frodo with a last effort；
lifting up his sword； 'you shall have neither the Ring nor me！'
Then the leader； who was now half across the Ford； stood up menacing inhis stirrups； and raised up his hand。 Frodo was stricken dumb。 He felt histongue cleave to his mouth； and his heart labouring。 His sword broke and fellout of his shaking hand。 The elf…horse reared and snorted。 The foremost of theblack horses had almost set foot upon the shore。
At that moment there came a roaring and a rushing： a noise of loud watersrolling many stones。 Dimly Frodo saw the river below him rise； and down alongits course there came a plumed cavalry of waves。 White flames seemed to Frodoto flicker on their crests and he half fancied that he saw amid the water
white riders upon white horses with frothing manes。 The three Riders that werestill in the midst of the Ford were overwhelmed： they disappeared； buriedsuddenly under angry foam。 Those that were behind drew back in dismay。
With his last failing senses Frodo heard cries； and it seemed to him thathe saw； beyond the Riders that hesitated on the shore； a shining figure ofwhite light； and behind it ran small shadowy forms waving flames； that flaredred in the grey mist that was falling over the world。
The black horses were filled with madness； and leaping forward in ter