按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The pany behind him spoke seldom； and then only in hurried whispers。
There was no sound but the sound of their own feet； the dull stump of Gimli'sdwarf…boots； the heavy tread of Boromir； the light step of Legolas； the soft；
scarce…heard patter of hobbit…feet； and in the rear the slow firm footfalls ofAragorn with his long stride。 When they halted for a moment they heard nothingat all； unless it were occasionally a faint trickle and drip of unseen water。
Yet Frodo began to hear； or to imagine that he heard； something else： like thefaint fall of soft bare feet。 It was never loud enough； or near enough； forhim to feel certain that he heard it； but once it had started it neverstopped； while the pany was moving。 But it was not an echo； for when theyhalted it pattered on for a little all by itself； and then grew still。
It was after nightfall when they had entered the Mines。 They had beengoing for several hours with only brief halts； when Gandalf came to his firstserious check。 Before him stood a wide dark arch opening into three passages：
all led in the same general direction； eastwards； but the left…hand passageplunged down； while the right…hand climbed up； and the middle way seemed torun on； smooth and level but very narrow。
'I have no memory of this place at all！ ' said Gandalf； standinguncertainly under the arch。 He held up his staff in the hope of finding somemarks or inscription that might help his choice； but nothing of the kind wasto be seen。 ‘I am too weary to decide；' he said； shaking his head。 ‘And Iexpect that you are all as weary as I am； or wearier。 We had better halt herefor what is left of the night。 You know what I mean！ In here it is ever dark；
but outside the late Moon is riding westward and the middle…night has passed。'
‘Poor old Bill！ ' said Sam。 'I wonder where he is。 I hope those wolveshaven't got him yet。'
To the left of the great arch they found a stone door： it was halfclosed； but swung back easily to a gentle thrust。 Beyond there seemed to lie awide chamber cut in the rock。
‘Steady！ Steady！ ' cried Gandalf as Merry and Pippin pushed forward； gladto find a place where they could rest with at least more feeling of shelterthan in the open passage。 ‘Steady！ You do not know what is inside yet。 I willgo first。'
He went in cautiously； and the others filed behind。 ‘There！ ' he said；
pointing with his staff to the middle of the floor。 Before his feet they saw alarge round hole like the mouth of a well。 Broken and rusty chains lay at theedge and trailed down into the black pit。 Fragments of stone lay near。
'One of you might have fallen in and still be wondering when you weregoing to strike the bottom；' said Aragorn to Merry。 'Let the guide go firstwhile you have one。'
'This seems to have been a guardroom； made for the watching of the threepassages；' said Gimli。 ‘That hole was plainly a well for the guards' use；
covered with a stone lid。 But the lid is broken； and we must all take care inthe dark。'
Pippin felt curiously attracted by the well。 While the others wereunrolling blankets and making beds against the walls of the chamber； as far aspossible from the hole in the floor； he crept to the edge and peered over。 Achill air seemed to strike his face； rising from invisible depths。 Moved by asudden impulse he groped for a loose stone； and let it drop。 He felt his heartbeat many times before there was any sound。 Then far below； as if the stonehad fallen into deep water in some cavernous place； there came a _plunk_； verydistant； but magnified and repeated in the hollow shaft。
‘What's that？ ' cried Gandalf。 He was relieved when Pippin confessed whathe had done； but he was angry； and Pippin could see his eye glinting。 'Fool ofa Took！ ' he growled。 'This is a serious journey； not a hobbit walking…party。
Throw yourself in next time； and then you will be no further nuisance。 Now bequiet！ '
Nothing more was heard for several minutes； but then there came out ofthe depths faint knocks： _tom…tap； tap…tom_。 They stopped； and when the echoeshad died away； they were repeated： _tap…tom； tom…tap； tap…tap； tom_。 Theysounded disquietingly like signals of some sort； but after a while theknocking died away and was not heard again。
'That was the sound of a hammer； or I have never heard one；' said Gimli。
‘Yes；' said Gandalf； 'and I do not like it。 It may have nothing to dowith Peregrin's foolish stone； but probably something has been disturbed thatwould have been better left quiet。 Pray； do nothing of the kind again！ Let ushope we shall get some rest without further trouble。 You； Pippin； can go onthe first watch； as a reward；' he growled； as he rolled himself in a blanket。
Pippin sat miserably by the door in the pitch dark； but he kept onturning round； fearing that some unknown thing would crawl up out of the well。
He wished he could cover the hole； if only with a blanket； but he dared notmove or go near it； even though Gandalf seemed to be asleep。
Actually Gandalf was awake； though lying still and silent。 He was deep inthought； trying to recall every memory of his former journey in the Mines； andconsidering anxiously the next course that he should take； a false turn nowmight be disastrous。 After an hour he rose up and came over to Pippin。
‘Get into a corner and have a sleep； my lad；' he said in a kindly tone。
'You want to sleep； I expect。 I cannot get a wink； so I may as well do thewatching。'
'I know what is the matter with me；' he muttered； as he sat down by thedoor。 'I need smoke！ I have not tasted it since the morning before thesnowstorm。'
The last thing that Pippin saw； as sleep took him； was a dark glimpse of
the old wizard huddled on the floor； shielding a glowing chip in his gnarledhands between his knees。 The flicker for a moment showed his sharp nose。 andthe puff of smoke。
It was Gandalf who roused them all from sleep。 He had sat and watched allalone for about six hours； and had let the others rest。 ‘And in the watches Ihave made up my mind；' he said。 ‘I do not like the feel of the middle way； andI do not like the smell of the left…hand way： there is foul air down there； orI am no guide。 I shall take the right…hand passage。 It is time we began toclimb up again。'
For eight dark hours； not counting two brief halts； they marched on； andthey met no danger； and heard nothing； and saw nothing but the faint gleam ofthe wizard's light； bobbing like a will…o'…the…wisp in front of them。 Thepassage they had chosen wound steadily upwards。 As far as they could judge itwent in great mounting curves； and as it rose it grew loftier and wider。 Therewere now no openings to other galleries or tunnels on either side； and thefloor was level and sound； without pits or cracks。 Evidently they had struckwhat once had been an important road； and they went forward quicker than theyhad done on their first march。
In this way they advanced some fifteen miles； measured in a direct lineeast； though they must have actually walked twenty miles or more。 As the roadclimbed upwards‘ Frodo's spirits rose a little； but he still felt oppressed；
and still at times he heard； or thought he heard； away behind the pany andbeyond the fall and patter of their feet； a following footstep that was not anecho。
They had marched as far as the hobbits could endure without a rest； andall were thinking of a place where they could sleep； when suddenly the wallsto right and left vanished。 They seemed to have passed through some archeddoorway into a black and empty space。 There was a great draught of warmer airbehind them； and before them the darkness was cold on their faces。 They haltedand crowded anxiously together。
Gandalf seemed pleased。 ‘I chose the right way；' he said。 ‘At last we areing to the habitable parts； and I guess that we are not far now from theeastern side。 But we are high up； a good deal higher than the Dimrill Gate；
unless I am mistaken。 From the feeling of the air we must be in a wide hall。 Iwill now risk a little real light。'
He raised his staff； and for a brief instant there was blaze like a flashof lightning。 Great shadows sprang up and fled； and for a second they saw avast roof far above their heads upheld by many mighty pillars hewn of stone。
Before them and on either side stretched a huge empty hall； its black walls；
polished and smooth as glass； flashed and glittered。 Three other entrancesthey saw； dark black arches： one straight before them eastwards； and one oneither side。 Then the light went out。
‘That is all that I shall venture on for the present；' said Gandalf。
'There used to be great windows on the mountain…side； and shafts leading outto the light in the upper reaches of the Mines。 I think we have reached themnow； but it is night outside again； and we cannot tell until morning。 If I amright； tomorrow we may actually see the morning peeping in。 But in themeanwhile we had better go no further。 Let us rest； if we can。 Things havegone well so far； and the greater part of the dark road is over。 But we arenot through yet； and it is a long way down to the Gates that open on theworld。'
The pany spent that night in the great cavernous hall； huddled closetogether in a corner to escape the draught： there seemed to be a steady inflowof chill air through the eastern archway。 All abou