the fellowship of the ring-第105部分

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d　it　yesterday　night。　We　mightlabour　far　upstream　and　yet　miss　it　in　the　fog。　I　fear　we　must　leave　the　Rivernow；　and　make　for　the　portage…way　as　best　we　can　from　here。'　
‘That　would　not　be　easy；　even　if　we　were　all　Men；'　said　Boromir。　
‘Yet　such　as　we　are　we　will　try　it；'　said　Aragorn。　
'Aye；　we　will；'　said　Gimli。　‘The　legs　of　Men　will　lag　on　a　rough　road；　
while　a　Dwarf　goes　on；　be　the　burden　twice　his　own　weight；　Master　Boromir！　'　
The　task　proved　hard　indeed；　yet　in　the　end　it　was　done。　The　goods　weretaken　out　of　the　boats　and　brought　to　the　top　of　the　bank；　where　there　was　alevel　space。　Then　the　boats　were　drawn　out　of　the　water　and　carried　up。　Theywere　far　less　heavy　than　any　had　expected。　Of　what　tree　growing　in　the　elvishcountry　they　were　made　not　even　Legolas　knew；　but　the　wood　was　tough　and　yetstrangely　light。　Merry　and　Pippin　alone　could　carry　their　boat　with　ease　alongthe　flat。　Nonetheless　it　needed　the　strength　of　the　two　Men　to　lift　and　haulthem　over　the　ground　that　the　pany　now　had　to　cross。　It　sloped　up　away　fromthe　River；　a　tumbled　waste　of　grey　limestone…boulders；　with　many　hidden　holes　　
　
shrouded　with　weeds　and　bushes；　there　were　thickets　of　brambles；　and　sheerdells；　and　here　and　there　boggy　pools　fed　by　waters　trickling　from　theterraces　further　inland。　　
One　by　one　Boromir　and　Aragorn　carried　the　boats；　while　the　others　toiledand　scrambled　after　them　with　the　baggage。　At　last　all　was　removed　and　laid　onthe　portage…way。　Then　with　little　further　hindrance；　save　from　sprawlingbriars　and　many　fallen　stones；　they　moved　forward　all　together。　Fog　still　hungin　veils　upon　the　crumbling　rock…wall；　and　to　their　left　mist　shrouded　theRiver：　they　could　hear　it　rushing　and　foaming　over　the　sharp　shelves　and　stonyteeth　of　Sarn　Gebir；　but　they　could　not　see　it。　Twice　they　made　the　journey；　
before　all　was　brought　safe　to　the　southern　landing。　
There　the　portage…way；　turning　back　to　the　water…side；　ran　gently　down　tothe　shallow　edge　of　a　little　pool。　It　seemed　to　have　been　scooped　in　theriver…side；　not　by　hand；　but　by　the　water　swirling　down　from　Sarn　Gebiragainst　a　low　pier　of　rock　that　jutted　out　some　way　into　the　stream。　Beyond　itthe　shore　rose　sheer　into　a　grey　cliff；　and　there　was　no　further　passage　forthose　on　foot。　　
Already　the　short　afternoon　was　past；　and　a　dim　cloudy　dusk　was　closingin。　They　sat　beside　the　water　listening　to　the　confused　rush　and　roar　of　theRapids　hidden　in　the　mist；　they　were　tired　and　sleepy；　and　their　hearts　wereas　gloomy　as　the　dying　day。　
'Well；　here　we　are；　and　here　we　must　pass　another　night；'　said　Boromir。　
‘We　need　sleep；　and　even　if　Aragorn　had　a　mind　to　pass　the　Gates　of　Argonathby　night；　we　are　all　too　tired…except；　no　doubt；　our　sturdy　dwarf。'　
Gimli　made　no　reply：　he　was　nodding　as　he　sat。　
‘Let　us　rest　as　much　as　we　can　now；'　said　Aragorn。　‘Tomorrow　we　mustjourney　by　day　again。　Unless　the　weather　changes　once　more　and　cheats　us；　weshall　have　a　good　chance　of　slipping　through；　unseen　by　any　eyes　on　theeastern　shore。　But　tonight　two　must　watch　together　in　turns：　three　hours　offand　one　on　guard。'　
Nothing　happened　that　night　worse　than　a　brief　drizzle　of　rain　an　hourbefore　dawn。　As　soon　as　it　was　fully　light　they　started。　Already　the　fog　wasthinning。　They　kept　as　close　as　they　could　to　the　western　side；　and　they　couldsee　the　dim　shapes　of　the　low　cliffs　rising　ever　higher；　shadowy　walls　withtheir　feet　in　the　hurrying　river。　In　the　mid…morning　the　clouds　drew　downlower；　and　it　began　to　rain　heavily。　They　drew　the　skin…covers　over　theirboats　to　prevent　them　from　being　flooded；　and　drifted　on：　little　could　be　seenbefore　them　or　about　them　through　the　grey　falling　curtains。　
The　rain；　however；　did　not　last　long。　Slowly　the　sky　above　grew　lighter；　
and　then　suddenly　the　clouds　broke；　and　their　draggled　fringes　trailed　awaynorthward　up　the　River。　The　fogs　and　mists　were　gone。　Before　the　travellerslay　a　wide　ravine；　with　great　rocky　sides　to　which　clung；　upon　shelves　and　innarrow　crevices；　a　few　thrawn　trees。　The　channel　grew　narrower　and　the　Riverswifter。　Now　they　were　speeding　along　with　little　hope　of　stopping　or　turning；　
whatever　they　might　meet　ahead。　Over　them　was　a　lane　of　pale…blue　sky；　aroundthem　the　dark　overshadowed　River；　and　before　them　black；　shutting　out　the　sun；　
the　hills　of　Emyn　Muil；　in　which　no　opening　could　be　seen。　
Frodo　peering　forward　saw　in　the　distance　two　great　rocks　approaching：　
like　great　pinnacles　or　pillars　of　stone　they　seemed。　Tall　and　sheer　andominous　they　stood　upon　either　side　of　the　stream。　A　narrow　gap　appearedbetween　them；　and　the　River　swept　the　boats　towards　it。　
‘Behold　the　Argonath；　the　Pillars　of　the　Kings！　'　cried　Aragorn。　‘Weshall　pass　them　soon。　Keep　the　boats　in　line；　and　as　far　apart　as　you　can！　
Hold　the　middle　of　the　stream！　'　　
As　Frodo　was　borne　towards　them　the　great　pillars　rose　like　towers　tomeet　him。　Giants　they　seemed　to　him；　vast　grey　figures　silent　but　threatening。　
Then　he　saw　that　they　were　indeed　shaped　and　fashioned：　the　craft　and　power　ofold　had　wrought　upon　them；　and　still　they　preserved　through　the　suns　and　rainsof　forgotten　years　the　mighty　likenesses　in　which　they　had　been　hewn。　Upongreat　pedestals　founded　in　the　deep　waters　stood　two　great　kings　of　stone：　　
　
still　with　blurred　eyes　and　crannied　brows　they　frowned　upon　the　North。　Theleft　hand　of　each　was　raised　palm　outwards　in　gesture　of　warning；　in　eachright　hand　there　was　an　axe；　upon　each　head　there　was　a　crumbling　helm　andcrown。　Great　power　and　majesty　they　still　wore；　the　silent　wardens　of　a　long…　
vanished　kingdom。　Awe　and　fear　fell　upon　Frodo；　and　he　cowered　down；　shuttinghis　eyes　and　not　daring　to　look　up　as　the　boat　drew　near。　Even　Boromir　bowedhis　head　as　the　boats　whirled　by。　frail　and　fleeting　as　little　leaves；　underthe　enduring　shadow　of　the　sentinels　of　Númenor。　So　they　passed　into　the　darkchasm　of　the　Gates。　　
Sheer　rose　the　dreadful　cliffs　to　unguessed　heights　on　either　side。　Faroff　was　the　dim　sky。　The　black　waters　roared　and　echoed；　and　a　wind　screamedover　them。　Frodo　crouching　over　his　knees　heard　Sam　in　front　muttering　andgroaning：　‘What　a　place！　What　a　horrible　place！　Just　let　me　get　out　of　thisboat；　and　I'll　never　wet　my　toes　in　a　puddle　again；　let　alone　a　river！　'　
‘Fear　not！　'　said　a　strange　voice　behind　him。　Frodo　turned　and　sawStrider；　and　yet　not　Strider；　for　the　weatherworn　Ranger　was　no　longer　there。　
In　the　stern　sat　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn；　proud　and　erect；　guiding　the　boatwith　skilful　strokes；　his　hood　was　cast　back；　and　his　dark　hair　was　blowing　inthe　wind；　a　light　was　in　his　eyes：　a　king　returning　from　exile　to　his　ownland。　　
'Fear　not！　'　he　said。　‘Long　have　I　desired　to　look　upon　the　likenesses　ofIsildur　and　Anárion；　my　sires　of　old。　Under　their　shadow　Elessar；　the　Elfstoneson　of　Arathorn　of　the　House　of　Valandil　Isildur's　son　heir　of　Elendil；　hasnought　to　dread！　'　
Then　the　light　of　his　eyes　faded；　and　he　spoke　to　himself：　‘Would　thatGandalf　were　here！　How　my　heart　yearns　for　Minas　Anor　and　the　walls　of　my　owncity！　But　whither　now　shall　I　go？　'　
The　chasm　was　long　and　dark；　and　filled　with　the　noise　of　wind　andrushing　water　and　echoing　stone。　It　bent　somewhat　towards　the　west　so　that　atfirst　all　was　dark　ahead；　but　soon　Frodo　saw　a　tall　gap　of　light　before　him；　
ever　growing。　Swiftly　it　drew　near；　and　suddenly　the　boats　shot　through；　outinto　a　wide　clear　light。　
The　sun；　already　long　fallen　from　the　noon；　was　shining　in　a　windy　sky。　
The　pent　waters　spread　out　into　a　long　oval　lake；　pale　Nen　Hithoel；　fenced　bysteep　grey　hills　whose　sides　were　clad　with　trees；　but　their　heads　were　bare；　
cold…gleaming　in　the　sunlight。　At　the　far　southern　end　rose　three　peaks。　Themidmost　stood　somewhat　forward　from　the　others　and　sundered　from　them；　anisland　in　the　waters；　about　which　the　flowing　River　flung　pale　shimmeringarms。　Distant　but　deep　there　came　up　on　the　wind　a　roaring　sound　like　the　rollof　thunder　heard　far　away。　
‘Behold　Tol　Brandir！　'　said　Aragorn；　pointing　south　to　the　tall　peak。　
'Upon　the　left　stands　Amon　Lhaw；　and　upon　the　right　is　Amon　Hen　the　Hills　ofHearing　and　of　Sight。　In　the　days　of　the　great　kings　there　were　high　seatsupon　them；　and　watch　was　kept　there。　But　it　is　said　that　no　foot　of　man　orbeast　has　ever　been　set　upon　Tol　Brandir。　Ere　the　shade　of　night　falls　weshall　e　to　them。　I　hear　the　endless　voice　of　Rauros　calling。'　
The　pany　rested　now　for　a　while；　drifting　south　on　the　current　thatflowed　through　the　middle　of　the　lake。　They　ate　some　food；　and　then　they　tookto　their　paddles　and　hastened　on　their　way。　The　sides　of　the　westward　hillsfell　into　shadow；　and　the　Sun　grew　round　and　red。　Here　and　there　a　misty　starpeered　out。　The　three　peaks　loomed　before　them；　darkling　in　the　twilight。　
Rauros　was　roaring　with　a　great　voice。　Already　night　was　laid　on　the　flowingwaters　when　the　travellers　came　at　last　under　the　shadow　of　the　hills。　　
The　tenth　day　of　their　journey　was　over。　Wilderland　was　behind　them。　Theycould　go　no　further　without　choice　between　the　east…way　and　the　west。　The　laststage　of　the　Quest　was　before　them。　　
_Chapter　10_　
The　Breaking　of　the　Fellowship　
　
Aragorn　led　them　to　the　right　arm　of　the　River。　Here　upon　its　westernside　under　the　shadow　of　Tol　Brandir　a　green　lawn　ran　d