the fellowship of the ring-第24部分

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Gildor　smiled。　'Yes；'　he　answered。　'Twice。　He　said　farewell　to　us　on　thisvery　spot。　But　I　saw　him　once　again；　far　from　here。'　He　would　say　no　moreabout　Bilbo；　and　Frodo　fell　silent。　
'You　do　not　ask　me　or　tell　me　much　that　concerns　yourself；　Frodo；'　saidGildor。　'But　I　already　know　a　little；　and　I　can　read　more　in　your　face　and　inthe　thought　behind　your　questions。　You　are　leaving　the　Shire；　and　yet　youdoubt　that　you　will　find　what　you　seek；　or　acplish　what　you　intend；　or　thatyou　will　ever　return。　Is　not　that　so？'　
'It　is；'　said　Frodo；　'but　I　thought　my　going　was　a　secret　known　only　toGandalf　and　my　faithful　Sam。'　He　looked　down　at　Sam；　who　was　snoring　gently。　
'The　secret　will　not　reach　the　Enemy　from　us；'　said　Gildor。　
'The　Enemy？'　said　Frodo。　'Then　you　know　why　I　am　leaving　the　Shire？'　
'I　do　not　know　for　what　reason　the　Enemy　is　pursuing　you；'　answeredGildor；　'but　I　perceive　that　he　is　–　strange　indeed　though　that　seems　to　me。　
And　I　warn　you　that　peril　is　now　both　before　you　and　behind　you；　and　uponeither　side。'　　
'You　mean　the　Riders？　I　feared　that　they　were　servants　of　the　Enemy。　What_are_　the　Black　Riders？'　　
'Has　Gandalf　told　you　nothing？'　
'Nothing　about　such　creatures。'　
'Then　I　think　it　is　not　for　me　to　say　more　–　lest　terror　should　keep　youfrom　your　journey。　For　it　seems　to　me　that　you　have　set　out　only　just　in　time；　　
　
if　indeed　you　are　in　time。　You　must　now　make　haste；　and　neither　stay　nor　turnback；　for　the　Shire　is　no　longer　any　protection　to　you。'　
'I　cannot　imagine　what　information　could　be　more　terrifying　than　yourhints　and　warnings；'　exclaimed　Frodo。　'I　knew　that　danger　lay　ahead；　ofcourse；　but　I　did　not　expect　to　meet　it　in　our　own　Shire。　Can't　a　hobbit　walkfrom　the　Water　to　the　River　in　peace？'　
'But　it　is　not　your　own　Shire；'　said　Gildor。　'Others　dwelt　here　beforehobbits　were；　and　others　will　dwell　here　again　when　hobbits　are　no　more。　Thewide　world　is　all　about　you：　you　can　fence　yourselves　in；　but　you　cannot　forever　fence　it　out。'　　
'I　know　–　and　yet　it　has　always　seemed　so　safe　and　familiar。　What　can　Ido　now？　My　plan　was　to　leave　the　Shire　secretly；　and　make　my　way　to　Rivendell；　
but　now　my　footsteps　are　dogged；　before　ever　I　get　to　Buckland。'　
'I　think　you　should　still　follow　that　plan；'　said　Gildor。　'I　do　not　thinkthe　Road　will　prove　too　hard　for　your　courage。　But　if　you　desire　clearercounsel；　you　should　ask　Gandalf。　I　do　not　know　the　reason　for　your　flight；　andtherefore　I　do　not　know　by　what　means　your　pursuers　will　assail　you。　Thesethings　Gandalf　must　know。　I　suppose　that　you　will　see　him　before　you　leave　theShire？'　　
'I　hope　so。　But　that　is　another　thing　that　makes　me　anxious。　I　have　beenexpecting　Gandalf　for　many　days。　He　was　to　have　e　to　Hobbiton　at　the　latesttwo　nights　ago；　but　he　has　never　appeared。　Now　I　am　wondering　what　can　havehappened。　Should　I　wait　for　him？'　
Gildor　was　silent　for　a　moment。　'I　do　not　like　this　news；'　he　said　atlast。　'That　Gandalf　should　be　late；　does　not　bode　well。　But　it　is　said：　_Donot　meddle　in　the　affairs　of　Wizards；　for　they　are　subtle　and　quick　to　anger。_　
The　choice　is　yours：　to　go　or　wait。'　
'And　it　is　also　said；'　answered　Frodo：　'Go　_not　to　the　Elves　for　counsel；　
for　they　will　say　both　no　and　yes。'_　
'Is　it　indeed？'　laughed　Gildor。　'Elves　seldom　give　unguarded　advice；　foradvice　is　a　dangerous　gift；　even　from　the　wise　to　the　wise；　and　all　coursesmay　run　ill。　But　what　would　you？　You　have　not　told　me　all　concerning　yourself；　
and　how　then　shall　I　choose　better　than　you？　But　if　you　demand　advice；　I　willfor　friendship's　sake　give　it。　I　think　you　should　now　go　at　once；　withoutdelay；　and　if　Gandalf　does　not　e　before　you　set　out；　then　I　also　advisethis：　do　not　go　alone。　Take　such　friends　as　are　trusty　and　willing。　Now　youshould　be　grateful；　for　I　do　not　give　this　counsel　gladly。　The　Elves　havetheir　own　labours　and　their　own　sorrows；　and　they　are　little　concerned　withthe　ways　of　hobbits；　or　of　any　other　creatures　upon　earth。　Our　paths　crosstheirs　seldom；　by　chance　or　purpose。　In　this　meeting　there　may　be　more　thanchance；　but　the　purpose　is　not　clear　to　me；　and　I　fear　to　say　too　much。'　
'I　am　deeply　grateful；'　said　Frodo；　'but　I　wish　you　would　tell　me　plainlywhat　the　Black　Riders　are。　If　I　take　your　advice　I　may　not　see　Gandalf　for　along　while；　and　I　ought　to　know　what　is　the　danger　that　pursues　me。'　
'Is　it　not　enough　to　know　that　they　are　servants　of　the　Enemy？'　answeredGildor。　'Flee　them！　Speak　no　words　to　them！　They　are　deadly。　Ask　no　more　ofme！　But　my　heart　forbodes　that；　ere　all　is　ended；　you；　Frodo　son　of　Drogo；　
will　know　more　of　these　fell　things　than　Gildor　Inglorion。　May　Elberethprotect　you！'　
'But　where　shall　I　find　courage？'　asked　Frodo。　'That　is　what　I　chieflyneed。'　　
'Courage　is　found　in　unlikely　places；'　said　Gildor。　'Be　of　good　hope！　
Sleep　now！　In　the　morning　we　shall　have　gone；　but　we　will　send　our　messagesthrough　the　lands。　The　Wandering　panies　shall　know　of　your　journey；　andthose　that　have　power　for　good　shall　be　on　the　watch。　I　name　you　Elf…friend；　
and　may　the　stars　shine　upon　the　end　of　your　road！　Seldom　have　we　had　suchdelight　in　strangers；　and　it　is　fair　to　hear　words　of　the　Ancient　Speech　fromthe　lips　of　other　wanderers　in　the　world。'　
Frodo　felt　sleep　ing　upon　him；　even　as　Gildor　finished　speaking。　'Iwill　sleep　now；'　he　said；　and　the　Elf　led　him　to　a　bower　beside　Pippin；　and　he　　
　
threw　himself　upon　a　bed　and　fell　at　once　into　a　dreamless　slumber。　　
_Chapter　4_　
A　Short　Cut　to　Mushrooms　　
In　the　morning　Frodo　woke　refreshed。　He　was　lying　in　a　bower　made　by　aliving　tree　with　branches　laced　and　drooping　to　the　ground；　his　bed　was　offern　and　grass；　deep　and　soft　and　strangely　fragrant。　The　sun　was　shiningthrough　the　fluttering　leaves；　which　were　still　green　upon　the　tree。　He　jumpedup　and　went　out。　
Sam　was　sitting　on　the　grass　near　the　edge　of　the　wood。　Pippin　wasstanding　studying　the　sky　and　weather。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　Elves。　
'They　have　left　us　fruit　and　drink；　and　bread；'　said　Pippin。　'e　andhave　your　breakfast。　The　bread　tastes　almost　as　good　as　it　did　last　night。　Idid　not　want　to　leave　you　any；　but　Sam　insisted。'　
Frodo　sat　down　beside　Sam　and　began　to　eat。　'What　is　the　plan　fortoday？'　asked　Pippin。　
'To　walk　to　Bucklebury　as　quickly　as　possible；'　answered　Frodo；　and　gavehis　attention　to　the　food。　　
'Do　you　think　we　shall　see　anything　of　those　Riders？'　asked　Pippincheerfully。　Under　the　morning　sun　the　prospect　of　seeing　a　whole　troop　of　themdid　not　seem　very　alarming　to　him。　
'Yes；　probably；'　said　Frodo；　not　liking　the　reminder。　'But　I　hope　to　getacross　the　river　without　their　seeing　us。'　
'Did　you　find　out　anything　about　them　from　Gildor？'　
'Not　much　–　only　hints　and　riddles；'　said　Frodo　evasively。　'Did　you　askabout　the　sniffing？'　
'We　didn't　discuss　it；'　said　Frodo　with　his　mouth　full。　
'You　should　have。　I　am　sure　it　is　very　important。'　
'In　that　case　I　am　sure　Gildor　would　have　refused　to　explain　it；'　saidFrodo　sharply。　'And　now　leave　me　in　peace　for　a　bit！　I　don't　want　to　answer　astring　of　questions　while　I　am　eating。　I　want　to　think！'　
'Good　heavens！'　said　Pippin。　'At　breakfast？'　He　walked　away　towards　theedge　of　the　green。　
From　Frodo's　mind　the　bright　morning　–　treacherously　bright；　he　thought　–　
had　not　banished　the　fear　of　pursuit；　and　he　pondered　the　words　of　Gildor。　Themerry　voice　of　Pippin　came　to　him。　He　was　running　on　the　green　turf　andsinging。　
'No！　I　could　not！'　he　said　to　himself。　'It　is　one　thing　to　take　my　youngfriends　walking　over　the　Shire　with　me；　until　we　are　hungry　and　weary；　andfood　and　bed　are　sweet。　To　take　them　into　exile；　where　hunger　and　wearinessmay　have　no　cure；　is　quite　another　–　even　if　they　are　willing　to　e。　Theinheritance　is　mine　alone。　I　don't　think　I　ought　even　to　take　Sam。'　He　lookedat　Sam　Gamgee；　and　discovered　that　Sam　was　watching　him。　
'Well；　Sam！'　he　said。　'What　about　it？　I　am　leaving　the　Shire　as　soon　asever　I　can　–　in　fact　I　have　made　up　my　mind　now　not　even　to　wait　a　day　atCrickhollow；　if　it　can　be　helped。'　
'Very　good；　sir！'　
'You　still　mean　to　e　with　me？'　　
'I　do。'　　
'It　is　going　to　be　very　dangerous；　Sam。　'It　is　already　dangerous。　Mostlikely　neither　of　us　will　e　back。'　
'If　you　don't　e　back；　sir；　then　I　shan't；　that's　certain；'　said　Sam。　
_'Don't　you　leave　him！_　they　said　to　me。　_Leave　him！_　I　said。　_I　never　meanto。　I　am　going　with　him；　if　he　climbs　to　the　Moon；　and　if　any　of　those　BlackRulers　try　to　stop　him；　they'll　have　Sam　Gamgee　to　reckon　with；_　I　said。　Theylaughed。'　
'Who　are　_they；_　and　what　are　you　talking　about？'　
'The　Elves；　sir。　We　had　some　talk　last　night；　and　they　seemed　to　know　you　　
　
were　going　away；　so　I　didn't　see　the　use　of　denying　it。　Wonderful　folk；　Elves；　
sir！　Wonderful！'　　
'They　are；'　said　Frodo。　'Do　you　like　them　still；　now　you　have　had　acloser　view？'　　
'They　seem　a　bit　above　my　likes　and　dislikes；　so　to　speak；'　answered　Samslowly。　'It　don't　seem　to　matter　what　I　think　about　them。　They　are　quitedifferent　from　what　I　expected　–　so　old　and　young；　and　so　gay　and　sad；　as　itwere。'　　
Frodo　looked　at　Sam　rather　startled；　half　expecting　to　see　some　outwardsign　of　the　odd　change　that　seemed　to　have　e　over　him。　It　did　not　soundlike　the　voice　of　the　old　Sam　Gamgee　that　he　thought　he　knew。　But　it　lookedlike　the