the fellowship of the ring-第33部分

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a　nap　yet。　We　must　get　clear　of　the　Forest　first。'　But　the　others　were　too　fargone　to　care。　Beside　them　Sam　stood　yawning　and　blinking　stupidly。　
Suddenly　Frodo　himself　felt　sleep　overwhelming　him。　His　head　swam。　Therenow　seemed　hardly　a　sound　in　the　air。　The　flies　had　stopped　buzzing。　Only　agentle　noise　on　the　edge　of　hearing；　a　soft　fluttering　as　of　a　song　halfwhispered；　seemed　to　stir　in　the　boughs　above。　He　lifted　his　heavy　eyes　andsaw　leaning　over　him　a　huge　willow…tree；　old　and　hoary。　Enormous　it　looked；　
its　sprawling　branches　going　up　like　reaching　arms　with　many　long…fingeredhands；　its　knotted　and　twisted　trunk　gaping　in　wide　fissures　that　creakedfaintly　as　the　boughs　moved。　The　leaves　fluttering　against　the　bright　skydazzled　him；　and　he　toppled　over；　lying　where　he　fell　upon　the　grass。　
Merry　and　Pippin　dragged　themselves　forward　and　lay　down　with　their　backsto　the　willow…trunk。　Behind　them　the　great　cracks　gaped　wide　to　receive　themas　the　tree　swayed　and　creaked。　They　looked　up　at　the　grey　and　yellow　leaves；　
moving　softly　against　the　light；　and　singing。　They　shut　their　eyes；　and　thenit　seemed　that　they　could　almost　hear　words；　cool　words；　saying　somethingabout　water　and　sleep。　They　gave　themselves　up　to　the　spell　and　fell　fastasleep　at　the　foot　of　the　great　grey　willow。　
Frodo　lay　for　a　while　fighting　with　the　sleep　that　was　overpowering　him；　
then　with　an　effort　he　struggled　to　his　feel　again。　He　felt　a　pellingdesire　for　cool　water。　'Wait　for　me；　Sam；'　he　stammered。　'Must　bathe　feet　aminute。'　　
Half　in　a　dream　he　wandered　forward　to　the　riverward　side　of　the　tree；　
where　great　winding　roots　grew　out　into　the　stream；　like　gnarled　dragonetsstraining　down　to　drink。　He　straddled　one　of　these；　and　paddled　his　hot　feelin　the　cool　brown　water；　and　there　he　too　suddenly　fell　asleep　with　his　backagainst　the　tree。　
Sam　sat　down　and　scratched　his　head；　and　yawned　like　a　cavern。　He　wasworried。　The　afternoon　was　getting　late；　and　he　thought　this　sudden　sleepinessuncanny。　'There's　more　behind　this　than　sun　and　warm　air；'　he　muttered　tohimself。　'I　don't　like　this　great　big　tree。　I　don't　trust　it。　Hark　at　itsinging　about　sleep　now！　This　won't　do　at　all！'　
He　pulled　himself　to　his　feet；　and　staggered　off　to　see　what　had　beeof　the　ponies。　He　found　that　two　had　wandered　on　a　good　way　along　the　path；　
and　he　had　just　caught　them　and　brought　them　back　towards　the　others；　when　heheard　two　noises；　one　loud；　and　the　other　soft　but　very　clear。　One　was　thesplash　of　something　heavy　falling　into　the　water；　the　other　was　a　noise　likethe　snick　of　a　lock　when　a　door　quietly　closes　fast。　
He　rushed　back　to　the　bank。　Frodo　was　in　the　water　close　to　the　edge；　anda　great　tree…root　seemed　to　be　over　him　and　holding　him　down；　but　he　was　notstruggling。　Sam　gripped　him　by　the　jacket；　and　dragged　him　from　under　theroot；　and　then　with　difficulty　hauled　him　on　to　the　bank。　Almost　at　once　hewoke；　and　coughed　and　spluttered。　
'Do　you　know；　Sam；'　he　said　at　length；　'the　beastly　tree　_threw_　me　in！　Ifelt　it。　The　big　root　just　twisted　round　and　tipped　me　in！'　
'You　were　dreaming　I　expect；　Mr。　Frodo；'　said　Sam。　'You　shouldn't　sit　insuch　a　place；　if　you　feel　sleepy。'　
'What　about　the　others？'　Frodo　asked。　'I　wonder　what　sort　of　dreams　theyare　having。'　
They　went　round　to　the　other　side　of　the　tree；　and　then　Sam　understoodthe　click　that　he　had　heard。　Pippin　had　vanished。　The　crack　by　which　he　hadlaid　himself　had　closed　together；　so　that　not　a　chink　could　be　seen。　Merry　wastrapped：　another　crack　had　closed　about　his　waist；　his　legs　lay　outside；　butthe　rest　of　him　was　inside　a　dark　opening；　the　edges　of　which　gripped　like　apair　of　pincers。　
Frodo　and　Sam　beat　first　upon　the　tree…trunk　where　Pippin　had　lain。　Theythen　struggled　frantically　to　pull　open　the　jaws　of　the　crack　that　held　poorMerry。　It　was　quite　useless。　
'What　a　foul　thing　to　happen！'　cried　Frodo　wildly。　'Why　did　we　ever　einto　this　dreadful　Forest？　I　wish　we　were　all　back　at　Crickhollow！'　He　kicked　　
　
the　tree　with　all　his　strength；　heedless　of　his　own　feet。　A　hardly　perceptibleshiver　ran　through　the　stem　and　up　into　the　branches；　the　leaves　rustled　andwhispered；　but　with　a　sound　now　of　faint　and　far…off　laughter。　
Sam。　　
'I　suppose　we　haven't　got　an　axe　among　our　luggage；　Mr。　Frodo？'　asked　　
'I　brought　a　little　hatchet　for　chopping　firewood；'　said　Frodo。　'Thatwouldn't　be　much　use。'　　
'Wait　a　minute！'　cried　Sam；　struck　by　an　idea　suggested　by　firewood。　'Wemight　do　something　with　fire！'　
'We　might；'　said　Frodo　doubtfully。　'We　might　succeed　in　roasting　Pippinalive　inside。'　　
'We　might　try　to　hurt　or　frighten　this　tree　to　begin　with；'　said　Samfiercely。　'If　it　don't　let　them　go；　I'll　have　it　down；　if　I　have　to　gnaw　it。'　
He　ran　to　the　ponies　and　before　long　came　back　with　two　tinder…boxes　and　ahatchet。　　
Quickly　they　gathered　dry　grass　and　leaves；　and　bits　of　bark；　and　made　apile　of　broken　twigs　and　chopped　sticks。　These　they　heaped　against　the　trunkon　the　far　side　of　the　tree　from　the　prisoners。　As　soon　as　Sam　had　struck　aspark　into　the　tinder；　it　kindled　the　dry　grass　and　a　flurry　of　flame　andsmoke　went　up。　The　twigs　crackled。　Little　fingers　of　fire　licked　against　thedry　scored　rind　of　the　ancient　tree　and　scorched　it。　A　tremor　ran　through　thewhole　willow。　The　leaves　seemed　to　hiss　above　their　heads　with　a　sound　of　painand　anger。　A　loud　scream　came　from　Merry；　and　from　far　inside　the　tree　theyheard　Pippin　give　a　muffled　yell。　
'Put　it　out！　Put　it　out！'　cried　Merry。　'He'll　squeeze　me　in　two；　if　youdon't。　He　says　so！'　
'Who？　What？'　shouted　Frodo；　rushing　round　to　the　other　side　of　the　tree。　
'Put　it　out！　Put　it　out！'　begged　Merry。　The　branches　of　the　willow　beganto　sway　violently。　There　was　a　sound　as　of　a　wind　rising　and　spreadingoutwards　to　the　branches　of　all　the　other　trees　round　about；　as　though　theyhad　dropped　a　stone　into　the　quiet　slumber　of　the　river…valley　and　set　upripples　of　anger　that　ran　out　over　the　whole　Forest。　Sam　kicked　at　the　littlefire　and　stamped　out　the　sparks。　But　Frodo；　without　any　clear　idea　of　why　hedid　so；　or　what　he　hoped　for；　ran　along　the　path　crying　_help！　help！　help！_Itseemed　to　him　that　he　could　hardly　hear　the　sound　of　his　own　shrill　voice：　itwas　blown　away　from　him　by　the　willow…wind　and　drowned　in　a　clamour　of　leaves；　
as　soon　as　the　words　left　his　mouth。　He　felt　desperate：　lost　and　witless。　
Suddenly　he　slopped。　There　was　an　answer；　or　so　he　thought；　but　it　seemedto　e　from　behind　him；　away　down　the　path　further　back　in　the　Forest。　Heturned　round　and　listened；　and　soon　there　could　be　no　doubt：　someone　wassinging　a　song；　a　deep　glad　voice　was　singing　carelessly　and　happily；　but　itwas　singing　nonsense：　　
Hey　dol！　merry　dol！　ring　a　dong　dillo！　
Ring　a　dong！　hop　along！　fal　lal　the　willow！　
Tom　Bom；　jolly　Tom；　Tom　Bombadillo！　　
Half　hopeful　and　half　afraid　of　some　new　danger；　Frodo　and　Sam　now　bothstood　still。　Suddenly　out　of　a　long　string　of　nonsense…words　（or　so　theyseemed）　the　voice　rose　up　loud　and　clear　and　burst　into　this　song：　　
Hey！　e　merry　dot！　derry　dol！　My　darling！　
Light　goes　the　weather…wind　and　the　feathered　starling。　
Down　along　under　Hill；　shining　in　the　sunlight；　
Waiting　on　the　doorstep　for　the　cold　starlight；　
There　my　pretty　lady　is。　River…woman's　daughter；　
Slender　as　the　willow…wand；　clearer　than　the　water。　
Old　Tom　Bombadil　water…lilies　bringinges　hopping　home　again。　Can　you　hear　him　singing？　
Hey！　e　merry　dol！　deny　dol！　and　merry…o；　　
　
Goldberry；　Goldberry；　merry　yellow　berry…o！　
Poor　old　Willow…man；　you　tuck　your　roots　away！　
Tom's　in　a　hurry　now。　Evening　will　follow　day。　
Tom's　going　home　again　water…lilies　bringing。　
Hey！　e　derry　dol！　Can　you　hear　me　singing？　　
Frodo　and　Sam　stood　as　if　enchanted。　The　wind　puffed　out。　The　leaves　hungsilently　again　on　stiff　branches。　There　was　another　burst　of　song；　and　thensuddenly；　hopping　and　dancing　along　the　path；　there　appeared　above　the　reedsan　old　battered　hat　with　a　tall　crown　and　a　long　blue　feather　stuck　in　theband。　With　another　hop　and　a　bound　there　came　into　view　a　man；　or　so　itseemed。　At　any　rate　he　was　too　large　and　heavy　for　a　hobbit；　if　not　quite　tallenough　for　one　of　the　Big　People；　though　he　made　noise　enough　for　one；　
slumping　along　with　great　yellow　boots　on　his　thick　legs；　and　charging　throughgrass　and　rushes　like　a　cow　going　down　to　drink。　He　had　a　blue　coat　and　a　longbrown　beard；　his　eyes　were　blue　and　bright；　and　his　face　was　red　as　a　ripeapple；　but　creased　into　a　hundred　wrinkles　of　laughter。　In　his　hands　hecarried　on　a　large　leaf　as　on　a　tray　a　small　pile　of　white　water…lilies。　
'Help！'　cried　Frodo　and　Sam　running　towards　him　with　their　handsstretched　out。　　
'Whoa！　Whoa！　steady　there！'　cried　the　old　man；　holding　up　one　hand；　andthey　stopped　short；　as　if　they　had　been　struck　stiff。　'Now；　my　little　fellows；　
where　be　you　a…going　to；　puffing　like　a　bellows？　What's　the　matter　here　then？　
Do　you　know　who　I　am？　I'm　Tom　Bombadil。　Tell　me　what's　your　trouble！　Tom's　ina　hurry　now。　Don't　you　crush　my　lilies！'　
'My　friends　are　caught　in　the　willow…tree；'　cried　Frodo　breathlessly。　
'Master　Merry's　being　squeezed　in　a　crack！'　cried　Sam。　
'What？'　shouted　Tom　Bombadil；　leaping　up　in　the　air。　'Old　Man　Willow？　
Naught　worse　than　that；　eh？　That　can　soon　be