the fellowship of the ring-第56部分

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'What　is　the　matter　with　my　master？'　asked　Sam　in　a　low　voice；　lookingappealingly　at　Strider。　'His　wound　was　small；　and　it　is　already　closed。　
There's　nothing　to　be　seen　but　a　cold　white　mark　on　his　shoulder。'　
'Frodo　has　been　touched　by　the　weapons　of　the　Enemy；'　said　Strider；　'andthere　is　some　poison　or　evil　at　work　that　is　beyond　my　skill　to　drive　out。　Butdo　not　give　up　hope；　Sam！'　
Night　was　cold　up　on　the　high　ridge。　They　lit　a　small　fire　down　under　thegnarled　roots　of　an　old　pine；　that　hung　over　a　shallow　pit：　it　looked　as　ifstone　had　once　been　quarried　there。　They　sat　huddled　together。　The　wind　blewchill　through　the　pass；　and　they　heard　the　tree…tops　lower　down　moaning　andsighing。　Frodo　lay　half　in　a　dream；　imagining　that　endless　dark　wings　weresweeping　by　above　him；　and　that　on　the　wings　rode　pursuers　that　sought　him　inall　the　hollows　of　the　hills。　　
The　morning　dawned　bright　and　fair；　the　air　was　clean；　and　the　light　paleand　clear　in　a　rain…washed　sky。　Their　hearts　were　encouraged；　but　（hey　longedfor　the　sun　to　warm　their　cold　stiff　limbs。　As　soon　as　it　was　light；　Stridertook　Merry　with　him　and　went　to　survey　the　country　from　the　height　to　the　east　　
　
of　the　pass。　The　sun　had　risen　and　was　shining　brightly　when　he　returned　withmore　forting　news。　They　were　now　going　more　or　less　in　the　right　direction。　
If　they　went　on；　down　the　further　side　of　the　ridge；　they　would　have　theMountains　on　their　left。　Some　way　ahead　Strider　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　theLoudwater　again；　and　he　knew　that；　though　it　was　hidden　from　view；　the　Road　tothe　Ford　was　not　far　from　the　River　and　lay　on　the　side　nearest　to　them。　
'We　must　make　for　the　Road　again；'　he　said。　'We　cannot　hope　to　find　apath　through　these　hills。　Whatever　danger　may　beset　it；　the　Road　is　our　onlyway　to　the　Ford。'　
As　soon　as　they　had　eaten　they　set　out　again。　They　climbed　slowly　downthe　southern　side　of　the　ridge；　but　the　way　was　much　easier　than　they　hadexpected；　for　the　slope　was　far　less　steep　on　this　side；　and　before　long　Frodowas　able　to　ride　again。　Bill　Ferny's　poor　old　pony　was　developing　anunexpected　talent　for　picking　out　a　path；　and　for　sparing　its　rider　as　manyjolts　as　possible。　The　spirits　of　the　party　rose　again。　Even　Frodo　felt　betterin　the　morning　light；　but　every　now　and　again　a　mist　seemed　to　obscure　hissight；　and　he　passed　his　hands　over　his　eyes。　
Pippin　was　a　little　ahead　of　the　others。　Suddenly　he　turned　round　andcalled　to　them。　'There　is　a　path　here！'　he　cried。　
When　they　came　up　with　him；　they　saw　that　he　had　made　no　mistake：　
there　were　clearly　the　beginnings　of　a　path；　that　climbed　with　manywindings　out　of　the　woods　below　and　faded　away　on　the　hill…top　behind。　Inplaces　it　was　now　faint　and　overgrown；　or　choked　with　fallen　stones　and　trees；　
but　at　one　time　it　seemed　to　have　been　much　used。　It　was　a　path　made　by　strongarms　and　heavy　feet。　Here　and　there　old　trees　had　been　cut　or　broken　down；　andlarge　rocks　cloven　or　heaved　aside　to　make　a　way。　
They　followed　the　track　for　some　while；　for　it　offered　much　the　easiestway　down；　but　they　went　cautiously；　and　their　anxiety　increased　as　they　cameinto　the　dark　woods；　and　the　path　grew　plainer　and　broader。　Suddenly　ingout　of　a　belt　of　fir…trees　it　ran　steeply　down　a　slope；　and　turned　sharply　tothe　left　round　the　er　of　a　rocky　shoulder　of　the　hill。　When　they　came　tothe　er　they　looked　round　and　saw　that　the　path　ran　on　over　a　level　stripunder　the　face　of　a　low　cliff　overhung　with　trees。　In　the　stony　wall　there　wasa　door　hanging　crookedly　ajar　upon　one　great　hinge。　
Outside　the　door　they　all　halted。　There　was　a　cave　or　rock…chamberbehind；　but　in　the　gloom　inside　nothing　could　be　seen。　Strider；　Sam；　and　Merrypushing　with　all　their　strength　managed　to　open　the　door　a　little　wider；　andthen　Strider　and　Merry　went　in。　They　did　not　go　far；　for　on　the　floor　lay　manyold　bones；　and　nothing　else　was　to　be　seen　near　the　entrance　except　some　greatempty　jars　and　broken　pots。　
'Surely　this　is　a　troll…hole；　if　ever　there　was　one！'　said　Pippin。　'eout；　you　two；　and　let　us　get　away。　Now　we　know　who　made　the　path　…and　we　hadbetter　get　off　it　quick。'　
'There　is　no　need；　I　think；'　said　Strider；　coining　out。　'It　is　certainlya　troll…hole；　but　it　seems　to　have　been　long　forsaken。　I　don't　think　we　needbe　afraid。　But　let　us　go　on　down　warily；　and　we　shall　see。'　
The　path　went　on　again　from　the　door；　and　turning　to　the　right　againacross　the　level　space　plunged　down　a　thick　wooded　slope。　Pippin；　not　likingto　show　Strider　that　he　was　still　afraid；　went　on　ahead　with　Merry。　Sam　andStrider　came　behind；　one　on　each　side　of　Frodo's　pony；　for　the　path　was　nowbroad　enough　for　four　or　five　hobbits　to　walk　abreast。　But　they　had　not　gonevery　far　before　Pippin　came　running　back；　followed　by　Merry。　They　both　lookedterrified。　　
'There　_are_　trolls！'　Pippin　panted。　'Down　in　a　clearing　in　the　woods　notfar　below。　We　got　a　sight　of　them　through　the　tree…trunks。　They　are　verylarge！'　
'We　will　e　and　look　at　them；'　said　Strider；　picking　up　a　stick。　Frodosaid　nothing；　but　Sam　looked　scared。　
The　sun　was　now　high；　and　it　shone　down　through　the　half…strippedbranches　of　the　trees；　and　lit　the　clearing　with　bright　patches　of　light。　They　　
　
halted　suddenly　on　the　edge；　and　peered　through　the　tree…trunks；　holding　theirbreath。　There　stood　the　trolls：　three　large　trolls。　One　was　stooping；　and　theother　two　stood　staring　at　him。　
Strider　walked　forward　unconcernedly。　'Get　up；　old　stone！'　he　said；　andbroke　his　stick　upon　the　stooping　troll。　
Nothing　happened。　There　was　a　gasp　of　astonishment　from　the　hobbits；　andthen　even　Frodo　laughed。　'Well！'　he　said。　'We　are　forgetting　our　familyhistory！　These　must　be　the　very　three　that　were　caught　by　Gandalf；　quarrellingover　the　right　way　to　cook　thirteen　dwarves　and　one　hobbit。'　
'I　had　no　idea　we　were　anywhere　near　the　place！'　said　Pippin。　He　knew　thestory　well。　Bilbo　and　Frodo　had　told　it　often；　but　as　a　matter　of　fact　he　hadnever　more　than　half　believed　it。　Even　now　he　looked　at　the　stone　trolls　with　　
suspicion；　wondering　if　some　magic　might　not　suddenly　bring　them　to　lifeagain。　
'You　are　forgetting　not　only　your　family　history；　but　all　you　ever　knewabout　trolls；'　said　Strider。　'It　is　broad　daylight　with　a　bright　sun；　and　yetyou　e　back　trying　to　scare　me　with　a　tale　of　live　trolls　waiting　for　us　inthis　glade！　In　any　case　you　might　have　noticed　that　one　of　them　has　an　oldbird's　nest　behind　his　ear。　That　would　be　a　most　unusual　ornament　for　a　live　　
troll！'　　
They　all　laughed。　Frodo　felt　his　spirits　reviving：　the　reminder　ofBilbo's　first　successful　adventure　was　heartening。　The　sun；　too；　was　warm　andforting；　and　the　mist　before　his　eyes　seemed　to　be　lifting　a　little。　Theyrested　for　some　time　in　the　glade；　and　took　their　mid…day　meal　right　under　theshadow　of　the　trolls'　large　legs。　
'Won't　somebody　give　us　a　bit　of　a　song；　while　the　sun　is　high？'　saidMerry；　when　they　had　finished。　'We　haven't　had　a　song　or　a　tale　for　days。'　
'Not　since　Weathertop；'　said　Frodo。　The　others　looked　at　him。　'Don'tworry　about　me！'　he　added。　'I　feel　much　better；　but　I　don't　think　I　couldsing。　Perhaps　Sam　could　dig　something　out　of　his　memory。'　
'e　on；　Sam！'　said　Merry。　'There's　more　stored　in　your　head　than　youlet　on　about。'　　
'I　don't　know　about　that；'　said　Sam。　'But　how　would　this　suit？　It　ain'twhat　I　call　proper　poetry；　if　you　understand　me：　just　a　bit　of　nonsense。　Butthese　old　images　here　brought　it　to　my　mind。'　Standing　up；　with　his　handsbehind　his　back；　as　if　he　was　at　school；　he　began　to　sing　to　an　old　tune。　　
Troll　sat　alone　on　his　seat　of　stone；　
And　munched　and　mumbled　a　bare　old　bone；　
For　many　a　year　he　had　gnawed　it　near；　
For　meat　was　hard　to　e　by。　
Done　by！　Gum　by！　
In　a　case　in　the　hills　he　dwelt　alone；　
And　meat　was　hard　to　e　by。　　
Up　came　Tom　with　his　big　boots　on。　
Said　he　to　Troll：　'Pray；　what　is　yon？　
For　it　looks　like　the　shin　o'　my　nuncle　Tim；　
As　should　be　a…lyin'　in　graveyard。　
Caveyard！　Paveyard！　
This　many　a　year　has　Tim　been　gone；　
And　I　thought　he　were　lyin'　in　graveyard。'　　
'My　lad；'　said　Troll；　'this　bone　I　stole。　
But　what　be　bones　that　lie　in　a　hole？　　
Thy　nuncle　was　dead　as　a　lump　o'　lead；　
Afore　I　found　his　shinbone。　　
Tinbone！　Thinbone！　　
He　can　spare　a　share　for　a　poor　old　troll；　
For　he　don't　need　his　shinbone。'　
　
Said　Tom：　'I　don't　see　why　the　likes　o'　thee　
Without　axin'　leave　should　go　makin'　free　
With　the　shank　or　the　shin　o'　my　father's　kin；　
So　hand　the　old　bone　over！　　
Rover！　Trover！　　
Though　dead　he　be；　it　belongs　to　he；　
So　hand　the　old　bone　over！'　　
'For　a　couple　o'　pins；'　says　Troll；　and　grins；　
'I'll　eat　thee　too；　and　gnaw　thy　shins。　
A　bit　o'　fresh　meal　will　go　down　sweet！　
I'll　try　my　teeth　on　thee　now。　
Hee　now！　See　now！　　
I'm　tired　o'　gnawing　old　bones　and　skins；　
I've　a　mind　to　dine　on　thee　now。'　　
But　just　as　he　thought　his　dinner　was　caught；　
He　found　his　hands　had　hold　of　naught。　
Before　he　could　mind；　Tom　slipped　behind　
And　gave　him　the　boot　to　larn　him。　
Warn　him！　Darn　him！　　
A　bump　o'　the　boot　on　the　seat；　Tom　thought；　
Would　be　the　way　to　larn　him。　　
But　harder　than　stone　is　the　flesh　and　bone　　
Of　a　troll　that　sits　in　the　hills　alone。　　
As　well　set　your　boot　to　the　mountain's　root；　
For　the　seat　of　a　troll　don't　feel　it。