the fellowship of the ring-第58部分

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！


eless　feet　ofthe　Elf。　On　he　led　them；　into　the　mouth　of　darkness；　and　still　on　under　thedeep　clouded　night。　There　was　neither　star　nor　moon。　Not　until　the　grey　ofdawn　did　he　allow　them　to　halt。　Pippin；　Merry；　and　Sam　were　by　that　timenearly　asleep　on　their　stumbling　legs；　and　even　Strider　seemed　by　the　sag　ofhis　shoulders　to　be　weary。　Frodo　sat　upon　the　horse　in　a　dark　dream。　　
　
They　cast　themselves　down　in　the　heather　a　few　yards　from　the　road…side；　
and　fell　asleep　immediately。　They　seemed　hardly　to　have　closed　their　eyes　whenGlorfindel；　who　had　set　himself　to　watch　while　they　slept；　awoke　them　again。　
The　sun　had　now　climbed　far　into　the　morning；　and　the　clouds　and　mists　of　thenight　were　gone。　
'Drink　this！'　said　Glorfindel　to　them；　pouring　for　each　in　turn　a　littleliquor　from　his　silver…studded　flask　of　leather。　It　was　clear　as　spring　waterand　had　no　taste；　and　it　did　not　feel　either　cool　or　warm　in　the　mouth；　butstrength　and　vigour　seemed　to　flow　into　all　their　limbs　as　they　drank　it。　
Eaten　after　that　draught　the　stale　bread　and　dried　fruit　（which　was　now　allthat　they　had　left）　seemed　to　satisfy　their　hunger　better　than　many　a　goodbreakfast　in　the　Shire　had　done。　　
They　had　rested　rather　less　than　five　hours　when　they　took　to　the　Roadagain。　Glorfindel　still　urged　them　on；　and　only　allowed　two　brief　halts　duringthe　day's　march。　In　this　way　they　covered　almost　twenty　miles　beforenightfall；　and　came　to　a　point　where　the　Road　bent　right　and　ran　down　towardsthe　bottom　of　the　valley；　now　making　straight　for　the　Bruinen。　So　far　therehad　been　no　sign　or　sound　of　pursuit　that　the　hobbits　could　see　or　hear；　butoften　Glorfindel　would　halt　and　listen　for　a　moment；　if　they　lagged　behind；　
and　a　look　of　anxiety　clouded　his　face。　Once　or　twice　he　spoke　to　Strider　inthe　elf…tongue。　
But　however　anxious　their　guides　might　be；　it　was　plain　that　the　hobbitscould　go　no　further　that　night。　They　were　stumbling　along　dizzy　withweariness；　and　unable　to　think　of　anything　but　their　feet　and　legs。　Frodo'spain　had　redoubled；　and　during　the　day　things　about　him　faded　to　shadows　ofghostly　grey。　He　almost　weled　the　ing　of　night；　for　then　the　worldseemed　less　pale　and　empty。　
The　hobbits　were　still　weary；　when　they　set　out　again　early　next　morning。　
There　were　many　miles　yet　to　go　between　them　and　the　Ford；　and　they　hobbledforward　at　the　best　pace　they　could　manage。　
'Our　peril　will　be　greatest　just　ere　we　reach　the　river；'　saidGlorfindel；　'for　my　heart　warns　me　that　the　pursuit　is　now　swift　behind　us；　
and　other　danger　may　be　waiting　by　the　Ford。'　
The　Road　was　still　running　steadily　downhill；　and　there　was　now　in　placesmuch　grass　at　either　side；　in　which　the　hobbits　walked　when　they　could；　toease　their　tired　feet。　In　the　late　afternoon　they　came　to　a　place　where　theRoad　went　suddenly　under　the　dark　shadow　of　tall　pine…trees；　and　then　plungedinto　a　deep　cutting　with　steep　moist　walls　of　red　stone。　Echoes　ran　along　asthey　hurried　forward；　and　there　seemed　to　be　a　sound　of　many　footfallsfollowing　their　own。　All　at　once；　as　if　through　a　gate　of　light；　the　Road　ranout　again　from　the　end　of　the　tunnel　into　the　open。　There　at　the　bottom　of　asharp　incline　they　saw　before　them　a　long　flat　mile；　and　beyond　that　the　Fordof　Rivendell。　On　the　further　side　was　a　steep　brown　bank；　threaded　by　awinding　path；　and　behind　that　the　tall　mountains　climbed；　shoulder　aboveshoulder；　and　peak　beyond　peak；　into　the　fading　sky。　
There　was　still　an　echo　as　of　following　feet　in　the　cutting　behind　them；　
a　rushing　noise　as　if　a　wind　were　rising　and　pouring　through　the　branches　ofthe　pines。　One　moment　Glorfindel　turned　and　listened；　then　he　sprang　forwardwith　a　loud　cry。　
'Fly！'　he　called。　'Fly！　The　enemy　is　upon　us！'　
The　white　horse　leaped　forward。　The　hobbits　ran　down　the　slope。　
Glorfindel　and　Strider　followed　as　rear…guard。　They　were　only　half　way　acrossthe　flat；　when　suddenly　there　was　a　noise　of　horses　galloping。　Out　of　the　gatein　the　trees　that　they　had　just　left　rode　a　Black　Rider。　He　reined　his　horsein；　and　halted；　swaying　in　his　saddle。　Another　followed　him；　and　then　another；　
then　again　two　more。　
'Ride　forward！　Ride！'　cried　Glorfindel　to　Frodo。　　
He　did　not　obey　at　once；　for　a　strange　reluctance　seized　him。　Checkingthe　horse　to　a　walk；　he　turned　and　looked　back。　The　Riders　seemed　to　sit　upontheir　great　steeds　like　threatening　statues　upon　a　hill；　dark　and　solid；　while　　
　
all　the　woods　and　land　about　them　receded　as　if　into　a　mist。　Suddenly　he　knewin　his　heart　that　they　were　silently　manding　him　to　wait。　Then　at　once　fearand　hatred　awoke　in　him。　His　hand　left　the　bridle　and　gripped　the　hilt　of　hissword；　and　with　a　red　flash　he　drew　it。　
'Ride　on！　Ride　on！'　cried　Glorfindel；　and　then　loud　and　clear　he　calledto　the　horse　in　the　elf…tongue：　_noro　lim；　noro　lim；　Asfaloth！_　
At　once　the　white　horse　sprang　away　and　sped　like　the　wind　along　the　lastlap　of　the　Road。　At　the　same　moment　the　black　horses　leaped　down　the　hill　inpursuit；　and　from　the　Riders　came　a　terrible　cry；　such　as　Frodo　had　heardfilling　the　woods　with　horror　in　the　Eastfarthing　far　away。　It　was　answered；　
and　to　the　dismay　of　Frodo　and　his　friends　out　from　the　trees　and　rocks　awayon　the　left　four　other　Riders　came　flying。　Two　rode　towards　Frodo：　twogalloped　madly　towards　the　Ford　to　cut　off　his　escape。　They　seemed　to　him　torun　like　the　wind　and　to　grow　swiftly　larger　and　darker；　as　their　coursesconverged　with　his。　
Frodo　looked　back　for　a　moment　over　his　shoulder。　He　could　no　longer　seehis　friends。　The　Riders　behind　were　falling　back：　even　their　great　steeds　wereno　match　in　speed　for　the　white　elf…horse　of　Glorfindel。　He　looked　forwardagain；　and　hope　faded。　There　seemed　no　chance　of　reaching　the　Ford　before　hewas　cut　off　by　the　others　that　had　lain　in　ambush。　He　could　see　them　clearlynow：　they　appeared　to　have　cast　aside　their　hoods　and　black　cloaks；　and　theywere　robed　in　white　and　grey。　Swords　were　naked　in　their　pale　hands；　helmswere　on　their　heads。　Their　cold　eyes　glittered；　and　they　called　to　him　withfell　voices。　　
Fear　now　filled　all　Frodo's　mind。　He　thought　no　longer　of　his　sword。　Nocry　came　from　him。　He　shut　his　eyes　and　clung　to　the　horse's　mane。　The　windwhistled　in　his　ears；　and　the　bells　upon　the　harness　rang　wild　and　shrill。　Abreath　of　deadly　cold　pierced　him　like　a　spear；　as　with　a　last　spurt；　like　aflash　of　white　fire；　the　elf…horse　speeding　as　if　on　wings；　passed　rightbefore　the　face　of　the　foremost　Rider。　　
Frodo　heard　the　splash　of　water。　It　foamed　about　his　feet。　He　felt　thequick　heave　and　surge　as　the　horse　left　the　river　and　struggled　up　the　stonypath。　He　was　climbing　the　steep　bank。　He　was　across　the　Ford。　
But　the　pursuers　were　close　behind。　At　the　top　of　the　bank　the　horsehalted　and　turned　about　neighing　fiercely。　There　were　Nine　Riders　at　thewater's　edge　below；　and　Frodo's　spirit　quailed　before　the　threat　of　theiruplifted　faces。　He　knew　of　nothing　that　would　prevent　them　from　crossing　aseasily　as　he　had　done；　and　he　felt　that　it　was　useless　to　try　to　escape　overthe　long　uncertain　path　from　the　Ford　to　the　edge　of　Rivendell；　if　once　theRiders　crossed。　In　any　case　he　felt　that　he　was　manded　urgently　to　halt。　
Hatred　again　stirred　in　him；　but　he　had　no　longer　the　strength　to　refuse。　
Suddenly　the　foremost　Rider　spurred　his　horse　forward。　It　checked　at　thewater　and　reared　up。　With　a　great　effort　Frodo　sat　upright　and　brandished　hissword。　　
'Go　back！'　he　cried。　'Go　back　to　the　Land　of　Mordor；　and　follow　me　nomore！　'　His　voice　sounded　thin　and　shrill　in　his　own　ears。　The　Riders　halted；　
but　Frodo　had　not　the　power　of　Bombadil。　His　enemies　laughed　at　him　with　aharsh　and　chilling　laughter。　'e　back！　e　back！'　they　called。　'To　Mordorwe　will　take　you！'　
'Go　back！'　he　whispered。　
'The　Ring！　The　Ring！'　they　cried　with　deadly　voices；　and　immediatelytheir　leader　urged　his　horse　forward　into　the　water；　followed　closely　by　twoothers。　　
'By　Elbereth　and　Lúthien　the　Fair；'　said　Frodo　with　a　last　effort；　
lifting　up　his　sword；　'you　shall　have　neither　the　Ring　nor　me！'　
Then　the　leader；　who　was　now　half　across　the　Ford；　stood　up　menacing　inhis　stirrups；　and　raised　up　his　hand。　Frodo　was　stricken　dumb。　He　felt　histongue　cleave　to　his　mouth；　and　his　heart　labouring。　His　sword　broke　and　fellout　of　his　shaking　hand。　The　elf…horse　reared　and　snorted。　The　foremost　of　theblack　horses　had　almost　set　foot　upon　the　shore。　　
　
At　that　moment　there　came　a　roaring　and　a　rushing：　a　noise　of　loud　watersrolling　many　stones。　Dimly　Frodo　saw　the　river　below　him　rise；　and　down　alongits　course　there　came　a　plumed　cavalry　of　waves。　White　flames　seemed　to　Frodoto　flicker　on　their　crests　and　he　half　fancied　that　he　saw　amid　the　water　　
white　riders　upon　white　horses　with　frothing　manes。　The　three　Riders　that　werestill　in　the　midst　of　the　Ford　were　overwhelmed：　they　disappeared；　buriedsuddenly　under　angry　foam。　Those　that　were　behind　drew　back　in　dismay。　
With　his　last　failing　senses　Frodo　heard　cries；　and　it　seemed　to　him　thathe　saw；　beyond　the　Riders　that　hesitated　on　the　shore；　a　shining　figure　ofwhite　light；　and　behind　it　ran　small　shadowy　forms　waving　flames；　that　flaredred　in　the　grey　mist　that　was　falling　over　the　world。　
The　black　horses　were　filled　with　madness；　and　leaping　forward　in　ter