ts。
The heart of Legolas was running under the stars of a summer night insome northern glade amid the beech…woods； Gimli was fingering gold in hismind； and wondering if it were fit to be wrought into the housing of theLady's gift。 Merry and Pippin in the middle boat were ill at ease； for Boromirsat muttering to himself； sometimes biting his nails； as if some restlessnessor doubt consumed him； sometimes seizing a paddle and driving the boat close
behind Aragorn's。 Then Pippin； who sat in the bow looking back； caught a queergleam in his eye； as he peered forward gazing at Frodo。 Sam had long ago madeup his mind that； though boats were maybe not as dangerous as he had beenbrought up to believe； they were far more unfortable than even he hadimagined。 He was cramped and miserable； having nothing to do but stare at thewinter…lands crawling by and the grey water on either side of him。 Even whenthe paddles were in use they did not trust Sam with one。
As dusk drew down on the fourth day； he was looking back over the bowedheads of Frodo and Aragorn and the following boats； he was drowsy and longedfor camp and the feel of earth under his toes。 Suddenly something caught hissight： at first he stared at it listlessly； then he sat up and rubbed hiseyes； but when he looked again he could not see it any more。
That night they camped on a small eyot close to the western bank。 Sam layrolled in blankets beside Frodo。 ‘I had a funny dream an hour or two before westopped； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 ‘Or maybe it wasn't a dream。 Funny it wasanyway。'
‘Well； what was it？ ' said Frodo； knowing that Sam would not settle downuntil he had told his tale； whatever it was。 'I haven't seen or thought ofanything to make me smile since we left Lothlórien。'
‘It wasn't funny that way； Mr。 Frodo。 It was queer。 All wrong； if itwasn't a dream。 And you had best hear it。 It was like this： I saw a log witheyes！ '
‘The log's all right；' said Frodo。 ‘There are many in the River。 Butleave out the eyes！ '
‘That I won't；' said Sam。 ‘ 'Twas the eyes as made me sit up； so tospeak。 I saw what I took to be a log floating along in the half…light behindGimli's boat； but I didn't give much heed to it。 Then it seemed as if the logwas slowly catching us up。 And that was peculiar； as you might say； seeing aswe were all floating on the stream together。 Just then I saw the eyes： twopale sort of points； shiny…like； on a hump at the near end of the log。 What'smore； it wasn't a log； for it had paddle…feet； like a swan's almost； only theyseemed bigger； and kept dipping in and out of the water。
'That's when I sat right up and rubbed my eyes； meaning to give a shout；
if it was still there when I had rubbed the drowse out of my head。 For thewhatever…it…was was ing along fast now and getting close behind Gimli。 Butwhether those two lamps spotted me moving and staring； or whether I came to mysenses； I don't know。 When I looked again； it wasn't there。 Yet I think Icaught a glimpse with the tail of…my eye； as the saying is； of something darkshooting under the shadow of the bank。 I couldn't see no more eyes though。
‘I said to myself： 〃dreaming again； Sam Gamgee；〃 I said： and I said nomore just then。 But I've been thinking since。 and now I'm not so sure。 What doyou make of it； Mr。 Frodo？ '
'I should make nothing of it but a log and the dusk and sleep in youreyes Sam； said Frodo； if this was the first time that those eyes had beenseen。 But it isn't。 I saw them away back north before we reached Lórien。 And Isaw a strange creature with eyes climbing to the flet that night。 Haldir sawit too。 And do you remember the report of the Elves that went after the orcband？
'
‘Ah；' said Sam。 ‘I do； and I remember more too。 I don't like my thoughts；
but thinking of one thing and another； and Mr。 Bilbo's stories and all； Ifancy I could put a name on the creature； at a guess。 A nasty name。 Gollum；
maybe？ '
‘Yes； that is what I have feared for some time；' said Frodo。 ‘Ever sincethe night on the flet。 I suppose he was lurking in Moria； and picked up ourtrail then； but I hoped that our stay in Lórien would throw him off the scentagain。 The miserable creature must have been hiding in the woods by theSilverlode； watching us start off！ '
‘That's about it；' said Sam。 ‘And we'd better be a bit more watchfulourselves； or we'll feel some nasty fingers round our necks one of these
nights； if we ever wake up to feel anything。 And that's what I was leading upto。 No need to trouble Strider or the others tonight。 I'll keep watch。 I cansleep tomorrow； being no more than luggage in a boat； as you might say。'
‘I might；' said Frodo； ‘and I might say 〃luggage with eyes〃。 You shallwatch； but only if you promise to wake me halfway towards morning； if nothinghappens before then。'
In the dead hours Frodo came out of a deep dark sleep to find Sam shakinghim。 ‘It's a shame to wake you；' whispered Sam； ‘but that's what you said。
There's nothing to tell； or not much。 I thought I heard some soft plashing anda sniffing noise； a while back； but you hear a lot of such queer sounds by ariver at night。'
He lay down； and Frodo sat up； huddled in his blankets； and fought offhis sleep。 Minutes or hours passed slowly； and nothing happened。 Frodo wasjust yielding to the temptation to lie down again when a dark shape； hardlyvisible； floated close to one of the moored boats。 A long whitish hand couldbe dimly seen as it shot out and grabbed the gunwale； two pale lamplike eyesshone coldly as they peered inside； and then they lifted and gazed up at Frodoon the eyot。 They were not more than a yard or two away； and Frodo heard thesoft hiss of intaken breath。 He stood up； drawing Sting from its sheath； andfaced the eyes。 Immediately their light was shut off。 There was another hissand a splash； and the dark log…shape shot away downstream into the night。
Aragorn stirred in his sleep； turned over； and sat up‘
'What is it？ ' he whispered； springing up and ing to Frodo。 ‘I feltsomething in my sleep。 Why have you drawn your sword？ '
‘Gollum；' answered Frodo。 'Or at least； so I guess。'
‘Ah！ ' said Aragorn。 ‘So you know about our little footpad； do you？ Hepadded after us all through Moria and right down to Nimrodel。 Since we took toboats； he has been lying on a log and paddling with hands and feet。 I havetried to catch him once or twice at night； but he is slier than a fox； and asslippery as a fish。 I hoped the river…voyage would beat him； but he is tooclever a waterman。
‘We shall have to try going faster tomorrow。 You lie down now； and I willkeep watch for what is left of the night。 I wish I could lay my hands on thewretch。 We might make him useful。 But if I cannot； we shall have to try andlose him。 He is very dangerous。 Quite apart from murder by night on his ownaccount； he may put any enemy that is about on our track。'
The night passed without Gollum showing so much as a shadow again。 Afterthat the pany kept a sharp look…out； but they saw no more of Gollum whilethe voyage lasted。 If he was still following； he was very wary and cunning。 AtAragorn's bidding they paddled now for long spells； and the banks went swiftlyby。 But they saw little of the country； for they journeyed mostly by night andtwilight； resting by day； and lying as hidden as the land allowed。 In this waythe time passed without event until the seventh day。
The weather was still grey and overcast； with wind from the East； but asevening drew into night the sky away westward cleared； and pools of faintlight； yellow and pale green； opened under the grey shores of cloud。 There thewhite rind of the new Moon could be seen glimmering in the remote lakes。 Samlooked at it and puckered his brows。
The next day the country on either side began to change rapidly。 Thebanks began to rise and grow stony。 Soon they were passing through a hillyrocky land； and on both shores there were steep slopes buried in deep brakesof thorn and sloe； tangled with brambles and creepers。 Behind them stood lowcrumbling cliffs； and chimneys of grey weathered stone dark with ivy； andbeyond these again there rose high ridges crowned with wind…writhen firs。 Theywere drawing near to the grey hill…country of the Emyn Muil； the southernmarch of Wilderland。
There were many birds about the cliffs and the rock…chimneys； and all dayhigh in the air flocks of birds had been circling； black against the pale sky。
As they lay in their camp that day Aragorn watched the flights doubtfully；
wondering if Gollum had been doing some mischief and the news of their voyage
was now moving in the wilderness。 Later as the sun was setting； and thepany was stirring and getting ready to start again； he descried a dark spotagainst the fading light： a great bird high and far off； now wheeling； nowflying on slowly southwards。
'What is that； Legolas？ ' he asked； pointing to the northern sky。 'Is it；
as I think。 an eagle？ '
'Yes。' said Legolas。 ‘It is an eagle； a hunting eagle。 I wonder what thatforebodes。 It is far from the mountains。'
‘We will not start until it is fully dark；' said Aragorn。
The eighth night of their journey came。 It was silent and windless； thegrey east wind had passed away。 The thin crescent of the Moon had fallen earlyinto the pale sunset； but the sky was clear above； and though far away in theSouth there were great ranges of cloud that still shone faintly； in the Weststars glinted bright。
‘e！ ' said Aragorn。 ‘We will venture one more journey by night。 We areing to reaches of the River that I do not know well： for I have neverjourneyed by water in these parts before； not between here and the rapids ofSarn Gebir。 But if I am right in my reckoning； those are still many milesahead。 Still there are dangerous places even before we e there： rocks andstony eyots in the stream。 We must keep a sharp watch and not try to paddleswiftly。'
To Sam in the leading boat was given the task of watchman。 He lay forwardpeering into the gloom。 The night grew dark； but the stars above werestrangely bright； and there was a glimmer On the face of the River。 It wasclose on midnight； and they had been drifting for some while。 hardly using thepaddles； when suddenly Sam cried out。 Only a few yards ahead dark shapesloomed up in the stream and he heard the swirl of racing water。 There was aswift current which swung left； towards the eastern shore where the channelwas clear。 As they were swept aside the travellers could see； now very close；
the pale foam of the River lashing against sharp rocks that were thrust outfar into the stream like a ridge of teeth。 The boats were all huddledtogether。
‘Hoy there； Aragorn！ ' shouted Boromir； as his boat bumped into theleader。 ‘This is madness！ We cannot dare the Rapids by night！ But no boat canlive in Sarn Gebir； be it night or day。'
‘Back； back！ ' cried Aragorn。 'Turn！ Turn if you can！ ' He drove hispaddle into the water； trying to hold the boat and bring it round。
'I am out of my reckoning；' he said to Frodo。 'I did not know that we hade so far： Anduin flows faster than I thought。 Sarn Gebir must be close athand already。'
With great efforts they checked the boats and slowly brought them about；
but at first they could make only small headway against the current； and allthe time they were carried nearer and nearer to the eastern bank。 Now dark andominous it