and right down to Nimrodel。 Since we took to boats； he has been lying on a log and paddling with hands and feet。 I have tried to catch him once or twice at night； but he is slier than a fox； and as slippery as a fish。 I hoped the rivervoyage would beat him； but he is too clever a waterman。
'We shall have to try going faster tomorrow。 You lie down now； and I will keep watch for what is left of the night。 I wish I could lay my hands on the wretch。 We might make him useful。 But if I cannot； we shall have to try and lose him。 He is very dangerous。 Quite apart from murder by night on his own account； he may put any enemy that is about on our track。'
The night passed without Gollum showing so much as a shadow again。 After that the pany kept a sharp lookout； but they saw no more of Gollum while the voyage lasted。 If he was still following； he was very wary and cunning。 At Aragorn's bidding they paddled now for long spells； and the banks went swiftly by。 But they saw little of the country； for they journeyed mostly by night and twilight； resting by day； and lying as hidden as the land allowed。 In this way the time passed without event until the seventh day。
The weather was still grey and overcast； with wind from the East； but as evening drew into night the sky away westward cleared； and pools of faint light； yellow and pale green； opened under the grey shores of cloud。 There the white rind of the new Moon could be seen glimmering in the remote lakes。 Sam looked at it and puckered his brows。
The next day the country on either side began to change rapidly。 The banks began to rise and grow stony。 Soon they were passing through a hilly rocky land； and on both shores there were steep slopes buried in deep brakes of thorn and sloe； tangled with brambles and creepers。 Behind them stood low crumbling cliffs； and chimneys of grey weathered stone dark with ivy； and beyond these again there rose high ridges crowned with windwrithen firs。 They were drawing near to the grey hillcountry of the Emyn Muil； the southern march of Wilderland。
There were many birds about the cliffs and the rockchimneys； and all day high 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 the pany was stirring and getting ready to start again； he descried a dark spot against the fading light： a great bird high and far off； now wheeling； now flying 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 that forebodes。 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； the grey east wind had passed away。 The thin crescent of the Moon had fallen early into the pale sunset； but the sky was clear above； and though far away in the South there were great ranges of cloud that still shone faintly； in the West stars glinted bright。
'e！' said Aragorn。 'We will venture one more journey by night。 We are ing to reaches of the River that I do not know well： for I have never journeyed by water in these parts before； not between here and the rapids of Sarn Gebir。 But if I am right in my reckoning； those are still many miles ahead。 Still there are dangerous places even before we e there： rocks and stony eyots in the stream。 We must keep a sharp watch and not try to paddle swiftly。'
To Sam in the leading boat was given the task of watchman。 He lay forward peering into the gloom。 The night grew dark； but the stars above were strangely bright； and there was a glimmer On the face of the River。 It was close on midnight； and they had been drifting for some while。 hardly using the paddles； when suddenly Sam cried out。 Only a few yards ahead dark shapes loomed up in the stream and he heard the swirl of racing water。 There was a swift current which swung left； towards the eastern shore where the channel was 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 out far into the stream like a ridge of teeth。 The boats were all huddled together。
'Hoy there； Aragorn！' shouted Boromir； as his boat bumped into the leader。 'This is madness！ We cannot dare the Rapids by night！ But no boat can live in Sarn Gebir； be it night or day。'
'Back； back！' cried Aragorn。 'Turn！ Turn if you can！' He drove his paddle 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 had e so far： Anduin flows faster than I thought。 Sarn Gebir must be close at hand 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 all the time they were carried nearer and nearer to the eastern bank。 Now dark and ominous it loomed up in the night。
'All together； paddle！' shouted Boromir。 'Paddle！ Or we shall be driven on the shoals。' Even as he spoke Frodo felt the keel beneath him grate upon stone。
At that moment there was a twang of bowstrings： several arrows whistled over them； and some fell among them。 One smote Frodo between the shoulders and he lurched forward with a cry； letting go his paddle： but the arrow fell back。 foiled by his hidden coat of mail。 Another passed through Aragorn's hood； and a third stood fast in the gunwale of the second boat； close by Merry's hand。 Sam thought he could glimpse black figures running to and fro upon the long shinglebanks that lay under the eastern shore。 They seemed very near。
'Yrch！' said Legolas； falling into his own tongue。
'Orcs！' cried Gimli。
'Gollum's doing； I'll be bound。' said Sam to Frodo。 'And a nice place to choose； too。 The River seems set on taking us right into their arms！'
They all leaned forward straining at the paddles： even Sam took a hand。
Every moment they expected to feel the bite of blackfeathered arrows。 Many whined overhead or struck the water nearby； but there were no more hits。 It was dark； but not too dark for the nighteyes of Orcs； and in the starglimmer they must have offered their cunning foes some mark； unless it was that the grey cloaks Of Lórien and the grey timber of the elfwrought boats defeated the malice of the archers of Mordor。
Stroke by stroke they laboured on。 In the darkness it was hard to be sure that they were indeed moving at all； but slowly the swirl of the water grew less； and the shadow of the eastern bank faded back into the night。 At last； as far as they could judge； they had reached the middle of the stream again and had driven their boats back some distance above the jutting rocks。 Then half turning they thrust them with all their strength towards the western shore。 Under the shadow Of bushes leaning out over the water they halted and drew breath。
Legolas laid down his paddle and took up the bow that he had brought from Lórien。 Then he sprang ashore and climbed a few paces up the bank。 Stringing the bow and fitting an arrow he turned； peering back over the River into the darkness。 Across the water there were shrill cries； but nothing could be seen。
Frodo looked up at the Elf standing tall above him； as he gazed into the night； seeking a mark to shoot at。 His head was dark； crowned with sharp white stars that glittered in the black pools of the sky behind。 But now rising and sailing up from the South the great clouds advanced； sending out dark outriders into the starry fields。 A sudden dread fell on the pany。
'Elbereth Gilthoniel！' sighed Legolas as he looked up。 Even as he did so； a dark shape； like a cloud and yet not a cloud； for it moved far more swiftly； came out of the blackness in the South； and sped towards the pany； blotting out all light as it approached。 Soon it appeared as a great winged creature； blacker than the pits in the night。 Fierce voices rose up to greet it from across the water。 Frodo felt a sudden chill running through him and clutching at his heart； there was a deadly cold； like the memory of an old wound； in his shoulder。 He crouched down； as if to hide。
Suddenly the great bow of Lórien sang。 Shrill went the arrow from the elvenstring。 Frodo looked up。 Almost above him the winged shape swerved。 There was a harsh croaking scream； as it fell out of the air； vanishing down into the gloom of the eastern shore。 The sky was clean again。 There was a tumult of many voices far away； cursing and wailing in the darkness； and then silence。 Neither shaft nor cry came again from the east that night。
After a while Aragorn led the boats back upstream。 They felt their way along the water's edge for some distance； until they found a small shallow bay。 A few low trees grew there close to the water； and behind them rose a steep rocky bank。 Here the pany decided to stay and await the dawn： it was useless to attempt to move further by night。 They made no camp and lit no fire； but lay huddled in the boats； moored close together。
'Praised be the bow of Galadriel； and the hand and eye of Legolas！' said Gimli； as he munched a wafer of lembas。 'That was a mighty shot in the dark； my friend！'
'But who can say what it hit？' said Legolas。
'I cannot；' said Gimli。 'But I am glad that the shadow came no nearer。 I liked it not at all。 Too much it reminded me of the shadow in Moria 。 the shadow of the Balrog；' he ended in a whisper。
'It was not a Balrog；' said Frodo； still shivering with the chill that had e upon him。 'It was something colder。 I think it was ' Then he paused and fell silent。
'What do you think？ ' asked Boromir eagerly； leaning from his boat； as if he was trying to catch a glimpse of Frodo's face。
'I think 。 No； I will not say；' answered Frodo。 'Whatever it was； its fall has dismayed our enemies。'
'So it seems；' said Aragorn。 'Yet where they are； and how many； and what they will do next； we do not know。 This night we must all be sleepless！ Dark hides us now。 But what the day will show who can tell？ Have your weapons close to hand！'
Sam sat tapping the hilt of his sword as if he were counting on his fingers； and looking up at the sky。 'It's very strange；' he murmured。 'The Moon's the same in the Shire and in Wilderland； or it ought to be。 But either it's out of its running； or I'm all wrong in my reckoning。 You'll remember； Mr。 Frodo； the Moon was waning as we lay on the flet up in that tree： a week from the full； I reckon。 And we'd been a week on the way last night； when up pops a New Moon as thin as a nailparing； as if we had never stayed no time in the Elvish country。
'Well； I can remember three nights there for certain； and I seem to remember several more； but I would take my oath it was never a whole month。 Anyone would think that time did not count in there！'
'And perhaps that was the way of it；' said Frodo。 'In that land； maybe； we were in a time that has elsewhere long gone by。 It was not； I think； until Silverlode bore us back to Anduin that we returned to the time that flows through mortal lands to the G