e could hear cries and calls from the woods near the shore below。
'They'll be hunting for me；' he said。 'I wonder how long I have been away。 Hours； I should think。' He hesitated。 'What can I do？ ' he muttered。 'I must go now or I shall never go。 I shan't get a chance again。 I hate leaving them； and like this without any explanation。 But surely they will understand。 Sam will。 And what else can I do？'
Slowly he drew out the Ring and put it on once more。 He vanished and passed down the hill； less than a rustle of the wind。
The others remained long by the riverside。 For some time they had been silent； moving restlessly about； but now they were sitting in a circle； and they were talking。 Every now and again they made efforts to speak of other things； of their long road and many adventures； they questioned Aragorn concerning the realm of Gondor and its ancient history； and the remnants of its great works that could still be seen in this strange borderland of the Emyn Muil： the stone kings and the seats of Lhaw and Hen； and the great Stair beside the falls of Rauros。 But always their thoughts and words strayed back to Frodo and the Ring。 What would Frodo choose to do？ Why was he hesitating？
'He is debating which course is the most desperate； I think；' said Aragorn。 'And well he may。 It is now more hopeless than ever for the pany to go east； since we have been tracked by Gollum； and must fear that the secret of our journey is already betrayed。 But Minas Tirith is no nearer to the Fire and the destruction of the Burden。
'We may remain there for a while and make a brave stand； but the Lord Dehor and all his men cannot hope to do what even Elrond said was beyond his power： either to keep the Burden secret。 or to hold off the full might of the Enemy when he es to take it。 Which way would any of us choose in Frodo's place？ I do not know。 Now indeed we miss Gandalf most。'
'Grievous is our loss；' said Legolas。 'Yet we must needs make up our minds without his aid。 Why cannot we decide； and so help Frodo？ Let us call him back and then vote！ I should vote for Minas Tirith。'
'And so should I；' said Gimli。 'We； of course； were only sent to help the Bearer along the road； to go no further than we wished； and none of us is under any oath or mand to seek Mount Doom。 Hard was my parting from Lothlórien。 Yet I have e so far； and I say this： now we have reached the last choice； it is clear to me that I cannot leave Frodo。 I would choose Minas Tirith； but if he does not； then I follow him。'
'And I too will go with him；' said Legolas。 'It would be faithless now to say farewell。'
'It would indeed be a betrayal； if we all left him；' said Aragorn。 'But if he goes east； then all need not go with him； nor do I think that all should。 That venture is desperate： as much so for eight as for three or two； or one alone。 If you would let me choose； then I should appoint three panions： Sam； who could not bear it otherwise； and Gimli； and myself。 Boromir will return to his own city； where his father and his people need him； and with him the others should go； or at least Meriadoc and Peregrin； if Legolas is not willing to leave us。'
'That won't do at all！' cried Merry。 'We can't leave Frodo！ Pippin and I always intended to go wherever he went； and we still do。 But we did not realize what that would mean。 It seemed different so far away； in the Shire or in Rivendell。 It would be mad and cruel to let Frodo go to Mordor。 Why can't we stop him？'
'We must stop him；' said Pippin。 'And that is what he is worrying about； I am sure。 He knows we shan't agree to his going east。 And he doesn't like to ask anyone to go with him； poor old fellow。 Imagine it： going off to Mordor alone！' Pippin shuddered。 'But the dear silly old hobbit； he ought to know that he hasn't got to ask。 He ought to know that if we can't stop him； we shan't leave him。'
'Begging your pardon；' said Sam。 'I don't think you understand my master at all。 He isn't hesitating about which way to go。 Of course not！ What's the good of Minas Tirith anyway？ To him； I mean； begging your pardon； Master Boromir；' he added； and turned。 It was then that they discovered that Boromir； who at first had been sitting silent on the outside of the circle； was no longer there。
'Now where's he got to？ ' cried Sam； looking worried。 'He's been a bit queer lately； to my mind。 But anyway he's not in this business。 He's off to his home； as he always said； and no blame to him。 But Mr。 Frodo； he knows he's got to find the Cracks of Doom； if he can。 But he's afraid。 Now it's e to the point； he's just plain terrified。 That's what his trouble is。 Of course he's had a bit of schooling； so to speakwe all havesince we left home； or he'd be so terrified he'd just fling the Ring in the River and bolt。 But he's still too frightened to start。 And he isn't worrying about us either： whether we'll go along with him or no。 He knows we mean to。 That's another thing that's bothering him。 If he screws himself up to go； he'll want to go alone。 Mark my words！ We're going to have trouble when he es back。 For he'll screw himself up all right； as sure as his name's Baggins。'
'I believe you speak more wisely than any of us； Sam；' said Aragorn。 'And what shall we do； if you prove right？ '
'Stop him！ Don't let him go！' cried Pippin。
'I wonder？ ' said Aragorn。 'He is the Bearer； and the fate of the Burden is on him。 I do not think that it is our part to drive him one way or the other。 Nor do I think that we should succeed； if we tried。 There are other powers at work far stronger。'
'Well； I wish Frodo would 〃screw himself up〃 and e back。 and let us get it over；' said Pippin。 'This waiting is horrible！ Surely the time is up？ '
'Yes；' said Aragorn。 'The hour is long passed。 The morning is wearing away。 We must call for him。'
At that moment Boromir reappeared。 He came out from the trees and walked towards them without speaking。 His face looked grim and sad。 He paused as if counting those that were present； and then sat down aloof； with his eyes on the ground。
'Where have you been； Boromir？ ' asked Aragorn。 'Have you seen Frodo？ '
Boromir hesitated for a second。 'Yes； and no；' he answered slowly。 'Yes： I found him some way up the hill； and I spoke to him。 I urged him to e to Minas Tirith and not to go east。 I grew angry and he left me。 He vanished。 I have never seen such a thing happen before。 though I have heard of it in tales。 He must have put the Ring on。 I could not find him again。 I thought he would return to you。'
'Is that all that you have to say？ ' said Aragorn； looking hard and not too kindly at Boromir。
'Yes；' he answered。 'I will say no more yet。'
'This is bad！' cried Sam； jumping up。 'I don't know what this Man has been up to。 Why should Mr。 Frodo put the thing on？ He didn't ought to have； and if he has； goodness knows what may have happened！'
'But he wouldn't keep it on’' said Merry。 'Not when he had escaped the unwele visitor； like Bilbo used to。'
'But where did he go？ Where is he？ ' cried Pippin。 'He's been away ages now。'
'How long is it since you saw Frodo last； Boromir？ ' asked Aragorn。
'Half an hour； maybe；' he answered。 'Or it might be an hour。 I have wandered for some time since。 I do not know！ I do not know！' He put his head in his hands； and sat as if bowed with grief。
'An hour since he vanished！' shouted Sam。 'We must try and find him at once。 e on！'
'Wait a moment！' cried Aragorn。 'We must divide up into pairs； and arrangehere； hold on！ Wait！'
It was no good。 They took no notice of him。 Sam had dashed off first。 Merry and Pippin had followed； and were already disappearing westward into the trees by the shore； shouting： Frodo！ Frodo！ in their clear； high hobbit voices。 Legolas and Gimli were running。 A sudden panic or madness seemed to have fallen on the pany。
'We shall all be scattered and lost；' groaned Aragorn。 'Boromir！ I do not know what part you have played in this mischief； but help now！ Go after those two young hobbits； and guard them at the least； even if you cannot find Frodo。 e back to this spot； if you find him； or any traces of him。 I shall return soon。'
Aragorn sprang swiftly away and went in pursuit of Sam。 Just as he reached the little lawn among the rowans he overtook him； toiling uphill； panting and calling； Frodo！
'e with me； Sam！' he said。 'None of us should be alone。 There is mischief about。 I feel it。 I am going to the top； to the Seat of Amon Hen； to see what may be seen。 And look！ It is as my heart guessed； Frodo went this way。 Follow me； and keep your eyes open！' He sped up the path。
Sam did his best； but he could not keep up with Strider the Ranger； and soon fell behind。 He had not gone far before Aragorn was out of sight ahead。 Sam stopped and puffed。 Suddenly he clapped his hand to his head。
'Whoa； Sam Gamgee！' he said aloud。 'Your legs are too short； so use your head！ Let me see now！ Boromir isn't lying； that's not his way； but he hasn't told us everything。 Something scared Mr。 Frodo badly。 He screwed himself up to the point； sudden。 He made up his mind at last to go。 Where to？ Off East。 Not without Sam？ Yes； without even his Sam。 That's hard； cruel hard。'
Sam passed his hand over his eyes； brushing away the tears。 'Steady； Gamgee！' he said。 'Think； if you can！ He can't fly across rivers； and he can't jump waterfalls。 He's got no gear。 So he's got to get back to the boats。 Back to the boats！ Back to the boats； Sam； like lightning！'
Sam turned and bolted back down the path。 He fell and cut his knees。 Up he got and ran on。 He came to the edge of the lawn of Parth Galen by the shore； where the boats were drawn up out of the water。 No one was there。 There seemed to be cries in the woods behind； but he did not heed them。 He stood gazing for a moment。 stockstill； gaping。 A boat was sliding down the bank all by itself。 With a shout Sam raced across the grass。 The boat slipped into the water。
'ing； Mr。 Frodo！ ing！' called Sam； and flung himself from the bank； clutching at the departing boat。 He missed it by a yard。 With a cry and a splash he fell face downward into deep swift water。 Gurgling he went under； and the River closed over his curly head。
An exclamation of dismay came from the empty boat。 A paddle swirled and the boat put about。 Frodo was just in time to grasp Sam by the hair as he came up； bubbling and struggling。 Fear was staring in his round brown eyes。
'Up you e； Sam my lad！' said Frodo。 'Now take my hand！'
'Save me； Mr。 Frodo！' gasped Sam。 'I'm drownded。 I can't see your hand。'
'Here it is。 Don't pinch； lad！ I won't let you go。 Tread water and don't flounder； or you'll upset the boat。 There now； get hold of the side； and let me use the paddle！'
With a few strokes Frodo brought the boat back to the bank。 and Sam was able to scramble out； wet as a waterrat。 Frodo took off the Ring and stepped ashore again。
'Of all the confounded nuisances you are the worst； Sam！' he said。
'Oh； Mr。 Frodo； that's hard！' said Sam shivering。 'That's hard； trying to go without me and all。 If I hadn't a guessed right； where would you be now？ '
'Safely on my way。'
'Safely！' said Sam。 'All alone and without me to help you？ I couldn't have a borne it； it'd have been the death of me。'
'It would be the death of you to