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！
nd。 But there it is： you can't wait now fill spring； and you can'tgo till the reports e back。
When winter first begins to bite
and stones crack in the frosty night；
when pools are black and trees are bare；
'tis evil in the Wild to fare。
But that I am afraid will be just your luck。'
'I am afraid it will；' said Gandalf。 'We can't start until we have foundout about the Riders。'
‘I thought they were all destroyed in the flood；' said Merry。
'You cannot destroy Ringwraiths like that；' said Gandalf。 ‘The power oftheir master is in them； and they stand or fall by him。 We hope that they wereall unhorsed and unmasked； and so made for a while less dangerous； but we mustfind out for certain。 In the meantime you should try and forget your troubles；
Frodo。 I do not know if I can do anything to help you； but I will whisper thisin your ears。 Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party。 Hewas right。 I think I shall e with you。'
So great was Frodo's delight at this announcement that Gandalf left thewindow…sill； where he had been sitting； and took off his hat and bowed。 'Ionly said _I think I shall e_。 Do not count on anything yet。 In this matterElrond will have much to say； and your friend the Strider。 Which reminds me； Iwant to see Elrond。 I must be off。'
‘How long do you think I shall have here？' said Frodo to Bilbo whenGandalf had gone。
‘Oh； I don't know。 I can't count days in Rivendell；' said Bilbo。 'Butquite long； I should think。 We can have many a good talk。 What about helpingme with my book； and making a start on the next？ Have you thought of anending？'
'Yes； several； and all are dark and unpleasant；' said Frodo。
'Oh； that won't do！' said Bilbo。 ‘Books ought to have good endings。 Howwould this do： _and they all settled down and lived together happily everafter_？'
‘It will do well； if it ever es to that；' said Frodo。
'Ah！' said Sam。 'And where will they live？ That's what I often wonder。'
For a while the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journeyand of the perils that lay ahead； but such was the virtue of the land ofRivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds。 Thefuture； good or ill； was not forgotten； but ceased to have any power over thepresent。 Health and hope grew strong in them； and they were content with eachgood day as it came； taking pleasure in every meal； and in every word andsong。
So the days slipped away； as each morning dawned bright and fair； andeach evening followed cool and clear。 But autumn was waning fast； slowly thegolden light faded to pale silver； and the lingering leaves fell from thenaked trees。 A wind began to blow chill from the Misty Mountains to the east。
The Hunter's Moon waxed round in the night sky； and put to flight all thelesser stars。 But low in the South one star shone red。 Every night； as theMoon waned again； it shone brighter and brighter。 Frodo could see it from hiswindow； deep in the heavens burning like a watchful eye that glared above thetrees on the brink of the valley。
The hobbits had been nearly two months in the House of Elrond； andNovember had gone by with the last shreds of autumn； and December was passing；
when the scouts began to return。 Some had gone north beyond the springs of theHoarwell into the Ettenmoors； and others had gone west； and with the help ofAragorn and the Rangers had searched the lands far down the Greyflood； as faras Tharbad； where the old North Road crossed the river by a ruined town。 Manyhad gone east and south； and some of these had crossed the Mountains andentered Mirkwood； while others had climbed the pass at the source of theGladden River； and had e down into Wilderland and over the Gladden Fieldsand so at length had reached the old home of Radagast at Rhosgobel。 Radagastwas not there； and they had returned over the high pass that was called the
Dimrill Stair。 The sons of Elrond； Elladan and Elrohir； were the last toreturn； they had made a great journey； passing down the Silverlode into astrange country； but of their errand they would not speak to any save toElrond。
In no region had the messengers discovered any signs or tidings of theRiders or other servants of the Enemy。 Even from the Eagles of the MistyMountains they had learned no fresh news。 Nothing had been seen or heard ofGollum； but the wild wolves were still gathering； and were hunting again farup the Great River。 Three of the black horses had been found at once drownedin the flooded Ford。 On the rocks of the rapids below it searchers discoveredthe bodies of five more； and also a long black cloak； slashed and tattered。 Ofthe Black Riders no other trace was to be seen； and nowhere was their presenceto be felt。 It seemed that they had vanished from the North。
'Eight out of the Nine are accounted for at least；' said Gandalf。 'It isrash to be too sure； yet I think that we may hope now that the Ringwraithswere scattered； and have been obliged to return as best they could to theirMaster in Mordor； empty and shapeless。
‘If that is so； it will be some time before they can begin the huntagain。 Of course the Enemy has other servants； but they will have to journeyall the way to the borders of Rivendell before they can pick up our trail。 Andif we are careful that will be hard to find。 But we must delay no longer。'
Elrond summoned the hobbits to him。 He looked gravely at Frodo。 'The timehas e；' he said。 ‘If the Ring is to set out； it must go soon。 But those whogo with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force。 Theymust pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid。 Do you still hold to yourword； Frodo； that you will be the Ring…bearer？'
'I do；' said Frodo。 ‘I will go with Sam。'
‘Then I cannot help you much； not even with counsel；' said Elrond。 ‘I canforesee very little of your road； and how your task is to be achieved I do notknow。 The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains； and draws nigheven to the borders of Greyflood； and under the Shadow all is dark to me。 Youwill meet many foes； some open； and some disguised； and you may find friendsupon your way when you least look for it。 I will send out messages； such as Ican contrive； to those whom I know in the wide world； but