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could not face the toil of scrambling among the boulders or in the trackless glens of the Morgai。
And he judged that northward was； maybe； the way that their hunters would least expect them to
take。 The road east to the plain； or the pass back westward； those they would first search most
thoroughly。 Only when he was well north of the Tower did he mean to turn and seek for some way
to take him east； east on the last desperate stage of his journey。 So now they crossed the stony bed
and took to the orc…path； and for some time they marched along it。 The cliffs at their left were
overhung； and they could not be seen from above； but the path made many bends； and at each bend
they gripped their sword…hilts and went forward cautiously。
The light grew no stronger； for Orodruin was still belching forth a great fume that； beaten
upwards by the opposing airs； mounted higher and higher； until it reached a region above the wind
and spread in an immeasurable roof； whose central pillar rose out of the shadows beyond their view。
They had trudged for more than an hour when they heard a sound that brought them to a halt。
Unbelievable； but unmistakable。 Water trickling。 Out of a gully on the left； so sharp and narrow that
it looked as if the black cliff had been cloven by some huge axe； water came dripping down： the
last remains； maybe； of some sweet rain gathered from sunlit seas； but ill…fated to fall at last upon
the walls of the Black Land and wander fruitless down into the dust。 Here it came out of the rock in
a little falling streamlet； and flowed across the path； and turning south ran away swiftly to be lost
among the dead stones。
Sam sprang towards it。 'If ever I see the Lady again； I will tell her！' he cried。 'Light and now
water！' Then he stopped。 'Let me drink first Mr。 Frodo；' he said。
'All right； but there's room enough for two。'
'I didn't mean that；' said Sam。 'I mean： if it's poisonous； or something that will show its badness
quick； well； better me than you； master； if you understand me。'
'I do。 But I think we'll trust our luck together； Sam； or our blessing。 Still； be careful now； if it's
very cold！'
The water was cool but not icy； and it had an unpleasant taste； at once bitter and oily； or so they
would have said at home。 Here it seemed beyond all praise； and beyond fear or prudence。 They
drank their fill； and Sam replenished his water…bottle。 After that Frodo felt easier； and they went on
for several miles； until the broadening of the road and the beginnings of a rough wall along its edge
warned them that they were drawing near to another orc…hold。
'This is where we turn aside； Sam；' said Frodo。 'And we must turn east。' He sighed as he looked
at the gloomy ridges across the valley。 'I have just about enough strength left to find some hole
away up there。 And then I must rest a little。'
The river…bed was now some way below the path。 They scrambled down to it； and began to
cross it。 To their surprise they came upon dark pools fed by threads of water trickling down from
some source higher up the valley。 Upon its outer marges under the westward mountains Mordor
was a dying land； but it was not yet dead。 And here things still grew； harsh； twisted； bitter；
struggling for life。 In the glens of the Morgai on the other side of the valley low scrubby trees
lurked and clung； coarse grey grass…tussocks fought with the stones； and withered mosses crawled
on them； and everywhere great writhing； tangled brambles sprawled。 Some had long stabbing
thorns； some hooked barbs that rent like knives。 The sullen shrivelled leaves of a past year hung on
them； grating and rattling in the sad airs； but their maggot…ridden buds were only just opening。 Flies；
dun or grey； or black； marked like ores with a red eye…shaped blotch； buzzed and stung； and above
the briar…thickets clouds of hungry midges danced and reeled。
'Orc…gear's no good；' said Sam； waving his arms。 'I wish I'd got an orc's hide！'
At last Frodo could go no further。 They had climbed up a narrow shelving ravine； but they still
had a long way to go before they could even e in sight of the last craggy ridge。 'I must rest now；
Sam； and sleep if I can。' said Frodo。 He looked about； but there seemed nowhere even for an animal
to crawl into in this dismal country。 At length； tired out； they slunk under a curtain of brambles that
hung down like a mat over a low rock…face。
There they sat and made such a meal as they could。 Keeping back the precious _lembas_ for the
evil days ahead； they ate the half of what remained in Sam's bag of Faramir's provision： some dried
fruit； and a small slip of cured meat； and they sipped some water。 They had drunk again from the
pools in the valley； but they were very； thirsty again。 There was a bitter tang in the air of Mordor
that dried the mouth。 When Sam thought of water even his hopeful spirit quailed。 Beyond the
Morgai there was the dreadful plain of Gorgoroth to cross。
'Now you go to sleep first； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 'It's getting dark again。 I reckon this day is nearly
over。'
Frodo sighed and was asleep almost before the words were spoken。 Sam struggled with his own
weariness； and he took Frodo's hand； and there he sat silent till deep night fell。 Then at last； to keep
himself awake； he crawled from the hiding…place and looked out。 The land seemed full of creaking
and cracking and sly noises； but there was no sound of voice or of foot。 Far above the Ephel Dúath
in the West the night…sky was still dim and pale。 There； peeping among the cloud…wrack above a
dark tor high up in the mountains； Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while。 The beauty of it smote
his heart； as he looked up out of the forsaken land； and hope returned to him。 For like a shaft； clear
and cold； the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing：
there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach。 His song in the Tower had been defiance
rather than hope； for then he was thinking of himself。 Now； for a moment； his own fate； and even
his masters； ceased to trouble him。 He c