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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 crawled back into the brambles and laid himself by Frodo's
side； and putting away all fear he cast himself into a deep untroubled sleep。
They woke together； hand in hand。 Sam was almost fresh； ready for another day； but Frodo
sighed。 His sleep had been uneasy； full of dreams of fire； and waking brought him no fort。 Still
his sleep had not been without all healing virtue： he was stronger； more able to bear his burden one
stage further。 They did not know the time； nor how long they had slept； but after a morsel of food
and a sip of water they went on up the ravine； until it ended in a sharp slope of screes and sliding
stones。 There the last living things gave up their struggle； the tops of the Morgai were grassless；
bare； jagged； barren as a slate。
After much wandering and search they found a way that they could climb； and with a last
hundred feet of clawing scramble they were up。 They came to a cleft between two dark crags； and
passing through found themselves on the very edge of the last fence of Mordor。 Below them； at the
bottom of a fall of some fifteen hundred feet； lay the inner plain stretching away into a formless
gloom beyond their sight。 The wind of the world blew now from the West； and the great clouds
were lifted high； floating away eastward； but still only a grey light came to the dreary fields of
Gorgoroth。 There smokes trailed on the ground and lurked in hollows； and fumes leaked from
fissures in the earth。
Still far away； forty miles at least； they saw Mount Doom； its feet founded in ashen ruin； its
huge cone rising to a great height； where its reeking head was swathed in cloud。 Its fires were now
dimmed； and it stood in smouldering slumber； as threatening and dangerous as a sleeping beast。
Behind it there hung a vast shadow； ominous as a thunder…cloud； the veils of Barad…d？r that was
reared far way upon a long spur of the Ashen Mountains thrust down from the North。 The Dark
Power was deep in thought； and the Eye turned inward； pondering tidings of doubt and danger： a
bright sword； and a stern and kingly face it saw； and for a while it gave little thought to other things；
and all its great stronghold； gate on gate； and tower on tower； was wrapped in a brooding gloom。
Frodo and Sam gazed out in mingled loathing and wonder on this hateful land。 Between them
and the smoking mountain； and about it north and south； all seemed ruinous and dead； a desert
burned and choked。 They wondered how the Lord of this realm maintained and fed his slaves and
his armies。 Yet armies he had。 As far as their eyes could reach； along the skirts of the Morgai and
away southward； there were camps； some of tents； some ordered like small towns。 One of the
largest of these was right below them。 Barely a mile out into the plain it clustered like some huge
nest of insects； with straight dreary streets of huts and long low drab buildings。 About it the ground
was busy with folk going to and fro； a wide road ran from it south…east to join the Morgul…way； and
along it many lines of small black shapes were hurrying。
'I don't like the look of things at all；' said Sam。 'Pretty hopeless； I call it – saving that where
there's such a lot of folk there must be wells or water； not to mention food。 And these are Men not
Orcs； or my eyes are all wrong。'
Neither he nor Frodo knew anything of the great slave…worked fields away south in this wide
realm； beyond the fumes of the Mountain by the dark sad waters of Lake Núrnen； nor of the great
roads that ran away east and south to tributary lands； from which the soldiers of the Tower brought
long waggon…trains of goods and booty and fresh slaves。 Here in the northward regions were the
mines and forges； and the musterings of long…planned war； and here the Dark Power； moving its
armies like pieces on the board； was gathering them together。 Its first moves； the first feelers of its
strength； had been checked upon its western line； southward and northward。 For the moment it
withdrew them； and brought up new forces； massing them about Cirith Gorgor for an avenging
stroke。 And if it had also been its purpose to defend the Mountain against all approach； it could
scarcely have done more。
'Well！' Sam went on。 'Whatever they have to eat and drink； we can't get it。 There's no way down
that I can see。 And we couldn't cross all that open country crawling with enemies； even if we did
get down。'
'Still we shall have to try；' said Frodo。 'It's no worse than I expected。 I never hoped to get across。
I can't see any hope of it now。 But I've still got to do the best I can。 At present that is to avoid being
captured as long as possible。 So we must still go northwards； I think； and see what it is like where
the open plain is narrower。'
'I guess what it'll be like；' said Sam。 'Where it's narrower the Orcs and Men will just be packed
closer。 You'll see； Mr。 Frodo。'
'I dare say I shall； if we ever get so far；' said Frodo and turned away。
They soon found that it was impossible to make their way along the crest of the Morgai； or
anywhere along its higher levels； pathless as they were and scored with deep ghylls。 In the end they
were forced to go back down the ravine that they had climbed and seek for a way along the valley。
It was rough going； for they dared not cross over to the path on the westward side。 After a mile or
more they saw； huddled in a hollow at the cliff's foot； the orc…hold that they had guessed was near
at hand： a wall and a cluster of stone huts set about the dark mouth of a cave。 There was no
movement to be seen； but the hobbits crept by cautiously； keeping as much as they could to the
thorn…brakes that grew thickly at this point along both sides of the old water…course。
They went two or three miles further； and the orc…hold was hidden from sight behind them； but
they had hardly begun to breathe more freely again when harsh and loud they heard orc…voices。
Quickly they slunk out of sight behind a brown