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hand。 Of all the slaves of the Dark Lord； only the Nazg？l could have warned him of the peril that
crept； small but indomitable； into the very heart of his guarded realm。 But the Nazg？l and their
black wings were abroad on another errand： they were gathered far away； shadowing the march of
the Captains of the West； and thither the thought of the Dark Tower was turned。
That day it seemed to Sam that his master had found some new strength； more than could be
explained by the small lightening of the load that he had to carry。 In the first marches they went
further and faster than he had hoped。 The land was rough and hostile； and yet they made much
progress； and ever the Mountain drew nearer。 But as the day wore on and all too soon the dim light
began to fail； Frodo stooped again； and began to stagger； as if the renewed effort had squandered
his remaining strength。
At their last halt he sank down and said： 'I'm thirsty； Sam；' and did not speak again。 Sam gave
him a mouthful of water； only one more mouthful remained。 He went without himself； and now as
once more the night of Mordor closed over them； through all his thoughts there came the memory
of water； and every brook or stream or fount that he had ever seen； under green willow…shades or
twinkling in the sun； danced and rippled for his torment behind the blindness of his eyes。 He felt the
cool mud about his toes as he paddled in the Pool at Bywater with Jolly Cotton and Tom and Nibs；
and their sister Rosie。 'But that was years ago；' he sighed； 'and far away。 The way back； if there is
one； goes past the Mountain。'
He could not sleep and he held a debate with himself。 'Well； e now； we've done better than
you hoped；' he said sturdily。 'Began well anyway。 I reckon we crossed half the distance before we
stopped。 One more day will do it。' And then he paused。
'Don't be a fool； Sam Gamgee；' came an answer in his own voice。 'He won't go another day like
that； if he moves at all。 And you can't go on much longer giving him all the water and most of the
food。'
'I can go on a good way though； and I will。'
'Where to？'
'To the Mountain； of course。'
'But what then； Sam Gamgee； what then？ When you get there； what are you going to do？ He
won't be able to do anything for himself。'
To his dismay Sam realized that he had not got an answer to this。 He had no clear idea at all。
Frodo had not spoken much to him of his errand； and Sam only knew vaguely that the Ring had
somehow to be put into the fire。 'The Cracks of Doom；' he muttered； the old name rising to his mind。
'Well； if Master knows how to find them； I don't。'
'There you are！' came the answer。 'It's all quite useless。 He said so himself。 You are the fool；
going on hoping and toiling。 You could have lain down and gone to sleep together days ago； if you
hadn't been so dogged。 But you'll die just the same； or worse。 You might just as well lie down now
and give it up。 You'll never get to the top anyway。'
'I'll get there； if I leave everything but my bones behind；' said Sam。 'And I'll carry Mr。 Frodo up
myself； if it breaks my back and heart。 So stop arguing！'
At that moment Sam felt a tremor in the ground beneath him； and he heard or sensed a deep
remote rumble as of thunder imprisoned under the earth。 There was a brief red flame that flickered
under the clouds and died away。 The Mountain too slept uneasily。
The last stage of their journey to Orodruin came； and it was a torment greater than Sam had ever
thought that he could bear。 He was in pain； and so parched that he could no longer swallow even a
mouthful of food。 It remained dark； not only because of the smokes of the Mountain： there seemed
to be a storm ing up； and away to the south…east there was a shimmer of lightnings under the
black skies。 Worst of all； the air was full of fumes； breathing was painful and difficult； and a
dizziness came on them； so that they staggered and often fell。 And yet their wills did not yield； and
they struggled on。
The Mountain crept up ever nearer； until； if they lifted their heavy heads； it filled all their sight；
looming vast before them： a huge mass of ash and slag and burned stone； out of which a sheer…
sided cone was raised into the clouds。 Before the daylong dusk ended and true night came again
they had crawled and stumbled to its very feet。
With a gasp Frodo cast himself on the ground。 Sam sat by him。 To his surprise he felt tired but
lighter； and his head seemed clear again。 No more debates disturbed his mind。 He knew all the
arguments of despair and would not listen to them。 His will was set； and only death would break it。
He felt no longer either desire or need of sleep； but rather of watchfulness。 He knew that all the
hazards and perils were now drawing together to a point： the next day would be a day of doom； the
day of final effort or disaster； the last gasp。
But when would it e？ The night seemed endless and timeless； minute after minute falling
dead and adding up to no passing hour； bringing no change。 Sam began to wonder if a second
darkness had begun and no day would ever reappear。 At last he groped for Frodo's hand。 It was cold
and trembling。 His master was shivering。
'I didn't ought to have left my blanket behind；' muttered Sam； and lying down he tried to fort
Frodo with his arms and body。 Then sleep took him； and the dim light of the last day of their quest
found them side by side。 The wind had fallen the day before as it shifted from the West； and now it
came from the North and began to rise； and slowly the light of the unseen Sun filtered down into
the shadows where the hobbits lay。
'Now for it！ Now for the last gasp！' said Sam as he struggled to his feet。 He bent over Frodo；
rousing him gently。 Frodo groaned； but with a great effort of will he staggered up； and then he fell
upon his knees again。 He raised his eyes with difficulty to the dark slopes of Mount Doom towering
above him； and then pitifully he began to crawl forward on his hands。
Sam looked at him and wept in his heart； but no tears came to his dry and stinging eyes。