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stood upon the hill…top and called； and down to him came the great eagle； Gwaihir the Windlord；
and stood before him。
'Twice you have borne me； Gwaihir my friend；' said Gandalf。 'Thrice shall pay for all； if you are
willing。 You will not find me a burden much greater than when you bore me from Zirak…zigil；
where my old life burned away。'
'I would bear you；' answered Gwaihir； 'whither you will； even were you made of stone。'
'Then e； and let your brother go with us； and some other of your folk who is most swift！ For
we have need of speed greater than any wind； outmatching the wings of the Nazg？l。'
'The North Wind blows； but we shall outfly it；' said Gwaihir。 And he lifted up Gandalf and sped
away south； and with him went Landroval； and Meneldor young and swift。 And they passed over
Ud？n and Gorgoroth and saw all the land in ruin and tumult beneath them； and before them Mount
Doom blazing； pouring out its fire。
'I am glad that you are here with me；' said Frodo。 'Here at the end of all things； Sam。'
'Yes； I am with you； Master；' said Sam； laying Frodo's wounded hand gently to his breast。 'And
you're with me。 And the journey's finished。 But after ing all that way I don't want to give up yet。
It's not like me； somehow； if you understand。'
'Maybe not； Sam；' said Frodo； 'but it's like things are in the world。 Hopes fail。 An end es。
We have only a little time to wait now。 We are lost in ruin and downfall； and there is no escape。'
'Well； Master； we could at least go further from this dangerous place here； from this Crack of
Doom； if that's its name。 Now couldn't we？ e； Mr。 Frodo； let's go down the path at any rate！'
'Very well； Sam。 If you wish to go； I'll e；' said Frodo； and they rose and went slowly down
the winding road； and even as they passed towards the Mountain's quaking feet； a great smoke and
steam belched from the Sammath Naur； and the side of the cone was riven open； and a huge fiery
vomit rolled in slow thunderous cascade down the eastern mountain…side。
Frodo and Sam could go no further。 Their last strength of mind and body was swiftly ebbing。
They had reached a low ashen hill piled at the Mountain's foot； but from it there was no more
escape。 It was an island now； not long to endure； amid the torment of Orodruin。 All about it the
earth gaped； and from deep rifts and pits smoke and fumes leaped up。 Behind them the Mountain
was convulsed。 Great rents opened in its side。 Slow rivers of fire came down the long slopes
towards them。 Soon they would be engulfed。 A rain of hot ash was falling。
They stood now； and Sam still holding his master's hand caressed it。 He sighed。 'What a tale we
have been in； Mr。 Frodo； haven't we？' he said。 'I wish I could hear it told！ Do you think they'll say：
_Now es the story of Nine…fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom？_And then everyone will
hush； like we did； when in Rivendell they told us the tale of Beren One…hand and the Great Jewel。 I
wish I could hear it！ And I wonder how it will go on after our part。'
But even while he spoke so； to keep fear away until the very last； his eyes still strayed north；
north into the eye of the wind； to where the sky far off was clear； as the cold blast； rising to a gale；
drove back the darkness and the ruin of the clouds。
And so it was that Gwaihir saw them with his keen far…seeing eyes； as down the wild wind he
came； and daring the great peril of the skies he circled in the air： two small dark figures； forlorn；
hand in hand upon a little hill； while the world shook under them； and gasped； and rivers of fire
drew near。 And even as he espied them and came swooping down； he saw them fall； worn out； or
choked with fumes and heat； or stricken down by despair at last； hiding their eyes from death。
Side by side they lay； and down swept Gwaihir； and down came Landroval and Meneldor the
swift； and in a dream； not knowing what fate had befallen them； the wanderers were lifted up and
borne far away out of the darkness and the fire。
When Sam awoke； he found that he was lying on some soft bed； but over him gently swayed
wide beechen boughs； and through their young leaves sunlight glimmered； green and gold。 All the
air was full of a sweet mingled scent。
He remembered that smell： the fragrance of Ithilien。 'Bless me！' he mused。 'How long have I
been asleep？' For the scent had borne him back to the day when he had lit his little fire under the
sunny bank； and for a moment all else between was out of waking memory。 He stretched and drew
a deep breath。 'Why； what a dream I've had！' he muttered。 'I am glad to wake！' He sat up and then he
saw that Frodo was lying beside him； and slept peacefully； one hand behind his head； and the other
resting upon the coverlet。 It was the right hand； and the third finger was missing。
Full memory flooded back； and Sam cried aloud： 'It wasn't a dream！ Then where are we？'
And a voice spoke softly behind： 'In the land of Ithilien； and in the keeping of the King； and he
awaits you。' With that Gandalf stood before him； robed in white； his beard now gleaming like pure
snow in the twinkling of the leafy sunlight。 'Well； Master Samwise； how do you feel？' he said。
But Sam lay back； and stared with open mouth； and for a moment； between bewilderment and
great joy； he could not answer。 At last he gasped： 'Gandalf！ I thought you were dead！ But then I
thought I was dead myself。 Is everything sad going to e untrue？ What's happened to the world？'
'A great Shadow has departed；' said Gandalf； and then he laughed and the sound was like music；
or like water in a parched land； and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard
laughter； the pure sound of merriment； for days upon days without count。 It fell upon his ears like
the echo of all the joys he had ever known。 But he himself burst into tears。 Then； as a sweet rain
will pass down a wind of spring and the sun will shine out the clearer； his tears ceased； and his
laughter welled up； and laughing he sprang from his bed。
'How do I feel？' he cried。 'Well； I don't know how to say it。 I fe