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spaired at last； and I began myhomeward journey。 And then； by fortune； I came suddenly on what I sought： themarks of soft feet beside a muddy pool。 But now the trail was fresh and swift；
and it led not to Mordor but away。 Along the skirts of the Dead Marshes Ifollowed it； and then I had him。 Lurking by a stagnant mere； peering in thewater as the dark eve fell； I caught him； Gollum。 He was covered with greenslime。 He will never love me； I fear； for he bit me； and I was not gentle。
Nothing more did I ever get from his mouth than the marks of his teeth。 Ideemed it the worst part of all my journey； the road back； watching him dayand night； making him walk before me with a halter on his neck； gagged； untilhe was tamed by lack of drink and food； driving him ever towards Mirkwood。 Ibrought him there at last and gave him to the Elves； for we had agreed thatthis should be done； and I was glad to be rid of his pany； for he stank。
For my part I hope never to look upon him again； but Gandalf came and enduredlong speech with him。'
‘Yes； long and weary；' said Gandalf； ‘but not without profit。 For onething； the tale he told of his loss agreed with that which Bilbo has now toldopenly for the first time； but that mattered little； since I had alreadyguessed it。 But I learned then first that Gollum's ring came out of the GreatRiver nigh to the Gladden Fields。 And I learned also that he had possessed itlong。 Many lives of his small kind。 The power of the ring had lengthened hisyears far beyond their span； but that power only the Great Rings wield。
‘And if that is not proof enough； Galdor； there is the other test that Ispoke of。 Upon this very ring which you have here seen held aloft； round andunadorned； the letters that Isildur reported may still be read； if one has thestrength of will to set the golden thing in the fire a while。 That I havedone； and this I have read：
_Ash nazg durbatul。k； ash nazg gimbatul； ash nazg thrakatul。kagh burzum…ishi krimpatul。'_
The change in the wizard's voice was astounding。 Suddenly it becamemenacing； powerful； harsh as stone。 A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun；
and the porch for a moment grew dark。 All trembled； and the Elves stoppedtheir ears。
‘Never before has any voice dared to utter the words of that tongue inImladris； Gandalf the Grey；' said Elrond； as the shadow passed and the panybreathed once more。
‘And let us hope that none will ever speak it here again；' answeredGandalf。 ‘Nonetheless I do not ask your pardon； Master Elrond。 For if thattongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West； then let all putdoubt aside that this thing is indeed what the Wise have declared： the
treasure of the Enemy； fraught with all his malice； and in it lies a greatpart of his strength of old。 Out of the Black Years e the words that theSmiths of Eregion heard； and knew that they had been betrayed：
_One Ring to rule them all； One Ring to find them； One Ringto bring them all and in the Darkness bind them。_
‘Know also； my friends； that I learned more yet from Gollum。 He was lothto speak and his tale was unclear； but it is beyond all doubt that he went toMordor； and there all that he knew was forced from him。 Thus the Enemy knowsnow that the One is found； that it was long in the Shire； and since hisservants have pursued it almost to our door； he soon will know； already he mayknow； even as I speak； that we have it here。'
All sat silent for a while； until at length Boromir spoke。 ‘He is a smallthing； you say； this Gollum？ Small； but great in mischief。 What became of him？
To what doom did you put him？'
'He is in prison； but no worse；' said Aragorn。 ‘He had suffered much。
There is no doubt that he was tormented； and the fear of Sauron lies black onhis heart。 Still I for one am glad that he is safely kept by the watchfulElves of Mirkwood。 His malice is great and gives him a strength hardly to bebelieved in one so lean and withered。 He could work much mischief still； if hewere free。 And I do not doubt that he was allowed to leave Mordor on some evil
errand。'
‘Alas！ alas！' cried Legolas； and in his fair elvish face there was greatdistress。 ‘The tidings that I was sent to bring must now be told。 They are notgood； but only here have I learned how evil they may seem to this pany。
Sméagol； who is now called Gollum； has escaped。'
'Escaped？' cried Aragorn。 'That is ill news indeed。 We shall all rue itbitterly； I fear。 How came the folk of Thranduil to fail in their trust？'
‘Not through lack of watchfulness；' said Legolas； ‘but perhaps throughover…kindliness。 And we fear that the prisoner had aid from others； and thatmore is known of our doings than we could wish。 We guarded this creature dayand night； at Gandalf's bidding； much though we wearied of the task。 ButGandalf bade us hope still for his cure； and we had not the heart to keep himever in dungeons under the earth； where he would fall back into his old blackthoughts。'
'You were less tender to me；' said Glóin with a flash of his eyes as oldmemories were stirred of his imprisonment in the deep places of the Elven…
king's halls。
'Now e！' said Gandalf。 ‘Pray do not interrupt； my good Glóin。 That wasa regrettable misunderstanding； long set right。 If all the grievances thatstand between Elves and Dwarves are to be brought up here； we may as wellabandon this Council。'
Glóin rose and bowed； and Legolas continued。 'In the days of fair weatherwe led Gollum through the woods； and there was a high tree standing alone farfrom the others which he liked to climb。 Often we let him mount up to thehighest branches； until he felt the free wind； but we set a guard at thetree's foot。 One day he refused to e down； and the guards had no mind toclimb after him： he had learned the trick of clinging to boughs with his feetas well as with his hands； so they sat by the tree far into the night。
'It was that very night of summer； yet moonless and starless； that Orcscame on us at unawares。 We drove them off after some time； they were many andfierce； but they came from over the mountains； and were unused to the woods。
When the battle was over； we found that Gollum was gone； and his guards wereslain or taken。 It then seemed plain to