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Gandalf paused。 'And there in the dark pools amid the Gladden Fields；' hesaid； 'the Ring passed out of knowledge and legend； and even so much of itshistory is known now only to a few； and the Council of the Wise could discoverno more。 But at last I can carry on the story； I think。
'Long after； but still very long ago； there lived by the banks of theGreat River on the edge of Wilderland a clever…handed and quiet…footed littlepeople。 I guess they were of hobbit…kind； akin to the fathers of the fathersof the Stoors； for they loved the River； and often swam in it； or made littleboats of reeds。 There was among them a family of high repute； for it was largeand wealthier than most； and it was ruled by a grandmother of the folk； sternand wise in old lore； such as they had。 The most inquisitive and curious…
minded of that family was called Sméagol。 He was interested in roots andbeginnings； he dived into deep pools； he burrowed under trees and growingplants； he tunnelled into green mounds； and he ceased to look up at the hilltops；
or the leaves on trees； or the flowers opening in the air： his head andhis eyes were downward。
'He had a friend called Déagol； of similar sort； sharper…eyed but not soquick and strong。 On a time they took a boat and went down to the GladdenFields； where there were great beds of iris and flowering reeds。 There Sméagolgot out and went nosing about the banks but Deal sat in the boat and fished。
Suddenly a great fish took his hook； and before he knew where he was； he wasdragged out and down into the water； to the bottom。 Then he let go of hisline； for he thought he saw something shining in the river…bed； and holdinghis breath he grabbed at it。
'Then up he came spluttering； with weeds in his hair and a handful ofmud； and he swam to the bank。 And behold！ when he washed the mud away； therein his hand lay a beautiful golden ring； and it shone and glittered in thesun； so that his heart was glad。 But Sméagol had been watching him from behinda tree； and as Deal gloated over the ring； Sméagol came softly up behind。
'〃Give us that； Deal； my love；〃 said Sméagol； over his friend's shoulder。
'〃Why？〃 said Deal。
' 〃Because it's my birthday； my love； and I wants it；〃 said Sméagol。
'〃I don't care；〃 said Deal。 〃I have given you a present already； morethan I could afford。 I found this； and I'm going to keep it。〃
' 〃Oh； are you indeed； my love；〃 said Sméagol； and he caught Deal by thethroat and strangled him； because the gold looked so bright and beautiful。
Then he put the ring on his finger。
'No one ever found out what had bee of Deal； he was murdered far fromhome； and his body was cunningly hidden。 But Sméagol returned alone； and hefound that none of his family could see him； when he was wearing the ring。 Hewas very pleased with his discovery and he concealed it； and he used it tofind out secrets； and he put his knowledge to crooked and malicious uses。 Hebecame sharp…eyed and keen…eared for all that was hurtful。 The ring had givenhim power according to his stature。 It is not to be wondered at that he becamevery unpopular and was shunned （when visible） by all his relations。 Theykicked him； and he bit their feet。 He took to thieving； and going aboutmuttering to himself； and gurgling in his throat。 So they called him _Gollum；_
and cursed him； and told him to go far away； and his grandmother； desiringpeace； expelled him from the family and turned him out of her hole。
'He wandered in loneliness； weeping a little for the hardness of theworld； and he journeyed up the River； till he came to a stream that floweddown from the mountains； and he went that way。 He caught fish in deep poolswith invisible fingers and ate them raw。 One day it was very hot； and as hewas bending over a pool； he felt a burning on the back of his head） and adazzling light from the water pained his wet eyes。 He wondered at it； for hehad almost forgotten about the Sun。 Then for the last time he looked up andshook his fist at her。
'But as he lowered his eyes； he saw far above the tops of the MistyMountains； out of which the stream came。 And he thought suddenly： 〃It would becool and shady under those mountains。 The Sun could not watch me there。 Theroots of those mountains must be roots indeed； there must be great secretsburied there which have not been discovered since the beginning。〃
'So he journeyed by night up into the highlands； and he found a little
cave out of which the dark stream ran； and he wormed his way like a maggotinto the heart of the hills； and vanished out of all knowledge。 The Ring wentinto the shadows with him； and even the maker； when his power had begun togrow again； could learn nothing of it。'
'Gollum！' cried Frodo。 'Gollum？ Do you mean that this is the very Gollumcreature
that Bilbo met？ How loathsome！'
'I think it is a sad story；' said the wizard； 'and it might have happenedto others； even to some hobbits that I have known。'
'I can't believe that Gollum was connected with hobbits； howeverdistantly；' said Frodo with some heat。 'What an abominable notion！'
'It is true all the same；' replied Gandalf。 'About their origins； at anyrate； I know more than hobbits do themselves。 And even Bilbo's story suggeststhe kinship。 There was a great deal in the background of their minds andmemories that was very similar。 They understood one another remarkably well；
very much better than a hobbit would understand； say； a Dwarf； or an Orc； oreven an Elf。 Think of the riddles they both knew； for one thing。'
'Yes；' said Frodo。 'Though other folks besides hobbits ask riddles； andof much the same sort。 And hobbits don't cheat。 Gollum meant to cheat all the
time。 He was just trying to put poor Bilbo off his guard。 And I daresay itamused his wickedness to start a game which might end in providing him with aneasy victim； but if he lost would not hurt him。'
'Only too true； I fear；' said Gandalf。 'But there was something else init； I think； which you don't see yet。 Even Gollum was not wholly ruined。 Hehad proved tougher than even one of the Wise would have guessed …as a hobbitmight。 There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own； and lightcame through it； as through a chink in the dark： l