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silent except for the whisper of the air over the edges of the land； and highlonely cries of strange birds。 As they journeyed the sun mounted； and grewhot。 Each time they climbed a ridge the breeze seemed to have grown less。 Whenthey caught a glimpse of the country westward the distant Forest seemed to besmoking； as if the fallen rain was steaming up again from leaf and root andmould。 A shadow now lay round the edge of sight； a dark haze above which theupper sky was like a blue cap； hot and heavy。
About mid…day they came to a hill whose top was wide and flattened； likea shallow saucer with a green mounded rim。 Inside there was no air stirring；
and the sky seemed near their heads。 They rode across and looked northwards。
Then their hearts rose； for it seemed plain that they had e further alreadythan they had expected。 Certainly the distances had now all bee hazy anddeceptive； but there could be no doubt that the Downs were ing to an end。 Along valley lay below them winding away northwards； until it came to anopening between two steep shoulders。 Beyond； there seemed to be no more hills。
Due north they faintly glimpsed a long dark line。 That is a line of trees；'
said Merry； 'and that must mark the Road。 All along it for many leagues eastof the Bridge there are trees growing。 Some say they were planted in the olddays。'
'Splendid！' said Frodo。 'If we make as good going this afternoon as wehave done this morning； we shall have left the Downs before the Sun sets and
be jogging on in search of a camping place。' But even as he spoke he turnedhis glance eastwards； and he saw that on that side the hills were higher andlooked down upon them； and all those hills were crowned with green mounds； andon some were standing stones； pointing upwards like jagged teeth out of green
gums。
That view was somehow disquieting； so they turned from the sight and wentdown into the hollow circle。 In the midst of it there stood a single stone；
standing tall under the sun above； and at this hour casting no shadow。 It wasshapeless and yet significant： like a landmark； or a guarding finger； or morelike a warning。 But they were now hungry； and the sun was still at thefearless noon； so they set their backs against the east side of the stone。 Itwas cool； as if the sun had had no power to warm it； but at that time thisseemed pleasant。 There they took food and drink； and made as good a noon…mealunder the open sky as anyone could wish； for the food came from 'down underHill'。 Tom had provided them with plenty for the fort of the day。 Theirponies unburdened strayed upon the grass。
Riding over the hills； and eating their fill； the warm sun and the scentof turf； lying a little too long； stretching out their legs and looking at thesky above their noses： these things are； perhaps； enough to explain whathappened。 However； that may be： they woke suddenly and unfortably from asleep they had never meant to take。 The standing stone was cold； and it cast along pale shadow that stretched eastward over them。 The sun； a pale and wateryyellow； was gleaming through the mist just above the west wall of the hollowin which they lay； north； south； and east； beyond the wall the fog was thick；
cold and white。 The air was silent； heavy and chill。 Their ponies werestanding crowded together with their heads down。
The hobbits sprang to their feet in alarm； and ran to the western rim。
They found that they were upon an island in the fog。 Even as they looked outin dismay towards the setting sun； it sank before their eyes into a white sea；
and a cold grey shadow sprang up in the East behind。 The fog rolled up to thewalls and rose above them； and as it mounted it bent over their heads until itbecame a roof： they were shut in a hall of mist whose central pillar was thestanding stone。
They felt as if a trap was closing about them； but they did not quitelose heart。 They still remembered the hopeful view they had had of the line ofthe Road ahead； and they still knew in which direction it lay。 In any case；
they now had so great a dislike for that hollow place about the stone that nothought of remaining there was in their minds。 They packed up as quickly astheir chilled fingers would work。
Soon they were leading their ponies in single file over the rim and downthe long northward slope of the hill； down into a foggy sea。 As they went downthe mist became colder and damper； and their hair hung lank and dripping ontheir foreheads。 When they reached the bottom it was so cold that they haltedand got out cloaks and hoods； which soon became bedewed with grey drops。 Then；
mounting their ponies； they went slowly on again； feeling their way by therise and fall of the ground。 They were steering； as well as they could guess；
for the gate…like opening at the far northward end of the long valley whichthey had seen in the morning。 Once they were through the gap； they had only lokeep on in anything like a straight line and they were bound in the end tostrike the Road。 Their thoughts did not go beyond that； except for a vaguehope that perhaps away beyond the Downs there might be no fog。
Their going was very slow。 To prevent their getting separated andwandering in different directions they went in file； with Frodo leading。 Samwas behind him； and after him came Pippin； and then Merry。 The valley seemedto stretch on endlessly。 Suddenly Frodo saw a hopeful sign。 On either sideahead a darkness began to loom through the mist； and he guessed that they wereat last approaching the gap in the hills； the north…gate of the Barrow…downs。
If they could pass that； they would be free。
'e on！ Follow me！' he called back over his shoulder； and he hurriedforward。 But his hope soon changed to bewilderment and alarm。 The dark patches
grew darker； but they shrank； and suddenly he saw； towering ominous before himand leaning slightly towards one another like the pillars of a headless door；
two huge standing stones。 He could not remember having seen any sign of thesein the valley； when he looked out from the hill in the morning。 He had passedbetween them almost before he was aware： and even as he did so darkness seemed
to fall round him。 His pony reared and snorted； and he fell off。 When