按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
d the corner a long arm wasgroping； walking on its fingers towards Sam； who was lying nearest； andtowards the hilt of the sword that lay upon him。
At first Frodo felt as if he had indeed been turned into stone by theincantation。 Then a wild thought of escape came to him。 He wondered if he puton the Ring； whether the Barrow…wight would miss him； and he might find someway out。 He thought of himself running free over the grass； grieving forMerry； and Sam； and Pippin； but free and alive himself。 Gandalf would admitthat there had been nothing else he could do。
But the courage that had been awakened in him was now too strong： hecould not leave his friends so easily。 He wavered； groping in his pocket； andthen fought with himself again； and as he did so the arm crept nearer。
Suddenly resolve hardened in him； and he seized a short sword that lay besidehim； and kneeling he stooped low over the bodies of his panions。 With whatstrength he had he hewed at the crawling arm near the wrist； and the handbroke off； but at the same moment the sword splintered up to the hilt。 Therewas a shriek and the light vanished。 In the dark there was a snarling noise。
Frodo fell forward over Merry； and Merry's face felt cold。 All at onceback into his mind； from which it had disappeared with the first ing of thefog； came the memory of the house down under the Hill； and of Tom singing。 He
remembered the rhyme that Tom had taught them。 In a small desperate voice hebegan： _Ho！ Tom Bombadil！_ and with that name his voice seemed to grow strong：
it had a full and lively sound； and the dark chamber echoed as if to drum andtrumpet。
Ho！ Tom Bombadil； Tom Bombadillo！
By water； wood and hill； by the reed and willow；
By fire； sun and moon； harken now and hear us！
e； Tom Bombadil； for our need is near us！
There was a sudden deep silence； in which Frodo could hear his heartbeating。 After a long slow moment he heard plain； but far away； as if it wasing down through the ground or through thick walls； an answering voicesinging：
Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow；
Bright blue his jacket is； and his boots are yellow。
None has ever caught him yet； for Tom； he is the master：
His songs are stronger songs； and his feet are faster。
There was a loud rumbling sound； as of stones rolling and falling； andsuddenly light streamed in； real light； the plain light of day。 A low door…
like opening appeared at the end of the chamber beyond Frodo's feet； and therewas Tom's head （hat； feather； and all） framed against the light of the sunrising red behind him。 The light fell upon the floor； and upon the faces ofthe three hobbits lying beside Frodo。 They did not stir； but the sickly huehad left them。 They looked now as if they were only very deeply asleep。
Tom stooped； removed his hat； and came into the dark chamber； singing：
Get out； you old Wight！ Vanish in the sunlight！
Shrivel like the cold mist； like the winds go wailing；
Out into the barren lands far beyond the mountains！
e never here again！ Leave your barrow empty！
Lost and forgotten be； darker than the darkness；
Where gates stand for ever shut； till the world is mended。
At these words there was a cry and part of the inner end of the chamberfell in with a crash。 Then there was a long trailing shriek； fading away intoan unguessable distance； and after that silence。
'e； friend Frodo！' said Tom。 'Let us get out on to clean grass！ Youmust help me bear them。'
Together they carried out Merry； Pippin； and Sam。 As Frodo left thebarrow for the last time he thought he saw a severed hand wriggling still；
like a wounded spider； in a heap of fallen earth。 Tom went back in again； andthere was a sound of much thumping and stamping。 When he came out he wasbearing in his arms a great load of treasure： things of gold； silver； copper；
and bronze； many beads and chains and jewelled ornaments。 He climbed the greenbarrow and laid them all on top in the sunshine。
There he stood； with his hat in his hand and the wind in his hair； andlooked down upon the three hobbits； that had been laid on their backs upon thegrass at the west side of the mound。 Raising his right hand he said in a clearand manding voice：
Wake now my merry tads！ Wake and hear me calling！
Warm now be heart and limb！ The cold stone is fallen；
Dark door is standing wide； dead hand is broken。
Night under Night is flown； and the Gate is open！
To Frodo's great joy the hobbits stirred； stretched their arms； rubbedtheir eyes； and then suddenly sprang up。 They looked about in amazement； first
at Frodo； and then at Tom standing large as life on the barrow…top above them；
and then at themselves in their thin white rags； crowned and belted with palegold； and jingling with trinkets。
'What in the name of wonder？' began Merry； feeling the golden circletthat had slipped over one eye。 Then he stopped； and a shadow came over hisface； and he closed his eyes。 'Of course； I remember！' he said。 'The men ofCarn D。m came on us at night； and we were worsted。 Ah！ the spear in myheart！' He clutched at his breast。 'No！ No！' he said； opening his eyes。 'Whatam I saying？ I have been dreaming。 Where did you get to； Frodo？'
'I thought that I was lost；' said Frodo； 'but I don't want to speak ofit。 Let us think of what we are to do now！ Let us go on！'
'Dressed up like this； sir？' said Sam。 'Where are my clothes？' He flunghis circlet； belt； and rings on the grass； and looked round helplessly； as ifhe expected to find his cloak； jacket； and breeches； and other hobbit…garmentslying somewhere to hand。
'You won't find your clothes again；' said Tom； bounding down from themound； and laughing as he danced round them in the sunlight。 One would havethought that nothing dangerous or dreadful had happened； and indeed the horrorfaded out of their hearts as they looked at him； and saw the merry glint inhis eyes。
'What do you mean？' asked Pippin； looking at him； half puzzled and halfamused。 'Why not？'
But Tom shook his head； saying： 'You've found yourselves again； out ofthe deep water。 Clothes are but little loss； if you escape from drowning。 Beglad； my merry friends； and let the warm sunlight heal now heart and limb！
Cast off these cold rags！ R