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For a breathless time they sat there； silent and alert； with their backsturned to the wood…fire； each gazing into the shadows that encircled them。
Nothing happened。 There was no sound or movement in the night。 Frodo stirred；
feeling that he must break the silence： he longed to shout out aloud。
'Hush！' whispered Strider。 'What's that？' gasped Pippin at the samemoment。
Over the lip of the little dell； on the side away from the hill； theyfelt； rather than saw； a shadow rise； one shadow or more than one。 Theystrained their eyes； and the shadows seemed to grow。 Soon there could be nodoubt：
three or four tall black figures were standing there on the slope；
looking down on them。 So black were they that they seemed like black holes inthe deep shade behind them。 Frodo thought that he heard a faint hiss as ofvenomous breath and felt a thin piercing chill。 Then the shapes slowlyadvanced。
Terror overcame Pippin and Merry； and they threw themselves flat on theground。 Sam shrank to Frodo's side。 Frodo was hardly less terrified than hispanions； he was quaking as if he was bitter cold； but his terror wasswallowed up in a sudden temptation to put on the Ring。 The desire to do thislaid hold of him； and he could think of nothing else。 He did not forget theBarrow； nor the message of Gandalf； but something seemed to be pelling himto disregard all warnings； and he longed to yield。 Not with the hope ofescape； or of doing anything； either good or bad： he simply felt that he musttake the Ring and put it on his finger。 He could not speak。 He felt Samlooking at him； as if he knew that his master was in some great trouble； buthe could not turn towards him。 He shut his eyes and struggled for a while； butresistance became unbearable； and at last he slowly drew out the chain； andslipped the Ring on the forefinger of his left hand。
Immediately； though everything else remained as before； dim and dark； theshapes became terribly clear。 He was able to see beneath their blackwrappings。 There were five tall figures： two standing on the lip of the dell；
three advancing。 In their white faces burned keen and merciless eyes； undertheir mantles were long grey robes； upon their grey hairs were helms ofsilver； in their haggard hands were swords of steel。 Their eyes fell on himand pierced him； as they rushed towards him。 Desperate； he drew his own sword；
and it seemed to him that it flickered red； as if it was a firebrand。 Two ofthe figures halted。 The third was taller than the others： his hair was longand gleaming and on his helm was a crown。 In one hand he held a long sword；
and in the other a knife； both the knife and the hand that held it glowed witha pale light。 He sprang forward and bore down on Frodo。
At that moment Frodo threw himself forward on the ground； and he heardhimself crying aloud： O _Elbereth！ Gilthoniel！_ At the same time he struck atthe feet of his enemy。 A shrill cry rang out in the night； and he felt a painlike a dart of poisoned ice pierce his left shoulder。 Even as he swooned hecaught； as through a swirling mist； a glimpse of Strider leaping out of thedarkness with a flaming brand of wood in either hand。 With a last effortFrodo； dropping his sword； slipped the Ring from his finger and closed hisright hand tight upon it。
_Chapter 12_
Flight to the Ford
When Frodo came to himself he was still clutching the Ring desperately。
He was lying by the fire； which was now piled high and burning brightly。 Histhree panions were bending over him。 'What has happened？ Where is the paleking？' he asked wildly。 They were too overjoyed to hear him speak to answerfor a while； nor did they understand his question。 At length he gathered fromSam that they had seen nothing but the vague shadowy shapes ing towardsthem。 Suddenly to his horror Sam found that his master had vanished； and atthat moment a black shadow rushed past him； and he fell。 He heard Frodo'svoice； but it seemed to e from a great distance； or from under the earth；
crying out strange words。 They saw nothing more； until they stumbled over thebody of Frodo； lying as if dead； face downwards on the grass with his swordbeneath him。 Strider ordered them to pick him up and lay him near the fire；
and then he disappeared。 That was now a good while ago。
Sam plainly was beginning to have doubts again about Strider； but whilethey were talking he returned； appearing suddenly out of the shadows。 Theystarted； and Sam drew his sword and stood over Frodo； but Strider knelt downswiftly at his side。
'I am not a Black Rider； Sam；' he said gently； 'nor in league with them。
I have been trying to discover something of their movements； but I have foundnothing。 I cannot think why they have gone and do not attack again。 But thereis no feeling of their presence anywhere at hand。'
When he heard what Frodo had to tell； he became full of concern； andshook his head and sighed。 Then he ordered Pippin and Merry to heat as muchwater as they could in their small kettles； and to bathe the wound with it。
'Keep the fire going well； and keep Frodo warm！' he said。 Then he got up andwalked away； and called Sam to him。 'I think I understand things better now；'
he said in a low voice。 'There seem only to have been five of the enemy。 Whythey were not all here； I don't know； but I don't think they expected to beresisted。 They have drawn off for the time being。 But not far； I fear。 Theywill e again another night； if we cannot escape。 They are only waiting；
because they think that their purpose is almost acplished； and that theRing cannot fly much further。 I fear； Sam； that they believe your master has adeadly wound that will subdue him to their will。 We shall see！' Sam chokedwith tears。 'Don't despair！' said Strider。 'You must trust me now。 Your Frodois made of sterner stuff than I had guessed； though Gandalf hinted that it
might prove so。 He is not slain； and I think he will resist the evil power ofthe wound longer than his enemies expect。 I will do all I can to help and healhim。 Guard him well； while I am away！' He hurried off and disappeared againinto the darkness。
Frodo dozed； though the pain of his wound was slowly growing； and adeadly chill was spreading from his shoulder to his a