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listening fearfully to the stealthy night…noises： wind in chinks of rock；
water dripping； a crack； the sudden rattling fall of a loosened stone。 He feltthat black shapes were advancing to smother him； but when he sat up he sawnothing but the back of Strider sitting hunched up； smoking his pipe； andwatching。 He lay down again and passed into an uneasy dream； in which hewalked on the grass in his garden in the Shire； but it seemed faint and dim；
less clear than the tall black shadows that stood looking over the hedge。
In the morning he woke to find that the rain had stopped。 The clouds werestill thick； but they were breaking； and pale strips of blue appeared betweenthem。 The wind was shifting again。 They did not start early。 Immediately aftertheir cold and fortless breakfast Strider went off alone； telling theothers to remain under the shelter of the cliff； until he came back。 He wasgoing to climb up； if he could； and get a look at the lie of the land。
When he returned he was not reassuring。 'We have e too far to thenorth；' he said； 'and we must find some way to turn back southwards again。 Ifwe keep on as we are going we shall get up into the Ettendales far north ofRivendell。 That is troll…country； and little known to me。 We could perhapsfind our way through and e round to Rivendell from the north； but it wouldtake too long； for I do not know the way； and our food would not last。 Sosomehow or other we must find the Ford of Bruinen。'
The rest of that day they spent scrambling over rocky ground。 They founda passage between two hills that led them into a valley running south…east；
the direction that they wished to take； but towards the end of the day theyfound their road again barred by a ridge of high land； its dark edge againstthe sky was broken into many bare points like teeth of a blunted saw。 They hada choice between going back or climbing over it。
They decided to attempt the climb； but it proved very difficult。 Beforelong Frodo was obliged to dismount and struggle along on foot。 Even so theyoften despaired of getting their pony up； or indeed of finding a path forthemselves； burdened as they were。 The light was nearly gone； and they wereall exhausted； when at last they reached the top。 They had climbed on to anarrow saddle between two higher points； and the land fell steeply away again；
only a short distance ahead。 Frodo threw himself down； and lay on the groundshivering。 His left arm was lifeless； and his side and shoulder felt as if icyclaws were laid upon them。 The trees and rocks about him seemed shadowy anddim。
'We cannot go any further；' said Merry to Strider。 'I am afraid this hasbeen too much for Frodo。 I am dreadfully anxious about him。 What are we to do？
Do you think they will be able to cure him in Rivendell； if we ever getthere？'
'We shall see；' answered Strider。 'There is nothing more that I can do inthe wilderness； and it is chiefly because of his wound that I am so anxious topress on。 But I agree that we can go no further tonight。'
'What is the matter with my master？' asked Sam in a low voice； lookingappealingly at Strider。 'His wound was small； and it is already closed。
There's nothing to be seen but a cold white mark on his shoulder。'
'Frodo has been touched by the weapons of the Enemy；' said Strider； 'andthere is some poison or evil at work that is beyond my skill to drive out。 Butdo not give up hope； Sam！'
Night was cold up on the high ridge。 They lit a small fire down under thegnarled roots of an old pine； that hung over a shallow pit： it looked as ifstone had once been quarried there。 They sat huddled together。 The wind blewchill through the pass； and they heard the tree…tops lower down moaning andsighing。 Frodo lay half in a dream； imagining that endless dark wings weresweeping by above him； and that on the wings rode pursuers that sought him inall the hollows of the hills。
The morning dawned bright and fair； the air was clean； and the light paleand clear in a rain…washed sky。 Their hearts were encouraged； but （hey longedfor the sun to warm their cold stiff limbs。 As soon as it was light； Stridertook Merry with him and went to survey the country from the height to the east
of the pass。 The sun had risen and was shining brightly when he returned withmore forting news。 They were now going more or less in the right direction。
If they went on； down the further side of the ridge； they would have theMountains on their left。 Some way ahead Strider had caught a glimpse of theLoudwater again； and he knew that； though it was hidden from view； the Road tothe Ford was not far from the River and lay on the side nearest to them。
'We must make for the Road again；' he said。 'We cannot hope to find apath through these hills。 Whatever danger may beset it； the Road is our onlyway to the Ford。'
As soon as they had eaten they set out again。 They climbed slowly downthe southern side of the ridge； but the way was much easier than they hadexpected； for the slope was far less steep on this side； and before long Frodowas able to ride again。 Bill Ferny's poor old pony was developing anunexpected talent for picking out a path； and for sparing its rider as manyjolts as possible。 The spirits of the party rose again。 Even Frodo felt betterin the morning light； but every now and again a mist seemed to obscure hissight； and he passed his hands over his eyes。
Pippin was a little ahead of the others。 Suddenly he turned round andcalled to them。 'There is a path here！' he cried。
When they came up with him； they saw that he had made no mistake：
there were clearly the beginnings of a path； that climbed with manywindings out of the woods below and faded away on the hill…top behind。 Inplaces it was now faint and overgrown； or choked with fallen stones and trees；
but at one time it seemed to have been much used。 It was a path made by strongarms and heavy feet。 Here and there old trees had been cut or broken down； andlarge rocks cloven or heaved aside to make a way。
They followed the track for some while； for it offered much the easiestway down； but they went cautiously； and their anxiety increased as they cameinto the dark woods； and the path grew plainer and broader。 Suddenly ingo