'What； just in time to meet Bilbo？' said Frodo。 'Wouldn't an Orc havesuited it better？'
'It is no laughing matter；' said Gandalf。 'Not for you。 It was thestrangest event in the whole history of the Ring so far： Bilbo's arrival just
at that time； and putting his hand on it； blindly； in the dark。
'There was more than one power at work； Frodo。 The Ring was trying to getback to its master。 It had slipped from Isildur's hand and betrayed him； thenwhen a chance came it caught poor Deal； and he was murdered； and after thatGollum； and it had devoured him。 It could make no further use of him： he wastoo small and mean； and as long as it stayed with him he would never leave hisdeep pool again。 So now； when its master was awake once more and sending outhis dark thought from Mirkwood； it abandoned Gollum。 Only to be picked up bythe most unlikely person imaginable： Bilbo from the Shire！
'Behind that there was something else at work； beyond any design of theRing…maker。 I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was _meant_tofind the Ring； and _not_ by its maker。 In which case you also were _meant_tohave it。 And that maybe an encouraging thought。'
It is not；' said Frodo。 〃Though I am not sure that I understand you。 Buthow have you learned all this about the Ring； and about Gollum？ Do you reallyknow it all； or are you just guessing still？'
Gandalf looked at Frodo； and his eyes glinted。 I knew much and I havelearned much；' he answered。 'But I am not going to give an account of all mydoings to _you。_ The history of Elendil and Isildur and the One Ring is knownto all the Wise。 Your ring is shown to be that One Ring by the fire…writingalone； apart from any other evidence。' 'And when did you discover that？' askedFrodo； interrupting。 'Just now in this room； of course；' answered the wizardsharply。 'But I expected to find it。 I have e back from dark journeys andlong search to make that final test。 It is the last proof； and all is now onlytoo clear。 Making out Gollum's part； and fitting it into the gap in thehistory； required some thought。 I may have started with guesses about Gollum；
but I am not guessing now。 I know。 I have seen him。'
'You have seen Gollum？' exclaimed Frodo in amazement。
'Yes。 The obvious thing to do； of course； if one could。 I tried long ago；
but I have managed it at last。'
'Then what happened after Bilbo escaped from him？ Do you know that？'
'Not so clearly。 What I have told you is what Gollum was willing to tell
– though not； of course； in the way I have reported it。 Gollum is a liar； andyou have to sift his words。 For instance； he called the Ring his 〃birthdaypresent〃； and he stuck to that。 He said it came from his grandmother； who hadlots of beautiful things of that kind。 A ridiculous story。 I have no doubtthat Sméagol's grandmother was a matriarch； a great person in her way； but totalk of her possessing many Elven…rings was absurd； and as for giving themaway； it was a lie。 But a lie with a grain of truth。
'The murder of Deal haunted Gollum； and he had made up a defence；
repeating it to his 〃precious〃 over and over again； as he gnawed bones in thedark； until he almost believed it。 It _was_ his birthday。 Deal ought to havegiven the ring to him。 It had previously turned up just so as to be a present。
It _was_ his birthday present； and so on； and on。
I endured him as long as I could； but the truth was desperatelyimportant； and in the end I had to be harsh。 I put the fear of fire on him；
and wrung the true story out of him； bit by bit； together with much snivellingand snarling。 He thought he was misunderstood and ill…used。 But when he had atlast told me his history； as far as the end of the Riddle…game and Bilbo'sescape； he would not say any more； except in dark hints。 Some other fear wason him greater than mine。 He muttered that he was going to gel his own back。
People would see if he would stand being kicked； and driven into a hole andthen _robbed。_ Gollum had good friends now； good friends and very strong。 Theywould help him。 Baggins would pay for it。 That was his chief thought。 He hatedBilbo and cursed his name。 What is more； he knew where he came from。'
'But how did he find that out？' asked Frodo。
'Well； as for the name； Bilbo very foolishly told Gollum himself； andafter that it would not be difficult to discover his country； once Gollum cameout。 Oh yes； he came out。 His longing for the Ring proved stronger than hisfear of the Orcs； or even of the light。 After a year or two he left the
mountains。 You see； though still bound by desire of it； the Ring was no longerdevouring him； he began to revive a little。 He felt old； terribly old； yetless timid； and he was mortally hungry。
'Light； light of Sun and Moon； he still feared and hated； and he alwayswill； I think； but he was cunning。 He found he could hide from daylight andmoonshine； and make his way swiftly and softly by dead of night with his palecold eyes； and catch small frightened or unwary things。 He grew stronger andbolder with new food and new air。 He found his way into Mirkwood； as one wouldexpect。'
'Is that where you found him？' asked Frodo。
'I saw him there；' answered Gandalf； 'but before that he had wanderedfar； following Bilbo's trail。 It was difficult to learn anything from him forcertain； for his talk was constantly interrupted by curses and threats。 〃Whathad it got in its pocketses？〃 he said。 〃It wouldn't say； no precious。 Littlecheat。 Not a fair question。 It cheated first； it did。 It broke the rules。 Weought to have squeezed it； yes precious。 And we will； precious！〃
'That is a sample of his talk。 I don't suppose you want any more。 I hadweary days of it。 But from hints dropped among the snarls I even gathered thathis padding feet had taken him at last to Esgaroth； and even to the streets ofDale； listening secretly and peering。 Well； the news of the great events wentfar and wide in Wilderland； and many had heard Bilbo's name and knew where hecame from。 We had made no secret of our return journey to his home in theWest。 Gollum's sharp ears would soon learn what he wanted。'
'Then why didn't he track Bilbo further？' asked Frodo。 'Why didn't hee to the Shire？'
'Ah；' said Gandalf； 'now we e to it。 I think Gollum tried to。 He setout and came back westward； as far as the Great River。 But then he turnedaside。 He was not daunted by the distance； I am sure。 No； something else drewhim away。 So my friends think； those that hunted him for me。
'The Wood…elves tracked him first； an easy task for them； for his trailwas still fresh then。 Through Mirkwood and back again it led them； though theynever caught him。 The wood was full of the rumour of him； dreadful tales evenamong beasts and birds。 The Woodmen said that there was some new terrorabroad； a ghost that drank blood。 It climbed trees to find nests； it creptinto holes to find the young； it slipped through windows to find cradles。
'But at the western edge of Mirkwood the trail turned away。 It wanderedoff southwards and passed out of the Wood…elves' ken； and was lost。 And then Imade a great mistake。 Yes； Frodo； and not the first； though I fear it mayprove the worst。 I let the matter be。 I let him go； for I had much else tothink of at that time； and I still trusted the lore of Saruman。
'Well； that was years ago。 I have paid for it since with many dark anddangerous days。 The trail was long cold when I took it up again； after Bilboleft here。 And my search would have been in vain； but for the help that I hadfrom a friend： Aragorn； the greatest traveller and huntsman of this age of theworld。 Together we sought for Gollum down the whole length of Wilderland；
without hope； and without success。 But at last； when I had given up the chaseand turned to other parts； Gollum was found。 My friend returned out of thegreat perils bringing the miserable creature with him。
'What he had been doing he would not say。 He only wept and called uscruel； with many a _gollum_ in his throat； and when we pressed him he whinedand cringed； and rubbed his long hands； licking his fingers as if they painedhim； as if he remembered some old torture。 But I am afraid there is nopossible doubt： he had made his slow； sneaking way； step by step； mile bymile； south； down at last to the Land of Mordor。'
A heavy silence fell in the room。 Frodo could hear his heart beating。
Even outside everything seemed still。 No sound of Sam's shears could now beheard。
'Yes； to Mordor；' said Gandalf。 'Alas！ Mordor draws all wicked things；
and the Dark Power was bending all its will to gather them there。 The Ring of
the Enemy would leave its mark； too； leave him open to the summons。 And allfolk were whispering then of the new Shadow in the South； and its hatred ofthe West。 There were his fine new friends； who would help him in his revenge！
'Wretched fool！ In that land he would learn much； too much for hisfort。 And sooner or later as he lurked and pried on the borders he would becaught； and taken – for examination。 That was the way of it； I fear。 When hewas found he had already been there long； and was on his way back。 On someerrand of mischief。 But that does not matter much now。 His worst mischief was
done。
'Yes； alas！ through him the Enemy has learned that the One has been foundagain。 He knows where Isildur fell。 He knows where Gollum found his ring。 Heknows that it is a Great Ring； for it gave long life。 He knows that it is notone of the Three； for they have never been lost； and they endure no evil。 Heknows that it is not one of the Seven； or the Nine； for they are accountedfor。 He knows that it is the One。 And he has at last heard； I think； of_hobbits_ and the _Shire。_
'The Shire – he may be seeking for it now； if he has not already foundout where it lies。 Indeed； Frodo； I fear that he may even think that the long…
unnoticed name of _Baggins_ has bee important。'
'But this is terrible！' cried Frodo。 'Far worse than the worst that I
imagined from your hints and warnings。 O Gandalf； best of friends； what am Ito do？ For now I am really afraid。 What am I to do？ What a pity that Bilbo didnot stab that vile creature； when he had a chance！'
'Pity？ It was Pity that stayed his hand。 Pity； and Mercy： not to strikewithout need。 And he has been well rewarded； Frodo。 Be sure that he took solittle hur