The sun was now high； and it shone down through the half…strippedbranches of the trees； and lit the clearing with bright patches of light。 They
halted suddenly on the edge； and peered through the tree…trunks； holding theirbreath。 There stood the trolls： three large trolls。 One was stooping； and theother two stood staring at him。
Strider walked forward unconcernedly。 'Get up； old stone！' he said； andbroke his stick upon the stooping troll。
Nothing happened。 There was a gasp of astonishment from the hobbits； andthen even Frodo laughed。 'Well！' he said。 'We are forgetting our familyhistory！ These must be the very three that were caught by Gandalf； quarrellingover the right way to cook thirteen dwarves and one hobbit。'
'I had no idea we were anywhere near the place！' said Pippin。 He knew thestory well。 Bilbo and Frodo had told it often； but as a matter of fact he hadnever more than half believed it。 Even now he looked at the stone trolls with
suspicion； wondering if some magic might not suddenly bring them to lifeagain。
'You are forgetting not only your family history； but all you ever knewabout trolls；' said Strider。 'It is broad daylight with a bright sun； and yetyou e back trying to scare me with a tale of live trolls waiting for us inthis glade！ In any case you might have noticed that one of them has an oldbird's nest behind his ear。 That would be a most unusual ornament for a live
troll！'
They all laughed。 Frodo felt his spirits reviving： the reminder ofBilbo's first successful adventure was heartening。 The sun； too； was warm andforting； and the mist before his eyes seemed to be lifting a little。 Theyrested for some time in the glade； and took their mid…day meal right under theshadow of the trolls' large legs。
'Won't somebody give us a bit of a song； while the sun is high？' saidMerry； when they had finished。 'We haven't had a song or a tale for days。'
'Not since Weathertop；' said Frodo。 The others looked at him。 'Don'tworry about me！' he added。 'I feel much better； but I don't think I couldsing。 Perhaps Sam could dig something out of his memory。'
'e on； Sam！' said Merry。 'There's more stored in your head than youlet on about。'
'I don't know about that；' said Sam。 'But how would this suit？ It ain'twhat I call proper poetry； if you understand me： just a bit of nonsense。 Butthese old images here brought it to my mind。' Standing up； with his handsbehind his back； as if he was at school； he began to sing to an old tune。
Troll sat alone on his seat of stone；
And munched and mumbled a bare old bone；
For many a year he had gnawed it near；
For meat was hard to e by。
Done by！ Gum by！
In a case in the hills he dwelt alone；
And meat was hard to e by。
Up came Tom with his big boots on。
Said he to Troll： 'Pray； what is yon？
For it looks like the shin o' my nuncle Tim；
As should be a…lyin' in graveyard。
Caveyard！ Paveyard！
This many a year has Tim been gone；
And I thought he were lyin' in graveyard。'
'My lad；' said Troll； 'this bone I stole。
But what be bones that lie in a hole？
Thy nuncle was dead as a lump o' lead；
Afore I found his shinbone。
Tinbone！ Thinbone！
He can spare a share for a poor old troll；
For he don't need his shinbone。'
Said Tom： 'I don't see why the likes o' thee
Without axin' leave should go makin' free
With the shank or the shin o' my father's kin；
So hand the old bone over！
Rover！ Trover！
Though dead he be； it belongs to he；
So hand the old bone over！'
'For a couple o' pins；' says Troll； and grins；
'I'll eat thee too； and gnaw thy shins。
A bit o' fresh meal will go down sweet！
I'll try my teeth on thee now。
Hee now！ See now！
I'm tired o' gnawing old bones and skins；
I've a mind to dine on thee now。'
But just as he thought his dinner was caught；
He found his hands had hold of naught。
Before he could mind； Tom slipped behind
And gave him the boot to larn him。
Warn him！ Darn him！
A bump o' the boot on the seat； Tom thought；
Would be the way to larn him。
But harder than stone is the flesh and bone
Of a troll that sits in the hills alone。
As well set your boot to the mountain's root；
For the seat of a troll don't feel it。
Peel it！ Heal it！
Old Troll laughed； when he heard Tom groan；
And he knew his toes could feel it。
Tom's leg is game； since home he came；
And his bootless foot is lasting lame；
But Troll don't care； and he's still there
With the bone he boned from its owner。
Doner！ Boner！
Troll's old seat is still the same；
And the bone he boned from its owner！
'Well； that's a warning to us all！' laughed Merry。 'It is as well youused a stick； and not your hand； Strider！'
'Where did you e by that； Sam？' asked Pippin。 'I've never heard thosewords before。'
Sam muttered something inaudible。 'It's out of his own head； of course；'
said Frodo。 'I am learning a lot about Sam Gamgee on this journey。 First hewas a conspirator； now he's a jester。 He'll end up by being a wizard – or awarrior！'
'I hope not；' said Sam。 'I don't want to be neither！'
In the afternoon they went on down the woods。 They were probablyfollowing the very track that Gandalf； Bilbo； and the dwarves had used manyyears before。 After a few miles they came out on the top of a high bank abovethe Road。 At this point the Road had left the Hoarwell far behind in itsnarrow valley； and now clung close to the feet of the hills； rolling andwinding eastward among woods and heather…covered slopes towards the Ford andthe Mountains。 Not far down the bank Strider pointed out a stone in the grass。
On it roughly cut and now much weathered could still be seen dwarf…runes andsecret marks。
'There！' said Merry。 'That must be the stone that marked the place wherethe trolls' gold was hidden。 How much is left of Bilbo's share； I wonder；
Frodo？'
Frodo looked at the stone； and wished that Bilbo had brought home notreasure more perilous； nor less easy to pan with。 'None at all；' he said。
'Bilbo gave it all away。 He told me he did not feel it was really his； as itcame from robbers。'
The Road lay quiet under the long shadows of early evening。 There was nosign of any other travellers to be seen。 As there was now no other possiblecourse for them to take； they climbed down the bank； and turning left went offas fast as they could。 Soon a shoulder of the hills cut off the light of thefast westering sun。 A cold wind flowed down to meet them from the mountainsahead。
They were beginning to look out for a place off the Road； where theycould camp for the night； when they heard a sound that brought sudden fearback into their hearts： the noise of hoofs behind them。 They looked back； butthey could not see far because of the many windings and rollings of the Road。
As quickly as they could they scrambled off the beaten way and up into thedeep heather and bilberry brushwood on the slopes above； until they came to asmall patch of thick…growing hazels。 As they peered out from among the bushes；
they could see the Road； faint and grey in the failing light； some thirty feelbelow them。 The sound of hoofs drew nearer。 They were going fast； with a light_clippety…clippely…clip。_ Then faintly； as if it was blown away from them bythe breeze； they seemed to catch a dim ringing； as of small bells tinkling。
'That does not sound like a Black Rider's horse！' said Frodo； listeningintently。 The other hobbits agreed hopefully that it did not； but they allremained full of suspicion。 They had been in fear of pursuit for so long thatany sound from behind seemed ominous and unfriendly。 But Strider was nowleaning forward； stooped to the ground； with a hand to his ear； and a look ofjoy on his face。
The light faded； and the leaves on the bushes rustled softly。 Clearer andnearer now the bells jingled； and _clippety…clip_ came the quick trottingfeet。 Suddenly into view below came a white horse； gleaming in the shadows；
running swiftly。 In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed； as if itwere studded with gems like living stars。 The rider's cloak streamed behindhim； and his hood was thrown back； his golden hair flowed shimmering in thewind of his speed。 To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining throughthe form and raiment of the rider； as if through a thin veil。
Strider sprang from hiding and dashed down towards the Road； leaping witha cry through the heather； but even before he had moved or called； the riderhad reined in his horse and halted； looking up towards the thicket where theystood。 When he saw Strider； he dismounted and ran to meet him calling out： _Aina vedui Dúnadan！ Mae govannen！_ His speech and clear ringing voice left nodoubt in their hearts： the rider was of the Elven…folk。 No others that dwelt
in the wide world had voices so fair to hear。 But there seemed to be a note of
haste or fear in his call； and they saw that he was now speaking quickly andurgently to Strider。
Soon Strider beckoned to them； and the hobbits left the bushes andhurried down to the Road。 'This is Glorfindel； who dwells in the house ofElrond；' said Strider。
'Hail； and well met at last！' said the Elf…lord to Frodo。 'I was sentfrom Rivendell to look for you。 We feared that you were in danger upon theroad。'
'Then Gandalf has reached Rivendell？' cried Frodo joyfully。
'No。 He had not when I departed； but that was nine days ago；' answeredGlorfindel。 'Elrond received news that troubled him。 Some of my kindred；
journeying in your land beyond the Baranduin； learned that things were amiss；
and sent messages as swiftly as they could。 They said that the Nine wereabroad； and that you were astray bearing a great burden without guidance； for
Gandalf had not returned。 There are few even in Rivendell that can ride openlyagainst the Nine； but such as there were； Elrond sent out north； west； andsouth。 It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit； andbee lost in the Wilderness。
'It was my lot to take the Road； and I came to the Bridge of Mitheithel；
and left a token there； nigh on seven days ago。 Three of the servants ofSauron were upon the Bridge； but they withdrew and I pursued them westward。 Icame also upon two others； but they turned away southward。 Since then I havesearched for your trail。 Two days ago I found