the trees and the grass do not nowremember them： Only I hear the stones lament them： _deep they delved us； fairthey wrought us； high they builded us； but they are gone_。 They are gone。 Theysought the Havens long ago。'
That morning they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by great bushes ofholly； and their supper…breakfast was merrier than it had been since they setout。 They did not hurry to bed afterwards； for they expected to have all thenight to sleep in； and they did not mean to go on again until the evening ofthe next day。 Only Aragorn was silent and restless。 After a while he left thepany and wandered on to the ridge； there he stood in the shadow of a tree；
looking out southwards and westwards； with his head posed as if he waslistening。 Then he returned to the brink of the dell and looked down at theothers laughing and talking。
‘What is the matter； Strider？' Merry called up。 'What are you lookingfor？ Do you miss the East Wind？'
'No indeed；' he answered。 ‘But I miss something。 I have been in thecountry of Hollin in many seasons。 No folk dwell here now； but many othercreatures live here at all times； especially birds。 Yet now all things but youare silent。 I can feel it。 There is no sound for miles about us； and yourvoices seem to make the ground echo。 I do not understand it。'
Gandalf looked up with sudden interest。 ‘But what do you guess is thereason？' he asked。 ‘Is there more in it than surprise at seeing four hobbits；
not to mention the rest of us； where people are so seldom seen or heard？'
‘I hope that is it；' answered Aragorn。 ‘But I have a sense ofwatchfulness； and of fear； that I have never had here before。'
〃Then we must be more careful；' said Gandalf。 'If you bring a Ranger withyou； it is well to pay attention to him； especially if the Ranger is Aragorn。
We must stop talking aloud； rest quietly； and set the watch。'
It was Sam's turn that day to take the first watch； but Aragorn joinedhim。 The others fell asleep。 Then the silence grew until even Sam felt it。 Thebreathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard。 The swish of the pony's tailand the occasional movements of his feet became loud noises。 Sam could hear
his own joints creaking； if he stirred。 Dead silence was around him； and overall hung a clear blue sky； as the Sun rode up from the East。 Away in the Southa dark patch appeared； and grew； and drove north like flying smoke in thewind。
‘What's that； Strider？ It don't look like a cloud；' said Sam in a whisperto Aragorn。 He made no answer； he was gazing intently at the sky； but beforelong Sam could see for himself what was approaching。 Flocks of birds； flyingat great speed； were wheeling and circling； and traversing all the land as ifthey were searching for something； and they were steadily drawing nearer。
‘Lie flat and still！' hissed Aragorn； pulling Sam down into the shade ofa holly…bush； for a whole regiment of birds had broken away suddenly from themain host； and came； flying low； straight towards the ridge。 Sam thought theywere a kind of crow of large size。 As they passed overhead； in so dense athrong that their shadow followed them darkly over the ground below； one harshcroak was heard。
Not until they had dwindled into the distance； north and west； and thesky was again clear would Aragorn rise。 Then he sprang up and went and wakenedGandalf。
‘Regiments of black crows are flying over all the land between theMountains and the Greyflood；' he said； ‘and they have passed over Hollin。 They
are not natives here； they are _crebain_ out of Fangorn and Dunland。 I do notknow what they are about： possibly there is some trouble away south from whichthey are fleeing； but I think they are spying out the land。 I have alsoglimpsed many hawks flying high up in the sky。 I think we ought to move againthis evening。 Hollin is no longer wholesome for us： it is being watched。'
‘And in that case so is the Redhorn Gate；' said Gandalf； ‘and how we canget over that without being seen； I cannot imagine。 But we will think of thatwhen we must。 As for moving as soon as it is dark； I am afraid that you areright。'
‘Luckily our fire made little smoke； and had burned low before the_crebain_ came；' said Aragorn。 ‘It must be put out and not lit again。'
‘Well if that isn't a plague and a nuisance！' said Pippin。 The news： nofire； and a move again by night； had been broken to him； as soon as he woke inthe late afternoon。 'All because of a pack of crows！ I had looked forward to areal good meal tonight： something hot。'
‘Well； you can go on looking forward；' said Gandalf。 ‘There may be manyunexpected feasts ahead for you。 For myself I should like a pipe to smoke infort； and warmer feet。 However； we are certain of one thing at any rate： itwill get warmer as we get south。'
'Too warm； I shouldn't wonder；' muttered Sam to Frodo。 'But I'm beginningto think it's time we got a sight of that Fiery Mountain and saw the end ofthe Road； so to speak。 I thought at first that this here Redhorn； or whateverits name is； might be it； till Gimli spoke his piece。 A fair jaw…crackerdwarf…language must be！' Maps conveyed nothing to Sam's mind； and alldistances in these strange lands seemed so vast that he was quite out of hisreckoning。
All that day the pany remained in hiding。 The dark birds passed overnow and again； but as the westering Sun grew red they disappeared southwards。
At dusk the pany set out； and turning now half east they steered theircourse towards Caradhras； which far away still glowed faintly red in the lastlight of the vanished Sun。 One by one white stars sprang forth as the skyfaded。
Guided by Aragorn they struck a good path。 It looked to Frodo like theremains of an ancient road； that had once been broad and well planned； fromHollin to the mountain…pass。 The Moon； now at the full； rose over themountains； and cast a pale light in which the shadows of stones were black。
Many of them looked to have been worked by hands； though now they lay tumbledand ruinous in a bleak； barren land。
It was the cold chill hour before the first stir of dawn； and the moonwas low。 Frodo looked up at the sky。 Suddenly he saw or felt a shadow passover the high stars； as if for a moment they faded and then flashed out again。
He shivered。
‘Did you see anything pass over？' he whispered to Gandalf； who was justahead。
‘No； but I felt it； whatever it was；' he answered。 ‘It may be nothing；
only a wisp of thin cloud。'
‘It was moving fast then；' muttered Aragorn； ‘and not with the wind。'
Nothing further happened that night。 The next morning dawned evenbrighter than before。 But the air was chill again； already the wind wasturning back towards the east。 For two more nights they marched on； climbingsteadily but ever more slowly as their road wound up into the hills； and themountains towered up； nearer and nearer。 On the third morning Caradhras rosebefore them； a mighty peak； tipped with snow like silver； but with sheer nakedsides； dull red as if stained with blood。
There was a black look in the sky； and the sun was wan。 The wind had gonenow round to the north…east。 Gandalf snuffed the air and looked back。
‘Winter deepens behind us；' he said quietly to Aragorn。 'The heights awaynorth are whiter than they were； snow is lying far down their shoulders。
Tonight we shall be on our way high up towards the Redhorn Gate。 We may wellbe seen by watchers on that narrow path； and waylaid by some evil； but theweather may prove a more deadly enemy than any。 What do you think of yourcourse now； Aragorn？'
Frodo overheard these words； and understood that Gandalf and Aragorn werecontinuing some debate that had begun long before。 He listened anxiously。
'I think no good of our course from beginning to end； as you know well；
Gandalf；' answered Aragorn。 ‘And perils known and unknown will grow as we goon。 But we must go on； and it is no good our delaying the passage of themountains。 Further south there are no passes； till one es to the Gap ofRohan。 I do not trust that way since your news of Saruman。 Who knows whichside now the marshals of the Horse…lords serve？'
'Who knows indeed！' said Gandalf。 ‘But there is another way； and not bythe pass of Caradhras： the dark and secret way that we have spoken of。'
'But let us not speak of it again！ Not yet。 Say nothing to the others Ibeg； not until it is plain that there is no other way。'
'We must decide before we go further；' answered Gandalf。
'Then let us weigh the matter in our minds； while the others rest andsleep；' said Aragorn。
In the late afternoon； while the others were finishing their breakfast；
Gandalf and Aragorn went aside together and stood looking at Caradhras。 Itssides were now dark and sullen； and its head was in grey cloud。 Frodo watchedthem； wondering which way the debate would go。 When they returned to thepany Gandalf spoke； and then he knew that it had been decided to face theweather and the high pass。 He was relieved。 He could not guess what was theother dark and secret way； but the very mention of it had seemed to fillAragorn with dismay； and Frodo was glad that it had been abandoned。
‘From signs that we have seen lately；' said Gandalf； 'I fear that theRedhorn Gate may be watched； and also I have doubts of the weather that ising up behind。 Snow may e。 We must go with all the speed that we can。
Even so it will take us more than two marches before we reach the top of thepass。 Dark will e early this evening。 We must leave as soon as you can getready。'
'I will add a word of advice； if I may；' said Boromir。 'I was born underthe shadow of the White Mountains and know something of journeys in the highplaces。 We shall meet bitter cold； if no worse； before we e down on theother side。 It will not help us to keep so secret that we are frozen to death。
When we leave here； where there are still a few trees and bushes； each of usshould carry a faggot of wood； as large as he can bear。'
'And Bill could take a bit more； couldn't you lad？' said Sam。 The ponylooked at him mournfully。
'Very well；' said Gandalf。 ‘But we must not use the wood – not unless itis a choice between fire and death。'
The pany set out again with good speed at first； but soon their waybecame steep and difficult。 The twisting and climbing road had in many placesalmost disappeared； and was bloc