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 blocked with many fallen stones。 The night grewdeadly dark under great clouds。 A bitter wind swirled among the rocks。 Bymidnight they had climbed to the knees of the great mountains。 The narrow pathnow wound under a sheer wall of cliffs to the left； above which the grimflanks of Caradhras towered up invisible in the gloom； on the right was a gulfof darkness where the land fell suddenly into a deep ravine。
Laboriously they climbed a sharp slope and halted for a moment at thetop。 Frodo felt a soft touch on his face。 He put out his arm and saw the dimwhite flakes of snow settling on his sleeve。
They went on。 But before long the snow was falling fast； filling all theair； and swirling into Frodo's eyes。 The dark bent shapes of Gandalf andAragorn only a pace or two ahead could hardly be seen。
'I don't like this at all；' panted Sam just behind。 'Snow's all right on
a fine morning； but I like to be in bed while it's falling。 I wish this lotwould go off to Hobbiton！ Folk might wele it there。' Except on the highmoors of the Northfarthing a heavy fall was rare in the Shire； and wasregarded as a pleasant event and a chance for fun。 No living hobbit （saveBilbo） could remember the Fell Winter of 1311； when the white wolves invadedthe Shire over the frozen Brandywine。
Gandalf halted。 Snow was thick on his hood and shoulders； it was alreadyankle…deep about his boots。
〃This is what I feared；' he said。 ‘What do you say now； Aragorn？'
'That I feared it too；' Aragorn answered； ‘but less than other things。 Iknew the risk of snow； though it seldom falls heavily so far south； save highup in the mountains。 But we are not high yet； we are still far down； where thepaths are usually open all the winter。'
'I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy；' said Boromir。 〃They sayin my land that he can govern the storms in the Mountains of Shadow that standupon the borders of Mordor。 He has strange powers and many allies。'
'His arm has grown long indeed；' said Gimli； ‘if he can draw snow downfrom the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away。'
'His arm has grown long；' said Gandalf。
While they were halted； the wind died down； and the snow slackened untilit almost ceased。 They tramped on again。 But they had not gone more than afurlong when the storm returned with fresh fury。 The wind whistled and thesnow became a blinding blizzard。 Soon even Boromir found it hard to keepgoing。 The hobbits； bent nearly double； toiled along behind the taller folk；
but it was plain that they could not go much further； if the snow continued。
Frodo's feet felt like lead。 Pippin was dragging behind。 Even Gimli； as stoutas any dwarf could be； was grumbling as he trudged。
The pany halted suddenly； as if they had e to an agreement withoutany words being spoken。 They heard eerie noises in the darkness round them。 Itmay have been only a trick of the wind in the cracks and gullies of the rockywall； but the sounds were those of shrill cries； and wild howls of laughter。
Stones began to fall from the mountain…side； whistling over their heads； orcrashing on the path beside them。 Every now and again they heard a dullrumble； as a great boulder rolled down from hidden heights above。
‘We cannot go further tonight；' said Boromir。 ‘Let those call it the windwho will； there are fell voices on the air； and these stones are aimed at us。'
‘I do call it the wind；' said Aragorn。 ‘But that does not make what yousay untrue。 There are many evil and unfriendly things in the world that havelittle love for those that go on two legs； and yet are not in league withSauron； but have purposes of their own。 Some have been in this world longerthan he。'
'Caradhras was called the Cruel； and had an ill name； said Gimli； ‘longyears ago； when rumour of Sauron had not been heard in these lands。'
‘It matters little who is the enemy； if we cannot beat off his attack；
said Gandalf。
'But what can we do？' cried Pippin miserably。 He was leaning on Merry andFrodo； and he was shivering。
‘Either stop where we are； or go back；' said Gandalf。 'It is no goodgoing on。 Only a little higher； if I remember rightly； this path leaves thecliff and runs into a wide shallow trough at the bottom of a long hard slope。
We should have no shelter there from snow； or stones – or anything else。'
‘And it is no good going back while the storm holds；' said Aragorn。 ‘Wehave passed no place on the way up that offered more shelter than this cliff…
wall we are under now。'
‘Shelter！' muttered Sam。 ‘If this is shelter； then one wall and no roofmake a house。'
The pany now gathered together as close to the cliff as they could。 Itfaced southwards； and near the bottom it leaned out a little； so that they
hoped it would give them some protection from the northerly wind and from thefalling stones。 But eddying blasts swirled round them from every side； and thesnow flowed down in ever denser clouds。
They huddled together with their backs to the wall。 Bill the pony stoodpatiently but dejectedly in front of the hobbits； and screened them a little；
but before long the drifting snow was above his hocks； and it went onmounting。 If they had had no larger panions the hobbits would soon havebeen entirely buried。
A great sleepiness came over Frodo； he felt himself sinking fast into awarm and hazy dream。 He thought a fire was heating his toes； and out of theshadows on the other side of the hearth he heard Bilbo's voice speaking_。 Idon't think much of your diary_； he said。 _Snowstorms on January the twelfth：
there was no need to e back to report that！_
_But I wanted rest and sleep； Bilbo_； Frodo answered with an effort； whenhe felt himself shaken； and he came back painfully to wakefulness。 Boromir hadlifted him off the ground out of a nest of snow。
‘This will be the death of the halflings； Gandalf；' said Boromir。 ‘It isuseless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads。 We must do somethingto save ourselves。'
‘Give them this；' said Gandalf； searching in his pack and drawing out aleathern flask。 ‘Just a mouthful each – for all of us。 It is very precious。 Itis _miruvor_； the cordial of Imladris。 Elrond gave it to me at our parting。
Pass it round！'
As soon as Frodo had swallowed a little of the warm and fragrant liquorhe felt a new strength of heart； and the heavy drowsiness left his limbs。 Theothers also revived and found fresh hope and vigour。 But the snow did notrelent。 It whirled about them thicker than ever； and the wind blew louder。
'What do you say to fire？' asked Boromir suddenly。 'The choice seems nearnow between fire and death； Gandalf。 Doubtless we shall be hidden from allunfriendly eyes when the snow has covered us； but that will not help us。'
'You may make a fire； if you can；' answered Gandalf。 'If there are anywatchers that can endure this storm； then they can see us； fire or no。' Butthough they had brought wood and kindlings by the advice of Boromir； it passedthe skill of Elf or even Dwarf to strike a flame that would hold amid the
swirling wind or catch in the wet fuel。 At last reluctantly Gandalf himselftook a hand。 Picking up a faggot he held it aloft for a moment； and then witha word of mand_； naur an edraith ammen！_ he thrust the end of his staffinto the midst of it。 At once a great spout of green and blue flame sprangout； and the wood flared and sputtered。
‘If there are any to see； then I at least am revealed to them；' he said。
'I have written _Gandalf is here_ in signs that all can read from Rivendell tothe mouths of Anduin。'
But the pany cared no longer for watchers or unfriendly eyes。 Theirhearts were rejoiced to see the light of the fire。 The wood burned merrily；
and though all round it the snow hissed； and pools of slush crept under theirfeet； they warmed their hands gladly at the blaze。 There they stood； stoopingin a circle round the little dancing and blowing flames。 A red light was ontheir tired and anxious faces； behind them the night was like a black wall。
But the wood was burning fast； and the snow still fell。
The fire burned low。 and the last faggot was thrown on。
The night is getting old；' said Aragorn。 〃The dawn is not far off。'
‘If any dawn can pierce these clouds；' said Gimli。
Boromir stepped out of the circle and stared up into the blackness。 'Thesnow is growing less；' he said； ‘and the wind is quieter。'
Frodo gazed wearily at the flakes still falling out of the dark to berevealed white for a moment in the light of the dying fire； but for a longtime he could see no sign of their slackening。 Then suddenly； as sleep wasbeginning to creep over him again； he was aware that the wind had indeedfallen； and the flakes were being larger and fewer。 Very slowly a dim light
began to grow。 At last the snow stopped altogether。
As the light grew stronger it showed a silent shrouded world。 Below theirrefuge were white humps and domes and shapeless deeps beneath which the paththat they had trodden was altogether lost； but the heights above were hiddenin great clouds still heavy with the threat of snow。
Gimli looked up and shook his head。 ‘Caradhras has not forgiven us。' hesaid。 ‘He has more snow yet to fling at us； if we go on。 The sooner we go backand down the better。'
To this all agreed； but their retreat was now difficult。 It might wellprove impossible。 Only a few paces from the ashes of their fire the snow laymany feet deep； higher than the heads of the hobbits； in places it had beenscooped and piled by the wind into great drifts against the cliff。
‘If Gandalf would go before us with a bright flame； he might melt a pathfor you；' said Legolas。 The storm had troubled him little； and he alone of thepany remained still light of heart。
‘If Elves could fly over mountains； they might fetch the Sun to saveus；' answered Gandalf。 ‘But I must have something to work on。 I cannot burnsnow。'
‘Well；' said Boromir； ‘when heads are at a loss bodies must serve； as wesay in my country。 The strongest of us must seek a way。 See！ Though all is nowsnow…clad； our path； as we came up； turned about that shoulder of rock downyonder。 It was there that the snow first began to b