flicker of light in an open doorway； and the dim shape of an orc ing out。 He seemed to be
carrying a ladder。 Suddenly the answer dawned on Sam： the topmost chamber was reached by a
trap…door in the roof of the passage。 Snaga thrust the ladder upwards； steadied it； and then
clambered out of sight。 Sam heard a bolt drawn back。 Then he heard the hideous voice speaking
again。
‘You lie quiet； or you'll pay for it！ You've not got long to live in peace； I guess； but if you don't
want the fun to begin right now； keep your trap shut； see？ There's a reminder for you！' There was a
sound like the crack of a whip。
At that rage blazed in Sam's heart to a sudden fury。 He sprang up； ran； and went up the ladder
like a cat。 His head came out in the middle of the floor of a large round chamber。 A red lamp hung
from its roof； the westward window…slit was high and dark。 Something was lying on the floor by
the wall under the window； but over it a black orc…shape was straddled。 It raised a whip a second
time； but the blow never fell。
With a cry Sam leapt across the floor； Sting in hand。 The orc wheeled round； but before it could
make a move Sam slashed its whip…hand from its arm。 Howling with pain and fear but desperate the
orc charged head…down at him。 Sam's next blow went wide； and thrown off his balance he fell
backwards； clutching at the orc as it stumbled over him。 Before he could scramble up he heard a cry
and a thud。 The orc in its wild haste had tripped on the ladder…head and fallen through the open
trap…door。 Sam gave no more thought to it。 He ran to the figure huddled on the floor。 It was Frodo。
He was naked； lying as if in a swoon on a heap of filthy rags： his arm was flung up； shielding his
head； and across his side there ran an ugly whip…weal。
‘Frodo！ Mr。 Frodo； my dear！' cried Sam； tears almost blinding him。 ‘It's Sam； I've e！' He
half lifted his master and hugged him to his breast。 Frodo opened his eyes。
‘Am I still dreaming？' he muttered。 ‘But the other dreams were horrible。'
‘You're not dreaming at all； Master；' said Sam。 ‘It's real。 It's me。 I've e。'
‘I can hardly believe it；' said Frodo； clutching him。 ‘There was an orc with a whip； and then it
turns into Sam！ Then I wasn't dreaming after all when I heard that singing down below； and I tried
to answer？ Was it you？'
'It was indeed； Mr。 Frodo。 I'd given up hope； almost。 I couldn't find you。
Well； you have now； Sam； dear Sam； said Frodo； and he la back in Sam's gentle arms； closing
his eyes； like a child at rest when night…fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand。
Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness； but it was not allowed。 It was not
enough for him to find his master； he had still to try and save him。 He kissed Frodo's forehead。
‘e！ Wake up Mr。 Frodo！' he said； trying to sound as cheerful as he had when he drew back the
curtains at Bag End on a summer's morning。
Frodo sighed and sat up。 ‘Where are we？ How did I get here？' he asked。
'There's no time for tales till we get somewhere else； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam。 ‘But you're in the top
of that tower you and me saw from away down by the tunnel before the orcs got you。 How long ago
that was I don't know。 More than a day； I guess。'
‘Only that？' said Frodo。 ‘It seems weeks。 You must tell me all about it； if we get a chance。
Something hit me； didn't it？ And I fell into darkness and foul dreams； and woke and found that
waking was worse。 Orcs were all round me。 I think they had just been pouring some horrible
burning drink down my throat。 My head grew clear； but I was aching and weary。 They stripped me
of everything； and then two great brutes came and questioned me； questioned me until I thought I
should go mad； standing over me； gloating； fingering their knives。 I'll never forget their claws and
eyes。'
‘You won't； if you talk about them； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam。 'And if we don't want to see them
again； the sooner we get going the better。 Can you walk？'
‘Yes； I can walk；' said Frodo； getting up slowly。 'I am not hurt Sam。 Only I feel very tired； and
I've a pain here。' He put his hand to the back of his neck above his left shoulder。 He stood up； and it
looked to Sam as if he was clothed in flame： his naked skin was scarlet in the light of the lamp
above。 Twice he paced across the floor。
‘That's better！' he said； his spirits rising a little。 ‘I didn't dare to move when I was left alone； or
one of the guards came。 Until the yelling and fighting began。 The two big brutes： they quarrelled； I
think。 Over me and my things。 I lay here terrified。 And then all went deadly quiet； and that was
worse。'
‘Yes； they quarrelled； seemingly；' said Sam。 There must have been a couple of hundred of the
dirty creatures in this place。 A bit of a tall order for Sam Gamgee； as you might say。 But they've
done all the killing of themselves。 That's lucky； but it's too long to make a song about； till we're out
of here。 Now what's to be done？ You can't go walking in the Black Land in naught but your skin；
Mr。 Frodo。'
‘They've taken everything； Sam；' said Frodo。 ‘Everything I had。 Do you understand？
_Everything！_' He cowered on the floor again with bowed head； as his own words brought home to
him the fullness of the disaster； and despair overwhelmed him。 'The quest has failed Sam。 Even if
we get out of here； we can't escape。 Only Elves can escape。 Away； away out of Middle…earth； far
away over the Sea。 If even that is wide enough to keep the Shadow out。'
‘No； _not_ everything； Mr。 Frodo。 And it hasn't failed； not yet。 I took it； Mr。 Frodo； begging
your pardon。 And I've kept it safe。 It's round my neck now； and a terrible burden it is； too。' Sam
fumbled for the Ring and its chain。 ‘But I suppose you must take it back。' Now it had e to it；
Sam felt reluctant to give up the Ring and burden his master with it again。
‘You've got it？' gasped Frodo。 ‘You've got it here？ Sam； you're a marvel！' Then quickly and
strangely his tone changed。 ‘Give it to me！' he cried； standing up； holding out a trembling hand。
‘Give it me at once！ You can't have it！'
'All right； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam； rather startled。 'Here it is！' Slowly he drew the Ring out and
passed the chain over his head。 ‘But you're in the land of Mordor now； sir； and when you get out；
you'll see the Fiery Mountain and all。 You'll find the Ring very dangerous now； and very hard to
bear。 If it's too hard a job； I could share it with you； maybe？'
‘No； no！' cried Frodo； snatching the Ring and chain from Sam's hands。 ‘No you won't； you
thief！' He panted； staring at Sam with eyes wide with fear and enmity。 Then suddenly； clasping the
Ring in one clenched fist； he stood aghast。 A mist seemed to clear from his eyes； and he passed a
hand over his aching brow。 The hideous vision had seemed so real to him； half bemused as he was
still with wound and fear。 Sam had changed before his very eyes into an orc again； leering and
pawing at his treasure； a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth。 But now the
vision had passed。 There was Sam kneeling before him； his face wrung with pain； as if he had been
stabbed in the heart； tears welled from his eyes。
'O Sam！' cried Frodo。 ‘What have I said？ What have I done？ Forgive me！ After all you have
done。 It is the horrible power of the Ring。 I wish it had never； never； been found。 But don't mind me；
Sam。 I must carry the burden to the end。 It can't be altered。 You can't e between me and this
doom。'
'That's all right； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam； rubbing his sleeve across his eyes。 ‘I understand。 But I
can still help； can't I？ I've got to get you out of here。 At once； see！ But first you want some clothes
and gear and then some food。 The clothes will be the easiest part。 As we're in Mordor； we'd； best
dress up Mordor…fashion； and anyway there isn't no choice。 It'll have to be orc…stuff for you； Mr。
Frodo； I'm afraid。 And for me too。 If we go together； we'd best match。 Now put this round you！'
Sam unclasped his grey cloak and cast it about Frodo's shoulders。 Then unslinging his pack he
laid it on the floor。 He drew Sting from its sheath。 Hardly a flicker was to be seen upon its blade。 ‘I
was forgetting this； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 ‘No； they didn't get everything！ You lent me Sting； if you
remember； and the Lady's glass。 I've got them both still。 But lend them to me a little longer； Mr。
Frodo。 I must go and see what I can find。 You stay here。 Walk about a bit and ease your legs。 I
shan't be long。 I shan't have to go far。'
‘Take care； Sam！' said Frodo。 ‘And be quick！ There may be orcs still alive； lurking in wait。'
'I've got to chance it；' said Sam。 He stepped to the trap…door and slipped down the ladder。 In a
minute his head reappeared。 He threw a long knife on the floor。
‘There's something that might be useful；' he said。 'He's dead： the one that whipped you。 Broke
his neck； it seems； in his hurry。 Now you draw up the ladder； if you can； Mr。 Frodo； and don't you
let it down till you hear me call the password。 _Elbereth_ I'll call。 What the Elves say。 No orc
would say that。'
Frodo sat for a while and shivered； dreadful fears chasing one another through his mind。 Then
he got up； drew the grey elven…cloak about him； and to keep his mind occupied； began to walk to
and fro； prying and peering into every corner of his prison。
It was not very long； though fear made it seem an hour at least； before he heard Sam's voice
calling softly from below： _Elbereth； Elbereth_。 Frodo let down the light ladder。 Up came Sam；
puffing； heaving a great bundle on his head。 He let it fall with a thud。
‘Quick now。 Mr。 Frodo！' he said。 ‘I've had a bit of a search to find anything small enough for the
likes of us。 We'll have to make do。 But we must hurry。 I've met nothing alive； and I've seen nothing
but I'm not easy。 I think this place is being watched。 I can't explain it； but well： it feels to me as if
one of those foul flying Riders was about； up in the blackness where he can't be seen。'
He opened the bundle。 Frodo looked in disgust at the contents； but