a tale for days。'
'Not since Weathertop；' said Frodo。 The others looked at him。 'Don't worry about me！' he added。 'I feel much better； but I don't think I could sing。 Perhaps Sam could dig something out of his memory。'
'e on； Sam！' said Merry。 'There's more stored in your head than you let on about。'
'I don't know about that；' said Sam。 'But how would this suit？ It ain't what I call proper poetry； if you understand me： just a bit of nonsense。 But these old images here brought it to my mind。' Standing up； with his hands behind 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 alyin' 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 you used a stick； and not your hand； Strider！'
'Where did you e by that； Sam？' asked Pippin。 'I've never heard those words 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 he was a conspirator； now he's a jester。 He'll end up by being a wizard 。 or a warrior！'
'I hope not；' said Sam。 'I don't want to be neither！'
In the afternoon they went on down the woods。 They were probably following the very track that Gandalf； Bilbo； and the dwarves had used many years before。 After a few miles they came out on the top of a high bank above the Road。 At this point the Road had left the Hoarwell far behind in its narrow valley； and now clung close to the feet of the hills； rolling and winding eastward among woods and heathercovered slopes towards the Ford and the 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 dwarfrunes and secret marks。
'There！' said Merry。 'That must be the stone that marked the place where the 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 no treasure 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 it came from robbers。'
The Road lay quiet under the long shadows of early evening。 There was no sign of any other travellers to be seen。 As there was now no other possible course for them to take； they climbed down the bank； and turning left went off as fast as they could。 Soon a shoulder of the hills cut off the light of the fast westering sun。 A cold wind flowed down to meet them from the mountains ahead。
They were beginning to look out for a place off the Road； where they could camp for the night； when they heard a sound that brought sudden fear back into their hearts： the noise of hoofs behind them。 They looked back； but they 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 the deep heather and bilberry brushwood on the slopes above； until they came to a small patch of thickgrowing hazels。 As they peered out from among the bushes； they could see the Road； faint and grey in the failing light； some thirty feel below them。 The sound of hoofs drew nearer。 They were going fast； with a light clippetyclippelyclip。 Then faintly； as if it was blown away from them by the 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； listening intently。 The other hobbits agreed hopefully that it did not； but they all remained full of suspicion。 They had been in fear of pursuit for so long that any sound from behind seemed ominous and unfriendly。 But Strider was now leaning forward； stooped to the ground； with a hand to his ear； and a look of joy on his face。
The light faded； and the leaves on the bushes rustled softly。 Clearer and nearer now the bells jingled； and clippetyclip came the quick trotting feet。 Suddenly into view below came a white horse； gleaming in the shadows； running swiftly。 In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed； as if it were studded with gems like living stars。 The rider's cloak streamed behind him； and his hood was thrown back； his golden hair flowed shimmering in the wind of his speed。 To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment of the rider； as if through a thin veil。
Strider sprang from hiding and dashed down towards the Road； leaping with a cry through the heather； but even before he had moved or called； the rider had reined in his horse and halted； looking up towards the thicket where they stood。 When he saw Strider； he dismounted and ran to meet him calling out： Ai na vedui Dúnadan！ Mae govannen！ His speech and clear ringing voice left no doubt in their hearts： the rider was of the Elvenfolk。 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 and urgently to Strider。
Soon Strider beckoned to them； and the hobbits left the bushes and hurried down to the Road。 'This is Glorfindel； who dwells in the house of Elrond；' said Strider。
'Hail； and well met at last！' said the Elflord to Frodo。 'I was sent from Rivendell to look for you。 We feared that you were in danger upon the road。'
'Then Gandalf has reached Rivendell？' cried Frodo joyfully。
'No。 He had not when I departed； but that was nine days ago；' answered Glorfindel。 '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 were abroad； 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 openly against the Nine； but such as there were； Elrond sent out north； west； and south。 It was thought that you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit； and bee 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 of Sauron were upon the Bridge； but they withdrew and I pursued them westward。 I came also upon two others； but they turned away southward。 Since then I have searched for your trail。 Two days ago I found it； and followed it over the Bridge； and today I marked where you descended from the hills again。 But e！ There is no time for further news。 Since you are here we must risk the peril of the Road and go。 There are five behind us； and when they find your trail upon the Road they will ride after us like the wind。 And they are not all。 Where the other four may be； I do not know。 I fear that we may find the Ford is already held against us。'
While Glorfindel was speaking the shades of evening deepened。 Frodo felt a great weariness e over him。 Ever since the sun began to sink the mist before his eyes had darkened； and he felt that a shadow was ing between him and the faces of his friends。 Now pain assailed him； and he felt cold。 He swayed； clutching at Sam's arm。
'My master is sick and wounded；' said Sam angrily。 'He can't go on riding after nightfall。 He needs rest。'
Glorfindel caught Frodo as he sank to the ground； and taking him gently in his arms he looked in his face with grave anxiety。
Briefly Strider told of the attack on their camp under Weathertop； and of the deadly knife。 He drew out the hilt； which he had kept； and handed it to the Elf。 Glorfindel shuddered as he took it； but he looked intently at it。
'There are evil things written on this hilt；' he said； 'though maybe your eyes cannot see them。 Keep it； Aragorn； till we reach the house of Elrond！ But be wary； and handle it as little as you may！ Alas！ the wounds of this weapon are beyond my skill to heal。 I will do what I can 。 but all the more do I urge you now to go on without rest。'
He searched the wound on Frodo's shoulder with his fingers； and his face grew graver； as if 。 But Frodo felt the chill lessen in his side and arm； a little warmth crept down from his shoulder to his hand； and the pain grew easier。 The dusk of evening seemed to grow lighter about him； as if a cloud had been withdrawn。 He saw his friends' faces more cl