jrt.fellowshipofring-第79节

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　　　To　this　all　agreed；　but　their　retreat　was　now　difficult。　It　might　well　prove　impossible。　Only　a　few　paces　from　the　ashes　of　their　fire　the　snow　lay　many　feet　deep；　higher　than　the　heads　of　the　hobbits；　in　places　it　had　been　scooped　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　path　for　you；'　said　Legolas。　The　storm　had　troubled　him　little；　and　he　alone　of　the　pany　remained　still　light　of　heart。
　　　‘If　Elves　could　fly　over　mountains；　they　might　fetch　the　Sun　to　save　us；'　answered　Gandalf。　‘But　I　must　have　something　to　work　on。　I　cannot　burn　snow。'
　　　‘Well；'　said　Boromir；　‘when　heads　are　at　a　loss　bodies　must　serve；　as　we　say　in　my　country。　The　strongest　of　us　must　seek　a　way。　See！　Though　all　is　now　snow…clad；　our　path；　as　we　came　up；　turned　about　that　shoulder　of　rock　down　yonder。　It　was　there　that　the　snow　first　began　to　burden　us。　If　we　could　reach　that　point；　maybe　it　would　prove　easier　beyond。　It　is　no　more　than　a　furlong　off；　I　guess。'
　　　‘Then　let　us　force　a　path　thither；　you　and　I！'　said　Aragorn。
　　　Aragorn　was　the　tallest　of　the　pany；　but　Boromir；　little　less　in　height；　was　broader　and　heavier　in　build。　He　led　the　way；　and　Aragorn　followed　him。　Slowly　they　moved　off；　and　were　soon　toiling　heavily。　In　places　the　snow　was　breast…high；　and　often　Boromir　seemed　to　be　swimming　or　burrowing　with　his　great　arms　rather　than　walking。
　　　Legolas　watched　them　for　a　while　with　a　smile　upon　his　lips；　and　then　he　turned　to　the　others。　‘The　strongest　must　seek　a　way；　say　you？　But　I　say：　let　a　ploughman　plough；　but　choose　an　otter　for　swimming；　and　for　running　light　over　grass　and　leaf　or　over　snow…an　Elf。'
　　　With　that　he　sprang　forth　nimbly；　and　then　Frodo　noticed　as　if　for　the　first　time；　though　he　had　long　known　it；　that　the　Elf　had　no　boots；　but　wore　only　light　shoes；　as　he　always　did；　and　his　feet　made　little　imprint　in　the　snow。
　　　'Farewell！'　he　said　to　Gandalf。　‘I　go　to　find　the　Sun！'　Then　swift　as　a　runner　over　firm　sand　he　shot　away；　and　quickly　overtaking　the　toiling　men；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　he　passed　them；　and　sped　into　the　distance；　and　vanished　round　the　rocky　turn。
　　　The　others　waited　huddled　together；　watching　until　Boromir　and　Aragorn　dwindled　into　black　specks　in　the　whiteness。　At　length　they　too　passed　from　sight。　The　time　dragged　on。　The　clouds　lowered；　and　now　a　few　flakes　of　snow　came　curling　down　again。
　　　An　hour；　maybe；　went　by；　though　it　seemed　far　longer；　and　then　at　last　they　saw　Legolas　ing　back。　At　the　same　time　Boromir　and　Aragorn　reappeared　round　the　bend　far　behind　him　and　came　labouring　up　the　slope。
　　　‘Well；'　cried　Legolas　as　he　ran　up；　‘I　have　not　brought　the　Sun。　She　is　walking　in　the　blue　fields　of　the　South；　and　a　little　wreath　of　snow　on　this　Redhorn　hillock　troubles　her　not　at　all。　But　I　have　brought　back　a　gleam　of　good　hope　for　those　who　are　doomed　to　go　on　feet。　There　is　the　greatest　wind…drift　of　all　just　beyond　the　turn；　and　there　our　Strong　Men　were　almost　buried。　They　despaired；　until　I　returned　and　told　them　that　the　drift　was　little　wider　than　a　wall。　And　on　the　other　side　the　snow　suddenly　grows　less；　while　further　down　it　is　no　more　than　a　white　coverlet　to　cool　a　hobbit's　toes。'
　　　‘Ah；　it　is　as　I　said；'　growled　Gimli。　'It　was　no　ordinary　storm。　It　is　the　ill　will　of　Caradhras。　He　does　not　love　Elves　and　Dwarves；　and　that　drift　was　laid　to　cut　off　our　escape。'
　　　'But　happily　your　Caradhras　has　forgotten　that　you　have　Men　with　you；'　said　Boromir；　who　came　up　at　that　moment。　‘And　doughty　Men　too；　if　I　may　say　it；　though　lesser　men　with　spades　might　have　served　you　better。　Still；　we　have　thrust　a　lane　through　the　drift；　and　for　that　all　here　may　be　grateful　who　cannot　run　as　light　as　Elves。'
　　　‘But　how　are　we　to　get　down　there；　even　if　you　have　cut　through　the　drift？'　said　Pippin；　voicing　the　thought　of　all　the　hobbits。
　　　'Have　hope！'　said　Boromir。　'I　am　weary；　but　I　still　have　some　strength　left；　and　Aragorn　too。　We　will　bear　the　little　folk。　The　others　no　doubt　will　make　shift　to　tread　the　path　behind　us。　e；　Master　Peregrin！　I　will　begin　with　you。'
　　　He　lifted　up　the　hobbit。　'Cling　to　my　back！　I　shall　need　my　arms'　he　said　and　strode　forward。　Aragorn　with　Merry　came　behind。　Pippin　marvelled　at　his　strength；　seeing　the　passage　that　he　had　already　forced　with　no　other　tool　than　his　great　limbs。　Even　now；　burdened　as　he　was；　he　was　widening　the　track　for　those　who　followed；　thrusting　the　snow　aside　as　he　went。
　　　They　came　at　length　to　the　great　drift。　It　was　flung　across　the　mountain…path　like　a　sheer　and　sudden　wall；　and　its　crest；　sharp　as　if　shaped　with　knives；　reared　up　more　than　twice　the　height　of　Boromir；　but　through　the　middle　a　passage　had　been　beaten；　rising　and　falling　like　a　bridge。　On　the　far　side　Merry　and　Pippin　were　set　down；　and　there　they　waited　with　Legolas　for　the　rest　of　the　pany　to　arrive。
　　　After　a　while　Boromir　returned　carrying　Sam。　Behind　in　the　narrow　but　now　well…trodden　track　came　Gandalf；　leading　Bill　with　Gimli　perched　among　the　baggage。　Last　came　Aragorn　carrying　Frodo。　They　passed　through　the　lane；　but　hardly　had　Frodo　touched　the　ground　when　with　a　deep　rumble　there　rolled　down　a　fall　of　stones　and　slithering　snow。　The　spray　of　it　half　blinded　the　pany　as　they　crouched　against　the　cliff；　and　when　the　air　cleared　again　they　saw　that　the　path　was　blocked　behind　them。
　　　‘Enough；　enough！'　cried　Gimli。　'We　are　departing　as　quickly　as　we　may！'　And　indeed　with　that　last　stroke　the　malice　of　the　mountain　seemed　to　be　expended；　as　if　Caradhras　was　satisfied　that　the　invaders　had　been　beaten　off　and　would　not　dare　to　return。　The　threat　of　snow　lifted；　the　clouds　began　to　break　and　the　light　grew　broader。
　　　As　Legolas　had　reported；　they　found　that　the　snow　became　steadily　more　shallow　as　they　went　down；　so　that　even　the　hobbits　could　trudge　along。　Soon　they　all　stood　once　more　on　the　flat　shelf　at　the　head　of　the　steep　slope　where　they　had　felt　the　first　flakes　of　snow　the　night　before。
　　　The　morning　was　now　far　advanced。　From　the　high　place　they　looked　back　westwards　over　the　lower　lands。　Far　away　in　the　tumble　of　country　that　lay　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain　was　the　dell　from　which　they　had　started　to　climb　the　pass。
　　　Frodo's　legs　ached。　He　was　chilled　to　the　bone　and　hungry；　and　his　head　was　dizzy　as　he　thought　of　the　long　and　painful　march　downhill。　Black　specks　swam　before　his　eyes。　He　rubbed　them；　but　the　black　specks　remained。　In　the　distance　below　him；　but　still　high　above　the　lower　foothills；　dark　dots　were　circling　in　the　air。
　　　‘The　birds　again！'　said　Aragorn；　pointing　down。
　　　'That　cannot　be　helped　now；'　said　Gandalf。　‘Whether　they　are　good　or　evil；　or　have　nothing　to　do　with　us　at　all；　we　must　go　down　at　once。　Not　even　on　the　knees　of　Caradhras　will　we　wait　for　another　night…fall！'
　　　A　cold　wind　flowed　down　behind　them；　as　they　turned　their　backs　on　the　Redhorn　Gate；　and　stumbled　wearily　down　the　slope。　Caradhras　had　defeated　them。
　　　
　　　Chapter　4
A　Journey　in　the　Dark
　　　It　was　evening；　and　the　grey　light　was　again　waning　fast；　when　they　halted　for　the　night。　They　were　very　weary。　The　mountains　were　veiled　in　deepening　dusk；　and　the　wind　was　cold。　Gandalf　spared　them　one　more　mouthful　each　of　the　miruvor　of　Rivendell。　When　they　had　eaten　some　food　he　called　a　council。
　　　'We　cannot；　of　course；　go　on　again　tonight；'　he　said。　‘The　attack　on　the　Redhorn　Gate　has　tired　us　out；　and　we　must　rest　here　for　a　while。'
　　　‘And　then　where　are　we　to　go？　'　asked　Frodo。
　　　'We　still　have　our　journey　and　our　errand　before　us；'　answered　Gandalf。　‘We　have　no　choice　but　to　go　on；　or　to　return　to　Rivendell。'
　　　Pippin's　face　brightened　visibly　at　the　mere　mention　of　return　to　Rivendell；　Merry　and　Sam　looked　up　hopefully。　But　Aragorn　and　Boromir　made　no　sign。　Frodo　looked　troubled。
　　　‘I　wish　I　was　back　there；'　he　said。　‘But　how　can　I　return　without　shame　…　unless　there　is　indeed　no　other　way；　and　we　are　already　defeated？　'
　　　‘You　are　right；　Frodo；'　said　Gandalf：　‘to　go　back　is　to　admit　defeat　and　face　worse　defeat　to　e。　If　we　go　back　now；　then　the　Ring　must　remain　there：　we　shall　not　be　able　to　set　out　again。　Then　sooner　or　later　Rivendell　will　be　besieged；　and　after　a　brief　and　bitter　time　it　will　be　destroyed。　The　Ringwraiths　are　deadly　enemies；　but　they　are　only　shadows　yet　of　the　power　and　terror　they　would　possess　if　the　Ruling　Ring　was　on　their　master's　hand　again。'
　　　'Then　we　must　go　on；　if　there　is　a　way；'　said　Frodo　with　a　sigh。　Sam　sank　back　into　gloom。
　　　‘There　is　a　way　that　we　may　attempt；'　said　Gandalf。　‘I　thought　from　the　beginning；　when　first　I　considered　this　journey；　that　we　should　try　it。　But　it　is　not　a　pleasant　way；　and　I　have　not　spoken　of　it　to　the　pany　before。　Aragorn　was　against　it；　until　the　pass　over　the　mountains　had　at　least　been　tried。'
　　　‘If　it　is　a　worse　road　than　the　Redhorn　Gate；　then　it　must　be　evil　indeed；'　said　Merry。　‘But　you　had　better　tell　us　about　it；　and　let　us　know　the　worst　at　once。'
　　　'The　road　that　I　speak　of　leads　to　the　Mines　of　Moria；'　said　Gandalf。　Only　Gimli　lifted　up　his　head；　a　smouldering　fire　was　in　his　eyes。　On　all　the　others　a　dread　fell　at　the　mention　of　that　name。　Even　to　the