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he hills。
The morning dawned bright and fair； the air was clean； and the light pale and clear in a rainwashed sky。 Their hearts were encouraged； but （hey longed for the sun to warm their cold stiff limbs。 As soon as it was light； Strider took Merry with him and went to survey the country from the height to the east of the pass。 The sun had risen and was shining brightly when he returned with more forting news。 They were now going more or less in the right direction。 If they went on； down the further side of the ridge； they would have the Mountains on their left。 Some way ahead Strider had caught a glimpse of the Loudwater again； and he knew that； though it was hidden from view； the Road to the Ford was not far from the River and lay on the side nearest to them。
'We must make for the Road again；' he said。 'We cannot hope to find a path through these hills。 Whatever danger may beset it； the Road is our only way to the Ford。'
As soon as they had eaten they set out again。 They climbed slowly down the southern side of the ridge； but the way was much easier than they had expected； for the slope was far less steep on this side； and before long Frodo was able to ride again。 Bill Ferny's poor old pony was developing an unexpected talent for picking out a path； and for sparing its rider as many jolts as possible。 The spirits of the party rose again。 Even Frodo felt better in the morning light； but every now and again a mist seemed to obscure his sight； and he passed his hands over his eyes。
Pippin was a little ahead of the others。 Suddenly he turned round and called to them。 'There is a path here！' he cried。
When they came up with him； they saw that he had made no mistake：
there were clearly the beginnings of a path； that climbed with many windings out of the woods below and faded away on the hilltop behind。 In places it was now faint and overgrown； or choked with fallen stones and trees； but at one time it seemed to have been much used。 It was a path made by strong arms and heavy feet。 Here and there old trees had been cut or broken down； and large rocks cloven or heaved aside to make a way。
They followed the track for some while； for it offered much the easiest way down； but they went cautiously； and their anxiety increased as they came into the dark woods； and the path grew plainer and broader。 Suddenly ing out of a belt of firtrees it ran steeply down a slope； and turned sharply to the left round the er of a rocky shoulder of the hill。 When they came to the er they looked round and saw that the path ran on over a level strip under the face of a low cliff overhung with trees。 In the stony wall there was a door hanging crookedly ajar upon one great hinge。
Outside the door they all halted。 There was a cave or rockchamber behind； but in the gloom inside nothing could be seen。 Strider； Sam； and Merry pushing with all their strength managed to open the door a little wider； and then Strider and Merry went in。 They did not go far； for on the floor lay many old bones； and nothing else was to be seen near the entrance except some great empty jars and broken pots。
'Surely this is a trollhole； if ever there was one！' said Pippin。 'e out； you two； and let us get away。 Now we know who made the path and we had better get off it quick。'
'There is no need； I think；' said Strider； coining out。 'It is certainly a trollhole； but it seems to have been long forsaken。 I don't think we need be afraid。 But let us go on down warily； and we shall see。'
The path went on again from the door； and turning to the right again across the level space plunged down a thick wooded slope。 Pippin； not liking to show Strider that he was still afraid； went on ahead with Merry。 Sam and Strider came behind； one on each side of Frodo's pony； for the path was now broad enough for four or five hobbits to walk abreast。 But they had not gone very far before Pippin came running back； followed by Merry。 They both looked terrified。
'There are trolls！' Pippin panted。 'Down in a clearing in the woods not far below。 We got a sight of them through the treetrunks。 They are very large！'
'We will e and look at them；' said Strider； picking up a stick。 Frodo said nothing； but Sam looked scared。
The sun was now high； and it shone down through the halfstripped branches of the trees； and lit the clearing with bright patches of light。 They halted suddenly on the edge； and peered through the treetrunks； holding their breath。 There stood the trolls： three large trolls。 One was stooping； and the other two stood staring at him。
Strider walked forward unconcernedly。 'Get up； old stone！' he said； and broke his stick upon the stooping troll。
Nothing happened。 There was a gasp of astonishment from the hobbits； and then even Frodo laughed。 'Well！' he said。 'We are fetting our family history！ These must be the very three that were caught by Gandalf； quarrelling over the right way to cook thirteen dwarves and one hobbit。'
'I had no idea we were anywhere near the place！' said Pippin。 He knew the story well。 Bilbo and Frodo had told it often； but as a matter of fact he had never more than half believed it。 Even now he looked at the stone trolls with suspicion； wondering if some magic might not suddenly bring them to life again。
'You are fetting not only your family history； but all you ever knew about trolls；' said Strider。 'It is broad daylight with a bright sun； and yet you e back trying to scare me with a tale of live trolls waiting for us in this glade！ In any case you might have noticed that one of them has an old bird's nest behind his ear。 That would be a most unusual ornament for a live troll！'
They all laughed。 Frodo felt his spirits reviving： the reminder of Bilbo's first successful adventure was heartening。 The sun； too； was warm and forting； and the mist before his eyes seemed to be lifting a little。 They rested for some time in the glade； and took their midday meal right under the shadow of the trolls' large legs。
'Won't somebody give us a bit of a song； while the sun is high？' said Merry； when they had finished。 'We haven't had a song or 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 shi