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no garment seemed able to keep out its searching fingers。 Though the pany was well clad； they seldom felt warm； either moving or at rest。 They slept uneasily during the middle of the day； in some hollow of the land； or hidden under the tangled thornbushes that grew in thickets in many places。 In the late afternoon they were roused by the watch； and took their chief meal： cold and cheerless as a rule； for they could seldom risk the lighting of a fire。 In the evening they went on again； always as nearly southward as they could find a way。
At first it seemed to the hobbits that although they walked and stumbled until they were weary； they were creeping forward like snails； and getting nowhere。 Each day the land looked much the same as it had the day before。 Yet steadily the mountains were drawing nearer。 South of Rivendell they rose ever higher； and bent westwards； and about the feet of the main range there was tumbled an ever wider land of bleak hills； and deep valleys filled with turbulent waters。 Paths were few and winding； and led them often only to the edge of some sheer fall； or down into treacherous swamps。
They had been a fortnight on the way when the weather changed。 The wind suddenly fell and then veered round to the south。 The swiftflowing clouds lifted and melted away； and the sun came out； pale and bright。 There came a cold clear dawn at the end of a long stumbling nightmarch。 The travellers reached a low ridge crowned with ancient hollytrees whose greygreen trunks seemed to have been built out of the very stone of the hills。 Their dark leaves shone and their berries glowed red in the light of the rising sun。
Away in the south Frodo could see the dim shapes of lofty mountains that seemed now to stand across the path that the pany was taking。 At the left of this high range rose three peaks； the tallest and nearest stood up like a tooth tipped with snow； its great； bare； northern precipice was still largely in the shadow； but where the sunlight slanted upon it； it glowed red。
Gandalf stood at Frodo's side and looked out under his hand。 'We have done well；' he said。 'We have reached the borders of the country that Men call Hollin； many Elves lived here in happier days； when Eregion was its name。 Fiveandforty leagues as the crow flies we have e； though many long miles further our feet have walked。 The land and the weather will be milder now； but perhaps all the more dangerous。'
'Dangerous or not； a real sunrise is mighty wele；' said Frodo； throwing back his hood and letting the morning light fall on his face。
'But the mountains are ahead of us；' said Pippin。 'We must have turned eastwards in the night。'
'No；' said Gandalf。 'But you see further ahead in the clear light。 Beyond those peaks the range bends round southwest。 There are many maps in Elrond's house； but I suppose you never thought to look at them？'
'Yes I did； sometimes；' said Pippin； 'but I don't remember them。 Frodo has a better head for that sort of thing。'
'I need no map；' said Gimli； who had e up with Legolas； and was gazing out before him with a strange light in his deep eyes。 'There is the land where our fathers worked of old； and we have wrought the image of those mountains into many works of metal and of stone； and into many songs and tales。 They stand tall in our dreams： Baraz； Zirak； Shath。r。
'Only once before have I seen them from afar in waking life； but I know them and their names； for under them lies Khazadd？m； the Dwarrowdelf； that is now called the Black Pit； Moria in the Elvish tongue。 Yonder stands Barazinbar； the Redhorn； cruel Caradhras； and beyond him are Silvertine and Cloudyhead： Celebdil the White； and Fanuidhol the Grey； that we call Zirak zigil and Bundushath。r。
'There the Misty Mountains divide； and between their arms lies the deep shadowed valley which we cannot fet： Azanulbizar； the Dimrill Dale； which the Elves call Nanduhirion。'
'It is for the Dimrill Dale that we are making；' said Gandalf。 'If we climb the pass that is called the Redhorn Gate； under the far side of Caradhras； we shall e down by the Dimrill Stair into the deep vale of the Dwarves。 There lies the Mirrormere； and there the River Silverlode rises in its icy springs。'
'Dark is the water of Kheledzaram；' said Gimli； 'and cold are the springs of Kibilnala。 My heart trembles at the thought that I may see them soon。'
'May you have joy of the sight； my good dwarf l' said Gandalf。 'But whatever you may do； we at least cannot stay in that valley。 We must go down the Silverlode into the secret woods； and so to the Great River； and then—'
He paused。
'Yes； and where then？' asked Merry。
'To the end of the journey 。 in the end；' said Gandalf。 'We cannot look too far ahead。 Let us be glad that the first stage is safely over。 I think we will rest here； not only today but tonight as well。 There is a wholesome air about Hollin。 Much evil must befall a country before it wholly fets the Elves； if once they dwelt there。'
'That is true；' said Legolas。 'But the Elves of this land were of a race strange to us of the silvan folk； and the trees and the grass do not now remember them： Only I hear the stones lament them： deep they delved us； fair they wrought us； high they builded us； but they are gone。 They are gone。 They sought the Havens long ago。'
That morning they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by great bushes of holly； and their supperbreakfast was merrier than it had been since they set out。 They did not hurry to bed afterwards； for they expected to have all the night to sleep in； and they did not mean to go on again until the evening of the next day。 Only Aragorn was silent and restless。 After a while he left the pany and wandered on to the ridge； there he stood in the shadow of a tree； looking out southwards and westwards； with his head posed as if he was listening。 Then he returned to the brink of the dell and looked down at the others laughing and talking。
'What is the matter； Strider？' Merry called up。 'What are you looking for？ Do you miss the East Wind？'
'No indeed；' he answered。 'But I miss something。 I have been in the country of Hollin in many seasons。 No folk dwell here now； but many other creatures live here at all times； especially birds。 Yet now all things but you are silent。 I can feel it。 There is no sound for miles about us； and your voices seem to make the ground echo。 I do not understand it。'
Gandalf looked up with sudden interest。 'But what do you guess is the reason？' he asked。 'Is there more in it than surprise at seeing four hobbits； not to mention the rest of us； where people are so seldom seen or heard？'
'I hope that is it；' answered Aragorn。 'But I have a sense of watchfulness； and of fear； that I have never had here before。'
〃Then we must be more careful；' said Gandalf。 'If you bring a Ranger with you； it is well to pay attention to him； especially if the Ranger is Aragorn。 We must stop talking aloud； rest quietly； and set the watch。'
It was Sam's turn that day to take the first watch； but Aragorn joined him。 The others fell asleep。 Then the silence grew until even Sam felt it。 The breathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard。 The swish of the pony's tail and the occasional movements of his feet became loud noises。 Sam could hear his own joints creaking； if he stirred。 Dead silence was around him； and over all hung a clear blue sky； as the Sun rode up from the East。 Away in the South a dark patch appeared； and grew； and drove north like flying smoke in the wind。
'What's that； Strider？ It don't look like a cloud；' said Sam in a whisper to Aragorn。 He made no answer； he was gazing intently at the sky； but before long Sam could see for himself what was approaching。 Flocks of birds； flying at great speed； were wheeling and circling； and traversing all the land as if they were searching for something； and they were steadily drawing nearer。
'Lie flat and still！' hissed Aragorn； pulling Sam down into the shade of a hollybush； for a whole regiment of birds had broken away suddenly from the main host； and came； flying low； straight towards the ridge。 Sam thought they were a kind of crow of large size。 As they passed overhead； in so dense a throng that their shadow followed them darkly over the ground below； one harsh croak was heard。
Not until they had dwindled into the distance； north and west； and the sky was again clear would Aragorn rise。 Then he sprang up and went and wakened Gandalf。
'Regiments of black crows are flying over all the land between the Mountains and the Greyflood；' he said； 'and they have passed over Hollin。 They are not natives here； they are crebain out of Fangorn and Dunland。 I do not know what they are about： possibly there is some trouble away south from which they are fleeing； but I think they are spying out the land。 I have also glimpsed many hawks flying high up in the sky。 I think we ought to move again this evening。 Hollin is no longer wholesome for us： it is being watched。'
'And in that case so is the Redhorn Gate；' said Gandalf； 'and how we can get over that without being seen； I cannot imagine。 But we will think of that when we must。 As for moving as soon as it is dark； I am afraid that you are right。'
'Luckily our fire made little smoke； and had burned low before the crebain came；' said Aragorn。 'It must be put out and not lit again。'
'Well if that isn't a plague and a nuisance！' said Pippin。 The news： no fire； and a move again by night； had been broken to him； as soon as he woke in the late afternoon。 'All because of a pack of crows！ I had looked forward to a real good meal tonight： something hot。'
'Well； you can go on looking forward；' said Gandalf。 'There may be many unexpected feasts ahead for you。 For myself I should like a pipe to smoke in fort； and warmer feet。 However； we are certain of one thing at any rate： it will get warmer as we get south。'
'Too warm； I shouldn't wonder；' muttered Sam to Frodo。 'But I'm beginning to think it's time we got a sight of that Fiery Mountain and saw the end of the Road； so to speak。 I thought at first that this here Redhorn； or whatever its name is； might be it； till Gimli spoke his piece。 A fair jawcracker dwarflanguage must be！' Maps conveyed nothing to Sam's mind； and all distances in these strange lands seemed so vast that he was quite out of his reckoning。
All that day the pany remained in hiding。 The dark birds passed over now and again； but as the westering Sun grew red they disappeared southwards。 At dusk the pany set out； and turning now half east they steered their course towards Caradhras； which far away still glowed faintly red in the last light of the vanished Sun。 One by one white stars sprang forth as the sky faded。
Guided by Aragorn they struck a good path。 It looked to Frodo like the remains of an ancient road； that had once been broad and well planned； from Hollin to the mountainpass。 The Moon； now at the full； rose over the mountains； and cast a pale light in which the shadows of stones were black。 Many of them looked to have been worked by hands； though now they lay tumbled and ruinous in a bleak； barren land。
It was the cold chill hour before the first stir of dawn； and the moon was low。 Frodo looked up at the sky。 Suddenly he saw or felt a shadow pass over the high stars； as if for a moment they faded and then flashed out again。 He shivered。
'Did you see anything pass over？' he whispered to Gandalf； who was just ahead。
'No； but I felt it； whatever it was；' he answered。 'It may be nothing； only a wisp of thin cloud。'
'It was moving fast then；' muttered Aragorn； 'and not with the wind。'
Nothing further happened that night。 The next morning dawned even brighter than before。 But the air was chill again； already the wind was turning back towards the east。 For two more nights they marched on； climbing steadily but ever more slowly as their road wound up into the hills； and the mountains towered up； nearer and nearer。 On the third morning Caradhras rose before them； a mighty peak； tipped with snow like silver； but with sheer naked sides； dull red as if stained with blood。
There was a black look in the sky； and the sun was wan。 The wind had gone now round to the northeast。 Gandalf snuffed the air and looked back。
'Winter deepens behind us；' he said quietly to Aragorn