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against them。
Far within he could hear faintly the voices of ores clamouring； but soon they stopped or passed
out of hearing； and all was still。 His head ached and his eyes saw phantom lights in the darkness；
but he struggled to steady himself and think。 It was clear at any rate that he had no hope of getting
into the orc…hold by that gate； he might wait there for days before it was opened； and he could not
wait： time was desperately precious。 He no longer had any doubt about his duty： he must rescue his
master or perish in the attempt。
'The perishing is more likely； and will be a lot easier anyway；' he said grimly to himself； as he
sheathed Sting and turned from the brazen doors。 Slowly he groped his way back in the dark along
the tunnel； not daring to use the elven…light； and as he went he tried to fit together the events since
Frodo and he had left the Cross…roads。 He wondered what the time was。 Somewhere between one
day and the next； he supposed； but even of the days he had quite lost count。 He was in a land of
darkness where the days of the world seemed forgotten； and where all who entered were forgotten
too。
'I wonder if they think of us at all；' he said； 'and what is happening to them all away there。' He
waved his hand vaguely in the air before him； but he was in fact now facing southwards； as he
came back to Shelob's tunnel； not west。 Out westward in the world it was drawing to noon upon the
fourteenth day of March in the Shire…reckoning。 And even now Aragorn was leading the black fleet
from Pelargir； and Merry was riding with the Rohirrim down the Stonewain Valley； while in Minas
Tirith flames were rising and Pippin watched the madness growing in the eyes of Denethor。 Yet
amid all their cares and fear the thoughts of their friends turned constantly to Frodo and Sam。 They
were not forgotten。 But they were far beyond aid； and no thought could yet bring any help to
Samwise Hamfast's son； he was utterly alone。
He came back at last to the stone door of the orc…passage； and still unable to discover the catch
or bolt that held it； he scrambled over as before and dropped softly to the ground。 Then he made his
way stealthily to the outlet of Shelob's tunnel； where the rags of her great web were still blowing
and swaying in the cold airs。 For cold they seemed to Sam after the noisome darkness behind； but
the breath of them revived him。 He crept cautiously out。
All was ominously quiet。 The light was no more than that of dusk at a dark day's end。 The vast
vapours that arose in Mordor and went streaming westward passed low overhead； a great welter of
cloud and smoke now lit again beneath with a sullen glow of red。
Sam looked up towards the orc…tower； and suddenly from its narrow windows lights stared out
like small red eyes。 He wondered if they were some signal。 His fear of the orcs； forgotten for a
while in his wrath and desperation； now returned。 As far as he could see； there was only one
possible course for him to take： he must go on and try to find the main entrance to the dreadful
tower； but his knees felt weak； and he found that he was trembling。 Drawing his eyes down from
the tower and the horns of the Cleft before him； he forced his unwilling feet to obey him； and
slowly； listening with all his ears； peering into the dense shadows of the rocks beside the way； he
retraced his steps； past the place where Frodo fell； and still the stench of Shelob lingered； and then
on and up； until he stood again in the very cleft where he had put on the Ring and seen Shagrat's
pany go by。
There he halted and sat down。 For the moment he could drive himself no further。 He felt that if
once he went beyond the crown of the pass and took one step veritably down into the land of
Mordor； that step would be irrevocable。 He could never e back。 Without any clear purpose he
drew out the Ring and put it on again。 Immediately he felt the great burden of its weight； and felt
afresh； but now more strong and urgent than ever； the malice of the Eye of Mordor； searching；
trying to pierce the shadows that it had made for its own defence； but which now hindered it in its
unquiet and doubt。
As before； Sam found that his hearing was sharpened； but that to his sight the things of this
world seemed thin and vague。 The rocky walls of the path were pale； as if seen through a mist； but
still at a distance he heard the bubbling of Shelob in her misery： and harsh and clear； and very close
it seemed； he heard cries and the clash of metal。 He sprang to his feet； and pressed himself against
the wall beside the road。 He was glad of the Ring； for here was yet another pany of orcs on the
march。 Or so at first he thought。 Then suddenly he realized that it was not so； his hearing had
deceived him： the orc…cries came from the tower； whose topmost horn was now right above him； on
the left hand of the Cleft。
Sam shuddered and tried to force himself to move。 There was plainly some devilry going on。
Perhaps in spite of all orders the cruelty of the orcs had mastered them； and they were tormenting
Frodo； or even savagely hacking him to pieces。 He listened； and as he did a gleam of hope came to
him。 There could not be much doubt： there was fighting in the tower； the orcs must be at war
among themselves； Shagrat and Gorbag had e to blows。 Faint as was the hope that his guess
brought him； it was enough to rouse him。 There might be just a chance。 His love for Frodo rose
above all other thoughts； and forgetting his peril he cried aloud： 'I'm ing； Mr。 Frodo！'
He ran forward to the climbing path； and over it。 At once the road turned left and plunged
steeply down。 Sam had crossed into Mordor。
He took off the Ring； moved it may be by some deep premonition of danger； though to himself
he thought only that he wished to see more clearly。 ‘Better have a look at the worst；' he muttered。
‘No good blundering about in a fog！'
Hard and cruel and bitter was the land that met his gaze。 Before his feet the highest ridge of the
Ephel Dúath fell steeply in great cliffs down into a dark trough； on the further side of which there
rose another ridge； much lower； its edge notched and jagged with crags like fangs that stood out
black against the red light behind them： it was the grim Morgai； the inner ring of the fences of the
land。 Far beyond it； but almost straight ahead； across a wide lake of darkness dotted with tiny fires；
there was a great burning glow； and from it rose in huge columns a swirling smoke； dusty red at the
roots； black above where it merged into the billowing canopy that roofed in all the accursed land。
Sam was looking at Orodruin； the Mountain of Fire。 Ever and anon the furnaces far below its
ashen cone would grow hot and with a great surging and throbbing pour forth rivers of molten rock
from chasms in its sides。 Some would flow blazing towards Barad…d？r down great channels； some
would wind their way into the stony plain； until they cooled and lay like twisted dragon…shapes
vomited from the tormented earth。 In such an hour of labour Sam beheld Mount Doom； and the
light of it； cut off by the high screen of the Ephel Dúath from those who climbed up the path from
the West； now glared against the stark rock faces； so that they seemed to be drenched with blood。
In that dreadful light Sam stood aghast； for now； looking to his left； he could see the Tower of
Cirith Ungol in all its strength。 The horn that he had seen from the other side was only its topmost
turret。 Its eastern face stood up in three great tiers from a shelf in the mountain…wall far below； its
back was to a great cliff behind； from which it jutted out in pointed bastions； one above the other；
diminishing as they rose； with sheer sides of cunning masonry that looked north…east and south…east。
About the lowest tier； two hundred feet below where Sam now stood； there was a battlemented wall
enclosing a narrow court。 Its gate； upon the near south…eastern side； opened on a broad road； the
outer parapet of which ran upon the brink of a precipice； until it turned southward and went
winding down into the darkness to join the road that came over the Morgul Pass。 Then on it went
through a jagged rift in the Morgai out into the valley of Gorgoroth and away to Barad…d？r。 The
narrow upper way on which Sam stood leapt swiftly down by stair and steep path to meet the main
road under the frowning walls close to the Tower…gate。
As he gazed at it suddenly Sam understood； almost with a shock； that this stronghold had been
built not to keep enemies out of Mordor； but to keep them in。 It was indeed one of the works of
Gondor long ago； an eastern outpost of the defences of Ithilien； made when； after the Last Alliance；
Men of Westernesse kept watch on the evil land of Sauron where his creatures still lurked。 But as
with Narchost and Carchost； the Towers of the Teeth； so here too the vigilance had failed； and
treachery had yielded up the Tower to the Lord of the Ringwraiths； and now for long years it had
been held by evil things。 Since his return to Mordor； Sauron had found it useful； for he had few
servants but many slaves of fear； and still its chief purpose as of old was to prevent escape from
Mordor。 Though if an enemy were so rash as to try to enter that land secretly； then it was also a last
unsleeping guard against any that might pass the vigilance of Morgul and of Shelob。
Only too clearly Sam saw how hopeless it would be for him to creep down under those many…
eyed walls and pass the watchful gate。 And even if he did so； he could not go far on the guarded
road beyond： not even the black shadows； lying deep where the red glow could not reach； would
shield him long from the night…eyed orcs。 But desperate as that road might be； his task was now far
worse： not to avoid the gate and escape； but to enter it； alone。
His thought turned to the Ring； but there was no fort there； only dread and danger。 No
sooner had he e in sight of Mount Doom； burning far away； than he was aware of a change in
his burden。 As it drew near the great furnaces where； in the deeps of time； it had been shaped and
forged； the Ring's power grew； and it became more fell； untameable save by some mighty will。 As
Sam stood there； even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain about his neck； he
felt himself enlarged； as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of himself； a vast and ominous
threat halted upon the walls of Mordor。 He felt that he had from now on only two choices： to
forbear the Ring； though it would torment him； or to claim it； and challenge the Power that sat in its
dark hold beyond the valley of shadows。 Already the Ring tempted him； gnawing at his will and
reason。 Wild fantasies arose in his mind； and he saw Samwise the Strong； Hero of the Age； striding
with a flaming sword across the darkened land； and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the
overthrow of Barad…d？r。 And then all the clouds rolled away； and the white sun shone； and at his
mand the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit。 He
had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own； and all this could be。
In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm； but also deep
down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit…sense： he knew in the core of his heart that he
was not large enough to bear such a burden； even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray
him。 The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due； not a garden swollen to a
realm； his own hands to use； not the hands of others to mand。
'And anyway all these notions are only a trick；' he said to himself。 'He'd spot me and cow me；
before I could so much as shout out。 He'd spot me； pretty quick； if I put the Ring on now； in Mordor。
Well； all I can say is： things look as hopeless as a frost in spring。 Just when being invisible would
be really useful； I can't use the Ring！ And if ever I get any further； it's going to be nothing but a
drag and a burden every step。 So what's to be done？'
He was not really in any doubt。 He knew that he must go down to the gate and not linger any
more。 With a shrug of his shoulders； as if to shake off the shadow and dismiss the phantoms； he
began slowly to descend。 With each step he seemed to diminish。 He had not gone far before he had
shrunk again to a very small and frightened hobbit。 He was now passing under the very walls of the
Tower； and the cries and sounds of fighting could be heard with his unaided ears。 At the moment
the noise seemed to be ing from the court behind the outer wall。
Sam was about half way down the path when out of the dark gateway into the red glow there
came two orcs running。 They did not turn towards him。 They were making for the main road； but
even as they ran they stumbled and fell to the ground and lay still。 Sam had seen no arrows； but he
guessed that the orcs had been shot down by others on the battlements or hidden in the shadow of
the gate。 He went on； hugging the wall on his left。 One look upward had shown him that there