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Now and again the orc…driver fell back and jeered at them。
'There now！' he laughed； flicking at their legs。 'Where there's a whip there's a will； my slugs。
Hold up！ I'd give you a nice freshener now； only you'll get as much lash as your skins will carry
when you e in late to your camp。 Do you good。 Don't you know we're at war？'
They had gone some miles； and the road was at last running down a long slope into the plain；
when Frodo's strength began to give out and his will wavered。 He lurched and stumbled。
Desperately Sam tried to help him and hold him up； though he felt that he could himself hardly stay
the pace much longer。 At any moment now he knew that the end would e： his master would
faint or fall； and all would be discovered； and their bitter efforts be in vain。 'I'll have that big slave…
driving devil anyway；' he thought。
Then just as he was putting his hand to the hilt of his sword； there came an unexpected relief。
They were out on the plain now and drawing near the entrance to Ud？n。 Some way in front of it；
before the gate at the bridge…end； the road from the west converged with others ing from the
south； and from Barad…d？r。 Along all the roads troops were moving； for the Captains of the West
were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north。 So it chanced that several
panies came together at the road…meeting； in the dark beyond the light of the watch…fires on the
wall。 At once there was great jostling and cursing as each troop tried to get first to the gate and the
ending of their march。 Though the drivers yelled and plied their whips； scuffles broke out and some
blades were drawn。 A troop of heavy…armed _uruks_ from Barad…d？r charged into the Durthang
line and threw them into confusion。
Dazed as he was with pain and weariness； Sam woke up； grasped quickly at his chance； and
threw himself to the ground； dragging Frodo down with him。 Orcs fell over them； snarling and
cursing。 Slowly on hand and knee the hobbits crawled away out of the turmoil； until at last
unnoticed they dropped over the further edge of the road。 It had a high kerb by which troop…leaders
could guide themselves in black night or fog； and it was banked up some feet above the level of the
open land。
They lay still for a while。 It was too dark to seek for cover； if indeed there was any to find； but
Sam felt that they ought at least to get further away from the highways and out of the range of
torch…light。
'e on； Mr。 Frodo！' he whispered。 'One more crawl； and then you can lie still。'
With a last despairing effort Frodo raised himself on his hands； and struggled on for maybe
twenty yards。 Then he pitched down into a shallow pit that opened unexpectedly before them； and
there he lay like a dead thing。
_Chapter 3_
Mount Doom
Sam put his ragged orc…cloak under his master's head； and covered them both with the grey robe
of Lórien； and as he did so his thoughts went out to that fair land； and to the Elves； and he hoped
that the cloth woven by their hands might have some virtue to keep them hidden beyond all hope in
this wilderness of fear。 He heard the scuffling and cries die down as the troops passed on through
the Isenmouthe。 It seemed that in the confusion and the mingling of many panies of various
kinds they had not been missed； not yet at any rate。
Sam took a sip of water； but pressed Frodo to drink； and when his master had recovered a little
he gave him a whole wafer of their precious waybread and made him eat it。 Then； too worn out
even to feel much fear； they stretched themselves out。 They slept a little in uneasy fits； for their
sweat grew chill on them； and the hard stones bit them； and they shivered。 Out of the north from the
Black Gate through Cirith Gorgor there flowed whispering along the ground a thin cold air。
In the morning a grey light came again； for in the high regions the West Wind still blew； but
down on the stones behind the fences of the Black Land the air seemed almost dead； chill and yet
stifling。 Sam looked up out of the hollow。 The land all about was dreary； flat and drab…hued。 On the
roads nearby nothing was moving now； but Sam feared the watchful eyes on the wall of the
Isenmouthe； no more than a furlong away northward。 South…eastward； far off like a dark standing
shadow。 loomed the Mountain。 Smokes were pouring from it and while those that rose into the
upper air trailed away eastward； great rolling clouds floated down its sides and spread over the land。
A few miles to the north…east the foothills of the Ashen Mountains stood like sombre grey ghosts；
behind which the misty northern heights rose like a line of distant cloud hardly darker than the
lowering sky。
Sam tried to guess the distances and to decide what way they ought to take。 It looks every step
of fifty miles；' he muttered gloomily staring at the threatening mountain； 'and that'll take a week； if
it takes a day； with Mr。 Frodo as he is。' He shook his head； and as he worked things out； slowly a
new dark thought grew in his mind。 Never for long had hope died in his staunch heart； and always
until now he had taken some thought for their return。 But the bitter truth came home to him at last：
at best their provision would take them to their goal； and when the task was done； there they would
e to an end； alone； houseless； foodless in the midst of a terrible desert。 There could be no return。
'So that was the job I felt I had to do when I started；' thought Sam： 'to help Mr。 Frodo to the last
step and then die with him？ Well； if that is the job then I must do it。 But I would dearly like to see
Bywater again； and Rosie Cotton and her brothers； and the Gaffer and Marigold and all。 I can't
think somehow that Gandalf would have sent Mr。 Frodo on this errand if there hadn't a' been any
hope of his ever ing back at all。 Things all went wrong when he went down in Moria。 I wish he
hadn't。 He would have done something。'
But even as hope died in Sam； or seemed to die； it was turned to a new strength。 Sam's plain
hobbit…face grew stern； almost grim； as the will hardened in him； and he felt through all his limbs a
thrill； as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness
nor endless barren miles could subdue。
With a new sense of responsibility he brought his eyes back to the ground near at hand； studying
the next move。 As the light grew a little he saw to his surprise that what from a distance had
seemed wide and featureless flats were in fact all broken and tumbled。 Indeed the whole surface of
the plains of Gorgoroth was pocked with great holes； as if； while it was still a waste of soft mud； it
had been smitten with a shower of bolts and huge slingstones。 The largest of these holes were
rimmed with ridges of broken rock； and broad fissures ran out from them in all directions。 It was a
land in which it would be possible to creep from hiding to hiding； unseen by all but the most
watchful eyes： possible at least for one who was strong and had no need for speed。 For the hungry
and worn； who had far to go before life failed； it had an evil look。
Thinking of all these things Sam went back to his master。 He had no need to rouse him。 Frodo
was lying on his back with eyes open； staring at the cloudy sky。 'Well； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam； 'I've
been having a look round and thinking a bit。 There's nothing on the roads； and we'd best be getting
away while there's a chance。 Can you manage it？'
'I can manage it；' said Frodo。 'I must。'
Once more they started； crawling from hollow to hollow； flitting behind such cover as they
could find； but moving always in a slant towards the foothills of the northern range。 But as they
went the most easterly of the roads followed them； until it ran off； hugging the skirts of the
mountains； away into a wall of black shadow far ahead。 Neither man nor orc now moved along its
flat grey stretches； for the Dark Lord had almost pleted the movement of his forces； and even in
the fastness of his own realm he sought the secrecy of night； fearing the winds of the world that had
turned against him； tearing aside his veils； and troubled with tidings of bold spies that had passed
through his fences。
The hobbits had gone a few weary miles when they halted。 Frodo seemed nearly spent。 Sam saw
that he could not go much further in this fashion； crawling； stooping； now picking a doubtful way
very slowly； now hurrying at a stumbling run。
'I'm going back on to the road while the light lasts； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 'Trust to luck again！ It
nearly failed us last time； but it didn't quite。 A steady pace for a few more miles； and then a rest。'
He was taking a far greater risk than he knew； but Frodo was too much occupied with his burden
and with the struggle in his mind to debate； and almost too hopeless to care。 They climbed on to the
causeway and trudged along； down the hard cruel road that led to the Dark Tower itself。 But their
luck held； and for the rest of that day they met no living or moving thing； and when night fell they
vanished into the darkness of Mordor。 All the land now brooded as at the ing of a great storm：
for the Captains of the West had passed the Cross…roads and set flames in the deadly fields of Imlad
Morgul。
So the desperate journey went on； as the Ring went south and the banners of the kings rode
north。 For the hobbits each day； each mile。 was more bitter than the one before； as their strength
lessened and the land became more evil。 They met no enemies by day。 At times by night； as they
cowered or drowsed uneasily in some hiding beside the road； they heard cries and the noise of
many feet or the swift passing of some cruelly ridden steed。 But far worse than all such perils was
the ever…approaching threat that beat upon them as they went： the dreadful menace of the Power
that waited； brooding in deep thought and sleepless malice behind the dark veil about its Throne。
Nearer and nearer it drew； looming blacker； like the oning of a wall of night at the last end of
the world。
There came at last a dreadful nightfall； and even as the Captains of the West drew near to the
end of the living lands； the two wanderers came to an hour of blank despair。 Four days had passed
since they had escaped from the orcs； but the time lay behind them like an ever…darkening dream。
All this last day Frodo had not spoken； but had walked half…bowed； often stumbling； as if his eyes
no longer saw the way before his feet。 Sam guessed that among all their pains he bore the worst； the
growing weight of the Ring； a burden on the body and a torment to his mind。 Anxiously Sam had
noted how his master's left hand would often be raised as if to ward on a blow； or to screen his
shrinking eyes from a dreadful Eye that sought to look in them。 And sometimes his right hand
would creep to his breast； clutching； and then slowly； as the will recovered mastery； it would be
withdrawn。
Now as the blackness of night returned Frodo sat； his head between his knees； his arms hanging
wearily to the ground where his hands lay feebly twitching。 Sam watched him； till night covered
them both and hid them from one another。 He could no longer find any words to say； and he turned
to his own dark thoughts。 As for himself； though weary and under a shadow of fear； he still had
some strength left。 The _lembas_ had a virtue without which they would long ago have lain down
to die。 It did not satisfy desire； and at times Sam's mind was filled with the memories of food； and
the longing for simple bread and meats。 And yet this waybread of the Elves had a potency that
increased as travellers relied on it alone and did not mingle it with other foods。 It fed the will； and it
gave strength to endure； and to master sinew and limb beyond the measure of mortal kind。 But now
a new decision must be made。 They could not follow this road any longer； for it went on eastward
into the great Shadow； but the Mountain now loomed upon their right； almost due south； and they
must turn towards it。 Yet still before it there stretched a wide region of fuming； barren； ash…ridden
land。
'Water； water！' muttered Sam。 He had stinted himself； and in his parched mouth his tongue
seemed thick and swollen； but for all his care they now had very little left； perhaps half his bottle；
and maybe there were still days to go。 All would long ago have been spent； if they had not dared to
follow the orc…road。 For at long intervals on that highway cisterns had been built for the use of
troops sent in haste through the waterless regions。 In one Sam had found some water left； stale；
muddied by the orcs； but still sufficient for their desperate case。 Yet that was now a day ago。 There
was no hope of any more。
At last wearied with his cares Sam drowsed； leaving the morrow till it came； he could do no
more。 Dream and waking mingled uneasily。 He saw lights like gloating yes； and dark creeping
shapes； and he heard noises as of wild beasts or the dreadful cries of tortured things； and he would
start up to find the world all dark and only