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brought him。 The Mountain standing ominous and alone had looked taller than it was。 Sam saw
now that it was less lofty than the high passes of the Ephel Dúath which he and Frodo had scaled。
The confused and tumbled shoulders of its great base rose for maybe three thousand feet above the
plain； and above them was reared half as high again its tall central cone； like a vast oast or chimney
capped with a jagged crater。 But already Sam was more than half way up the base； and the plain of
Gorgoroth was dim below him； wrapped in fume and shadow。 As he looked up he would have
given a shout。 if his parched throat had allowed him； for amid the rugged humps and shoulders
above him he saw plainly a path or road。 It climbed like a rising girdle from the west and wound
snakelike about the Mountain； until before it went round out of view it reached the foot of the cone
upon its eastern side。
Sam could not see the course immediately above him； where it was lowest； for a steep slope
went up from where he stood； but he guessed that if he could only struggle on just a little way
further up； they would strike this path。 A gleam of hope returned to him。 They might conquer the
Mountain yet。 'Why； it might have been put there a…purpose！' he said to himself。 'If it wasn't there；
I'd have to say I was beaten in the end。'
The path was not put there for the purposes of Sam。 He did not know it； but he was looking at
Sauron's Road from Barad…d？r to the Sammath Naur； the Chambers of Fire。 Out from the Dark
Tower's huge western gate it came over a deep abyss by a vast bridge of iron； and then passing into
the plain it ran for a league between two smoking chasms； and so reached a long sloping causeway
that led up on to the Mountain's eastern side。 Thence； turning and encircling all its wide girth from
south to north； it climbed at last； high in the upper cone； but still far from the reeking summit； to a
dark entrance that gazed back east straight to the Window of the Eye in Sauron's shadow…mantled
fortress。 Often blocked or destroyed by the tumults of the Mountain's furnaces； always that road
was repaired and cleaned again by the labours of countless orcs。
Sam drew a deep breath。 There was a path； but how he was to get up the slope to it he did not
know。 First he must ease his aching back。 He lay flat beside Frodo for a while。 Neither spoke。
Slowly the light grew。 Suddenly a sense of urgency which he did not understand came to Sam。 It
was almost as if he had been called： 'Now； now； or it will be too late！' He braced himself and got up。
Frodo also seemed to have felt the call。 He struggled to his knees。
'I'll crawl； Sam；' he gasped。
So foot by foot； like small grey insects； they crept up the slope。 They came to the path and found
that it was broad； paved with broken rubble and beaten ash。 Frodo clambered on to it； and then
moved as if by some pulsion he turned slowly to face the East。 Far off the shadows of Sauron
hung； but torn by some gust of wind out of the world； or else moved by some great disquiet within；
the mantling clouds swirled； and for a moment drew aside； and then he saw； rising black； blacker
and darker than the vast shades amid which it stood； the cruel pinnacles and iron crown of the
topmost tower of Barad…d？r。 One moment only it stared out； but as from some great window
immeasurably high there stabbed northward a flame of red； the flicker of a piercing Eye； and then
the shadows were furled again and the terrible vision was removed。 The Eye was not turned to them：
it was gazing north to where the Captains of the West stood at bay； and thither all its malice was
now bent； as the Power moved to strike its deadly blow； but Frodo at that dreadful glimpse fell as
one stricken mortally。 His hand sought the chain about his neck。
Sam knelt by him。 Faint； almost inaudibly； he heard Frodo whispering： 'Help me； Sam！ Help me；
Sam！ Hold my hand！ I can't stop it。' Sam took his master's hands and laid them together； palm to
palm； and kissed them； and then he held them gently between his own。 The thought came suddenly
to him： 'He's spotted us！ It's all up； or it soon will be。 Now； Sam Gamgee； this is the end of ends。'
Again he lifted Frodo and drew his hands down to his own breast。 letting his master's legs
dangle。 Then he bowed his head and struggled off along the climbing road。 It was not as easy a way
to take as it had looked at first。 By fortune the fires that had poured forth in the great turmoils when
Sam stood upon Cirith Ungol had flowed down mainly on the southern and western slopes； and the
road on this side was not blocked。 Yet in many places it had crumbled away or was crossed by
gaping rents。 After climbing eastward for some time it bent back upon itself at a sharp angle and
went westward fox a space。 There at the bend it was cut deep through a crag of old weathered stone
once long ago vomited from the Mountain's furnaces。 Panting under his load Sam turned the bend；
and even as he did so； out of the corner of his eye； he had a glimpse of something falling from the
crag； like a small piece of black stone that had toppled off as he passed。
A sudden weight smote him and he crashed forward； tearing the backs of his hands that still
clasped his master's。 Then he knew what had happened； for above him as he lay he heard a hated
voice。
'Wicked masster！' it hissed。 'Wicked masster cheats us； cheats Sméagol； _gollum_。 He musstn't
go that way。 He musstn't hurt Preciouss。 Give it to Sméagol； yess； give it to us！ Give it to uss！'
With a violent heave Sam rose up。 At once he drew his sword； but he could do nothing。 Gollum
and Frodo were locked together。 Gollum was tearing at his master； trying to get at the chain and the
Ring。 This was probably the only thing that could have roused the dying embers of Frodo's heart
and will： an attack； an attempt to wrest his treasure from him by force。 He fought back with a
sudden fury that amazed Sam； and Gollum also。 Even so things might have gone far otherwise； if
Gollum himself had remained unchanged； but whatever dreadful paths； lonely and hungry and
waterless； he had trodden； driven by a devouring desire and a terrible fear； they had left grievous
marks on him。 He was a lean； starved； haggard thing； all bones and tight…drawn sallow skin。 A wild
light flamed in his eyes； but his malice was no longer matched by his old griping strength。 Frodo
flung him off and rose up quivering。
'Down； down！' he gasped； clutching his hand to his breast； so that beneath the cover of his
leather shirt he clasped the Ring。 'Down you creeping thing； and out of my path！ Your time is at an
end。 You cannot betray me or slay me now。'
Then suddenly； as before under the eaves of the Emyn Muil； Sam saw these two rivals with
other vision。 A crouching shape； scarcely more than the shadow of a living thing； a creature now
wholly ruined and defeated； yet filled with a hideous lust and rage； and before it stood stern；
untouchable now by pity； a figure robed in white； but at its breast it held a wheel of fire。 Out of the
fire there spoke a manding voice。
'Begone； and trouble me no more！ If you touch me ever again； you shall be cast yourself into the
Fire of Doom。'
The crouching shape backed away； terror in its blinking eyes； and yet at the same time insatiable
desire。
Then the vision passed and Sam saw Frodo standing； hand on breast； his breath ing in great
gasps； and Gollum at his feet； resting on his knees with his wide…splayed hands upon the ground。
'Look out！' cried Sam。 'He'll spring！' He stepped forward； brandishing his sword。 'Quick；
Master！' he gasped。 'Go on！ Go on！ No time to lose。 I'll deal with him。 Go on！'
Frodo looked at him as if at one now far away。 'Yes； I must go on；' he said。 'Farewell； Sam！ This
is the end at last。 On Mount Doom doom shall fall。 Farewell！' He turned and went on； walking
slowly but erect up the climbing path。
'Now！' said Sam。 'At last I can deal with you！' He leaped forward with drawn blade ready for
battle。 But Gollum did not spring。 He fell flat upon the ground and whimpered。
'Don't kill us；' he wept。 'Don't hurt us with nassty cruel steel！ Let us live； yes； live just a little
longer。 Lost lost！ We're lost。 And when Precious goes we'll die； yes； die into the dust。' He clawed
up the ashes of the path with his long fleshless fingers。 'Dusst！' he hissed。
Sam's hand wavered。 His mind was hot with wrath and the memory of evil。 It would be just to
slay this treacherous； murderous creature； just and many times deserved； and also it seemed the
only safe thing to do。 But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him： he could not
strike this thing lying in the dust； forlorn； ruinous； utterly wretched。 He himself； though only for a
little while； had borne the Ring； and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum's shrivelled mind
and body； enslaved to that Ring； unable to find peace or relief ever in life again。 But Sam had no
words to express what he felt。
'Oh； curse you； you stinking thing！' he said。 'Go away！ Be off！ I don't trust you； not as far as I
could kick you； but be off。 Or I _shall_ hurt you； yes； with nasty cruel steel。'
Gollum got up on all fours； and backed away for several paces； and then he turned； and as Sam
aimed a kick at him he fled away down the path。 Sam gave no more heed to him。 He suddenly
remembered his master。 He looked up the path and could not see him。 As fast as he could he
trudged up the road。 If he had looked back； he might have seen not far below Gollum turn again；
and then with a wild light of madness glaring in his eyes e； swiftly but warily； creeping on
behind； a slinking shadow among the stones。
The path climbed on。 Soon it bent again and。 with a last eastward course passed in a cutting
along the face of the cone and came to the dark door in the Mountain's side； the door of the
Sammath Naur。 Far away now rising towards the South the sun； piercing the smokes and haze；
burned ominous； a dull bleared disc of red； but all Mordor lay about the Mountain like a dead land；
silent； shadow…folded； waiting for some dreadful stroke。
Sam came to the gaping mouth and peered in。 It was dark and hot； and a deep rumbling shook
the air。 'Frodo！ Master！' he called。 There was no answer。 For a moment he stood； his heart beating
with wild fears； and then he plunged in。 A shadow followed him。
At first he could see nothing。 In his great need he drew out once more the phial of Galadriel； but
it was pale and cold in his trembling hand and threw no light into that stifling dark。 He was e to
the heart of the realm of Sauron and the forges of his ancient might； greatest in Middle…earth； all
other powers were here subdued。 Fearfully he took a few uncertain steps in the dark； and then all at
once there came a flash of red that leaped upward； and smote the high black roof。 Then Sam saw
that he was in a long cave or tunnel that bored into the Mountain's smoking cone。 But only a short
way ahead its floor and the walls on either side were cloven by a great fissure； out of which the red
glare came； now leaping up； now dying down into darkness； and all the while far below there was a
rumour and a trouble as of great engines throbbing and labouring。
The light sprang up again； and there on the brink of the chasm； at the very Crack of Doom； stood
Frodo； black against the glare； tense； erect； but still as if he had been turned to stone。
'Master！' cried Sam。
Then Frodo stirred and spoke with a clear voice； indeed with a voice clearer and more powerful
than Sam had ever heard him use； and it rose above the throb and turmoil of Mount Doom； ringing
in the roof and walls。
'I have e；' he said。 'But I do not choose now to do what I came to do。 I will not do this deed。
The Ring is mine！' And suddenly； as he set it on his finger； he vanished from Sam's sight。 Sam
gasped； but he had no chance to cry out； for at that moment many things happened。
Something struck Sam violently in the back； his legs were knocked from under him and he was
flung aside； striking his head against the stony floor； as a dark shape sprang over him。 He lay still
and for a moment all went black。
And far away； as Frodo put on the Ring and claimed it for his own； even in Sammath Naur the
very heart of his realm； the Power in Barad…d？r was shaken； and the Tower trembled from its
foundations to its proud and bitter crown。 The Dark Lord was suddenly aware of him； and his Eye
piercing all shadows looked across the plain to the door that he had made； and the magnitude of his
own folly was revealed to him in a blinding flash； and all the devices of his enemies were at last
laid bare。 Then his wrath blazed in consuming flame； but his fear rose like a vast black smoke to
choke him。 For he knew his deadly peril and the thread upon which his doom now hung。
From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery； from all his stratagems and wars his mind
shook free； and throughout his realm a tremor ran； his slaves quailed； and his armies halted； and his
captains suddenly steerless；