按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'That should not have been said outside Lórien； not even to me；' saidAragorn。 ‘Speak no more of it！ But so it is； Sam： in that land you lost yourcount。 There time flowed swiftly by us； as for the Elves。 The old moon passed；
and a new moon waxed and waned in the world outside； while we tarried there。
And yestereve a new moon came again。 Winter is nearly gone。 Time flows on to aspring of little hope。'
The night passed silently。 No voice or call was heard again across thewater。 The travellers huddled in their boats felt the changing of the weather。
The air grew warm and very still under the great moist clouds that had floatedup from the South and the distant seas。 The rushing of the River over therocks of the rapids seemed to grow louder and closer。 The twigs of the treesabove them began to drip。
When the day came the mood of the world about them had bee soft andsad。 Slowly the dawn grew to a pale light； diffused and shadowless。 There wasmist on the River； and white fog swathed the shore； the far bank could not beseen。
‘I can't abide fog；' said Sam； ‘but this seems to be a lucky one。 Nowperhaps we can get away without those cursed goblins seeing us。'
‘Perhaps so；' said Aragorn。 ‘But it will be hard to find the path unlessthe fog lifts a little later on。 And we must find the path； if we are to passSarn Gebir and e to the Emyn Muil。'
'I do not see why we should pass the Rapids or follow the River anyfurther；' said Boromir。 ‘If the Emyn Muil lie before us； then we can abandonthese cockle…boats； and strike westward and southward； until we e to theEntwash and cross into my own land。'
‘We can； if we are making for Minas Tirith；' said Aragorn； ‘but that isnot yet agreed。 And such a course may be more perilous than it sounds。 Thevale of Entwash is flat and fenny； and fog is a deadly peril there for thoseon foot and laden。 I would not abandon our boats until we must。 The River is
at least a path that cannot be missed。'
‘But the Enemy holds the eastern bank；' objected Boromir。 ‘And even ifyou pass the Gates of Argonath and e unmolested to the Tindrock； what willyou do then？ Leap down the Falls and land in the marshes？ '
‘No！ ' answered Aragorn。 ‘Say rather that we will bear our boats by theancient way to Rauros…foot； and there take to the water again。 Do you notknow； Boromir； or do you choose to forget the North Stair； and the high seatupon Amon Hen； that were made in the days of the great kings？ I at least havea mind to stand in that high place again； before I decide my further course。
There； maybe； we shall see some sign that will guide us。'
Boromir held out long against this choice； but when it became plain thatFrodo would follow Aragorn； wherever he went； he gave in。 'It is not the wayof the Men of Minas Tirith to desert their friends at need；' he said； ‘and youwill need my strength； if ever you are to reach the Tindrock。 To the tall isleI will go； but no further。 There I shall turn to my home； alone if my help hasnot earned the reward of any panionship。'
The day was now growing； and the fog had lifted a little。 It was decidedthat Aragorn and Legolas should at once go forward along the shore； while theothers remained by the boats。 Aragorn hoped to find some way by which theycould carry both their boats and their baggage to the smoother water beyondthe Rapids。
‘Boats of the Elves would not sink； maybe；' he said； ‘but that does notsay that we should e through Sarn Gebir alive。 None have ever done so yet。
No road was made by the Men of Gondor in this region； for even in their greatdays their realm did not reach up Anduin beyond the Emyn Muil； but there is aportage…way somewhere on the western shore； if I can find it。 It cannot yethave perished； for light boats used to journey out of Wilderland down toOsgiliath； and still did so until a few years ago； when the Orcs of Mordorbegan to multiply。'
'Seldom in my life has any boat e out of the North； and the Orcs prowlon the east…shore；' said Boromir。 ‘If you go forward； peril will grow withevery mile； even if you find a path。'
‘Peril lies ahead on every southward road；' answered Aragorn。 ‘Wait forus one day。 If we do not return in that time； you will know that evil hasindeed befallen us。 Then you must take a new leader and follow him as best youcan。'
It was with a heavy heart that Frodo saw Aragorn and Legolas climb thesteep bank and vanish into the mists； but his fears proved groundless。 Onlytwo or three hours had passed； and it was barely mid…day； when the shadowyshapes of the explorers appeared again。
‘All is well；' said Aragorn； as he clambered down the bank。 'There is atrack； and it leads to a good landing that is still serviceable。 The distanceis not great： the head of the Rapids is but half a mile below us； and they arelittle more than a mile long。 Not far beyond them the stream bees clear andsmooth again； though it runs swiftly。 Our hardest task will be to get ourboats and baggage to the old portage…way。 We have found it； but it lies wellback from the water…side here； and runs under the lee of a rock…wall； afurlong or more from the shore。 We did not find where the northward landinglies。 If it still remains； we must have passed it yesterday night。 We mightlabour far upstream and yet miss it in the fog。 I fear we must leave the Rivernow； and make for the portage…way as best we can from here。'
‘That would not be easy； even if we were all Men；' said Boromir。
‘Yet such as we are we will try it；' said Aragorn。
'Aye； we will；' said Gimli。 ‘The legs of Men will lag on a rough road；
while a Dwarf goes on； be the burden twice his own weight； Master Boromir！ '
The task proved hard indeed； yet in the end it was done。 The goods weretaken out of the boats and brought to the top of the bank； where there was alevel space。 Then the boats were drawn out of the water and carried up。 Theywere far less heavy than any had expected。 Of what tree growing in the elvishcountry they were made not even Legolas knew； but the wood was tough and yetstrangely light。 Merry and Pippin alone could carry their boat with ease alongthe flat。 Nonetheless it needed the strength of the two Men to lift and haulthem over the ground that the pany now had to cross。 It sloped up away fromthe River； a tumbled waste of grey limestone…boulders； with many hidden holes
shrouded with weeds and bushes； there were thickets of brambles； and sheerdells； and here and there boggy pools fed by waters trickling from theterraces further inland。
One by one Boromir and Aragorn carried the boats； while the others toiledand scrambled after them with the baggage。 At last all was removed and laid onthe portage…way。 Then with little further hindrance； save from sprawlingbriars and many fallen stones； they moved forward all together。 Fog still hungin veils upon the crumbling rock…wall； and to their left mist shrouded theRiver： they could hear it rushing and foaming over the sharp shelves and stonyteeth of Sarn Gebir； but they could not see it。 Twice they made the journey；
before all was brought safe to the southern landing。
There the portage…way； turning back to the water…side； ran gently down tothe shallow edge of a little pool。 It seemed to have been scooped in theriver…side； not by h