The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第34部分

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。　His　footsteps　retreated　down　the　passage。

'Well？'　said　Strider。　'When　are　you　going　to　open　that　letter？'　Frodo　looked　carefully　at　the　seal　before　he　broke　it。　It　seemed　certainly　to　be　Gandalf's。　Inside；　written　in　the　wizard's　strong　but　graceful　script；　was　the　following　message：

THE　PRANCING　PONY；　BREE。　Midyear's　Day；　Shire　Year；　1418。　Dear　Frodo；

Bad　news　has　reached　me　here。　I　must　go　off　at　once。　You　had　better　leave　Bag　End　soon；　and　get　out　of　the　Shire　before　the　end　of　July　at　latest。　I　will　return　as　soon　as　I　can；　and　I　will　follow　you；　if　I　find　that　you　are　gone。　Leave　a　message　for　me　here；　if　you　pass　through　Bree。　You　can　trust　the　landlord　（Butterbur）。　You　may　meet　a　friend　of　mine　on　the　Road：　a　Man；　lean；　dark；　tall；　by　some　called　Strider。　He　knows　our　business　and　will　help　you。　Make　for　Rivendell。　There　I　hope　we　may　meet　again。　If　I　do　not　e；　Elrond　will　advise　you。

Yours　in　haste
GANDALF。

PS。　Do　NOT　use　It　again；　not　far　any　reason　whatever！　Do　not　travel　by　night！
PPS。　Make　sure　that　it　is　the　real　Strider。　There　are　many　strange　men　on　the　roads。　His　true　name　is　Aragorn。

All　that　is　gold　does　not　glitter；
Not　all　those　who　wander　are　lost；
The　old　that　is　strong　does　not　wither；
Deep　roots　are　not　reached　by　the　frost。
From　the　ashes　a　fire　shall　be　woken；
A　light　from　the　shadows　shall　spring；
Renewed　shall　be　blade　that　was　broken；
The　crownless　again　shall　be　king。

PPPS。　I　hope　Butterbur　sends　this　promptly。　A　worthy　man；　but　his　memory　is　like　a　lumberroom：　thing　wanted　always　buried。　If　he　fets；　I　shall　roast　him。

Fare　Well！

Frodo　read　the　letter　to　himself；　and　then　passed　it　to　Pippin　and　Sam。　'Really　old　Butterbur　has　made　a　mess　of　things！'　he　said。　'He　deserves　roasting。　If　I　had　got　this　at　once；　we　might　all　have　been　safe　in　Rivendell　by　now。　But　what　can　have　happened　to　Gandalf？　He　writes　as　if　he　was　going　into　great　danger。'

'He　has　been　doing　that　for　many　years；'　said　Strider。

Frodo　turned　and　looked　at　him　thoughtfully；　wondering　about　Gandalf's　second　postscript。　'Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that　you　were　Gandalf's　friend　at　once？'　he　asked。　'It　would　have　saved　time。'

'Would　it？　Would　any　of　you　have　believed　me　till　now？'　said　Strider。　'I　knew　nothing　of　this　letter。　For　all　I　knew　I　had　to　persuade　you　to　trust　me　without　proofs；　if　I　was　to　help　you。　In　any　case；　I　did　not　intend　to　tell　you　all　about　myself　at　once。　I　had　to　study　you　first；　and　make　sure　of　you。　The　Enemy　has　set　traps　for　me　before　now。　As　soon　as　I　had　made　up　my　mind；　I　was　ready　to　tell　you　whatever　you　asked。　But　I　must　admit；'　he　added　with　a　queer　laugh；　'that　I　hoped　you　would　take　to　me　for　my　own　sake。　A　hunted　man　sometimes　wearies　of　distrust　and　longs　for　friendship。　But　there；　I　believe　my　looks　are　against　me。'

'They　are　。　at　first　sight　at　any　rate；'　laughed　Pippin　with　sudden　relief　after　reading　Gandalf's　letter。　'But　handsome　is　as　handsome　does；　as　we　say　in　the　Shire；　and　I　daresay　we　shall　all　look　much　the　same　after　lying　for　days　in　hedges　and　ditches。'

'It　would　take　more　than　a　few　days；　or　weeks；　or　years；　of　wandering　in　the　Wild　to　make　you　look　like　Strider；'　he　answered。　'And　you　would　die　first；　unless　you　are　made　of　sterner　stuff　than　you　look　to　be。'

Pippin　subsided；　but　Sam　was　not　daunted；　and　he　still　eyed　Strider　dubiously。　'How　do　we　know　you　are　the　Strider　that　Gandalf　speaks　about？'　he　demanded。　'You　never　mentioned　Gandalf；　till　this　letter　came　out。　You　might　be　a　playacting　spy；　for　all　I　can　see；　trying　to　get　us　to　go　with　you。　You　might　have　done　in　the　real　Strider　and　took　his　clothes。　What　have　you　to　say　to　that？'

'That　you　are　a　stout　fellow；'　answered　Strider；　'but　I　am　afraid　my　only　answer　to　you；　Sam　Gamgee；　is　this。　If　I　had　killed　the　real　Strider；　I　could　kill　you。　And　I　should　have　killed　you　already　without　so　much　talk。　If　I　was　after　the　Ring；　I　could　have　it　。　NOW！'

He　stood　up；　and　seemed　suddenly　to　grow　taller。　In　his　eyes　gleamed　a　light；　keen　and　manding。　Throwing　back　his　cloak；　he　laid　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　a　sword　that　had　hung　concealed　by　his　side。　They　did　not　dare　to　move。　Sam　sat　widemouthed　staring　at　him　dumbly。

'But　I　am　the　real　Strider；　fortunately；'　he　said；　looking　down　at　them　with　his　face　softened　by　a　sudden　smile。　'I　am　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn；　and　if　by　life　or　death　I　can　save　you；　I　will。'

There　was　a　long　silence。　At　last　Frodo　spoke　with　hesitation。　'I　believed　that　you　were　a　friend　before　the　letter　came；'　he　said；　'or　at　least　I　wished　to。　You　have　frightened　me　several　times　tonight；　but　never　in　the　way　that　servants　of　the　Enemy　would；　or　so　I　imagine。　I　think　one　of　his　spies　would　。　well；　seem　fairer　and　feel　fouler；　if　you　understand。'

'I　see；'　laughed　Strider。　'I　look　foul　and　feel　fair。　Is　that　it？　All　that　is　gold　does　not　glitter；　not　all　those　who　wander　are　lost。'

'Did　the　verses　apply　to　you　then？'　asked　Frodo。　'I　could　not　make　out　what　they　were　about。　But　how　did　you　know　that　they　were　in　Gandalf's　letter；　if　you　have　never　seen　it？'

'I　did　not　know；'　he　answered。　'But　I　am　Aragorn；　and　those　verses　go　with　that　name。'　He　drew　out　his　sword；　and　they　saw　that　the　blade　was　indeed　broken　a　foot　below　the　hilt。　'Not　much　use　is　it；　Sam？'　said　Strider。　'But　the　time　is　near　when　it　shall　be　fed　anew。'

Sam　said　nothing。

'Well；'　said　Strider；　'with　Sam's　permission　we　will　call　that　settled。　Strider　shall　be　your　guide。　We　shall　have　a　rough　road　tomorrow。　Even　if　we　are　allowed　to　leave　Bree　unhindered；　we　can　hardly　hope　now　to　leave　it　unnoticed。　But　I　shall　try　to　get　lost　as　soon　as　possible。　I　know　one　or　two　ways　out　of　Breeland　other　than　the　main　road。　If　once　we　shake　off　the　pursuit；　I　shall　make　for　Weathertop。'

'Weathertop？'　said　Sam。　'What's　that？'

'It　is　a　hill；　just　to　the　north　of　the　Road；　about　half　way　from　here　to　Rivendell。　It　mands　a　wide　view　all　round；　and　there　we　shall　have　a　chance　to　look　about　us。　Gandalf　will　make　for　that　point；　if　he　follows　us。　After　Weathertop　our　journey　will　bee　more　difficult；　and　we　shall　have　to　choose　between　various　dangers。'

'When　did　you　last　see　Gandalf？'　asked　Frodo。　'Do　you　know　where　he　is；　or　what　he　is　doing？'

Strider　looked　grave。　'I　do　not　know；'　he　said。　'I　came　west　with　him　in　the　spring。　I　have　often　kept　watch　on　the　borders　of　the　Shire　in　the　last　few　years；　when　he　was　busy　elsewhere。　He　seldom　left　it　unguarded。　We　last　met　on　the　first　of　May：　at　Sam　Ford　down　the　Brandywine。　He　told　me　that　his　business　with　you　had　gone　well；　and　that　you　would　be　starting　for　Rivendell　in　the　last　week　of　September。　As　I　knew　he　was　at　your　side；　I　went　away　on　a　journey　of　my　own。　And　that　has　proved　ill；　for　plainly　some　news　reached　him；　and　I　was　not　at　hand　to　help。

'I　am　troubled；　for　the　first　time　since　I　have　known　him。　We　should　have　had　messages；　even　if　he　could　not　e　himself。　When　I　returned；　many　days　ago；　I　heard　the　ill　news。　The　tidings　had　gone　far　and　wide　that　Gandalf　was　missing　and　the　horsemen　had　been　seen。　It　was　the　Elvenfolk　of　Gildor　that　told　me　this；　and　later　they　told　me　that　you　had　left　your　home；　but　there　was　no　news　of　your　leaving　Buckland。　I　have　been　watching　the　East　Road　anxiously。'

'Do　you　think　the　Black　Riders　have　anything　to　do　with　it　。　with　Gandalf's　absence；　I　mean？'　asked　Frodo。

'I　do　not　know　of　anything　else　that　could　have　hindered　him；　except　the　Enemy　himself；'　said　Strider。　'But　do　not　give　up　hope！　Gandalf　is　greater　than　you　Shirefolk　know　。　as　a　rule　you　can　only　see　his　jokes　and　toys。　But　this　business　of　ours　will　be　his　greatest　task。'

Pippin　yawned。　'I　am　sorry；'　he　said；　'but　I　am　dead　tired。　In　spite　of　all　the　danger　and　worry　I　must　go　to　bed；　or　sleep　where　I　sit。　Where　is　that　silly　fellow；　Merry？　It　would　be　the　last　straw；　if　we　had　to　go　out　in　the　dark　to　look　for　him。'

At　that　moment　they　heard　a　door　slam；　then　feet　came　running　along　the　passage。　Merry　came　in　with　a　rush　followed　by　Nob。　He　shut　the　door　hastily；　and　leaned　against　it。　He　was　out　of　breath。　They　stared　at　him　in　alarm　for　a　moment　before　he　gasped：　'I　have　seen　them；　Frodo！　I　have　seen　them！　Black　Riders！'

'Black　Riders！'　cried　Frodo。　'Where？'

'Here。　In　the　village。　I　stayed　indoors　for　an　hour。　Then　as　you　did　not　e　back；　I　went　out　for　a　stroll。　I　had　e　back　again　and　was　standing　just　outside　the　light　of　the　lamp　looking　at　the　stars。　Suddenly　I　shivered　and　felt　that　something　horrible　was　creeping　near：　there　was　a　son　of　deeper　shade　among　the　shadows　across　the　road；　just　beyond　the　edge　of　the　lamplight。　It　slid　away　at　once　into　the　dark　without　a　sound。　There　was　no　horse。'

'Which　way　did　it　go？'　asked　Strider；　suddenly　and　sharply。　Merry　started；　noticing　the　stranger　for　the　first　time。　'Go　on！'　said　Frodo。　'This　is　a　friend　of　Gandalf's。　I　will　explain　later。'

'It　seemed　to　make　off　up　the　Road；　eastward；'　continued　Merry。　'I　tried　to　follow。　Of　course；　it　vanished　almost　at　once；　but　I　went　round　the　corner　and　on　as　far　as　the　last　house　on　the　Road。'

Strider　looked　at　Merry　with　wonder。　'You　have　a　stout　heart；'　he　said；　'but　it　was　foolish。'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Merry。　'Neither　brave　nor　silly；　I　think。　I　could　hardly　help　myself。　I　seemed　to　be　drawn　somehow。　Anyway；　I　went；　and　suddenly　I　heard　voices　by　the　hedge。　One　was　muttering；　and　the　other　was　whispering；　or　hissing。　I　couldn't　hear　a　word　that　was　said。　I　did　not　creep　any　closer；　because　I　began　to　tremble　all　over。　Then　I　felt　terrified；　and　I　turned　back；　and　was　just　going　to　bolt　home；　when　something　came　behind　me　and　I。。。　I　fell　over。'

'I　found　him；　sir；'　put　in　Nob。　'Mr。　Butterbur　sent　me　out　with　a　lantern。　I　went　down　to　Westgate；　and　then　back　up　towards　Southgate。　Just　nigh　Bill　Ferny's　house　I　thought　I　could　see　something　in　the　Road。　I　couldn't　swear　to　it；　but　it　looked　to　me　as　if　two　men　was　stooping　over　something；　lilting　it。　I　gave　a　shout；　but　where　I　got　up　to　the　spot　there　was　no　signs　of　them；　and　only　Mr。　Brandybuck　lying　by　the　roadside。　He　seemed　to　be　asleep。　〃I　thought　I　had　fallen　into　deep　water；〃　he　says　to　me；　when　I　shook　him。　Very　queer　he　was；　and　as　soon　as　I　had　roused　him；　he　got　up　and　ran　back　here　like　a　hare。'

'I　am　afraid　that's　true；'　said　Merry；　'though　I　don't　know　what　I　said。　I　had　an　ugly　dream；　which　I　can't　remember。　I　went　to　pieces。　I　don't　know　what　came　over　me。'

'I　do；'　said　Strider。　'The　Black　Breath。　The　Riders　must　have　left　their　horses　outside；　and　passed　back　through　the　Southgate　in　secret。　They　will　know　all　the　news　now；　for　they　have　visited　Bill　Ferny；　and　probably　that　Southerner　was　a　spy　as　well。　Something　may　happen　in　the　night；　before　we　leave　Bree。'

'What　will　happen？'　said　Merry。　'Will　they　attack　the　inn？'　'No；　I　think　not；'　said　Strider。　'They　are　not　all　here　yet。　And　in　any　case　that　is　not　their　way。　In　dark　and　loneliness　they　are　strongest；　they　will　not　openly　attack　a　house　where　there　are　lights　and　many　people　not　until　they　are　desperate；　not　while　all　the　long　leagues　of　Eriador　still　lie　before　us。　But　their　power　is　in　terror；　and　already　some　in　Bree　are　in　their　clutch。　They　will　drive　these　wretches