atching this place for some days。 If Gandalf ever came here；
then he must have been forced to ride away； and he will not return。 In anycase we are in great peril here after dark； since the attack of last night；
and we can hardly meet greater danger wherever we go。'
As soon as the daylight was full； they had some hurried food and packed。
It was impossible for Frodo to walk； so they divided the greater part of theirbaggage among the four of them； and put Frodo on the pony。 In the last fewdays the poor beast had improved wonderfully； it already seemed fatter andstronger； and had begun to show an affection for its new masters； especiallyfor Sam。 Bill Ferny's treatment must have been very hard for the journey inthe wild to seem so much better than its former life。
They started off in a southerly direction。 This would mean crossing theRoad； but。 it was the quickest way to more wooded country。 And they needed
fuel； for Strider said that Frodo must be kept warm； especially at night；
while fire would be some protection for them all。 It was also his plan toshorten their journey by cutting across another great loop of the Road： eastbeyond Weathertop it changed its course and took a wide bend northwards。
They made their way slowly and cautiously round the south…western slopesof the hill； and came in a little while to the edge of the Road。 There was nosign of the Riders。 But even as they were hurrying across they heard far awaytwo cries： a cold voice calling and a cold voice answering。 Trembling theysprang forward； and made for the thickets that lay ahead。 The land before themsloped away southwards； but it was wild and pathless； bushes and stunted treesgrew in dense patches with wide barren spaces in between。 The grass wasscanty； coarse； and grey； and the leaves in the thickets were faded andfalling。 It was a cheerless land； and their journey was slow and gloomy。 Theyspoke little as they trudged along。 Frodo's heart was grieved as he watchedthem walking beside him with their heads down； and their backs bowed undertheir burdens。 Even Strider seemed tired and heavy…hearted。
Before the first day's march was over Frodo's pain began to grow again；
but he did not speak of it for a long time。 Four days passed； without theground or the scene changing much； except that behind them Weathertop slowlysank； and before them the distant mountains loomed a little nearer。 Yet sincethat far cry they had seen and heard no sign that the enemy had marked theirflight or followed them。 They dreaded the dark hours； and kept watch in pairsby night； expecting at any time to see black shapes stalking in the greynight； dimly lit by the cloud…veiled moon； but they saw nothing； and heard nosound but the sigh of withered leaves and grass。 Not once did they feel thesense of present evil that had assailed them before the attack in the dell。 Itseemed too much to hope that the Riders had already lost their trail again。
Perhaps they were waiting to make some ambush in a narrow place？
At the end of the fifth day the ground began once more to rise slowly outof the wide shallow valley into which they had descended。 Strider now turnedtheir course again north…eastwards； and on the sixth day they reached the topof a long slow…climbing slope； and saw far ahead a huddle of wooded hills。
Away below them they could see the Road sweeping round the feet of the hills；
and to their right a grey river gleamed pale in the thin sunshine。 In thedistance they glimpsed yet another river in a stony valley half…veiled inmist。
〃I am afraid we must go back to the Road here for a while；' said Strider。
'We have now e to the River Hoarwell； that the Elves call Mitheithel。 Itflows down out of the Ettenmoors； the troll…fells north of Rivendell； andjoins the Loudwater away in the South。 Some call it the Greyflood after that。
It is a great water before it finds the Sea。 There is no way over it below itssources in the Ettenmoors； except by the Last Bridge on which the Roadcrosses。'
'What is that other river we can see far away there？' asked Merry。
'That is Loudwater； the Bruinen of Rivendell；' answered Strider。 'TheRoad runs along the edge of the hills for many miles from the Bridge to theFord of Bruinen。 But I have not yet thought how we shall cross that water。 Oneriver at a time！ We shall be fortunate indeed if we do not find the Last
Bridge held against us。'
Next day； early in the morning； they came down again to the borders ofthe Road。 Sam and Strider went forward； but they found no sign of anytravellers or riders。 Here under the shadow of the hills there had been some
rain。 Strider judged that it had fallen two days before； and had washed awayall footprints。 No horseman had passed since then； as far as he could see。
They hurried along with all the speed they could make； and after a mileor two they saw the Last Bridge ahead； at the bottom of a short steep slope。
They dreaded to see black figures waiting there； but they saw none。 Stridermade them take cover in a thicket at the side of the Road； while he wentforward to explore。
Before long he came hurrying back。 'I can see no sign of the enemy；' he
said； 'and I wonder very much what that means。 But I have found something verystrange。'
He held out his hand； and showed a single pale…green jewel。 'I found itin the mud in the middle of the Bridge；' he said。 'It is a beryl； an elf…
stone。 Whether it was set there； or let fall by chance； I cannot say； but itbrings hope to me。 I will take it as a sign that we may pass the Bridge； butbeyond that I dare not keep to the Road； without some clearer token。'
At once they went on again。 They crossed the Bridge in safety； hearing nosound but the water swirling against its three great arches。 A mile further onthey came to a narrow ravine that led away northwards through the steep landson the left of the Road。 Here Strider turned aside； and soon they were lost ina sombre country of dark trees winding among the feet of sullen hills。
The hobbits were glad to leave the cheerless lands and the perilous Roadbehind them； but this new country seemed threatening and unfriendly。 As theywent forward the hills about them steadily rose。 Here and there upon heightsand ridges they caught glimpses of ancient walls of stone； and the ruins oftowers： they had an ominous look。 Frodo； who was not walking； had time to gazeahead and to think。 He recalled Bilbo's account of his journey and thethreatening towers on the hills north of the Road； in the country near theTroll's wood where his first serious adventure had happened。 Frodo guessedthat they were now in the same region； and wondered if by chance they wouldpass near the spot。
'Who lives in this land？' he asked。 'And who built these towers？ Is this
troll…country？'
'No！' said Strider。 'Trolls do not build。 No one lives in this land。 Men
once dwelt here； ages ago； but none remain now。 They became an evil people； aslegends tell； for they fell under the shadow of Angmar。 But all were destroyedin the war that brought the North Kingdom to its end。 But that is now so longago that the hills have forgotten them； though a shadow still lies on theland。'
'Where did you learn such tales； if all the land is empty andforgetf