The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第68章

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en　and　decayed；　that　wound　its　way　among　the　ruined　walls　and　pavingstones　of　an　ancient　highroad。

'Ah！　Here　it　is　at　last！　'　said　Gandalf。　'This　is　where　the　stream　ran：　Sirannon；　the　Gatestream；　they　used　to　call　it。　But　what　has　happened　to　the　water；　I　cannot　guess；　it　used　to　be　swift　and　noisy。　e！　We　must　hurry　on。　We　are　late。'

The　pany　were　footsore　and　tired；　but　they　trudged　doggedly　along　the　rough　and　winding　track　for　many　miles。　The　sun　turned　from　the　noon　and　began　to　go　west。　After　a　brief　halt　and　a　hasty　meal　they　went　on　again。　Before　them　the　mountains　frowned；　but　their　path　lay　in　a　deep　trough　of　land　and　they　could　see　only　the　higher　shoulders　and　the　far　eastward　peaks。

At　length　they　came　to　a　sharp　bend。　There　the　road；　which　had　been　veering　southwards　between　the　brink　of　the　channel　and　a　steep　fall　of　the　land　to　the　left；　turned　and　went　due　east　again。　Rounding　the　corner　they　saw　before　them　a　low　cliff；　some　five　fathoms　high；　with　a　broken　and　jagged　top。　Over　it　a　trickling　water　dripped；　through　a　wide　cleft　that　seemed　to　have　been　carved　out　by　a　fall　that　had　once　been　strong　and　full。

'Indeed　things　have　changed！　'　said　Gandalf。　'But　there　is　no　mistaking　the　place。　There　is　all　that　remains　of　the　Stair　Falls。　If　I　remember　right；　there　was　a　flight　of　steps　cut　in　the　rock　at　their　side；　but　the　main　road　wound　away　left　and　climbed　with　several　loops　up　to　the　level　ground　at　the　top。　There　used　to　be　a　shallow　valley　beyond　the　falls　right　up　to　the　Walls　of　Moria；　and　the　Sirannon　flowed　through　it　with　the　road　beside　it。　Let　us　go　and　see　what　things　are　like　now！　'

They　found　the　stone　steps　without　difficulty；　and　Gimli　sprang　swiftly　up　them；　followed　by　Gandalf　and　Frodo。　When　they　reached　the　top　they　saw　that　they　could　go　no　further　that　way；　and　the　reason　for　the　drying　up　of　the　Gatestream　was　revealed。　Behind　them　the　sinking　Sun　filled　the　cool　western　sky　with　glimmering　gold。　Before　them　stretched　a　dark　still　lake。　Neither　sky　nor　sunset　was　reflected　on　its　sullen　surface。　The　Sirannon　had　been　dammed　and　had　filled　all　the　valley。　Beyond　the　ominous　water　were　reared　vast　cliffs；　their　stern　faces　pallid　in　the　fading　light：　final　and　impassable。　No　sign　of　gate　or　entrance；　not　a　fissure　or　crack　could　Frodo　see　in　the　frowning　stone。

'There　are　the　Walls　of　Moria；'　said　Gandalf；　pointing　across　the　water。　'And　there　the　Gate　stood　once　upon　a　time；　the　Elven　Door　at　the　end　of　the　road　from　Hollin　by　which　we　have　e。　But　this　way　is　blocked。　None　of　the　pany；　I　guess；　will　wish　to　swim　this　gloomy　water　at　the　end　of　the　day。　It　has　an　unwholesome　look。'

'We　must　find　a　way　round　the　northern　edge；'　said　Gimli。　'The　first　thing　for　the　pany　to　do　is　to　climb　up　by　the　main　path　and　see　where　that　will　lead　us。　Even　if　there　were　no　lake；　we　could　not　get　our　baggagepony　up　this　stair。'

'But　in　any　case　we　cannot　take　the　poor　beast　into　the　Mines；'　said　Gandalf。　'The　road　under　the　mountains　is　a　dark　road；　and　there　are　places　narrow　and　steep　which　he　cannot　tread；　even　if　we　can。'

'Poor　old　Bill！　'　said　Frodo。　'I　had　not　thought　of　that。　And　poor　Sam！　I　wonder　what　he　will　say？　'

'I　am　sorry；'　said　Gandalf。　'Poor　Bill　has　been　a　useful　panion　and　it　goes　to　my　heart　to　turn　him　adrift　now。　I　would　have　travelled　lighter　and　brought　no　animal；　least　of　all　this　one　that　Sam　is　fond　of；　if　I　had　had　my　way。　I　feared　all　along　that　we　should　be　obliged　to　take　this　road。'

The　day　was　drawing　to　its　end；　and　cold　stars　were　glinting　in　the　sky　high　above　the　sunset；　when　the　pany；　with　all　the　speed　they　could；　climbed　up　the　slopes　and　reached　the　side　of　the　lake。　In　breadth　it　looked　to　be　no　more　than　two　or　three　furlongs　at　the　widest　point。　How　far　it　stretched　away　southward　they　could　not　see　in　the　failing　light；　but　its　northern　end　was　no　more　than　half　a　mile　from　where　they　stood；　and　between　the　stony　ridges　that　enclosed　the　valley　and　the　water's　edge　there　was　a　rim　of　open　ground。　They　hurried　forward；　for　they　had　still　a　mile　or　two　to　go　before　they　could　reach　the　point　on　the　far　shore　that　Gandalf　was　making　for；　and　then　he　had　still　to　find　the　doors。

When　they　came　to　the　northernmost　corner　of　the　lake　they　found　a　narrow　creek　that　barred　their　way。　It　was　green　and　stagnant；　thrust　out　like　a　slimy　arm　towards　the　enclosing　hills。　Gimli　strode　forward　undeterred；　and　found　that　the　water　was　shallow；　no　more　than　ankledeep　at　the　edge。　Behind　him　they　walked　in　file；　threading　their　way　with　care；　for　under　the　weedy　pools　were　sliding　and　greasy　stones；　and　footing　was　treacherous。　Frodo　shuddered　with　disgust　at　the　touch　of　the　dark　unclean　water　on　his　feet。

As　Sam；　the　last　of　the　pany；　led　Bill　up　on　to　the　dry　ground　on　the　far　side；　there　came　a　soft　sound：　a　swish；　followed　by　a　plop；　as　if　a　fish　had　disturbed　the　still　surface　of　the　water。　Turning　quickly　they　saw　ripples；　blackedged　with　shadow　in　the　waning　light：　great　rings　were　widening　outwards　from　a　point　far　out　in　the　lake。　There　was　a　bubbling　noise；　and　then　silence。　The　dusk　deepened；　and　the　last　gleams　of　the　sunset　were　veiled　in　cloud。

Gandalf　now　pressed　on　at　a　great　pace；　and　the　others　followed　as　quickly　as　they　could。　They　reached　the　strip　of　dry　land　between　the　lake　and　the　cliffs：　it　was　narrow；　often　hardly　a　dozen　yards　across；　and　encumbered　with　fallen　rock　and　stones；　but　they　found　a　way；　hugging　the　cliff；　and　keeping　as　far　from　the　dark　water　as　they　might。　A　mile　southwards　along　the　shore　they　came　upon　holly　trees。　Stumps　and　dead　boughs　were　rotting　in　the　shallows；　the　remains　it　seemed　of　old　thickets；　or　of　a　hedge　that　had　once　lined　the　road　across　the　drowned　valley。　But　close　under　the　cliff　there　stood；　still　strong　and　living；　。　two　tall　trees；　larger　than　any　trees　of　holly　that　Frodo　had　ever　seen　or　imagined。　Their　great　roots　spread　from　the　wall　to　the　water。　Under　the　looming　cliffs　they　had　looked　like　mere　bushes；　when　seen　far　off　from　the　top　of　the　Stair；　but　now　they　towered　overhead；　stiff；　dark；　and　silent；　throwing　deep　nightshadows　about　their　feet；　standing　like　sentinel　pillars　at　the　end　of　the　road。

'Well；　here　we　are　at　last！　'　said　Gandalf。　'Here　the　Elvenway　from　Hollin　ended。　Holly　was　the　token　of　the　people　of　that　land；　and　they　planted　it　here　to　mark　the　end　of　their　domain；　for　the　Westdoor　was　made　chiefly　for　their　use　in　their　traffic　with　the　Lords　of　Moria。　Those　were　happier　days；　when　there　was　still　close　friendship　at　times　between　folk　of　different　race；　even　between　Dwarves　and　Elves。'

'It　was　not　the　fault　of　the　Dwarves　that　the　friendship　waned；'　said　Gimli。

'I　have　not　heard　that　it　was　the　fault　of　the　Elves；'　said　Legolas。

'I　have　heard　both；'　said　Gandalf；　'and　I　will　not　give　judgement　now。　But　I　beg　you　two；　Legolas　and　Gimli；　at　least　to　be　friends；　and　to　help　me。　I　need　you　both。　The　doors　are　shut　and　hidden；　and　the　sooner　we　find　them　the　better。　Night　is　at　hand！　'

Turning　to　the　others　he　said：　'While　I　am　searching；　will　you　each　make　ready　to　enter　the　Mines？　For　here　I　fear　we　must　say　farewell　to　our　good　beast　of　burden。　You　must　lay　aside　much　of　the　stuff　that　we　brought　against　bitter　weather：　you　will　not　need　it　inside；　nor；　I　hope；　when　we　e　through　and　journey　on　down　into　the　South。　Instead　each　of　us　must　take　a　share　of　what　the　pony　carried；　especially　the　food　and　the　waterskins。'

'But　you　can't　leave　poor　old　Bill　behind　in　this　forsaken　place；　Mr。　Gandalf！　'　cried　Sam；　angry　and　distressed。　'I　won't　have　it；　and　that's　flat。　After　he　has　e　so　far　and　all！　'

'I　am　sorry；　Sam；'　said　the　wizard。　'But　when　the　Door　opens　I　do　not　think　you　will　be　able　to　drag　your　Bill　inside；　into　the　long　dark　of　Moria。　You　will　have　to　choose　between　Bill　and　your　master。'

'He'd　follow　Mr。　Frodo　into　a　dragon's　den；　if　I　led　him；'　protested　Sam。　'It'd　be　nothing　short　of　murder　to　turn　him　loose　with　all　these　wolves　about。'

'It　will　be　short　of　murder；　I　hope；'　said　Gandalf。　He　laid　his　hand　on　the　pony's　head；　and　spoke　in　a　low　voice。　'Go　with　words　of　guard　and　guiding　on　you；'　he　said。　'You　are　a　wise　beast；　and　have　learned　much　in　Rivendell。　Make　your　ways　to　places　where　you　can　find　grass；　and　so　e　in　time　to　Elrond's　house；　or　wherever　you　wish　to　go。

'There；　Sam！　He　uch　chance　of　escaping　wolves　and　getting　home　as　we　have。'

Sam　stood　sullenly　by　the　pony　and　returned　no　answer。　Bill；　seeming　to　understand　well　what　was　going　on；　nuzzled　up　to　him；　putting　his　nose　to　Sam's　ear。　Sam　burst　into　tears；　and　fumbled　with　the　straps；　unlading　all　the　pony's　packs　and　throwing　them　on　the　ground。　The　others　sorted　out　the　goods；　making　a　pile　of　all　that　could　be　left　behind；　and　dividing　up　the　rest。

When　this　was　done　they　turned　to　watch　Gandalf。　He　appeared　to　have　done　nothing。　He　was　standing　between　the　two　trees　gazing　at　the　blank　wall　of　the　cliff；　as　if　he　would　bore　a　hole　into　it　with　his　eyes。　Gimli　was　wandering　about；　tapping　the　stone　here　and　there　with　his　axe。　Legolas　was　pressed　against　the　rock；　as　if　listening。

'Well；　here　we　are　and　all　ready；'　said　Merry；　'but　where　are　the　Doors？　I　can't　see　any　sign　of　them。'

'Dwarfdoors　are　not　made　to　be　seen　when　shut；'　said　Gimli。　'They　are　invisible；　and　their　own　masters　cannot　find　them　or　open　them；　if　their　secret　is　fotten。'

'But　this　Door　was　not　made　to　be　a　secret　known　only　to　Dwarves；'　said　Gandalf；　ing　suddenly　to　life　and　turning　round。　'Unless　things　are　altogether　changed；　eyes　that　know　what　to　look　for　may　discover　the　signs。'

He　walked　forward　to　the　wall。　Right　between　the　shadow　of　the　trees　there　was　a　smooth　space；　and　over　this　he　passed　his　hands　to　and　fro；　muttering　words　under　his　breath。　Then　he　stepped　back。

'Look！'　he　said。　'Can　you　see　anything　now？'

The　Moon　now　shone　upon　the　grey　face　of　the　rock；　but　they　could　see　nothing　else　for　a　while。　Then　slowly　on　the　surface；　where　the　wizard's　hands　had　passed；　faint　lines　appeared；　like　slender　veins　of　silver　running　in　the　stone。　At　first　they　were　no　more　than　pale　gossamerthreads；　so　fine　that　they　only　twinkled　fitfully　where　the