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der the shelter of the cliff； until he came back。 He was going to climb up； if he could； and get a look at the lie of the land。
When he returned he was not reassuring。 'We have e too far to the north；' he said； 'and we must find some way to turn back southwards again。 If we keep on as we are going we shall get up into the Ettendales far north of Rivendell。 That is trollcountry； and little known to me。 We could perhaps find our way through and e round to Rivendell from the north； but it would take too long； for I do not know the way； and our food would not last。 So somehow or other we must find the Ford of Bruinen。'
The rest of that day they spent scrambling over rocky ground。 They found a passage between two hills that led them into a valley running southeast； the direction that they wished to take； but towards the end of the day they found their road again barred by a ridge of high land； its dark edge against the sky was broken into many bare points like teeth of a blunted saw。 They had a choice between going back or climbing over it。
They decided to attempt the climb； but it proved very difficult。 Before long Frodo was obliged to dismount and struggle along on foot。 Even so they often despaired of getting their pony up； or indeed of finding a path for themselves； burdened as they were。 The light was nearly gone； and they were all exhausted； when at last they reached the top。 They had climbed on to a narrow saddle between two higher points； and the land fell steeply away again； only a short distance ahead。 Frodo threw himself down； and lay on the ground shivering。 His left arm was lifeless； and his side and shoulder felt as if icy claws were laid upon them。 The trees and rocks about him seemed shadowy and dim。
'We cannot go any further；' said Merry to Strider。 'I am afraid this has been too much for Frodo。 I am dreadfully anxious about him。 What are we to do？ Do you think they will be able to cure him in Rivendell； if we ever get there？'
'We shall see；' answered Strider。 'There is nothing more that I can do in the wilderness； and it is chiefly because of his wound that I am so anxious to press on。 But I agree that we can go no further tonight。'
'What is the matter with my master？' asked Sam in a low voice； looking appealingly at Strider。 'His wound was small； and it is already closed。 There's nothing to be seen but a cold white mark on his shoulder。'
'Frodo has been touched by the weapons of the Enemy；' said Strider； 'and there is some poison or evil at work that is beyond my skill to drive out。 But do not give up hope； Sam！'
Night was cold up on the high ridge。 They lit a small fire down under the gnarled roots of an old pine； that hung over a shallow pit： it looked as if stone had once been quarried there。 They sat huddled together。 The wind blew chill through the pass； and they heard the treetops lower down moaning and sighing。 Frodo lay half in a dream； imagining that endless dark wings were sweeping by above him； and that on the wings rode pursuers that sought him in all the hollows of the hills。
The morning dawned bright and fair； the air was clean； and the light pale and clear in a rainwashed sky。 Their hearts were encouraged； but （hey longed for the sun to warm their cold stiff limbs。 As soon as it was light； Strider took Merry with him and went to survey the country from the height to the east of the pass。 The sun had risen and was shining brightly when he returned with more forting news。 They were now going more or less in the right direction。 If they went on； down the further side of the ridge； they would have the Mountains on their left。 Some way ahead Strider had caught a glimpse of the Loudwater again； and he knew that； though it was hidden from view； the Road to the Ford was not far from the River and lay on the side nearest to them。
'We must make for the Road again；' he said。 'We cannot hope to find a path through these hills。 Whatever danger may beset it； the Road is our only way to the Ford。'
As soon as they had eaten they set out again。 They climbed slowly down the southern side of the ridge； but the way was much easier than they had expected； for the slope was far less steep on this side； and before long Frodo was able to ride again。 Bill Ferny's poor old pony was developing an unexpected talent for picking out a path； and for sparing its rider as many jolts as possible。 The spirits of the party rose again。 Even Frodo felt better in the morning light； but every now and again a mist seemed to obscure his sight； and he passed his hands over his eyes。
Pippin was a little ahead of the others。 Suddenly he turned round and called to them。 'There is a path here！' he cried。
When they came up with him； they saw that he had made no mistake：
there were clearly the beginnings of a path； that climbed with many windings out of the woods below and faded away on the hilltop behind。 In places it was now faint and overgrown； or choked with fallen stones and trees； but at one time it seemed to have been much used。 It was a path made by strong arms and heavy feet。 Here and there old trees had been cut or broken down； and large rocks cloven or heaved aside to make a way。
They followed the track for some while； for it offered much the easiest way down； but they went cautiously； and their anxiety increased as they came into the dark woods； and the path grew plainer and broader。 Suddenly ing out of a belt of firtrees it ran steeply down a slope； and turned sharply to the left round the er of a rocky shoulder of the hill。 When they came to the er they looked round and saw that the path ran on over a level strip under the face of a low cliff overhung with trees。 In the stony wall there was a door hanging crookedly ajar upon one great hinge。
Outside the door they all halted。 There was a cave or rockchamber behind； but in the gloom inside nothing could be seen。 Strider； Sam； and Merry pushing with all their strength managed to open the door a little wider； and then Strider and Merry went in。 They did not go far； for on the floor lay many old bones； and nothing else was to be seen near the entrance except some great empty jars and broken pots。
'Surely this is a trollhole； if ever there was one！' said Pippin。 'e out； you two； and let us get away。 Now we know who made the path and we had better get off it quick。'
'There is no need； I think；' said Strider； coining out。 'It is certainly a trollhole； but it seems to have been long forsaken。 I don't think we need be afraid。 But let us go on down warily； and we shall see。'
The path went on again from the door； and turning to the right again across the level space plunged down a thick wooded slope。 Pippin； not liking to show Strider that he was still afraid； went on ahead with Merry。 Sam and Strider came behind； one on each side of Frodo's pony； for the path was now broad enough for four or five hobbits to walk abreast。 But they had not gone very far before Pippin came running back； followed by Merry。 They both looked terrified。
'There are trolls！' Pippin panted。 'Down in a clearing in the woods not far below。 We got a sight of them through the treetrunks。 They are very large！'
'We will e and look at them；' said Strider； picking up a stick。 Frodo said nothing； but Sam looked scared。
The sun was now high； and it shone down through the halfstripped branches of the trees； and lit the clearing with bright patches of light。 They halted suddenly on the edge； and peered through the treetrunks； holding their breath。 There stood the trolls： three large trolls。 One was stooping； and the other two stood staring at him。
Strider walked forward unconcernedly。 'Get up； old stone！' he said； and broke his stick upon the stooping troll。
Nothing happened。 There was a gasp of astonishment from the hobbits； and then even Frodo laughed。 'Well！' he said。 'We are fetting our family history！ These must be the very three that were caught by Gandalf； quarrelling over the right way to cook thirteen dwarves and one hobbit。'
'I had no idea we were anywhere near the place！' said Pippin。 He knew the story well。 Bilbo and Frodo had told it often； but as a matter of fact he had never more than half believed it。 Even now he looked at the stone trolls with suspicion； wondering if some magic might not suddenly bring them to life again。
'You are fetting not only your family history； but all you ever knew about trolls；' said Strider。 'It is broad daylight with a bright sun； and yet you e back trying to scare me with a tale of live trolls waiting for us in this glade！ In any case you might have noticed that one of them has an old bird's nest behind his ear。 That would be a most unusual ornament for a live troll！'
They all laughed。 Frodo felt his spirits reviving： the reminder of Bilbo's first successful adventure was heartening。 The sun； too； was warm and forting； and the mist before his eyes seemed to be lifting a little。 They rested for some time in the glade； and took their midday meal right under the shadow of the trolls' large legs。
'Won't somebody give us a bit of a song； while the sun is high？' said Merry； when they had finished。 'We haven't had a song or a tale for days。'
'Not since Weathertop；' said Frodo。 The others looked at him。 'Don't worry abou