the fellowship of the ring-第104章

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etheir　foul　feet　in　its　clean　water！…and　went　on　down　the　old　road　beside　the　　
river。　They　seemed　to　pick　up　some　scent；　and　they　searched　the　ground　for　awhile　near　the　place　where　you　halted。　The　three　of　us　could　not　challenge　ahundred；　so　we　went　ahead　and　spoke　with　feigned　voices；　leading　them　on　intothe　wood。　　
‘Orophin　has　now　gone　in　haste　back　to　our　dwellings　to　warn　our　people。　
None　of　the　Orcs　will　ever　return　out　of　Lórien。　And　there　will　be　many　Elveshidden　on　the　northern　border　before　another　night　falls。　But　you　must　takethe　road　south　as　soon　as　it　is　fully　light。'　　
　
Day　came　pale　from　the　East。　As　the　light　grew　it　filtered　through　theyellow　leaves　of　the　mallorn；　and　it　seemed　to　the　hobbits　that　the　early　sunof　a　cool　summer's　morning　was　shining。　Pale…blue　sky　peeped　among　the　movingbranches。　Looking　through　an　opening　on　the　south　side　of　the　flet　Frodo　sawall　the　valley　of　the　Silverlode　lying　like　a　sea　of　fallow　gold　tossinggently　in　the　breeze。　
The　morning　was　still　young　and　cold　when　the　pany　set　out　again；　
guided　now　by　Haldir　and　his　brother　Rúmil。　‘Farewell；　sweet　Nimrodel！　'　criedLegolas。　Frodo　looked　back　and　caught　a　gleam　of　white　foam　among　the　greytree…stems。　‘Farewell；'　he　said。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　would　never　hearagain　a　running　water　so　beautiful；　for　ever　blending　its　innumerable　notes　inan　endless　changeful　music。　
They　went　back　to　the　path　that　still　went　on　along　the　west　side　of　theSilverlode；　and　for　some　way　they　followed　it　southward。　There　were　the　printsof　orc…feet　in　the　earth。　But　soon　Haldir　turned　aside　into　the　trees　and　　
halted　on　the　bank　of　the　river　under　their　shadows。　　
‘There　is　one　of　my　people　yonder　across　the　stream；'　he　said　‘though　youmay　not　see　him。'　He　gave　a　call　like　the　low　whistle　of　a　bird；　and　out　of　athicket　of　young　trees　an　Elf　stepped；　clad　in　grey；　but　with　his　hood　thrownback；　his　hair　glinted　like　gold　in　the　morning　sun。　Haldir　skilfully　castover　the　stream　a　coil　of　grey　rope；　and　he　caught　it　and　bound　the　end　abouta　tree　near　the　bank。　　
‘Celebrant　is　already　a　strong　stream　here；　as　you　see；'　said　Haldir　'andit　runs　both　swift　and　deep；　and　is　very　cold。　We　do　not　set　foot　in　it　so　farnorth；　unless　we　must。　But　in　these　days　of　watchfulness　we　do　not　makebridges。　This　is　how　we　cross！　Follow　me！'　He　made　his　end　of　the　rope　fastabout　another　tree；　and　then　ran　lightly　along　it；　over　the　river　and　backagain；　as　if　he　were　on　a　road。　
‘I　can　walk　this　path；'　said　Legolas；　‘but　the　others　have　not　thisskill。　Must　they　swim？'　
‘No！'　said　Haldir。　‘We　have　two　more　ropes。　We　will　fasten　them　above　theother；　one　shoulder…high；　and　another　half…high；　and　holding　these　thestrangers　should　be　able　to　cross　with　care。'　
When　this　slender　bridge　had　been　made；　the　pany　passed　over；　somecautiously　and　slowly；　others　more　easily。　Of　the　hobbits　Pippin　proved　thebest　for　he　was　sure…footed；　and　he　walked　over　quickly；　holding　only　with　onehand；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　on　the　bank　ahead　and　did　not　look　down。　Samshuffled　along；　clutching　hard；　and　looking　down　into　the　pale　eddying　wateras　if　it　was　a　chasm　in　the　mountains。　　
He　breathed　with　relief　when　he　was　safely　across。　‘Live　and　learn！　as　mygaffer　used　to　say。　Though　he　was　thinking　of　gardening；　not　of　roosting　likea　bird；　nor　of　trying　to　walk　like　a　spider。　Not　even　my　uncle　Andy　ever　did　atrick　like　that！　'　　
When　at　length　all　the　pany　was　gathered　on　the　east　bank　of　theSilverlode；　the　Elves　untied　the　ropes　and　coiled　two　of　them。　Rúmil；　who　hadremained　on　the　other　side；　drew　back　the　last　one；　slung　it　on　his　shoulder；　
and　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　went　away；　back　to　Nimrodel　to　keep　watch。　
‘Now；　friends；'　said　Haldir；　‘you　have　entered　the　Naith　of　Lórien　or　theGore；　as　you　would　say；　for　it　is　the　land　that　lies　like　a　spear…head　betweenthe　arms　of　Silverlode　and　Anduin　the　Great。　We　allow　no　strangers　to　spy　outthe　secrets　of　the　Naith。　Few　indeed　are　permitted　even　to　set　foot　there。　
‘As　was　agreed；　I　shall　here　blindfold　the　eyes　of　Gimli　the　Dwarf。　Theother　may　walk　free　for　a　while；　until　we　e　nearer　to　our　dwellings；　downin　Egladil；　in　the　Angle　between　the　waters。'　
This　was　not　at　all　to　the　liking　of　Gimli。　‘The　agreement　was　madewithout　my　consent；'　he　said。　‘I　will　not　walk　blindfold；　like　a　beggar　or　aprisoner。　And　I　am　no　spy。　My　folk　have　never　had　dealings　with　any　of　theservants　of　the　Enemy。　Neither　have　we　done　harm　to　the　Elves。　I　am　no　morelikely　to　betray　you　than　Legolas；　or　any　other　of　my　panions。'　
'I　do　not　doubt　you；'　said　Haldir。　'Yet　this　is　our　law。　I　am　not　the　　
　
master　of　the　law；　and　cannot　set　it　aside。　I　have　done　much　in　letting　youset　foot　over　Celebrant。'　　
Gimli　was　obstinate。　He　planted　his　feet　firmly　apart；　and　laid　his　handupon　the　haft　of　his　axe。　'I　will　go　forward　free；'　he　said；　'or　I　will　goback　and　seek　my　own　land；　where　I　am　known　to　be　true　of　word；　though　Iperish　alone　in　the　wilderness。'　
‘You　cannot　go　back；'　said　Haldir　sternly。　'Now　you　have　e　thus　far；　
you　must　be　brought　before　the　Lord　and　the　Lady。　They　shall　judge　you；　tohold　you　or　to　give　you　leave；　as　they　will。　You　cannot　cross　the　riversagain；　and　behind　you　there　are　now　secret　sentinels　that　you　cannot　pass。　Youwould　be　slain　before　you　saw　them。'　
Gimli　drew　his　axe　from　his　belt。　Haldir　and　his　panion　bent　theirbows。　'A　plague　on　Dwarves　and　their　stiff　necks！　'　said　Legolas。　
'e！'　said　Aragorn。　‘If　I　am　still　to　lead　this　pany；　you　must　do　asI　bid。　It　is　hard　upon　the　Dwarf　to　be　thus　singled　out。　We　will　all　beblindfold；　even　Legolas。　That　will　be　best；　though　it　will　make　the　journeyslow　and　dull。'　　
Gimli　laughed　suddenly。　‘A　merry　troop　of　fools　we　shall　look！　WillHaldir　lead　us　all　on　a　string；　like　many　blind　beggars　with　one　dog？　But　Iwill　be　content；　if　only　Legolas　here　shares　my　blindness。'　
turn。　
‘I　am　an　Elf　and　a　kinsman　here；'　said　Legolas；　being　angry　in　his　　
‘Now　let　us　cry：　〃a　plague　on　the　stiff　necks　of　Elves！〃'　said　Aragorn。　
‘But　the　pany　shall　all　fare　alike。　e；　bind　our　eyes　Haldir！　'　
‘I　shall　claim　full　amends　for　every　fall　and　stubbed　toe；　if　you　do　notlead　us　well；'　said　Gimli　as　they　bound　a　cloth　about　his　eyes。　
'You　will　have　no　claim；'　said　Haldir。　‘I　shall　lead　you　well；　and　thepaths　are　smooth　and　straight。'　
‘Alas　for　the　folly　of　these　days！　'　said　Legolas。　'Here　all　are　enemiesof　the　one　Enemy；　and　yet　I　must　walk　blind；　while　the　sun　is　merry　in　thewoodland　under　leaves　of　gold！　'　
‘Folly　it　may　seem；'　said　Haldir。　'Indeed　in　nothing　is　the　power　of　theDark　Lord　more　clearly　shown　than　in　the　estrangement　that　divides　all　thosewho　still　oppose　him。　Yet　so　little　faith　and　trust　do　we　find　now　in　theworld　beyond　Lothlórien；　unless　maybe　in　Rivendell；　that　we　dare　not　by　ourown　trust　endanger　our　land。　We　live　now　upon　an　island　amid　many　perils；　andour　hands　are　more　often　upon　the　bowstring　than　upon　the　harp。　
‘The　rivers　long　defended　us；　but　they　are　a　sure　guard　no　more　for　theShadow　has　crept　northward　all　about　us。　Some　speak　of　departing；　yet　for　thatit　already　seems　too　late。　The　mountains　to　the　west　are　growing　evil；　to　theeast　the　lands　are　waste；　and　full　of　Sauron's　creatures；　and　it　is　rumouredthat　we　cannot　now　safely　pass　southward　through　Rohan；　and　the　mouths　of　theGreat　River　are　watched　by　the　Enemy。　Even　if　we　could　e　to　the　shores　ofthe　Sea；　we　should　find　no　longer　any　shelter　there。　It　is　said　that　there　arestill　havens　of。　the　High　Elves；　but　they　are　far　north　and　west；　beyond　theland　of　the　Halflings。　But　where　that　may　be；　though　the　Lord　and　Lady　mayknow；　I　do　not。'　
‘You　ought　at　least　to　guess；　since　you　have　seen　us；'　said　Merry。　‘Thereare　Elf…havens　west　of　my　land；　the　Shire　where　Hobbits　live。'　
‘Happy　folk　are　Hobbits　to　dwell　near　the　shores　of　the　sea！　'　saidHaldir。　'It　is　long　indeed　since　any　of　my　folk　have　looked　on　it；　yet　stillwe　remember　it　in　song。　Tell　me　of　these　havens　as　we　walk。'　
‘I　cannot；'　said　Merry。　‘I　have　never　seen　them。　I　have　never　been　out　ofmy　own　land　before。　And　if　I　had　known　what　the　world　outside　was　like。　Idon't　think　I　should　have　had　the　heart　to　leave　it。'　　
‘Not　even　to　see　fair　Lothlórien？　'　said　H