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vomited from the tormented earth。 In such an hour of labour Sam beheld Mount Doom； and the
light of it； cut off by the high screen of the Ephel Dúath from those who climbed up the path from
the West； now glared against the stark rock faces； so that they seemed to be drenched with blood。
In that dreadful light Sam stood aghast； for now； looking to his left； he could see the Tower of
Cirith Ungol in all its strength。 The horn that he had seen from the other side was only its topmost
turret。 Its eastern face stood up in three great tiers from a shelf in the mountain…wall far below； its
back was to a great cliff behind； from which it jutted out in pointed bastions； one above the other；
diminishing as they rose； with sheer sides of cunning masonry that looked north…east and south…east。
About the lowest tier； two hundred feet below where Sam now stood； there was a battlemented wall
enclosing a narrow court。 Its gate； upon the near south…eastern side； opened on a broad road； the
outer parapet of which ran upon the brink of a precipice； until it turned southward and went
winding down into the darkness to join the road that came over the Morgul Pass。 Then on it went
through a jagged rift in the Morgai out into the valley of Gorgoroth and away to Barad…d？r。 The
narrow upper way on which Sam stood leapt swiftly down by stair and steep path to meet the main
road under the frowning walls close to the Tower…gate。
As he gazed at it suddenly Sam understood； almost with a shock； that this stronghold had been
built not to keep enemies out of Mordor； but to keep them in。 It was indeed one of the works of
Gondor long ago； an eastern outpost of the defences of Ithilien； made when； after the Last Alliance；
Men of Westernesse kept watch on the evil land of Sauron where his creatures still lurked。 But as
with Narchost and Carchost； the Towers of the Teeth； so here too the vigilance had failed； and
treachery had yielded up the Tower to the Lord of the Ringwraiths； and now for long years it had
been held by evil things。 Since his return to Mordor； Sauron had found it useful； for he had few
servants but many slaves of fear； and still its chief purpose as of old was to prevent escape from
Mordor。 Though if an enemy were so rash as to try to enter that land secretly； then it was also a last
unsleeping guard against any that might pass the vigilance of Morgul and of Shelob。
Only too clearly Sam saw how hopeless it would be for him to creep down under those many…
eyed walls and pass the watchful gate。 And even if he did so； he could not go far on the guarded
road beyond： not even the black shadows； lying deep where the red glow could not reach； would
shield him long from the night…eyed orcs。 But desperate as that road might be； his task was now far
worse： not to avoid the gate and escape； but to enter it； alone。
His thought turned to the Ring； but there was no fort there； only dread and danger。 No
sooner had he e in sight of Mount Doom； burning far away； than he was aware of a change in
his burden。 As it drew near the great furnaces where； in the deeps of time； it had been shaped and
forged； the Ring's power grew； and it became more fell； untameable save by some mighty will。 As
Sam stood there； even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain about his neck； he
felt himself enlarged； as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of himself； a vast and ominous
threat halted upon the walls of Mordor。 He felt that he had from now on only two choices： to
forbear the Ring； though it would torment him； or to claim it； and challenge the Power that sat in its
dark hold beyond the valley of shadows。 Already the Ring tempted him； gnawing at his will and
reason。 Wild fantasies arose in his mind； and he saw Samwise the Strong； Hero of the Age； striding
with a flaming sword across the darkened land； and armies flocking to his call as he marched to the
overthrow of Barad…d？r。 And then all the clouds rolled away； and the white sun shone； and at his
mand the vale of Gorgoroth became a garden of flowers and trees and brought forth fruit。 He
had only to put on the Ring and claim it for his own； and all this could be。
In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm； but also deep
down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit…sense： he knew in the core of his heart that he
was not large enough to bear such a burden； even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray
him。 The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due； not a garden swollen to a
realm； his own hands to use； not the hands of others to mand。
'And anyway all these notions are only a trick；' he said to himself。 'He'd spot me and cow me；
before I could so much as shout out。 He'd spot me； pretty quick； if I put the Ring on now； in Mordor。
Well； all I can say is： things look as hopeless as a frost in spring。 Just when being invisible would
be really useful； I can't use the Ring！ And if ever I get any further； it's going to be nothing but a
drag and a burden every step。 So what's to be done？'
He was not really in any doubt。 He knew that he must go down to the gate and not linger any
more。 With a shrug of his shoulders； as if to shake off the shadow and dismiss the phantoms； he
began slowly to descend。 With each step he seemed to diminish。 He had not gone far before he had
shrunk again to a very small and frightened hobbit。 He was now passing under the very walls of the
Tower； and the cries and sounds of fighting could be heard with his unaided ears。 At the moment
the noise seemed to be ing from the court behind the outer wall。
Sam was about half way down the path when out of the dark gateway into the red glow there
came two orcs running。 They did not turn towards him。 They were making for the main road； but
even as they ran they stumbled and fell to the ground and lay still。 Sam had seen no arrows； but he
guessed that the orcs had been shot down by others on the battlements or hidden in the shadow of
the gate。 He went on； hugging the wall on his left。 One look upward had shown him that there was
no hope of climbing it。 The stone…work rose thirty feet； without a crack or ledge； to overhanging
courses like inverted steps。 The gate was the only way。
He crept on； and as he went he wondered how many orcs lived in the Tower with Shagrat； and
how many Gorbag had； and what they were quarrelling about； if that was what was happening。
Shagrat's pany had seemed to be about forty； and Gorbag's more than twice as large； but of
course Shagrat's patrol had only been a part of his garrison。 Almost certainly they were quarrelling
about Frodo； and the spoil。 For a second Sam halted； for suddenly things seemed clear to him；
almost as if he had seen them with his eyes。 The mithril coat！ Of course； Frodo was wearing it； and
they would find it。 And from what Sam had heard Gorbag would covet it。 But the orders of the
Dark Tower were at present Frodo's only protection； and if they were set aside； Frodo might be
killed out of hand at any moment。
'e on； you miserable sluggard！' Sam cried to himself。 ‘Now for it！' He drew Sting and ran
towards the open gate。 But just as he was about to pass under its great arch he felt a shock： as if he
had run into some web like Shelob's； only invisible。 He could see no obstacle； but something too
strong for his will to overe barred the way。 He looked about； and then within the shadow of the
gate he saw the Two Watchers。
They were like great figures seated upon thrones。 Each had three joined bodies； and three heads
facing outward； and inward； and across the gateway。 The heads had vulture…faces； and on their
great knees were laid clawlike hands。 They seemed to be carved out of huge blocks of stone；
immovable； and yet they were aware： some dreadful spirit of evil vigilance abode in them。 They
knew an enemy。 Visible or invisible none could pass unheeded。 They would forbid his entry； or his
escape。
Hardening his will Sam thrust forward once again； and halted with a jerk； staggering as if from a
blow upon his breast and head