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hobbits set out again on the most dangerous stage of all their journey。 They went first to the little
spring； and then climbing warily up they came to the road at the point where it swung east towards
the Isenmouthe twenty miles away。 It was not a broad road； and it had no wall or parapet along the
edge and as it ran on the sheer drop from its brink became deeper and deeper。 The hobbits could
hear no movements； and after listening for a while they set off eastward at a steady pace。
After doing some twelve miles； they halted。 A short way back the road had bent a little
northward and the stretch that they had passed over was now screened from sight。 This proved
disastrous。 They rested for some minutes and then went on； but they had not taken many steps
when suddenly in the stillness of the night they heard the sound that all along they had secretly
dreaded： the noise of marching feet。 It was still some way behind them； but looking back they could
see the twinkle of torches ing round the bend less than a mile away； and they were moving fast：
too fast for Frodo to escape by flight along the road ahead。
'I feared it； Sam；' said Frodo。 'We've trusted to luck； and it has failed us。 We're trapped。' He
looked wildly up at the frowning wall； where the road…builders of old had cut the rock sheer for
many fathoms above their heads。 He ran to the other side and looked over the brink into a dark pit
of gloom。 'We're trapped at last！' he said He sank to the ground beneath the wall of rock and bowed
his head。
'Seems so；' said Sam。 'Well； we can but wait and see。' And with that he sat down beside Frodo
under the shadow of the cliff。
They did not have to wait long。 The orcs were going at a great pace。 Those in the foremost files
bore torches。 On they came； red flames in the dark； swiftly growing。 Now Sam too bowed his head；
hoping that it would hide his face when the torches reached them； and he set their shields before
their knees to hide their feet。
'If only they are in a hurry and will let a couple of tired soldiers alone and pass on！' he thought。
And so it seemed that they would。 The leading orcs came loping along； panting； holding their
heads down。 They were a gang of the smaller breeds being driven unwilling to their Dark Lord's
wars； all they cared for was to get the march over and escape the whip。 Beside them； running up
and down the line； went two of the large fierce _uruks_； cracking lashes and shouting。 File after file
passed； and the tell…tale torchlight was already some way ahead。 Sam held his breath。 Now more
than half the line had gone by。 Then suddenly one of the slave…drivers spied the two figures by the
road…side。 He flicked a whip at them and yelled： 'Hi； you！ Get up！' They did not answer； and with a
shout he halted the whole pany。
'e on； you slugs！' he cried。 'This is no time for slouching。' He took a step towards them； and
even in the gloom he recognized the devices on their shields。 'Deserting； eh？' he snarled。 'Or
thinking of it？ All your folk should have been inside Ud？n before yesterday evening。 You know
that。 Up you get and fall in； or I'll have your numbers and report you。'
They struggled to their feet； and keeping bent； limping like footsore soldiers； they shuffled back
towards the rear of the line。 'No； not at the rear！' the slave…driver shouted。 'Three files up。 And stay
there； or you'll know it； when I e down the line！' He sent his long whip…lash cracking over their
heads； then with another crack and a yell he started the pany off again at a brisk trot。
It was hard enough for poor Sam； tired as he was； but for Frodo it was a torment； and soon a
nightmare。 He set his teeth and tried to stop his mind from thinking； and he struggled on。 The
stench of the sweating orcs about him was stifling； and he began to gasp with thirst。 On； on they
went； and he bent all his will to draw his breath and to make his legs keep going； and yet to what
evil end he toiled and endured he did not dare to think。 There was no hope of falling out unseen：
Now and again the orc…driver fell back and jeered at them。
'There now！' he laughed； flicking at their legs。 'Where there's a whip there's a will； my slugs。
Hold up！ I'd give you a nice freshener now； only you'll get as much lash as your skins will carry
when you e in late to your camp。 Do you good。 Don't you know we're at war？'
They had gone some miles； and the road was at last running down a long slope into the plain；
when Frodo's strength began to give out and his will wavered。 He lurched and stumbled。
Desperately Sam tried to help him and hold him up； though he felt that he could himself hardly stay
the pace much longer。 At any moment now he knew that the end would e： his master would
faint or fall； and all would be discovered； and their bitter efforts be in vain。 'I'll have that big slave…
driving devil anyway；' he thought。
Then just as he was putting his hand to the hilt of his sword； there came an unexpected relief。
They were out on the plain now and drawing near the entrance to Ud？n。 Some way in front of it；
before the gate at the bridge…end； the road from the west converged with others ing from the
south； and from Barad…d？r。 Along all the roads troops were moving； for the Captains of the West
were advancing and the Dark Lord was speeding his forces north。 So it chanced that several
panies came together at the road…meeting； in the dark beyond the light of the watch…fires on the
wall。 At once there was great jostling and cursing as each troop tried to get first to the gate and the
ending of their march。 Though the drivers yelled and plied their whips； scuffles broke out and some
blades were drawn。 A troop of heavy…armed _uruks_ from Barad…d？r charged into the Durthang
line and threw them into confusion。
Dazed as he was with pain and weariness； Sam woke up； grasped quickly at his chance； and
threw himself to the ground； dragging Frodo down with him。 Orcs fell over them； snarling and
cursing。 Slowly on hand and knee the hobbits crawled away out of the turmoil； until at last
unnoticed they dropped over the further edge of the road。 It had a high kerb by which troop…leaders
could guide themselves in black night or fog； and it was banked up some feet above the level of the
open land。
They lay still for a while。 It was too dark to seek for cover； if indeed there was any to find； but
Sam felt that they ought at least to get further away from the highways and out of the range of
torch…light。
'e on； Mr。 Frodo！' he whispered。 'One more crawl； and then you can lie still。'
With a last despairing effort Frodo raised himself on his hands； and struggled on for maybe
twenty yards。 Then he pitched down into a shallow pit that opened unexpectedly before them； and
there he lay like a dead thing。
_Chapter 3_
Mount Doom
Sam put his ragged orc…cloak under his master's head； and covered them both with the grey robe
of Lórien； and as he did so his thoughts went out to that fair land； and to the Elves； and he hoped
that the cloth woven by their hands might have some virtue to keep them hidden beyond all hope in
this wilderness of fear。 He heard the scuffling and cries die down as the troops passed on through
the Isenmouthe。 It seemed that in the confusion and the mingling of many panies of various
kinds they had not been missed； not yet at any rate。
Sam took a sip of water； but pressed Frodo to drink； and when his master had recovered a little
he gave him a whole wafer of their precious waybread and made him eat it。 Then； too worn out
even to feel much fear； they stretched themselves out。 They slept a little in uneasy fits； for their
sweat grew chill on them； and the hard stones bit them； and they shivered。 Out of the north from the
Black Gate through Cirith Gorgor there flowed whispering along the ground a thin cold air。
In the morning a grey light came again； for in the high regions the West Wind still blew； but
down on the stones behind the fences of the Black Land the air seemed almost dead； chill and yet
stifling。