could spare them。 And sometimes as a man may cast a dainty to his cat （his
cat he calls her； but she owns him not） Sauron would send her prisoners that
he had no better uses for： he would have them driven to her hole； and report
brought back to him of the play she made。
So they both lived； delighting in their own devices； and feared no
assault； nor wrath； nor any end of their wickedness。 Never yet had any fly
escaped from Shelob's webs； and the greater now was her rage and hunger。
But nothing of this evil which they had stirred up against them did
poor Sam know； except that a fear was growing on him； a menace which he
could not see； and such a weight did it bee that it was a burden to him
to run； and his feet seemed leaden。
Dread was round him； and enemies before him in the pass； and his master
was in a fey mood running heedlessly to meet them。 Turning his eyes away
from the shadow behind and the deep gloom beneath the cliff upon his left；
he looked ahead； and he saw two things that increased his dismay。 He saw
that the sword which Frodo still held unsheathed was glittering with blue
flame； and he saw that though the sky behind was now dark。 still the window
in the tower was glowing red。
‘Orcs！ ' he muttered。 ‘We'll never rush it like this。 There's Orcs
about； and worse than Orcs。' Then returning quickly to his long habit of
secrecy； he closed his hand about the precious Phial which he still bore。
Red with his own living blood his hand shone for a moment； and then he
thrust the revealing light deep into a pocket near his breast and drew his
elven…cloak about him。 Now he tried to quicken his pace。 His master was
gaining on him； already he was some twenty strides ahead； flitting on like a
shadow； soon he would be lost to sight in that grey world。
Hardly had Sam hidden the light of the star…glass when she came。 A
little way ahead and to his left he saw suddenly； issuing from a black hole
of shadow under the cliff； the most loathly shape that he had ever beheld；
horrible beyond the horror of an evil dream。 Most like a spider she was； but
huger than the great hunting beasts； and more terrible than they because of
the evil purpose in her remorseless eyes。 Those same eyes that he had
thought daunted and defeated； there they were lit with a fell light again；
clustering in her out…thrust head。 Great horns she had； and behind her short
stalk…like neck was her huge swollen body； a vast bloated bag； swaying and
sagging between her legs； its great bulk was black； blotched with livid
marks； but the belly underneath was pale and luminous and gave forth a
stench。 Her legs were bent； with great knobbed joints high above her back；
and hairs that stuck out like steel spines； and at each leg's end there was
a claw。
As soon as she had squeezed her soft squelching body and its folded
limbs out of the upper exit from her lair； she moved with a horrible speed；
now running on her creaking legs； now making a sudden bound。 She was between
Sam and his master。 Either she did not see Sam； or she avoided him for the
moment as the bearer of the light‘ and fixed all her intent upon one prey；
upon Frodo； bereft of his Phial； running heedless up the path； unaware yet
of his peril。 Swiftly he ran； but Shelob was swifter； in a few leaps she
would have him。
Sam gasped and gathered all his remaining breath to shout。 'Look out
behind！ ' he yelled。 'Look out master！ I'm' but suddenly his cry was
stifled。
A long clammy hand went over his mouth and another caught him by the
neck； while something wrapped itself about his leg。 Taken off his guard he
toppled backwards into the arms of his attacker。
‘Got him！ ' hissed Gollum in his ear。 ‘At last； my precious； we've got
him； yes； the nassty hobbit。 We takes this one。 She'll get the other。 O yes；
Shelob will get him； not Smjagol： he promised； he won't hurt Master at all。
But he's got you； you nassty filthy little sneak！' He spat on Sam's neck。
Fury at the treachery； and desperation at the delay when his master was
in deadly peril； gave to Sam a sudden violence and strength that was far
beyond anything that Gollum had expected from this slow stupid hobbit； as he
thought him。 Not Gollum himself could have twisted more quickly or more
fiercely。 His hold on Sam's mouth slipped； and Sam ducked and lunged forward
again； trying to tear away from the grip on his neck。 His sword was still in
his hand； and on his left arm； hanging by its thong； was Faramir's staff。
Desperately he tried to turn and stab his enemy。 But Gollum was too quick。
His long right arm shot out； and he grabbed Sam's wrist： his fingers were
like a vice； slowly and relentlessly he bent the hand down and forward； till
with a cry of pain Sam released the sword and it fell to the ground； and all
the while Gollum's other hand was tightening on Sam's throat。
Then Sam played his last trick。 With all his strength he pulled away
and got his feet firmly planted； then suddenly he drove his legs against the
ground and with his whole force hurled himself backwards。
Not expecting even this simple trick from Sam； Gollum fell over with
Sam on top； and he received the weight of the sturdy hobbit in his stomach。
A sharp hiss came out of him； and for a second his hand upon Sam's throat
loosened； but his fingers still gripped the sword…hand。 Sam tore himself
forward and away； and stood up； and then quickly he wheeled away to his
right； pivoted on the wrist held by Gollum。 Laying hold of the staff with
his left hand； Sam swung it up； and down it came with a whistling crack on
Gollum's outstretched arm； just below the elbow。
With a squeal Gollum let go。 Then Sam waded in； not waiting to change
the staff from left to right he dealt another savage blow。 Quick as a snake
Gollum slithered aside。 and the stroke aimed at his head fell across his
back。 The staff cracked and broke。 That was enough for him。 Grabbing from
behind was an old game of his； and seldom had he failed in it。 But this
time； misled by spite； he had made the mistake of speaking and gloating
before he had both hands on his victim's neck。 Everything had gone wrong
with his beautiful plan； since that horrible light had so unexpectedly
appeared in the darkness。 And now he was face to face with a furious enemy；
little less than his own size。 This fight was not for him。 Sam swept up his
sword from the ground and raised it。 Gollum squealed； and springing aside on
to all fours； he jumped away in one big bound like a frog。 Before Sam could
reach him； he was off； running with amazing speed back towards the tunnel。
Sword in hand Sam went after him。 For the moment he had forgotten
everything else but the red fury in his brain and the desire to kill Gollum。
But before he could overtake him； Gollum was gone。 Then as the dark hole
stood before him and the stench came out to meet