know no other way。 Therefore I shall go this way。 I do not ask anyone to go
with me。'
‘No； no； master！ ' wailed Gollum； pawing at him； and seeming in great
distress。 ‘No use that way！ No use！ Don't take the Precious to Him！ He'll
eat us all； if He gets it； eat all the world。 Keep it； nice master； and be
kind to Smjagol。 Don't let Him have it。 Or go away。 go to nice places； and
give it back to little Smjagol。 Yes； yes； master： give it back； eh？ Smjagol
will keep it safe； he will do lots of good； especially to nice hobbits。
Hobbits go home。 Don't go to the Gate！ '
'I am manded to go to the land of Mordor； and therefore I shall go；'
said Frodo。 'If there is only one way； then I must take it。 What es after
must e。'
Sam said nothing。 The look on Frodo's face was enough for him he knew
that words of his were useless。 And after all he never had any real hope in
the affair from the beginning； but being a cheerful hobbit he had not needed
hope； as long as despair could be postponed。 Now they were e to the
bitter end。 But he had stuck to his master all the way； that was what he had
chiefly e for； and he would still stick to him。 His master would not go
to Mordor alone。 Sam would go with him…and at any rate they would get rid of
Gollum。
Gollum； however； did not intend to be got rid of； yet。 He knelt at
Frodo's feet； wringing his hands and squeaking。 'Not this way； master！ ' he
pleaded； 'There is another way。 O yes indeed there is。 Another way。 darker；
more difficult to find； more secret。 But Smjagol knows it。 Let Smjagol show
you！ '
'Another way！ ' said Frodo doubtfully； looking down at Gollum with
searching eyes。
'Yess！ Yess indeed！ There was another way。 Smjagol found it。 Let's go
and see if it's still there！ '
‘You have not spoken of this before。'
‘No。 Master did not ask。 Master did not say what he meant to do。 He
does not tell poor Smjagol。 He says： Smjagol； take me to the Gate and
then good bye！ Smjagol can run away and be good。 But now he says： I purpose
to enter Mordor this way。 So Smjagol is very afraid。 He does not want to
lose nice master。 And he promised； master made him promise； to save the
Precious。 But master is going to take it to Him； straight to the Black Hand；
if master will go this way。 So Smjagol must save them both； and he thinks of
another way that there was； once upon a time。 Nice master。 Smjagol very
good； always helps。'
Sam frowned。 If he could have bored holes in Gollum with his eyes； he
would have done。 His mind was full of doubt。 To all appearances Gollum was
genuinely distressed and anxious to help Frodo。 But Sam； remembering the
overheard debate； found it hard to believe that the long submerged Smjagol
had e out on top： that voice at any rate had not had the last word in the
debate。 Sam's guess was that the Smjagol and Gollum halves （or what in his
own mind he called Slinker and Stinker） had made a truce and a temporary
alliance： neither wanted the Enemy to get the Ring； both wished to keep
Frodo from capture； and under their eye； as long as possible at any rate
as long as Stinker still had a chance of laying hands on his 'Precious'。
Whether there really was another way into Mordor Sam doubted。
‘And it's a good thing neither half of the old villain don't know what
master means to do；' he thought。 ‘If he knew that Mr。 Frodo is trying to put
an end to his Precious for good and all； there'd be trouble pretty quick； I
bet。 Anyhow old Stinker is so frightened of the Enemy and he's under
orders of some kind from him； or was that he'd give us away rather than
be caught helping us； and rather than let his Precious be melted； maybe。 At
least that's my idea。 And I hope the master will think it out carefully。
He's as wise as any； but he's soft…hearted； that's what he is。 It's beyond
any Gamgee to guess what he'll do next。'
Frodo did not answer Gollum at once。 While these doubts were passing
through Sam's slow but shrewd mind； he stood gazing out towards the dark
cliff of Cirith Gorgor。 The hollow in which they had taken refuge was delved
in the side of a low hill； at some little height above a long trenchlike
valley that lay between it and the outer buttresses of the mountains。 In the
midst of the valley stood the black foundations of the western watch…tower。
By morning…light the roads that converged upon the Gate of Mordor could now
be clearly seen； pale and dusty； one winding back northwards； another
dwindling eastwards into the mists that clung about the feet of Ered Lithui；
and a third that ran towards him。 As it bent sharply round the tower； it
entered a narrow defile and passed not far below the hollow where he stood。
Westward； to his right； it turned； skirting the shoulders of the mountains；
and went off southwards into the deep shadows that mantled all the western
sides of Ephel D產th； beyond his sight it journeyed on into the narrow land
between the mountains and the Great River。
As he gazed Frodo became aware that there was a great stir and movement
on the plain。 It seemed as if whole armies were on the march； though for the
most part they were hidden by the reeks and fumes drifting from the fens and
wastes beyond。 But here and there he caught the gleam of spears and helmets；
and over the levels beside the roads horsemen could be seen riding in many
panies。 He remembered his vision from afar upon Amon Hen； so few days
before； though now it seemed many years ago。 Then he knew that the hope that
had for one wild moment stirred in his heart was vain。 The trumpets had not
rung in challenge but in greeting。 This was no assault upon the Dark Lord by
the men of Gondor； risen like avenging ghosts from the graves of valour long
passed away。 These were Men of other race； out of the wide Eastlands；
gathering to the summons of their Overlord； armies that had encamped before
his Gate by night and now marched in to swell his mounting power。 As if
suddenly made fully aware of the peril of their position； alone； in the
growing light of day； so near to this vast menace； Frodo quickly drew his
frail grey hood close upon his head； and stepped down into the dell。 Then he
turned to Gollum。
‘Smjagol；' he said； ‘I will trust you once more。 lndeed it seems that I
must do so； and that it is my fate to receive help from you。 where I least
looked for it； and your fate to help me whom you long pursued with evil
purpose。 So far you have deserved well of me and have kept your promise
truly。 Truly； I say and mean；' he added with a glance at Sam； 'for twice now
we have been in your power； and you have done no harm to us。 Nor have you
tried to take from me what you once sought。 May the third time prove the
best！ But I warn you； Smjagol； you are in danger。'
‘Yes； yes； master！ ' said Gollum。 ‘Dreadful danger！ Smjagol's bones
shake to think of it。 but he doesn't run away。 He must help nice master