and the shadow on the moon； though now it was not so crushing or pelling：
the menace was more remote。 But menace it was。 Frodo felt it too。 His
thought was broken。 He stirred and shivered； but he did not look up。 Gollum
huddled himself together like a cornered spider。 The winged shapes wheeled；
and stooped swiftly down； speeding back to Mordor。
Sam took a deep breath。 ‘The Riders are about again； up in the air；' he
said in a hoarse whisper。 'I saw them。 Do you think they could see us？ They
were very high up。 And if they are Black Riders same as before； then they
can't see much by daylight； can they？ '
'No； perhaps not；' said Frodo。 ‘But their steeds could see。 And these
winged creatures that they ride on now； they can probably see more than any
other creature。 They are like great carrion birds。 They are looking for
something： the Enemy is on the watch； I fear。'
The feeling of dread passed； but the enfolding silence was broken。 For
some time they had been cut off from the world； as if in an invisible
island； now they were laid bare again； peril had returned。 But still Frodo
did not speak to Gollum or make his choice。 His eyes were closed； as if he
were dreaming； or looking inward into his heart and memory。 At last he
stirred and stood up； and it seemed that he was about to speak and to
decide。 But ‘hark！' he said。 ‘What is that？'
A new fear was upon them。 They heard singing and hoarse shouting。 At
first it seemed a long way off； but it drew nearer： it was ing towards
them。 It leaped into all their minds that the Black Wings had spied them and
had sent armed soldiers to seize them： no speed seemed too great for these
terrible servants of Sauron。 They crouched； listening。 The voices and the
clink of weapons and harness were very close。 Frodo and Sam loosened their
small swords in their sheaths。 Flight was impossible。
Gollum rose slowly and crawled insect…like to the lip of the hollow。
Very cautiously he raised himself inch by inch； until he could peer over it
between two broken points of stone。 He remained there without moving for
some time； making no sound。 Presently the voices began to recede again； and
then they slowly faded away。 Far off a horn blew on the ramparts of the
Morannon。 Then quietly Gollum drew back and slipped down into the hollow。
'More Men going to Mordor；' he said in a low voice。 ‘Dark faces。 We
have not seen Men like these before； no； Smjagol has not。 They are fierce。
They have black eyes； and long black hair； and gold rings in their ears；
yes； lots of beautiful gold。 And some have red paint on their cheeks； and
red cloaks； and their flags are red； and the tips of their spears； and they
have round shields； yellow and black with big spikes。 Not nice； very cruel
wicked Men they look。 Almost as bad as Orcs； and much bigger。 Smjagol thinks
they have e out of the South beyond the Great River's end： they came up
that road。 They have passed on to the Black Gate； but more may follow。
Always more people ing to Mordor。 One day all the peoples will be
inside。'
‘Were there any oliphaunts？' asked Sam； forgetting his fear in his
eagerness for news of strange places。
‘No； no oliphaunts。 What are oliphaunts？ ' said Gollum。
Sam stood up； putting his hands behind his back （as he always did when
'speaking poetry'）； and began：
Grey as a mouse；
Big as a house。
Nose like a snake；
I make the earth shake；
As I tramp through the grass；
Trees crack as I pass。
With horns in my mouth
I walk in the South；
Flapping big ears。
Beyond count of years
I stump round and round；
Never lie on the ground；
Not even to die。
Oliphaunt am I；
Biggest of all；
Huge； old； and tall。
If ever you'd met me
You wouldn't forget me。
If you never do；
You won't think I'm true；
But old Oliphaunt am I；
And I never lie。
'That；' said Sam； when he had finished reciting； ‘that's a rhyme we
have in the Shire。 Nonsense maybe； and maybe not。 But we have our tales too；
and news out of the South； you know。 In the old days hobbits used to go on
their travels now and again。 Not that many ever came back； and not that all
they said was believed： news from Bree； and not sure as Shiretalk； as the
sayings go。 But I've heard tales of the big folk down away in the Sunlands。
Swertings we call 'em in our tales； and they ride on oliphaunts； 'tis said；
when they fight。 They put houses and towers on the oliphauntses backs and
all； and the oliphaunts throw rocks and trees at one another。 So when you
said 〃Men out of the South； all in red and gold；〃 I said 〃were there any
oliphaunts？ 〃 For if there was； I was going to take a look； risk or no。 But
now I don't suppose I'll ever see an oliphaunt。 Maybe there ain't no such a
beast。' He sighed。
‘No； no oliphaunts；' said Gollum again。 'Smjagol has not heard of them。
He does not want to see them。 He does not want them to be。 Smjagol wants to
go away from here and hide somewhere safer。 Smjagol wants master to go。 Nice
master； won't he e with Smjagol？ '
Frodo stood up。 He had laughed in the midst of all his cares when Sam
trotted out the old fireside rhyme of Oliphaunt； and the laugh had released
him from hesitation。 ‘I wish we had a thousand oliphaunts with Gandalf on a
white one at their head；' he said。 ‘Then we'd break a way into this evil
land； perhaps。 But we've not； just our own tired legs； that's all。 Well；
Smjagol； the third turn may turn the best。 I will e with you。'
'Good master； wise master； nice master！' cried Gollum in delight；
patting Frodo's knees。 ‘Good master！ Then rest now； nice hobbits； under the
shadow of the stones； close under the stones！ Rest and lie quiet； till the
Yellow Face goes away。 Then we can go quickly。 Soft and quick as shadows we
must be！'
Chapter 4。 Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
For the few hours of daylight that were left they rested； shifting into
the shade as the sun moved； until at last the shadow of the western rim of
their dell grew long； and darkness filled all the hollow。 Then they ate a
little； and drank sparingly。 Gollum ate nothing； but he accepted water
gladly。
‘Soon get more now；' he said； licking his lips。 ‘Good water runs down
in streams to the Great River； nice water in the lands we are going to。
Smjagol will get food there too； perhaps。 He's very hungry； yes； gollum！' He
set his two large flat hands on his shrunken belly； and a pale green light
came into his eyes。
The dusk was deep when at length they set out； creeping over the
westward rim of the dell； and fading like ghosts into the broken country on
the borders of the road： The moon was now three nights from the full； but it
did not climb over the mountains until nearly midnight； and the early night
was very dark。 A single red light burned high up in