Faramir's eyes； he faltered。 'Dead？' he said。 ‘Do you mean that he is dead；
and that you knew it？ You have been trying to trap me in words； playing with
me？ Or are you now trying to snare me with a falsehood？'
‘I would not snare even an orc with a falsehood；' said Faramir。
‘How then did he die； and how do you know of it？ Since you say that
none of the pany had reached the city when you left。'
'As to the manner of his death； I had hoped that his friend and
panion would tell me how it was。'
‘But he was alive and strong when we parted。 And he lives still for all
that I know。 Though surely there are many perils in the world。'
‘Many indeed；' said Faramir； ‘and treachery not the least。'
Sam had been getting more and more impatient and angry at this
conversation。 These last words were more than he could bear； and bursting
into the middle of the ring； he strode up to his master's side。
'Begging your pardon； Mr。 Frodo；' he said； ‘but this has gone on long
enough。 He's no right to talk to you so。 After all you've gone through； as
much for his good and all these great Men as for anyone else。
'See here； Captain！ ' He planted himself squarely in front of Faramir
his hands on his hips； and a look on his face as if he was addressing a
young hobbit who had offered him what he called ‘sauce' when questioned
about visits to the orchard。 There was some murmuring； but also some grins
on the faces of the men looking on： the sight of their Captain sitting on
the ground and eye to eye with a young hobbit； legs well apart； bristling
with wrath； was one beyond their experience。 ‘See here！ ' he said。 ‘What are
you driving at？ Let's e to the point before all the Orcs of Mordor e
down on us！ If you think my master murdered this Boromir and then ran away；
you've got no sense； but say it； and have done！ And then let us know what
you mean to do about it。 But it's a pity that folk as talk about fighting
the Enemy can't let others do their bit in their own way without
interfering。 He'd be mighty pleased； if he could see you now。 Think he'd got
a new friend； he would。'
‘Patience！' said Faramir； but without anger。 ‘Do not speak before your
master； whose wit is greater than yours。 And I do not need any to teach me
of our peril。 Even so； I spare a brief time； in order to judge justly in a
hard matter。 Were I as hasty as you； I might have slain you long ago。 For I
am manded to slay all whom I find in this land without the leave of the
Lord of Gondor。 But I do not slay man or beast needlessly； and not gladly
even when it is needed。 Neither do I talk in vain。 So be forted。 Sit by
your master； and be silent！ '
Sam sat down heavily with a red face。 Faramir turned to Frodo again：
'You asked how do I know that the son of Denethor is dead。 Tidings of death
have many wings。 Night oft brings news to near kindred； 'tis said。 Boromir
was my brother。'
A shadow of sorrow passed over his face。 ‘Do you remember aught of
special mark that the Lord Boromir bore with him among his gear？'
Frodo thought for a moment； fearing some further trap； and wondering
how this debate would turn in the end。 He had hardly saved the Ring from the
proud grasp of Boromir； and how he would fare now among so many men； warlike
and strong； he did not know。 Yet he felt in his heart that Faramir； though
he was much like his brother in looks； was a man less self…regarding； both
sterner and wiser。 'I remember that Boromir bore a horn；' he said at last。
‘You remember well； and as one who has in truth seen him；' said
Faramir。 ‘Then maybe you can see it in your mind's eye： a great horn of the
wild ox of the East； bound with silver； and written with ancient characters。
That horn the eldest son of our house has borne for many generations； and it
is said that if it be blown at need anywhere within the bounds of Gondor； as
the realm was of old； its voice will not pass unheeded。
'Five days ere I set out on this venture； eleven days ago at about this
hour of the day； I heard the blowing of that horn： from the northward it
seemed； but dim； as if it were but an echo in the mind。 A boding of ill we
thought it； my father and I； for no tidings had we heard of Boromir since he
went away； and no watcher on our borders had seen him pass。 And on the third
night after another and a stranger thing befell me。
'I sat at night by the waters of Anduin； in the grey dark under the
young pale moon； watching the ever…moving stream； and the sad reeds were
rustling。 So do we ever watch the shores nigh Osgiliath； which our enemies
now partly hold； and issue from it to harry our lands。 But that night all
the world slept at the midnight hour。 Then I saw； or it seemed that I saw； a
boat floating on the water； glimmering grey； a small boat of a strange
fashion with a high prow。 and there was none to row or steer it。
‘An awe fell on me； for a pale light was round it。 But I rose and went
to the bank； and began to walk out into the stream； for I was drawn towards
it。 Then the boat turned towards me； and stayed its pace； and floated slowly
by within my hand's reach； yet I durst not handle it。 It waded deep； as if
it were heavily burdened； and it seemed to me as it passed under my gaze
that it was almost filled with clear water； from which came the light； and
lapped in the water a warrior lay asleep。
‘A broken sword was on his knee。 I saw many wounds on him。 It was
Boromir； my brother； dead。 I knew his gear； his sword； his beloved face。 One
thing only I missed： his horn。 One thing only I knew not： a fair belt； as it
were of linked golden leaves； about his waist。 Boromir！ I cried。 Where is
thy horn？ Whither goest thou？ O Boromir！ But he was gone。 The boat turned
into the stream and passed glimmering on into the night。 Dreamlike it was。
and yet no dream； for there was no waking。 And I do not doubt that he is
dead and has passed down the River to the Sea。'
'Alas！' said Frodo。 'That was indeed Boromir as I knew him。 For the
golden belt was given to him in Lothlurien by the Lady Galadriel。 She it was
that clothed us as you see us； in elven…grey。 This brooch is of the same
workmanship。' He touched the green and silver leaf that fastened his cloak
beneath his throat。
Faramir looked closely at it。 ‘It is beautiful；' he said。 'Yes； 'tis
work of the same craft。 So then you passed through the Land of Lurien？
Laurelindurenan it was named of old； but long now it has lain beyond the
knowledge of Men；' he added softly； regarding Frodo with a new wonder in his
eyes。 ‘Much that was strange about you I begin now to understand。 Will you
not tell me more？ For it is a bitter thought that Boromir died； within sight
of the land of his home。'
'No more can I say than I have said；' answered Frodo。 ‘Though your tale
fills me with foreboding。 A vision it was that you saw； I think； and no
more； so