fills me with foreboding。 A vision it was that you saw； I think； and no
more； some shadow of evil fortune that has been or will be。 Unless indeed it
is some lying trick of the Enemy。 I have seen the faces of fair warriors of
old laid in sleep beneath the pools of the Dead Marshes； or seeming so by
his foul arts。'
'Nay； it was not so；' said Faramir。 'For his works fill the heart with
loathing； but my heart was filled with grief and pity。'
‘Yet how could such a thing have happened in truth？ ' asked Frodo。 'For
no boat could have been carried over the stony hills from Tol Brandir； and
Boromir purposed to go home across the Entwash and the fields of Rohan。 And
yet how could any vessel ride the foam of the great falls and not founder in
the boiling pools； though laden with water？ '
'I know not；' said Faramir。 'But whence came the boat？ '
‘From Lurien；' said Frodo。 'In three such boats we rowed down Anduin to
the Falls。 They also were of elven…work。'
'You passed through the Hidden Land；' said Faramir； ‘but it seems that
you little understood its power。 If Men have dealings with the Mistress of
Magic who dwells in the Golden Wood； then they may look for strange things
to follow。 For it is perilous for mortal man to walk out of the world of
this Sun； and few of old came thence unchanged； 'tis said。
‘Boromir； O Boromir！' he cried。 ‘What did she say to you； the Lady that
dies not？ What did she see？ What woke in your heart then？ Why went you ever
to Laurelindurenan； and came not by your own road； upon the horses of Rohan
riding home in the morning？'
Then turning again to Frodo； he spoke in a quiet voice once more。 'To
those questions I guess that you could make some answer； Frodo son of Drogo。
But not here or now。 maybe。 But lest you still should think my tale a
vision； I will tell you this。 The horn of Boromir at least returned in
truth； and not in seeming。 The horn came； but it was cloven in two； as it
were by axe or sword。 The shards came severally to shore： one was found
among the reeds where watchers of Gondor lay； northwards below the infalls
of the Entwash； the other was found spinning on the flood by one who had an
errand in the water。 Strange chances； but murder will out； 'tis said。
'And now the horn of the elder son lies in two pieces upon the lap of
Denethor； sitting in his high chair； waiting for news。 And you can tell me
nothing of the cleaving of the horn？ '
'No； I did not know of it；' said Frodo。 ‘But the day when you heard it
blowing； if your reckoning is true； was the day when we parted； when I and
my servant left the pany。 And now your tale fills me with dread。 For if
Boromir was then in peril and was slain； I must fear that all my panions
perished too。 And they were my kindred and my friends。
‘Will you not put aside your doubt of me and let me go？ I am weary； and
full of grief； and afraid。 But I have a deed to do； or to attempt； before I
too am slain。 And the more need of haste； if we two halflings are all that
remain of our fellowship。
'Go back； Faramir； valiant Captain of Gondor； and defend your city
while you may； and let me go where my doom takes me。'
‘For me there is no fort in our speech together；' said Faramir； ‘but
you surely draw from it more dread than need be。 Unless the people of Lurien
themselves came to him； who arrayed Boromir as for a funeral？ Not Orcs or
servants of the Nameless。 Some of your pany； I guess； live still。
‘But whatever befell on the North March； you； Frodo； I doubt no longer。
If hard days have made me any judge of Men's words and faces； then I may
make a guess at Halflings！ Though；' and now he smiled； ‘there is something
strange about you； Frodo； an elvish air； maybe。 But more lies upon our words
together than I thought at first。 I should now take you back to Minas Tirith
to answer there to Denethor； and my life will justly be forfeit； if I now
choose a course that proves ill for my city。 So I will not decide in haste
what is to be done。 Yet we must move hence without more delay。'
He sprang to his feet and issued some orders。 At once the men who were
gathered round him broke up into small groups； and went off this way and
that； vanishing quickly into the shadows of the rocks and trees。 Soon only
Mablung and Damrod remained。
'Now you； Frodo and Samwise； will e with me and my guards；' said
Faramir。 ‘You cannot go along the road southwards； if that was your purpose。
It will be unsafe for some days； and always more closely watched after this
affray than it has been yet。 And you cannot； I think； go far today in any
case； for you are weary。 And so are we。 We are going now to a secret place
we have； somewhat less than ten miles from here。 The Orcs and spies of the
Enemy have not found it yet； and if they did； we could hold it long even
against many。 There we may lie up and rest for a while； and you with us。 In
the morning I will decide what is best for me to do； and for you。'
There was nothing for Frodo to do but to fall in with this request； or
order。 It seemed in any case a wise course for the moment； since this foray
of the men of Gondor had made a journey in Ithilien more dangerous than
ever。
They set out at once： Mablung and Damrod a little ahead； and Faramir
with Frodo and Sam behind。 Skirting the hither side of the pool where the
hobbits had bathed； they crossed the stream； climbed a long bank； and passed
into green…shadowed woodlands that marched ever downwards and westwards。
While they walked； as swiftly as the hobbits could go； they talked in hushed
voices。
'I broke off our speech together；' said Faramir； 'not only because time
pressed； as Master Samwise had reminded me； but also because we were drawing
near to matters that were better not debated openly before many men。 It was
for that reason that I turned rather to the matter of my brother and let be
Isildur's Bane。 You were not wholly frank with me； Frodo。'
‘I told no lies； and of the truth all I could；' said Frodo。
‘I do not blame you；' said Faramir。 'You spoke with skill in a hard
place； and wisely； it seemed to me。 But I learned or guessed more from you
than your words said。 You were not friendly with Boromir； or you did not
part in friendship。 You； and Master Samwise； too； I guess have some
grievance。 Now I loved him dearly； and would gladly avenge his death； yet I
knew him well。 Isildur's Bane I would hazard that Isildur's Bane lay
between you and was a cause of contention in your pany。 Clearly it is a
mighty heirloom of some sort； and such things do not breed peace among
confederates； not if aught may be learned from ancient tales。 Do I not hit
near the mark？'
‘Near；' said Frodo； 'but not in the gold。 There was no contention in
our pany； though there was doubt： doubt which way we should take from the
Emyn Muil。 But be that as it may； ancient tales teach us also the per