gloom the hobbits saw that the cave was larger than they had guessed and was
filled with great store of arms and victuals。
'Well； here is our refuge；' said Faramir。 ‘Not a place of great ease
but here you may pass the night in peace。 It is dry at least； and there is
food； though no fire。 At one time the water flowed down through this cave
and out of the arch； but its course was changed further up the gorge； by
workmen of old； and the stream sent down in a fall of doubled height over
the rocks far above。 All the ways into this grot were then sealed against
the entry of water or aught else； all save one。 There are now but two ways
out： that passage yonder by which you entered blindfold； and through the
Window…curtain into a deep bowl filled with knives of stone。 Now rest a
while； until the evening meal is set。'
The hobbits were taken to a corner and given a low bed to lie on； if
they wished。 Meanwhile men busied themselves about the cave； quietly and in
orderly quickness。 Light tables were taken from the walls and set up on
trestles and laden with gear。 This was plain and unadorned for the most
part； but all well and fairly； made： round platters； bowls and dishes of
glazed brown clay or turned box…wood； smooth and clean。 Here and there was a
cup or basin of polished bronze； and a goblet of plain silver was set by the
Captain's seat in the middle of the inmost table。
Faramir went about among the men； questioning each as he came in； in a
soft voice。 Some came back from the pursuit of the Southrons； others； left
behind as scouts near the road； came in latest。 All the Southrons had been
accounted for； save only the great mymak： what happened to him none could
say。 Of the enemy no movement could be seen； not even an orc…spy was abroad。
'You saw and heard nothing； Anborn？' Faramir asked of the latest er。
‘Well； no； lord；' said the man。 ‘No Orc at least。 But I saw； or thought
I saw； something a little strange。 It was getting deep dusk； when the eyes
make things greater than they should be。 So perhaps it may have been no more
than a squirrel。' Sam pricked up his ears at this。 'Yet if so； it was a
black squirrel； and I saw no tail。 'Twas like a shadow on the ground； and it
whisked behind a tree…trunk when I drew nigh and went up aloft as swift as
any squirrel could。 You will not have us slay wild beasts for no purpose；
and it seemed no more； so I tried no arrow。 It was too dark for sure
shooting anyway； and the creature was gone into the gloom of the leaves in a
twinkling。 But I stayed for a while； for it seemed strange； and then I
hastened back。 I thought I heard the thing hiss at me from high above as I
turned away。 A large squirrel； maybe。 Perhaps under the shadow of the
Unnamed some of the beasts of Mirkwood are wandering hither to our woods。
They have black squirrels there； 'tis said。'
‘Perhaps；' said Faramir。 ‘But that would be an ill omen； if it were so。
We do not want the escapes of Mirkwood in Ithilien。' Sam fancied that he
gave a swift glance towards the hobbits as he spoke； but Sam said nothing。
For a while he and Frodo lay back and watched the torchlight； and the men
moving to and fro speaking in hushed voices。 Then suddenly Frodo fell
asleep。
Sam struggled with himself； arguing this way and that。 ‘He may be all
right；' he thought； 'and then he may not。 Fair speech may hide a foul
heart。' He yawned。 ‘I could sleep for a week； and I'd be better for it。 And
what can I do； if I do keep awake； me all alone； and all these great Men
about？ Nothing； Sam Gamgee； but you've got to keep awake all the same。' And
somehow he managed it。 The light faded from the cave door； and the grey veil
of falling water grew dim and was lost in gathering shadow。 Always the sound
of the water went on； never changing its note； morning or evening or night。
It murmured and whispered of sleep。 Sam stuck his knuckles in his eyes。
Now more torches were being lit。 A cask of wine was broached。 Storage
barrels were being opened。 Men were fetching water from the fall。 Some were
laving their hands in basins。 A wide copper bowl and a white cloth were
brought to Faramir and he washed。
‘Wake our guests；' he said； ‘and take them water。 It is time to eat。'
Frodo sat up and yawned and stretched。 Sam； not used to being waited
on； looked with some surprise at the tall man who bowed； holding a basin of
water before him。
'Put it on the ground； master； if you please！ ' he said。 'Easier for me
and you。' Then to the astonishment and amusement of the Men he plunged his
head into the cold water and splashed his neck and ears。
'Is it the custom in your land to wash the head before supper？ ' said
the man who waited on the hobbits。
‘No； before breakfast；' said Sam。 ‘But if you're short of sleep cold
water on the neck's like rain on a wilted lettuce。 There！ Now I can keep
awake long enough to eat a bit。'
They were led then to seats beside Faramir： barrels covered with pelts
and high enough above the benches of the Men for their convenience。 Before
they ate； Faramir and all his men turned and faced west in a moment of
silence。 Faramir signed to Frodo and Sam that they should do likewise。
'So we always do。' he said； as they sat down： ‘we look towards N甿enor
that was； and beyond to Elvenhome that is； and to that which is beyond
Elvenhome and will ever be。 Have you no such custom at meat？ '
‘No；' said Frodo； feeling strangely rustic and untutored。 ‘But if we
are guests； we bow to our host； and after we have eaten we rise and thank
him。'
'That we do also；' said Faramir。
After so long journeying and camping； and days spent the lonely
wild； the evening meal seemed a feast to the hobbits： to drink pale yellow
wine； cool and fragrant； and eat bread and butter； and salted meats； and
dried fruits； and good red cheese； with clean hands and clean knives and
plates。 Neither Frodo nor Sam refused anything that was offered； nor a
second； nor indeed a third helping。 The wine coursed in their veins and
tired limbs； and they felt glad and easy of heart as they had not done since
they left the land of Lurien。
When all was done Faramir led them to a recess at the back of the cave；
partly screened by curtains； and a chair and two stools were brought there。
A little earthenware lamp burned in a niche。
‘You may soon desire to sleep；' he said； 'and especially good Samwise；
who would not close his eyes before he ate whether for fear of blunting
the edge of a noble hunger； or for fear of me； I do not know。 But it is not
good to sleep too soon after meat； and that following a fast。 Let us talk a
while。 On your journey from Rivendell there must have been many things to
tell。 And you； too； would perhaps wish to learn something of us and the
lands where you now are。 Tell me of Boromir my brother； and of