The Passage of the Marshes

           Gollummovedquickly,withhisheadandneckthrustforward,oftenusinghishandsaswellashisfeet.FrodoandSamwerehardputtoittokeepupwithhim;butheseemednolongertohaveanythoughtofescaping,andiftheyfellbehind,hewouldturnandwaitforthem.Afteratimehebroughtthemtothebrinkofthenarrowgullythattheyhadstruckbefore;buttheywerenowfurtherfromthehills.

           `Hereitis!’hecried.’Thereisawaydowninside,yes.Nowwefollowsit-out,outawayoverthere.’Hepointedsouthandeasttowardsthemarshes.Thereekofthemcametotheirnostrils,heavyandfouleveninthecoolnightair..

           Gollumcastupanddownalongthebrink,andatlengthhecalledtothem.`Here!Wecangetdownhere.Sméagolwentthiswayonce:Iwentthisway,hidingfromOrcs.’

           Heledtheway,andfollowinghimthehobbitsclimbeddownintothegloom.Itwasnotdifficult,fortheriftwasatthispointonlysomefifteenfeetdeepandaboutadozenacross.Therewasrunningwateratthebottom:itwasinfactthebedofoneofthemanysmallriversthattrickleddownfromthehillstofeedthestagnantpoolsandmiresbeyond.Gollumturnedtotheright,southwardmoreorless,andsplashedalongwithhisfeetintheshallowstonystream.Heseemedgreatlydelightedtofeelthewater,andchuckledtohimself,sometimesevencroakinginasortofsong.

           Thecoldhardlands,

           theybitesourhands,

           theygnawsourfeet.

           Therocksandstones

           arelikeoldbones

           allbareofmeat.