Mount Doom

           Samputhisraggedorc-cloakunderhismaster’shead,andcoveredthembothwiththegreyrobeofLórien;andashedidsohisthoughtswentouttothatfairland,andtotheElves,andhehopedthattheclothwovenbytheirhandsmighthavesomevirtuetokeepthemhiddenbeyondallhopeinthiswildernessoffear.HeheardthescufflingandcriesdiedownasthetroopspassedonthroughtheIsenmouthe.Itseemedthatintheconfusionandtheminglingofmanycompaniesofvariouskindstheyhadnotbeenmissed,notyetatanyrate.

           Samtookasipofwater,butpressedFrodotodrink,andwhenhismasterhadrecoveredalittlehegavehimawholewaferoftheirpreciouswaybreadandmadehimeatit.Then,toowornouteventofeelmuchfear,theystretchedthemselvesout.Theysleptalittleinuneasyfits;fortheirsweatgrewchillonthem,andthehardstonesbitthem,andtheyshivered.OutofthenorthfromtheBlackGatethroughCirithGorgorthereflowedwhisperingalongthegroundathincoldair.

           Inthemorningagreylightcameagain,forinthehighregionstheWestWindstillblew,butdownonthestonesbehindthefencesoftheBlackLandtheairseemedalmostdead,chillandyetstifling.Samlookedupoutofthehollow.Thelandallaboutwasdreary,flatanddrab-hued.Ontheroadsnearbynothingwasmovingnow;butSamfearedthewatchfuleyesonthewalloftheIsenmouthe,nomorethanafurlongawaynorthward.South-eastward,farofflikeadarkstandingshadow,loomedtheMountain.