Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Old Forest
Ifweturnleftandfolowit,weshalbeboundtocomeoutontheeastsideoftheForesteventualy."
"Idaresay!"saidPippin."Thatis,ifthetrackgoesonsofar,anddoesnotsimplyleadusintoabogandleaveusthere.Whomadethetrack,doyousuppose,andwhy?Iamsureitwasnotforourbenefit.IamgettingverysuspiciousofthisForestandeverythinginit,andIbegintobelieveallthestoriesaboutit.Andhaveyouanyideahowfareastwardweshouldhavetogo?"
"No,"saidMerry,"Ihaven’t.Idon’tknowintheleasthowfardowntheWithywindleweare,orwhocouldpossiblycomehereoftenenoughtomakeapathalongit.ButthereisnootherwayoutthatIcanseeorthinkof."
Therebeingnothingelseforit,theyfiledout,andMerryledthemtothepaththathehaddiscovered.Everywherethereedsandgrasseswerelushandtal,inplacesfarabovetheirheads;butoncefound,thepathwaseasytofolow,asitturnedandtwisted,pickingoutthesoundergroundamongthebogsandpools.Hereandthereitpassedoverotherrils,runningdownguliesintotheWithywindleoutofthehigherforest-lands,andatthesepointsthereweretree-trunksorbundlesofbrushwoodlaidcarefulyacross.
Thehobbitsbegantofeelveryhot.Therewerearmiesoffliesofallkindsbuzzingroundtheirears,andtheafternoonsunwasburningontheirbacks.Atlasttheycamesuddenlyintoathinshade;greatgreybranchesreachedacrossthepath.Eachstepforwardbecamemorereluctantthanthelast.Sleepinessseemedtobecreepingoutofthegroundanduptheirlegs,andfalingsoftlyoutoftheairupontheirheadsandeyes.
