Властелин колец: Братство кольца
Flight to the Ford
SomewayaheadStriderhadcaughtaglimpseoftheLoudwateragain,andheknewthat,thoughitwashiddenfromview,theRoadtotheFordwasnotfarfromtheRiverandlayonthesidenearesttothem.
‘WemustmakefortheRoadagain,’hesaid.‘Wecannothopetofindapaththroughthesehills.Whateverdangermaybesetit,theRoadisouronlywaytotheFord.’
Assoonastheyhadeatentheysetoutagain.Theyclimbedslowlydownthesouthernsideoftheridge;butthewaywasmucheasierthantheyhadexpected,fortheslopewasfarlesssteeponthisside,andbeforelongFrodowasabletorideagain.BillFerny’spooroldponywasdevelopinganunexpectedtalentforpickingoutapath,andforsparingitsriderasmanyjoltsaspossible.Thespiritsofthepartyroseagain.EvenFrodofeltbetterinthemorninglight,buteverynowandagainamistseemedtoobscurehissight,andhepassedhishandsoverhiseyes.
Pippinwasalittleaheadoftheothers.Suddenlyheturnedroundandcalledtothem.‘Thereisapathhere!’hecried.
Whentheycameupwithhim,theysawthathehadmadenomistake:therewereclearlythebeginningsofapath,thatclimbedwithmanywindingsoutofthewoodsbelowandfadedawayonthehill-topbehind.Inplacesitwasnowfaintandovergrown,orchokedwithfallenstonesandtrees;butatonetimeitseemedtohavebeenmuchused.Itwasapathmadebystrongarmsandheavyfeet.Hereandthereoldtreeshadbeencutorbrokendown,andlargerocksclovenorheavedasidetomakeaway.
