on this Redhorn hillock troubles her not at all。 But I have brought back a gleam of good hope for those who are doomed to go on feet。 There is the greatest wind drift of all just beyond the turn； and there our Strong Men were almost buried。 They despaired； until I returned and told them that the drift was little wider than a wall。 And on the other side the snow suddenly grows less； while further down it is no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbit's toes。'
'Ah； it is as I said；' growled Gimli。 'It was no ordinary storm。 It is the ill will of Caradhras。 He does not love Elves and Dwarves； and that drift was laid to cut off our escape。'
'But happily your Caradhras has fotten that you have Men with you；' said Boromir； who came up at that moment。 'And doughty Men too； if I may say it； though lesser men with spades might have served you better。 Still； we have thrust a lane through the drift； and for that all here may be grateful who cannot run as light as Elves。'
'But how are we to get down there； even if you have cut through the drift？' said Pippin； voicing the thought of all the hobbits。
'Have hope！' said Boromir。 'I am weary； but I still have some strength left； and Aragorn too。 We will bear the little folk。 The others no doubt will make shift to tread the path behind us。 e； Master Peregrin！ I will begin with you。'
He lifted up the hobbit。 'Cling to my back！ I shall need my arms' he said and strode forward。 Aragorn with Merry came behind。 Pippin marvelled at his strength； seeing the passage that he had already forced with no other tool than his great limbs。 Even now； burdened as he was； he was widening the track for those who followed； thrusting the snow aside as he went。
They came at length to the great drift。 It was flung across the mountain path like a sheer and sudden wall； and its crest； sharp as if shaped with knives； reared up more than twice the height of Boromir； but through the middle a passage had been beaten； rising and falling like a bridge。 On the far side Merry and Pippin were set down； and there they waited with Legolas for the rest of the pany to arrive。
After a while Boromir returned carrying Sam。 Behind in the narrow but now welltrodden track came Gandalf； leading Bill with Gimli perched among the baggage。 Last came Aragorn carrying Frodo。 They passed through the lane； but hardly had Frodo touched the ground when with a deep rumble there rolled down a fall of stones and slithering snow。 The spray of it half blinded the pany as they crouched against the cliff； and when the air cleared again they saw that the path was blocked behind them。
'Enough； enough！' cried Gimli。 'ay！' And indeed with that last stroke the malice of the mountain seemed to be expended； as if Caradhras was satisfied that the invaders had been beaten off and would not dare to return。 The threat of snow lifted； the clouds began to break and the light grew broader。
As Legolas had reported； they found that the snow became steadily more shallow as they went down； so that even the hobbits could trudge along。 Soon they all stood once more on the flat shelf at the head of the steep slope where they had felt the first flakes of snow the night before。
The morning was now far advanced。 From the high place they looked back westwards over the lower lands。 Far away in the tumble of country that lay at the foot of the mountain was the dell from which they had started to climb the pass。
Frodo's legs ached。 He was chilled to the bone and hungry； and his head was dizzy as he thought of the long and painful march downhill。 Black specks swam before his eyes。 He rubbed them； but the black specks remained。 In the distance below him； but still high above the lower foothills； dark dots were circling in the air。
'The birds again！' said Aragorn； pointing down。
'That cannot be helped now；' said Gandalf。 'Whether they are good or evil； or have nothing to do with us at all； we must go down at once。 Not even on the knees of Caradhras will we wait for another nightfall！'
A cold wind flowed down behind them； as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate； and stumbled wearily down the slope。 Caradhras had defeated them。
Chapter 4
A Journey in the Dark
It was evening； and the grey light was again waning fast； when they halted for the night。 They were very weary。 The mountains were veiled in deepening dusk； and the wind was cold。 Gandalf spared them one more mouthful each of the miruvor of Rivendell。 When they had eaten some food he called a council。
'We cannot； of course； go on again tonight；' he said。 'The attack on the Redhorn Gate has tired us out； and we must rest here for a while。'
'And then where are we to go？ ' asked Frodo。
'We still have our journey and our errand before us；' answered Gandalf。 'We have no choice but to go on； or to return to Rivendell。'
Pippin's face brightened visibly at the mere mention of return to Rivendell； Merry and Sam looked up hopefully。 But Aragorn and Boromir made no sign。 Frodo looked troubled。
'I wish I was back there；' he said。 'But how can I return without shame 。 unless there is indeed no other way； and we are already defeated？ '
'You are right； Frodo；' said Gandalf： 'to go back is to admit defeat and face worse defeat to e。 If we go back now； then the Ring must remain there： we shall not be able to set out again。 Then sooner or later Rivendell will be besieged； and after a brief and bitter time it will be destroyed。 The Ringwraiths are deadly enemies； but they are only shadows yet of the power and terror they would possess if the Ruling Ring was on their master's hand again。'
'Then we must go on； if there is a way；' said Frodo with a sigh。 Sam sank back into gloom。
'There is a way that we may attempt；' said Gandalf。 'I thought from the beginning； when first I considered this journey； that we should try it。 But it is not a pleasant way； and I have not spoken of it to the pany before。 Aragorn was against it； until the pass over the mountains had at least been tried。'
'If it is a worse road than the Redhorn Gate； then it must be evil indeed；' said Merry。 'But you had better tell us about it； and let us know the worst at once。'
'The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria；' said Gandalf。 Only Gimli lifted up his head； a smouldering fire was in his eyes。 On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name。 Even to the hobbits it was a legend of vague fear：
'The road may lead to Moria； but how can we hope that it will lead through Moria？ ' said Aragorn darkly。
'It is a name of ill omen；' said Boromir。 'Nor do I see the need to go there。 If we cannot cross the mountains； let us journey southwards； until we e to the Gap of Rohan； where men are friendly to my people； taking the road that I followed on my way hither。 Or we might pass by and cross the Isen into Langstrand and Lebennin； and so e to Gondor from the regions nigh to the sea。'
'Things have changed since you came north； Boromir；' answered Gandalf。 'Did you not hear what I told you of Saruman？ With him I may have business of my own ere all is over。 But the Ring must not e near Isengard； if that can by any means be prevented。 The Gap of Rohan is closed to us while we go with the