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again； the sooner we get going the better。 Can you walk？'
‘Yes； I can walk；' said Frodo； getting up slowly。 'I am not hurt Sam。 Only I feel very tired； and
I've a pain here。' He put his hand to the back of his neck above his left shoulder。 He stood up； and it
looked to Sam as if he was clothed in flame： his naked skin was scarlet in the light of the lamp
above。 Twice he paced across the floor。
‘That's better！' he said； his spirits rising a little。 ‘I didn't dare to move when I was left alone； or
one of the guards came。 Until the yelling and fighting began。 The two big brutes： they quarrelled； I
think。 Over me and my things。 I lay here terrified。 And then all went deadly quiet； and that was
worse。'
‘Yes； they quarrelled； seemingly；' said Sam。 There must have been a couple of hundred of the
dirty creatures in this place。 A bit of a tall order for Sam Gamgee； as you might say。 But they've
done all the killing of themselves。 That's lucky； but it's too long to make a song about； till we're out
of here。 Now what's to be done？ You can't go walking in the Black Land in naught but your skin；
Mr。 Frodo。'
‘They've taken everything； Sam；' said Frodo。 ‘Everything I had。 Do you understand？
_Everything！_' He cowered on the floor again with bowed head； as his own words brought home to
him the fullness of the disaster； and despair overwhelmed him。 'The quest has failed Sam。 Even if
we get out of here； we can't escape。 Only Elves can escape。 Away； away out of Middle…earth； far
away over the Sea。 If even that is wide enough to keep the Shadow out。'
‘No； _not_ everything； Mr。 Frodo。 And it hasn't failed； not yet。 I took it； Mr。 Frodo； begging
your pardon。 And I've kept it safe。 It's round my neck now； and a terrible burden it is； too。' Sam
fumbled for the Ring and its chain。 ‘But I suppose you must take it back。' Now it had e to it；
Sam felt reluctant to give up the Ring and burden his master with it again。
‘You've got it？' gasped Frodo。 ‘You've got it here？ Sam； you're a marvel！' Then quickly and
strangely his tone changed。 ‘Give it to me！' he cried； standing up； holding out a trembling hand。
‘Give it me at once！ You can't have it！'
'All right； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam； rather startled。 'Here it is！' Slowly he drew the Ring out and
passed the chain over his head。 ‘But you're in the land of Mordor now； sir； and when you get out；
you'll see the Fiery Mountain and all。 You'll find the Ring very dangerous now； and very hard to
bear。 If it's too hard a job； I could share it with you； maybe？'
‘No； no！' cried Frodo； snatching the Ring and chain from Sam's hands。 ‘No you won't； you
thief！' He panted； staring at Sam with eyes wide with fear and enmity。 Then suddenly； clasping the
Ring in one clenched fist； he stood aghast。 A mist seemed to clear from his eyes； and he passed a
hand over his aching brow。 The hideous vision had seemed so real to him； half bemused as he was
still with wound and fear。 Sam had changed before his very eyes into an orc again； leering and
pawing at his treasure； a foul little creature with greedy eyes and slobbering mouth。 But now the
vision had passed。 There was Sam kneeling before him； his face wrung with pain； as if he had been
stabbed in the heart； tears welled from his eyes。
'O Sam！' cried Frodo。 ‘What have I said？ What have I done？ Forgive me！ After all you have
done。 It is the horrible power of the Ring。 I wish it had never； never； been found。 But don't mind me；
Sam。 I must carry the burden to the end。 It can't be altered。 You can't e between me and this
doom。'
'That's all right； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam； rubbing his sleeve across his eyes。 ‘I understand。 But I
can still help； can't I？ I've got to get you out of here。 At once； see！ But first you want some clothes
and gear and then some food。 The clothes will be the easiest part。 As we're in Mordor； we'd； best
dress up Mordor…fashion； and anyway there isn't no choice。 It'll have to be orc…stuff for you； Mr。
Frodo； I'm afraid。 And for me too。 If we go together； we'd best match。 Now put this round you！'
Sam unclasped his grey cloak and cast it about Frodo's shoulders。 Then unslinging his pack he
laid it on the floor。 He drew Sting from its sheath。 Hardly a flicker was to be seen upon its blade。 ‘I
was forgetting this； Mr。 Frodo；' he said。 ‘No； they didn't get everything！ You lent me Sting； if you
remember； and the Lady's glass。 I've got them both still。 But lend them to me a little longer； Mr。
Frodo。 I must go and see what I can find。 You stay here。 Walk about a bit and ease your legs。 I
shan't be long。 I shan't have to go far。'
‘Take care； Sam！' said Frodo。 ‘And be quick！ There may be orcs still alive； lurking in wait。'
'I've got to chance it；' said Sam。 He stepped to the trap…door and slipped down the ladder。 In a
minute his head reappeared。 He threw a long knife on the floor。
‘There's something that might be useful；' he said。 'He's dead： the one that whipped you。 Broke
his neck； it seems； in his hurry。 Now you draw up the ladder； if you can； Mr。 Frodo； and don't you
let it down till you hear me call the password。 _Elbereth_ I'll call。 What the Elves say。 No orc
would say that。'
Frodo sat for a while and shivered； dreadful fears chasing one another through his mind。 Then
he got up； drew the grey elven…cloak about him； and to keep his mind occupied； began to walk to
and fro； prying and peering into every corner of his prison。
It was not very long； though fear made it seem an hour at least； before he heard Sam's voice
calling softly from below： _Elbereth； Elbereth_。 Frodo let down the light ladder。 Up came Sam；
puffing； heaving a great bundle on his head。 He let it fall with a thud。
‘Quick now。 Mr。 Frodo！' he said。 ‘I've had a bit of a search to find anything small enough for the
likes of us。 We'll have to make do。 But we must hurry。 I've met nothing alive； and I've seen nothing
but I'm not easy。 I think this place is being watched。 I can't explain it； but well： it feels to me as if
one of those foul flying Riders was about； up in the blackness where he can't be seen。'
He opened the bundle。 Frodo looked in disgust at the contents； but there was nothing for it： he
had to put the things on； or go naked。 There were long hairy breeches of some unclean beast…fell；
and a tunic of dirty leather。 He drew them on。 Over the tunic went a coat of stout ring…mail； short
for a full…sized orc； too long for Frodo and heavy。 About it he clasped a belt； at which there hung a
short sheath holding a broad…bladed stabbing…sword。 Sam had brought several orc…helmets。 One of
them fitted Frodo well enough； a black cap with iron rim； and iron hoops covered with leather upon
which the evil Eye was painted in red above the beaklike nose…guard。
‘The Morgul…stuff； Gorbag's gear； was a better fit and better made；' said Sam； ‘but it wouldn't do；
I guess； to go carrying his tokens into Mordor； not after this business here。 Well； there you are； Mr。
Frodo。 A perfect little orc； if I may make so bold…at least you would be； if we could cover your face
with a mask； give you longer arms； and make you bow…legged。 This will hide some of the tell…tales。'
He put a large black cloak round Frodo's shoulders。 ‘Now you're ready！ You can pick up a shield as
we go。'
'What about you； Sam？' said Frodo。 ‘Aren't we going to match？'
‘Well； Mr。 Frodo； I've been thinking；' said Sam。 'I'd best not leave any of my stuff behind； and
we can't destroy it。 And I can't wear orc…mail over all my clothes； can I？ I'll just have to cover up。'
He knelt down and carefully folded his elven…cloak。 It went into a surprisingly small roll。 This
he put into his pack that lay on the floor。 Standing up； he slung it behind his back； put an orc…helm
on his head； and cast another black cloak about his shoulders。 ‘There！' he said。 ‘Now we match；
near enough。 And now we must be off！'
'I can't go all the way at a run； Sam；' said Frodo with a wry smile。 'I hope you've made inquiries
about inns along the road？ Or have you forgotten about food and drink？'
‘Save me； but so I had！' said Sam。 He whistled in dismay。 'Bless me； Mr。 Frodo； but you've gone
and made me that hungry and thirsty！ I don't know when drop or morsel last passed my lips。 I'd
forgotten it； trying to find you。 But let me think！ Last time I looked I'd got about enough of that
waybread； and of what Captain Faramir gave us； to keep me on my legs for a couple of weeks at a
pinch。 But if there's a drop left in my bottle； there's no more。 That's not going to be enough for two；
nohow。 Don't ores eat； and don't they drink？ Or do they just live on foul air and poison？'
‘No； they eat and drink； Sam。 The Shadow that bred them can only mock； it cannot make： not
real new things of its own。 I don't think it gave life to the ores； it only ruined them and twisted them；
and if they are to live at all； they have to live like other living creatures。 Foul waters and foul meats
they'll take； if they can get no better； but not poison。 They've fed me； and so I'm better off than you。
There must be food and water somewhere in this place。'