ingly； taking a line that seemed chosen so as to keep as much hidden as possible from the view； both of the hilltops above and of the flats to the west。 It dived into dells； and hugged steep banks； and where it passed over flatter and more open ground on either side of it there were lines of large boulders and hewn stones that screened the travellers almost like a hedge。
'I wonder who made this path； and what for；' said Merry； as they walked along one of these avenues； where the stones were unusually large and closely set。 'I am not sure that I like it： it has a 。 well； rather a barrowwightish look。 Is there any barrow on Weathertop？'
'No。 There is no barrow on Weathertop； nor on any of these hills；' answered Strider。 'The Men of the West did not live here； though in their latter days they defended the hills for a while against the evil that came out of Angmar。 This path was made to serve the forts along the walls。 But long before； in the first days of the North Kingdom； they built a great watchtower on Weathertop； Amon S。l they called it。 It was burned and broken； and nothing remains of it now but a tumbled ring； like a rough crown on the old hill's head。 Yet once it was tall and fair。 It is told that Elendil stood there watching for the ing of Gilgalad out of the West； in the days of the Last Alliance。'
The hobbits gazed at Strider。 It seemed that he was learned in old lore； as well as in the ways of the wild。 'Who was Gilgalad？' asked Merry； but Strider did not answer； and seemed to be lost in thought。 Suddenly a low voice murmured：
Gilgalad was an Elvenking。
Of him the harpers sadly sing：
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea。
His sword was long； his lance was keen；
his shining helm afar was seen；
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield。
But long ago he rode away；
and where he dwelleth none can say；
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are。
The others turned in amazement； for the voice was Sam's。
'Don't stop！' said Merry。
'That's all I know；' stammered Sam； blushing。 'I learned it from Mr。 Bilbo when I was a lad。 He used to tell me tales like that； knowing how I was always one for hearing about Elves。 It was Mr。 Bilbo as taught me my letters。 He was mighty booklearned was dear old Mr。 Bilbo。 And he wrote poetry。 He wrote what I have just said。'
'He did not make it up；' said Strider。 'It is pan of the lay that is called The Fall of Gilgalad； which is in an ancient tongue。 Bilbo must have translated it。 I never knew that。'
'There was a lot more；' said Sam； 'all about Mordor。 I didn't learn that part； it gave me the shivers I never thought I should be going that way myself！'
'Going to Mordor！' cried Pippin。 'I hope it won't e to that！'
'Do not speak that name so loudly！' said Strider。
It was already midday when they drew near the southern end of the path； and saw before them； in the pale clear light of the October sun； a greygreen bank； leading up like a bridge on to the northward slope of the hill They decided to make for the top at once； while the daylight was broad Concealment was no longer possible； and they could only hope that no enemy or spy was observing them。 Nothing was to be seen moving on the hill。 If Gandalf was anywhere about； there was no sign of him。
On the western flank of Weathertop they found a sheltered hollow； at the bottom of which there was a bowlshaped dell with grassy sides。 There they left Sam and Pippin with the pony and their packs and luggage。 The other three went on。 After half an hour's plodding climb Strider reached the crown of the hill； Frodo and Merry followed； tired and breathless。 The last slope had been steep and rocky。
On the top they found； as Strider had said； a wide ring of ancient stonework； now crumbling or covered with agelong grass。 But in the centre a cairn of broken stones had been piled。 They were blackened as if with fire。 About them the turf was burned to the roots and all within the ring the grass was scorched and shrivelled； as if flames had swept the hilltop； but there was no sign of any living thing。
Standing upon the rim of the ruined circle； they saw all round below them a wide prospect； for the most pan of lands empty and featureless； except for patches of woodland away to the south； beyond which they caught here and there the glint of distant water。 Beneath them on this southern side there ran like a ribbon the Old Road； ing out of the West and winding up and down； until it faded behind a ridge of dark land to the east。 Nothing was moving on it。 Following its line eastward with their eyes they saw the Mountains： the nearer foothills were brown and sombre；
behind them stood taller shapes of grey； and behind those again were high white peaks glimmering among the clouds。
'Well； here we are！' said Merry。 'And very cheerless and uninviting it looks！ There is no water and no shelter。 And no sign of Gandalf。 But I don't blame him for not waiting 。 if he ever came here。'
'I wonder；' said Strider； looking round thoughtfully。 'Even if he was a day or two behind us at Bree； he could have arrived here first。 He can ride very swiftly when need presses。' Suddenly he stooped and looked at the stone on the top of the cairn； it was flatter than the others； and whiter； as if it had escaped the fire。 He picked it up and examined it； turning it in his fingers。 〃This has been handled recently；' he said。 'What do you think of these marks？'
On the flat underside Frodo saw some scratches： 'There seems to he a stroke； a dot； and three more strokes；' he said。
'The stroke on the left might be a Grune with thin branches；' said Strider。 'It might be a sign left by Gandalf； though one cannot be sure。 The scratches are fine； and they certainly look fresh。 But the marks might mean something quite different； and have nothing to do with us。 Rangers use runes； and they e here sometimes。'
'What could they mean； even if Gandalf made them？' asked Merry。
'I should say；' answered Strider； 'that they stood for G3； and were a sign that Gandalf was here on October the third： that is three days ago now。 It would also show that he was in a hurry and danger was at hand； so that he had no time or did not dare to write anything longer or plainer。 If that is so； we must be wary。'
'I wish we could feel sure that he made the marks； whatever they may mean；' said Frodo 'It would be a great fort to know that he was on the way； in front of us or behind us。'
'Perhaps；' said Strider。 'For myself； I believe that he was here； and was in danger。 There have been scorching flames here； and now the light that we saw three nights ago in the eastern sky es back to my mind。 I guess that he was attacked on this hilltop； but with what result I cannot tell。 He is here no longer； and we must now look after ourselves and make our own way to Rivendell； as best we can '
'How far is Rivendell？' asked Merry； gazing round wearily。 The world looked wild and wide from Weathertop。
'I don't know if the Road has ever been measured in miles beyond the Forsaken Inn； a day's journey east of Bree；' answered Strider。 'Some say it is so far； and some say otherwise。 It is a str