ver denser clouds。
They huddled together with their backs to the wall。 Bill the pony stood patiently but dejectedly in front of the hobbits； and screened them a little； but before long the drifting snow was above his hocks； and it went on mounting。 If they had had no larger panions the hobbits would soon have been entirely buried。
A great sleepiness came over Frodo； he felt himself sinking fast into a warm and hazy dream。 He thought a fire was heating his toes； and out of the shadows on the other side of the hearth he heard Bilbo's voice speaking。 I don't think much of your diary； he said。 Snowstorms on January the twelfth： there was no need to e back to report that！
But I wanted rest and sleep； Bilbo； Frodo answered with an effort； when he felt himself shaken； and he came back painfully to wakefulness。 Boromir had lifted him off the ground out of a nest of snow。
'This will be the death of the halflings； Gandalf；' said Boromir。 'It is useless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads。 We must do something to save ourselves。'
'Give them this；' said Gandalf； searching in his pack and drawing out a leathern flask。 'Just a mouthful each 。 for all of us。 It is very precious。 It is miruvor； the cordial of Imladris。 Elrond gave it to me at our parting。 Pass it round！'
As soon as Frodo had swallowed a little of the warm and fragrant liquor he felt a new strength of heart； and the heavy drowsiness left his limbs。 The others also revived and found fresh hope and vigour。 But the snow did not relent。 It whirled about them thicker than ever； and the wind blew louder。
'What do you say to fire？' asked Boromir suddenly。 'The choice seems near now between fire and death； Gandalf。 Doubtless we shall be hidden from all unfriendly eyes when the snow has covered us； but that will not help us。'
'You may make a fire； if you can；' answered Gandalf。 'If there are any watchers that can endure this storm； then they can see us； fire or no。' But though they had brought wood and kindlings by the advice of Boromir； it passed the skill of Elf or even Dwarf to strike a flame that would hold amid the swirling wind or catch in the wet fuel。 At last reluctantly Gandalf himself took a hand。 Picking up a faggot he held it aloft for a moment； and then with a word of mand； naur an edraith ammen！ he thrust the end of his staff into the midst of it。 At once a great spout of green and blue flame sprang out； and the wood flared and sputtered。
'If there are any to see； then I at least am revealed to them；' he said。 'I have written Gandalf is here in signs that all can read from Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin。'
But the pany cared no longer for watchers or unfriendly eyes。 Their hearts were rejoiced to see the light of the fire。 The wood burned merrily； and though all round it the snow hissed； and pools of slush crept under their feet； they warmed their hands gladly at the blaze。 There they stood； stooping in a circle round the little dancing and blowing flames。 A red light was on their tired and anxious faces； behind them the night was like a black wall。
But the wood was burning fast； and the snow still fell。
The fire burned low。 and the last faggot was thrown on。
The night is getting old；' said Aragorn。 〃The dawn is not far off。'
'If any dawn can pierce these clouds；' said Gimli。
Boromir stepped out of the circle and stared up into the blackness。 'The snow is growing less；' he said； 'and the wind is quieter。'
Frodo gazed wearily at the flakes still falling out of the dark to be revealed white for a moment in the light of the dying fire； but for a long time he could see no sign of their slackening。 Then suddenly； as sleep was beginning to creep over him again； he was aware that the wind had indeed fallen； and the flakes were being larger and fewer。 Very slowly a dim light began to grow。 At last the snow stopped altogether。
As the light grew stronger it showed a silent shrouded world。 Below their refuge were white humps and domes and shapeless deeps beneath which the path that they had trodden was altogether lost； but the heights above were hidden in great clouds still heavy with the threat of snow。
Gimli looked up and shook his head。 'Caradhras has not fiven us。' he said。 'He has more snow yet to fling at us； if we go on。 The sooner we go back and down the better。'
To this all agreed； but their retreat was now difficult。 It might well prove impossible。 Only a few paces from the ashes of their fire the snow lay many feet deep； higher than the heads of the hobbits； in places it had been scooped and piled by the wind into great drifts against the cliff。
'If Gandalf would go before us with a bright flame； he might melt a path for you；' said Legolas。 The storm had troubled him little； and he alone of the pany remained still light of heart。
'If Elves could fly over mountains； they might fetch the Sun to save us；' answered Gandalf。 'But I must have something to work on。 I cannot burn snow。'
'Well；' said Boromir； 'when heads are at a loss bodies must serve； as we say in my country。 The strongest of us must seek a way。 See！ Though all is now snowclad； our path； as we came up； turned about that shoulder of rock down yonder。 It was there that the snow first began to burden us。 If we could reach that point； maybe it would prove easier beyond。 It is no more than a furlong off； I guess。'
'Then let us force a path thither； you and I！' said Aragorn。
Aragorn was the tallest of the pany； but Boromir； little less in height； was broader and heavier in build。 He led the way； and Aragorn followed him。 Slowly they moved off； and were soon toiling heavily。 In places the snow was breasthigh； and often Boromir seemed to bc swimming or burrowing with his great arms rather than walking。
Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips； and then he turned to the others。 'The strongest must seek a way； say you？ But I say： let a ploughman plough； but choose an otter for swimming； and for running light over grass and leaf or over snowan Elf。'
With that he sprang forth nimbly； and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time； though he had long known it； that the Elf had no boots； but wore only light shoes； as he always did； and his feet made little imprint in the snow。
'Farewell！' he said to Gandalf。 'I go to find the Sun！' Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away； and quickly overtaking the toiling men； with a wave of his hand he passed them； and sped into the distance； and vanished round the rocky turn。
The others waited huddled together； watching until Boromir and Aragorn dwindled into black specks in the whiteness。 At length they too passed from sight。 The time dragged on。 The clouds lowered； and now a few flakes of snow came curling down again。
An hour； maybe； went by； though it seemed far longer； and then at last they saw Legolas ing back。 At the same time Boromir and Aragorn reappeared round the bend far behind him and came labouring up the slope。
'Well；' cried Legolas as he ran up； 'I have not brought the Sun。 She is walking in the blue fields of the South； and a little wreath of snow on this Redhorn hillock troubles her not at all。 But I have brought back a gleam of good hope for th