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therwise。 But you have not forsaken your panions； and the least reward that you shall have is that the memory of Lothlórien shall remain ever clear and unstained in your heart； and shall neither fade nor grow stale。'
'Maybe；' said Gimli； 'and I thank you for your words。 True words doubtless； yet all such fort is cold。 Memory is not what the heart desires。 That is only a mirror； be it clear as Kheledzaram。 Or so says the heart of Gimli the Dwarf。 Elves may see things otherwise。 Indeed I have heard that for them memory is more like to the waking world than to a dream。 Not so for Dwarves。
'But let us talk no more of it。 Look to the boat！ She is too low in the water with all this baggage； and the Great River is swift。 I do not wish to drown my grief in cold water。' He took up a paddle； and steered towards the western bank； following Aragorn's boat ahead； which had already moved out of the middle stream。
So the pany went on their long way； down the wide hurrying waters； borne ever southwards。 Bare woods stalked along either bank； and they could not see any glimpse of the lands behind。 The breeze died away and the River flowed without a sound。 No voice of bird broke the silence。 The sun grew misty as the day grew old； until it gleamed in a pale sky like a high white pearl。 Then it faded into the West； and dusk came early； followed by a grey and starless night。 Far into the dark quiet hours they floated on； guiding their boats under the overhanging shadows of the western woods。 Great trees passed by like ghosts； thrusting their twisted thirsty roots through the mist down into the water。 It was dreary and cold。 Frodo sat and listened to the faint lap and gurgle of the River fretting among the treeroots and driftwood near the shore； until his head nodded and he fell into an uneasy sleep。
Chapter 9
The Great River
Frodo was roused by Sam。 He found that he was lying； well wrapped； under tall greyskinned trees in a quiet corner of the woodlands on the west bank of the Great River； Anduin。 He had slept the night away； and the grey of morning was dim among the bare branches。 Gimli was busy with a small fire near at hand。
They started again before the day was broad。 Not that most of the pany were eager to hurry southwards： they were content that the decision； which they must make at latest when they came to Rauros and the Tindrock Isle； still lay some days ahead； and they let the River bear them on at its own pace； having no desire to hasten towards the perils that lay beyond； whichever course they took in the end。 Aragorn let them drift with the stream as they wished； husbanding their strength against weariness to e。 But he insisted that at least they should start early each day and journey on far into the evening； for he felt in his heart that time was pressing； and he feared that the Dark Lord had not been idle while they lingered in Lórien。
Noheless they saw no sign of an enemy that day； nor the next。 The dull grey hours passed without event。 As the third day of their voyage wore on the lands changed slowly： the trees thinned and then failed altogether。 On the eastern bank to their left they saw long formless slopes stretching up and away toward the sky； brown and withered they looked； as if fire had passed over them； leaving no living blade of green： an unfriendly waste without even a broken tree or a bold stone to relieve the emptiness。 They had e to the Brown Lands that lay； vast and desolate； between Southern Mirkwood and the hills of the Emyn Muil。 What pestilence or war or evil deed of the Enemy had so blasted all that region even Aragorn could not tell。
Upon the west to their right the land was treeless also； but it was flat； and in many places green with wide plains of grass。 On this side of the River they passed forests of great reeds； so tall that they shut out all view to the west； as the little boats went rustling by along their fluttering borders。 Their dark withered plumes bent and tossed in the light cold airs； hissing softly and sadly。 Here and there through openings Frodo could catch sudden glimpses of rolling meads； and far beyond them hills in the sunset； and away on the edge of sight a dark line； where marched the southernmost ranks of the Misty Mountains。
There was no sign of living moving things； save birds。 Of these there were many： small fowl whistling and piping in the reeds； but they were seldom seen。 Once or twice the travellers heard the rush and whine of swanwings； and looking up they saw a great phalanx streaming along the sky。
'Swans！' said Sam。 'And mighty big ones too！'
'Yes；' said Aragorn； 'and they are black swans。'
'How wide and empty and mournful all this country looks！' said Frodo。 'I always imagined that as one journeyed south it got warmer and merrier； until winter was left behind for ever。'
'But we have not journeyed far south yet；' answered Aragorn。 'It is still winter； and we are far from the sea。 Here the world is cold until the sudden spring； and we may yet have snow again。 Far away down in the Bay of Belfalas； to which Anduin runs； it is warm and merry； maybe； or would be but for the Enemy。 But here we are not above sixty leagues； I guess； south of the Southfarthing away in your Shire； hundreds of long miles yonder。 You are looking now southwest across the north plains of the Riddermark； Rohan the land of the Horselords。 Ere long we shall e to the mouth of the Limlight that runs down from Fangorn to join the Great River。 That is the north boundary of Rohan； and of old all that lay between Limlight and the White Mountains belonged to the Rohirrim。 It is a rich and pleasant land； and its grass has no rival； but in these evil days folk do not dwell by the River or ride often to its shores。 Anduin is wide； yet the orcs can shoot their arrows far across the stream； and of late； it is said； they have dared to cross the water and raid the herds and studs of Rohan。'
Sam looked from bank to bank uneasily。 The trees had seemed hostile before； as if they harboured secret eyes and lurking dangers； now he wished that the trees were still there。 He felt that the pany was too naked； afloat in little open boats in the midst of shelterless lands； and on a river that was the frontier of war。
In the next day or two； as they went on； borne steadily southwards； this feeling of insecurity grew on all the pany。 For a whole day they took to their paddles and hastened forward。 The banks slid by。 Soon the River broadened and grew more shallow； long stony beaches lay upon the east； and there were gravelshoals in the water； so that careful steering was needed。 The Brown Lands rose into bleak wolds； over which flowed a chill air from the East。 On the other side the meads had bee rolling downs of withered grass amidst a land of fen and tussock。 Frodo shivered； thinking of the lawns and fountains； the clear sun and gentle rains of Lothlórien。 There was little speech and no laughter in any of the boats。 Each member of the pany was busy with his own thoughts。
The heart of Legolas was running under the stars of a summer night in some northern glade amid the beechwoods； Gimli was fingering gold in his mind； and wondering if it were fit to be wrought into the housing of the Lady's gift。 Merry and Pippin in the middle boat were ill at ease； for Boromir sat muttering to himself； sometimes biting his nails； as if some restlessness or doubt consumed him； sometimes seizing a paddle and driving the boat close behind Aragorn's。 Then Pippin； who sat in the bow looking back； caught a queer gleam in his eye； as he peered forward gazing at Frodo。 Sam had long ago made up his mind that； though boats were maybe not as dangerous as he had been brought up to believe； they were far more unfortable than even he had imagined。 He was cramped and miserable； having nothing to do but stare at the winterlands crawling by and the grey water on either side of him。 Even when the paddles were in use they did not trust Sam with one。
As dusk drew down on the fourth day； he was looking back over the bowed heads of Frodo and Aragorn and the following boats； he was drowsy and longed for camp and the feel of earth under his toes。 Suddenly something caught his sight： at first he stared at it listlessly； then h