ee the other side！ Go carefully with thewater； too！ There are many streams and wells in the Mines； but they should notbe touched。 We may not have a chance of filling our skins and bottles till wee down into Dimrill Dale。'
'How long is that going to take us？ ' asked Frodo。
'I cannot say；' answered Gandalf。 'It depends on many chances。 But goingstraight； without mishap or losing our way； we shall take three or fourmarches； I expect。 It cannot be less than forty miles from West…door to East…
gate in a direct line； and the road may wind much。'
After only a brief rest they started on their way again。 All were eagerto get the journey over as quickly as possible； and were willing； tired asthey were； to go on marching still for several hours。 Gandalf walked in frontas before。 In his left hand he held up his glimmering staff； the light ofwhich just showed the ground before his feet； in his right he held his swordGlamdring。 Behind him came Gimli； his eyes glinting in the dim light as heturned his head from side to side。 Behind the dwarf walked Frodo； and he haddrawn the short sword； Sting。 No gleam came from the blades of Sting or ofGlamdring； and that was some fort； for being the work of Elvish smiths inthe Elder Days these swords shone with a cold light； if any Orcs were near athand。 Behind Frodo went Sam； and after him Legolas； and the young hobbits； andBoromir。 In the dark at the rear； grim and silent； walked Aragorn。
The passage twisted round a few turns； and then began to descend。 It wentsteadily down for a long while before it became level once again。 The air grewhot and stifling； but it was not foul； and at times they felt currents ofcooler air upon their faces； issuing from half…guessed openings in the walls。
There were many of these。 In the pale ray of the wizard's staff； Frodo caughtglimpses of stairs and arches and of other passages and tunnels； sloping up；
or running steeply down； or opening blankly dark on either side。 It wasbewildering beyond hope of remembering。
Gimli aided Gandalf very little； except by his stout courage。 At least hewas not； as were most of the others； troubled by the mere darkness in itself。
Often the wizard consulted him at points where the choice of way was doubtful；
but it was always Gandalf who had the final word。 The Mines of Moria were vastand intricate beyond the imagination of Gimli； Glóin's son； dwarf of the
mountain…race though he was。 To Gandalf the far…off memories of a journey longbefore were now of little help； but even in the gloom and despite all windingsof the road he knew whither he wished to go； and he did not falter； as long asthere was a path that led towards his goal。
‘Do not be afraid！ ' said Aragorn。 There was a pause longer than usual；
and Gandalf and Gimli were whispering together； the others were crowdedbehind； waiting anxiously。 ‘Do not be afraid！ I have been with him on many ajourney； if never on one so dark； and there are tales of Rivendell of greaterdeeds of his than any that I have seen。 He will not go astray…if there is anypath to find。 He has led us in here against our fears； but he will lead us outagain； at whatever cost to himself。 He is surer of finding the way home in ablind night than the cats of Queen Berúthiel。'
It was well for the pany that they had such a guide。 They had no fuelnor any means of making torches； in the desperate scramble at the doors manythings had been left behind。 But without any light they would soon have eto grief。 There were not only many roads to choose from； there were also inmany places holes and pitfalls； and dark wells beside the path in which theirpassing feet echoed。 There were fissures and chasms in the walls and floor；
and every now and then a crack would open right before their feet。 The widestwas more than seven feet across； and it was long before Pippin could summonenough courage to leap over the dreadful gap。 The noise of churning water cameup from far below； as if some great mill…wheel was turning in the depths。
‘Rope！ ' muttered Sam。 ‘I knew I'd want it； if I hadn't got it！ '
As these dangers became more frequent their march became slower。 Alreadythey seemed to have been tramping on； on； endlessly to the mountains' roots。
They were more than weary； and yet there seemed no fort in the thought ofhalting anywhere。 Frodo's spirits had risen for a while after his escape； andafter food and a draught of the cordial； but now a deep uneasiness； growing todread； crept over him again。 Though he had been healed in Rivendell of theknife…stroke； that grim wound had not been without effect。 His senses weresharper and more aware of things that could not be seen。 One sign of changethat he soon had noticed was that he could see more in the dark than any ofhis panions； save perhaps Gandalf。 And he was in any case the bearer of theRing： it hung upon its chain against his breast； and at whiles it seemed aheavy weight。 He felt the certainty of evil ahead and of evil following； buthe said nothing。 He gripped tighter on the hilt of his sword and went ondoggedly。
The pany behind him spoke seldom； and then only in hurried whispers。
There was no sound but the sound of their own feet； the dull stump of Gimli'sdwarf…boots； the heavy tread of Boromir； the light step of Legolas； the soft；
scarce…heard patter of hobbit…feet； and in the rear the slow firm footfalls ofAragorn with his long stride。 When they halted for a moment they heard nothingat all； unless it were occasionally a faint trickle and drip of unseen water。
Yet Frodo began to hear； or to imagine that he heard； something else： like thefaint fall of soft bare feet。 It was never loud enough； or near enough； forhim to feel certain that he heard it； but once it had started it neverstopped； while the pany was moving。 But it was not an echo； for when theyhalted it pattered on for a little all by itself； and then grew still。
It was after nightfall when they had entered the Mines。 They had beengoing for several hours with only brief halts； when Gandalf came to his firstserious check。 Before him stood a wide dark arch opening into three passages：
all led in the same general direction； eastwards； but the left…hand passageplunged down； while the right…hand climbed up； and the middle way seemed torun on； smooth and level but very narrow。
'I have no memory of this place at all！ ' said Gandalf； standinguncertainly under the arch。 He held up his staff in the hope of finding somemarks or inscription that might help his choice； but nothing of the kind wasto be seen。 ‘I am too weary to decide；' he said； shaking his head。 ‘And Iexpect that you are all as weary as I am； or wearier。 We had better halt herefor what is left of the night。 You know what I mean！ In here it is ever dark；
but outside the late Moon is riding westward and the middle…night has passed。'
‘Poor old Bill！ ' said Sam。 'I wonder where he is。 I hope those wolveshaven't got him yet。'
To the left of the great arch they found a stone door： it was halfclosed； but swung back easily to a gentle thrust。 Beyond there seemed to lie awide chamber cut in the rock。
‘Steady！ Steady！ ' cried Gandalf as Merry and Pippin pushed forward； gladto find a place where they could rest with at least more feel