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etheir foul feet in its clean water！…and went on down the old road beside the
river。 They seemed to pick up some scent； and they searched the ground for awhile near the place where you halted。 The three of us could not challenge ahundred； so we went ahead and spoke with feigned voices； leading them on intothe wood。
‘Orophin has now gone in haste back to our dwellings to warn our people。
None of the Orcs will ever return out of Lórien。 And there will be many Elveshidden on the northern border before another night falls。 But you must takethe road south as soon as it is fully light。'
Day came pale from the East。 As the light grew it filtered through theyellow leaves of the mallorn； and it seemed to the hobbits that the early sunof a cool summer's morning was shining。 Pale…blue sky peeped among the movingbranches。 Looking through an opening on the south side of the flet Frodo sawall the valley of the Silverlode lying like a sea of fallow gold tossinggently in the breeze。
The morning was still young and cold when the pany set out again；
guided now by Haldir and his brother Rúmil。 ‘Farewell； sweet Nimrodel！ ' criedLegolas。 Frodo looked back and caught a gleam of white foam among the greytree…stems。 ‘Farewell；' he said。 It seemed to him that he would never hearagain a running water so beautiful； for ever blending its innumerable notes inan endless changeful music。
They went back to the path that still went on along the west side of theSilverlode； and for some way they followed it southward。 There were the printsof orc…feet in the earth。 But soon Haldir turned aside into the trees and
halted on the bank of the river under their shadows。
‘There is one of my people yonder across the stream；' he said ‘though youmay not see him。' He gave a call like the low whistle of a bird； and out of athicket of young trees an Elf stepped； clad in grey； but with his hood thrownback； his hair glinted like gold in the morning sun。 Haldir skilfully castover the stream a coil of grey rope； and he caught it and bound the end abouta tree near the bank。
‘Celebrant is already a strong stream here； as you see；' said Haldir 'andit runs both swift and deep； and is very cold。 We do not set foot in it so farnorth； unless we must。 But in these days of watchfulness we do not makebridges。 This is how we cross！ Follow me！' He made his end of the rope fastabout another tree； and then ran lightly along it； over the river and backagain； as if he were on a road。
‘I can walk this path；' said Legolas； ‘but the others have not thisskill。 Must they swim？'
‘No！' said Haldir。 ‘We have two more ropes。 We will fasten them above theother； one shoulder…high； and another half…high； and holding these thestrangers should be able to cross with care。'
When this slender bridge had been made； the pany passed over； somecautiously and slowly； others more easily。 Of the hobbits Pippin proved thebest for he was sure…footed； and he walked over quickly； holding only with onehand； but he kept his eyes on the bank ahead and did not look down。 Samshuffled along； clutching hard； and looking down into the pale eddying wateras if it was a chasm in the mountains。
He breathed with relief when he was safely across。 ‘Live and learn！ as mygaffer used to say。 Though he was thinking of gardening； not of roosting likea bird； nor of trying to walk like a spider。 Not even my uncle Andy ever did atrick like that！ '
When at length all the pany was gathered on the east bank of theSilverlode； the Elves untied the ropes and coiled two of them。 Rúmil； who hadremained on the other side； drew back the last one； slung it on his shoulder；
and with a wave of his hand went away； back to Nimrodel to keep watch。
‘Now； friends；' said Haldir； ‘you have entered the Naith of Lórien or theGore； as you would say； for it is the land that lies like a spear…head betweenthe arms of Silverlode and Anduin the Great。 We allow no strangers to spy outthe secrets of the Naith。 Few indeed are permitted even to set foot there。
‘As was agreed； I shall here blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf。 Theother may walk free for a while； until we e nearer to our dwellings； downin Egladil； in the Angle between the waters。'
This was not at all to the liking of Gimli。 ‘The agreement was madewithout my consent；' he said。 ‘I will not walk blindfold； like a beggar or aprisoner。 And I am no spy。 My folk have never had dealings with any of theservants of the Enemy。 Neither have we done harm to the Elves。 I am no morelikely to betray you than Legolas； or any other of my panions。'
'I do not doubt you；' said Haldir。 'Yet this is our law。 I am not the
master of the law； and cannot set it aside。 I have done much in letting youset foot over Celebrant。'
Gimli was obstinate。 He planted his feet firmly apart； and laid his handupon the haft of his axe。 'I will go forward free；' he said； 'or I will goback and seek my own land； where I am known to be true of word； though Iperish alone in the wilderness。'
‘You cannot go back；' said Haldir sternly。 'Now you have e thus far；
you must be brought before the Lord and the Lady。 They shall judge you； tohold you or to give you leave； as they will。 You cannot cross the riversagain； and behind you there are now secret sentinels that you cannot pass。 Youwould be slain before you saw them。'
Gimli drew his axe from his belt。 Haldir and his panion bent theirbows。 'A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks！ ' said Legolas。
'e！' said Aragorn。 ‘If I am still to lead this pany； you must do asI bid。 It is hard upon the Dwarf to be thus singled out。 We will all beblindfold； even Legolas。 That will be best； though it will make the journeyslow and dull。'
Gimli laughed suddenly。 ‘A merry troop of fools we shall look！ WillHaldir lead us all on a string； like many blind beggars with one dog？ But Iwill be content； if only Legolas here shares my blindness。'
turn。
‘I am an Elf and a kinsman here；' said Legolas； being angry in his
‘Now let us cry： 〃a plague on the stiff necks of Elves！〃' said Aragorn。
‘But the pany shall all fare alike。 e； bind our eyes Haldir！ '
‘I shall claim full amends for every fall and stubbed toe； if you do notlead us well；' said Gimli as they bound a cloth about his eyes。
'You will have no claim；' said Haldir。 ‘I shall lead you well； and thepaths are smooth and straight。'
‘Alas for the folly of these days！ ' said Legolas。 'Here all are enemiesof the one Enemy； and yet I must walk blind； while the sun is merry in thewoodland under leaves of gold！ '
‘Folly it may seem；' said Haldir。 'Indeed in nothing is the power of theDark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all thosewho still oppose him。 Yet so little faith and trust do we find now in theworld beyond Lothlórien； unless maybe in Rivendell； that we dare not by ourown trust endanger our land。 We live now upon an island amid many perils； andour hands are more often upon the bowstring than upon the harp。
‘The rivers long defended us； but they are a sure guard no more for theShadow has crept northward all about us。 Some speak of departing； yet for thatit already seems too late。 The mountains to the west are growing evil； to theeast the lands are waste； and full of Sauron's creatures； and it is rumouredthat we cannot now safely pass southward through Rohan； and the mouths of theGreat River are watched by the Enemy。 Even if we could e to the shores ofthe Sea； we should find no longer any shelter there。 It is said that there arestill havens of。 the High Elves； but they are far north and west； beyond theland of the Halflings。 But where that may be； though the Lord and Lady mayknow； I do not。'
‘You ought at least to guess； since you have seen us；' said Merry。 ‘Thereare Elf…havens west of my land； the Shire where Hobbits live。'
‘Happy folk are Hobbits to dwell near the shores of the sea！ ' saidHaldir。 'It is long indeed since any of my folk have looked on it； yet stillwe remember it in song。 Tell me of these havens as we walk。'
‘I cannot；' said Merry。 ‘I have never seen them。 I have never been out ofmy own land before。 And if I had known what the world outside was like。 Idon't think I should have had the heart to leave it。'
‘Not even to see fair Lothlórien？ ' said H