most alarming； or so I am told。 I have only once or twice been in here after dark； and then only near the hedge。 I thought all the trees were whispering to each other； passing news and plots along in an unintelligible language； and the branches swayed and groped without any wind。 They do say the trees do actually move； and can surround strangers and hem them in。 In fact long ago they attacked the Hedge： they came and planted themselves right by it； and leaned over it。 But the hobbits came and cut down hundreds of trees； and made a great bonfire in the Forest； and burned all the ground in a long strip east of the Hedge。 After that the trees gave up the attack； but they became very unfriendly。 There is still a wide bare space not far inside where the bonfire was made。'
'Is it only the trees that are dangerous？' asked Pippin。
'There are various queer things living deep in the Forest； and on the far side；' said Merry； 'or at least I have heard so； but I have never seen any of them。 But something makes paths。 Whenever one es inside one finds open tracks； but they seem to shift and change from time to time in a queer fashion。 Not far from this tunnel there is； or was for a long time； the beginning of quite a broad path leading to the Bonfire Glade； and then on more or less in our direction； east and a little north。 That is the path I am going to try and find。'
The hobbits now left the tunnelgate and rode across the wide hollow。 On the far side was a faint path leading up on to the floor of the Forest； a hundred yards and more beyond the Hedge； but it vanished as soon as it brought them under the trees。 Looking back they could see the dark line of the Hedge through the stems of trees that were already thick about them。 Looking ahead they could see only treetrunks of innumerable sizes and shapes： straight or bent； tooth or gnarled and branched； and all the stems were green or grey with moss and slimy； shaggy growths。
Merry alone seemed fairly cheerful。 'You had better lead on and find that path；' Frodo said to him。 'Don't let us lose one another； or fet which way the Hedge lies！'
They picked a way among the trees； and their ponies plodded along； carefully avoiding the many writhing and interlacing roots。 There was no undergrowth。 The ground was rising steadily； and as they went forward it seemed that the trees became taller； darker； and thicker。 There was no sound； except an occasional drip of moisture falling through the still leaves。 For the moment there was no whispering or movement among the branches； but they all got an unfortable feeling that they were being watched with disapproval； deepening to dislike and even enmity。 The feeling steadily grew； until they found themselves looking up quickly； or glancing back over their shoulders； as if they expected a sudden blow。
There was not as yet any sign of a path； and the trees seemed constantly to bar their way。 Pippin suddenly felt that he could not bear it any longer； and without warning let out a shout。 'Oi！ Oi！' he cried。 'I am not going to do anything。 Just let me pass through； will you！'
The others halted startled； but the cry fell as if muffled by a heavy curtain。 There was no echo or answer though the wood seemed to bee more crowded and more watchful than before。
'I should not shout； if I were you；' said Merry。 It does more harm than good。'
Frodo began to wonder if it were possible to find a way through； and if he had been right to make the others e into this abominable wood。 Merry was looking from side to side； and seemed already uncertain which way to go。 Pippin noticed it。 'It has not taken you long to lose us；' he said。 But at that moment Merry gave a whistle of relief and pointed ahead。
'Well； well！' he said。 'These trees do shift。 There is the Bonfire Glade in front of us （or I hope so）； but the path to it seems to have moved away！'
The light grew clearer as they went forward。 Suddenly they came out of the trees and found themselves in a wide circular space。 There was sky above them； blue and clear to their surprise； for down under the Forestroof they had not been able to see the rising morning and the lifting of the mist。 The sun was not； however； high enough yet to shine down into the clearing； though its light was on the treetops。 The leaves were all thicker and greener about the edges of the glade； enclosing it with an almost solid wall。 No tree grew there； only rough grass and many tall plants： stalky and faded hemlocks and woodparsley； fireweed seeding into fluffy ashes； and rampant tles and thistles。 A dreary place： but it seemed a charming and cheerful garden after the close Forest。
The hobbits felt encouraged； and looked up hopefully at the broadening daylight in the sky。 At the far side of the glade there was a break in the wall of trees； and a clear path beyond it。 They could see it running on into the wood； wide in places and open above； though every now and again the trees drew in and overshadowed it with their dark boughs。 Up this path they rode。 They were still climbing gently； but they now went much quicker； and with better heart； for it seemed to them that the Forest had relented； and was going to let them pass unhindered after all。
But after a while the air began to get hot and stuffy。 The trees drew close again on either side； and they could no longer see far ahead。 Now stronger than ever they felt again the ill will of the wood pressing on them。 So silent was it that the fall of their ponies' hoofs； rustling on dead leaves and occasionally stumbling on hidden roots； seemed to thud in their ears。 Frodo tried to sing a song to encourage them； but his voice sank to a murmur。
O！ Wanderers in the shadowed land
despair not！ For though dark they stand；
all woods there be must end at last；
and see the open sun go past：
the setting sun； the rising sun；
the day's end； or the day begun。
For east or west all woods must fail 。。。
Fail even as he said the word his voice faded into silence。 The air seemed heavy and the making of words wearisome。 Just behind them a large branch fell from an old overhanging tree with a crash into the path。 The trees seemed to close in before them。
'They do not like all that about ending and failing；' said Merry。 'I should not sing any more at present。 Wait till we do get to the edge； and then we'll turn and give them a rousing chorus！'
He spoke cheerfully； and if he felt any great anxiety； he did not show it。 The others did not answer。 They were depressed。 A heavy weight was settling steadily on Frodo's heart； and he regretted now with every step forward that he had ever thought of challenging the menace of the trees。 He was； indeed； just about to stop and propose going back （if that was still possible）； when things took a new turn。 The path stopped climbing； and became for a while nearly level。 The dark trees drew aside； and ahead they could see the path going almost straight forward。 Before them； but some distance off； there stood a green hilltop； treeless； rising like a bald head out of the encircling wood。 The path seemed to be making directly for it。
They now hurried forward again； delighted with the thought of climbing out for a while above the roof of the Forest。 The path dipped； and then again began to climb upwards； leading them at last to the foot of the steep hillside。 There it left the trees and faded into the turf。 The wood stood all round the hill like thick hair that ended sharply in a circle round a shaven crown。
The hobbits led their ponies up； winding round and round until they reached the top。 There they stood and gazed about them。 The air was gleaming and sunlit； but hazy； and they could not see to any great distance。 Near at hand the mist was now almost gone； though here and there it lay in hollows of the wood； and to the south of them； out of a deep fold cutting right across the Forest； the fog still rose like steam or wisps of white smoke。
'That；' said Merry； pointing with his hand； 'that is the line of the Withywindle。 It es down out of the Downs and flows southwest through the midst of the Forest to join the Brandywine below Haysend。 We don't want to go that way！ The Withywindle valley is said to be the queerest part of the whole wood 。 the centre from es； as it were。'
The others looked in the direction that Merry pointed out； but they could see little but mists over the damp and deepcut valley； and beyond it the southern half of the Forest faded from view。
The sun on the hilllop was now getting hot。 It must have been about eleven o'clock； but the autumn haze still prevented them from seeing much in other directions。 In the west they could not make out either the line of the Hedge or the valley of the Brandywine beyond it。 Northward； where they looked most hopefully； they could see nothing that might be the line of the great East Road； for which they were making。 They were on an island in a sea of trees； and the horizon was veiled。
On the southeastern side the ground fell very steeply； as if the slopes of the hill were continued far down under the trees； like islandshores that really are the sides of a mountain rising out of deep waters。 They sat on the green edge and looked out over the woods below them； while they ate their mid day meal。 As the sun rose and passed noon they glimpsed far off in the east the greygreen lines of the Downs that lay beyond the Old Forest on that side。 That cheered them greatly； for it was good to see a sight of anything beyond the wood's borders； though they did not mean to go that way； if they could help it： the Barrowdowns had as sinister a reputation in hobbitlegend as the Forest itself。
At length they made up their minds to go on again。 The path that had brought them to the hill reappeared on the northward side； but they had not followed it far before they became aware that it was bending steadily to the right。 Soon it began to descend rapidly and they guessed that it must actually be heading towards the Withywindle valley： not at all the direction they wished lo take。 After some discussion they decided to leave this misleading path and strike northward； for although they had not been able to see it from the hilltop； the Road must lie that way； and it could not be many miles off。 Also northward； and to the left of t