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'Who knows indeed！' said Gandalf。 ‘But there is another way； and not bythe pass of Caradhras： the dark and secret way that we have spoken of。'
'But let us not speak of it again！ Not yet。 Say nothing to the others Ibeg； not until it is plain that there is no other way。'
'We must decide before we go further；' answered Gandalf。
'Then let us weigh the matter in our minds； while the others rest andsleep；' said Aragorn。
In the late afternoon； while the others were finishing their breakfast；
Gandalf and Aragorn went aside together and stood looking at Caradhras。 Itssides were now dark and sullen； and its head was in grey cloud。 Frodo watchedthem； wondering which way the debate would go。 When they returned to thepany Gandalf spoke； and then he knew that it had been decided to face theweather and the high pass。 He was relieved。 He could not guess what was theother dark and secret way； but the very mention of it had seemed to fillAragorn with dismay； and Frodo was glad that it had been abandoned。
‘From signs that we have seen lately；' said Gandalf； 'I fear that theRedhorn Gate may be watched； and also I have doubts of the weather that ising up behind。 Snow may e。 We must go with all the speed that we can。
Even so it will take us more than two marches before we reach the top of thepass。 Dark will e early this evening。 We must leave as soon as you can getready。'
'I will add a word of advice； if I may；' said Boromir。 'I was born underthe shadow of the White Mountains and know something of journeys in the highplaces。 We shall meet bitter cold； if no worse； before we e down on theother side。 It will not help us to keep so secret that we are frozen to death。
When we leave here； where there are still a few trees and bushes； each of usshould carry a faggot of wood； as large as he can bear。'
'And Bill could take a bit more； couldn't you lad？' said Sam。 The ponylooked at him mournfully。
'Very well；' said Gandalf。 ‘But we must not use the wood – not unless itis a choice between fire and death。'
The pany set out again with good speed at first； but soon their waybecame steep and difficult。 The twisting and climbing road had in many placesalmost disappeared； and was blocked with many fallen stones。 The night grewdeadly dark under great clouds。 A bitter wind swirled among the rocks。 Bymidnight they had climbed to the knees of the great mountains。 The narrow pathnow wound under a sheer wall of cliffs to the left； above which the grimflanks of Caradhras towered up invisible in the gloom； on the right was a gulfof darkness where the land fell suddenly into a deep ravine。
Laboriously they climbed a sharp slope and halted for a moment at thetop。 Frodo felt a soft touch on his face。 He put out his arm and saw the dimwhite flakes of snow settling on his sleeve。
They went on。 But before long the snow was falling fast； filling all theair； and swirling into Frodo's eyes。 The dark bent shapes of Gandalf andAragorn only a pace or two ahead could hardly be seen。
'I don't like this at all；' panted Sam just behind。 'Snow's all right on
a fine morning； but I like to be in bed while it's falling。 I wish this lotwould go off to Hobbiton！ Folk might wele it there。' Except on the highmoors of the Northfarthing a heavy fall was rare in the Shire； and wasregarded as a pleasant event and a chance for fun。 No living hobbit （saveBilbo） could remember the Fell Winter of 1311； when the white wolves invadedthe Shire over the frozen Brandywine。
Gandalf halted。 Snow was thick on his hood and shoulders； it was alreadyankle…deep about his boots。
〃This is what I feared；' he said。 ‘What do you say now； Aragorn？'
'That I feared it too；' Aragorn answered； ‘but less than other things。 Iknew the risk of snow； though it seldom falls heavily so far south； save highup in the mountains。 But we are not high yet； we are still far down； where thepaths are usually open all the winter。'
'I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy；' said Boromir。 〃They sayin my land that he can govern the storms in the Mountains of Shadow that standupon the borders of Mordor。 He has strange powers and many allies。'
'His arm has grown long indeed；' said Gimli； ‘if he can draw snow downfrom the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away。'
'His arm has grown long；' said Gandalf。
While they were halted； the wind died down； and the snow slackened untilit almost ceased。 They tramped on again。 But they had not gone more than afurlong when the storm returned with fresh fury。 The wind whistled and thesnow became a blinding blizzard。 Soon even Boromir found it hard to keepgoing。 The hobbits； bent nearly double； toiled along behind the taller folk；
but it was plain that they could not go much further； if the snow continued。
Frodo's feet felt like lead。 Pippin was dragging behind。 Even Gimli； as stoutas any dwarf could be； was grumbling as he trudged。
The pany halted suddenly； as if they had e to an agreement withoutany words being spoken。 They heard eerie noises in the darkness round them。 Itmay have been only a trick of the wind in the cracks and gullies of the rockywall； but the sounds were those of shrill cries； and wild howls of laughter。
Stones began to fall from the mountain…side； whistling over their heads； orcrashing on the path beside them。 Every now and again they heard a dullrumble； as a great boulder rolled down from hidden heights above。
‘We cannot go further tonight；' said Boromir。 ‘Let those call it the windwho will； there are fell voices on the air； and these stones are aimed at us。'
‘I do call it the wind；' said Aragorn。 ‘But that does not make what yousay untrue。 There are many evil and unfriendly things in the world that havelittle love for those that go on two legs； and yet are not in league withSauron； but have purposes of their own。 Some have been in this world longerthan he。'
'Caradhras was called the Cruel； and had an ill name； said Gimli； ‘longyears ago； when rumour of Sauron had not been heard in these lands。'
‘It matters little who is the enemy； if we cannot beat off his attack；
said Gandalf。
'But what can we do？' cried Pippin miserably。 He was leaning on Merry andFrodo； and he was shivering。
‘Either stop where we are； or go back；' said Gandalf。 'It is no goodgoing on。 Only a little higher； if I remember rightly； this path leaves thecliff and runs into a wide shallow trough at the bottom of a long hard slope。
We should have no shelter there from snow； or stones – or anything else。'
‘And it is no good going back while the storm holds；' said Aragorn。 ‘Wehave passed no place on the way up that offered more shelter than this cliff…
wall we are under now。'
‘Shelter！' muttered Sam。 ‘If this is shelter； then one wall and no roofmake a house。'
The pany now gathered together as close to the cliff as they could。 Itfaced southwards； and near the bottom it leaned out a little； so that they
hoped it would give them some protection from the northerly wind and from thefalling stones。 But eddying blasts swirled round them from every side； and thesnow flowed down in ever denser clouds。
They huddled together with their backs to the wall。 Bill the pony stoodpatiently 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 onmounting。 If they had had no larger panions the hobbits would soon havebeen entirely buried。
A great sleepiness came over Frodo； he felt himself sinking fast into awarm and hazy dream。 He thought a fire was heating his toes； and out of theshadows on the other side of the hearth he heard Bilbo's voice speaking_。 Idon'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； whenhe felt himself shaken； and he came back painfully to wakefulness。 Boromir hadlifted him off the ground out of a nest of snow。
‘This will be the death of the halflings； Gandalf；' said Boromir。 ‘It isuseless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads。 We must do somethingto save ourselves。'
‘Give them this；' said Gandalf； searching in his pack and drawing out aleathern flask。 ‘Just a mouthful each – f