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footed； except birds； nor four…footed； except one fox and a few squirrels。 Thenext day they began to steer a steady course eastwards； and still all wasquiet and peaceful。 On the third day out from Bree they came out of theChetwood。 The land had been falling steadily； ever since they turned aside
from the Road； and they now entered a wide flat expanse of country； much moredifficult to manage。 They were far beyond the borders of the Bree…land； out inthe pathless wilderness； and drawing near to the Midge…water Marshes。
The ground now became damp； and in places boggy and here and there theycame upon pools； and wide stretches of reeds and rushes filled with thewarbling of little hidden birds。 They had to pick their way carefully to keepboth dry…footed and on their proper course。 At first they made fan…progress；
but as they went on； their passage became slower and more dangerous。 Themarshes were bewildering and treacherous； and there was no permanent traileven for Rangers to find through their shifting quagmires。 The flies began totorment them； and the air was full of clouds of tiny midges that crept uptheir sleeves and breeches and into their hair。
'I am being eaten alive！' cried Pippin。 'Midgewater！ There are moremidges than water！'
'What do they live on when they can't get hobbit？' asked Sam； scratchinghis neck。
They spent a miserable day in this lonely and unpleasant country。 Theircamping…place was damp； cold； and unfortable； and the biting insects wouldnot let them sleep。 There were also abominable creatures haunting the reedsand tussocks that from the sound of them were evil relatives of the cricket。
There were thousands of them； and they squeaked all round； _neek…breek； breekneek；_
unceasingly all the night； until the hobbits were nearly frantic。
The next day； the fourth； was little better； and the night almost asfortless。 Though the Neekerbreekers （as Sam called them） had been leftbehind； the midges still pursued them。
As Frodo lay； tired but unable to close his eyes； it seemed to him thatfar away there came a light in the eastern sky： it flashed and faded manytimes。 It was not the dawn； for that was still some hours off。
'What is the light？' he said to Strider； who had risen； and was standing；
gazing ahead into the night。
'I do not know；' Strider answered。 'It is too distant to make out。 It islike lightning that leaps up from the hill…tops。'
Frodo lay down again； but for a long while he could still see the whiteflashes； and against them the tall dark figure of Strider； standing silent andwatchful。 At last he passed into uneasy sleep。
They had not gone far on the fifth day when they left the last stragglingpools and reed…beds of the marshes behind them。 The land before them begansteadily to rise again。 Away in the distance eastward they could now see aline of hills。 The highest of them was at the right of the line and a littleseparated from the others。 It had a conical top； slightly flattened at thesummit。
'That is Weathertop；' said Strider。 'The Old Road； which we have left faraway on our right； runs to the south of it and passes not far from its foot。
We might reach it by noon tomorrow； if we go straight towards it。 I suppose wehad better do so。'
'What do you mean？' asked Frodo。
'I mean： when we do get there； it is not certain what we shall find。 Itis close to the Road。'
'But surely we were hoping to find Gandalf there？'
'Yes； but the hope is faint。 If he es this way at all； he may not passthrough Bree； and so he may not know what we are doing。 And anyway； unless byluck we arrive almost together； we shall miss one another； it will not be safefor him or for us to wait there long。 If the Riders fail to find us in thewilderness； they are likely to make for Weathertop themselves。 It mands awide view all round。 Indeed； there are many birds and beasts in this countrythat could see us； as we stand here； from that hill…top。 Not all the birds areto be trusted； and there are other spies more evil than they are。'
The hobbits looked anxiously at the distant hills。 Sam looked up into thepale sky； fearing to see hawks or eagles hovering over them with bright
unfriendly eyes。 'You do make me feel unfortable and lonesome； Strider！' he
said。
'What do you advise us to do？' asked Frodo。
'I think；' answered Strider slowly； as if he was not quite sure； 'I thinkthe best thing is to go as straight eastward from here as we can； to make forthe line of hills； not for Weathertop。 There we can strike a path I know thatruns at their feet； it will bring us to Weathertop from the north and lessopenly。 Then we shall see what we shall see。'
All that day they plodded along； until the cold and early evening camedown。 The land became drier and more barren； but mists and vapours lay behindthem on the marshes。 A few melancholy birds were piping and wailing； until theround red sun sank slowly into the western shadows； then an empty silencefell。 The hobbits thought of the soft light of sunset glancing through thecheerful windows of Bag End far away。
At the day's end they came to a stream that wandered down from the hillsto lose itself in the stagnant marshland； and they went up along its bankswhile the light lasted。 It was already night when at last they halted and madetheir camp under some stunted alder…trees by the shores of the stream。 Aheadthere loomed now against the dusky sky the bleak and treeless backs of thehills。 That night they set a watch； and Strider； it seemed； did not sleep atall。 The moon was waxing； and in the early night…hours a cold grey light layon the land。
Next morning they set out again soon after sunrise。 There was a frost inthe air； and the sky was a pale clear blue。 The hobbits felt refreshed； as ifthey had had a night of unbroken sleep。 Already they were getting used to muchwalking on short mons – shorter at any rate than what in the Shire theywould have thought barely enough to keep them on their legs。 Pippin declaredthat Frodo was looking twice the hobbit that he had been。
'Very odd；' said Frodo； tightening his belt； 'considering that there isactually a good deal less of me。 I hope the thinning process will not go onindefinitely； or I shall bee a wraith。'