1.
known round here as Strider
2.
Frodo found that Strider was now looking at him, as if he had heard or
3.
Frodo returned his gaze but said nothing; and Strider made no further
4.
the tables to the dark comer by Strider, who sat unmoved, giving no sign of his thoughts
5.
'Well?' said Strider, when he reappeared
6.
am! I've just been having a few words with Strider in the comer
7.
'Several things,' answered Strider
8.
'Well answered!' said Strider laughing
9.
'It would have been better,' said Strider
10.
'Well, I have rather a rascally look, have I not?' said Strider with a
11.
'I wonder,' said Strider
12.
'You must not count on that!' said Strider sharply
13.
'News of you, of course,' answered Strider
14.
Strider can take you by paths that are seldom trodden
15.
Frodo, I'd say no! This Strider here, he warns
16.
'The lesson in caution has been well learned,' said Strider with a grim smile
17.
Strider withdrew into a dark corner
18.
And that Ranger, Strider, he's been asking questions, too
19.
'They come from Mordor,' said Strider in a low voice
20.
'Against the Shadow in the East,' said Strider quietly
21.
Make sure that it is the real Strider
22.
'He has been doing that for many years,' said Strider
23.
'Would it? Would any of you have believed me till now?' said Strider
24.
You might have done in the real Strider and took his clothes
25.
If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you
26.
'But I am the real Strider, fortunately,' he said, looking down at them
27.
'I see,' laughed Strider
28.
'Not much use is it, Sam?' said Strider
29.
'Well,' said Strider, 'with Sam's permission we will call that settled
30.
the Enemy himself,' said Strider
31.
Strider looked at Merry with wonder
32.
'I do,' said Strider
33.
think not,' said Strider
34.
While Strider was gone, Frodo gave Merry a rapid account of all that
35.
The hobbits lay down on their blankets with their feet towards the hearth; but Strider settled himself in the chair against the door
36.
'I hope so,' said Strider
37.
As soon as Strider had roused them all, he led the way to their
38.
Strider immediately went to fetch the landlord
39.
'Dark times,' said Strider
40.
Strider the Ranger had joined the mysterious hobbits, made such a tale as would last for many uneventful years
41.
Strider had changed his mind, and he decided to leave Bree by the main
42.
Strider seemed to be held in awe by most of the Bree-landers, and those that
43.
'This is where we leave the open and take to cover,' said Strider
44.
'Ah, but you had not got me with you then,' laughed Strider
45.
'What is the light?' he said to Strider, who had risen, and was standing, gazing ahead into the night
46.
'That is Weathertop,' said Strider
47.
'I think,' answered Strider slowly, as if he was not quite sure, 'I
48.
That night they set a watch, and Strider, it seemed, did
49.
'Do not speak of such things!' said Strider quickly, and with
50.
There is no barrow on Weathertop, nor on any of these hills,' answered Strider
51.
The hobbits gazed at Strider
52.
'Who was Gil-galad?' asked Merry; but Strider did not answer, and seemed to be lost in thought
53.
'He did not make it up,' said Strider
54.
After half an hour's plodding climb Strider reached the
55.
On the top they found, as Strider had said, a wide ring of ancient
56.
'I wonder,' said Strider, looking round thoughtfully
57.
'I should say,' answered Strider, 'that they stood for G3, and were a sign that Gandalf was here on October the third: that is three days ago now
58.
'I do not know, but I fear the worst,' answered Strider
59.
'I was too careless on the hill-top,' answered Strider
60.
Strider laid his hand on his shoulder
61.
'There is food in the wild,' said Strider; 'berry, root, and herb; and
62.
Frodo and his companions huddled round the fire, wrapped in every garment and blanket they possessed; but Strider was content with a single cloak, and sat a little apart, drawing thoughtfully at his pipe
63.
'No!' said Strider interrupting, 'I do not think that tale should be
64.
Strider sighed and paused before he spoke again
65.
Strider was watching the moonlight on the hill
66.
Strider ordered them to pick him up and lay him near the fire, and then he disappeared
67.
Sam plainly was beginning to have doubts again about Strider; but while
68.
Dawn was growing in the sky, and the dell was filling with grey light, when Strider at last returned
69.
As Strider raised it they saw that near the end its edge was notched and the point was broken off
70.
'I think now,' said Strider, 'that the
71.
And they needed fuel; for Strider said that Frodo must be kept warm, especially at night,
72.
'That is Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell,' answered Strider
73.
Sam and Strider went forward, but they found no sign of any travellers or riders
74.
Strider judged that it had fallen two days before, and had washed away
75.
'The heirs of Elendil do not forget all things past,' said Strider;
76.
Strider seemed to be getting anxious: they were nearly ten days out from Weathertop, and their stock of provisions was beginning to run low
77.
Immediately after their cold and comfortless breakfast Strider went off alone, telling the others to remain under the shelter of the cliff, until he
78.
'We shall see,' answered Strider
79.
'What is the matter with my master?' asked Sam in a low voice, looking appealingly at Strider
80.
'Frodo has been touched by the weapons of the Enemy,' said Strider,
81.
As soon as it was light, Strider took Merry with him and went to survey the country from the height to the east of the pass
82.
Some way ahead Strider had caught a glimpse of the Loudwater again, and he knew that, though it was hidden from
83.
Strider, Sam, and
84.
wider, and then Strider and Merry went in
85.
'There is no need, I think,' said Strider, coining out
86.
Strider walked forward unconcernedly
87.
about trolls,' said Strider
88.
Not far down the bank Strider pointed out a stone in the
89.
But Strider was now leaning forward, stooped to the ground, with a hand to his ear, and a look of joy on his face
90.
Strider sprang from hiding and dashed down towards the Road, leaping with a cry through the heather; but even before he had moved or called, the rider had reined in his horse and halted, looking up towards the thicket
91.
When he saw Strider, he dismounted and ran to meet him
92.
Soon Strider beckoned to them, and the hobbits left the bushes and
93.
Briefly Strider told of the attack on their camp under Weathertop, and
94.
time nearly asleep on their stumbling legs; and even Strider seemed by the sag of his shoulders to be weary
95.
Once or twice he spoke to Strider in the elf-tongue
96.
Glorfindel and Strider followed as rear-guard
97.
'Yes,' said Frodo, `it was Strider that saved us
98.
`Well, Strider is one that I haven't heard before, anyway,' said Bilbo
99.
`They call me that in Bree,' said Strider laughing, 'and that is how I was introduced to him
100.
But this is not the time for lessons!' He turned to Strider