Why did the Nazgul not succeed in Bree and on Weathertop?

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As much as I love "The Fellowship of The Ring", I've always found the Weathertop episode rather ridiculos. I can see why they failed in Bree but at Weathertop they should have taken the ring, if they indeed were Sauron's deadliest servants. They knew it was there and attacked at night, unseen and led by their great captain. It should've ended there and then, if they had any power apart from fear.

And also, even if they did fail to win the ring at weathertop, how come they lost their trail and allowed their pray to get away? Did they just flee like headless chicken?

Originally Posted by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh

It's a wonderful irony that those whose main weapon is fear are themselves so easily overcome by it.

That is ironic. The most fearful creatures known to men scared ****less by a midget and a name. It's like a monster too afraid to come out from under a little kid's bed at night.