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Lamps were twinkling there. Behind loomed up the Buck Hill; and out of it, through stray shrouds of mist, shone many round windows, yellow and red. They were the windows of Brandy Hall, the ancient home of the Brandybucks. Long ago Gorhendad Oldbuck, head of the Oldbuck family, one of the oldest in the Marish or indeed in the Shire, had crossed the river, which was the original boundary of the land eastwards. He built (and excavated) Brandy Hall, changed his name to Brandybuck, and settled down to become master of what was virtually a small independent country. His family grew and grew, and after his days continued to grow, until Brandy Hall occupied the whole of the low hill, and had three large front-doors, many side-doors, and about a hundred windows. The Brandybucks and their numerous dependants then began to burrow, and later to build, all round about. That was the origin of Buckland, a thickly inhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest, a sort of colony from the Shire. Its chief village was Bucklebury, clustering in the banks and slopes behind Brandy Hall. The people in the Marish were please click for source with the Bucklanders, and the authority of the Master of the Hall (as the head of the Brandybuck family was called) was still acknowledged by the farmers between Stock and Rushey. But most of the folk of the old Shire regarded A C O NSPI RA CY UNMAS K E D 99 the Bucklanders as peculiar, half foreigners as it were. Though, as a matter of fact, they were not very different from the other hobbits of the Four Farthings. Except in one point: they were fond of boats, and some of them could swim. Their land was originally unprotected from the East; but on that side they had built a hedge: the High Hay. It had been planted many generations ago, and was now thick and tall, for it was constantly tended. It ran all the way from Brandywine Bridge, in a big loop curving away from the river, to Haysend (where the Withywindle flowed out of the Forest into the Brandywine): well over twenty miles from end to end. But, of course, it was not a complete protection. The Forest drew close to opinion, coc bh5 base something hedge in many places. The Bucklanders kept their doors locked after dark, and that also was not usual in the Shire. The ferry-boat moved slowly across the water. The Buckland shore drew nearer. Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before. He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by: his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front. He scratched his head, and for a moment had a passing wish that Mr. Frodo could have gone on living quietly at Bag End. The four hobbits stepped off the ferry. Merry was tying it up, and Pippin was already leading the pony up the path, when Sam (who had been looking back, as if to take farewell of the Shire) said in a hoarse whisper: Look back, Mr. Frodo. Do you see anything. On the far stage, under the distant lamps, they could just make out a figure: it looked like a dark black bundle left behind. But as they looked it seemed to move and sway this way and that, as if searching the ground. It then crawled, or went crouching, back into the gloom beyond the lamps. What in the Shire is that. exclaimed Merry. Something that is following us, said Frodo. But dont ask any more now. Lets get away at once. They hurried up the path to the top of the bank, but when they looked back the far shore was shrouded in mist, and nothing could be seen. Thank goodness you dont keep any boats on the west-bank. said Frodo. Can horses cross the river. They can go ten miles north to Brandywine Bridge or they might swim, answered Merry. Though I never heard of any horse swimming the Brandywine. Are ark nova strategy thank what have horses Strategy rpg do with it. Ill tell you later. Lets get indoors and then we can talk. All Strategy rpg. You and Pippin know your way; so Ill just ride on and 100 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS tell Fatty Bolger that you are coming. Well see about supper and things. We had our supper early with Farmer Maggot, said Frodo; but we could do with another. You shall have it. Give me that basket. said Merry, and rode ahead into the darkness. It was some distance from the Brandywine to Frodos new house at Crickhollow. They passed Buck Hill and Brandy Hall on their left, and on the outskirts of Bucklebury struck the main road of Buckland that ran south from the Bridge. Half a mile northward along this they came to a lane opening on their right. This they followed for a couple of miles as it climbed up and down into the country. At last they came to a narrow gate in a thick hedge. Nothing could be seen of the house in the dark: it stood back from the lane in the middle of a wide circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of low trees inside the outer hedge. Frodo had chosen it, because it stood in an out-of-the-way corner of the country, and there were no other dwellings close by. You could get in and out without being noticed. It had been built a long while before by the Brandybucks, for the use of guests, or members of the family that wished to of pc gears war 2 from the crowded life of Brandy Hall for a time. It was an old-fashioned countrified house, as much like a hobbit-hole as possible: it was long and low, with no upper storey; and it had a roof of turf, round windows, and a large round door. As they walked up the green path from the gate no light was visible; the windows were dark and shuttered. Frodo knocked on the door, and Fatty Bolger opened it. A friendly light streamed out. They slipped in quickly and shut themselves and the light inside. They were in a wide hall with doors on either side; in front of them a passage ran back down the middle of the house. Well, what do you think of it. asked Merry coming up the passage. We have done our best in a short time to make it look like home. After all Fatty and I only got here with the last cart-load yesterday. Frodo looked round. It did look like home. Many of his own favourite things or Bilbos things (they reminded him sharply of him in their new setting) were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End. It was a pleasant, comfortable, welcoming place; and he found himself wishing that he was really coming here to settle down in quiet retirement. It seemed unfair to have put his friends to all this trouble; and he wondered again how he was going to break the news to them that he must leave them so soon, indeed at once. Yet that would have to be done that very night, before they all went to bed. A C O NSPI RA CY UNMAS K E D 101 Its delightful. he said with an effort. I hardly feel that I have moved at all. The travellers hung up their cloaks, and piled their packs on the floor. Merry this web page them down the passage and threw open a door at the far end. Firelight came out, and a puff of steam. A bath. cried Pippin. O blessed Meriadoc. Which order shall we go in. said Frodo. Eldest first, or quickest first. Youll be last either way, Master Peregrin. Trust me to arrange things better than that. said Merry. We cant begin life at Crickhollow with a quarrel over baths. In that room there are three tubs, and a copper full of boiling water. There are also towels, mats and soap. Get inside, and be quick. Merry and Fatty went into the kitchen on the other side of the passage, and busied themselves with the final preparations for a late supper. Snatches of competing songs came from the bathroom mixed with the sound of splashing and wallowing. The voice of Pippin was suddenly lifted up above the others in one of Bilbos favourite bath-songs. Sing hey. for the bath at close of day that washes the weary mud away. A loon is he that will not sing: O. Water Hot is a noble thing. Sweet is the sound of falling rain, and the brook that leaps from hill to plain; but better than rain or rippling streams is Water Hot that smokes and steams. Water cold we may pour at need down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed; but better is Beer, if drink we lack, and Water Hot poured down the back. Water is fair that leaps on high in a fountain white beneath the sky; but never did fountain sound so sweet as splashing Hot Water with my feet. There was a terrific splash, and a shout of Whoa. from Frodo. It appeared that a lot of Pippins bath had imitated a fountain and leaped on high. 102 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS Merry went to the door: What about supper and beer in the throat. he called. Frodo came out drying his hair. Theres so much water in the air that Im coming into the kitchen to finish, he said. Lawks. said Merry, looking in. The stone floor was swimming. You ought to mop all that up before you get anything to eat, Peregrin, he said. Hurry up, or we shant wait for you. They had supper in the kitchen on a table near the fire. I suppose you three wont want mushrooms again. said Fredegar without much hope. Yes we shall. cried Pippin. Theyre mine. said Frodo. Given go here me by Mrs. Maggot, a queen among farmers wives. Read more your greedy hands away, and Ill serve them. Hobbits have a passion for mushrooms, surpassing even the greediest likings of Big People. A fact which partly explains young Frodos long expeditions to the renowned fields of the Marish, and the wrath of the injured Maggot. On this occasion there was plenty for all, even according to hobbit standards. There were also many other things to follow, and when they had finished even Fatty Bolger heaved a sigh of content. They pushed back the table, and drew chairs round the fire. Well clear up later, said Merry. Now tell me all about it. I guess that you have been having adventures, which was not quite fair without me. I want a full account; and most of all I want to know what was the matter with old Maggot, and why he spoke to me like that. He sounded almost as if he was scared, if that is possible. We have all been scared, said Pippin after a pause, in which Frodo stared at the fire and did not speak. You would have been, too, if you had been chased for two days by Black Riders. And what are they. Black figures riding on black horses, answered Pippin. If Frodo wont talk, I will tell you the whole tale from the beginning. He then gave a full account of their journey from the time when they left Hobbiton. Sam gave various supporting nods and exclamations. Frodo remained silent. I should think you were making it all up, said Merry, if I had not seen that black shape on the landing-stage and heard the queer sound in Maggots voice. What do you make of it all, Frodo. Cousin Frodo has been very close, said Pippin. But the time has come for him to open out. So far we have been given nothing more to go on than Farmer Maggots guess that it has something to do with old Bilbos treasure. A C O NSPI RA CY UNMAS K E D 103 That was only a guess, said Frodo hastily. Maggot does not know anything. Old Maggot is a shrewd fellow, said Merry. A lot goes on behind his round face that does not come out in his talk. Ive heard that he used to go into the Old Forest at one time, and he has the reputation of knowing a good many strange things. But you can at least tell us, Frodo, whether you think his guess good or bad. I think, answered Frodo slowly, that it was a good guess, as far as it goes. There is a connexion with Bilbos old adventures, and the Riders are looking, or perhaps one ought to say searching, for him or for me. I also fear, if you want to know, that it is no joke at all; and that I am not safe here or anywhere else. He looked round at the windows and walls, as if he was afraid they would suddenly give way. The others looked at him in silence, and exchanged meaning glances among themselves. Its coming out in a minute, whispered Pippin to Merry. Merry nodded. Well. said Frodo at last, sitting up and straightening his back, as if he had made a decision. I cant keep it dark any longer. I have got something to tell you all. But I dont know quite how to begin. I think I could help you, said Merry quietly, by telling you some of it myself. What do you mean. said Frodo, looking at him anxiously. Just this, my dear old Frodo: you are miserable, because you dont know how to say good-bye. You meant to leave the Shire, of course. But danger has come on you sooner than you expected, and now you are making up your mind to go at once. And you dont want to. We are very sorry for you. Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again. His look of surprise was so comical that they laughed. Dear old Frodo. said Pippin. Did you really think you had thrown dust in all our eyes. You have not been nearly careful or clever enough for that. You have obviously been planning to go and saying farewell to all your haunts all this year since April. We have constantly heard you muttering: Shall I ever look down into that valley again, I wonder, and things like that. And pretending that you had come to the end of your money, and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those SackvilleBagginses. And all those close talks with Gandalf. Good heavens. said Frodo. I thought I had been both careful and clever. I dont know what Gandalf would say. Is all the Shire discussing my departure then. Oh no. said Merry. Dont worry about that. The secret wont keep for long, of course; but at present it is, I think, only known to us conspirators. After all, you must remember that we know you well, 104 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS and are often with you. We can usually guess what you are thinking. I knew Bilbo, too. To tell you the truth, I have been watching you rather closely ever since he left. I thought you would go after him sooner or later; indeed I expected you to go sooner, and lately we have been very anxious. We have been terrified that you might give us the slip, and go off suddenly, all on your own like he did. Ever since this spring we have kept our eyes open, and done a good deal of planning on our own account. You are not going to escape so easily. But I must go, said Frodo. It cannot be helped, dear friends. It is wretched for us all, but it is no use your trying to keep me. Since you have guessed so much, please help me and do not hinder me. You do not understand. said Pippin. You must go and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam is an excellent fellow, and would jump down a dragons throat to save you, if he did not trip over his own Strategy rpg but you will need more than one companion in your dangerous adventure.
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