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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 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 tail； 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 plete protection。 The Forest drew close to the hedge in many places。 The Bucklanders kept their doors locked after dark； and that also was not usual in the Shire。
The ferryboat 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 don't ask any more now！ Let's 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 don't keep any boats on the westbank！' said Frodo。 'Can horses cross the river？'
'They can go twenty miles north to Brandywine Bridge 。 or they might swim；' answered Merry。 'Though I never heard of any horse swimming the Brandywine。 But what have horses to do with it？' I'll tell you later。 Let's get indoors and then we can talk。'
'All right！ You and Pippin know your way； so I'll just ride on and tell Fatty Bolger that you are ing。 We'll 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 Frodo's 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 outoftheway 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 escape from the crowded life of Brandy Hall for a time。 It was an old fashioned countrified house； as much like a hobbithole 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 lip 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 ing 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 cartload yesterday。'
Frodo looked round。 It did look like home。 Many of his own favourite things 。 or Bilbo's things （they reminded him sharply of him in their new selling） 。 were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End。 It was a pleasant； fortable； weling place； and he found himself wishing that he was really ing here to settle doent。 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。
'It's 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 led 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？ You'll be last either way； Master Peregrin。'
'Trust me to arrange things better than that！' said Merry。 'We can't 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 peting 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 Bilbo's favourite bathsongs。
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！
O！ 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。
O！ 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。
O！ 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 Pippin's bath had imitated a fountain and leaped on high。
Merry went to the door： 'What about supper and beer in the throat？' he called。 Frodo came out drying his hair。
'There's so much water in the air that I'm ing 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 shan't wait for you。'
They had supper in the kitchen on a table near the fire。 'I suppose you three won't want mushrooms again？' said Fredegar without much hope。
'Yes we shall！' cried Pippin。
'They're mine！' said Frodo。 'Given to me by Mrs。 Maggot； a queen among farmers' wives。 Take your greedy hands away； and I'll serve them。'
Hobbits have a passion for mushrooms； surpassing even the greediest likings of Big People。 A fact which partly explains young Frodo's 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。
'We'll clear up later；' said Merry。 'Now tell me all about it！ I guess that you have been having adventures； e。 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 won't 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 landingstage 。 and heard the queer sound in Maggot's voice。 What do you make of it all； Frodo？'
'Cousin Frodo has been very close；' said Pippin。 'But the time has e for him to open out。 So far we have been given nothing more to go on than Farmer Maggot's guess that it has something to do with old Bilbo's treasure。'
'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 e out in his talk。 I've 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 Bilbo's 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。
'It's ing 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 can't keep it dark any longer。 I have got something to tell you all。 But I don't 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 don't know how to say goodbye。 You meant to leave the Shire； of course。 But danger has e on you sooner than you expected； and now you are making up your mind to go at once。 And you don't want to。 We are very sorry for you。'
Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again。 His look of surprise was so ical 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 e to the end of your money； and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those Sackville Bagginses！ And all those close talks with Gandalf。'
'Good heavens！' said Frodo。 'I thought I had been both careful and clever。 I don't know what Gandalf would say。 Is all the Shire discussing my departure then？'
'Oh no！' said Merry。 'Don't worry about that！ The secret won't 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； and are often with you。 We can usually guess what you are thinking。 I knew Bilbo； too。 To tell you the truth； I had been watching you rather closely ever since he left。 I thought you would go after him sooner or later； indee