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the night。 Then he and Frodo went off with Farmer Cotton。 They sat with the family in the warm
kitchen； and the Cottons asked a few polite questions about their travels； but hardly listened to the
answers： they were far more concerned with events in the Shire。
'It all began with Pimple； as we call him；' said Farmer Cotton； 'and it began as soon as you'd
gone off； Mr。 Frodo。 He'd funny ideas had Pimple。 Seems he wanted to own everything himself；
and then order other folk about。 It soon came out that he already did own a sight more than was
good for him； and he was always grabbing more； though where he got the money was a mystery：
mills and malt…houses and inns； and farms； and leaf…plantations。 He'd already bought Sandyman's
mill before he came to Bag End； seemingly。
'Of course he started with a lot of property in the Southfarthing which he had from his dad； and
it seems he'd been selling a lot o' the best leaf； and sending it away quietly for a year or two。 But at
the end o' last year he began sending away loads of stuff； not only leaf。 Things began to get short；
and winter ing on； too。 Folk got angry； but he had his answer。 A lot of Men； ruffians mostly；
came with great waggons； some to carry off the goods south…away； and others to stay。 And more
came。 And before we knew where we were they were planted here and there all over the Shire； and
were felling trees and digging and building themselves sheds and houses just as they liked。 At first
goods and damage was paid for by Pimple； but soon they began lording it around and taking what
they wanted。
'Then there was a bit of trouble； but not enough。 Old Will the Mayor set off for Bag End to
protest； but he never got there。 Ruffians laid hands on him and took and locked him up in a hole in
Michel Delving； and there he is now。 And after that； it would bc soon after New Year； there wasn't
no more Mayor； and Pimple called himself Chief Shirriff； or just Chief； and did as he liked； and if
anyone got 〃uppish〃 as they called it； they followed Will。 So things went from bad to worse。 There
wasn't no smoke left； save for the Men； and the Chief didn't hold with beer； save for his Men； and
closed all the inns； and everything except Rules got shorter and shorter； unless one could hide a bit
of one's own when the ruffians went round gathering stuff up 〃for fair distribution〃： which meant
they got it and we didn't； except for the leavings which you could have at the Shirriff…houses； if you
could stomach them。 All very bad。 But since Sharkey came it's been plain ruination。'
'Who is this Sharkey？' said Merry。 'I heard one of the ruffians speak of him。'
'The biggest ruffian o' the lot； seemingly；' answered Cotton。 'It was about last harvest； end o'
September maybe； that we first heard of him。 We've never seen him； but he's up at Bag End； and
he's the real Chief now； I guess。 All the ruffians do what he says； and what he says is mostly hack；
burn； and ruin； and now it s e to killing。 There s no longer even any bad sense in it。 They cut
down trees and let 'em lie； they burn houses and build no more。
'Take Sandyman's mill now。 Pimple knocked it down almost as soon as he came to Bag End。
Then he brought in a lot o' dirty…looking Men to build a bigger one and fill it full o' wheels and
outlandish contraptions。 Only that fool Ted was pleased by that； and he works there cleaning
wheels for the Men； where his dad was the Miller and his own master。 Pimple's idea was to grind
more and faster； or so he said。 He's got other mills like it。 But you've got to have grist before you
can grind； and there was no more for the new mill to do than for the old。 But since Sharkey came
they don't grind no more corn at all。 They're always a…hammering and a…letting out a smoke and a
stench； and there isn't no peace even at night in Hobbiton。 And they pour out filth a purpose；
they've fouled all the lower Water and it's getting down into Brandywine。 If they want to make the
Shire into a desert； they're going the right way about it。 I don't believe that fool of a Pimple's behind
all this。 It's Sharkey； I say。'
'That's right！' put in Young Tom。 'Why； they even took Pimple's old ma； that Lobelia； and he
was fond of her； if no one else was。 Some of the Hobbiton folk； they saw it。 She es down the
lane with her old umbrella。 Some of the ruffians were going up with a big cart。
' 〃Where be you a…going？〃 says she。
' 〃To Bag End；〃 says they。
' 〃What for？〃 says she。
' 〃To put up some sheds for Sharkey；〃 says they。
' 〃Who said you could？〃 says she。
' 〃Sharkey；〃 says they。 〃So get out o' the road； old hagling！〃
' 〃I'll give you Sharkey； you dirty thieving ruffians！〃 says she； and ups with her umbrella and
goes for the leader。 near twice her size。 So they took her。 Dragged her off to the Lockholes； at her
age too。 They've took others we miss more； but there's no denying she showed more spirit than
most。'
Into the middle of this talk came Sam； bursting in with his gaffer。 Old Gamgee did not look
much older； but he was a little deafer。
'Good evening。 Mr。 Baggins！' he said。 'Glad indeed I am to see you safe back。 But I've a bone to
pick with you； in a manner o' speaking； if I may make so bold。 You didn't never ought to have a'
sold Bag End； as I always said。 That's what started all the mischief。 And while you're been
trapessing in foreign parts； chasing Black Men up mountains from what my Sam says； though what
for he don't make clear； they've been and dug up Bagshot Row and ruined my taters！'
'I am very sorry； Mr。 Gamgee；' said Frodo。 'But now I've e back； I'll do my best to make
amends。'
'Well； you can't say fairer than that；' said the gaffer。 'Mr。 _Frodo_ Baggins is a real gentlehobbit；
I always have said； whatever you may think of some others of the name； begging your pardon。 And
I hope my Sam's behaved hisself and given satisfaction？'
'Perfect satisfaction； Mr。 Gamgee；' said Frodo。 'Indeed； if you will believe it； he's now one of the
most famous people in all the lands； and they are making songs about his deeds from here to the
Sea and beyond the Great River。' Sam blushed； but he looked gratefully at Frodo； for Rosie's eyes
were shining and she was smiling at him。
'It takes a lot o' believing；' said the gaffer； 'though I can see he's been mixing in strange pany。
What's e of his weskit？ I don't hold with wearing ironmongery； whether it wears well or no。'
Farmer Cotton's household and all his guests were up early next morning。 Nothing had been
heard in the night； but more trouble would certainly e before the day was old。 'Seems as if none
o' the ruffians were left up at Bag End；' said Cotton； 'but the gang from Waymeet will be along any
time now。'
After breakfast a messenger from the Tookland rode in。 He was in high spirits。 'The Thain has
raised all our country；' he said； 'and the news is going like fire all ways。 The ruffians that were
watching our land have fled off south； those that escaped alive。 The Thain has gone after them； to
hold off the big gang down that way； but he's sent Mr Peregrin back with all the other folk he can
spare。'
The next news was less good。 Merry； who had been out all night； came riding in about ten
o'clock。 'There's a big band about four miles away；' he said。 'They're ing along the road from
Waymeet； but a good many stray ruffians have joined up with them。 There must be close on a
hundred of them； and they're fire…raising as they e。 Curse them！'
'Ah！ This lot won't stay to talk； they'll kill； if they can；' said Farmer Cotton。 'If Tooks don't e
sooner； we'd best get behind cover and shoot without arguing。 There's got to be some fighting
before this is settled； Mr。 Frodo。'
The Tooks did e sooner。 Before long they marched in； a hundred strong； from Tuckborough
and the Green Hills with Pippin at their head。 Merry now had enough sturdy hobbitry to deal with
the ruffians。 Scouts reported that they were keeping close together。 They knew that the countryside
had risen against them； and plainly meant to deal with the rebellion ruthlessly； at its centre in
Bywater。 But however grim they； might be； they seemed to have no leader among them who
understood warfare。 They came on without any precautions。 Merry laid his plans quickly。
The ruffians came tramping along the East Road； and without halting turned up the Bywater
Road； which ran for some way sloping up between high banks with low hedges on top。 Round a
bend； about a furlong from the main road； they met a stout barrier of old farm…carts upturned。 That
halted them。 At the same moment they became aware that the hedges on both sides； just above their
heads； were all lined with hobbits。 Behind them other hobbits now pushed out some more waggons
that had been hidden in a field； and so blocked the way back。 A voice spoke to them from above。
'Well； you have walked into a trap；' said Merry。 'Your fellows from Hobbiton did the same； and
one is dead and the rest are prisoners。 Lay down your weapons！ Then go back twenty paces and sit
down。 Any who try to break out will be shot。'
But the ruffians could not now be cowed so easily。 A few of them obeyed； but were immediately
set on by their fellows。 A score or more broke back and charged the waggons。 Six were shot； but
the remainder burst out； killing two hobbits； and then scattering across country in the direction of
the Woody End。 Two more fell as they ran。 Merry blew a loud horn…call； and there were answering
calls from a distance。
'They won't get far；' said Pippin。 'All that country is alive with our hunters now。'
Behind； the trapped Men in the lane； still about four score； tried to climb the barrier and the
banks； and the hobbits were obliged to shoot many of them or hew them with axes。 But many of the
strongest and most desperate got out on the west side； and attacked their enemies fiercely； being
now more bent on killing than escaping。 Several hobbits fell； and the rest were wavering； when
Merry and Pippin； who were on the east side； came across and charged the ruffians。 Merry himself
slew the leader； a great squint…eyed brute like a huge orc。 Then he drew his forces off； encircling
the last remnant of the Men in a wide ring of archers。
At last all was over。 Nearly seventy of the ruffians lay dead on the field； and a dozen were
prisoners。 Nineteen hobbits were killed； and some thirty were wounded。 The dead ruffians were
laden on waggons and hauled off to an old sand…pit nearby and there buried： in the Battle Pit； as it
was afterwards called。 The fallen hobbits were laid together in a grave on the hill…side； where later
a great stone was set up with a garden about it。 So ended the Battle of Bywater； 1419； the last battle
fought in the Shire； and the only battle since the Greenfields； 1147； away up in the Northfarthing。
In consequence； though it happily cost very few lives； it has a chapter to itself in the Red Book； and
the names of all those who took part were made into a Roll； and learned by heart by Shire…
historians。 The very considerable rise in the fame and fortune of the Cottons dates from this time；
but at the top of the Roll in all accounts stand the names of Captains Meriadoc and Peregrin。
Frodo had been in the battle； but he had not drawn sword； and his chief part had been to prevent
the hobbits in their wrath at their losses； from slaying those of their enemies who threw down their
weapons。 When the fighting was over； and the later labours were ordered； Merry； Pippin； and Sam
joined him； and they rode back with the Cottons。 They ate a late midday meal； and then Frodo said
with a sigh： 'Well； I suppose it is time now that we dealt with the 〃Chief〃。'
'Yes indeed； the sooner the better；' said Merry。 'And don't be too gentle！ He's responsible for
bringing in these ruffians； and for all the evil they have done。'
Farmer Cotton collected an escort of some two dozen sturdy hobbits。 'For it's only a guess that
there is no ruffians left at Bag End；' he said。 'We don't know。' Then they set out on foot。 Frodo； Sam；
Merry； and Pippin led the way