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'What fellow do you mean？' asked Pippin。
'Then you haven't seen him？' said the farmer。 'He went up the lane towards the causeway not a long while back。 He was a funny customer and asking funny questions。 But perhaps you'll e along inside； and we'll pass the news more fortable。 I've a drop of good ale on tap； if you and your friends are willing； Mr。 Took。'
It seemed plain that the farmer would tell them more； if allowed to do it in his own time and fashion； so they all accepted the invitation。 'What about the dogs？' asked Frodo anxiously。
The farmer laughed。 'They won't harm you … not unless I tell 'em to。 Here； Grip！ Fang！ Heel！' he cried。 'Heel； Wolf！' To the relief of Frodo and Sam； the dogs walked away and let them go free。
Pippin introduced the other two to the farmer。 'Mr。 Frodo Baggins；' he said。 'You may not remember him； but he used to live at Brandy Hall。' At the name Baggins the farmer started； and gave Frodo a sharp glance。 For a moment Frodo thought that the memory of stolen mushrooms had been aroused； and that the dogs would be told to see him off。 But Farmer Maggot took him by the arm。
'Well； if that isn't queerer than ever？' he exclaimed。 'Mr。 Baggins is it？ e inside！ We must have a talk。'
They went into the farmer's kitchen； and sat by the wide fire…place。 Mrs。 Maggot brought out beer in a huge jug； and filled four large mugs。 It was a good brew； and Pippin found himself more than pensated for missing the Golden Perch。 Sam sipped his beer suspiciously。 He had a natural mistrust of the inhabitants of other parts of the Shire； and also he was not disposed to be quick friends with anyone who had beaten his master； however long ago。
After a few remarks about the weather and the agricultural prospects （which were no worse than usual）； Farmer Maggot put down his mug and looked at them all in turn。
'Now； Mr。 Peregrin；' he said； 'where might you be ing from； and where might you be going to？ Were you ing to visit' me？ For； if so； you had gone past my gate without my seeing you。'
'Well； no；' answered Pippin。 'To tell you the truth； since you have guessed it； we got into the lane from the other end： we had e over your fields。 But that was quite by accident。 We lost our way in the woods； back near Woodhall； trying to take a short cut to the Ferry。'
'If you were in a hurry； the road would have served you better；' said the farmer。 'But I wasn't worrying about that。 You have leave to walk over my land； if you have a mind； Mr。 Peregrin。 And you； Mr。 Baggins … though I daresay you still like mushrooms。' He laughed。 'Ah yes； I recognized the name。 I recollect the time when young Frodo Baggins was one of the worst young rascals of Buckland。 But it wasn't mushrooms I was thinking of。 I had just heard the name Baggins before you turned up。 What do you think that funny customer asked me？'
They waited anxiously for him to go on。 'Well；' the farmer continued； approaching his point with slow relish； 'he came riding on a big black horse in at the gate； which happened to be open； and right up to my door。 All black he was himself； too； and cloaked and hooded up； as if he did not want to be known。 〃Now what in the Shire can he want？〃 I thought to myself。 We don't see many of the Big Folk over the border； and anyway I had never heard of any like this black fellow。
' 〃Good…day to you！〃 I says； going out to him。 〃This lane don't lead anywhere； and wherever you may be going； your quickest way will be back to the road。〃 I didn't like the looks of him； and when Grip came out； he took one sniff and let out a yelp as if he had been slung： he put down his tail and bolted off howling。 The black fellow sat quite still。
' 〃I e from yonder；〃 he said； slow and stiff…like； pointing back west； over my fields； if you please。 〃Have you seen Baggins？〃 he asked in a queer voice； and bent down towards me。 I could not see any face； for his hood fell down so low； and I felt a sort of shiver down my back。 But I did not see why he should e riding over my land so bold。
' 〃Be off！〃 I said。 〃There are no Bagginses here。 You're in the wrong part of the Shire。 You had better go back west to Hobbiton … but you can go by road this time。〃
' 〃Baggins has left；〃 he answered in a whisper。 〃He is ing。 He is not far away。 I wish to find him。 If he passes will you tell me？ I will e back with gold。〃
' 〃No you won't；〃 I said。 〃You'll go back where you belong； double quick。 I give you one minute before I call all my dogs。〃
'He gave a sort of hiss。 It might have been laughing； and it might not。 Then he spurred his great horse right at me； and I jumped out of the way only just in time。 I called the dogs； but he swung off； and rode through the gate and up the lane towards the causeway like a bolt of thunder。 What do you think of that？'
Frodo sat for a moment looking at the fire； but his only thought was how on earth would they reach the Ferry。 'I don't know what to think；' he said at last。
'Then I'll tell you what to think；' said Maggot。 'You should never have gone mixing yourself up with Hobbiton folk； Mr。 Frodo。 Folk are queer up there。' Sam stirred in his chair； and looked at the farmer with an unfriendly eye。 'But you were always a reckless lad。 When I heard you had left the Brandybucks and gone off to that old Mr。 Bilbo； I said that you were going to find trouble。 Mark my words； this all es of those strange doings of Mr。 Bilbo's。 His money was got in some strange fashion in foreign parts； they say。 Maybe there is some that want to know what has bee of the gold and jewels that he buried in the hill of Hobbiton； as I hear？'
Frodo said nothing： the shrewd guesses of the farmer were rather disconcerting。
'Well； Mr。 Frodo；' Maggot went on； 'I'm glad that you've had the sense to e back to Buckland。 My advice is： stay there！ And don't get mixed up with these outlandish folk。 You'll have friends in these parts。 If any of these black fellows e after you again； I'll deal with them。 I'll say you're dead； or have left the Shire； or anything you like。 And that might be true enough； for as like as not it is old Mr。 Bilbo they want news of。'
'Maybe you're right；' said Frodo； avoiding the farmer's eye and staring at the fire。
Maggot looked at him thoughtfully。 'Well； I see you have ideas of your own；' he said。 'It is as plain as my nose that no accident brought you and that rider here on the same afternoon； and maybe my news was no great news to you； after all。 I am not asking you to tell me anything you have a mind to keep to yourself； but I see you are in some kind of trouble。 Perhaps you are thinking it won't be too easy to get to the Ferry without being caught？'
'I was thinking so；' said Frodo。 'But we have got to try and get there； and it won't be done by sitting and thinking。 So I am afraid we must be going。 Thank you very much indeed for your kindness！ I've been in terror of you and your dogs for over thirty years； Farmer Maggot； though you may laugh to hear it。 It's a pity： for I've missed a good friend。 And now I'm sorry to leave so soon。 But I'll e back； perhaps； one day … if I get a chance。'
'You'll be wele when you e；' said Maggot。 'But now I've a notion。 It's near sundown already； and we are going to have our supper； for we mostly go to bed soon after the Sun。 If you and Mr。 Peregrin and all could stay and have a bite with us； we would be pleased！'
'And so should we！' said Frodo。 'But we must be going at once； I'm afraid。 Even now it will be dark before we can reach the Ferry。'
'Ah！ but wait a minute！ I was going to say： after a bit of supper； I'll gel out a small waggon； and I'll drive you all to the Ferry。 That will save you a good step； and it might also save you trouble of another sort。'
Frodo now accepted the invitation gratefully； to the relief of Pippin and Sam。 The sun was already behind the western hills； and the light was failing。 Two of Maggot's sons and his three daughters came in； and a generous supper was laid on the large table。 The kitchen was lit with candles and the fire was mended。 Mrs。 Maggot hustled in and out。 One or two other hobbits belonging to the farm…household came in。 In a short while fourteen sat down to eat。 There was beer in plenty； and a mighty dish of mushrooms and bacon； besides much other solid farmhouse fare。 The dogs lay by the fire and gnawed rinds and cracked bones。
When they had finished； the farmer and his sons went out with a lantern and got the waggon ready。 It was dark in the yard； when the guests came out。 They threw their packs on board and climbed in。 The farmer sat in the driving…seat； and whipped up his two stout ponies。 His wife stood in the light of the open door。
'You be careful of yourself。 Maggot！' she called。 'Don't go arguing with any foreigners； and e straight back！'
'I will！' said he； and drove out of the gate。 There was now no breath of wind stirring； the night was still and quiet； and a chill was in the air。 They went without lights and took it slowly。 After a mile or two the lane came to an end； crossing a deep dike； and climbing a short slope up on to the high…banked causeway。
Maggot got down and took a good look either way； north and south； but nothing could be seen in the darkness； and there was not a sound in the still air。 Thin strands of river…mist were hanging above the dikes； and crawling over the fields。
'It's going to be thick；' said Maggot； 'but I'll not light my lantern till I turn for home。 We'll hear anything on the road long before we meet it tonight。'
It was five miles or more from Maggot's lane to the Ferry。 The hobbits wrapped themselves up； but their ears were strained for any sound above the creak of the wheels and the slow clop of the ponies' hoofs。 The waggon seemed slower than a snail to Frodo。 Beside him Pippin was nodding towards sleep； but Sam was staring forwards into the rising fog。
They reached the entrance to the Ferry lane at last。 It was marked by two tall white posts that suddenly loomed up on their right。 Farmer Maggot drew in his ponies and the waggon creaked to a halt。 They were just beginning lo scramble out； when suddenly they heard what they had all been dreading： hoofs on the road ahead。 The sound was ing towards them。
Maggot jumped down and stood holding the ponies' heads； and peering forward into the gloom。 Clip…clop； clip…clop came the approaching rider。 The fall of the hoofs sounded loud in the still； foggy air。
'You'd better be hidden； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam anxiously。 'You get down in the waggon and cover up with blankets； and we'll send this rider to the rightabouts！' He climbed out and went to the farmer's side。 Black Riders would have to ride over him to get near the waggon。
Clop…clop； clop…clop。 The rider was nearly on them。
'Hallo there！' called Farmer Maggot。 The advancing hoofs stopped short。 They thought they could dimly guess a dark cloaked shape in the mist； a yard or two ahead。 'Now then！' said the farmer； throwing the reins to Sam and striding forward。 'Don't you e a step nearer！ What do you want； and where are you going？'
'I want Mr。 Baggins。 Have you seen him？' said a muffled voice … but the voice was the voice of Merry Brandybuck。 A dark lantern was uncovered； and its light fell on the astonished face of the farmer。
'Mr。 Merry！' he cried。
'Yes； of course！ Who did you think it was？' said Merry ing forward。 As he came out of the mist and their fears subsided； he seemed suddenly to diminish to ordinary hobbit…size。 He was riding a pony； and a scarf was swathed round his neck and over his chin to keep out the fog。
Frodo sprang out of the waggon to greet him。 'So there you are at last！' said Merry。 'I was beginning to wonder if you would turn up at all today； and I was just going back to supper。 When it grew foggy I came across and rode up towards Stock to see if you had fallen in any ditches。 But I'm blest if I know which way you have e。 Where did you find them； Mr。 Maggot？ In your duck…pond？'
'No； I caught 'em trespassing；' said the farmer； 'and nearly set my dogs on 'em； but they'll tell you all the story； I've no doubt。 Now； if you'll excuse me； Mr。 Merry and Mr。 Frodo and all； I'd best be turning for home。 Mrs。 Maggot will be worriting with the night getting thick。'
He backed the waggon into the lane and tu