the fellowship of the ring-第24部分

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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　andSam；　the　dogs　walked　away　and　let　them　go　free。　
Pippin　introduced　the　other　two　to　the　farmer。　'Mr。　Frodo　Baggins；'　hesaid。　'You　may　not　remember　him；　but　he　used　to　live　at　Brandy　Hall。'　At　thename　Baggins　the　farmer　started；　and　gave　Frodo　a　sharp　glance。　For　a　momentFrodo　thought　that　the　memory　of　stolen　mushrooms　had　been　aroused；　and　thatthe　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　isit？　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　agood　brew；　and　Pippin　found　himself　more　than　pensated　for　missing　the　　
　
_Golden　Perch。_　Sam　sipped　his　beer　suspiciously。　He　had　a　natural　mistrust　ofthe　inhabitants　of　other　parts　of　the　Shire；　and　also　he　was　not　disposed　tobe　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　atthem　all　in　turn。　　
'Now；　Mr。　Peregrin；'　he　said；　'where　might　you　be　ing　from；　and　wheremight　you　be　going　to？　Were　you　ing　to　visit'　me？　For；　if　so；　you　had　gonepast　my　gate　without　my　seeing　you。'　
'Well；　no；'　answered　Pippin。　'To　tell　you　the　truth；　since　you　haveguessed　it；　we　got　into　the　lane　from　the　other　end：　we　had　e　over　yourfields。　But　that　was　quite　by　accident。　We　lost　our　way　in　the　woods；　backnear　Woodhall；　trying　to　take　a　short　cut　to　the　Ferry。'　
'If　you　were　in　a　hurry；　the　road　would　have　served　you　better；'　said　thefarmer。　'But　I　wasn't　worrying　about　that。　You　have　leave　to　walk　over　myland；　if　you　have　a　mind；　Mr。　Peregrin。　And　you；　Mr。　Baggins　–　though　Idaresay　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　youngrascals　of　Buckland。　But　it　wasn't　mushrooms　I　was　thinking　of。　I　had　justheard　the　name　Baggins　before　you　turned　up。　What　do　you　think　that　funnycustomer　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　horsein　at　the　gate；　which　happened　to　be　open；　and　right　up　to　my　door。　All　blackhe　was　himself；　too；　and　cloaked　and　hooded　up；　as　if　he　did　not　want　to　beknown。　〃Now　what　in　the　Shire　can　he　want？〃　I　thought　to　myself。　We　don't　seemany　of　the　Big　Folk　over　the　border；　and　anyway　I　had　never　heard　of　any　likethis　black　fellow。　　
'　〃Good…day　to　you！〃　I　says；　going　out　to　him。　〃This　lane　don't　leadanywhere；　and　wherever　you　may　be　going；　your　quickest　way　will　be　back　to　theroad。〃　I　didn't　like　the　looks　of　him；　and　when　Grip　came　out；　he　took　onesniff　and　let　out　a　yelp　as　if　he　had　been　slung：　he　put　down　his　tail　andbolted　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　aqueer　voice；　and　bent　down　towards　me。　I　could　not　see　any　face；　for　his　hoodfell　down　so　low；　and　I　felt　a　sort　of　shiver　down　my　back。　But　I　did　not　seewhy　he　should　e　riding　over　my　land　so　bold。　
'　〃Be　off！〃　I　said。　〃There　are　no　Bagginses　here。　You're　in　the　wrongpart　of　the　Shire。　You　had　better　go　back　west　to　Hobbiton　–　but　you　can　go　byroad　this　time。〃　　
'　〃Baggins　has　left；〃　he　answered　in　a　whisper。　〃He　is　ing。　He　is　notfar　away。　I　wish　to　find　him。　If　he　passes　will　you　tell　me？　I　will　e　backwith　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　onlyjust　in　time。　I　called　the　dogs；　but　he　swung　off；　and　rode　through　the　gateand　up　the　lane　towards　the　causeway　like　a　bolt　of　thunder。　What　do　you　thinkof　that？'　　
Frodo　sat　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　fire；　but　his　only　thought　was　howon　earth　would　they　reach　the　Ferry。　'I　don't　know　what　to　think；'　he　said　atlast。　　
'Then　I'll　tell　you　what　to　think；'　said　Maggot。　'You　should　never　havegone　mixing　yourself　up　with　Hobbiton　folk；　Mr。　Frodo。　Folk　are　queer　upthere。'　Sam　stirred　in　his　chair；　and　looked　at　the　farmer　with　an　unfriendlyeye。　'But　you　were　always　a　reckless　lad。　When　I　heard　you　had　left　theBrandybucks　and　gone　off　to　that　old　Mr。　Bilbo；　I　said　that　you　were　going　tofind　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　jewelsthat　he　buried　in　the　hill　of　Hobbiton；　as　I　hear？'　
Frodo　said　nothing：　the　shrewd　guesses　of　the　farmer　were　ratherdisconcerting。　
'Well；　Mr。　Frodo；'　Maggot　went　on；　'I'm　glad　that　you've　had　the　sense　toe　back　to　Buckland。　My　advice　is：　stay　there！　And　don't　get　mixed　up　withthese　outlandish　folk。　You'll　have　friends　in　these　parts。　If　any　of　theseblack　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　staringat　the　fire。　　
Maggot　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　'Well；　I　see　you　have　ideas　of　yourown；'　he　said。　'It　is　as　plain　as　my　nose　that　no　accident　brought　you　andthat　rider　here　on　the　same　afternoon；　and　maybe　my　news　was　no　great　news　toyou；　after　all。　I　am　not　asking　you　to　tell　me　anything　you　have　a　mind　tokeep　to　yourself；　but　I　see　you　are　in　some　kind　of　trouble。　Perhaps　you　arethinking　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　andyour　dogs　for　over　thirty　years；　Farmer　Maggot；　though　you　may　laugh　to　hearit。　It's　a　pity：　for　I've　missed　a　good　friend。　And　now　I'm　sorry　to　leave　sosoon。　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　mostlygo　to　bed　soon　after　the　Sun。　If　you　and　Mr。　Peregrin　and　all　could　stay　andhave　a　bite　with　us；　we　would　be　pleased！'　
'And　so　should　we！'　said　Frodo。　'But　we　must　be　going　at　once；　I'mafraid。　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'llgel　out　a　small　waggon；　and　I'll　drive　you　all　to　the　Ferry。　That　will　saveyou　a　good　step；　and　it　might　also　save　you　trouble　of　another　sort。'　
Frodo　now　accepted　the　invitation　gratefully；　to　the　relief　of　Pippin　andSam。　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　supperwas　laid　on　the　large　table。　The　kitchen　was　lit　with　candles　and　the　fire　wasmended。　Mrs。　Maggot　hustled　in　and　out。　One　or　two　other　hobbits　belonging　tothe　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　muchother　solid　farmhouse　fare。　The　dogs　lay　by　the　fire　and　gnawed　rinds　andcracked　bones。　　
When　they　had　finished；　the　farmer　and　his　sons　went　out　with　a　lanternand　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　theopen　door。　
'You　be　careful　of　yourself。　Maggot！'　she　called。　'Don't　go　arguing　withany　foreigners；　and　e　straight　back！'　
'I　will！'　said　he；　and　drove　out　of　the　gate。　There　was　now　no　breath　ofwind　stirring；　the　night　was　still　and　quiet；　and　a　chill　was　in　the　air。　Theywent　without　lights　and　took　it　slowly。　After　a　mile　or　two　the　lane　came　toan　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；　butnothing　could　be　seen　in　the　darkness；　and　there　was　not　a　sound　in　the　stillair。　Thin　strands　of　river…mist　were　hanging　above　the　dikes；　and　crawlingover　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　ittonight。'　
It　was　five　miles　or　more　from　Maggot's　lane　to　the　Ferry。　The　hobbitswrapped　themselves　up；　but　their　ears　were　strained　for　any　sound　above　thecreak　of　the　wheels　and　the　slow　_clop_　of　the　ponies'　hoofs。　The　waggonseemed　slower　than　a　snail　to　Frodo。　Beside　him　Pippin　was　nodding　towardssleep；　but　Sam　was　staring　forwards　into　the　rising　fog。　
They　reached　the　entrance　to　the　Ferry　lane　at　last。　It　was　marked　by　twotall　white　posts　that　suddenly　loomed　up　on　their　right。　Farmer　Maggot　drew　inhis　ponies　and　the　waggon　creaked　to　a　halt。　They　were　just　beginning　loscramble　out；　when　suddenly　they　heard　what　they　had　all　been　dreading：　hoofson　the　road　ahead。　The　sound　was　ing　towards　them。　
Maggot　jumped　down　and　stood　holding　the　ponies'　heads；　and　peeringforward　into　the　gloom。　_Clip…clop；　clip…clop_　came　the　approaching　rider。　Thefall　of　the　hoofs　sounded　loud　in　the　still；　foggy　air。　
'You'd　better　be　hidden；　Mr。　Frodo；'　said　Sam　anxiously。　'You　get　down　inthe　waggon　and　cover　up　with　blankets；　and　we'll　send　this　rider　to　therightabouts！'　He　climbed　out　and　went　to　the　farmer's　side。　Black　Riders　wouldhave　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