the fellowship of the ring-第40部分

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And　there　they　brew　a　beer　so　brown　
That　the　Man　in　the　Moon　himself　came　down　　
one　night　to　drink　his　fill。　　
The　ostler　has　a　tipsy　cat　
that　plays　a　five…stringed　fiddle；　
And　up　and　down　he　runs　his　bow；　
Now　squeaking　high；　now　purring　low；　
now　sawing　in　the　middle。　　
The　landlord　keeps　a　little　dog　
that　is　mighty　fond　of　jokes；　
When　there's　good　cheer　among　the　guests；　
He　cocks　an　ear　at　all　the　jests　
and　laughs　until　he　chokes。　　
They　also　keep　a　horned　cow　
as　proud　as　any　queen；　
But　music　turns　her　head　like　ale；　
And　makes　her　wave　her　tufted　tail　　
and　dance　upon　the　green。　　
And　O！　the　rows　of　silver　dishes　　
and　the　store　of　silver　spoons！　
For　Sunday　there's　a　special　pair；　
　
And　these　they　polish　up　with　care　
on　Saturday　afternoons。　　
The　Man　in　the　Moon　was　drinking　deep；　
and　the　cat　began　to　wail；　
A　dish　and　a　spoon　on　the　table　danced；　
The　cow　in　the　garden　madly　pranced；　
and　the　little　dog　chased　his　tail。　　
The　Man　in　the　Moon　took　another　mug；　
and　then　rolled　beneath　his　chair；　
And　there　he　dozed　and　dreamed　of　ale；　
Till　in　the　sky　the　stars　were　pale；　
and　dawn　was　in　the　air。　　
Then　the　ostler　said　to　his　tipsy　cat：　
'The　white　horses　of　the　Moon；　
They　neigh　and　champ　their　silver　bits；　
But　their　master's　been　and　drowned　his　wits；　
and　the　Sun'll　be　rising　soon！'　　
So　the　cat　on　his　fiddle　played　hey…diddle…diddle；　
a　jig　that　would　wake　the　dead：　
He　squeaked　and　sawed　and　quickened　the　tune；　
While　the　landlord　shook　the　Man　in　the　Moon：　　
'It's　after　three！'　he　said。　　
They　rolled　the　Man　slowly　up　the　hill　
and　bundled　him　into　the　Moon；　
While　his　horses　galloped　up　in　rear；　
And　the　cow　came　capering　like　a　deer；　
and　a　dish　ran　up　with　the　spoon。　　
Now　quicker　the　fiddle　went　deedle…dum…diddle；　
the　dog　began　to　roar；　
The　cow　and　the　horses　stood　on　their　heads；　
The　guests　all　bounded　from　their　beds　
and　danced　upon　the　floor。　　
With　a　ping　and　a　pong　the　fiddle…strings　broke！　
the　cow　jumped　over　the　Moon；　
And　the　little　dog　laughed　to　see　such　fun；　
And　the　Saturday　dish　went　off　at　a　run　
with　the　silver　Sunday　spoon。　　
The　round　Moon　rolled　behind　the　hill　　
as　the　Sun　raised　up　her　head。　
She　hardly　believed　her　fiery　eyes；　
For　though　it　was　day；　to　her　surprise　
they　all　went　back　to　bed！　　
There　was　loud　and　long　applause。　Frodo　had　a　good　voice；　and　the　songtickled　their　fancy。　'Where's　old　Barley？'　they　cried。　'He　ought　to　hear　this。　
Bob　ought　to　learn　his　cat　the　fiddle；　and　then　we'd　have　a　dance。'　Theycalled　for　more　ale；　and　began　to　shout：　'Let's　have　it　again；　master！　e　onnow！　Once　more！'　　
They　made　Frodo　have　another　drink；　and　then　begin　his　song　again；　whilemany　of　them　joined　in；　for　the　tune　was　well　known；　and　they　were　quick　atpicking　up　words。　It　was　now　Frodo's　turn　to　feel　pleased　with　himself。　Hecapered　about　on　the　table；　and　when　he　came　a　second　time　to　_the　cow　jumped　　
　
over　the　Moon；_　he　leaped　in　the　air。　Much　too　vigorously；　for　he　came　down；　
bang；　into　a　tray　full　of　mugs；　and　slipped；　and　rolled　off　the　table　with　acrash；　clatter；　and　bump！　The　audience　all　opened　their　mouths　wide　forlaughter；　and　stopped　short　a　gaping　silence；　for　the　singer　disappeared。　Hesimply　vanished；　as　if　he　had　gone　slap　through　the　floor　without　leaving　ahole！　　
The　local　hobbits　stared　in　amazement；　and　then　sprang　to　their　feet　andshouted　for　Barliman。　All　the　pany　drew　away　from　Pippin　and　Sam；　who　foundthemselves　left　alone　in　a　er；　and　eyed　darkly　and　doubtfully　from　adistance。　It　was　plain　that　many　people　regarded　them　now　as　the　panions　ofa　travelling　magician　of　unknown　powers　and　purpose。　But　there　was　one　swarthyBree…lander；　who　stood　looking　at　them　with　a　knowing　and　half…mockingexpression　that　made　them　feel　very　unfortable。　Presently　he　slipped　out　ofthe　door；　followed　by　the　squint…eyed　southerner：　the　two　had　been　whisperingtogether　a　good　deal　during　the　evening。　Harry　the　gatekeeper　also　went　outjust　behind　them。。　
Frodo　felt　a　fool。　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　he　crawled　away　under　thetables　to　the　dark　er　by　Strider；　who　sat　unmoved；　giving　no　sign　of　histhoughts。　Frodo　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　took　off　the　Ring。　How　itcame　to　be　on　his　finger　he　could　not　tell。　He　could　only　suppose　that　he　hadbeen　handling　it　in　his　pocket　while　he　sang；　and　that　somehow　it　had　slippedon　when　he　stuck　out　his　hand　with　a　jerk　to　save　his　fall。　For　a　moment　hewondered　if　the　Ring　itself　had　not　played　him　a　trick；　perhaps　it　had　triedto　reveal　itself　in　response　to　some　wish　or　mand　that　was　felt　in　theroom。　He　did　not　like　the　looks　of　the　men　that　had　gone　out。　
'Well？'　said　Strider；　when　he　reappeared。　'Why　did　you　do　that？　Worsethan　anything　your　friends　could　have　said！　You　have　put　your　foot　in　it！　Orshould　I　say　your　finger？'　
'I　don't　know　what　you　mean；'　said　Frodo；　annoyed　and　alarmed。　
'Oh　yes；　you　do；'　answered　Strider；　'but　we　had　better　wait　until　theuproar　has　died　down。　Then；　if　you　please；　Mr。　_Baggins；　I_　should　like　aquiet　word　with　you。'　
'What　about？'　asked　Frodo；　ignoring　the　sudden　use　of　his　proper　name。　
'A　matter　of　some　importance　–　to　us　both；'　answered　Strider；　lookingFrodo　in　the　eye。　'You　may　hear　something　to　your　advantage。'　
'Very　well；'　said　Frodo；　trying　to　appear　unconcerned。　'I'll　talk　to　youlater。'　　
Meanwhile　an　argument　was　going　on　by　the　fireplace。　Mr。　Butterbur　hade　trotting　in；　and　he　was　now　trying　to　listen　to　several　conflictingaccounts　of　the　event　at　the　same　time。　　
'I　saw　him；　Mr。　Butterbur；'　said　a　hobbit；　'or　leastways　I　didn't　seehim；　if　you　take　my　meaning。　He　just　vanished　into　thin　air；　in　a　manner　ofspeaking。'　
'You　don't　say；　Mr。　Mugwort！'　said　the　landlord；　looking　puzzled。　
'Yes　I　do！'　replied　Mugwort。　'And　I　mean　what　I　say；　what's　more。'　
'There's　some　mistake　somewhere；'　said　Butterbur；　shaking　his　head。　Therewas　too　much　of　that　Mr。　Underhill　to　go　vanishing　into　thin　air；　or　intothick　air；　as　is　more　likely　in　this　room。'　
'Well；　where　is　he　now？'　cried　several　voices。　
'How　should　I　know？　He's　wele　to　go　where　he　will；　so　long　as　he　paysin　the　morning。　There's　Mr。　Took；　now：　he's　not　vanished。'　
'Well；　I　saw　what　I　saw；　and　I　saw　what　I　didn't；'　said　Mugwortobstinately。　
'And　I　say　there's　some　mistake；'　repeated　Butterbur；　picking　up　the　trayand　gathering　up　the　broken　crockery。　
'Of　course　there's　a　mistake！'　said　Frodo。　'I　haven't　vanished。　Here　I　　
am！　I've　just　been　having　a　few　words　with　Strider　in　the　er。'　
He　came　forward　into　the　firelight；　but　most　of　the　pany　backed　away；　
_；_　even　more　perturbed　than　before。　They　were　not　in　the　least　satisfied　by　　
　
his　explanation　that　he　had　crawled　away　quickly　under　the　tables　after　he　hadfallen。　Most　of　the　Hobbits　and　the　Men　of　Bree　went　off　then　and　there　in　a　　
huff；　having　no　fancy　for　further　entertainment　that　evening。　One　or　two　gaveFrodo　a　black　look　and　departed　muttering　among　themselves。　The　Dwarves　andthe　two　or　three　strange　Men　that　still　remained　got　up　and　said　good　night　tothe　landlord；　but　not　to　Frodo　and　his　friends。　Before　long　no　one　was　leftbut　Strider；　who　sat　on；　unnoticed；　by　the　wall。　
Mr。　Butterbur　did　not　seem　much　put　out。　He　reckoned；　very　probably；　thathis　house　would　be　full　again　on　many　future　nights；　until　the　present　mysteryhad　been　thoroughly　discussed。　'Now　what　have　you　been　doing；　Mr。　Underhill？'　
he　asked。　'Frightening　my　customers　and　breaking　up　my　crocks　with　youracrobatics！'　　
'I　am　very　sorry　to　have　caused　any　trouble；'　said　Frodo。　'It　was　quiteunintentional；　I　assure　you。　A　most　unfortunate　accident。'　
'All　right；　Mr。　Underhill！　But　if　you're　going　to　do　any　more　tumbling；　
or　conjuring；　or　whatever　it　was；　you'd　best　warn　folk　beforehand　–　and　warn_me。_　We're　a　bit　suspicious　round　here　of　anything　out　of　the　way　…uncanny；　
if　you　understand　me；　and　we　don't　take　to　it　all　of　a　sudden。'　
'I　shan't　be　doing　anything　of　the　sort　again；　Mr。　Butterbur；　I　promiseyou。　And　now　I　think　I'll　be　getting　to　bed。　We　shall　be　making　an　earlystart。　Will　you　see　that　our　ponies　are　ready　by　eight　o'clock？'　
'Very　good！　But　before　you　go；　I　should　like　a　word　with　you　in　private；　
Mr。　Underhill。　Something　has　just　e　back　to　my　mind　that　I　ought　to　tellyou。　I　hope　that　you'll　not　take　it　amiss。　When　I've　seen　to　a　thing　or　two；　
I'll　e　along　to　your　room；　if　you're　willing。'　
'Certainly！'　said　Frodo；　but　his　heart　sank。　He　wondered　how　many　privatetalks　he　would　have　before　he　got　to　bed；　and　what　they　would　reveal。　Werethese　people　all　in　league　against　him？　He　began　to　suspect　even　oldButterbur's　fat　face　of　concealing　dark　designs。　　
_Chapter　10_　
Strider　　
Frodo；　Pippin；　and　Sam　made　their　way　back　to　the　parlour。　There　was　nolight。　Merry　was　not　there；　and　the　fire　had　burned　low。　It　was　not　until　theyhad　puffed　up　the　embers　into　a　blaze　and　thrown　on　a　couple　of　faggots　thatthey　discovered　Strider　had　e　with　them。　There　he　was　calmly　sitting　in　achair　by　the　door！　
'Hallo！'　said　Pippin。　'Who　are　you；　and　what　do　you　want？'　
'I　am　called　Strider；'　he　answered：　'and　though　he　may　have　forgotten　it；　
your　friend　promised　to　have　a　quiet　talk　with　me。'　
'You　said　I　might　hear　something　to　my　advantage；　I　believe；'　said　Frodo。　
'What　have　you　to　say？'　
'Several　things；'　answered　Strider。　'But；　of　course；　I　have　my　price。'　
'What　do　you　mean？'　asked　Frodo　sharply。　
'Don't　be　alarmed！　I　mean　just　this：　I　will　tell　you　what　I　know；　andgive　you　some　good　advice　–　but　I　shall　want　a　reward。'　
'And　what　will　that　be；　pray？'　said　Frodo。　He　suspected　now　that　he　hadfallen　in　with　a　rascal；　and　he　thought　unfortably　that　he　had　brought　onlya　little　money　with　him。　All　of　it　would　hardly　satisfy　a　rogue；　and　he　couldnot　spare　any　of　it。　
'No　more　than　you　can　afford；'　answered　Strider　with　a　slow　smile；　as　ifhe　guessed　Frodo's　thoughts。　'Just　this：　you　must　take　me　along　with　you；　
until　I　wish　to　leave　you。'　
'Oh；　indeed！'　replied　Frodo；　surprised；　but　not　much　relieved。　'Even　if　Iwanted　another　panion；　I　should　not　agree　to　any　such　thing；　until　I　knew　agood　deal　more　about　you；　and　your　business。'　
'Excellent！'　exclaimed　Strider；　crossing　his　legs　and　sitting　backfortably。　'You　seem　to　be