the fellowship of the ring-第43部分

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if　you　have　never　seen　it？'　
'I　did　not　know；'　he　answered。　'But　I　am　Aragorn；　and　those　verses　gowith　that　name。'　He　drew　out　his　sword；　and　they　saw　that　the　blade　was　indeedbroken　a　foot　below　the　hilt。　'Not　much　use　is　it；　Sam？'　said　Strider。　'Butthe　time　is　near　when　it　shall　be　forged　anew。'　
Sam　said　nothing。　
'Well；'　said　Strider；　'with　Sam's　permission　we　will　call　that　settled。　
Strider　shall　be　your　guide。　We　shall　have　a　rough　road　tomorrow。　Even　if　weare　allowed　to　leave　Bree　unhindered；　we　can　hardly　hope　now　to　leave　itunnoticed。　But　I　shall　try　to　get　lost　as　soon　as　possible。　I　know　one　or　twoways　out　of　Bree…land　other　than　the　main　road。　If　once　we　shake　off　thepursuit；　I　shall　make　for　Weathertop。'　
'Weathertop？'　said　Sam。　'What's　that？'　
'It　is　a　hill；　just　to　the　north　of　the　Road；　about　half　way　from　here　toRivendell。　It　mands　a　wide　view　all　round；　and　there　we　shall　have　a　chanceto　look　about　us。　Gandalf　will　make　for　that　point；　if　he　follows　us。　AfterWeathertop　our　journey　will　bee　more　difficult；　and　we　shall　have　to　choosebetween　various　dangers。'　
'When　did　you　last　see　Gandalf？'　asked　Frodo。　'Do　you　know　where　he　is；　
or　what　he　is　doing？'　
Strider　looked　grave。　'I　do　not　know；'　he　said。　'I　came　west　with　him　inthe　spring。　I　have　often　kept　watch　on　the　borders　of　the　Shire　in　the　lastfew　years；　when　he　was　busy　elsewhere。　He　seldom　left　it　unguarded。　We　lastmet　on　the　first　of　May：　at　Sam　Ford　down　the　Brandywine。　He　told　me　that　hisbusiness　with　you　had　gone　well；　and　that　you　would　be　starting　for　Rivendellin　the　last　week　of　September。　As　I　knew　he　was　at　your　side；　I　went　away　on　ajourney　of　my　own。　And　that　has　proved　ill；　for　plainly　some　news　reached　him；　
and　I　was　not　at　hand　to　help。　
'I　am　troubled；　for　the　first　time　since　I　have　known　him。　We　should　havehad　messages；　even　if　he　could　not　e　himself。　When　I　returned；　many　days　　
　
ago；　I　heard　the　ill　news。　The　tidings　had　gone　far　and　wide　that　Gandalf　wasmissing　and　the　horsemen　had　been　seen。　It　was　the　Elven…folk　of　Gildor　thattold　me　this；　and　later　they　told　me　that　you　had　left　your　home；　but　therewas　no　news　of　your　leaving　Buckland。　I　have　been　watching　the　East　Roadanxiously。'　
'Do　you　think　the　Black　Riders　have　anything　to　do　with　it　–　withGandalf's　absence；　I　mean？'　asked　Frodo。　
'I　do　not　know　of　anything　else　that　could　have　hindered　him；　except　theEnemy　himself；'　said　Strider。　'But　do　not　give　up　hope！　Gandalf　is　greaterthan　you　Shire…folk　know　–　as　a　rule　you　can　only　see　his　jokes　and　toys。　Butthis　business　of　ours　will　be　his　greatest　task。'　
Pippin　yawned。　'I　am　sorry；'　he　said；　'but　I　am　dead　tired。　In　spite　ofall　the　danger　and　worry　I　must　go　to　bed；　or　sleep　where　I　sit。　Where　is　thatsilly　fellow；　Merry？　It　would　be　the　last　straw；　if　we　had　to　go　out　in　thedark　to　look　for　him。'　　
At　that　moment　they　heard　a　door　slam；　then　feet　came　running　along　thepassage。　Merry　came　in　with　a　rush　followed　by　Nob。　He　shut　the　door　hastily；　
and　leaned　against　it。　He　was　out　of　breath。　They　stared　at　him　in　alarm　for　amoment　before　he　gasped：　'I　have　seen　them；　Frodo！　I　have　seen　them！　BlackRiders！'　　
'Black　Riders！'　cried　Frodo。　'Where？'　　
'Here。　In　the　village。　I　stayed　indoors　for　an　hour。　Then　as　you　did　note　back；　I　went　out　for　a　stroll。　I　had　e　back　again　and　was　standingjust　outside　the　light　of　the　lamp　looking　at　the　stars。　Suddenly　I　shiveredand　felt　that　something　horrible　was　creeping　near：　there　was　a　son　of　deepershade　among　the　shadows　across　the　road；　just　beyond　the　edge　of　thelamplight。　It　slid　away　at　once　into　the　dark　without　a　sound。　There　was　nohorse。'　　
'Which　way　did　it　go？'　asked　Strider；　suddenly　and　sharply。　Merrystarted；　noticing　the　stranger　for　the　first　time。　'Go　on！'　said　Frodo。　'Thisis　a　friend　of　Gandalf's。　I　will　explain　later。'　
'It　seemed　to　make　off　up　the　Road；　eastward；'　continued　Merry。　'I　triedto　follow。　Of　course；　it　vanished　almost　at　once；　but　I　went　round　the　cornerand　on　as　far　as　the　last　house　on　the　Road。'　　
Strider　looked　at　Merry　with　wonder。　'You　have　a　stout　heart；'　he　said；　
'but　it　was　foolish。'　　
'I　don't　know；'　said　Merry。　'Neither　brave　nor　silly；　I　think。　I　couldhardly　help　myself。　I　seemed　to　be　drawn　somehow。　Anyway；　I　went；　and　suddenlyI　heard　voices　by　the　hedge。　One　was　muttering；　and　the　other　was　whispering；　
or　hissing。　I　couldn't　hear　a　word　that　was　said。　I　did　not　creep　any　closer；　
because　I　began　to　tremble　all　over。　Then　I　felt　terrified；　and　I　turned　back；　
and　was　just　going　to　bolt　home；　when　something　came　behind　me　and　I。。。　I　fellover。'　　
'I　found　him；　sir；'　put　in　Nob。　'Mr。　Butterbur　sent　me　out　with　alantern。　I　went　down　to　West…gate；　and　then　back　up　towards　South…gate。　Justnigh　Bill　Ferny's　house　I　thought　I　could　see　something　in　the　Road。　Icouldn't　swear　to　it；　but　it　looked　to　me　as　if　two　men　was　stooping　oversomething；　lilting　it。　I　gave　a　shout；　but　where　I　got　up　to　the　spot　therewas　no　signs　of　them；　and　only　Mr。　Brandybuck　lying　by　the　roadside。　He　seemedto　be　asleep。　〃I　thought　I　had　fallen　into　deep　water；〃　he　says　to　me；　when　Ishook　him。　Very　queer　he　was；　and　as　soon　as　I　had　roused　him；　he　got　up　andran　back　here　like　a　hare。'　　
'I　am　afraid　that's　true；'　said　Merry；　'though　I　don't　know　what　I　said。　
I　had　an　ugly　dream；　which　I　can't　remember。　I　went　to　pieces。　I　don't　knowwhat　came　over　me。'　　
'I　do；'　said　Strider。　'The　Black　Breath。　The　Riders　must　have　left　theirhorses　outside；　and　passed　back　through　the　South…gate　in　secret。　They　willknow　all　the　news　now；　for　they　have　visited　Bill　Ferny；　and　probably　thatSoutherner　was　a　spy　as　well。　Something　may　happen　in　the　night；　before　we　　
　
leave　Bree。'　　
'What　will　happen？'　said　Merry。　'Will　they　attack　the　inn？'　'No；　I　thinknot；'　said　Strider。　'They　are　not　all　here　yet。　And　in　any　case　that　is　nottheir　way。　In　dark　and　loneliness　they　are　strongest；　they　will　not　openlyattack　a　house　where　there　are　lights　and　many　people　…not　until　they　aredesperate；　not　while　all　the　long　leagues　of　Eriador　still　lie　before　us。　Buttheir　power　is　in　terror；　and　already　some　in　Bree　are　in　their　clutch。　Theywill　drive　these　wretches　to　some　evil　work：　Ferny；　and　some　of　the　strangers；　
and；　maybe；　the　gatekeeper　too。　They　had　words　with　Harry　at　West…gate　onMonday。　I　was　watching　them。　He　was　white　and　shaking　when　they　left　him。'　
'We　seem　to　have　enemies　all　round；'　said　Frodo。　'What　are　we　to　do？'　
'Stay　here；　and　do　not　go　to　your　rooms！　They　are　sure　to　have　found　outwhich　those　are。　The　hobbit…rooms　have　windows　looking　north　and　close　to　theground。　We　will　all　remain　together　and　bar　this　window　and　the　door。　Butfirst　Nob　and　I　will　fetch　your　luggage。'　
While　Strider　was　gone；　Frodo　gave　Merry　a　rapid　account　of　all　that　hadhappened　since　supper。　Merry　was　still　reading　and　pondering　Gandalf's　letterwhen　Strider　and　Nob　returned。　　
'Well　Masters；'　said　Nob；　'I've　ruffled　up　the　clothes　and　put　in　abolster　down　the　middle　of　each　bed。　And　I　made　a　nice　imitation　of　your　headwith　a　brown　woollen　mat；　Mr。　Bag　–　Underhill；　sir；'　he　added　with　a　grin。　
Pippin　laughed。　'Very　life…like！'　he　said。　'But　what　will　happen　whenthey　have　penetrated　the　disguise？'　
'We　shall　see；'　said　Strider。　'Let　us　hope　to　hold　the　fort　tillmorning。'　
'Good　night　to　you；'　said　Nob；　and　went　off　to　take　his　part　in　the　watchon　the　doors。　　
Their　bags　and　gear　they　piled　on　the　parlour…floor。　They　pushed　a　lowchair　against　the　door　and　shut　the　window。　Peering　out；　Frodo　saw　that　thenight　was　still　clear。　The　Sickle　was　swinging　bright　above　the　shoulders　ofBree…hill。　He　then　closed　and　barred　the　heavy　inside　shutters　and　drew　thecurtains　together。　Strider　built　up　the　fire　and　blew　out　all　the　candles。　
The　hobbits　lay　down　on　their　blankets　with　their　feet　towards　thehearth；　but　Strider　settled　himself　in　the　chair　against　the　door。　They　talkedfor　a　little；　for　Merry　still　had　several　questions　to　ask。　
'Jumped　over　the　Moon！'　chuckled　Merry　as　he　rolled　himself　in　hisblanket。　'Very　ridiculous　of　you；　Frodo！　But　I　wish　I　had　been　there　to　see。　
The　worthies　of　Bree　will　be　discussing　it　a　hundred　years　hence。'　
'I　hope　so；'　said　Strider。　Then　they　all　fell　silent；　and　one　by　one　thehobbits　dropped　off　to　sleep。　　
_Chapter　11_　
A　Knife　in　the　Dark　　
As　they　prepared　for　sleep　in　the　inn　at　Bree；　darkness　lay　on　Buckland；　
a　mist　strayed　in　the　dells　and　along　the　river…bank。　The　house　at　Crickhollowstood　silent。　Fatty　Bolger　opened　the　door　cautiously　and　peered　out。　Afeeling　of　fear　had　been　growing　on　him　all　day；　and　he　was　unable　to　rest　orgo　to　bed：　there　was　a　brooding　threat　in　the　breathless　night…air。　As　hestared　out　into　the　gloom；　a　black　shadow　moved　under　the　trees；　the　gateseemed　to　open　of　its　own　accord　and　close　again　without　a　sound。　Terrorseized　him。　He　shrank　back；　and　for　a　moment　he　stood　trembling　in　the　hall。　
Then　he　shut　and　locked　the　door。　　
The　night　deepened。　There　came　the　soft　sound　of　horses　led　with　stealthalong　the　lane。　Outside　the　gate　they　stopped；　and　three　black　figuresentered；　like　shades　of　night　creeping　across　the　ground。　One　went　to　thedoor；　one　to　the　corner　of　the　house　on　either　side；　and　there　they　stood；　asstill　as　the　shadows　of　stones；　while　night　went　slowly　on。　The　house　and　thequiet　trees　seemed　to　be　waiting　breathlessly。　　
　
There　was　a　faint　stir　in　the　leaves；　and　a　cock　crowed　far　away。　Thecold　hour　before　dawn　was　passing。　The　figure　by　the　door　moved。　In　the　darkwithout　moon　or　stars　a　drawn　blade　gleamed；　as　if　a　chill　light　had　beenunsheathed。　There　was　a　blow；　soft　but　heavy；　and　the　door　shuddered。　
'Open；　in　the　name　of　Mordor！'　said　a　voice　thin　and　menacing。　
At　a　second　blow　the　door　yielded　and　fell　back；　with　timbers　burst　andlock　broken。　The　black　figures　passed　swiftly　in。　
At　that　moment；　among　the　trees　nearby；　a　horn　rang　out。　It　rent　thenight　like　fire　on　a　hill…top。　　
AWAKE！　FEAR！　FIRE！　FOES！　AWAKE！　　
Fatty　Bolger　had　not　been　idle。　As　soon　as　he　saw　the　dark　shapes　creepfrom　the　garden；　he　knew　that　he　must　run　for　it；　or　perish。　And　run　he　did；　
out　of　the　back　door；　through　the　garden；　and　over　the　fields。　When　he　reachedthe　nearest　house；　more　than　a　mile　away；　he　collapsed　on　th