nning 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。 Clipclop； clipclop 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。
Clopclop； clopclop。 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 hobbitsize。 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 turned it。 'Well； good night to you all；' he said。 'It's been a queer day； and no mistake。 But all's well as ends well； though perhaps we should not say that until we reach our own doors。 I'll not deny that I'll be glad now when I do。' He lit his lanterns； and got up。 Suddenly he produced a large basket from under the seat。 'I was nearly fetting；' he said。 'Mrs。 Maggot put this up for Mr。 Baggins； with her pliments。' He handed it down and moved off； followed by a chorus of thanks and goodnights。
They watched the pale rings of light round his lanterns as they dwindled into the foggy night。 Suddenly Frodo laughed： from the covered basket he held； the scent of mushrooms was rising。
Chapter 05
A Conspiracy Unmasked
'Now we had better get home ourselves；' said Merry。 There's something funny about all this； I see； but it must wait till we get in。'
They turned down the Ferry lane； which was straight and wellkept and edged with large whitewashed stones。 In a hundred yards or so it brought them to the riverbank； where there was a broad wooden landingstage。 A large flat ferryboat was moored beside it。 The white bollards near the water's edge glimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts。 Behind them the mists in the flat fields were now above the hedges； but the water before them was dark； with only a few curling wisps like steam among the reeds by the bank。 There seemed to be less fog on the further side。
Merry led the pony over a gangway on to the ferry； and the others followed。 Merry then pushed slowly off with a long pole。 The Brandywine flowed slow and broad before them。 On the other side the bank was steep； and up it a winding path climbed from the further landing。 Lamps were twinkling there。 Behind loomed up the Buck Hill； and out of it； through stray shrouds of mist； shone many round windows； yellow and red。 They were the windows of Brandy Hall； the ancient home of the Brandybucks。
Long ago Gorhendad Oldbuck； head of the Oldbuck family； one of the oldest in the Marish or indeed in the Shire； had crossed the river； which was the original boundary of the land eastwards。 He built （and excavated） Brandy Hall； changed his name to Brandybuck； and settled down to bee master of what was virtually a small independent country。 His family grew and grew； and after his days continued to grow； until Brandy Hall occupied the whole of the low hill； and had three large frontdoors； many sidedoors； and about a hundred windows。 The Brandybucks and their numerous dependants then began to burrow； and later to build； all round about。 That was the origin of Buckland； a thickly inhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest； a sort of colony from the Shire。 Its chief village was Bucklebury； clustering in the banks and slopes behind Brandy Hall。
The people in the Marish were friendly with the Bucklanders； and the authority of the Master of the Hall （as the head of the Brandybuck family was called） was still acknowledged by the farmers between Stock and Rushey。 But most of the folk of the old Shire regarded the Bucklanders as peculiar； half foreigners as it were。 Though； as a matter of fact； they were not very different from the other hobbits of the Four Farthings。 Except in one point： they were fond of boats； and some of them could swim。
Their land was originally unprotected from the East； but on that side they had built a hedge： the High Hay。 It had been planted many generations ago； and was now thick and tail； for it was constantly tended。 It ran all the way from Brandywine Bridge； in a big loop curving away from the river； to Haysend （where the Withywindle flowed out of the Forest into the Brandywine）： well over twenty miles from end to end。 But； of course； it was not a plete protection。 The Forest drew close to the hedge in many places。 The Bucklanders kept their doors locked after dark； and that also was not usual in the Shire。
The ferryboat moved slowly across the water。 The Buckland shore drew nearer。 Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before。 He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by： his old life lay behind in the mists； dark adventure lay in front。 He scratched his head； and for a moment had a passing wish that Mr。 Frodo could have gone on living quietly at Bag End。
The four hobbits stepped off the ferry。 Merry was tying it up； and Pippin was already leading the pony up the path； when Sam （who had been looking back； as if to take farewell of the Shire） said in a hoarse whisper：
'Look back； Mr。 Frodo！ Do you see anything？'
On the far stage； under the distant lamps； they could just make out a figure： it looked like a dark black bundle left behind。 But as they looked it seemed to move and sway this way and that； as if searching the ground。 It then crawled； or went crouching； back into the gloom beyond the lamps。
'What in the Shire is that？' exclaimed Merry。
'Something that is following us；' said Frodo。 'But don't ask any more now！ Let's get away at once！' They hurried up the path to the top of the bank； but when they looked back the far shore was shrouded in mist； and nothing could be seen。
'Thank goodness you don't keep any boats on the westbank！' said Frodo。 'Can horses cross the river？'
'They can go twenty miles north to Brandywine Bridge 。 or they might swim；' answered Merry。 'Though I never heard of any horse swimming the Brandywine。 But what have horses to do with it？' I'll tell you later。 Let's get indoors and then we can talk。'
'All right！ You and Pippin know your way； so I'll just ride on and tell Fatty Bolger that you are ing。 We'll see about supper and things。'
'We had our supper early with Farmer Maggot；' said Frodo； 'but we could do with another。'
'You shall have it！ Give me that basket！' said Merry； and rode ahead into the darkness。
It was some distance from the Brandywine to Frodo's new house at Crickhollow。 They passed Buck Hill and Brandy Hall on their left； and on the outskirts of Bucklebury struck the main road of Buckland that ran south from the Bridge。 Half a mile northward along this they came to a lane opening on their right。 This they followed for a couple of miles as it climbed up and down into the country。
At last they came to a narrow gate in a thick hedge。 Nothing could be seen of the house in the dark： it stood back from the lane in the middle of a wide circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of low trees inside the outer hedge。 Frodo had chosen it； because it stood in an outoftheway corner of the country； and there were no other dwellings close by。 You could get in and out without being noticed。 It had been built a long while before by the Brandybucks； for the use of guests； or members of the family that wished to escape from the crowded life of Brandy Hall for a time。 It was an old fashioned countrified house； as much like a hobbithole as possible： it was long and low； with no upper storey； and it had a roof of turf； round windows； and a large round door。
As they walked lip the green path from the gate no light was visible； the windows were dark and shuttered。 Frodo knocked on the door； and Fatty Bolger opened it。 A friendly light streamed out。 They slipped in quickly and shut themselves and the light inside。 They were in a wide hall with doors on either side； in front of them a passage ran back down the middle of the house。
'Well； what do you think of it？' asked Merry ing up the passage。 'We have done our best in a short time to make it look like home。 After all Fatty and I only got here with the last cartload yesterday。'
Frodo looked round。 It did look like home。 Many of his own favourite things 。 or Bilbo's things （they reminded him sharply of him in their new selling） 。 were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End。 It was a pleasant； fortable； weling place； and he found himself wishing that he was really ing here to settle doent。 It seemed unfair to have put his friends to all this trouble； and he wondered again how he was going to break the news to them that he must leave them so soon； indeed at once。 Yet that would have to be done that very night； before they all went to bed。
'It's delightful！' he said with an effort。 'I hardly feel that I have moved at all。'
The travellers hung up their cloaks； and piled their packs on the floor。 Merry led them down the passage and threw open a door at the far end。 Firelight came out； and a puff of steam。
'A bath！' cried Pippin。 'O blessed Meriadoc！'
'Which order shall we go in？' said Frodo。 'Eldest first； or quickest first？ You'll be last either way； Master Peregrin。'
'Trust me to arrange things better than that！' said Merry。 'We can't begin life at Crickhollow with a quarrel over baths。 In that room there are three tubs； and a copper full of boiling water。 There are also towels； mats and soap。 Get inside； and be quick！'
Merry and Fatty went into the kitchen on the other side of the passage； and busied themselves with the final preparations for a late supper。 Snatches of peting songs came from the bathroom mixed with the sound of splashing and wallowing。 The