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business and talking big。 And there's worse than that： there's a few as do spy…work for the Chief and
his Men。'
'Ah！ So that's how you had news of us； is it？'
'That's right。 We aren't allowed to send by it now； but they use the old Quick Post service； and
keep special runners at different points。 One came in from Whitfurrows last night with a 〃secret
message〃； and another took it on from here。 And a message came back this afternoon saying you
was to be arrested and taken to Bywater； not direct to the Lockholes。 The Chief wants to see you at
once； evidently。'
'He won't be so eager when Mr。 Frodo has finished with him；' said Sam。
The Shirriff…house at Frogmorton was as bad as the Bridge…house。 It had only one storey； but it
had the same narrow windows； and it was built of ugly pale bricks； badly laid。 Inside it was damp
and cheerless； and supper was served on a long bare table that had not been scrubbed for weeks。
The food deserved no better setting。 The travellers were glad to leave the place。 It was about
eighteen miles to Bywater； and they set off at ten o'clock in the morning。 They would have started
earlier； only the delay so plainly annoyed the Shirriff…leader。 The west wind had shifted northward
and it was turning colder； but the rain was gone。
It was rather a ic cavalcade that left the village； though the few folk that came out to stare at
the 'get…up' of the travellers did not seem quite sure whether laughing was allowed。 A dozen
Shirriffs had been told off as escort to the 'prisoners'； but Merry made them march in front； while
Frodo and his friends rode behind。 Merry； Pippin； and Sam sat at their ease laughing and talking
and singing； while the Shirriffs stumped along trying to look stern and important。 Frodo； however；
was silent and looked rather sad and thoughtful。
The last person they passed was a sturdy old gaffer clipping a hedge。 'Hullo； hullo！' he jeered。
'Now who's arrested who？'
Two of the Shirriffs immediately left the party and went towards him。 'Leader！' said Merry。
'Order your fellows back to their places at once； if you don't want me to deal with them！'
The two hobbits at a sharp word from the leader came back sulkily。 'Now get on！' said Merry；
and after that the travellers saw to it that their ponies' pace was quick enough to push the Shirriffs
along as fast as they could go。 The sun came out； and in spite of the chilly wind they were soon
puffing and sweating。
At the Three…Farthing Stone they gave it up。 They had done nearly fourteen miles with only one
rest at noon。 It was now three o'clock。 They were hungry and very footsore and they could not stand
the pace。
'Well； e along in your own time！' said Merry。 'We are going on。'
'Good…bye； Cock…robin！' said Sam。 'I'll wait for you outside _The Green Dragon_； if you haven't
forgotten where that is。 Don't dawdle on the way！'
'You're breaking arrest； that's what you're doing；' said the leader ruefully； 'and I can't be
answerable。'
'We shall break a good many things yet； and not ask you to answer ' said Pippin。 'Good luck to
you！'
The travellers trotted on； and as the sun began to sink towards the White Downs far away on the
western horizon they came to Bywater by its wide pool； and there they had their first really painful
shock。 This was Frodo and Sam's own country； and they found out now that they cared about it
more than any other place in the world。 Many of the houses that they had known were missing。
Some seemed to have been burned down。 The pleasant row of old hobbit…holes in the bank on the
north side of the Pool were deserted； and their little gardens that used to run down bright to the
water's edge were rank with weeds。 Worse； there was a whole line of the ugly new houses all along
Pool Side； where the Hobbiton Road ran close to the bank。 An avenue of trees had stood there。
They were all gone。 And looking with dismay up the road towards Bag End they saw a tall chimney
of brick in the distance。 It was pouring out black smoke into the evening air。
Sam was beside himself。 'I'm going right on； Mr。 Frodo！' he cried。 'I'm going to see what's up。 I
want to find my gaffer。'
'We ought to find out first what we're in for； Sam；' said Merry。 'I guess that the 〃Chief〃 will have
a gang of ruffians handy。 We had better find someone who will tell us how things are round here。'
But in the village of Bywater all the houses and holes were shut； and no one greeted them。 They
wondered at this； but they soon discovered the reason of it。 When they reached _The Green
Dragon_； the last house on the Hobbiton side； now lifeless and with broken windows； they were
disturbed to see half a dozen large ill…favoured Men lounging against the inn…wall； they were
squint…eyed and sallow…faced。
'Like that friend of Bill Ferny's at Bree；' said Sam。
'Like many that I saw at Isengard；' muttered Merry。
The ruffians had clubs in their hands and horns by their belts； but they had no other weapons； as
far as could be seen。 As the travellers rode up they left the wall and walked into the road； blocking
the way。
'Where d'you think you're going？' said one； the largest and most evil…looking of the crew。
'There's no road for you any further。 And where are those precious Shirriffs？'
'ing along nicely；' said Merry。 'A little footsore； perhaps。 We promised to wait for them
here。'
'Garn； what did I say？' said the ruffian to his mates。 'I told Sharkey it was no good trusting those
little fools。 Some of our chaps ought to have been sent。'
'And what difference would that have made； pray？' said Merry。 'We are not used to footpads in
this country； but we know how to deal with them。'
'Footpads； eh？' said the man： 'So that's your tone； is it？ Change it； or we'll change it for you。 You
little folk are getting too uppish。 Don't you trust too much in the Boss's kind heart。 Sharkey's e
now and he'll do what Sharkey says。'
'And what may that be？' said Frodo quietly。
'This country wants waking up and setting to rights；' said the ruffian； 'and Sharkey's going