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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 to do
it； and make it hard； if you drive him to it。 You need a bigger Boss。 And you'll get one before the
year is out； if there's any more trouble。 Then you'll learn a thing or two； you little rat…folk。'
'Indeed。 I am glad to hear of your plans；' said Frodo。 'I am on my way to call on Mr。 Lotho； and
he may be interested to hear of them too。'
The ruffian laughed。 'Lotho！ He knows all right。 Don't you worry。 He'll do what Sharkey says。
Because if a Boss gives trouble； we can change him。 See？ And if little folks try to push in where
they're not wanted； we can put them out of mischief。 See？'
'Yes； I see；' said Frodo。 'For one thing； I see that you're behind the times and the news here。
Much has happened since you left the South。 Your day is over； and all other ruffians'。 The Dark
Tower has fallen； and there is a King in Gondor。 And Isengard has been destroyed； and your
precious master is a beggar in the wilderness。 I passed him on the road。 The King's messengers will
ride up the Greenway now not bullies from Isengard。'
The man stared at him and smiled。 'A beggar in the wilderness！' he mocked。 'Oh； is he indeed？
Swagger it； swagger it； my little cock…a…whoop。 But that won't stop us living in this fat little country
where you have lazed long enough。 And' – he snapped his fingers in Frodo's face – 'King's
messengers！ That for them！ When I see one； I'll take notice； perhaps。'
This was too much for Pippin。 His thoughts went back to the Field of Cormallen； and here was a
squint…eyed rascal calling the Ring…bearer 'little cock…a…whoop'。 He cast back his cloak； flashed out
his sword； and the silver and sable of Gondor gleamed on him as he rode forward。
'I am a messenger of the King；' he said。 'You are speaking to the King's friend； and one of the
most renowned in all the lands of the West。 You are a ruffian and a fool。 Down on your knees in
the road and ask pardon； or I will set this troll's bane in you！'
The sword glinted in the westering sun。 Merry and Sam drew their swords also and rode up to
support Pippin； but Frodo did not move。 The ruffians gave back。 Scaring Breeland peasants； and
bullying bewildered hobbits； had been their work。 Fearless hobbits with bright swords and grim
faces were a great surprise。 And there was a note in the voices of these newers that they had not
heard before。 It chilled them with fear。
'Go！' said Merry。 'If you trouble this village again； you will regret it。' The three hobbits came on；
and then the ruffians turned and fled running away up the Hobbiton Road； but they blew their horns
as they ran。
'Well； we've e back none too soon；' said Merry。
'Not a day too soon。 Perhaps too late； at any rate to save Lotho；' said Frodo。 'Miserable fool； but
I am sorry for him。'
'Save Lotho？ Whatever do you mean？' said Pippin。 'Destroy him I should say。'
'I don't think you quite understand things； Pippin；' said Frodo。 'Lotho never meant things to
e to this pass。 He has been a wicked fool； but he's caught now。 The ruffians are on top；
gathering； robbing and bullying； and running or ruining things as they like； in his name。 And not in
his name even for much longer。 He's a prisoner in Bag End now； I expect； and very frightened。 We
ought to try and rescue him。'
'Well I am staggered！' said Pippin。 'Of all the ends to our journey that is the very last I should
have thought of： to have to fight half…orcs and ruffians in the Shire itself – to rescue Lotho Pimple！'
'Fight？' said Frodo。 'Well； I suppose it may e to that。 But remember： there is to be no slaying
of hobbits； not even if they have gone over to the other side。 Really gone over； I mean； not just
obeying ruffians' orders because they are frightened。 No hobbit has ever killed another on purpose
in the Shire； and it is not to begin now。 And nobody is to be killed at all； if it can be helped。 Keep
your tempers and hold your hands to the last possible moment！'
'But if there are many of these ruffians；' said Merry； 'it will certainly mean fighting。 You won't
rescue Lotho； or the Shire； just by being shocked and sad； my dear Frodo。'
'No；' said Pippin。 'It won't be so easy scaring them a second time。 They were taken by surprise。
You heard that horn…blowing？ Evidently there are other ruffians near at hand。 They'll be much
bolder when there's more of them together。 We ought to think of taking cover somewhere for the
night。 After all we're only four； even if we are armed。'
'I've an idea；' said Sam。 'Let's go to old Tom Cotton's down South Lane！ He always was a stout
fellow。 And he has a lot of lads that were all friends of mine。'
'No！' said Merry。 'It's no good 〃getting under cover〃。 That is just what people have been doing；
and just what these ruffians like。 They will simply e down on us in force； corner us； and then
drive us out； or burn us in。 No； we have got to do something at once。'
'Do what？' said Pippin。
'Raise the Shire！' said Merry。 'Now！ Wake all our people！ They hate all this； you can see： all of
them except perhaps one or two rascals； and a few fools that want to be important； but don't at all
understand what is really going on。 But Shire…folk have been so fortable so long they don't
know what to do。 They just want a match； though； and they'll go up in fire。 The Chief's Men must
know that。 They'll try to stamp on us and put us out quick。 We've only got a very short time。
'Sam； you can make a dash for Cotton's farm； if you like。 He's the chief person round here； and
the sturdiest。 e on！ I am going to blow the horn of Rohan； and give them all some music they
have never heard before。'
They rode back to the middle of the village。 There Sam turned aside and galloped off down the
lane that led south to Cotton's。 He had not gone far when he heard a sudden clear horn…call go up
ringing into the sky。 Far over hill and field it echoed； and so pelling was that call that Sam