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there is no ruffians left at Bag End；' he said。 'We don't know。' Then they set out on foot。 Frodo； Sam；
Merry； and Pippin led the way。
It was one of the saddest hours in their lives。 The great chimney rose up before them； and as
they drew near the old village across the Water； through rows of new mean houses along each side
of the road； they saw the new mill in all its frowning and dirty ugliness： a great brick building
straddling the stream； which it fouled with a steaming and stinking overflow。 All along the Bywater
Road every tree had been felled。
As they crossed the bridge and looked up the Hill they gasped。 Even Sam's vision in the Mirror
had not prepared him for what they saw。 The Old Grange on the west side had been knocked down；
and its place taken by rows of tarred sheds。 All the chestnuts were gone。 The banks and hedgerows
were broken。 Great waggons were standing in disorder in a field beaten bare of grass。 Bagshot Row
was a yawning sand and gravel quarry。 Bag End up。 beyond could not be seen for a clutter of large
huts。
'They've cut it down！' cried Sam。 'They've cut down the Party Tree！' He pointed to where the tree。
had stood under which Bilbo had made his Farewell Speech。 It was lying lopped and dead in the
field。 As if this was the last straw Sam burst into tears。
A laugh put an end to them。 There was a surly hobbit lounging over the low wall of the mill…
yard。 He was grimy…faced and black…handed。 'Don't 'ee like it； Sam？' he sneered。 'But you always
was soft。 I thought you'd gone off in one o' them ships you used to prattle about； sailing； sailing。
What d'you want to e back for？ We've work to do in the Shire now。'
'So I see；' said Sam。 'No time for washing； but time for wall…propping。 But see here； Master
Sandyman； I've a score to pay in this village； and don't you make it any longer with your jeering； or
you'll foot a bill too big for your purse。'
Ted Sandyman spat over the wall： 'Garn！' he said。 'You can't touch me。 I'm a friend o' the Boss's。
But he'll touch you all right； if I have any more of your mouth。'
'Don't waste any more words on the fool； Sam！' said Frodo。 'I hope there are not many more
hobbits that have bee like this。 It would be a worse trouble than all the damage the Men have
done。'
'You are dirty and insolent； Sandyman；' said Merry。 'And also very much out of your reckoning。
We are just going up the Hill to remove your precious Boss。 We have dealt with his Men。'
Ted gaped； for at that moment he first caught sight of the escort that at a sign from Merry now
marched over the bridge。 Dashing back into the mill he ran out with a horn and blew it loudly。
'Save your breath！' laughed Merry。 'I've a better。' Then lifting up his silver horn he winded it；
and its clear call rang over the Hill； and out of the holes and sheds and shabby houses of Hobbiton
the hobbits answered； and came pouring out； and with cheers and loud cries they followed the
pany up the road to Bag End。
At the top of the lane the party halted； and Frodo and his friends went on； and they came at last
to the once beloved place。 The garden was full of huts and sheds； some so near the old westward
windows that they cut off all their light。 There were piles of refuse everywhere。 The door was
scarred； the bell…chain was dangling loose； and the bell would not ring。 Knocking brought no
answer。 At length they pushed and the door yielded。 They went in。 The place stank and was full of
filth and disorder： it did not appear to have been used for some time。
'Where is that miserable Lotho hiding？' said Merry。 They had searched every room and found no
living thing save rats and mice。 'Shall we turn on the others to search the sheds？'
'This is worse than Mordor！' said Sam。 'Much worse in a way。 It es home to you； as they say；
because it is home； and you remember it before it was all ruined。'
'Yes； this is Mordor；' said Frodo。 'Just one of its works。 Saruman was doing its work all the time；
even when he thought he was working for himself。 And the same with those that Saruman tricked；
like Lotho。'
Merry looked round in dismay and disgust。 'Let's get out！' he said。 'If I had known all the
mischief he had caused； I should have stuffed my pouch down Saruman's throat。'
'No doubt； no doubt！ But you did not； and so I am able to wele you home。' There standing at
the door was Saruman himself； looking well…fed and well…pleased； his eyes gleamed with malice
and amusement。
A sudden light broke on Frodo。 'Sharkey！' he cried。
Saruman laughed。 'So you have heard the name； have you？ All my people used to call me that in
Isengard； I believe。 A sign of affection； possibly。 But evidently you did not expect to see me here。'
'I did not；' said Frodo。 'But I might have guessed。 A little mischief in a mean way： Gandalf
warned me that you were still capable of it。
'Quite capable；' said Saruman； 'and more than a little。 You made me laugh； you hobbit…lordlings；
riding along with all those great people so secure and so pleased with your little selves。 You
thought you had done very well out of it all； and could now just amble back and have a nice quiet
time in the country。 Saruman's home could be all wrecked； and he could be turned out； but no one
could touch yours。 Oh no！ Gandalf would look after your affairs。'
Saruman laughed again。 'Not he！ When his tools have done their task he drops them。 But you
must go dangling after him； dawdling and talking； and riding round twice as far as you needed。
〃Well；〃 thought I； 〃if they're such fools； I will get ahead of them and teach them a lesson。 One ill
turn deserves another。〃 It would have been a sharper lesson； if only you had given me a little more
time and more Men。 Still I have already done much that you will find it hard to mend or undo in
your lives。 And it will be pleasant to think of that and set it against my injuries。'
'Well； if that is what you find pleasure in；' said Frodo； 'I pity you。 It will be a pleasure of
memory only； I fear。 Go at once and never return！'
The hobbits of the villages had seen