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ire from the south。
I came to Hobbiton and Frodo had gone； but I had words with old Gamgee。 Manywords and few to the point。 He had much to say about the shortings of thenew owners of Bag End。
‘ 〃I can't abide changes；〃 said he； 〃not at my time of life； and least ofall changes for the worst。〃 〃Changes for the worst；〃 he repeated many times。
' 〃Worst is a bad word；〃 I said to him； 〃and I hope you do not live tosee it。〃 But amidst his talk I gathered at last that Frodo had left Hobbitonless than a week before； and that a black horseman had e to the Hill thesame evening。 Then I rode on in fear。 I came to Buckland and found it inuproar； as busy as a hive of ants that has been stirred with a stick。 I cameto the house at Crickhollow； and it was broken open and empty； but on thethreshold there lay a cloak that had been Frodo's。 Then for a while hope leftme； and I did not wait to gather news； or I might have been forted； but Irode on the trail of the Riders。 It was hard to follow； for it went many ways；
and I was at a loss。 But it seemed to me that one or two had ridden towards
Bree； and that way I went； for I thought of words that might be said to theinnkeeper。
' 〃Butterbur they call him；〃 thought I。 〃If this delay was his fault； Iwill melt all the butter in him。 I will roast the old fool over a slow fire。〃
He expected no less； and when he saw my face he fell down flat and began tomelt on the spot。'
‘What did you do to him？' cried Frodo in alarm。 'He was really very kind
to us and did all that he could。'
Gandalf laughed。 'Don't be afraid！' he said。 ‘I did not bite； and Ibarked very little。 So overjoyed was I by the news that I got out of him； whenhe stopped quaking； that I embraced the old fellow。 How it happened I couldnot then guess； but I learned that you had been in Bree the night before； andhad gone off that morning with Strider。
‘ 〃Strider！ 〃 I cried； shouting for joy。
‘ 〃Yes； sir； I am afraid so； sir；〃 said Butterbur； mistaking me。 〃He gotat them； in spite of all that I could do； and they took up with him。 Theybehaved very queer all the time they were here： wilful； you might say。〃
‘ 〃Ass！ Fool！ Thrice worthy and beloved Barliman！ 〃 said I。 〃It's thebest news I have had since midsummer： it's worth a gold piece at the least。
May your beer be laid under an enchantment of surpassing excellence for sevenyears！ 〃 said I。 〃Now I can take a night's rest； the first since I haveforgotten when。〃
‘So I stayed there that night； wondering much what had bee of theRiders； for only of two had there yet been any news in Bree； it seemed。 But inthe night we heard more。 Five at least came from the west； and they threw downthe gates and passed through Bree like a howling wind； and the Bree…folk arestill shivering and expecting the end of the world。 I got up before dawn andwent after them。
'I do not know； but it seems clear to me that this is what happened。
Their Captain remained in secret away south of Bree； while two rode aheadthrough the village； and four more invaded the Shire。 But when these werefoiled in Bree and at Crickhollow； they returned to their Captain withtidings； and so left the Road unguarded for a while； except by their spies。
The Captain then sent some eastward straight across country； and he himselfwith the rest rode along the Road in great wrath。
'I galloped to Weathertop like a gale； and I reached it before sundown onmy second day from Bree…and they were there before me。 They drew away from me；
for they felt the ing of my anger and they dared not face it while the Sunwas in the sky。 But they closed round at night； and I was besieged on thehill…top； in the old ring of Amon S。l。 I was hard put to it indeed： such lightand flame cannot have been seen on Weathertop since the war…beacons of old。
‘At sunrise I escaped and fled towards the north。 I could not hope to domore。 It was impossible to find you； Frodo； in the wilderness； and it wouldhave been folly to try with all the Nine at my heels。 So I had to trust toAragorn。 But I hoped to draw some of them off； and yet reach Rivendell aheadof you and send out help。 Four Riders did indeed follow me； but they turnedback after a while and made for the Ford； it seems。 That helped a little； forthere were only five； not nine； when your camp was attacked。
'I reached here at last by a long hard road； up the Hoarwell and throughthe Ettenmoors； and down from the north。 It took me nearly fourteen days fromWeathertop； for I could not ride among the rocks of the troll…fells； andShadowfax departed。 I sent him back to his master； but a great friendship hasgrown between us； and if I have need he will e at my call。 But so it wasthat I came to Rivendell only three days before the Ring； and news of itsperil had already been brought here…which proved well indeed。
‘And that； Frodo； is the end of my account。 May Elrond and the othersforgive the length of it。 But such a thing has not happened before； thatGandalf broke tryst and did not e when he promised。 An account to the Ring…
bearer of so strange an event was required； I think。
'Well； the Tale is now told； from first to last。 Here we all are； andhere is the Ring。 But we have not yet e any nearer to our purpose。 Whatshall we do with it？'
There was silence。 At last Elrond spoke again。
‘This is grievous news concerning Saruman；' he said； ‘for we trusted himand he is deep in all our counsels。 It is perilous to study too deeply thearts of the Enemy； for good or for ill。 But such falls and betrayals； alas；
have happened before。 Of the tales that we have heard this day the tale ofFrodo was most strange to me。 I have known few hobbits； save Bilbo here； andit seems to me that he is perhaps not so alone and singular as I had thoughthim。 The world has changed much since I last was on the westward roads。
‘The Barrow…wights we know by many names； and of the Old Forest manytales have been told： all that now remains is but an outlier of its northern
march。 Time was when a squirrel could go from tree to tree from what is nowthe Shire to Dunland west of Isengard。 In those lands I journeyed once； andmany things wild and strange I knew。 But I had forgotten Bombadil； if indeedthis is still the same that