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early midnight。'
'I thought you liked walking in the dark；' said Frodo。 'But there is nogreat hurry。 Merry expects us some time the day after tomorrow； but thatleaves us nearly two days more。 We'll halt at the first likely spot。'
'The wind's in the West；' said Sam。 'If we get to the other side of thishill； we shall find a spot that is sheltered and snug enough； sir。 There is adry fir…wood just ahead； if I remember rightly。' Sam knew the land well withintwenty miles of Hobbiton； but that was the limit of his geography。
Just over the top of the hill they came on the patch of fir…wood。 Leavingthe road they went into the deep resin…scented darkness of the trees； andgathered dead sticks and cones to make a fire。 Soon they had a merry crackleof flame at the foot of a large fir…tree and they sat round it for a while；
until they began to nod。 Then； each in an angle of the great tree's roots；
they curled up in their cloaks and blankets； and were soon fast asleep。 Theyset no watch； even Frodo feared no danger yet； for they were still in theheart of the Shire。 A few creatures came and looked at them when the fire had
died away。 A fox passing through the wood on business of his own stoppedseveral minutes and sniffed。
'Hobbits！' he thought。 'Well； what next？ I have heard of strange doingsin this land； but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors undera tree。 Three of them！ There's something mighty queer behind this。' He wasquite right； but he never found out any more about it。
The morning came； pale and clammy。 Frodo woke up first； and found that atree…root had made a hole in his back； and that his neck was stiff。
'Walking for pleasure！ Why didn't I drive？' he thought； as he usually didat the beginning of an expedition。 'And all my beautiful feather beds are soldto the Sackville…Bagginses！ These tree…roots would do them good。' Hestretched。 'Wake up； hobbits！' he cried。 It's a beautiful morning。'
'What's beautiful about it？' said Pippin； peering over the edge of hisblanket with one eye。 'Sam！ Gel breakfast ready for half…past nine！ Have yougot the bath…water hot？'
Sam jumped up； looking rather bleary。 'No； sir； I haven't； sir！' he said。
Frodo stripped the blankets from Pippin and rolled him over； and thenwalked off to the edge of the wood。 Away eastward the sun was rising red outof the mists that lay thick on the world。 Touched with gold and red the autumntrees seemed to be sailing rootless in a shadowy sea。 A little below him tothe left the road ran down steeply into a hollow and disappeared。
When he returned Sam and Pippin had got a good fire going。 'Water！'
shouted Pippin。 'Where's the water？'
'I don't keep water in my pockets；' said Frodo。 'We thought you had goneto find some；' said Pippin； busy setting out the food； and cups。 'You hadbetter go now。'
'You can e too；' said Frodo； 'and bring all the water…bottles。' Therewas a stream at the foot of the hill。 They filled their bottles and the smallcamping kettle at a little fall where the water fell a few feet over anoutcrop of grey stone。 It was icy cold； and they spluttered and puffed as theybathed their faces and hands。
When their breakfast was over； and their packs all trussed up again； itwas after ten o'clock； and the day was beginning to turn fine and hot。 Theywent down the slope； and across the stream where it dived under the road； andup the next slope； and up and down another shoulder of the hills； and by thattime their cloaks； blankets； water； food； and other gear already seemed aheavy burden。
The day's march promised to be warm and tiring work。 After some miles；
however； the road ceased to roll up and down： it climbed to the top of a steepbank in a weary zig…zagging sort of way； and then prepared to go down for the
last time。 In front of them they saw the lower lands dotted with small clumpsof trees that melted away in the distance to a brown woodland haze。 They werelooking across the Woody End towards the Brandywine River。 The road wound awaybefore them like a piece of string。
'The road goes on for ever；' said Pippin； 'but I can't without a rest。 Itis high time for lunch。' He sat down on the bank at the side of the road andlooked away east into the haze； beyond which lay the River； and the end of theShire in which he had spent all his life。 Sam stood by him。 His round eyeswere wide open – for he was looking across lands he had never seen to a newhorizon。
'Do Elves live in those woods？' he asked。
'Not that I ever heard；' said Pippin。 Frodo was silent。 He too was gazingeastward along the road； as if he had never seen it before。 Suddenly he spoke；
aloud but as if to himself； saying slowly：
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began。
Now far ahead the Road has gone；
And I must follow； if I can；
Pursuing it with weary feet；
Until it joins some larger way；
Where many paths and errands meet。
And whither then？ I cannot say。
'That sounds like a bit of old Bilbo's rhyming；' said Pippin。 'Or is itone of your imitations？ It does not sound altogether encouraging。'
'I don't know；' said Frodo。 It came to me then； as if I was making it up；
but I may have heard it long ago。 Certainly it reminds me very much of Bilboin the last years； before he went away。 He used often to say there was onlyone Road； that it was like a great river： its springs were at every doorstep；
and every path was its tributary。 〃It's a dangerous business； Frodo； going outof your door；〃 he used to say。 〃You step into the Road； and if you don't keepyour feet； there is no knowing where you might be swept off to。 Do you realizethat this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood； and that if you let it；
it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worseplaces？〃 He used to say that on the path outside the front door at Bag End；
especially after he had been out for a long walk。'
'Well； the Road won't sweep me anywhere for an hour at least；' saidPippin； unslinging his pack。 The others followed his example； putting theirpacks against the bank and their legs out into the road。 After a rest they hada good lunch； and then more rest。
The sun was beginning to get low and the light of afternoon wa