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d。 But as they looked itseemed to move and sway this way and that； as if searching the ground。 It thencrawled； or went crouching； back into the gloom beyond the lamps。
'What in the Shire is that？' exclaimed Merry。
'Something that is following us；' said Frodo。 'But don't ask any morenow！ Let's get away at once！' They hurried up the path to the top of the bank；
but when they looked back the far shore was shrouded in mist； and nothingcould be seen。
'Thank goodness you don't keep any boats on the west…bank！' said Frodo。
'Can horses cross the river？'
'They can go twenty miles north to Brandywine Bridge – or they mightswim；' answered Merry。 'Though I never heard of any horse swimming theBrandywine。 But what have horses to do with it？' I'll tell you later。 Let'sget indoors and then we can talk。'
'All right！ You and Pippin know your way； so I'll just ride on and tellFatty Bolger that you are ing。 We'll see about supper and things。'
'We had our supper early with Farmer Maggot；' said Frodo； 'but we coulddo with another。'
'You shall have it！ Give me that basket！' said Merry； and rode ahead intothe darkness。
It was some distance from the Brandywine to Frodo's new house atCrickhollow。 They passed Buck Hill and Brandy Hall on their left； and on theoutskirts of Bucklebury struck the main road of Buckland that ran south fromthe Bridge。 Half a mile northward along this they came to a lane opening ontheir right。 This they followed for a couple of miles as it climbed up anddown into the country。
At last they came to a narrow gate in a thick hedge。 Nothing could beseen of the house in the dark： it stood back from the lane in the middle of a
wide circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of low trees inside the outer hedge。
Frodo had chosen it； because it stood in an out…of…the…way corner of thecountry； and there were no other dwellings close by。 You could get in and outwithout being noticed。 It had been built a long while before by theBrandybucks； for the use of guests； or members of the family that wished toescape from the crowded life of Brandy Hall for a time。 It was an old…
fashioned countrified house； as much like a hobbit…hole as possible： it waslong and low； with no upper storey； and it had a roof of turf； round windows；
and a large round door。
As they walked lip the green path from the gate no light was visible； thewindows were dark and shuttered。 Frodo knocked on the door； and Fatty Bolgeropened it。 A friendly light streamed out。 They slipped in quickly and shutthemselves and the light inside。 They were in a wide hall with doors on eitherside； in front of them a passage ran back down the middle of the house。
'Well； what do you think of it？' asked Merry ing up the passage。 'Wehave done our best in a short time to make it look like home。 After all Fattyand I only got here with the last cart…load yesterday。'
Frodo looked round。 It did look like home。 Many of his own favouritethings – or Bilbo's things （they reminded him sharply of him in their newselling） – were arranged as nearly as possible as they had been at Bag End。 Itwas a pleasant； fortable； weling place； and he found himself wishingthat he was really ing here to settle down in quiet retirement。 It seemedunfair to have put his friends to all this trouble； and he wondered again howhe was going to break the news to them that he must leave them so soon； indeedat once。 Yet that would have to be done that very night； before they all wentto bed。
'It's delightful！' he said with an effort。 'I hardly feel that I havemoved at all。'
The travellers hung up their cloaks； and piled their packs on the floor。
Merry led them down the passage and threw open a door at the far end。
Firelight came out； and a puff of steam。
'A bath！' cried Pippin。 'O blessed Meriadoc！'
'Which order shall we go in？' said Frodo。 'Eldest first； or quickestfirst？ You'll be last either way； Master Peregrin。'
'Trust me to arrange things better than that！' said Merry。 'We can'tbegin life at Crickhollow with a quarrel over baths。 In that room there are_three_ tubs； and a copper full of boiling water。 There are also towels； matsand soap。 Get inside； and be quick！'
Merry and Fatty went into the kitchen on the other side of the passage；
and busied themselves with the final preparations for a late supper。 Snatchesof peting songs came from the bathroom mixed with the sound of splashingand wallowing。 The voice of Pippin was suddenly lifted up above the others inone of Bilbo's favourite bath…songs。
Sing hey！ for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away！
A loon is he that will not sing：
O！ Water Hot is a noble thing！
O！ Sweet is the sound of falling rain；
and the brook that leaps from hill to plain；
but better than rain or rippling streams
is Water Hot that smokes and steams。
O！ Water cold we may pour at need
down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed；
but better is Beer； if drink we lack；
and Water Hot poured down the back。
O！ Water is fair that leaps on high
in a fountain white beneath the sky；
but never did fountain sound so sweet
as splashing Hot Water with my feet！
There was a terrific splash； and a shout of _Whoa！_ from Frodo。 Itappeared that a lot of Pippin's bath had imitated a fountain and leaped onhigh。
Merry went to the door： 'What about supper and beer in the throat？' hecalled。 Frodo came out drying his hair。
'There's so much water in the air that I'm ing into the kitchen tofinish；' he said。
'Lawks！' said Merry； looking in。 The stone floor was swimming。 'You oughtto mop all that up before you get anything to eat。 Peregrin；' he said。 'Hurryup； or we shan't wait for you。'
They had supper in the kitchen on a table near the fire。 'I suppose youthree won't want mushrooms again？' said Fredegar without much hope。
'Yes we shall！' cried Pippin。
'They're mine！' said Frodo。 'Given to _me_ by Mrs。 Maggot； a queen amongfarmers' wives。 Take your greedy hands away； and I'll serve them。'
Hobbits have a passion for mushrooms； surpassing even the greediestlikings of Big People。 A fact which partly explains young Frodo's longexpeditions to the renowned fields of the Marish； and the wrath of the injuredMaggot。 On t