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； my merry friends； and let the warm sunlight heal now heart and limb！
Cast off these cold rags！ Run naked on the grass； while Tom goes a…hunting！'
He sprang away down hill； whistling and calling。 Looking down after himFrodo saw him running away southwards along the green hollow between theirhill and the next； still whistling and crying：
Hey！ now！ e hoy now！ Whither do you wander？
Up； down； near or far； here； there or yonder？
Sharp…ears； Wise…nose； Swish…tail and Bumpkin；
White…socks my little lad； and old Fatty Lumpkin！
So he sang； running fast； tossing up his hat and catching it； until hewas hidden by a fold of the ground： but for some time his _hey now！ hoy now！
_came floating back down the wind； which had shifted round towards the south。
The air was growing very warm again。 The hobbits ran about for a while onthe grass； as he told them。 Then they lay basking in the sun with the delightof those that have been wafted suddenly from bitter winter to a friendlyclime； or of people that； after being long ill and bedridden； wake one day tofind that they are unexpectedly well and the day is again full of promise。
By the time that Tom returned they were feeling strong （and hungry）。 Hereappeared； hat first； over the brow of the hill； and behind him came in anobedient line _six_ ponies： their own five and one more。 The last was plainlyold Fatty Lumpkin： he was larger； stronger； fatter （and older） than their ownponies。 Merry； to whom the others belonged； had not； in fact； given them anysuch names； but they answered to the new names that Tom had given them for therest of their lives。 Tom called them one by one and they climbed over the browand stood in a line。 Then Tom bowed to the hobbits。
'Here are your ponies； now！' he said。 'They've more sense （in some ways）
than you wandering hobbits have – more sense in their noses。 For they sniffdanger ahead which you walk right into； and if they run to save themselves；
then they run the right way。 You must forgive them all； for though theirhearts are faithful； to face fear of Barrow…wights is not what they were madefor。 See； here they e again； bringing all their burdens！'
Merry； Sam； and Pippin now clothed themselves in spare garments fromtheir packs； and they soon felt too hot； for they were obliged to put on someof the thicker and warmer things that they had brought against the oning of
winter。
'Where does that other old animal； that Fatty Lumpkin； e from？' askedFrodo。
'He's mine；' said Tom。 'My four…legged friend； though I seldom ride him；
and he wanders often far； free upon the hillsides。 When your ponies stayedwith me； they got to know my Lumpkin； and they smelt him in the night； andquickly ran to meet him。 I thought he'd look for them and with his words ofwisdom take all their fear away。 But now； my jolly Lumpkin； old Tom's going toride。 Hey！ he's ing with you； just to set you on the road； so he needs apony。 For you cannot easily talk to hobbits that are riding； when you're onyour own legs trying to trot beside them。'
The hobbits were delighted to hear this； and thanked Tom many times； buthe laughed； and said that they were so good at losing themselves that he wouldnot feel happy till he had seen them safe over the borders of his land。 'I'vegot things to do；' he said： 'my making and my singing； my talking and mywalking； and my watching of the country。 Tom can't be always near to opendoors and willow…cracks。 Tom has his house to mind； and Goldberry is waiting。'
It was still fairly early by the sun； something between nine and ten； andthe hobbits turned their minds to food。 Their last meal had been lunch beside
the standing stone the day before。 They breakfasted now off the remainder ofTom's provisions； meant for their supper； with additions that Tom had broughtwith him。 It was not a large meal （considering hobbits and the circumstances）；
but they felt much better for it。 While they were eating Tom went up to themound； and looked through the treasures。 Most of these he made into a pilethat glistened and sparkled on the grass。 He bade them lie there 'free to allfinders； birds； beasts。 Elves or Men； and all kindly creatures'； for so thespell of the mound should be broken and scattered and no Wight ever e backto it。 He chose for himself from the pile a brooch set with blue stones； many…
shaded like flax…flowers or the wings of blue butterflies。 He looked long atit； as if stirred by some memory； shaking his head； and saying at last：
'Here is a pretty toy for Tom and for his lady！ Fair was she who long agowore this on her shoulder。 Goldberry shall wear it now； and we will not forgether！'
For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger； long； leaf…shaped； and keen；
of marvellous workmanship； damasked with serpent…forms in red and gold。 Theygleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths； wrought of some strangemetal； light and strong； and set with many fiery stones。 Whether by somevirtue in these sheaths or because of the spell that lay on the mound； theblades seemed untouched by time； unrusted； sharp； glittering in the sun。
'Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbit…people；' he said。 'Sharpblades are good to have； if Shire…folk go walking； east； south； or far awayinto dark and danger。' Then he told them that these blades were forged manylong years ago by Men of Westernesse： they were foes of the Dark Lord； butthey were overe by the evil king of Carn D。m in the Land of Angmar。
'Few now remember them；' Tom murmured； 'yet still some go wandering； sonsof forgotten kings walking in loneliness； guarding from evil things folk thatare heedless。'
The hobbits did not understand his words； but as he spoke they had avision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them； like a vast shadowyplain over which there strode shapes of Men； tall and grim with bright swords；
and last came one with a star on his brow。 Then the vision faded； and theywere back in the sunlit world。 It was time to start again。 They made ready；
packing their bags and lading their ponies。 Their new weapons they hung ontheir leather belts under their jackets； feeling them very awkward； andwondering if they would be of any use。 Fighting had not before occurred to a