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And there they brew a beer so brown
That the Man in the Moon himself came down
one night to drink his fill。
The ostler has a tipsy cat
that plays a five…stringed fiddle；
And up and down he runs his bow；
Now squeaking high； now purring low；
now sawing in the middle。
The landlord keeps a little dog
that is mighty fond of jokes；
When there's good cheer among the guests；
He cocks an ear at all the jests
and laughs until he chokes。
They also keep a horned cow
as proud as any queen；
But music turns her head like ale；
And makes her wave her tufted tail
and dance upon the green。
And O！ the rows of silver dishes
and the store of silver spoons！
For Sunday there's a special pair；
And these they polish up with care
on Saturday afternoons。
The Man in the Moon was drinking deep；
and the cat began to wail；
A dish and a spoon on the table danced；
The cow in the garden madly pranced；
and the little dog chased his tail。
The Man in the Moon took another mug；
and then rolled beneath his chair；
And there he dozed and dreamed of ale；
Till in the sky the stars were pale；
and dawn was in the air。
Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat：
'The white horses of the Moon；
They neigh and champ their silver bits；
But their master's been and drowned his wits；
and the Sun'll be rising soon！'
So the cat on his fiddle played hey…diddle…diddle；
a jig that would wake the dead：
He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune；
While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon：
'It's after three！' he said。
They rolled the Man slowly up the hill
and bundled him into the Moon；
While his horses galloped up in rear；
And the cow came capering like a deer；
and a dish ran up with the spoon。
Now quicker the fiddle went deedle…dum…diddle；
the dog began to roar；
The cow and the horses stood on their heads；
The guests all bounded from their beds
and danced upon the floor。
With a ping and a pong the fiddle…strings broke！
the cow jumped over the Moon；
And the little dog laughed to see such fun；
And the Saturday dish went off at a run
with the silver Sunday spoon。
The round Moon rolled behind the hill
as the Sun raised up her head。
She hardly believed her fiery eyes；
For though it was day； to her surprise
they all went back to bed！
There was loud and long applause。 Frodo had a good voice； and the songtickled their fancy。 'Where's old Barley？' they cried。 'He ought to hear this。
Bob ought to learn his cat the fiddle； and then we'd have a dance。' Theycalled for more ale； and began to shout： 'Let's have it again； master！ e onnow！ Once more！'
They made Frodo have another drink； and then begin his song again； whilemany of them joined in； for the tune was well known； and they were quick atpicking up words。 It was now Frodo's turn to feel pleased with himself。 Hecapered about on the table； and when he came a second time to _the cow jumped
over the Moon；_ he leaped in the air。 Much too vigorously； for he came down；
bang； into a tray full of mugs； and slipped； and rolled off the table with acrash； clatter； and bump！ The audience all opened their mouths wide forlaughter； and stopped short a gaping silence； for the singer disappeared。 Hesimply vanished； as if he had gone slap through the floor without leaving ahole！
The local hobbits stared in amazement； and then sprang to their feet andshouted for Barliman。 All the pany drew away from Pippin and Sam； who foundthemselves left alone in a er； and eyed darkly and doubtfully from adistance。 It was plain that many people regarded them now as the panions ofa travelling magician of unknown powers and purpose。 But there was one swarthyBree…lander； who stood looking at them with a knowing and half…mockingexpression that made them feel very unfortable。 Presently he slipped out ofthe door； followed by the squint…eyed southerner： the two had been whisperingtogether a good deal during the evening。 Harry the gatekeeper also went outjust behind them。。
Frodo felt a fool。 Not knowing what else to do； he crawled away under thetables to the dark er by Strider； who sat unmoved； giving no sign of histhoughts。 Frodo leaned back against the wall and took off the Ring。 How itcame to be on his finger he could not tell。 He could only suppose that he hadbeen handling it in his pocket while he sang； and that somehow it had slippedon when he stuck out his hand with a jerk to save his fall。 For a moment hewondered if the Ring itself had not played him a trick； perhaps it had triedto reveal itself in response to some wish or mand that was felt in theroom。 He did not like the looks of the men that had gone out。
'Well？' said Strider； when he reappeared。 'Why did you do that？ Worsethan anything your friends could have said！ You have put your foot in it！ Orshould I say your finger？'
'I don't know what you mean；' said Frodo； annoyed and alarmed。
'Oh yes； you do；' answered Strider； 'but we had better wait until theuproar has died down。 Then； if you please； Mr。 _Baggins； I_ should like aquiet word with you。'
'What about？' asked Frodo； ignoring the sudden use of his proper name。
'A matter of some importance – to us both；' answered Strider； lookingFrodo in the eye。 'You may hear something to your advantage。'
'Very well；' said Frodo； trying to appear unconcerned。 'I'll talk to youlater。'
Meanwhile an argument was going on by the fireplace。 Mr。 Butterbur hade trotting in； and he was now trying to listen to several conflictingaccounts of the event at the same time。
'I saw him； Mr。 Butterbur；' said a hobbit； 'or leastways I didn't seehim； if you take my meaning。 He just vanished into thin air； in a manner ofspeaking。'
'You don't say； Mr。 Mugwort！' said the landlord； looking puzzled。
'Yes I do！' replied Mugwort。 'And I mean what I say； what's more。'
'There's some mistake somewhere；' said Butterbur； shaking his head。 Therewas too much of that Mr。 Underhill to go vanishing into thin air； or intothick air； as is more likely in this room。'
'Well； where is he now？' cried several voices。
'How should I know？ He's wele to go where he will； so long as he paysin the morning。 There's Mr。 Took； now： he's not vanishe