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if you have never seen it?'
'I did not know;' he answered。 'But I am Aragorn; and those verses gowith that name。' He drew out his sword; and they saw that the blade was indeedbroken a foot below the hilt。 'Not much use is it; Sam?' said Strider。 'Butthe time is near when it shall be forged anew。'
Sam said nothing。
'Well;' said Strider; 'with Sam's permission we will call that settled。
Strider shall be your guide。 We shall have a rough road tomorrow。 Even if weare allowed to leave Bree unhindered; we can hardly hope now to leave itunnoticed。 But I shall try to get lost as soon as possible。 I know one or twoways out of Bree…land other than the main road。 If once we shake off thepursuit; I shall make for Weathertop。'
'Weathertop?' said Sam。 'What's that?'
'It is a hill; just to the north of the Road; about half way from here toRivendell。 It mands a wide view all round; and there we shall have a chanceto look about us。 Gandalf will make for that point; if he follows us。 AfterWeathertop our journey will bee more difficult; and we shall have to choosebetween various dangers。'
'When did you last see Gandalf?' asked Frodo。 'Do you know where he is;
or what he is doing?'
Strider looked grave。 'I do not know;' he said。 'I came west with him inthe spring。 I have often kept watch on the borders of the Shire in the lastfew years; when he was busy elsewhere。 He seldom left it unguarded。 We lastmet on the first of May: at Sam Ford down the Brandywine。 He told me that hisbusiness with you had gone well; and that you would be starting for Rivendellin the last week of September。 As I knew he was at your side; I went away on ajourney of my own。 And that has proved ill; for plainly some news reached him;
and I was not at hand to help。
'I am troubled; for the first time since I have known him。 We should havehad messages; even if he could not e himself。 When I returned; many days
ago; I heard the ill news。 The tidings had gone far and wide that Gandalf wasmissing and the horsemen had been seen。 It was the Elven…folk of Gildor thattold me this; and later they told me that you had left your home; but therewas no news of your leaving Buckland。 I have been watching the East Roadanxiously。'
'Do you think the Black Riders have anything to do with it – withGandalf's absence; I mean?' asked Frodo。
'I do not know of anything else that could have hindered him; except theEnemy himself;' said Strider。 'But do not give up hope! Gandalf is greaterthan you Shire…folk know – as a rule you can only see his jokes and toys。 Butthis business of ours will be his greatest task。'
Pippin yawned。 'I am sorry;' he said; 'but I am dead tired。 In spite ofall the danger and worry I must go to bed; or sleep where I sit。 Where is thatsilly fellow; Merry? It would be the last straw; if we had to go out in thedark to look for him。'
At that moment they heard a door slam; then feet came running along thepassage。 Merry came in with a rush followed by Nob。 He shut the door hastily;
and leaned against it。 He was out of breath。 They stared at him in alarm for amoment before he gasped: 'I have seen them; Frodo! I have seen them! BlackRiders!'
'Black Riders!' cried Frodo。 'Where?'
'Here。 In the village。 I stayed indoors for an hour。 Then as you did note back; I went out for a stroll。 I had e back again and was standingjust outside the light of the lamp looking at the stars。 Suddenly I shiveredand felt that something horrible was creeping near: there was a son of deepershade among the shadows across the road; just beyond the edge of thelamplight。 It slid away at once into the dark without a sound。 There was nohorse。'
'Which way did it go?' asked Strider; suddenly and sharply。 Merrystarted; noticing the stranger for the first time。 'Go on!' said Frodo。 'Thisis a friend of Gandalf's。 I will explain later。'
'It seemed to make off up the Road; eastward;' continued Merry。 'I triedto follow。 Of course; it vanished almost at once; but I went round the cornerand on as far as the last house on the Road。'
Strider looked at Merry with wonder。 'You have a stout heart;' he said;
'but it was foolish。'
'I don't know;' said Merry。 'Neither brave nor silly; I think。 I couldhardly help myself。 I seemed to be drawn somehow。 Anyway; I went; and suddenlyI heard voices by the hedge。 One was muttering; and the other was whispering;
or hissing。 I couldn't hear a word that was said。 I did not creep any closer;
because I began to tremble all over。 Then I felt terrified; and I turned back;
and was just going to bolt home; when something came behind me and I。。。 I fellover。'
'I found him; sir;' put in Nob。 'Mr。 Butterbur sent me out with alantern。 I went down to West…gate; and then back up towards South…gate。 Justnigh Bill Ferny's house I thought I could see something in the Road。 Icouldn't swear to it; but it looked to me as if two men was stooping oversomething; lilting it。 I gave a shout; but where I got up to the spot therewas no signs of them; and only Mr。 Brandybuck lying by the roadside。 He seemedto be asleep。 〃I thought I had fallen into deep water;〃 he says to me; when Ishook him。 Very queer he was; and as soon as I had roused him; he got up andran back here like a hare。'
'I am afraid that's true;' said Merry; 'though I don't know what I said。
I had an ugly dream; which I can't remember。 I went to pieces。 I don't knowwhat came over me。'
'I do;' said Strider。 'The Black Breath。 The Riders must have left theirhorses outside; and passed back through the South…gate in secret。 They willknow all the news now; for they have visited Bill Ferny; and probably thatSoutherner was a spy as well。 Something may happen in the night; before we
leave Bree。'
'What will happen?' said Merry。 'Will they attack the inn?' 'No; I thinknot;' said Strider。 'They are not all here yet。 And in any case that is nottheir way。 In dark and loneliness they are strongest; they will not openlyattack a house where there are lights and many people …not until they aredesperate; not while all the long leagues of Eriador still lie before us。 Buttheir power is in terror; and already some in Bree are in their clutch。 Theywill drive these wretches to some evil work: Fe