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ined their party。
After their breakfast the hobbits had to re…pack； and get togetherfurther supplies for the longer journey they were now expecting。 It was closeon ten o'clock before they at last got off。 By that time the whole of Bree wasbuzzing with excitement。 Frodo's vanishing trick； the appearance of the blackhorsemen； the robbing of the stables； and not least the news that Strider theRanger had joined the mysterious hobbits； made such a tale as would last formany uneventful years。 Most of the inhabitants of Bree and Staddle； and manyeven from be and Archet； were crowded in the road to see the travellersstart。 The other guests in the inn were at the doors or hanging out of thewindows。
Strider had changed his mind； and he decided to leave Bree by the mainroad。 Any attempt to set off across country at once would only make mattersworse： half the inhabitants would follow them； to see what they were up to；
and to prevent them from trespassing。
They said farewell to Nob and Bob； and took leave of Mr。 Butterbur withmany thanks。 'I hope we shall meet again some day； when things are merry oncemore；' said Frodo。 'I should like nothing better than to stay in your house inpeace for a while。'
They tramped off； anxious and downhearted； under the eyes of the crowd。
Not all the faces were friendly； nor all the words that were shouted。 ButStrider seemed to be held in awe by most of the Bree…landers； and those thathe stared at shut their mouths and drew away。 He walked in front with Frodo；
next came Merry and Pippin； and last came Sam leading the pony； which wasladen with as much of their baggage as they had the heart to give it； butalready it looked less dejected； as if it approved of the change in itsfortunes。 Sam was chewing an apple thoughtfully。 He had a pocket full of them：
a parting present from Nob and Bob。 'Apples for walking； and a pipe forsitting；' he said。 'But I reckon I'll miss them both before long。'
The hobbits took no notice of the inquisitive heads that peeped out ofdoors； or popped over walls and fences； as they passed。 But as they drew nearto the further gate； Frodo saw a dark ill…kept house behind a thick hedge： thelast house in the village。 In one of the windows he caught a glimpse of asallow face with sly； slanting eyes； but it vanished at once。
'So that's where that southerner is hiding！' he thought。 'He looks more
than half like a goblin。'
Over the hedge another man was staring boldly。 He had heavy black brows；
and dark scornful eyes； his large mouth curled in a sneer。 He was smoking ashort black pipe。 As they approached he took it out of his mouth and spat。
'Morning； Longshanks！' he said。 'Off early？ Found some friends at last？'
Strider nodded； but did not answer。 'Morning； my little friends！' he said tothe others。 'I suppose you know who you've taken up with？ That's Stick…at…
naught Strider； that is！ Though I've heard other names not so pretty。 Watchout tonight！ And you； Sammie； don't go ill…treating my poor old pony！ Pah！' Hespat again。
Sam turned quickly。 'And you。 Ferny；' he said； 'put your ugly face out ofsight； or it will get hurt。' With a sudden flick； quick as lightning； an appleleft his hand and hit Bill square on the nose。 He ducked too late； and cursescame from behind the hedge。 'Waste of a good apple；' said Sam regretfully； andstrode on。
At last they left the village behind。 The escort of children andstragglers that had followed them got tired and turned back at the South…gate。
Passing through； they kept on along the Road for some miles。 It bent to theleft； curving back into its eastward line as it rounded the feet of Bree…hill；
and then it began to run swiftly downwards into wooded country。 To their leftthey could see some of the houses and hobbit…holes of Staddle on the gentlersouth…eastern slopes of the hill； down in a deep hollow away north of the Roadthere were wisps of rising smoke that showed where be lay；
Archet was hidden in the trees beyond。
After the Road had run down some way； and had left Bree…hill standingtall and brown behind； they came on a narrow track that led off towards theNorth。 'This is where we leave the open and take to cover；' said Strider。
'Not a 〃short cut〃； I hope；' said Pippin。 'Our last short cut throughwoods nearly ended in disaster。'
'Ah； but you had not got me with you then；' laughed Strider。 'My cuts；
short or long； don't go wrong。' He took a look up and down the Road。 No onewas in sight； and he led the way quickly down towards the wooded valley。
His plan； as far as they could understand it without knowing the country；
was to go towards Archet at first； but to bear right and pass it on the east；
and then to steer as straight as he could over the wild lands to WeathertopHill。 In that way they would； if all went well； cut off a great loop of theRoad； which further on bent southwards to avoid the Midgewater Marshes。 But；
of course； they would have to pass through the marshes themselves； andStrider's description of them was not encouraging。
However； in the meanwhile； walking was not unpleasant。 Indeed； if it hadnot been for the disturbing events of the night before； they would haveenjoyed this pan of the journey better than any up to that time。 The sun wasshining； clear but not too hot。 The woods in the valley were still leafy andfull of colour； and seemed peaceful and wholesome。 Strider guided themconfidently among the many crossing paths； although left to themselves theywould soon have been at a loss。 He was taking a wandering course with manyturns and doublings； to put off any pursuit。
'Bill Ferny will have watched where we left the Road； for certain；' hesaid； 'though I don't think he will follow us himself。 He knows the land roundhere well enough； but he knows he is not a match for me in a wood。 It is whathe may tell others that I am afraid of。 I don't suppose they are far away。 Ifthey think we have made for Archet； so much the better。'
Whether because of Strider's skill or for some other reason； they saw nosign and heard no sound of any other living thing all that day： neither two…
footed； except birds； nor four…footed； except one fox and a few squirrels。 Thenext day they began to steer a steady