the fellowship of the ring-第16章

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'For　where　am　I　to　go？　And　by　what　shall　I　steer？　What　is　to　be　my　quest？　
Bilbo　went　to　find　a　treasure；　there　and　back　again；　but　I　go　to　lose　one；　andnot　return；　as　far　as　I　can　see。'　
'But　you　cannot　see　very　far；'　said　Gandalf。　'Neither　can　I。　It　may　beyour　task　to　find　the　Cracks　of　Doom；　but　that　quest　may　be　for　others：　I　donot　know。　At　any　rate　you　are　not　ready　for　that　long　road　yet。'　
'No　indeed！'　said　Frodo。　'But　in　the　meantime　what　course　am　I　to　lake？'　　
'Towards　danger；　but　not　too　rashly；　nor　too　straight；'　answered　thewizard。　'If　you　want　my　advice；　make　for　Rivendell。　That　journey　should　notprove　too　perilous；　though　the　Road　is　less　easy　than　it　was；　and　it　will　growworse　as　the　year　fails。'　
'Rivendell！'　said　Frodo。　'Very　good：　I　will　go　east；　and　I　will　make　forRivendell。　I　will　take　Sam　to　visit　the　Elves；　he　will　be　delighted。'　He　spokelightly；　but　his　heart　was　moved　suddenly　with　a　desire　to　see　the　house　ofElrond　Halfelven；　and　breathe　the　air　of　that　deep　valley　where　many　of　theFair　Folk　still　dwelt　in　peace。　　
One　summer's　evening　an　astonishing　piece　of　news　reached　the　_Ivy　Bush_　
and　_Green　Dragon。_　Giants　and　other　portents　on　the　borders　of　the　Shire　wereforgotten　for　more　important　matters：　Mr。　Frodo　was　selling　Bag　End；　indeed　hehad　already　sold　it　–　to　the　Sackville…Bagginses！　
'For　a　nice　bit；　loo；'　said　some。　'At　a　bargain　price；'　said　others；　'andthat's　more　likely　when　Mistress　Lobelia's　the　buyer。'　（Otho　had　died　someyears　before；　at　the　ripe　but　disappointed　age　of　102。）　
Just　why　Mr。　Frodo　was　selling　his　beautiful　hole　was　even　more　debatablethan　the　price。　A　few　held　the　theory　–　supported　by　the　nods　and　hints　of　Mr。　
Baggins　himself　–　that　Frodo's　money　was　running　out：　he　was　going　to　leaveHobbiton　and　live　in　a　quiet　way　on　the　proceeds　of　the　sale　down　in　Bucklandamong　his　Brandybuck　relations。　'As　far　from　the　Sackville…Bagginses　as　maybe；'　some　added。　But　so　firmly　fixed　had　the　notion　of　the　immeasurable　wealthof　the　Bagginses　of　Bag　End　bee　that　most　found　this　hard　to　believe；　
harder　than　any　other　reason　or　unreason　that　their　fancy　could　suggest：　tomost　it　suggested　a　dark　and　yet　unrevealed　plot　by　Gandalf。　Though　he　kepthimself　very　quiet　and　did　not　go　about　by　day；　it　was　well　known　that　he　was'hiding　up　in　the　Bag　End'。　But　however　a　removal　might　fit　in　with　thedesigns　of　his　wizardry；　there　was　no　doubt　about　the　fact：　Frodo　Baggins　wasgoing　back　to　Buckland。　
'Yes；　I　shall　be　moving　this　autumn；'　he　said。　'Merry　Brandybuck　islooking　out　for　a　nice　little　hole　for　me；　or　perhaps　a　small　house。'　
As　a　matter　of　fact　with　Merry's　help　he　had　already　chosen　and　bought　alittle　house　at　Crickhollow　in　the　country　beyond　Bucklebury。　To　all　but　Samhe　pretended　he　was　going　to　settle　down　there　permanently。　The　decision　toset　out　eastwards　had　suggested　the　idea　to　him；　for　Buckland　was　on　theeastern　borders　of　the　Shire；　and　as　he　had　lived　there　in　childhood　his　going　　
　
back　would　at　least　seem　credible。　　
Gandalf　stayed　in　the　Shire　for　over　two　months。　Then　one　evening；　at　theend　of　June；　soon　after　Frodo's　plan　had　been　finally　arranged；　he　suddenlyannounced　that　he　was　going　off　again　next　morning。　'Only　for　a　short　while；　Ihope；'　he　said。　'But　I　am　going　down　beyond　the　southern　borders　to　get　somenews；　if　I　can。　I　have　been　idle　longer　than　I　should。'　
He　spoke　lightly；　but　it　seemed　to　Frodo　that　he　looked　rather　worried。　
'Has　anything　happened？'　he　asked。　
'Well　no；　but　I　have　heard　something　that　has　made　me　anxious　and　needslooking　into。　If　I　think　it　necessary　after　all　for　you　to　get　off　at　once；　Ishall　e　back　immediately；　or　at　least　send　word。　In　the　meanwhile　stick　toyour　plan；　but　be　more　careful　than　ever；　especially　of　the　Ring。　Let　meimpress　on　you　once　more：　_don't　use　it！'_　
He　went　off　at　dawn。　'I　may　be　back　any　day；'　he　said。　'At　the　verylatest　I　shall　e　back　for　the　farewell　party。　I　think　after　all　you　mayneed　my　pany　on　the　Road。'　
At　first　Frodo　was　a　good　deal　disturbed；　and　wondered　often　what　Gandalfcould　have　heard；　but　his　uneasiness　wore　off；　and　in　the　fine　weather　heforgot　his　troubles　for　a　while。　The　Shire　had　seldom　seen　so　fair　a　summer；　
or　so　rich　an　autumn：　the　trees　were　laden　with　apples；　honey　was　dripping　inthe　bs；　and　the　corn　was　tall　and　full。　
Autumn　was　well　under　way　before　Frodo　began　to　worry　about　Gandalfagain。　September　was　passing　and　there　was　still　no　news　of　him。　The　Birthday；　
and　the　removal；　drew　nearer；　and　still　he　did　not　e；　or　send　word。　Bag　Endbegan　to　be　busy。　Some　of　Frodo's　friends　came　to　stay　and　help　him　with　thepacking：　there　was　Fredegar　Bolger　and　Folco　Boffin；　and　of　course　his　specialfriends　Pippin　Took　and　Merry　Brandybuck。　Between　them　they　turned　the　wholeplace　upside…down。　
On　September　20th　two　covered　carts　went　off　laden　to　Buckland；　conveyingthe　furniture　and　goods　that　Frodo　had　not　sold　to　his　new　home；　by　way　of　theBrandywine　Bridge。　The　next　day　Frodo　became　really　anxious；　and　kept　aconstant　look…out　for　Gandalf。　Thursday；　his　birthday　morning；　dawned　as　fairand　clear　as　it　had　long　ago　for　Bilbo's　great　party。　Still　Gandalf　did　notappear。　In　the　evening　Frodo　gave　his　farewell　feast：　it　was　quite　small；　justa　dinner　for　himself　and　his　four　helpers；　but　he　was　troubled　and　fell　in　nomood　for　it。　The　thought　that　he　would　so　soon　have　to　part　with　his　youngfriends　weighed　on　his　heart。　He　wondered　how　he　would　break　it　to　them。　
The　four　younger　hobbits　were；　however；　in　high　spirits；　and　the　partysoon　became　very　cheerful　in　spite　of　Gandalf's　absence。　The　dining…room　wasbare　except　for　a　table　and　chairs；　but　the　food　was　good；　and　there　was　goodwine：　Frodo's　wine　had　not　been　included　in　the　sale　to　the　Sackville…　
Bagginses。　
'Whatever　happens　to　the　rest　of　my　stuff；　when　the　S。…B。s　get　theirclaws　on　it；　at　any　rate　I　have　found　a　good　home　for　this！'　said　Frodo；　as　hedrained　his　glass。　It　was　the　last　drop　of　Old　Winyards。　
When　they　had　sung　many　songs；　and　talked　of　many　things　they　had　donetogether；　they　toasted　Bilbo's　birthday；　and　they　drank　his　health　and　Frodo'stogether　according　to　Frodo's　custom。　Then　they　went　out　for　a　sniff　of　air；　
and　glimpse　of　the　stars；　and　then　they　went　to　bed。　Frodo's　party　was　over；　
and　Gandalf　had　not　e。　　
The　next　morning　they　were　busy　packing　another　cart　with　the　remainderof　the　luggage。　Merry　took　charge　of　this；　and　drove　off　with　Fatty　（that　isFredegar　Bolger）。　'Someone　must　get　there　and　warm　the　house　before　youarrive；'　said　Merry。　'Well；　see　you　later　–　the　day　after　tomorrow；　if　youdon't　go　to　sleep　on　the　way！'　
Folco　went　home　after　lunch；　but　Pippin　remained　behind。　Frodo　wasrestless　and　anxious；　listening　in　vain　for　a　sound　of　Gandalf。　He　decided　towait　until　nightfall。　After　that；　if　Gandalf　wanted　him　urgently；　he　would　goto　Crickhollow；　and　might　even　get　there　first。　For　Frodo　was　going　on　foot。　
His　plan　–　for　pleasure　and　a　last　look　at　the　Shire　as　much　as　any　other　　
　
reason　–　was　to　walk　from　Hobbiton　to　Bucklebury　Ferry；　taking　it　fairly　easy。　
'I　shall　get　myself　a　bit　into　training；　too；'　he　said；　looking　athimself　in　a　dusty　mirror　in　the　half…empty　hall。　He　had　not　done　anystrenuous　walking　for　a　long　time；　and　the　reflection　looked　rather　flabby；　hethought。　
After　lunch；　the　Sackville…Bagginses；　Lobelia　and　her　sandy…haired　son；　
Lotho；　turned　up；　much　to　Frodo's　annoyance。　'Ours　at　last！'　said　Lobelia；　asshe　stepped　inside。　It　was　not　polite；　nor　strictly　true；　for　the　sale　of　BagEnd　did　not　take　effect　until　midnight。　But　Lobelia　can　perhaps　be　forgiven：　
she　had　been　obliged　to　wait　about　seventy…seven　years　longer　for　Bag　End　thanshe　once　hoped；　and　she　was　now　a　hundred　years　old。　Anyway；　she　had　e　tosee　that　nothing　she　had　paid　for　had　been　carried　off；　and　she　wanted　thekeys。　It　took　a　long　while　to　satisfy　her；　as　she　had　brought　a　pleteinventory　with　her　and　went　right　through　it。　In　the　end　she　departed　withLotho　and　the　spare　key　and　the　promise　that　the　other　key　would　be　left　atthe　Gamgees'　in　Bagshot　Row。　She　snorted；　and　showed　plainly　that　she　thoughtthe　Gamgees　capable　of　plundering　the　hole　during　the　night。　Frodo　did　notoffer　her　any　tea。　
He　took　his　own　tea　with　Pippin　and　Sam　Gamgee　in　the　kitchen。　It　hadbeen　officially　announced　that　Sam　was　ing　to　Buckland　'to　do　for　Mr。　Frodoand　look　after　his　bit　of　garden'；　an　arrangement　that　was　approved　by　theGaffer；　though　it　did　not　console　him　for　the　prospect　of　having　Lobelia　as　aneighbour。　
'Our　last　meal　at　Bag　End！'　said　Frodo；　pushing　back　his　chair。　They　leftthe　washing　up　for　Lobelia。　Pippin　and　Sam　strapped　up　their　three　packs　andpiled　them　in　the　porch。　Pippin　went　out　for　a　last　stroll　in　the　garden。　Samdisappeared。　
The　sun　went　down。　Bag　End　seemed　sad　and　gloomy　and　dishevelled。　Frodowandered　round　the　familiar　rooms；　and　saw　the　light　of　the　sunset　fade　on　thewalls；　and　shadows　creep　out　of　the　corners。　It　grew　slowly　dark　indoors。　Hewent　out　and　walked　down　to　the　gate　at　the　bottom　of　the　path；　and　then　on　ashort　way　down　the　Hill　Road。　He　half　expected　to　see　Gandalf　e　striding　upthrough　the　dusk。　
The　sky　was　clear　and　the　stars　were　growing　bright。　'It's　going　to　be　afine　night；'　he　said　aloud。　'That's　good　for　a　beginning。　I　feel　like　walking。　
I　can't　bear　any　more　hanging　about。　I　am　going　to　start；　and　Gandalf　mustfollow　me。'　He　turned　to　go　back；　and　then　slopped；　for　he　heard　voices；　justround　the　corner　by　the　end　of　Bagshot　Row。　One　voice　was　certainly　the　oldGaffer's；　the　other　was　strange；　and　somehow　unpleasant。　He　could　not　make　outwhat　it　said；　but　he　heard　the　Gaffer's　answers；　which　were　rather　shrill。　Theold　man　seemed　put　out。　
'No；　Mr。　Baggins　has　gone　away。　Went　this　morning；　and　my　Sam　went　withhim：　anyway　all　his　stuff　went。　Yes；　sold　out　and　gone；　I　tell'ee。　Why？　Why'snone　of　my　business；　or　yours。　Where　to？　That　ain't　no　secret。　He's　moved　toBucklebury　or　some　such　place；　away　down　yonder。　Yes　it　is　–　a　tidy　way。　I'venever　been　so　far　myself；　they're　queer　folks　in　Buckland。　No；　I　can't　give　nomessage。　Good　night　to　you！'　
Footsteps　went　away　down　the　Hill。　Frodo　wondered　vaguely　why　the　factthat　they　did　not　e　on　up　the　Hill　seemed　a　great　relief。　'I　am　sick　ofquestions　and　curiosity　about　my　doings；　I　suppose；'　he　thought。　'What　aninquisitive　lot　they　all　are！'　He　had　half　a　mind　to　go　and　ask　the　Gaffer　whothe　inquirer　was；　but　he　thought　better　（or　worse）　of　it；　and　turned　andwalked　quickly　back　to　Bag　End。　
Pippin　was　sitting　on　his　pack　in　the　porch。　Sam　was　not　there。　Frodostepped　inside　the　dark　door。　'Sam！'　he　called。　'Sam！　Time！'　
'ing；　sir！'　came　the　answer　from　far　within；　followed　soon　by　Samhimself；　wiping　his　mouth。　He　had　been　saying　farewell　to　the　beer…barrel　inthe　cellar。　　
'All　aboard；　Sam？'　said　Frodo。　
'Yes；　sir。　I'll　last　for　a　bit　now；　sir。'　　
　
Frodo　shut　and　locked　the　round　door；　and　gave　the　key　to　Sam。　'Run　downwith　this　to　your　home；　Sam！'　he　said。　'Then　cut　along　the　Row　and　meet　us　asquick　as　you　can　at　the　gate　in　the　lane　beyond　the　meadows。　We　are　not　goingthrough　the　village　tonight。　Too　many　ears　pricking　and　eyes　prying。'　Sam　ranoff　at　full　speed。　
'Well；　now　we're　off　at　last！'　said　Frodo。　They　shouldered