the fellowship of the ring-第24章

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e　then　gave　a　full　　
　
account　of　their　journey　from　the　time　when　they　left　Hobbiton。　Sam　gavevarious　supporting　nods　and　exclamations。　Frodo　remained　silent。　
'I　should　think　you　were　making　it　all　up；'　said　Merry；　'if　I　had　notseen　that　black　shape　on　the　landing…stage　–　and　heard　the　queer　sound　inMaggot's　voice。　What　do　you　make　of　it　all；　Frodo？'　
'Cousin　Frodo　has　been　very　close；'　said　Pippin。　'But　the　time　has　efor　him　to　open　out。　So　far　we　have　been　given　nothing　more　to　go　on　thanFarmer　Maggot's　guess　that　it　has　something　to　do　with　old　Bilbo's　treasure。'　
'That　was　only　a　guess；'　said　Frodo　hastily。　'Maggot　does　not_know_anything。'　
'Old　Maggot　is　a　shrewd　fellow；'　said　Merry。　'A　lot　goes　on　behind　hisround　face　that　does　not　e　out　in　his　talk。　I've　heard　that　he　used　to　gointo　the　Old　Forest　at　one　time；　and　he　has　the　reputation　of　knowing　a　goodmany　strange　things。　But　you　can　at　least　tell　us；　Frodo；　whether　you　thinkhis　guess　good　or　bad。'　
'I　_think；'_　answered　Frodo　slowly；　'that　it　was　a　good　guess；　as　far　asit　goes。　There　_is　a_　connexion　with　Bilbo's　old　adventures；　and　the　Ridersare　looking；　or　perhaps　one　ought　to　say　_searching；_　for　him　or　for　me。　Ialso　fear；　if　you　want　to　know；　that　it　is　no　joke　at　all；　and　that　I　am　notsafe　here　or　anywhere　else。'　He　looked　round　at　the　windows　and　walls；　as　ifhe　was　afraid　they　would　suddenly　give　way。　The　others　looked　at　him　insilence；　and　exchanged　meaning　glances　among　themselves。　
'It's　ing　out　in　a　minute；'　whispered　Pippin　to　Merry。　Merry　nodded。　
'Well！'　said　Frodo　at　last；　sitting　up　and　straightening　his　back；　as　ifhe　had　made　a　decision。　'I　can't　keep　it　dark　any　longer。　I　have　got　somethingto　tell　you　all。　But　I　don't　know　quite　how　to　begin。'　
'I　think　I　could　help　you；'　said　Merry　quietly；　'by　telling　you　some　ofit　myself。'　
'What　do　you　mean？'　said　Frodo；　looking　at　him　anxiously。　'Just　this；　mydear　old　Frodo：　you　are　miserable；　because　you　don't　know　how　to　say　good…bye。　
You　meant　to　leave　the　Shire；　of　course。　But　danger　has　e　on　you　soonerthan　you　expected；　and　now　you　are　making　up　your　mind　to　go　at　once。　And　youdon't　want　to。　We　are　very　sorry　for　you。'　
Frodo　opened　his　mouth　and　shut　it　again。　His　look　of　surprise　was　soical　that　they　laughed。　'Dear　old　Frodo！'　said　Pippin。　'Did　you　reallythink　you　had　thrown　dust　in　all　our　eyes？　You　have　not　been　nearly　careful　orclever　enough　for　that！　You　have　obviously　been　planning　to　go　and　sayingfarewell　to　all　your　haunts　all　this　year　since　April。　We　have　constantlyheard　you　muttering：　〃Shall　I　ever　look　down　into　that　valley　again；　Iwonder〃；　and　things　like　that。　And　pretending　that　you　had　e　to　the　end　ofyour　money；　and　actually　selling　your　beloved　Bag　End　to　those　Sackville…　
Bagginses！　And　all　those　close　talks　with　Gandalf。'　
'Good　heavens！'　said　Frodo。　'I　thought　I　had　been　both　careful　andclever。　I　don't　know　what　Gandalf　would　say。　Is　all　the　Shire　discussing　mydeparture　then？'　
'Oh　no！'　said　Merry。　'Don't　worry　about　that！　The　secret　won't　keep　forlong；　of　course；　but　at　present　it　is；　I　think；　only　known　to　us　conspirators。　
After　all；　you　must　remember　that　we　know　you　well；　and　are　often　with　you。　Wecan　usually　guess　what　you　are　thinking。　I　knew　Bilbo；　too。　To　tell　you　thetruth；　I　had　been　watching　you　rather　closely　ever　since　he　left。　I　thoughtyou　would　go　after　him　sooner　or　later；　indeed　I　expected　you　to　go　sooner；　
and　lately　we　have　been　very　anxious。　We　have　been　terrified　that　you　mightgive　us　the　slip；　and　go　off　suddenly；　all　on　your　own　like　he　did。　Ever　sincethis　spring　we　have　kept　our　eyes　open；　and　done　a　good　deal　of　planning　onour　own　account。　You　are　not　going　to　escape　so　easily！'　
'But　I　must　go；'　said　Frodo。　'It　cannot　be　helped；　dear　friends。　It　iswretched　for　us　all；　but　it　is　no　use　your　trying　to　keep　me。　Since　you　haveguessed　so　much；　please　help　me　and　do　not　hinder　me！'　
'You　do　not　understand！'　said　Pippin。　'You　must　go　–　and　therefore　wemust；　too。　Merry　and　I　are　ing　with　you。　Sam　is　an　excellent　fellow；　and　　
　
would　jump　down　a　dragon's　throat　to　save　you；　if　he　did　not　trip　over　his　ownfeet；　but　you　will　need　more　than　one　panion　in　your　dangerous　adventure。'　
'My　dear　and　most　beloved　hobbits！'　said　Frodo　deeply　moved。　'But　I　couldnot　allow　it。　I　decided　that　long　ago；　too。　You　speak　of　danger；　but　you　donot　understand。　This　is　no　treasure…hunt；　no　there…and…back　journey。　I　amflying　from　deadly　peril　into　deadly　peril。'　
'Of　course　we　understand；'　said　Merry　firmly。　'That　is　why　we　havedecided　to　e。　We　know　the　Ring　is　no　laughing…matter；　but　we　are　going　todo　our　best　to　help　you　against　the　Enemy。'　
'The　Ring！'　said　Frodo；　now　pletely　amazed。　
'Yes；　the　Ring；'　said　Merry。　'My　dear　old　hobbit；　you　don't　allow　for　theinquisitiveness　of　friends。　I　have　known　about　the　existence　of　the　Ring　foryears　–　before　Bilbo　went　away；　in　fact；　but　since　he　obviously　regarded　it　assecret；　I　kept　the　knowledge　in　my　head；　until　we　formed　our　conspiracy。　I　didnot　know　Bilbo；　of　course；　as　well　as　I　know　you；　I　was　too　young；　and　he　wasalso　more　careful　–　but　he　was　not　careful　enough。　If　you　want　to　know　how　Ifirst　found　out；　I　will　tell　you。'　
'Go　on！'　said　Frodo　faintly。　
'It　was　the　Sackville…Bagginses　that　were　his　downfall；　as　you　mightexpect。　One　day；　a　year　before　the　Party；　I　happened　to　be　walking　along　theroad；　when　I　saw　Bilbo　ahead。　Suddenly　in　the　distance　the　S。…B。s　appeared；　
ing　towards　us。　Bilbo　slowed　down；　and　then　hey　presto！　he　vanished。　I　wasso　startled　that　I　hardly　had　the　wits　to　hide　myself　in　a　more　ordinaryfashion；　but　I　got　through　the　hedge　and　walked　along　the　field　inside。　I　waspeeping　through　into　the　road；　after　the　S。…B。s　had　passed；　and　was　lookingstraight　at　Bilbo　when　he　suddenly　reappeared。　I　caught　a　glint　of　gold　as　heput　something　back　in　his　trouser…pocket。　
'After　that　I　kept　my　eyes　open。　In　fact；　I　confess　that　I　spied。　But　youmust　admit　that　it　was　very　intriguing；　and　I　was　only　in　my　teens。　I　must　bethe　only　one　in　the　Shire；　besides　you　Frodo；　that　has　ever　seen　the　oldfellow's　secret　book。'　　
'You　have　read　his　book！'　cried　Frodo。　'Good　heavens　above！　Is　nothingsafe？'　　
'Not　too　safe；　I　should　say；'　said　Merry。　'But　I　have　only　had　one　rapidglance；　and　that　was　difficult　to　get。　He　never　left　the　book　about。　I　wonderwhat　became　of　it。　I　should　like　another　look。　Have　you　got　it；　Frodo？'　
'No。　It　was　not　at　Bag　End。　He　must　have　taken　it　away。'　
'Well；　as　I　was　saying；'　Merry　proceeded；　'I　kept　my　knowledge　to　myself；　
till　this　Spring　when　things　got　serious。　Then　we　formed　our　conspiracy；　andas　we　were　serious；　too；　and　meant　business；　we　have　not　been　too　scrupulous。　
You　are　not　a　very　easy　nut　to　crack；　and　Gandalf　is　worse。　But　if　you　want　tobe　introduced　to　our　chief　investigator；　I　can　produce　him。'　
'Where　is　he？'　said　Frodo；　looking　round；　as　if　he　expected　a　masked　andsinister　figure　to　e　out　of　a　cupboard。　
'Step　forward；　Sam！'　said　Merry；　and　Sam　stood　up　with　a　face　scarlet　upto　the　ears。　'Here's　our　collector　of　information！　And　he　collected　a　lot；　Ican　tell　you；　before　he　was　finally　caught。　After　which；　I　may　say；　he　seemedto　regard　himself　as　on　parole；　and　dried　up。'　
'Sam！'　cried　Frodo；　feeling　that　amazement　could　go　no　further；　and　quiteunable　to　decide　whether　he　felt　angry；　amused；　relieved；　or　merely　foolish。　
'Yes；　sir！'　said　Sam。　'Begging　your　pardon；　sir！　But　I　meant　no　wrong　toyou；　Mr。　Frodo；　nor　to　Mr。　Gandalf　for　that　matter。　_He_　has　some　sense；　mindyou；　and　when　you　said　_go　alone；_　he　said　_no！　lake　someone　as　you　cantrust。'_　　
'But　it　does　not　seem　that　I　can　trust　anyone；'　said　Frodo。　Sam　looked　athim　unhappily。　'It　all　depends　on　what　you　want；'　put　in　Merry。　'You　can　trustus　to　stick　to　you　through　thick　and　thin　–　to　the　bitter　end。　And　you　cantrust　us　to　keep　any　secret　of　yours　–　closer　than　you　keep　it　yourself。　Butyou　cannot　trust　us　to　let　you　face　trouble　alone；　and　go　off　without　a　word。　
We　are　your　friends；　Frodo。　Anyway：　there　it　is。　We　know　most　of　what　Gandalf　　
　
has　told　you。　We　know　a　good　deal　about　the　Ring。　We　are　horribly　afraid　–　butwe　are　ing　with　you；　or　following　you　like　hounds。'　
'And　after　all；　sir；'　added　Sam；　'you　did　ought　to　take　the　Elves'advice。　Gildor　said　you　should　take　them　as　was　willing；　and　you　can't　denyit。'　　
'I　don't　deny　it；'　said　Frodo；　looking　at　Sam；　who　was　now　grinning。　'Idon't　deny　it；　but　I'll　never　believe　you　are　sleeping　again；　whether　yousnore　or　not。　I　shall　kick　you　hard　to　make　sure。　
'You　are　a　set　of　deceitful　scoundrels！'　he　said；　turning　to　the　others。　
'But　bless　you！'　he　laughed；　getting　up　and　waving　his　arms；　'I　give　in。　Iwill　take　Gildor's　advice。　If　the　danger　were　not　so　dark；　I　should　dance　forjoy。　Even　so；　I　cannot　help　feeling　happy；　happier　than　I　have　felt　for　a　longtime。　I　had　dreaded　this　evening。'　
'Good！　That's　settled。　Three　cheers　for　Captain　Frodo　and　pany！'　theyshouted；　and　they　danced　round　him。　Merry　and　Pippin　began　a　song；　which　theyhad　apparently　got　ready　for　the　occasion。　
It　was　made　on　the　model　of　the　dwarf…song　that　started　Bilbo　on　hisadventure　long　ago；　and　went　to　the　same　tune：　　
Farewell　we　call　to　hearth　and　hall！　　
Though　wind　may　blow　and　rain　may　fall；　
We　must　away　ere　break　of　day　
Far　over　wood　and　mountain　tall。　　
To　Rivendell；　where　Elves　yet　dwell　
In　glades　beneath　the　misty　fell；　
Through　moor　and　waste　we　ride　in　haste；　
And　whither　then　we　cannot　tell。　　
With　foes　ahead；　behind　us　dread；　
Beneath　the　sky　shall　be　our　bed；　
Until　at　last　our　toil　be　passed；　
Our　journey　done；　our　errand　sped。　　
We　must　away！　We　must　away！　
We　ride　before　the　break　of　day！　　
'Very　good！'　said　Frodo。　'But　in　that　case　there　are　a　lot　of　things　todo　before　we　go　to　bed　–　under　a　roof；　for　tonight　at　any　rate。'　
'Oh！　That　was　poetry！'　said　Pippin。　'Do　you　really　mean　to　start　beforethe　break　of　day？'　
'I　don't　know；'　answered　Frodo。　'I　fear　those　Black　Riders；　and　I　am　sureit　is　unsafe　to　stay　in　one　place　long；　especially　in　a　place　to　which　it　isknown　I　was　going。　Also　Gildor　advised　me　not　to　wait。　But　I　should　very　muchlike　to　see　Gandalf。　I　could　see　that　even　Gildor　was　disturbed　when　he　heard　　
that　Gandalf　had　never　appeared。　It　really　depends　on　two　things。　How　sooncould　the　Riders　get　to　Bucklebury？　And　how　soon　could　we　get　off？　It　willtake　a　good　deal　of　preparation。'　
'The　answer　to　the　second　question；'　said　Merry；　'is　that　we　could　getoff　in　an　hour。　I　have　prepared　practically　everything。　There　are　six　poniesin　a　stable　across　the　fields；　stores　and　tackle　are　all　packed；　except　for　afew　extra　clothes；　and　the　perishable　food。'　
'It　seems　to　have　been　a　very　efficient　conspiracy；'　said　Frodo。　'Butwhat　about　the　Black　Riders？　Would　it　be　safe　to　wait　one　day　for　Gandalf？'　
'That　all　depends　on　what　you　think　the　Riders　would　do；　if　they　foundyou　here；'　answered　Merry。　'They　_could_　have　reached　here　by　now；　of　course；　
if　they　were　not　stopped　at　the　North…gate；　where　the　Hedge　runs　down　to　theriver…bank；　just　this　side　of　the　Bridge。　The　gate…guards　would　not　let　themthrough　by　night；　though　they　might　break　through。　Even　in　the　daylight　they　　
　
would　try　to　keep　them　out；　I　think；　at　any　rate　until　they　got