the fellowship of the ring-第25章

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gh。　Even　in　the　daylight　they　　
　
would　try　to　keep　them　out；　I　think；　at　any　rate　until　they　got　a　messagethrough　to　the　Master　of　the　Hall　–　for　they　would　not　like　the　look　of　theRiders；　and　would　certainly　be　frightened　by　them。　But；　of　course；　Bucklandcannot　resist　a　determined　attack　for　long。　And　it　is　possible　that　in　themorning　even　a　Black　Rider　that　rode　up　and　asked　for　Mr。　Baggins　would　be　letthrough。　It　is　pretty　generally　known　that　you　are　ing　back　to　live　atCrickhollow。'　　
Frodo　sat　for　a　while　in　thought。　'I　have　made　up　my　mind；'　he　saidfinally。　'I　am　starting　tomorrow；　as　soon　as　it　is　light。　But　I　am　not　goingby　road：　it　would　be　safer　to　wait　here　than　that。　If　I　go　through　the　North…　
gate　my　departure　from　Buckland　will　be　known　at　once；　instead　of　being　secretfor　several　days　at　least；　as　it　might　be。　And　what　is　more；　the　Bridge　andthe　East　Road　near　the　borders　will　certainly　be　watched；　whether　any　Ridergets　into　Buckland　or　not。　We　don't　know　how　many　there　are；　but　there　are　atleast　two；　and　possibly　more。　The　only　thing　to　do　is　to　go　off　in　a　quiteunexpected　direction。'　
'But　that　can　only　mean　going　into　the　Old　Forest！'　said　Fredegarhorrified。　'You　can't　be　thinking　of　doing　that。　It　is　quite　as　dangerous　asBlack　Riders。'　　
'Not　quite；'　said　Merry。　It　sounds　very　desperate；　but　I　believe　Frodo　isright。　It　is　the　only　way　of　getting　off　without　being　followed　at　once。　Withluck　we　might　gel　a　considerable　start。'　
'But　you　won't　have　any　luck　in　the　Old　Forest；'　objected　Fredegar。　'Noone　ever　has　luck　in　there。　You'll　gel　lost。　People　don't　go　in　there。'　
'Oh　yes　they　do！'　said　Merry。　'The　Brandybucks　go　in　–　occasionally　whenthe　fit　takes　them。　We　have　a　private　entrance。　Frodo　went　in　once；　long　ago。　
I　have　been　in　several　times：　usually　in　daylight；　of　course；　when　the　treesare　sleepy　and　fairly　quiet。'　
'Well；　do　as　you　think　best！'　said　Fredegar。　'I　am　more　afraid　of　the　OldForest　than　of　anything　I　know　about：　the　stories　about　it　are　a　nightmare；　
but　my　vote　hardly　counts；　as　I　am　not　going　on　the　journey。　Still；　I　am　veryglad　someone　is　stopping　behind；　who　can　tell　Gandalf　what　you　have　done；　whenhe　turns　up；　as　I　am　sure　he　will　before　long。'　
Fond　as　he　was　of　Frodo；　Fatty　Bolger　had　no　desire　to　leave　the　Shire；　
nor　to　see　what　lay　outside　it。　His　family　came　from　the　Eastfarthing；　fromBudgeford　in　Bridgefields　in　fact；　but　he　had　never　been　over　the　BrandywineBridge。　His　task；　according　to　the　original　plans　of　the　conspirators；　was　tostay　behind　and　deal　with　inquisitive　folk；　and　to　keep　up　as　long　as　possiblethe　pretence　that　Mr。　Baggins　was　still　living　at　Crickhollow。　He　had　evenbrought　along　some　old　clothes　of　Frodo's　to　help　him　in　playing　the　part。　
They　little　thought　how　dangerous　that　part　might　prove。　
'Excellent！'　said　Frodo；　when　he　understood　the　plan。　'We　could　not　haveleft　any　message　behind　for　Gandalf　otherwise。　I　don't　know　whether　theseRiders　can　read　or　not；　of　course；　but　I　should　not　have　dared　to　risk　awritten　message；　in　case　they　got　in　and　searched　the　house。　But　if　Fatty　iswilling　to　hold　the　fort；　and　I　can　be　sure　of　Gandalf　knowing　the　way　we　havegone；　that　decides　me。　I　am　going　into　the　Old　Forest　first　thing　tomorrow。'　
'Well；　that's　that；'　said　Pippin。　'On　the　whole　I　would　rather　have　ourjob　than　Fatty's　–　waiting　here　till　Black　Riders　e。'　
'You　wait　till　you　are　well　inside　the　Forest；'　said　Fredegar。　'You'llwish　you　were　back　here　with　me　before　this　time　tomorrow。'　
'It's　no　good　arguing　about　it　any　more；'　said　Merry。　'We　have　still　gotto　tidy　up　and　put　the　finishing　touches　to　the　packing；　before　we　get　to　bed。　
I　shall　call　you　all　before　the　break　of　day。'　
When　at　last　he　had　got　to　bed；　Frodo　could　not　sleep　for　some　time。　Hislegs　ached。　He。　was　glad　that　he　was　riding　in　the　morning。　Eventually　he　fellinto　a　vague　dream；　in　which　he　seemed　to　be　looking　out　of　a　high　window　overa　dark　sea　of　tangled　trees。　Down　below　among　the　roots　there　was　the　sound　ofcreatures　crawling　and　snuffling。　He　felt　sure　they　would　smell　him　out　sooneror　later。　　
　
Then　he　heard　a　noise　in　the　distance。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　a　greatwind　ing　over　the　leaves　of　the　forest。　Then　he　knew　that　it　was　notleaves；　but　the　sound　of　the　Sea　far…off；　a　sound　he　had　never　heard　in　wakinglife；　though　it　had　often　troubled　his　dreams。　Suddenly　he　found　he　was　out　inthe　open。　There　were　no　trees　after　all。　He　was　on　a　dark　heath；　and　there　wasa　strange　salt　smell　in　the　air。　Looking　up　he　saw　before　him　a　tall　whitetower；　standing　alone　on　a　high　ridge。　A　great　desire　came　over　him　to　climbthe　tower　and　see　the　Sea。　He　started　to　struggle　up　the　ridge　towards　thetower：　but　suddenly　a　light　came　in　the　sky；　and　there　was　a　noise　of　thunder。　　
The　Old　Forest　　
_Chapter　6_　　
Frodo　woke　suddenly。　It　was　still　dark　in　the　room。　Merry　was　standingthere　with　a　candle　in　one　hand；　and　banging　on　the　door　with　the　other。　'Allright！　What　is　it？'　said　Frodo；　still　shaken　and　bewildered。　
'What　is　it！'　cried　Merry。　'It　is　time　to　get　up。　It　is　half　past　fourand　very　foggy。　e　on！　Sam　is　already　getting　breakfast　ready。　Even　Pippinis　up。　I　am　just　going　to　saddle　the　ponies；　and　fetch　the　one　that　is　to　bethe　baggage…carrier。　Wake　that　sluggard　Fatty！　At　least　he　must　get　up　and　seeus　off。'　　
Soon　after　six　o'clock　the　five　hobbits　were　ready　to　start。　Fatty　Bolgerwas　still　yawning。　They　stole　quietly　out　of　the　house。　Merry　went　in　frontleading　a　laden　pony；　and　took　his　way　along　a　path　that　went　through　aspinney　behind　the　house；　and　then　cut　across　several　fields。　The　leaves　oftrees　were　glistening；　and　every　twig　was　dripping；　the　grass　was　grey　withcold　dew。　Everything　was　still；　and　far…away　noises　seemed　near　and　clear：　
fowls　chattering　in　a　yard；　someone　closing　a　door　of　a　distant　house。　
In　their　shed　they　found　the　ponies；　sturdy　little　beasts　of　the　kindloved　by　hobbits；　not　speedy；　but　good　for　a　long　day's　work。　They　mounted；　
and　soon　they　were　riding　off　into　the　mist；　which　seemed　to　open　reluctantlybefore　them　and　close　forbiddingly　behind　them。　After　riding　for　about　anhour；　slowly　and　without　talking；　they　saw　the　Hedge　looming　suddenly　ahead。　
It　was　tall　and　netted　over　with　silver　cobwebs。　'How　are　you　going　to　getthrough　this？'　asked　Fredegar。　'Follow　me！'　said　Merry；　'and　you　will　see。'　Heturned　to　the　left　along　the　Hedge；　and　soon　they　came　to　a　point　where　itbent　inwards；　running　along　the　lip　of　a　hollow。　A　cutting　had　been　made；　atsome　distance　from　the　Hedge；　and　went　sloping　gently　down　into　the　ground。　Ithad　walls　of　brick　at　the　sides；　which　rose　steadily；　until　suddenly　theyarched　over　and　formed　a　tunnel　that　dived　deep　under　the　Hedge　and　came　outin　the　hollow　on　the　other　side。　　
Here　Fatty　Bolger　halted。　'Good…bye；　Frodo！'　he　said。　'I　wish　you　werenot　going　into　the　Forest。　I　only　hope　you　will　not　need　rescuing　before　theday　is　out。　But　good　luck　to　you　–　today　and　every　day！'　
'If　there　are　no　worse　things　ahead　than　the　Old　Forest；　I　shall　belucky；'　said　Frodo。　'Tell　Gandalf　to　hurry　along　the　East　Road：　we　shall　soonbe　back　on　it　and　going　as　fast　as　we　can。'　'Good…bye！'　they　cried；　and　rodedown　the　slope　and　disappeared　from　Fredegar's　sight　into　the　tunnel。　
It　was　dark　and　damp。　At　the　far　end　it　was　closed　by　a　gate　of　thick…setiron　bars。　Merry　got　down　and　unlocked　the　gate；　and　when　they　had　all　passedthrough　he　pushed　it　to　again。　It　shut　with　a　clang；　and　the　lock　clicked。　Thesound　was　ominous。　　
'There！'　said　Merry。　'You　have　left　the　Shire；　and　are　now　outside；　andon　the　edge　of　the　Old　Forest。'　
'Are　the　stories　about　it　true？'　asked　Pippin。　
'I　don't　know　what　stories　you　mean；'　Merry　answered。　'If　you　mean　theold　bogey…stories　Fatty's　nurses　used　to　tell　him；　about　goblins　and　wolvesand　things　of　that　sort；　I　should　say　no。　At　any　rate　I　don't　believe　them。　
But　the　Forest　_is_　queer。　Everything　in　it　is　very　much　more　alive；　more　　
　
aware　of　what　is　going　on；　so　to　speak；　than　things　are　in　the　Shire。　And　thetrees　do　not　like　strangers。　They　watch　you。　They　are　usually　content　merelyto　watch　you；　as　long　as　daylight　lasts；　and　don't　do　much。　Occasionally　themost　unfriendly　ones　may　drop　a　branch；　or　stick　a　root　out；　or　grasp　at　youwith　a　long　trailer。　But　at　night　things　can　be　most　alarming；　or　so　I　amtold。　I　have　only　once　or　twice　been　in　here　after　dark；　and　then　only　nearthe　hedge。　I　thought　all　the　trees　were　whispering　to　each　other；　passing　newsand　plots　along　in　an　unintelligible　language；　and　the　branches　swayed　andgroped　without　any　wind。　They　do　say　the　trees　do　actually　move；　and　cansurround　strangers　and　hem　them　in。　In　fact　long　ago　they　attacked　the　Hedge：　
they　came　and　planted　themselves　right　by　it；　and　leaned　over　it。　But　thehobbits　came　and　cut　down　hundreds　of　trees；　and　made　a　great　bonfire　in　theForest；　and　burned　all　the　ground　in　a　long　strip　east　of　the　Hedge。　Afterthat　the　trees　gave　up　the　attack；　but　they　became　very　unfriendly。　There　isstill　a　wide　bare　space　not　far　inside　where　the　bonfire　was　made。'　
'Is　it　only　the　trees　that　are　dangerous？'　asked　Pippin。　
'There　are　various　queer　things　living　deep　in　the　Forest；　and　on　the　farside；'　said　Merry；　'or　at　least　I　have　heard　so；　but　I　have　never　seen　any　ofthem。　But　something　makes　paths。　Whenever　one　es　inside　one　finds　opentracks；　but　they　seem　to　shift　and　change　from　time　to　time　in　a　queerfashion。　Not　far　from　this　tunnel　there　is；　or　was　for　a　long　time；　thebeginning　of　quite　a　broad　path　leading　to　the　Bonfire　Glade；　and　then　on　moreor　less　in　our　direction；　east　and　a　little　north。　That　is　the　path　I　am　goingto　try　and　find。'　
The　hobbits　now　left　the　tunnel…gate　and　rode　across　the　wide　hollow。　Onthe　far　side　was　a　faint　path　leading　up　on　to　the　floor　of　the　Forest；　ahundred　yards　and　more　beyond　the　Hedge；　but　it　vanished　as　soon　as　it　broughtthem　under　the　trees。　Looking　back　they　could　see　the　dark　line　of　the　Hedgethrough　the　stems　of　trees　that　were　already　thick　about　them。　Looking　aheadthey　could　see　only　tree…trunks　of　innumerable　sizes　and　shapes：　straight　orbent；　twisted；　leaning；　squat　or　slender；　smooth　or　gnarled　and　branched；　andall　the　stems　were　green　or　grey　with　moss　and　slimy；　shaggy　growths。　
Merry　alone　seemed　fairly　cheerful。　'You　had　better　lead　on　and　find　thatpath；'　Frodo　said　to　him。　'Don't　let　us　lose　one　another；　or　forget　which　waythe　Hedge　lies！'　
They　picked　a　way　among　the　trees；　and　their　ponies　plodded　along；　
carefully　avoiding　the　many　writhing　and　interlacing　roots。　There　was　noundergrowth。　The　ground　was　rising　steadily；　and　as　they　went　forward　itseemed　that　the　trees　became　taller；　darker；　and　thicker。　There　was　no　sound；　
except　an　occasional　drip　of　moisture　falling　through　the　still　leaves。　Forthe　moment　there　was　no　whispering　or　movement　among　the　branches；　but　theyall　got　an　unfortable　feeling　that　they　were　being　watched　withdisapproval；　deepening　to　dislike　and　even　enmity。　The　feeling　steadily　grew；　
until　they　found　themselves　looking　up　quickly；　or　glancing　back　over　theirshoulders；　as　if　they　expected　a　sudden　blow。　
There　was　not　as　yet　any　sign　of　a　path；　and　the　trees　seemed　constantlyto　bar　their　way。　Pippin　suddenly　felt　that　he　could