the fellowship of the ring-第36章

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mud。　A　travel…stained　cloak　of　heavy　dark…green　cloth　was　drawnclose　about　him；　and　in　spite　of　the　heat　of　the　room　he　wore　a　hood　thatovershadowed　his　face；　but　the　gleam　of　his　eyes　could　be　seen　as　he　watchedthe　hobbits。　　
'Who　is　that？'　Frodo　asked；　when　he　got　a　chance　to　whisper　to　Mr。　
Butterbur。　'I　don't　think　you　introduced　him？'　
'Him？'　said　the　landlord　in　an　answering　whisper；　cocking　an　eye　withoutturning　his　head。　'I　don't　rightly　know。　He　is　one　of　the　wandering　folk　Rangers　　
we　call　them。　He　seldom　talks：　not　but　what　he　can　tell　a　rare　talewhen　he　has　the　mind。　He　disappears　for　a　month；　or　a　year；　and　then　he　popsup　again。　He　was　in　and　out　pretty　often　last　spring；　but　I　haven't　seen　himabout　lately。　What　his　right　name　is　I've　never　heard：　but　he's　known　roundhere　as　Strider。　Goes　about　at　a　great　pace　on　his　long　shanks；　though　hedon't　tell　nobody　what　cause　he　has　to　hurry。　But　there's　no　accounting　forEast　and　West；　as　we　say　in　Bree；　meaning　the　Rangers　and　the　Shire…folk；　
begging　your　pardon。　Funny　you　should　ask　about　him。'　But　at　that　moment　Mr。　
Butterbur　was　called　away　by　a　demand　for　more　ale　and　his　last　remarkremained　unexplained。　
Frodo　found　that　Strider　was　now　looking　at　him；　as　if　he　had　heard　orguessed　all　that　had　been　said。　Presently；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　and　a　nod；　
he　invited　Frodo　to　e　over　and　sit　by　him。　As　Frodo　drew　near　be　threw　backhis　hood；　showing　a　shaggy　head　of　dark　hair　necked　with　grey；　and　in　a　palestem　face　a　pair　of　keen　grey　eyes。　
'I　am　called　Strider；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'I　am　very　pleased　to　meetyou。　Master　–　Underhill；　if　old　Butterbur　got　your　name　right。'　
'He　did；'　said　Frodo　stiffly。　He　felt　far　from　fortable　under　thestare　of　those　keen　eyes。　
'Well；　Master　Underhill；'　said　Strider；　'if　I　were　you；　I　should　stopyour　young　friends　from　talking　too　much。　Drink_；_　fire；　and　chance…meetingare　pleasant　enough；　but；　well　–　this　isn't　the　Shire。　There　are　queer　folkabout。　Though　I　say　it　as　shouldn't；　you　may　think；'　he　added　with　a　wrysmile；　seeing　Frodo's　glance。　'And　there　have　been　even　stranger　travellersthrough　Bree　lately；'　he　went　on；　watching　Frodo's　face。　
Frodo　returned　his　gaze　but　said　nothing；　and　Strider　made　no　furthersign。　His　attention　seemed　suddenly　to　be　fixed　on　Pippin。　To　his　alarm　Frodobecame　aware　that　the　ridiculous　young　Took；　encouraged　by　his　success　withthe　fat　Mayor　of　Michel　Delving；　was　now　actually　giving　a　ic　account　ofBilbo's　farewell　party。　He　was　already　giving　an　imitation　of　the　Speech；　andwas　drawing　near　to　the　astonishing　Disappearance。　
Frodo　was　annoyed。　It　was　a　harmless　enough　tale　for　most　of　the　localhobbits；　no　doubt：　just　a　funny　story　about　those　funny　people　away　beyond　theRiver；　but　some　（old　Butterbur；　for　instance）　knew　a　thing　or　two；　and　had　　
　
probably　heard　rumours　long　ago　about　Bilbo's　vanishing。　It　would　bring　thename　of　Baggins　to　their　minds；　especially　if　there　had　been　inquiries　in　Breeafter　that　name。　　
Frodo　fidgeted；　wondering　what　to　do。　Pippin　was　evidently　much　enjoyingthe　attention　he　was　getting；　and　had　bee　quite　forgetful　of　their　danger。　
Frodo　had　a　sudden　fear　that　in　his　present　mood　he　might　even　mention　theRing；　and　that　might　well　be　disastrous。　
'You　had　better　do　something　quick！'　whispered　Strider　in　his　ear。　
Frodo　jumped　up　and　stood　on　a　table；　and　began　to　talk。　The　attention　ofPippin's　audience　was　disturbed。　Some　of　the　hobbits　looked　at　Frodo　andlaughed　and　clapped；　thinking　that　Mr。　Underhill　had　taken　as　much　ale　as　wasgood　for　him。　
Frodo　suddenly　felt　very　foolish；　and　found　himself　（as　was　his　habitwhen　making　a　speech）　fingering　the　things　in　his　pocket。　He　felt　the　Ring　onits　chain；　and　quite　unaccountably　the　desire　came　over　him　to　slip　it　on　andvanish　out　of　the　silly　situation。　It　seemed　to　him；　somehow；　as　if　mesuggestion　came　to　him　from　outside；　from　someone　or　something　a　the　room。　Heresisted　the　temptation　firmly；　and　clasped　the　Ring　in　his　hand；　as　if　tokeep　a　hold　on　it　and　prevent　it　from　escaping　or　doing　_any_　mischief。　At　anyrate　it　gave　him　no　inspiration。　He　spoke　'a　few　suitable　words'；　as　theywould　have　said　in　the　Shire：　_We　are　all　very　much　gratified　by　the　kindnessof　your　reception；　and　I　venture　to　hope　that　my　brief　visit　will　help　torenew　the　old　ties　of　friendship　between　the　Shire　and　Bree；_and　then　hehesitated　and　coughed。　
Everyone　in　the　room　was　now　looking　at　him。　'A　song！'　shouted　one　of　thehobbits。　'A　song！　A　song！'　shouted　all　the　others。　'e　on　now；　master；　singus　something　that　we　haven't　heard　before！'　
For　a　moment　Frodo　stood　gaping。　Then　in　desperation　he　began　aridiculous　song　that　Bilbo　had　been　rather　fond　of　（and　indeed　rather　proudof；　for　he　had　made　up　the　words　himself）。　It　was　about　an　inn；　and　that　isprobably　why　it　came　into　Frodo's　mind　just　then。　Here　it　is　in　full。　Only　afew　words　of　it　are　now；　as　a　rule；　remembered。　　
There　is　an　inn；　a　merry　old　inn　
beneath　an　old　grey　hill；　
And　there　they　brew　a　beer　so　brown　
That　the　Man　in　the　Moon　himself　came　down　　
one　night　to　drink　his　fill。　　
The　ostler　has　a　tipsy　cat　
that　plays　a　five…stringed　fiddle；　
And　up　and　down　he　runs　his　bow；　
Now　squeaking　high；　now　purring　low；　
now　sawing　in　the　middle。　　
The　landlord　keeps　a　little　dog　
that　is　mighty　fond　of　jokes；　
When　there's　good　cheer　among　the　guests；　
He　cocks　an　ear　at　all　the　jests　
and　laughs　until　he　chokes。　　
They　also　keep　a　horned　cow　
as　proud　as　any　queen；　
But　music　turns　her　head　like　ale；　
And　makes　her　wave　her　tufted　tail　　
and　dance　upon　the　green。　　
And　O！　the　rows　of　silver　dishes　　
and　the　store　of　silver　spoons！　
For　Sunday　there's　a　special　pair；　
　
And　these　they　polish　up　with　care　
on　Saturday　afternoons。　　
The　Man　in　the　Moon　was　drinking　deep；　
and　the　cat　began　to　wail；　
A　dish　and　a　spoon　on　the　table　danced；　
The　cow　in　the　garden　madly　pranced；　
and　the　little　dog　chased　his　tail。　　
The　Man　in　the　Moon　took　another　mug；　
and　then　rolled　beneath　his　chair；　
And　there　he　dozed　and　dreamed　of　ale；　
Till　in　the　sky　the　stars　were　pale；　
and　dawn　was　in　the　air。　　
Then　the　ostler　said　to　his　tipsy　cat：　
'The　white　horses　of　the　Moon；　
They　neigh　and　champ　their　silver　bits；　
But　their　master's　been　and　drowned　his　wits；　
and　the　Sun'll　be　rising　soon！'　　
So　the　cat　on　his　fiddle　played　hey…diddle…diddle；　
a　jig　that　would　wake　the　dead：　
He　squeaked　and　sawed　and　quickened　the　tune；　
While　the　landlord　shook　the　Man　in　the　Moon：　　
'It's　after　three！'　he　said。　　
They　rolled　the　Man　slowly　up　the　hill　
and　bundled　him　into　the　Moon；　
While　his　horses　galloped　up　in　rear；　
And　the　cow　came　capering　like　a　deer；　
and　a　dish　ran　up　with　the　spoon。　　
Now　quicker　the　fiddle　went　deedle…dum…diddle；　
the　dog　began　to　roar；　
The　cow　and　the　horses　stood　on　their　heads；　
The　guests　all　bounded　from　their　beds　
and　danced　upon　the　floor。　　
With　a　ping　and　a　pong　the　fiddle…strings　broke！　
the　cow　jumped　over　the　Moon；　
And　the　little　dog　laughed　to　see　such　fun；　
And　the　Saturday　dish　went　off　at　a　run　
with　the　silver　Sunday　spoon。　　
The　round　Moon　rolled　behind　the　hill　　
as　the　Sun　raised　up　her　head。　
She　hardly　believed　her　fiery　eyes；　
For　though　it　was　day；　to　her　surprise　
they　all　went　back　to　bed！　　
There　was　loud　and　long　applause。　Frodo　had　a　good　voice；　and　the　songtickled　their　fancy。　'Where's　old　Barley？'　they　cried。　'He　ought　to　hear　this。　
Bob　ought　to　learn　his　cat　the　fiddle；　and　then　we'd　have　a　dance。'　Theycalled　for　more　ale；　and　began　to　shout：　'Let's　have　it　again；　master！　e　onnow！　Once　more！'　　
They　made　Frodo　have　another　drink；　and　then　begin　his　song　again；　whilemany　of　them　joined　in；　for　the　tune　was　well　known；　and　they　were　quick　atpicking　up　words。　It　was　now　Frodo's　turn　to　feel　pleased　with　himself。　Hecapered　about　on　the　table；　and　when　he　came　a　second　time　to　_the　cow　jumped　　
　
over　the　Moon；_　he　leaped　in　the　air。　Much　too　vigorously；　for　he　came　down；　
bang；　into　a　tray　full　of　mugs；　and　slipped；　and　rolled　off　the　table　with　acrash；　clatter；　and　bump！　The　audience　all　opened　their　mouths　wide　forlaughter；　and　stopped　short　a　gaping　silence；　for　the　singer　disappeared。　Hesimply　vanished；　as　if　he　had　gone　slap　through　the　floor　without　leaving　ahole！　　
The　local　hobbits　stared　in　amazement；　and　then　sprang　to　their　feet　andshouted　for　Barliman。　All　the　pany　drew　away　from　Pippin　and　Sam；　who　foundthemselves　left　alone　in　a　er；　and　eyed　darkly　and　doubtfully　from　adistance。　It　was　plain　that　many　people　regarded　them　now　as　the　panions　ofa　travelling　magician　of　unknown　powers　and　purpose。　But　there　was　one　swarthyBree…lander；　who　stood　looking　at　them　with　a　knowing　and　half…mockingexpression　that　made　them　feel　very　unfortable。　Presently　he　slipped　out　ofthe　door；　followed　by　the　squint…eyed　southerner：　the　two　had　been　whisperingtogether　a　good　deal　during　the　evening。　Harry　the　gatekeeper　also　went　outjust　behind　them。。　
Frodo　felt　a　fool。　Not　knowing　what　else　to　do；　he　crawled　away　under　thetables　to　the　dark　er　by　Strider；　who　sat　unmoved；　giving　no　sign　of　histhoughts。　Frodo　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　took　off　the　Ring。　How　itcame　to　be　on　his　finger　he　could　not　tell。　He　could　only　suppose　that　he　hadbeen　handling　it　in　his　pocket　while　he　sang；　and　that　somehow　it　had　slippedon　when　he　stuck　out　his　hand　with　a　jerk　to　save　his　fall。　For　a　moment　hewondered　if　the　Ring　itself　had　not　played　him　a　trick；　perhaps　it　had　triedto　reveal　itself　in　response　to　some　wish　or　mand　that　was　felt　in　theroom。　He　did　not　like　the　looks　of　the　men　that　had　gone　out。　
'Well？'　said　Strider；　when　he　reappeared。　'Why　did　you　do　that？　Worsethan　anything　your　friends　could　have　said！　You　have　put　your　foot　in　it！　Orshould　I　say　your　finger？'　
'I　don't　know　what　you　mean；'　said　Frodo；　annoyed　and　alarmed。　
'Oh　yes；　you　do；'　answered　Strider；　'but　we　had　better　wait　until　theuproar　has　died　down。　Then；　if　you　please；　Mr。　_Baggins；　I_　should　like　aquiet　word　with　you。'　
'What　about？'　asked　Frodo；　ignoring　the　sudden　use　of　his　proper　name。　
'A　matter　of　some　importance　–　to　us　both；'　answered　Strider；　lookingFrodo　in　the　eye。　'You　may　hear　something　to　your　advantage。'　
'Very　well；'　said　Frodo；　trying　to　appear　unconcerned。　'I'll　talk　to　youlater。'　　
Meanwhile　an　argument　was　going　on　by　the　fireplace。　Mr。　Butterbur　hade　trotting　in；　and　he　was　now　trying　to　listen　to　several　conflictingaccounts　of　the　event　at　the　same　time。　　
'I　saw　him；　Mr。　Butterbur；'　said　a　hobbit；　'or　leastways　I　didn't　seehim；　if　you　take　my　meaning。　He　just　vanished　into　thin　air；　in　a　manner　ofspeaking。'　
'You　don't　say；　Mr。　Mugwort！'　said　the　landlord；　looking　puzzled。　
'Yes　I　do！'　replied　Mugwort。　'And　I　mean　what　I　say；　what's　more。'　
'There's　some　mistake　somewhere；'　said　Butterbur；　shaking　his　head。　Therewas　too　much　of　that　Mr。　Underhill　to　go　vanishing　into　thin　air；　or　intothick　air；　as　is　more　likely　in　this　room。'　
'Well；　where　is　he　now？'　cried　several　voices。　
'How　should　I　know？　He's　wele　to　go　where　he　will；　so　long　as　he　paysin　the　morning。　There's　Mr。　Took；　now：　he's　not　vanished。'　
'Well；　I　saw　what　I　saw；　and　I　saw　what　I　didn't；'　said　Mugwortobstinately。　
'And　I　sa