the fellowship of the ring-第37章

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vanished。'　
'Well；　I　saw　what　I　saw；　and　I　saw　what　I　didn't；'　said　Mugwortobstinately。　
'And　I　say　there's　some　mistake；'　repeated　Butterbur；　picking　up　the　trayand　gathering　up　the　broken　crockery。　
'Of　course　there's　a　mistake！'　said　Frodo。　'I　haven't　vanished。　Here　I　　
am！　I've　just　been　having　a　few　words　with　Strider　in　the　er。'　
He　came　forward　into　the　firelight；　but　most　of　the　pany　backed　away；　
_；_　even　more　perturbed　than　before。　They　were　not　in　the　least　satisfied　by　　
　
his　explanation　that　he　had　crawled　away　quickly　under　the　tables　after　he　hadfallen。　Most　of　the　Hobbits　and　the　Men　of　Bree　went　off　then　and　there　in　a　　
huff；　having　no　fancy　for　further　entertainment　that　evening。　One　or　two　gaveFrodo　a　black　look　and　departed　muttering　among　themselves。　The　Dwarves　andthe　two　or　three　strange　Men　that　still　remained　got　up　and　said　good　night　tothe　landlord；　but　not　to　Frodo　and　his　friends。　Before　long　no　one　was　leftbut　Strider；　who　sat　on；　unnoticed；　by　the　wall。　
Mr。　Butterbur　did　not　seem　much　put　out。　He　reckoned；　very　probably；　thathis　house　would　be　full　again　on　many　future　nights；　until　the　present　mysteryhad　been　thoroughly　discussed。　'Now　what　have　you　been　doing；　Mr。　Underhill？'　
he　asked。　'Frightening　my　customers　and　breaking　up　my　crocks　with　youracrobatics！'　　
'I　am　very　sorry　to　have　caused　any　trouble；'　said　Frodo。　'It　was　quiteunintentional；　I　assure　you。　A　most　unfortunate　accident。'　
'All　right；　Mr。　Underhill！　But　if　you're　going　to　do　any　more　tumbling；　
or　conjuring；　or　whatever　it　was；　you'd　best　warn　folk　beforehand　–　and　warn_me。_　We're　a　bit　suspicious　round　here　of　anything　out　of　the　way　…uncanny；　
if　you　understand　me；　and　we　don't　take　to　it　all　of　a　sudden。'　
'I　shan't　be　doing　anything　of　the　sort　again；　Mr。　Butterbur；　I　promiseyou。　And　now　I　think　I'll　be　getting　to　bed。　We　shall　be　making　an　earlystart。　Will　you　see　that　our　ponies　are　ready　by　eight　o'clock？'　
'Very　good！　But　before　you　go；　I　should　like　a　word　with　you　in　private；　
Mr。　Underhill。　Something　has　just　e　back　to　my　mind　that　I　ought　to　tellyou。　I　hope　that　you'll　not　take　it　amiss。　When　I've　seen　to　a　thing　or　two；　
I'll　e　along　to　your　room；　if　you're　willing。'　
'Certainly！'　said　Frodo；　but　his　heart　sank。　He　wondered　how　many　privatetalks　he　would　have　before　he　got　to　bed；　and　what　they　would　reveal。　Werethese　people　all　in　league　against　him？　He　began　to　suspect　even　oldButterbur's　fat　face　of　concealing　dark　designs。　　
_Chapter　10_　
Strider　　
Frodo；　Pippin；　and　Sam　made　their　way　back　to　the　parlour。　There　was　nolight。　Merry　was　not　there；　and　the　fire　had　burned　low。　It　was　not　until　theyhad　puffed　up　the　embers　into　a　blaze　and　thrown　on　a　couple　of　faggots　thatthey　discovered　Strider　had　e　with　them。　There　he　was　calmly　sitting　in　achair　by　the　door！　
'Hallo！'　said　Pippin。　'Who　are　you；　and　what　do　you　want？'　
'I　am　called　Strider；'　he　answered：　'and　though　he　may　have　forgotten　it；　
your　friend　promised　to　have　a　quiet　talk　with　me。'　
'You　said　I　might　hear　something　to　my　advantage；　I　believe；'　said　Frodo。　
'What　have　you　to　say？'　
'Several　things；'　answered　Strider。　'But；　of　course；　I　have　my　price。'　
'What　do　you　mean？'　asked　Frodo　sharply。　
'Don't　be　alarmed！　I　mean　just　this：　I　will　tell　you　what　I　know；　andgive　you　some　good　advice　–　but　I　shall　want　a　reward。'　
'And　what　will　that　be；　pray？'　said　Frodo。　He　suspected　now　that　he　hadfallen　in　with　a　rascal；　and　he　thought　unfortably　that　he　had　brought　onlya　little　money　with　him。　All　of　it　would　hardly　satisfy　a　rogue；　and　he　couldnot　spare　any　of　it。　
'No　more　than　you　can　afford；'　answered　Strider　with　a　slow　smile；　as　ifhe　guessed　Frodo's　thoughts。　'Just　this：　you　must　take　me　along　with　you；　
until　I　wish　to　leave　you。'　
'Oh；　indeed！'　replied　Frodo；　surprised；　but　not　much　relieved。　'Even　if　Iwanted　another　panion；　I　should　not　agree　to　any　such　thing；　until　I　knew　agood　deal　more　about　you；　and　your　business。'　
'Excellent！'　exclaimed　Strider；　crossing　his　legs　and　sitting　backfortably。　'You　seem　to　be　ing　to　your　senses　again；　and　that　is　all　to　　
　
the　good。　You　have　been　much　too　careless　so　far。　Very　well！　I　will　tell　youwhat　I　know；　and　leave　the　reward　to　you。　You　may　be　glad　to　grant　it；　whenyou　have　heard　me。'　
'Go　on　then！'　said　Frodo。　'What　do　you　know？'　
'Too　much；　too　many　dark　things；'　said　Strider　grimly。　'But　as　for　yourbusiness　…'　He　got　up　and　went　to　the　door；　opened　it　quickly　and　looked　out。　
Then　he　shut　it　quietly　and　sat　down　again。　'I　have　quick　ears；'　he　went　on；　
lowering　his　voice；　'and　though　I　cannot　disappear；　I　have　hunted　many　wildand　wary　things　and　I　can　usually　avoid　being　seen；　if　I　wish。　Now；　I　wasbehind　the　hedge　this　evening　on　the　Road　west　of　Bree；　when　four　hobbits　cameout　of　the　Downlands。　I　need　not　repeat　all　that　they　said　to　old　Bombadil　orto　one　another；　but　one　thing　interested　me。　_Please　remember；_　said　one　ofthem；　_that　the　name　Baggins　must　not　be　mentioned。　I　am　Mr。　Underhill；　if　anyname　must　be　given。_　That　interested　me　so　much　that　I　followed　them　here。　Islipped　over　the　gate　just　behind　them。　Maybe　Mr。　Baggins　has　an　honest　reasonfor　leaving　his　name　behind；　but　if　so；　I　should　advise　him　and　his　friends　tobe　more　careful。'　　
'I　don't　see　what　interest　my　name　has　for　any　one　in　Bree；'　said　Frodoangrily；　'and　I　have　still　to　learn　why　it　interests　you。　Mr。　Strider　may　havean　honest　reason　for　spying　and　eavesdropping；　but　if　so；　I　should　advise　himto　explain　it。'　
'Well　answered！'　said　Strider　laughing。　'But　the　explanation　is　simple：　
I　was　looking　for　a　Hobbit　called　Frodo　Baggins。　I　wanted　to　find　himquickly。　I　had　learned　that　he　was　carrying　out　of　the　Shire；　well；　a　secretthat　concerned　me　and　my　friends。　
'Now；　don't　mistake　me！'　he　cried；　as　Frodo　rose　from　his　seat；　and　Samjumped　up　with　a　scowl。　'I　shall　take　more　care　of　the　secret　than　you　do。　Andcare　is　needed！'　He　leaned　forward　and　looked　at　them。　'Watch　every　shadow！'　
he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'Black　horsemen　have　passed　through　Bree。　On　Mondayone　came　down　the　Greenway；　they　say；　and　another　appeared　later；　ing　upthe　Greenway　from　the　south。'　　
There　was　a　silence。　At　last　Frodo　spoke　to　Pippin　and　Sam：　'I　ought　tohave　guessed　it　from　the　way　the　gatekeeper　greeted　us；'　he　said。　'And　thelandlord　seems　to　have　heard　something。　Why　did　he　press　us　to　join　thepany？　And　why　on　earth　did　we　behave　so　foolishly：　we　ought　to　have　stayedquiet　in　here。'　
'It　would　have　been　better；'　said　Strider。　'I　would　have　stopped　yourgoing　into　the　mon…room；　if　I　could；　but　the　innkeeper　would　not　let　me　into　see　you；　or　take　a　message。'　
'Do　you　think　he–––'　began　Frodo。　
'No；　I　don't　think　any　harm　of　old　Butterbur。　Only　he　does　not　altogetherlike　mysterious　vagabonds　of　my　sort。'　Frodo　gave　him　a　puzzled　look。　'Well；　Ihave　rather　a　rascally　look；　have　I　not？'　said　Strider　with　a　curl　of　his　lipand　a　queer　gleam　in　his　eye。　'But　I　hope　we　shall　get　to　know　one　anotherbetter。　When　we　do；　I　hope　you　will　explain　what　happened　at　the　end　of　yoursong。　For　that　little　prank–––'　
'It　was　sheer　accident！'　interrupted　Frodo。　
'I　wonder；'　said　Strider。　'Accident；　then。　That　accident　has　made　yourposition　dangerous。'　
'Hardly　more　than　it　was　already；'　said　Frodo。　'I　knew　these　horsemenwere　pursuing　me；　but　now　at　any　rate　they　seem　to　have　missed　me　and　to　havegone　away。'　
'You　must　not　count　on　that！'　said　Strider　sharply。　'They　will　return。　
And　more　are　ing。　There　are　others。　I　know　their　number。　I　know　theseRiders。'　He　paused；　and　his　eyes　were　cold　and　hard。　'And　there　are　some　folkin　Bree　who　are　not　to　be　trusted；'　he　went　on。　'Bill　Ferny；　for　instance。　Hehas　an　evil　name　in　the　Bree…land；　and　queer　folk　call　at　his　house。　You　musthave　noticed　him　among　the　pany：　a　swarthy　sneering　fellow。　He　was　veryclose　with　one　of　the　Southern　strangers；　and　they　slipped　out　together　just　　
　
after　your　〃accident〃。　Not　all　of　those　Southerners　mean　well；　and　as　forFerny；　he　would　sell　anything　to　anybody；　or　make　mischief　for　amusement。'　
'What　will　Ferny　sell；　and　what　has　my　accident　got　to　do　with　him？'　saidFrodo；　still　determined　not　to　understand　Strider's　hints。　
'News　of　you；　of　course；'　answered　Strider。　'An　account　of　yourperformance　would　be　very　interesting　to　certain　people。　After　that　they　wouldhardly　need　to　be　told　your　real　name。　It　seems　to　me　only　too　likely　thatthey　will　hear　of　it　before　this　night　is　over。　Is　that　enough？　You　can　do　asyou　like　about　my　reward：　take　me　as　a　guide　or　not。　But　I　may　say　that　I　knowall　the　lands　between　the　Shire　and　the　Misty　Mountains；　for　I　have　wanderedover　them　for　many　years。　I　am　older　than　I　look。　I　might　prove　useful。　Youwill　have　to　leave　the　open　road　after　tonight；　for　the　horsemen　will　watch　itnight　and　day。　You　may　escape　from　Bree；　and　be　allowed　to　go　forward　whilethe　Sun　is　up；　but　you　won't　go　far。　They　will　e　on　you　in　the　wild；　insome　dark　place　where　there　is　no　help。　Do　you　wish　them　to　find　you？　They　areterrible！'　　
The　hobbits　looked　at　him；　and　saw　with　surprise　that　his　face　was　drawnas　if　with　pain；　and　his　hands　clenched　the　arms　of　his　chair。　The　room　wasvery　quiet　and　still；　and　the　light　seemed　to　have　grown　dim。　For　a　while　hesat　with　unseeing　eyes　as　if　walking　in　distant　memory　or　listening　to　soundsin　the　Night　far　away。　
'There！'　he　cried　after　a　moment；　drawing　his　hand　across　his　brow。　
'Perhaps　I　know　more　about　these　pursuers　than　you　do。　You　fear　them；　but　youdo　not　fear　them　enough；　yet。　Tomorrow　you　will　have　to　escape；　if　you　can。　
Strider　can　take　you　by　paths　that　are　seldom　trodden。　Will　you　have　him？'　
There　was　a　heavy　silence。　Frodo　made　no　answer；　his　mind　was　confusedwith　doubt　and　fear。　Sam　frowned；　and　looked　at　his　master；　and　at　last　hebroke　out：　　
'With　your　leave；　Mr。　Frodo；　I'd　say　no！　This　Strider　here；　he　warns　andhe　says　take　care；　and　I　_say　yes_　to　that；　and　let's　begin　with　him。　He　esout　of　the　Wild；　and　I　never　heard　no　good　of　such　folk。　He　knows　something；　
that's　plain；　and　more　than　I　like；　but　it's　no　reason　why　we　should　let　himgo　leading　us　out　into　some　dark　place　far　from　help；　as　he　puts　it。'　
Pippin　fidgeted　and　looked　unfortable。　Strider　did　not　reply　to　Sam；　
but　turned　his　keen　eyes　on　Frodo。　Frodo　caught　his　glance　and　looked　away。　
'No；'　he　said　slowly。　'I　don't　agree。　I　think；　I　think　you　are　not　really　asyou　choose　to　look。　You　began　to　talk　to　me　like　the　Bree…folk；　but　your　voicehas　changed。　Still　Sam　seems　right　in　this：　I　don't　see　why　you　should　warn　usto　take　care；　and　yet　ask　us　to　take　you　on　trust。　Why　the　disguise？　Who　areyou？　What　do　you　really　know　about　–　about　my　business；　and　how　do　you　knowit？'　　
'The　lesson　in　caution　has　been　well　learned；'　said　Strider　with　a　grimsmile。　'But　caution　is　one　thing　and　wavering　is　another。　You　will　never　getto　Rivendell　now　on　your　own；　and　to　trust　me　is　your　only　chance。　You　mustmake　up　your　mind。　I　will　answer　some　of　your　questions；　if　that　will　help　youto　do　so。　But　why　should　you　believe　my　story；　if　you　do　not　trust　me　already？　
Still　here　it　is–––'　　
At　that　moment　there　came　a　knock　at　the　door。　Mr。　Butterbur　had　arrived　　
with　candles；　and　behind　him　was　Nob　with　cans　of　hot　water。　Strider　wit