the fellowship of the ring-第20部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ording　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　their　packsand　took　up　their　sticks；　and　walked　round　the　corner　to　the　west　side　of　BagEnd。　'Good…bye！'　said　Frodo；　looking　at　the　dark　blank　windows。　He　waved　hishand；　and　then　turned　and　（following　Bilbo；　if　he　had　known　it）　hurried　afterPeregrin　down　the　garden…path。　They　jumped　over　the　low　place　in　the　hedge　atthe　bottom　and　took　to　the　fields；　passing　into　the　darkness　like　a　rustle　inthe　grasses。　
At　the　bottom　of　the　Hill　on　its　western　side　they　came　to　the　gateopening　on　to　a　narrow　lane。　There　they　halted　and　adjusted　the　straps　oftheir　packs。　Presently　Sam　appeared；　trotting　quickly　and　breathing　hard；　hisheavy　pack　was　hoisted　high　on　his　shoulders；　and　he　had　put　on　his　head　atall　shapeless　fell　bag；　which　he　called　a　hat。　In　the　gloom　he　looked　verymuch　like　a　dwarf。　　
'I　am　sure　you　have　given　me　all　the　heaviest　stuff；'　said　Frodo。　'I　pitysnails；　and　all　that　carry　their　homes　on　their　backs。'　
'I　could　take　a　lot　more　yet；　sir。　My　packet　is　quite　light；'　said　Samstoutly　and　untruthfully。　
'No；　you　don't；　Sam！'　said　Pippin。　'It　is　good　for　him。　He's　got　nothingexcept　what　he　ordered　us　to　pack。　He's　been　slack　lately；　and　he'll　feel　theweight　less　when　he's　walked　off　some　of　his　own。'　
'Be　kind　to　a　poor　old　hobbit！'　laughed　Frodo。　'I　shall　be　as　thin　as　awillow…wand；　I'm　sure；　before　I　get　to　Buckland。　But　I　was　talking　nonsense。　Isuspect　you　have　taken　more　than　your　share；　Sam；　and　I　shall　look　into　it　atour　next　packing。'　He　picked　up　his　stick　again。　'Well；　we　all　like　walking　inthe　dark；'　he　said；　'so　let's　put　some　miles　behind　us　before　bed。'　
For　a　short　way　they　followed　the　lane　westwards。　Then　leaving　it　theyturned　left　and　took　quietly　to　the　fields　again。　They　went　in　single　filealong　hedgerows　and　the　borders　of　coppices；　and　night　fell　dark　about　them。　
In　their　dark　cloaks　they　were　as　invisible　as　if　they　all　had　magic　rings。　
Since　they　were　all　hobbits；　and　were　trying　to　be　silent；　they　made　no　noisethat　even　hobbits　would　hear。　Even　the　wild　things　in　the　fields　and　woodshardly　noticed　their　passing。　
After　some　time　they　crossed　the　Water；　west　of　Hobbiton；　by　a　narrowplank…bridge。　The　stream　was　there　no　more　than　a　winding　black　ribbon；　
bordered　with　leaning　alder…trees。　A　mile　or　two　further　south　they　hastilycrossed　the　great　road　from　the　Brandywine　Bridge；　they　were　now　in　theTookland　and　bending　south…eastwards　they　made　for　the　Green　Hill　Country。　Asthey　began　to　climb　its　first　slopes　they　looked　back　and　saw　the　lamps　inHobbiton　far　off　twinkling　in　the　gentle　valley　of　the　Water。　Soon　itdisappeared　in　the　folds　of　the　darkened　land；　and　was　followed　by　Bywaterbeside　its　grey　pool。　When　the　light　of　the　last　farm　was　far　behind；　peepingamong　the　trees；　Frodo　turned　and　waved　a　hand　in　farewell。　
'I　wonder　if　I　shall　ever　look　down　into　that　valley　again；'　he　saidquietly。　
When　they　had　walked　for　about　three　hours　they　rested。　The　night　wasclear；　cool；　and　starry；　but　smoke…like　wisps　of　mist　were　creeping　up　thehill…sides　from　the　streams　and　deep　meadows。　Thin…clad　birches；　swaying　in　alight　wind　above　their　heads；　made　a　black　net　against　the　pale　sky。　They　atea　very　frugal　supper　（for　hobbits）；　and　then　went　on　again。　Soon　they　struck　anarrow　road；　that　went　rolling　up　and　down；　fading　grey　into　the　darknessahead：　the　road　to　Woodhall；　and　Stock；　and　the　Bucklebury　Ferry。　It　climbedaway　from　the　main　road　in　the　Water…valley；　and　wound　over　the　skirts　of　theGreen　Hills　towards　Woody…End；　a　wild　corner　of　the　Eastfarthing。　
After　a　while　they　plunged　into　a　deeply　cloven　track　between　tall　treesthat　rustled　their　dry　leaves　in　the　night。　It　was　very　dark。　At　first　they　　
　
talked；　or　hummed　a　tune　softly　together；　being　now　far　away　from　inquisitiveears。　Then　they　marched　on　in　silence；　and　Pippin　began　to　lag　behind。　Atlast；　as　they　began　to　climb　a　steep　slope；　he　stopped　and　yawned。　
'I　am　so　sleepy；'　he　said；　'that　soon　I　shall　fall　down　on　the　road。　Areyou　going　to　sleep　on　your　legs？　It　is　nearly　midnight。'　
'I　thought　you　liked　walking　in　the　dark；'　said　Frodo。　'But　there　is　nogreat　hurr