the fellowship of the ring-第26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！


y　had；　in　fact；　turned　too　much　to　thesouth。　Away　over　the　flats　they　could　glimpse　the　low　hill　of　Buckleburyacross　the　River；　but　it　was　now　to　their　left。　Creeping　cautiously　out　fromthe　edge　of　the　trees；　they　set　off　across　the　open　as　quickly　as　they　could。　
At　first　they　felt　afraid；　away　from　the　shelter　of　the　wood。　Far　backbehind　them　stood　the　high　place　where　they　had　breakfasted。　Frodo　halfexpected　to　see　the　small　distant　figure　of　a　horseman　on　the　ridge　darkagainst　the　sky；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　one。　The　sun　escaping　from　thebreaking　clouds；　as　it　sank　towards　the　hills　they　had　left；　was　now　shiningbrightly　again。　Their　fear　left　them；　though　they　still　felt　uneasy。　But　theland　became　steadily　more　tame　and　well…ordered。　Soon　they　came　into　well…　
tended　fields　and　meadows：　there　were　hedges　and　gates　and　dikes　for　drainage。　
Everything　seemed　quiet　and　peaceful；　just　an　ordinary　corner　of　the　Shire。　
Their　spirits　rose　with　every　step。　The　line　of　the　River　grew　nearer；　and　theBlack　Riders　began　to　seem　like　phantoms　of　the　woods　now　left　far　behind。　
They　passed　along　the　edge　of　a　huge　turnip…field；　and　came　to　a　stoutgate。　Beyond　it　a　rutted　lane　ran　between　low　well…laid　hedges　towards　adistant　clump　of　trees。　Pippin　stopped。　
'I　know　these　fields　and　this　gate！'　he　said。　'This　is　Bamfurlong；　oldFarmer　Maggot's　land。　That's　his　farm　away　there　in　the　trees。'　
'One　trouble　after　another！'　said　Frodo；　looking　nearly　as　much　alarmedas　if　Pippin　had　declared　the　lane　was　the　slot　leading　to　a　dragon's　den。　Theothers　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　
'What's　wrong　with　old　Maggot？'　asked　Pippin。　'He's　a　good　friend　to　allthe　Brandy　bucks。　Of　course　he's　a　terror　to　trespassers；　and　keeps　ferociousdogs　–　but　after　all；　folk　down　here　are　near　the　border　and　have　to　be　moreon　their　guard。'　
'I　know；'　said　Frodo。　'But　all　the　same；'　he　added　with　a　shamefaced　　
　
laugh；　'I　am　terrified　of　him　and　his　dogs。　I　have　avoided　his　farm　for　yearsand　years。　He　caught　me　several　times　trespassing　after　mushrooms；　when　I　wasa　youngster　at　Brandy　Hall。　On　the　last　occasion　he　beat　me；　and　then　took　meand　showed　me　to　his　dogs。　〃See；　lads；〃　he　said；　〃next　time　this　young　varmintsets　foot　on　my　land；　you　can　eat　him。　Now　see　him　off！〃　They　chased　me　allthe　way　to　the　Ferry。　I　have　never　got　over　the　fright　–　though　I　daresay　thebeasts　knew　their　business　and　would　not　really　have　touched　me。'　
Pippin　laughed。　'Well；　it's　time　you　made　it　up。　Especially　if　you　areing　back　to　live　in　Buckland。　Old　Maggot　is　really　a　stout　fellow　–　if　youleave　his　mushrooms　alone。　Let's　get　into　the　lane　and　then　we　shan't　betrespassing。　If　we　meet　him；　I'll　do　the　talking。　He　is　a　friend　of　Merry's；　
and　I　used　to　e　here　with　him　a　good　deal　at　one　time。'　
They　went　along　the　lane；　until　they　saw　the　thatched　roofs　of　a　largehouse　and　farm…buildings　peeping　out　among　the　trees　ahead。　The　Maggots；　andthe　Puddifoots　of　Stock；　and　most　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　Marish；　werehouse…dwellers；　and　this　farm　was　stoutly　built　of　brick　and　had　a　high　wallall　round　it。　There　was　a　wide　wooden　gate　opening　out　of　the　wall　into　thelane。　　
Suddenly　as　they　drew　nearer　a　terrific　baying　and　barking　broke　out；　anda　loud　voice　was　heard　shouting：　'Grip！　Fang！　Wolf！　e　on；　lads！'　
Frodo　and　Sam　stopped　dead；　but　Pippin　walked　on　a　few　paces。　The　gateopened　and　three　huge　dogs　came　pelting　out　into　the　lane；　and　dashed　towardsthe　travellers；　barking　fiercely。　They　took　no　notice　of　Pippin；　but　Samshrank　against　the　wall；　while　two　wolvish…looking　dogs　sniffed　at　himsuspiciously；　and　snarled　if　he　moved。　The　largest　and　most　ferocious　of　thethree　halted　in　front　of　Frodo；　bristling　and　growling。　
Through　the　gate　there　now　appeared　a　broad　thick…set　hobbit　with　a　roundred　face。　'Hallo！　Hallo！　And　who　may　you　be；　and　what　may　you　be　wanting？'　heasked。　　
'Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Maggot！'　said　Pippin。　
The　farmer　looked　at　him　closely。　'Well；　if　it　isn't　Master　Pippin　–　Mr。　
Peregrin　Took；　I　should　say！'　he　cried；　changing　from　a　scowl　to　a　grin。　'It'sa　long　time　since　I　saw　you　round　here。　It's　lucky　for　you　that　I　know　you。　Iwas　just　going　out　to　set　my　dogs　on　any　strangers。　There　are　some　funnythings　going　on　today。　Of　course；　we　do　get　queer　folk　wandering　in　theseparts　at　times。　Too　near　the　River；'　he　said；　shaking　his　head。　'But　thisfellow　was　the　most　outlandish　I　have　ever　set　eyes　on。　He　won't　cross　my　landwithout　leave　a　second　time；　not　if　I　can　stop　it。'　
'What　fellow　do　you　mean？'　asked　Pippin。　
'Then　you　haven't　seen　him？'　said　the　farmer。　'He　went　up　the　lanetowards　the　causeway　not　a　long　while　back。　He　was　a　funny　customer　and　askingfunny　questions。　But　perhaps　you'll　e　along　inside；　and　we'll　pass　the　newsmore　fortable。　I've　a　drop　of　good　ale　on　tap；　if　you　and　your　friends　arewilling；　Mr。　Took。'　
It　seemed　plain　that　the　farmer　would　tell　them　more；　if　allowed　to　do　itin　his　own　time　and　fashion；　so　they　all　accepted　the　invitation。　'What　aboutthe　dogs？'　asked　Frodo　anxiously。　
The　farmer　laughed。　'They　won't　harm　you　–　not　unless　I　tell　'em　to。　
Here；　Grip！　Fang！　Heel！'　he　cried。　'Heel；　Wolf！'　To　the　relief　of　Frodo　andSam；　the　dogs　walked　away　and　let　them　go　free。　
Pippin　introduced　the　other　two　to　the　farmer。　'Mr。　Frodo　Baggins；'　hesaid。　'You　may　not　remember　him；　but　he　used　to　live　at　Brandy　Hall。'　At　thename　Baggins　the　farmer　started；　and　gave　Frodo　a　sharp　glance。　For　a　momentFrodo　thought　that　the　memory　of　stolen　mushrooms　had　been　aroused；　and　thatthe　dogs　would　be　told　to　see　him　off。　But　Farmer　Maggot　took　him　by　the　arm。　
'Well；　if　that　isn't　queerer　than　ever？'　he　exclaimed。　'Mr。　Baggins　isit？　e　inside！　We　must　have　a　talk。'　　
They　went　into　the　farmer's　kitchen；　and　sat　by　the　wide　fire…place。　Mrs。　
Maggot　brought　out　beer　in　a　huge　jug；　and　filled　four　large　mugs。　It　was　agood　brew；　and　Pippin　found　himself　more　than　pensated　for　missing　the　　
　
_Golden　Perch。_　Sam　sipped　his　beer　suspiciously。　He　had　a　natural　mistrust　ofthe　inhabitants　of　other　parts　of　the　Shire；　and　also　he　was　not　disposed　tobe　quick　friends　with　anyone　who　had　beaten　his　master；　however　long　ago。　
After　a　few　remarks　about　the　weather　and　the　agricultural　prospects（which　were　no　worse　than　usual）；　Farmer　Maggot　put　down　his　mug　and　looked　atthem　all　in　turn。　　
'Now；　Mr。　Peregrin；'　he　said；　'where　might　you　be　ing　from；　and　wheremight　you　be　going　to？　Were　you　ing　to　visit'　me？　For；　if　so；　you　had　gonepast　my　gate　without　my　seeing　you。'　
'Well；　no；'　answered　Pippin。　'To　tell　you　the　truth；　since　you　haveguessed　it；　we　got　into　the　lane　from　the　other　end：　we　had　e　over　yourfields。　But　that　was　quite　by　accident。　We　lost　our　way　in　the　woods；　backnear　Woodhall；　trying　to　take　a　short　cut　to　the　Ferry。'　
'If　you　were　in　a　hurry；　the　road　would　have　served　you　better；'　said　thefarmer。　'But　I　wasn't　worrying　about　that。　You　have　leave　to　walk　over　myland；　if　you　have　a　mind；　Mr。　Peregrin。　And　you；　Mr。　Baggins　–　though　Idaresay　you　still　like　mushrooms。'　He　laughed。　'Ah　yes；　I　recognized　the　name。　
I　recollect　the　time　when　young　Frodo　Baggins　was　one　of　the　worst　youngrascals　of　Buckland。　But　it　wasn't　mushrooms　I　was　thinking　of。　I　had　justheard　the　name　Baggins　before　you　turned　up。　What　do　you　think　that　funnycustomer　asked　me？'　　
They　waited　anxiously　for　him　to　go　on。　'Well；'　the　farmer　continued；　
approaching　his　point　with　slow　relish；　'he　came　riding　on　a　big　black　horsein　at　the　gate；　which　happened　to　be　open；　and　right　up　to　my　door。　All　blackhe　was　himself；　too；　and　cloaked　and　hooded　up；　as　if　he　did　not　want　to　beknown。　〃Now　what　in　the　Shire　can　he　want？〃　I　thought　to　myself。　We　don't　seemany　of　the　Big　Folk　over　the　border；　and　anyway　I　had　never　heard　of　any　likethis　black　fellow。　　
'　〃Good…day　to　you！〃　I　says；　going　out　to　him。　〃This　lane　don't　leadanywhere；　and　wherever　you　may　be　going；　your　quickest　way　will　be　back　to　theroad。〃　I　didn't　like　the　looks　of　him；　and　when　Grip　came　out；　he　took　onesniff　and　let　out　a　yelp　as　if　he　had　been　slung：　he　put　down　his　tail　andbolted　off　howling。　The　black　fellow　sat　quite　still。　
'　〃I　e　from　yonder；〃　he　said；　slow　and　stiff…like；　pointing　back　west；　
over　_my_　fields；　if　you　please。　〃Have　you　seen　_Baggins？〃_　he　asked　in　aqueer　voice；　and　bent　down　towards　me。　I　could　not　see　any　face；　for　his　hoodfell　down　so　low；　and　I　felt　a　sort　of　shiver　down　my　back。　But　I　did　not　seewhy　he　should　e　riding　over　my　land　so　bold。　
'　〃Be　off！〃　I　said。　〃There　are　no　Bagginses　here。　You're　in　the　wrongpart　of　the　Shire。　You　had　better　go　back　west　to　Hobbiton　–　but　you　can　go　byroad　this　time。〃　　
'　〃Baggins　has　left；〃　he　answered　in　a　whisper。　〃He　is　ing。　He　is　notfar　away。　I　wish　to　find　him。　If　he　passes　will　you　tell　me？　I　will　e　backwith　gold。〃　
'　〃No　you　won't；〃　I　said。　〃You'll　go　back　where　you　belong；　double　quick。　
I　give　you　one　minute　before　I　call　all　my　dogs。〃　
'He　gave　a　sort　of　hiss。　It　might　have　been　laughing；　and　it　might　not。　
Then　he　spurred　his　great　horse　right　at　me；　and　I　jumped　out　of　the　way　onlyjust　in　time。　I　called　the　dogs；　but　he　swung　off；　and　rode　through　the　gateand　up　the　lane　towards　the　causeway　like　a　bolt　of　thunder。　What　do　you　thinkof　that