the fellowship of the ring-第27部分

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hrough　the　gateand　up　the　lane　towards　the　causeway　like　a　bolt　of　thunder。　What　do　you　thinkof　that？'　　
Frodo　sat　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　fire；　but　his　only　thought　was　howon　earth　would　they　reach　the　Ferry。　'I　don't　know　what　to　think；'　he　said　atlast。　　
'Then　I'll　tell　you　what　to　think；'　said　Maggot。　'You　should　never　havegone　mixing　yourself　up　with　Hobbiton　folk；　Mr。　Frodo。　Folk　are　queer　upthere。'　Sam　stirred　in　his　chair；　and　looked　at　the　farmer　with　an　unfriendlyeye。　'But　you　were　always　a　reckless　lad。　When　I　heard　you　had　left　theBrandybucks　and　gone　off　to　that　old　Mr。　Bilbo；　I　said　that　you　were　going　tofind　trouble。　Mark　my　words；　this　all　es　of　those　strange　doings　of　Mr。　　
　
Bilbo's。　His　money　was　got　in　some　strange　fashion　in　foreign　parts；　they　say。　
Maybe　there　is　some　that　want　to　know　what　has　bee　of　the　gold　and　jewelsthat　he　buried　in　the　hill　of　Hobbiton；　as　I　hear？'　
Frodo　said　nothing：　the　shrewd　guesses　of　the　farmer　were　ratherdisconcerting。　
'Well；　Mr。　Frodo；'　Maggot　went　on；　'I'm　glad　that　you've　had　the　sense　toe　back　to　Buckland。　My　advice　is：　stay　there！　And　don't　get　mixed　up　withthese　outlandish　folk。　You'll　have　friends　in　these　parts。　If　any　of　theseblack　fellows　e　after　you　again；　I'll　deal　with　them。　I'll　say　you're　dead；　
or　have　left　the　Shire；　or　anything　you　like。　And　that　might　be　true　enough；　
for　as　like　as　not　it　is　old　Mr。　Bilbo　they　want　news　of。'　
'Maybe　you're　right；'　said　Frodo；　avoiding　the　farmer's　eye　and　staringat　the　fire。　　
Maggot　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　'Well；　I　see　you　have　ideas　of　yourown；'　he　said。　'It　is　as　plain　as　my　nose　that　no　accident　brought　you　andthat　rider　here　on　the　same　afternoon；　and　maybe　my　news　was　no　great　news　toyou；　after　all。　I　am　not　asking　you　to　tell　me　anything　you　have　a　mind　tokeep　to　yourself；　but　I　see　you　are　in　some　kind　of　trouble。　Perhaps　you　arethinking　it　won't　be　too　easy　to　get　to　the　Ferry　without　being　caught？'　
'I　was　thinking　so；'　said　Frodo。　'But　we　have　got　to　try　and　get　there；　
and　it　won't　be　done　by　sitting　and　thinking。　So　I　am　afraid　we　must　be　going。　
Thank　you　very　much　indeed　for　your　kindness！　I've　been　in　terror　of　you　andyour　dogs　for　over　thirty　years；　Farmer　Maggot；　though　you　may　laugh　to　hearit。　It's　a　pity：　for　I've　missed　a　good　friend。　And　now　I'm　sorry　to　leave　sosoon。　But　I'll　e　back；　perhaps；　one　day　–　if　I　get　a　chance。'　
'You'll　be　wele　when　you　e；'　said　Maggot。　'But　now　I've　a　notion。　
It's　near　sundown　already；　and　we　are　going　to　have　our　supper；　for　we　mostlygo　to　bed　soon　after　the　Sun。　If　you　and　Mr。　Peregrin　and　all　could　stay　andhave　a　bite　with　us；　we　would　be　pleased！'　
'And　so　should　we！'　said　Frodo。　'But　we　must　be　going　at　once；　I'mafraid。　Even　now　it　will　be　dark　before　we　can　reach　the　Ferry。'　
'Ah！　but　wait　a　minute！　I　was　going　to　say：　after　a　bit　of　supper；　I'llgel　out　a　small　waggon；　and　I'll　drive　you　all　to　the　Ferry。　That　will　saveyou　a　good　step；　and　it　might　also　save　you　trouble　of　another　sort。'　
Frodo　now　accepted　the　invitation　gratefully；　to　the　relief　of　Pippin　andSam。　The　sun　was　already　behind　the　western　hills；　and　the　light　was　failing。　
Two　of　Maggot's　sons　and　his　three　daughters　came　in；　and　a　generous　supperwas　laid　on　the　large　table。　The　kitchen　was　lit　with　candles　and　the　fire　wasmended。　Mrs。　Maggot　hustled　in　and　out。　One　or　two　other　hobbits　belonging　tothe　farm…household　came　in。　In　a　short　while　fourteen　sat　down　to　eat。　There　　
was　beer　in　plenty；　and　a　mighty　dish　of　mushrooms　and　bacon；　besides　muchother　solid　farmhouse　fare。　The　dogs　lay　by　the　fire　and　gnawed　rinds　andcracked　bones。　　
When　they　had　finished；　the　farmer　and　his　sons　went　out　with　a　lanternand　got　the　waggon　ready。　It　was　dark　in　the　yard；　when　the　guests　came　out。　
They　threw　their　packs　on　board　and　climbed　in。　The　farmer　sat　in　the　driving…　
seat；　and　whipped　up　his　two　stout　ponies。　His　wife　stood　in　the　light　of　theopen　door。　
'You　be　careful　of　yourself。　Maggot！'　she　called。　'Don't　go　arguing　withany　foreigners；　and　e　straight　back！'　
'I　will！'　said　he；　and　drove　out　of　the　gate。　There　was　now　no　breath　ofwind　stirring；　the　night　was　still　and　quiet；　and　a　chill　was　in　the　air。　Theywent　without　lights　and　took　it　slowly。　After　a　mile　or　two　the　lane　came　toan　end；　crossing　a　deep　dike；　and　climbing　a　short　slope　up　on　to　the　high…　
banked　causeway。　
Maggot　got　down　and　took　a　good　look　either　way；　north　and　south；　butnothing　could　be　seen　in　the　darkness；　and　there　was　not　a　sound　in　the　stillair。　Thin　strands　of　river…mist　were　hanging　above　the　dikes；　and　crawlingover　the　fields。　　
'It's　going　to　be　thick；'　said　Maggot；　'but　I'll　not　light　my　lantern　　
　
till　I　turn　for　home。　We'll　hear　anything　on　the　road　long　before　we　meet　ittonight。'　
It　was　five　miles　or　more　from　Maggot's　lane　to　the　Ferry。　The　hobbitswrapped　themselves　up；　but　their　ears　were　strained　for　any　sound　above　thecreak　of　the　wheels　and　the　slow　_clop_　of　the　ponies'　hoofs。　The　waggonseemed　slower　than　a　snail　to　Frodo。　Beside　him　Pippin　was　nodding　towardssleep；　but　Sam　was　staring　forwards　into　the　rising　fog。　
They　reached　the　entrance　to　the　Ferry　lane　at　last。　It　was　marked　by　twotall　white　posts　that　suddenly　loomed　up　on　their　right。　Farmer　Maggot　drew　inhis　ponies　and　the　waggon　creaked　to　a　halt。　They　were　just　beginning　loscramble　out；　when　suddenly　they　heard　what　they　had　all　been　dreading：　hoofson　the　road　ahead。　The　sound　was　ing　towards　them。　
Maggot　jumped　down　and　stood　holding　the　ponies'　heads；　and　peeringforward　into　the　gloom。　_Clip…clop；　clip…clop_　came　the　approaching　rider。　Thefall　of　the　hoofs　sounded　loud　in　the　still；　foggy　air。　
'You'd　better　be　hidden；　Mr。　Frodo；'　said　Sam　anxiously。　'You　get　down　inthe　waggon　and　cover　up　with　blankets；　and　we'll　send　this　rider　to　therightabouts！'　He　climbed　out　and　went　to　the　farmer's　side。　Black　Riders　wouldhave　to　ride　over　him　to　get　near　the　waggon。　
_Clop…clop；　clop…clop。_　The　rider　was　nearly　on　them。　
'Hallo　there！'　called　Farmer　Maggot。　The　advancing　hoofs　stopped　short。　
They　thought　they　could　dimly　guess　a　dark　cloaked　shape　in　the　mist；　a　yardor　two　ahead。　'Now　then！'　said　the　farmer；　throwing　the　reins　to　Sam　andstriding　forward。　'Don't　you　e　a　step　nearer！　What　do　you　want；　and　whereare　you　going？'　
'I　want　Mr。　Baggins。　Have　you　seen　him？'　said　a　muffled　voice　–　but　thevoice　was　the　voice　of　Merry　Brandybuck。　A　dark　lantern　was　uncovered；　and　itslight　fell　on　the　astonished　face　of　the　farmer。　
'Mr。　Merry！'　he　cried。　
'Yes；　of　course！　Who　did　you　think　it　was？'　said　Merry　ing　forward。　Ashe　came　out　of　the　mist　and　their　fears　subsided；　he　seemed　suddenly　todiminish　to　ordinary　hobbit…size。　He　was　riding　a　pony；　and　a　scarf　wasswathed　round　his　neck　and　over　his　chin　to　keep　out　the　fog。　
Frodo　sprang　out　of　the　waggon　to　greet　him。　'So　there　you　are　at　last！'　
said　Merry。　'I　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　you　would　turn　up　at　all　today；　andI　was　just　going　back　to　supper。　When　it　grew　foggy　I　came　across　and　rode　uptowards　Stock　to　see　if　you　had　fallen　in　any　ditches。　But　I'm　blest　if　I　knowwhich　way　you　have　e。　Where　did　you　find　them；　Mr。　Maggot？　In　your　duck…　
pond？'　
'No；　I　caught　'em　trespassing；'　said　the　farmer；　'and　nearly　set　my　dogson　'em；　but　they'll　tell　you　all　the　story；　I've　no　doubt。　Now；　if　you'llexcuse　me；　Mr。　Merry　and　Mr。　Frodo　and　all；　I'd　best　be　turning　for　home。　Mrs。　
Maggot　will　be　worriting　with　the　night　getting　thick。'　
He　backed　the　waggon　into　the　lane　and　turned　it。　'Well；　good　night　toyou　all；'　he　said。　'It's　been　a　queer　day；　and　no　mistake。　But　all's　well　asends　well；　though　perhaps　we　should　not　say　that　until　we　reach　our　own　doors。　
I'll　not　deny　that　I'll　be　glad　now　when　I　do。'　He　lit　his　lanterns；　and　gotup。　Suddenly　he　produced　a　large　basket　from　under　the　seat。　'I　was　nearlyforgetting；'　he　said。　'Mrs。　Maggot　put　this　up　for　Mr。　Baggins；　with　herpliments。'　He　handed　it　down　and　moved　off；　followed　by　a　chorus　of　thanksand　good…nights。　
They　watched　the　pale　rings　of　light　round　his　lanterns　as　they　dwindledinto　the　foggy　night。　Suddenly　Frodo　laughed：　from　the　covered　basket　he　held；　
the　scent　of　mushrooms　was　rising。　　
_Chapter　5_　
A　Conspiracy　Unmasked　　
'Now　we　had　better　get　home　ourselves；'　said　Merry。　There's　something　　
　
funny　about　all　this；　I　see；　but　it　must　wait　till　we　get　in。'　
They　turned　down　the　Ferry　lane；　which　was　straight　and　well…kept　andedged　with　large　white…washed　stones。　In　a　hundred　yards　or　so　it　brought　themto　the　river…bank；　where　there　was　a　broad　wooden　landing…stage。　A　large　flatferry…boat　was　moored　beside　it。　The　white　bollards　near　the　water's　edgeglimmered　in　the　light　of　two　lamps　on　high　posts。　Behind　them　the　mists　inthe　flat　fields　were　now　above　the　hedges；　but　the　water　before　them　was　dark；　
with　only　a　few　curling　wisps　like　steam　among　the　reeds　by　the　bank。　Thereseemed　to　be　less　fog　on　the　further　side。　
Merry　led　the　pony　over　a　gangway　on　to　the　ferry；　and　the　othersfollowed。　Merry　then　pushed　slowly　off　with　a　long　pole。　The　Brandywine　flowedslow　and　broad　before　them。　On　the　other　side　the　bank　was　steep；　and　up　it　awinding　path　climbed　from　the　further　landing。　Lamps　were　twinkl