the fellowship of the ring-第47部分

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you　worry　till　the　morning。　Nob'll　sayno　word。　No　black　man　shall　pass　my　doors；　while　I　can　stand　on　my　legs。　Meand　my　folk'll　keep　watch　tonight；　but　you　had　best　get　some　sleep；　if　youcan。'　　
'In　any　case　we　must　be　called　at　dawn；'　said　Frodo。　'We　must　get　off　asearly　as　possible。　Breakfast　at　six…thirty；　please。'　
'Right！　I'll　see　to　the　orders；'　said　the　landlord。　'Good　night；　Mr。　
Baggins　–　Underhill；　I　should　say！　Good　night　–　now；　bless　me！　Where's　yourMr。　Brandybuck？'　
'I　don't　know；'　said　Frodo　with　sudden　anxiety。　They　had　forgotten　allabout　Merry；　and　it　was　getting　late。　'I　am　afraid　he　is　out。　He　saidsomething　about　going　for　a　breath　of　air。'　
'Well；　you　do　want　looking　after　and　no　mistake：　your　party　might　be　on　aholiday！'　said　Butterbur。　'I　must　go　and　bar　the　doors　quick；　but　I'll　seeyour　friend　is　let　in　when　he　es。　I'd　better　send　Nob　to　look　for　him。　Goodnight　to　you　all！'　At　last　Mr。　Butterbur　went　out；　with　another　doubtful　lookat　Strider　and　a　shake　of　his　head。　His　footsteps　retreated　down　the　passage。　　
'Well？'　said　Strider。　'When　are　you　going　to　open　that　letter？'　Frodolooked　carefully　at　the　seal　before　he　broke　it。　It　seemed　certainly　to　beGandalf's。　Inside；　written　in　the　wizard's　strong　but　graceful　script；　was　the　　
　
following　message：　　
_THE　PRANCING　PONY；　BREE。　Midyear's　Day；　Shire　Year；　1418。_　
_Dear　Frodo；_　
_Bad　news　has　reached　me　here。　I　must　go　off　at　once。　You　had　betterleave　Bag　End　soon；　and　get　out　of　the　Shire　before　the　end　of　July　at　latest。　
I　will　return　as　soon　as　I　can；　and　I　will　follow　you；　if　I　find　that　you　aregone。　Leave　a　message　for　me　here；　if　you　pass　through　Bree。　You　can　trust　thelandlord　（Butterbur）。　You　may　meet　a　friend　of　mine　on　the　Road：　a　Man；　lean；　
dark；　tall；　by　some　called　Strider。　He　knows　our　business　and　will　help　you。　
Make　for　Rivendell。　There　I　hope　we　may　meet　again。　If　I　do　not　e；　Elrond　
will　advise　you。_　　
_Yours　in　haste_　　
_GANDALF_。　　
_PS。　Do　NOT　use　It　again；　not　far　any　reason　whatever！　Do　not　travel　bynight！_　
_PPS。　Make　sure　that　it　is　the　real　Strider。　There　are　many　strange　menon　the　roads。　His　true　name　is　Aragorn_。　　
All　that　is　gold　does　not　glitter；　
Not　all　those　who　wander　are　lost；　
The　old　that　is　strong　does　not　wither；　
Deep　roots　are　not　reached　by　the　frost。　
From　the　ashes　a　fire　shall　be　woken；　
A　light　from　the　shadows　shall　spring；　
Renewed　shall　be　blade　that　was　broken；　
The　crownless　again　shall　be　king。　　
_PPPS。　I　hope　Butterbur　sends　this　promptly。　A　worthy　man；　
but　his　memory　is　like　a　lumber…room：　thing　wanted　always　buried。　If　heforgets；　I　shall　roast　him。_　
_Fare　Well！_　　
Frodo　read　the　letter　to　himself；　and　then　passed　it　to　Pippin　and　Sam。　
'Really　old　Butterbur　has　made　a　mess　of　things！'　he　said。　'He　deservesroasting。　If　I　had　got　this　at　once；　we　might　all　have　been　safe　in　Rivendellby　now。　But　what　can　have　happened　to　Gandalf？　He　writes　as　if　he　was　goinginto　great　danger。'　
'He　has　been　doing　that　for　many　years；'　said　Strider。　
Frodo　turned　and　looked　at　him　thoughtfully；　wondering　about　Gandalf'ssecond　postscript。　'Why　didn't　you　tell　me　that　you　were　Gandalf's　friend　atonce？'　he　asked。　'It　would　have　saved　time。'　　
'Would　it？　Would　any　of　you　have　believed　me　till　now？'　said　Strider。　'Iknew　nothing　of　this　letter。　For　all　I　knew　I　had　to　persuade　you　to　trust　mewithout　proofs；　if　I　was　to　help　you。　In　any　case；　I　did　not　intend　to　tellyou　all　about　myself　at　once。　I　had　to　study　_you_　first；　and　make　sure　ofyou。　The　Enemy　has　set　traps　for　me　before　now。　As　soon　as　I　had　made　up　mymind；　I　was　ready　to　tell　you　whatever　you　asked。　But　I　must　admit；'　he　addedwith　a　queer　laugh；　'that　I　hoped　you　would　take　to　me　for　my　own　sake。　Ahunted　man　sometimes　wearies　of　distrust　and　longs　for　friendship。　But　there；　
I　believe　my　looks　are　against　me。'　
'They　are　–　at　first　sight　at　any　rate；'　laughed　Pippin　with　suddenrelief　after　reading　Gandalf's　letter。　'But　handsome　is　as　handsome　does；　aswe　say　in　the　Shire；　and　I　daresay　we　shall　all　look　much　the　same　after　lyingfor　days　in　hedges　and　ditches。'　　
　
'It　would　take　more　than　a　few　days；　or　weeks；　or　years；　of　wandering　inthe　Wild　to　make　you　look　like　Strider；'　he　answered。　'And　you　would　diefirst；　unless　you　are　made　of　sterner　stuff　than　you　look　to　be。'　
Pippin　subsided；　but　Sam　was　not　daunted；　and　he　still　eyed　Striderdubiously。　'How　do　we　know　you　are　the　Strider　that　Gandalf　speaks　about？'　hedemanded。　'You　never　mentioned　Gandalf；　till　this　letter　came　out。　You　mightbe　a　play…acting　spy；　for　all　I　can　see；　trying　to　get　us　to　go　with　you。　Youmight　have　done　in　the　real　Strider　and　took　his　clothes。　What　have　you　to　sayto　that？'　　
'That　you　are　a　stout　fellow；'　answered　Strider；　'but　I　am　afraid　my　onlyanswer　to　you；　Sam　Gamgee；　is　this。　If　I　had　killed　the　real　Strider；　I　couldkill　you。　And　I　should　have　killed　you　already　without　so　much　talk。　If　I　wasafter　the　Ring；　I　could　have　it　–　NOW！'　
He　stood　up；　and　seemed　suddenly　to　grow　taller。　In　his　eyes　gleamed　alight；　keen　and　manding。　Throwing　back　his　cloak；　he　laid　his　hand　on　thehilt　of　a　sword　that　had　hung　concealed　by　his　side。　They　did　not　dare　tomove。　Sam　sat　wide…mouthed　staring　at　him　dumbly。　
'But　I　_am_　the　real　Strider；　fortunately；'　he　said；　looking　down　at　themwith　his　face　softened　by　a　sudden　smile。　'I　am　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn；　andif　by　life　or　death　I　can　save　you；　I　will。'　　
There　was　a　long　silence。　At　last　Frodo　spoke　with　hesitation。　'Ibelieved　that　you　were　a　friend　before　the　letter　came；'　he　said；　'or　at　leastI　wished　to。　You　have　frightened　me　several　times　tonight；　but　never　in　theway　that　servants　of　the　Enemy　would；　or　so　I　imagine。　I　think　one　of　hisspies　would　–　well；　seem　fairer　and　feel　fouler；　if　you　understand。'　
'I　see；'　laughed　Strider。　'I　look　foul　and　feel　fair。　Is　that　it？　_Allthat　is　gold　does　not　glitter；　not　all　those　who　wander　are　lost。'_　
'Did　the　verses　apply　to　you　then？'　asked　Frodo。　'I　could　not　make　outwhat　they　were　about。　But　how　did　you　know　that　they　were　in　Gandalf's　letter；　
if　you　have　never　seen　it？'　
'I　did　not　know；'　he　answered。　'But　I　am　Aragorn；　and　those　verses　gowith　that　name。'　He　drew　out　his　sword；　and　they　saw　that　the　blade　was　indeedbroken　a　foot　below　the　hilt。　'Not　much　use　is　it；　Sam？'　said　Strider。　'Butthe　time　is　near　when　it　shall　be　forged　anew。'　
Sam　said　nothing。　
'Well；'　said　Strider；　'with　Sam's　permission　we　will　call　that　settled。　
Strider　shall　be　your　guide。　We　shall　have　a　rough　road　tomorrow。　Even　if　weare　allowed　to　leave　Bree　unhindered；　we　can　hardly　hope　now　to　leave　itunnoticed。　But　I　shall　try　to　get　lost　as　soon　as　possible。　I　know　one　or　twoways　out　of　Bree…land　other　than　the　main　road。　If　once　we　shake　off　thepursuit；　I　shall　make　for　Weathertop。'　
'Weathertop？'　said　Sam。　'What's　that？'　
'It　is　a　hill；　just　to　the　north　of　the　Road；　about　half　way　from　here　toRivendell。　It　mands　a　wide　view　all　round；　and　there　we　shall　have　a　chanceto　look　about　us。　Gandalf　will　make　for　that　point；　if　he　follows　us。　AfterWeathertop　our　journey　will　bee　more　difficult；　and　we　shall　have　to　choosebetween　various　dangers。'　
'When　did　you　last　see　Gandalf？'　asked　Frodo。　'Do　you　know　where　he　is；　
or　what　he　is　doing？'　
Strider　looked　grave。　'I　do　not　know；'　he　said。　'I　came　west　with　him　inthe　spring。　I　have　often　kept　watch　on　the　borders　of　the　Shire　in　the　lastfew　years；　when　he　was　busy　elsewhere。　He　seldom　left　it　unguarded。　We　lastmet　on　the　first　of　May：　at　Sam　Ford　down　the　Brandywine。　He　told　me　that　hisbusiness　with　you　had　gone　well；　and　that　you　would　be　starting　for　Rivendellin　the　last　week　of　September。　As　I　knew　he　was　at　your　side；　I　went　away　on　ajourney　of　my　own。　And　that　has　proved　ill；　for　plainly　some　news　reached　him；　
and　I　was　not　at　hand　to　help。　
'I　am　troubled；　for　the　first　time　since　I　have　known　him。　We　should　havehad　messages；　even　if　he　could　not　e　himself。　When　I　returned；　many　days　　
　
ago；　I　heard　the　ill　news。　The　tidings　had　gone　far　and　wide　that　Gandalf　wasmissing　and　the　horsemen　had　been　seen。　It　was　the　Elven…folk　of　Gildor　thattold　me　this；　and　later　they　told　me　that　you　had　left　your　home；　but　therewas　no　news　of　your　leaving　Buckland。　I　have　been　watching　the　East　Roadanxiously。'　
'Do　you　think　the　Black　Riders　have　anything　to　do　with　it　–　withGandalf's　absence；　I　mean？'　asked　Frodo。　
'I　do　not　know　of　anything　else　that　could　have　hindered　him；　except　theEnemy　himself；'　said　Strider。　'But　do　not　give　up　hope！　Gandalf　is　greaterthan　you　Shire…folk　know　–　as　a　rule　you　can　only　see　his　jokes　and　toys。　Butthis　business　of　ours　will　be　his　greatest　task。'　
Pippin　yawned。　'I　am　sorry；'　he　said；　'but　I　am　dead　tired。　In　spite　ofall　the　danger　and　worry　I　must　go　to　bed；　or　sleep　where　I　sit。　Where　is　thatsilly　fellow；　Merry？　It　would　be　the　last　straw；　if　we　had　to　go　out　in　thedark　to　look　for　him。'　　
At　that　moment　they　heard　a　door　slam；　then　feet　came　running　along　thepassage。　Merry　came　in　with　a　rush　followed　by　Nob。　He　shut　the　door　hastily；　
and　leaned　against　it。　He　was　out　of　breath。　They　stared　at　him　in　alarm　for　amoment　before　he　gasped：　'I　have　seen　them；　Frodo！　I　have　seen　them！　BlackRiders！'