the fellowship of the ring-第48部分

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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！'　　
'Black　Riders！'　cried　Frodo。　'Where？'　　
'Here。　In　the　village。　I　stayed　indoors　for　an　hour。　Then　as　you　did　note　back；　I　went　out　for　a　stroll。　I　had　e　back　again　and　was　standingjust　outside　the　light　of　the　lamp　looking　at　the　stars。　Suddenly　I　shiveredand　felt　that　something　horrible　was　creeping　near：　there　was　a　son　of　deepershade　among　the　shadows　across　the　road；　just　beyond　the　edge　of　thelamplight。　It　slid　away　at　once　into　the　dark　without　a　sound。　There　was　nohorse。'　　
'Which　way　did　it　go？'　asked　Strider；　suddenly　and　sharply。　Merrystarted；　noticing　the　stranger　for　the　first　time。　'Go　on！'　said　Frodo。　'Thisis　a　friend　of　Gandalf's。　I　will　explain　later。'　
'It　seemed　to　make　off　up　the　Road；　eastward；'　continued　Merry。　'I　triedto　follow。　Of　course；　it　vanished　almost　at　once；　but　I　went　round　the　cornerand　on　as　far　as　the　last　house　on　the　Road。'　　
Strider　looked　at　Merry　with　wonder。　'You　have　a　stout　heart；'　he　said；　
'but　it　was　foolish。'　　
'I　don't　know；'　said　Merry。　'Neither　brave　nor　silly；　I　think。　I　couldhardly　help　myself。　I　seemed　to　be　drawn　somehow。　Anyway；　I　went；　and　suddenlyI　heard　voices　by　the　hedge。　One　was　muttering；　and　the　other　was　whispering；　
or　hissing。　I　couldn't　hear　a　word　that　was　said。　I　did　not　creep　any　closer；　
because　I　began　to　tremble　all　over。　Then　I　felt　terrified；　and　I　turned　back；　
and　was　just　going　to　bolt　home；　when　something　came　behind　me　and　I。。。　I　fellover。'　　
'I　found　him；　sir；'　put　in　Nob。　'Mr。　Butterbur　sent　me　out　with　alantern。　I　went　down　to　West…gate；　and　then　back　up　towards　South…gate。　Justnigh　Bill　Ferny's　house　I　thought　I　could　see　something　in　the　Road。　Icouldn't　swear　to　it；　but　it　looked　to　me　as　if　two　men　was　stooping　oversomething；　lilting　it。　I　gave　a　shout；　but　where　I　got　up　to　the　spot　therewas　no　signs　of　them；　and　only　Mr。　Brandybuck　lying　by　the　roadside。　He　seemedto　be　asleep。　〃I　thought　I　had　fallen　into　deep　water；〃　he　says　to　me；　when　Ishook　him。　Very　queer　he　was；　and　as　soon　as　I　had　roused　him；　he　got　up　andran　back　here　like　a　hare。'　　
'I　am　afraid　that's　true；'　said　Merry；　'though　I　don't　know　what　I　said。　
I　had　an　ugly　dream；　which　I　can't　remember。　I　went　to　pieces。　I　don't　knowwhat　came　over　me。'　　
'I　do；'　said　Strider。　'The　Black　Breath。　The　Riders　must　have　left　theirhorses　outside；　and　passed　back　through　the　South…gate　in　secret。　They　willknow　all　the　news　now；　for　they　have　visited　Bill　Ferny；　and　probably　thatSoutherner　was　a　spy　as　well。　Something　may　happen　in　the　night；　before　we　　
　
leave　Bree。'　　
'What　will　happen？'　said　Merry。　'Will　they　attack　the　inn？'　'No；　I　thinknot；'　said　Strider。　'They　are　not　all　here　yet。　And　in　any　case　that　is　nottheir　way。　In　dark　and　loneliness　they　are　strongest；　they　will　not　openlyattack　a　house　where　there　are　lights　and　many　people　…not　until　they　aredesperate；　not　while　all　the　long　leagues　of　Eriador　still　lie　before　us。　Buttheir　power　is　in　terror；　and　already　some　in　Bree　are　in　their　clutch。　Theywill　drive　these　wretches　to　some　evil　work：　Ferny；　and　some　of　the　strangers；　
and；　maybe；　the　gatekeeper　too。　They　had　words　with　Harry　at　West…gate　onMonday。　I　was　watching　them。　He　was　white　and　shaking　when　they　left　him。'　
'We　seem　to　have　enemies　all　round；'　said　Frodo。　'What　are　we　to　do？'　
'Stay　here；　and　do　not　go　to　your　rooms！　They　are　sure　to　have　found　outwhich　those　are。　The　hobbit…rooms　have　windows　looking　north　and　close　to　theground。　We　will　all　remain　together　and　bar　this　window　and　the　door。　Butfirst　Nob　and　I　will　fetch　your　luggage。'　
While　Strider　was　gone；　Frodo　gave　Merry　a　rapid　account　of　all　that　hadhappened　since　supper。　Merry　was　still　reading　and　pondering　Gandalf's　letterwhen　Strider　and　Nob　returned。　　
'Well　Masters；'　said　Nob；　'I've　ruffled　up　the　clothes　and　put　in　abolster　down　the　middle　of　each　bed。　And　I　made　a　nice　imitation　of　your　headwith　a　brown　woollen　mat；　Mr。　Bag　–　Underhill；　sir；'　he　added　with　a　grin。　
Pippin　laughed。　'Very　life…like！'　he　said。　'But　what　will　happen　whenthey　have　penetrated　the　disguise？'　
'We　shall　see；'　said　Strider。　'Let　us　hope　to　hold　the　fort　tillmorning。'　
'Good　night　to　you；'　said　Nob；　and　went　off　to　take　his　part　in　the　watchon　the　doors。　　
Their　bags　and　gear　they　piled　on　the　parlour…floor。　They　pushed　a　lowchair　against　the　door　and　shut　the　window。　Peering　out；　Frodo　saw　that　thenight　was　still　clear。　The　Sickle　was　swinging　bright　above　the　shoulders　ofBree…hill。　He　then　closed　and　barred　the　heavy　inside　shutters　and　drew　thecurtains　together。　Strider　built　up　the　fire　and　blew　out　all　the　candles。　
The　hobbits　lay　down　on　their　blankets　with　their　feet　towards　thehearth；　but　Strider　settled　himself　in　the　chair　against　the　door。　They　talkedfor　a　little；　for　Merry　still　had　several　questions　to　ask。　
'Jumped　over　the　Moon！'　chuckled　Merry　as　he　rolled　himself　in　hisblanket。　'Very　ridiculous　of　you；　Frodo！　But　I　wish　I　had　been　there　to　see。　
The　worthies　of　Bree　will　be　discussing　it　a　hundred　years　hence。'　
'I　hope　so；'　said　Strider。　Then　they　all　fell　silent；　and　one　by　one　thehobbits　dropped　off　to　sleep。　　
_Chapter　11_　
A　Knife　in　the　Dark　　
As　they　prepared　for　sleep　in　the　inn　at　Bree；　darkness　lay　on　Buckland；　
a　mist　strayed　in　the　dells　and　along　the　river…bank。　The　house　at　Crickhollowstood　silent。　Fatty　Bolger　opened　the　door　cautiously　and　peered　out。　Afeeling　of　fear　had　been　growing　on　him　all　day；　and　he　was　unable　to　rest　orgo　to　bed：　there　was　a　brooding　threat　in　the　breathless　night…air。　As　hestared　out　into　the　gloom；　a　black　shadow　moved　under　the　trees；　the　gateseemed　to　open　of　its　own　accord　and　close　again　without　a　sound。　Terrorseized　him。　He　shrank　back；　and　for　a　moment　he　stood　trembling　in　the　hall。　
Then　he　shut　and　locked　the　door。　　
The　night　deepened。　There　came　the　soft　sound　of　horses　led　with　stealthalong　the　lane。　Outside　the　gate　they　stopped；　and　three　black　figuresentered；　like　shades　of　night　creeping　across　the　ground。　One　went　to　thedoor；　one　to　the　corner　of　the　house　on　either　side；　and　there　they　stood；　asstill　as　the　shadows　of　stones；　while　night　went　slowly　on。　The　house　and　thequiet　trees　seemed　to　be　waiting　breathlessly。　　
　
There　was　a　faint　stir　in　the　leaves；　and　a　cock　crowed　far　away。　Thecold　hour　before　dawn　was　passing。　The　figure　by　the　door　moved。　In　the　darkwithout　moon　or　stars　a　drawn　blade　gleamed；　as　if　a　chill　light　had　beenunsheathed。　There　was　a　blow；　soft　but　heavy；　and　the　door　shuddered。　
'Open；　in　the　name　of　Mordor！'　said　a　voice　thin　and　menacing。　
At　a　second　blow　the　door　yielded　and　fell　back；　with　timbers　burst　andlock　broken。　The　black　figures　passed　swiftly　in。　
At　that　moment；　among　the　trees　nearby；　a　horn　rang　out。　It　rent　thenight　like　fire　on　a　hill…top。　　
AWAKE！　FEAR！　FIRE！　FOES！　AWAKE！　　
Fatty　Bolger　had　not　been　idle。　As　soon　as　he　saw　the　dark　shapes　creepfrom　the　garden；　he　knew　that　he　must　run　for　it；　or　perish。　And　run　he　did；　
out　of　the　back　door；　through　the　garden；　and　over　the　fields。　When　he　reachedthe　nearest　house；　more　than　a　mile　away；　he　collapsed　on　the　doorstep。　'No；　
no；　no！'　he　was　crying。　'No；　not　me！　I　haven't　got　it！'　It　was　some　timebefore　anyone　could　make　out　what　he　was　babbling　about。　At　last　they　got　theidea　that　enemies　were　in　Buckland；　some　strange　invasion　from　the　Old　Forest。　
And　then　they　lost　no　more　time。　　
FEAR！　FIRE！　FOES！　　
The　Brandybucks　were　blowing　the　Horn…call　of　Buckland；　that　had　not　beensounded　for　a　hundred　years；　not　since　the　white　wolves　came　in　the　FellWinter；　when　the　Brandywine　was　frozen　over。　　
AWAKE！　AWAKE！　　
Far…away　answering　horns　were　heard。　The　alarm　was　spreading。　The　blackfigures　fled　from　the　house。　One　of　them　let　fall　a　hobbit…cloak　on　the　step；　
as　he　ran。　In　the　lane　the　noise　of　hoofs　broke　out；　and　gathering　to　agallop；　went　hammering　away　into　the　darkness。　All　about　Crickhollow　there　wasthe　sound　of　horns　blowing；　and　voices　crying　and　feet　running。　But　the　BlackRiders　rode　like　a　gale　to　the　North…gate。　Let　the　little　people　blow！　Sauronwould　deal　with　them　later。　Meanwhile　they　had　another　errand：　they　knew　nowthat　the　house　was　empty　and　the　Ring　had　gone。　They　rode　down　the　guards　atthe　gate　and　vanished　from　the　Shire。　　
In　the　early　night　Frodo　woke　from　deep　sleep；　suddenly；　as　if　some　soundor　presence　had　disturbed　him。　He　saw　that　Strider　was　sitting　alert　in　hischair：　his　eyes　gleamed　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　which　had　been　tended　andwas　burning　brightly；　but　he　made　no　sign　or　movement。　
Frodo　soon　went　to　sleep　again；　but　his　dreams　were　again　troubled　withthe　noise　of　wind　and　of　galloping　hoofs。　The　wind　seemed　to　be　curling　roundthe　house　and　shaking　it；　and　far　off　he　heard　a　horn　blowing　wildly。　Heopened　his　eyes；　and　heard　a　cock　crowing　lustily　in　the　inn…yard。　Strider　haddrawn　the　curtains　and　pushed　back　the　shutters　with　a　clang。　The　first　greylight　of　day　was　in　the　room；　and　a　cold　air　was　ing　through　the　openwindow。　　
As　soon　as　Strider　had　roused　them　all；　he　led　the　way　to　their　bedrooms。　
When　they　saw　them　the