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eally care about me； you will keep that_dead_ secret。 See？ If you don't； if you even breathe a word of what you'veheard here； then I hope Gandalf will turn you into a spotted toad and fill thegarden full of grass…snakes。'
Sam fell on his knees； trembling。 'Get up； Sam！' said Gandalf。 I havethought of something better than that。 Something to shut your mouth； andpunish you properly for listening。 You shall go away with Mr。 Frodo！'
'Me； sir！' cried Sam； springing up like a dog invited for a walk。 'Me goand see Elves and all！ Hooray！' he shouted； and then burst into tears。
Three is pany_Chapter 3_
'You ought to go quietly； and you ought to go soon；' said Gandalf。 Two orthree weeks had passed； and still Frodo made no sign of getting ready to go。
'I know。 But it is difficult to do both；' he objected。 If I just vanishlike Bilbo； the tale will be all over the Shire in no time。'
'Of course you mustn't vanish！' said Gandalf。 'That wouldn't do at all！ Isaid _soon；_ not _instantly。_ If you can think of any way of slipping out ofthe Shire without its being generally known； it will be worth a little delay。
But you must not delay too long。'
'What about the autumn； on or after Our Birthday？' asked Frodo。 'I thinkI could probably make some arrangements by then。'
To tell the truth； he was very reluctant to start； now that it had eto the point。 Bag End seemed a more desirable residence than it had for years；
and he wanted to savour as much as he could of his last summer in the Shire。
When autumn came； he knew that part at least of his heart would think morekindly of journeying； as it always did at that season。 He had indeed privatelymade up his mind to leave on his fiftieth birthday： Bilbo's one hundred andtwenty…eighth。 It seemed somehow the proper day on which to set out and followhim。 Following Bilbo was uppermost in his mind； and the one thing that madethe thought of leaving bearable。 He thought as little as possible about the
Ring； and where it might lead him in the end。 But he did not tell all histhoughts to Gandalf。 What the wizard guessed was always difficult to tell。
He looked at Frodo and smiled。 'Very well；' he said。 'I think that willdo – but it must not be any later。 I am getting very anxious。 In the meanwhile；
do take care； and don't let out any hint of where you are going！ Andsee that Sam Gamgee does not talk。 If he does； I really shall turn him into atoad。'
'As for _where I_ am going；' said Frodo； 'it would be difficult to givethat away； for I have no clear idea myself； yet。'
'Don't be absurd！' said Gandalf。 'I am not warning you against leaving anaddress at the post…office！ But you are leaving the Shire – and that shouldnot be known； until you are far away。 And you must go； or at least set out；
either North； South； West or East – and the direction should certainly not beknown。'
'I have been so taken up with the thoughts of leaving Bag End； and ofsaying farewell； that I have never even considered the direction；' said Frodo。
'For where am I to go？ And by what shall I steer？ What is to be my quest？
Bilbo went to find a treasure； there and back again； but I go to lose one； andnot return； as far as I can see。'
'But you cannot see very far；' said Gandalf。 'Neither can I。 It may beyour task to find the Cracks of Doom； but that quest may be for others： I donot know。 At any rate you are not ready for that long road yet。'
'No indeed！' said Frodo。 'But in the meantime what course am I to lake？'
'Towards danger； but not too rashly； nor too straight；' answered thewizard。 'If you want my advice； make for Rivendell。 That journey should notprove too perilous； though the Road is less easy than it was； and it will growworse as the year fails。'
'Rivendell！' said Frodo。 'Very good： I will go east； and I will make forRivendell。 I will take Sam to visit the Elves； he will be delighted。' He spokelightly； but his heart was moved suddenly with a desire to see the house ofElrond Halfelven； and breathe the air of that deep valley where many of theFair Folk still dwelt in peace。
One summer's evening an astonishing piece of news reached the _Ivy Bush_
and _Green Dragon。_ Giants and other portents on the borders of the Shire wereforgotten for more important matters： Mr。 Frodo was selling Bag End； indeed hehad already sold it – to the Sackville…Bagginses！
'For a nice bit； loo；' said some。 'At a bargain price；' said others； 'andthat's more likely when Mistress Lobelia's the buyer。' （Otho had died someyears before； at the ripe but disappointed age of 102。）
Just why Mr。 Frodo was selling his beautiful hole was even more debatablethan the price。 A few held the theory – supported by the nods and hints of Mr。
Baggins himself – that Frodo's money was running out： he was going to leaveHobbiton and live in a quiet way on the proceeds of the sale down in Bucklandamong his Brandybuck relations。 'As far from the Sackville…Bagginses as maybe；' some added。 But so firmly fixed had the notion of the immeasurable wealthof the Bagginses of Bag End bee that most found this hard to believe；
harder than any other reason or unreason that their fancy could suggest： tomost it suggested a dark and yet unrevealed plot by Gandalf。 Though he kepthimself very quiet and did not go about by day； it was well known that he was'hiding up in the Bag End'。 But however a removal might fit in with thedesigns of his wizardry； there was no doubt about the fact： Frodo Baggins wasgoing back to Buckland。
'Yes； I shall be moving this autumn；' he said。 'Merry Brandybuck islooking out for a nice little hole for me； or perhaps a small house。'
As a matter of fact with Merry's help he had already chosen and bought alittle house at Crickhollow in the country beyond Bucklebury。 To all but Samhe pretended he was going to settle down there permanently。 The decision toset out eastwards had suggested the idea to him； for Buckland was on theeastern borders of the Shire； and as he had lived there in childhood his going
back would at least seem credible。
Gandalf stayed in the Shire for over two months。 Then one evening； at theend of June； soon after Frodo's plan had been finally arranged； he suddenlyannounced that he was going off again next morning。 'Only for a short while； Ihope；' he said。 'But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get somenews； if I can。 I have been idle longer than I should。'
He spoke lightly； but it seemed to Frodo that he looked rather worried。
'Has anything happened？' he asked。
'Well no； but I have heard something that has made me anxious and needslooking into。 If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once； Ishall e back immediately； or at least send word。 In the meanwhile stick toyour plan； but be more careful than ever； especially of the Ring。 Let meimpress on you once more： _don't use it！'_
He went off at dawn。 'I may be back any day；' he said。 'At the verylatest I shall e back for the farewell party。 I think after all you mayneed my pany on the Road。'
At first Frodo was a good deal disturbed； and wondered often what Gandalfcould have heard； but his uneasiness wore off； and in the fine weather heforgot his troubles for a while。 The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer；
or so rich an autumn： the trees were laden with apples； honey was dripping inthe bs； and the corn was tall and full。
Autumn was well under way before Frodo began to worry about Gandalfagain。 September was passing and there was still no news of him。 The Birthday；
and the removal； drew nearer； and still he did not e； or send word。 Bag Endbegan to be busy。 Some of Frodo's friends came to stay and help him with thepacking： there was Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin； and of course his specialfriends Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck。 Between them they turned the wholeplace upside…down。
On September 20th two covered carts went off laden to Buckland； conveyingthe furniture and goods that Frodo had not sold to his new home； by way of theBrandywine Bridge。 The next day Frodo became really anxious； and kept aconstant look…out for Gandalf。 Thursday； his birthday morning； dawned as fairand clear as it had long ago for Bilbo's great party。 Still Gandalf did notappear。 In the evening Frodo gave his farewell feast： it was quite small； justa dinner for himself and his four helpers； but he was troubled and fell in nomood for it。 The thought that he would so soon have to part with his youngfriends weighed on his heart。 He wondered how he would break it to them。
The four younger hobbits were； however； in high spirits； and the partysoon became very cheerful in spite of Gandalf's absence。 The dining…room wasbare except for a table and chairs； but the food was good； and there was goodwine： Frodo's wine had not been included in the sale to the Sackville…
Bagginses。
'Whatever happens to the rest of my stuff； when the S。…B。s get theirclaws on it； at any rate I have found a good home for this！' said Frodo； as hedrained his glass。 It was the last drop of Old Winyards。
When they had sung many songs； and talked of many things they had donetogether； they toasted Bilbo's birthday； and they drank his health and Frodo'stogether according to Frodo's custom。 Then they went out for a sniff of air；
and glimpse of the stars； and the