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he thought he knew。 But it lookedlike the old Sam Gamgee sitting there； except that his face was unusuallythoughtful。
'Do you feel any need to leave the Shire now – now that your wish to seethem has e true already？' he asked。
'Yes； sir。 I don't know how to say it； but after last night I feeldifferent。 I seem to see ahead； in a kind of way。 I know we are going to takea very long road； into darkness； but I know I can't turn back。 It isn't to seeElves now； nor dragons； nor mountains； that I want – I don't rightly know whatI want： but I have something to do before the end； and it lies ahead； not inthe Shire。 I must see it through； sir； if you understand me。'
'I don't altogether。 But I understand that Gandalf chose me a goodpanion。 I am content。 We will go together。'
Frodo finished his breakfast in silence。 Then standing up he looked overthe land ahead； and called to Pippin。
'All ready to start？' he said as Pippin ran up。 'We must be getting offat once。 We slept late； and there are a good many miles to go。'
_'You_ slept late； you mean；' said Pippin。 'I was up long before； and weare only waiting for you to finish eating and thinking。'
'I have finished both now。 And I am going to make for Bucklebury Ferry asquickly as possible。 I am not going out of the way； back to the road we leftlast night： I am going to cut straight across country from here。'
'Then you are going to fly；' said Pippin。 'You won't cut straight on footanywhere in this country。'
'We can cut straighter than the road anyway；' answered Frodo。 'The Ferryis east from Woodhall； but the hard road curves away to the left …you can seea bend of it away north over there。 It goes round the north end of the Marishso as to strike the causeway from the Bridge above Stock。 But that is milesout of the way。 We could save a quarter of the distance if we made a line forthe Ferry from where we stand。'
_'Short cuts make long delays；'_ argued Pippin。 'The country is roughround here； and there are bogs and all kinds of difficulties down in theMarish …I know the land in these parts。 And if you are worrying about BlackRiders； I can't see that it is any worse meeting them on a road than in a woodor a field。'
'It is less easy to find people in the woods and fields；' answered Frodo。
'And if you are supposed to be on the road； there is some chance that you willbe looked for on the road and not off it。'
'All right！' said Pippin。 'I will follow you into every bog and ditch。
But it is hard！ I had counted on passing the _Golden Perch_ at Stock beforesundown。 The best beer in the Eastfarthing； or used to be： it is a long timesince I tasted it。'
'That settles it！' said Frodo。 'Short cuts make delays； but inns makelonger ones。 At all costs we must keep you away from the _Golden Perch_。 Wewant to get to Bucklebury before dark。 What do you say； Sam？'
'I will go along with you； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam （in spite of privatemisgiving and a deep regret for the best beer in the Eastfarthing）。
'Then if we are going to toil through bog and briar； let's go now！' saidPippin。
It was already nearly as hot as it had been the day before； but clouds
were beginning to e up from the West。 It looked likely to turn to rain。 Thehobbits scrambled down a steep green bank and plunged into the thick treesbelow。 Their course had been chosen to leave Woodhall to their left； and tocut slanting through the woods that clustered along the eastern side of thehills； until they reached the flats beyond。 Then they could make straight forthe Ferry over country that was open； except for a few ditches and fences。
Frodo reckoned they had eighteen miles to go in a straight line。
He soon found that the thicket was closer and more tangled than it hadappeared。 There were no paths in the undergrowth； and they did not get on veryfast。 When they had struggled to the bottom of the bank； they found a streamrunning down from the hills behind in a deeply dug bed with steep slipperysides overhung with brambles。 Most inconveniently it cut across the line theyhad chosen。 They could not jump over it； nor indeed get across it at allwithout getting wet； scratched； and muddy。 They halted； wondering what to do。
'First check！' said Pippin； smiling grimly。
Sam Gamgee looked back。 Through an opening in the trees he caught aglimpse of the top of the green bank from which they had climbed down。
'Look！' he said； clutching Frodo by the arm。 They all looked； and on theedge high above them they saw against the sky a horse standing。 Beside itstooped a black figure。
They at once gave up any idea of going back。 Frodo led the way； andplunged quickly into the thick bushes beside the stream。 'Whew！' he said toPippin。 'We were both right！ The short cut has gone crooked already； but wegot under cover only just in time。 You've got sharp ears； Sam： can you hearanything ing？'
They stood still； almost holding their breath as they listened； but therewas no sound of pursuit。 'I don't fancy he would try bringing his horse downthat bank；' said Sam。 'But I guess he knows we came down it。 We had better begoing on。'
Going on was not altogether easy。 They had packs to carry； and the bushesand brambles were reluctant to let them through。 They were cut off from thewind by the ridge behind； and the air was still and stuffy。 When they forcedtheir way at last into more open ground； they were hot and tired and veryscratched； and they were also no longer certain of the direction in which theywere going。 The banks of the stream sank； as it reached the levels and becamebroader and shallower； wandering off towards the Marish and the River。
'Why； this is the Stock…brook！' said Pippin。 'If we are going to try andget back on to our course； we must cross at once and bear right。'
They waded the stream； and hurried over a wide open space； rush…grown andtreeless； on the further side。 Beyond that they came again to a belt of trees：
tall oaks； for the most part； with here and there an elm tree or an ash。 Theground was fairly level； and there was little undergrowth； but the trees wereloo close for them to see far ahead。 The leaves blew upwards in sudden gustsof wind； and spots of rain began to fall from the overcast sky。 Then the winddied away and the rain came streaming down。 They trudged along as fast as theycould； over patches of grass； and through thick drifts of old leaves； and allabout them the rain pattered and trickled。 They did not talk； but keptglancing back； and from side to side。
After half an hour Pippin said： 'I hope we have not turned too muchtowards the south； and are not walking longwise through this wood！ It is not avery broad belt …I should have said no more than a mile at the widest – and weought to have been through it by now。'
'It is no good our starting to go in zig…zags；' said Frodo。 'That won'tmend matters。 Let us keep on as we are going！ I am not sure that I want toe out into the open yet。'
They went on for perhaps another couple of miles。 Then the sun gleamedout of ragged clouds again and the rain lessened。 It was now past mid…day； andthey felt it was high time for lunch。 They halted under an elm tree： itsleaves though fast turning yellow were still thick； and the ground at its feelwas fairly dry and sheltered。 When they came to make their meal； they found
that the Elves had filled their bottles with a clear drink； pale golden incolour： it had the scent of a honey made of many flowers； and was wonderfullyrefreshing。 Very soon they were laughing； and snapping their fingers at rain；
and at Black Riders。 The last few miles； they felt； would soon be behind them。
Frodo propped his back against the tree…trunk； and closed his eyes。 Samand Pippin sat near； and they began to hum； and then to sing softly：
Ho！ Ho！ Ho！ to the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe。
Rain may fall and wind may blow；
And many miles be still to go；
But under a tall tree I will lie；
And let the clouds go sailing by。
_Ho！ Ho！ Ho！_ they began again louder。 They stopped short suddenly。 Frodosprang to his feet。 A long…drawn wail came down the wind； like the cry of someevil and lonely creature。 It rose and fell； and ended on a high piercing note。
Even as they sat and stood； as if suddenly frozen； it was answered by anothercry； fainter and further off； but no less chilling to the blood。 There wasthen a silence； broken only by the sound of the wind in the leaves。
'And what do you think that was？' Pippin asked at last； trying to speaklightly； but quavering a little。 'If it was a bird； it was one that I neverheard in the Shire before。'
'It was not bird or beast；' said Frodo。 'It was a call； or a signal –
there were words in that cry； though I could not catch them。 But no hobbit hassuch a voice。'
No more was said about it。 They were all thinking of the Riders； but noone spoke of them。 They were now reluctant either to stay or go on； but sooneror later they had got to get across the open country to the Ferry； and it wasbest to go sooner and in daylight。 In a few moments they had shouldered theirpacks again and were off。
Before long the wood came to a sudden end。 Wide grass…lands stretchedbefore them。 They now saw that they had； in fact； turned too much to thesouth。 Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of