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y had； in fact； turned too much to thesouth。 Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of Buckleburyacross the River； but it was now to their left。 Creeping cautiously out fromthe edge of the trees； they set off across the open as quickly as they could。
At first they felt afraid； away from the shelter of the wood。 Far backbehind them stood the high place where they had breakfasted。 Frodo halfexpected to see the small distant figure of a horseman on the ridge darkagainst the sky； but there was no sign of one。 The sun escaping from thebreaking clouds； as it sank towards the hills they had left； was now shiningbrightly again。 Their fear left them； though they still felt uneasy。 But theland became steadily more tame and well…ordered。 Soon they came into well…
tended fields and meadows： there were hedges and gates and dikes for drainage。
Everything seemed quiet and peaceful； just an ordinary corner of the Shire。
Their spirits rose with every step。 The line of the River grew nearer； and theBlack Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind。
They passed along the edge of a huge turnip…field； and came to a stoutgate。 Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well…laid hedges towards adistant clump of trees。 Pippin stopped。
'I know these fields and this gate！' he said。 'This is Bamfurlong； oldFarmer Maggot's land。 That's his farm away there in the trees。'
'One trouble after another！' said Frodo； looking nearly as much alarmedas if Pippin had declared the lane was the slot leading to a dragon's den。 Theothers looked at him in surprise。
'What's wrong with old Maggot？' asked Pippin。 'He's a good friend to allthe Brandy bucks。 Of course he's a terror to trespassers； and keeps ferociousdogs – but after all； folk down here are near the border and have to be moreon their guard。'
'I know；' said Frodo。 'But all the same；' he added with a shamefaced
laugh； 'I am terrified of him and his dogs。 I have avoided his farm for yearsand years。 He caught me several times trespassing after mushrooms； when I wasa youngster at Brandy Hall。 On the last occasion he beat me； and then took meand showed me to his dogs。 〃See； lads；〃 he said； 〃next time this young varmintsets foot on my land； you can eat him。 Now see him off！〃 They chased me allthe way to the Ferry。 I have never got over the fright – though I daresay thebeasts knew their business and would not really have touched me。'
Pippin laughed。 'Well； it's time you made it up。 Especially if you areing back to live in Buckland。 Old Maggot is really a stout fellow – if youleave his mushrooms alone。 Let's get into the lane and then we shan't betrespassing。 If we meet him； I'll do the talking。 He is a friend of Merry's；
and I used to e here with him a good deal at one time。'
They went along the lane； until they saw the thatched roofs of a largehouse and farm…buildings peeping out among the trees ahead。 The Maggots； andthe Puddifoots of Stock； and most of the inhabitants of the Marish； werehouse…dwellers； and this farm was stoutly built of brick and had a high wallall round it。 There was a wide wooden gate opening out of the wall into thelane。
Suddenly as they drew nearer a terrific baying and barking broke out； anda loud voice was heard shouting： 'Grip！ Fang！ Wolf！ e on； lads！'
Frodo and Sam stopped dead； but Pippin walked on a few paces。 The gateopened and three huge dogs came pelting out into the lane； and dashed towardsthe travellers； barking fiercely。 They took no notice of Pippin； but Samshrank against the wall； while two wolvish…looking dogs sniffed at himsuspiciously； and snarled if he moved。 The largest and most ferocious of thethree halted in front of Frodo； bristling and growling。
Through the gate there now appeared a broad thick…set hobbit with a roundred face。 'Hallo！ Hallo！ And who may you be； and what may you be wanting？' heasked。
'Good afternoon； Mr。 Maggot！' said Pippin。
The farmer looked at him closely。 'Well； if it isn't Master Pippin – Mr。
Peregrin Took； I should say！' he cried； changing from a scowl to a grin。 'It'sa long time since I saw you round here。 It's lucky for you that I know you。 Iwas just going out to set my dogs on any strangers。 There are some funnythings going on today。 Of course； we do get queer folk wandering in theseparts at times。 Too near the River；' he said； shaking his head。 'But thisfellow was the most outlandish I have ever set eyes on。 He won't cross my landwithout leave a second time； not if I can stop it。'
'What fellow do you mean？' asked Pippin。
'Then you haven't seen him？' said the farmer。 'He went up the lanetowards the causeway not a long while back。 He was a funny customer and askingfunny questions。 But perhaps you'll e along inside； and we'll pass the newsmore fortable。 I've a drop of good ale on tap； if you and your friends arewilling； Mr。 Took。'
It seemed plain that the farmer would tell them more； if allowed to do itin his own time and fashion； so they all accepted the invitation。 'What aboutthe dogs？' asked Frodo anxiously。
The farmer laughed。 'They won't harm you – not unless I tell 'em to。
Here； Grip！ Fang！ Heel！' he cried。 'Heel； Wolf！' To the relief of Frodo andSam； the dogs walked away and let them go free。
Pippin introduced the other two to the farmer。 'Mr。 Frodo Baggins；' hesaid。 'You may not remember him； but he used to live at Brandy Hall。' At thename Baggins the farmer started； and gave Frodo a sharp glance。 For a momentFrodo thought that the memory of stolen mushrooms had been aroused； and thatthe dogs would be told to see him off。 But Farmer Maggot took him by the arm。
'Well； if that isn't queerer than ever？' he exclaimed。 'Mr。 Baggins isit？ e inside！ We must have a talk。'
They went into the farmer's kitchen； and sat by the wide fire…place。 Mrs。
Maggot brought out beer in a huge jug； and filled four large mugs。 It was agood brew； and Pippin found himself more than pensated for missing the
_Golden Perch。_ Sam sipped his beer suspiciously。 He had a natural mistrust ofthe inhabitants of other parts of the Shire； and also he was not disposed tobe quick friends with anyone who had beaten his master； however long ago。
After a few remarks about the weather and the agricultural prospects（which were no worse than usual）； Farmer Maggot put down his mug and looked atthem all in turn。
'Now； Mr。 Peregrin；' he said； 'where might you be ing from； and wheremight you be going to？ Were you ing to visit' me？ For； if so； you had gonepast my gate without my seeing you。'
'Well； no；' answered Pippin。 'To tell you the truth； since you haveguessed it； we got into the lane from the other end： we had e over yourfields。 But that was quite by accident。 We lost our way in the woods； backnear Woodhall； trying to take a short cut to the Ferry。'
'If you were in a hurry； the road would have served you better；' said thefarmer。 'But I wasn't worrying about that。 You have leave to walk over myland； if you have a mind； Mr。 Peregrin。 And you； Mr。 Baggins – though Idaresay you still like mushrooms。' He laughed。 'Ah yes； I recognized the name。
I recollect the time when young Frodo Baggins was one of the worst youngrascals of Buckland。 But it wasn't mushrooms I was thinking of。 I had justheard the name Baggins before you turned up。 What do you think that funnycustomer asked me？'
They waited anxiously for him to go on。 'Well；' the farmer continued；
approaching his point with slow relish； 'he came riding on a big black horsein at the gate； which happened to be open； and right up to my door。 All blackhe was himself； too； and cloaked and hooded up； as if he did not want to beknown。 〃Now what in the Shire can he want？〃 I thought to myself。 We don't seemany of the Big Folk over the border； and anyway I had never heard of any likethis black fellow。
' 〃Good…day to you！〃 I says； going out to him。 〃This lane don't leadanywhere； and wherever you may be going； your quickest way will be back to theroad。〃 I didn't like the looks of him； and when Grip came out； he took onesniff and let out a yelp as if he had been slung： he put down his tail andbolted off howling。 The black fellow sat quite still。
' 〃I e from yonder；〃 he said； slow and stiff…like； pointing back west；
over _my_ fields； if you please。 〃Have you seen _Baggins？〃_ he asked in aqueer voice； and bent down towards me。 I could not see any face； for his hoodfell down so low； and I felt a sort of shiver down my back。 But I did not seewhy he should e riding over my land so bold。
' 〃Be off！〃 I said。 〃There are no Bagginses here。 You're in the wrongpart of the Shire。 You had better go back west to Hobbiton – but you can go byroad this time。〃
' 〃Baggins has left；〃 he answered in a whisper。 〃He is ing。 He is notfar away。 I wish to find him。 If he passes will you tell me？ I will e backwith gold。〃
' 〃No you won't；〃 I said。 〃You'll go back where you belong； double quick。
I give you one minute before I call all my dogs。〃
'He gave a sort of hiss。 It might have been laughing； and it might not。
Then he spurred his great horse right at me； and I jumped out of the way onlyjust in time。 I called the dogs； but he swung off； and rode through the gateand up the lane towards the causeway like a bolt of thunder。 What do you thinkof that