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hrough the gateand up the lane towards the causeway like a bolt of thunder。 What do you thinkof that？'
Frodo sat for a moment looking at the fire； but his only thought was howon earth would they reach the Ferry。 'I don't know what to think；' he said atlast。
'Then I'll tell you what to think；' said Maggot。 'You should never havegone mixing yourself up with Hobbiton folk； Mr。 Frodo。 Folk are queer upthere。' Sam stirred in his chair； and looked at the farmer with an unfriendlyeye。 'But you were always a reckless lad。 When I heard you had left theBrandybucks and gone off to that old Mr。 Bilbo； I said that you were going tofind trouble。 Mark my words； this all es of those strange doings of Mr。
Bilbo's。 His money was got in some strange fashion in foreign parts； they say。
Maybe there is some that want to know what has bee of the gold and jewelsthat he buried in the hill of Hobbiton； as I hear？'
Frodo said nothing： the shrewd guesses of the farmer were ratherdisconcerting。
'Well； Mr。 Frodo；' Maggot went on； 'I'm glad that you've had the sense toe back to Buckland。 My advice is： stay there！ And don't get mixed up withthese outlandish folk。 You'll have friends in these parts。 If any of theseblack fellows e after you again； I'll deal with them。 I'll say you're dead；
or have left the Shire； or anything you like。 And that might be true enough；
for as like as not it is old Mr。 Bilbo they want news of。'
'Maybe you're right；' said Frodo； avoiding the farmer's eye and staringat the fire。
Maggot looked at him thoughtfully。 'Well； I see you have ideas of yourown；' he said。 'It is as plain as my nose that no accident brought you andthat rider here on the same afternoon； and maybe my news was no great news toyou； after all。 I am not asking you to tell me anything you have a mind tokeep to yourself； but I see you are in some kind of trouble。 Perhaps you arethinking it won't be too easy to get to the Ferry without being caught？'
'I was thinking so；' said Frodo。 'But we have got to try and get there；
and it won't be done by sitting and thinking。 So I am afraid we must be going。
Thank you very much indeed for your kindness！ I've been in terror of you andyour dogs for over thirty years； Farmer Maggot； though you may laugh to hearit。 It's a pity： for I've missed a good friend。 And now I'm sorry to leave sosoon。 But I'll e back； perhaps； one day – if I get a chance。'
'You'll be wele when you e；' said Maggot。 'But now I've a notion。
It's near sundown already； and we are going to have our supper； for we mostlygo to bed soon after the Sun。 If you and Mr。 Peregrin and all could stay andhave a bite with us； we would be pleased！'
'And so should we！' said Frodo。 'But we must be going at once； I'mafraid。 Even now it will be dark before we can reach the Ferry。'
'Ah！ but wait a minute！ I was going to say： after a bit of supper； I'llgel out a small waggon； and I'll drive you all to the Ferry。 That will saveyou a good step； and it might also save you trouble of another sort。'
Frodo now accepted the invitation gratefully； to the relief of Pippin andSam。 The sun was already behind the western hills； and the light was failing。
Two of Maggot's sons and his three daughters came in； and a generous supperwas laid on the large table。 The kitchen was lit with candles and the fire wasmended。 Mrs。 Maggot hustled in and out。 One or two other hobbits belonging tothe farm…household came in。 In a short while fourteen sat down to eat。 There
was beer in plenty； and a mighty dish of mushrooms and bacon； besides muchother solid farmhouse fare。 The dogs lay by the fire and gnawed rinds andcracked bones。
When they had finished； the farmer and his sons went out with a lanternand got the waggon ready。 It was dark in the yard； when the guests came out。
They threw their packs on board and climbed in。 The farmer sat in the driving…
seat； and whipped up his two stout ponies。 His wife stood in the light of theopen door。
'You be careful of yourself。 Maggot！' she called。 'Don't go arguing withany foreigners； and e straight back！'
'I will！' said he； and drove out of the gate。 There was now no breath ofwind stirring； the night was still and quiet； and a chill was in the air。 Theywent without lights and took it slowly。 After a mile or two the lane came toan end； crossing a deep dike； and climbing a short slope up on to the high…
banked causeway。
Maggot got down and took a good look either way； north and south； butnothing could be seen in the darkness； and there was not a sound in the stillair。 Thin strands of river…mist were hanging above the dikes； and crawlingover the fields。
'It's going to be thick；' said Maggot； 'but I'll not light my lantern
till I turn for home。 We'll hear anything on the road long before we meet ittonight。'
It was five miles or more from Maggot's lane to the Ferry。 The hobbitswrapped themselves up； but their ears were strained for any sound above thecreak of the wheels and the slow _clop_ of the ponies' hoofs。 The waggonseemed slower than a snail to Frodo。 Beside him Pippin was nodding towardssleep； but Sam was staring forwards into the rising fog。
They reached the entrance to the Ferry lane at last。 It was marked by twotall white posts that suddenly loomed up on their right。 Farmer Maggot drew inhis ponies and the waggon creaked to a halt。 They were just beginning loscramble out； when suddenly they heard what they had all been dreading： hoofson the road ahead。 The sound was ing towards them。
Maggot jumped down and stood holding the ponies' heads； and peeringforward into the gloom。 _Clip…clop； clip…clop_ came the approaching rider。 Thefall of the hoofs sounded loud in the still； foggy air。
'You'd better be hidden； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam anxiously。 'You get down inthe waggon and cover up with blankets； and we'll send this rider to therightabouts！' He climbed out and went to the farmer's side。 Black Riders wouldhave to ride over him to get near the waggon。
_Clop…clop； clop…clop。_ The rider was nearly on them。
'Hallo there！' called Farmer Maggot。 The advancing hoofs stopped short。
They thought they could dimly guess a dark cloaked shape in the mist； a yardor two ahead。 'Now then！' said the farmer； throwing the reins to Sam andstriding forward。 'Don't you e a step nearer！ What do you want； and whereare you going？'
'I want Mr。 Baggins。 Have you seen him？' said a muffled voice – but thevoice was the voice of Merry Brandybuck。 A dark lantern was uncovered； and itslight fell on the astonished face of the farmer。
'Mr。 Merry！' he cried。
'Yes； of course！ Who did you think it was？' said Merry ing forward。 Ashe came out of the mist and their fears subsided； he seemed suddenly todiminish to ordinary hobbit…size。 He was riding a pony； and a scarf wasswathed round his neck and over his chin to keep out the fog。
Frodo sprang out of the waggon to greet him。 'So there you are at last！'
said Merry。 'I was beginning to wonder if you would turn up at all today； andI was just going back to supper。 When it grew foggy I came across and rode uptowards Stock to see if you had fallen in any ditches。 But I'm blest if I knowwhich way you have e。 Where did you find them； Mr。 Maggot？ In your duck…
pond？'
'No； I caught 'em trespassing；' said the farmer； 'and nearly set my dogson 'em； but they'll tell you all the story； I've no doubt。 Now； if you'llexcuse me； Mr。 Merry and Mr。 Frodo and all； I'd best be turning for home。 Mrs。
Maggot will be worriting with the night getting thick。'
He backed the waggon into the lane and turned it。 'Well； good night toyou all；' he said。 'It's been a queer day； and no mistake。 But all's well asends well； though perhaps we should not say that until we reach our own doors。
I'll not deny that I'll be glad now when I do。' He lit his lanterns； and gotup。 Suddenly he produced a large basket from under the seat。 'I was nearlyforgetting；' he said。 'Mrs。 Maggot put this up for Mr。 Baggins； with herpliments。' He handed it down and moved off； followed by a chorus of thanksand good…nights。
They watched the pale rings of light round his lanterns as they dwindledinto the foggy night。 Suddenly Frodo laughed： from the covered basket he held；
the scent of mushrooms was rising。
_Chapter 5_
A Conspiracy Unmasked
'Now we had better get home ourselves；' said Merry。 There's something
funny about all this； I see； but it must wait till we get in。'
They turned down the Ferry lane； which was straight and well…kept andedged with large white…washed stones。 In a hundred yards or so it brought themto the river…bank； where there was a broad wooden landing…stage。 A large flatferry…boat was moored beside it。 The white bollards near the water's edgeglimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts。 Behind them the mists inthe flat fields were now above the hedges； but the water before them was dark；
with only a few curling wisps like steam among the reeds by the bank。 Thereseemed to be less fog on the further side。
Merry led the pony over a gangway on to the ferry； and the othersfollowed。 Merry then pushed slowly off with a long pole。 The Brandywine flowedslow and broad before them。 On the other side the bank was steep； and up it awinding path climbed from the further landing。 Lamps were twinkl