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odo's longexpeditions to the renowned fields of the Marish； and the wrath of the injuredMaggot。 On this occasion there was plenty for all； even according to hobbitstandards。 There were also many other things to follow； and when they hadfinished even Fatty Bolger heaved a sigh of content。 They pushed back thetable； and drew chairs round the fire。
'We'll clear up later；' said Merry。 'Now tell me all about it！ I guessthat you have been having adventures； which was not quite fair without me。 Iwant a full account； and most of all I want to know what was the matter withold Maggot； and why he spoke to me like that。 He sounded almost as if he was_scared；_ if that is possible。'
'We have all been scared；' said Pippin after a pause； in which Frodostared at the fire and did not speak。 'You would have been； too； if you hadbeen chased for two days by Black Riders。'
'And what are they？'
'Black figures riding on black horses；' answered Pippin。 'If Frodo won'ttalk； I will tell you the whole tale from the beginning。' He then gave a full
account of their journey from the time when they left Hobbiton。 Sam gavevarious supporting nods and exclamations。 Frodo remained silent。
'I should think you were making it all up；' said Merry； 'if I had notseen that black shape on the landing…stage – and heard the queer sound inMaggot's voice。 What do you make of it all； Frodo？'
'Cousin Frodo has been very close；' said Pippin。 'But the time has efor him to open out。 So far we have been given nothing more to go on thanFarmer Maggot's guess that it has something to do with old Bilbo's treasure。'
'That was only a guess；' said Frodo hastily。 'Maggot does not_know_anything。'
'Old Maggot is a shrewd fellow；' said Merry。 'A lot goes on behind hisround face that does not e out in his talk。 I've heard that he used to gointo the Old Forest at one time； and he has the reputation of knowing a goodmany strange things。 But you can at least tell us； Frodo； whether you thinkhis guess good or bad。'
'I _think；'_ answered Frodo slowly； 'that it was a good guess； as far asit goes。 There _is a_ connexion with Bilbo's old adventures； and the Ridersare looking； or perhaps one ought to say _searching；_ for him or for me。 Ialso fear； if you want to know； that it is no joke at all； and that I am notsafe here or anywhere else。' He looked round at the windows and walls； as ifhe was afraid they would suddenly give way。 The others looked at him insilence； and exchanged meaning glances among themselves。
'It's ing out in a minute；' whispered Pippin to Merry。 Merry nodded。
'Well！' said Frodo at last； sitting up and straightening his back； as ifhe had made a decision。 'I can't keep it dark any longer。 I have got somethingto tell you all。 But I don't know quite how to begin。'
'I think I could help you；' said Merry quietly； 'by telling you some ofit myself。'
'What do you mean？' said Frodo； looking at him anxiously。 'Just this； mydear old Frodo： you are miserable； because you don't know how to say good…bye。
You meant to leave the Shire； of course。 But danger has e on you soonerthan you expected； and now you are making up your mind to go at once。 And youdon't want to。 We are very sorry for you。'
Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again。 His look of surprise was soical that they laughed。 'Dear old Frodo！' said Pippin。 'Did you reallythink you had thrown dust in all our eyes？ You have not been nearly careful orclever enough for that！ You have obviously been planning to go and sayingfarewell to all your haunts all this year since April。 We have constantlyheard you muttering： 〃Shall I ever look down into that valley again； Iwonder〃； and things like that。 And pretending that you had e to the end ofyour money； and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those Sackville…
Bagginses！ And all those close talks with Gandalf。'
'Good heavens！' said Frodo。 'I thought I had been both careful andclever。 I don't know what Gandalf would say。 Is all the Shire discussing mydeparture then？'
'Oh no！' said Merry。 'Don't worry about that！ The secret won't keep forlong； of course； but at present it is； I think； only known to us conspirators。
After all； you must remember that we know you well； and are often with you。 Wecan usually guess what you are thinking。 I knew Bilbo； too。 To tell you thetruth； I had been watching you rather closely ever since he left。 I thoughtyou would go after him sooner or later； indeed I expected you to go sooner；
and lately we have been very anxious。 We have been terrified that you mightgive us the slip； and go off suddenly； all on your own like he did。 Ever sincethis spring we have kept our eyes open； and done a good deal of planning onour own account。 You are not going to escape so easily！'
'But I must go；' said Frodo。 'It cannot be helped； dear friends。 It iswretched for us all； but it is no use your trying to keep me。 Since you haveguessed so much； please help me and do not hinder me！'
'You do not understand！' said Pippin。 'You must go – and therefore wemust； too。 Merry and I are ing with you。 Sam is an excellent fellow； and
would jump down a dragon's throat to save you； if he did not trip over his ownfeet； but you will need more than one panion in your dangerous adventure。'
'My dear and most beloved hobbits！' said Frodo deeply moved。 'But I couldnot allow it。 I decided that long ago； too。 You speak of danger； but you donot understand。 This is no treasure…hunt； no there…and…back journey。 I amflying from deadly peril into deadly peril。'
'Of course we understand；' said Merry firmly。 'That is why we havedecided to e。 We know the Ring is no laughing…matter； but we are going todo our best to help you against the Enemy。'
'The Ring！' said Frodo； now pletely amazed。
'Yes； the Ring；' said Merry。 'My dear old hobbit； you don't allow for theinquisitiveness of friends。 I have known about the existence of the Ring foryears – before Bilbo went away； in fact； but since he obviously regarded it assecret； I kept the knowledge in my head； until we formed our conspiracy。 I didnot know Bilbo； of course； as well as I know you； I was too young； and he wasalso more careful – but he was not careful enough。 If you want to know how Ifirst found out； I will tell you。'
'Go on！' said Frodo faintly。
'It was the Sackville…Bagginses that were his downfall； as you mightexpect。 One day； a year before the Party； I happened to be walking along theroad； when I saw Bilbo ahead。 Suddenly in the distance the S。…B。s appeared；
ing towards us。 Bilbo slowed down； and then hey presto！ he vanished。 I wasso startled that I hardly had the wits to hide myself in a more ordinaryfashion； but I got through the hedge and walked along the field inside。 I waspeeping through into the road； after the S。…B。s had passed； and was lookingstraight at Bilbo when he suddenly reappeared。 I caught a glint of gold as heput something back in his trouser…pocket。
'After that I kept my eyes open。 In fact； I confess that I spied。 But youmust admit that it was very intriguing； and I was only in my teens。 I must bethe only one in the Shire； besides you Frodo； that has ever seen the oldfellow's secret book。'
'You have read his book！' cried Frodo。 'Good heavens above！ Is nothingsafe？'
'Not too safe； I should say；' said Merry。 'But I have only had one rapidglance； and that was difficult to get。 He never left the book about。 I wonderwhat became of it。 I should like another look。 Have you got it； Frodo？'
'No。 It was not at Bag End。 He must have taken it away。'
'Well； as I was saying；' Merry proceeded； 'I kept my knowledge to myself；
till this Spring when things got serious。 Then we formed our conspiracy； andas we were serious； too； and meant business； we have not been too scrupulous。
You are not a very easy nut to crack； and Gandalf is worse。 But if you want tobe introduced to our chief investigator； I can produce him。'
'Where is he？' said Frodo； looking round； as if he expected a masked andsinister figure to e out of a cupboard。
'Step forward； Sam！' said Merry； and Sam stood up with a face scarlet upto the ears。 'Here's our collector of information！ And he collected a lot； Ican tell you； before he was finally caught。 After which； I may say； he seemedto regard himself as on parole； and dried up。'
'Sam！' cried Frodo； feeling that amazement could go no further； and quiteunable to decide whether he felt angry； amused； relieved； or merely foolish。
'Yes； sir！' said Sam。 'Begging your pardon； sir！ But I meant no wrong toyou； Mr。 Frodo； nor to Mr。 Gandalf for that matter。 _He_ has some sense； mindyou； and when you said _go alone；_ he said _no！ lake someone as you cantrust。'_
'But it does not seem that I can trust anyone；' said Frodo。 Sam looked athim unhappily。 'It all depends on what you want；' put in Merry。 'You can trustus to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end。 And you cantrust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself。 Butyou cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone； and go off without a word。
We are your friends； Frodo。 Anyway： there it is。 We know most of what Gandalf
has told you。 We know a good deal about the Ring。 We are horribly afraid – butwe are ing with you； or following you like hounds。'
'And after all； sir；' adde