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iddingly behind them。 After riding for about anhour； slowly and without talking； they saw the Hedge looming suddenly ahead。
It was tall and netted over with silver cobwebs。 'How are you going to getthrough this？' asked Fredegar。 'Follow me！' said Merry； 'and you will see。' Heturned to the left along the Hedge； and soon they came to a point where itbent inwards； running along the lip of a hollow。 A cutting had been made； atsome distance from the Hedge； and went sloping gently down into the ground。 Ithad walls of brick at the sides； which rose steadily； until suddenly theyarched over and formed a tunnel that dived deep under the Hedge and came outin the hollow on the other side。
Here Fatty Bolger halted。 'Good…bye； Frodo！' he said。 'I wish you werenot going into the Forest。 I only hope you will not need rescuing before theday is out。 But good luck to you – today and every day！'
'If there are no worse things ahead than the Old Forest； I shall belucky；' said Frodo。 'Tell Gandalf to hurry along the East Road： we shall soonbe back on it and going as fast as we can。' 'Good…bye！' they cried； and rodedown the slope and disappeared from Fredegar's sight into the tunnel。
It was dark and damp。 At the far end it was closed by a gate of thick…setiron bars。 Merry got down and unlocked the gate； and when they had all passedthrough he pushed it to again。 It shut with a clang； and the lock clicked。 Thesound was ominous。
'There！' said Merry。 'You have left the Shire； and are now outside； andon the edge of the Old Forest。'
'Are the stories about it true？' asked Pippin。
'I don't know what stories you mean；' Merry answered。 'If you mean theold bogey…stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him； about goblins and wolvesand things of that sort； I should say no。 At any rate I don't believe them。
But the Forest _is_ queer。 Everything in it is very much more alive； more
aware of what is going on； so to speak； than things are in the Shire。 And thetrees do not like strangers。 They watch you。 They are usually content merelyto watch you； as long as daylight lasts； and don't do much。 Occasionally themost unfriendly ones may drop a branch； or stick a root out； or grasp at youwith a long trailer。 But at night things can be most alarming； or so I amtold。 I have only once or twice been in here after dark； and then only nearthe hedge。 I thought all the trees were whispering to each other； passing newsand plots along in an unintelligible language； and the branches swayed andgroped without any wind。 They do say the trees do actually move； and cansurround strangers and hem them in。 In fact long ago they attacked the Hedge：
they came and planted themselves right by it； and leaned over it。 But thehobbits came and cut down hundreds of trees； and made a great bonfire in theForest； and burned all the ground in a long strip east of the Hedge。 Afterthat the trees gave up the attack； but they became very unfriendly。 There isstill a wide bare space not far inside where the bonfire was made。'
'Is it only the trees that are dangerous？' asked Pippin。
'There are various queer things living deep in the Forest； and on the farside；' said Merry； 'or at least I have heard so； but I have never seen any ofthem。 But something makes paths。 Whenever one es inside one finds opentracks； but they seem to shift and change from time to time in a queerfashion。 Not far from this tunnel there is； or was for a long time； thebeginning of quite a broad path leading to the Bonfire Glade； and then on moreor less in our direction； east and a little north。 That is the path I am goingto try and find。'
The hobbits now left the tunnel…gate and rode across the wide hollow。 Onthe far side was a faint path leading up on to the floor of the Forest； ahundred yards and more beyond the Hedge； but it vanished as soon as it broughtthem under the trees。 Looking back they could see the dark line of the Hedgethrough the stems of trees that were already thick about them。 Looking aheadthey could see only tree…trunks of innumerable sizes and shapes： straight orbent； twisted； leaning； squat or slender； smooth or gnarled and branched； andall the stems were green or grey with moss and slimy； shaggy growths。
Merry alone seemed fairly cheerful。 'You had better lead on and find thatpath；' Frodo said to him。 'Don't let us lose one another； or forget which waythe Hedge lies！'
They picked a way among the trees； and their ponies plodded along；
carefully avoiding the many writhing and interlacing roots。 There was noundergrowth。 The ground was rising steadily； and as they went forward itseemed that the trees became taller； darker； and thicker。 There was no sound；
except an occasional drip of moisture falling through the still leaves。 Forthe moment there was no whispering or movement among the branches； but theyall got an unfortable feeling that they were being watched withdisapproval； deepening to dislike and even enmity。 The feeling steadily grew；
until they found themselves looking up quickly； or glancing back over theirshoulders； as if they expected a sudden blow。
There was not as yet any sign of a path； and the trees seemed constantlyto bar their way。 Pippin suddenly felt that he could not bear it any longer；
and without warning let out a shout。 'Oi！ Oi！' he cried。 'I am not going to doanything。 Just let me pass through； will you！'
The others halted startled； but the cry fell as if muffled by a heavycurtain。 There was no echo or answer though the wood seemed to bee morecrowded and more watchful than before。
good。'
'I should not shout； if I were you；' said Merry。 It does more harm than
Frodo began to wonder if it were possible to find a way through； and ifhe had been right to make the others e into this abominable wood。 Merry waslooking from side to side； and seemed already uncertain which way to go。
Pippin noticed it。 'It has not taken you long to lose us；' he said。 But atthat moment Merry gave a whistle of relief and pointed ahead。
'Well； well！' he said。 'These trees _do_ shift。 There is the Bonfire
Glade in front of us （or I hope so）； but the path to it seems to have movedaway！'
The light grew clearer as they went forward。 Suddenly they came out ofthe trees and found themselves in a wide circular space。 There was sky abovethem； blue and clear to their surprise； for down under the Forest…roof theyhad not been able to see the rising morning and the lifting of the mist。 Thesun was not； however； high enough yet to shine down into the clearing； thoughits light was on the tree…tops。 The leaves were all thicker and greener aboutthe edges of the glade； enclosing it with an almost solid wall。 No tree grewthere； only rough grass and many tall plants： stalky and faded hemlocks andwood…parsley； fire…weed seeding into fluffy ashes； and rampant nettles andthistles。 A dreary place： but it seemed a charming and cheerful garden afterthe close Forest。
The hobbits felt encouraged； and looked up hopefully at the broadeningdaylight in the sky。 At the far side of the glade there was a break in thewall of trees； and a clear path beyond it。 They could see it running on intothe wood； wide in places and open above； though every now and again the treesdrew in and overshadowed it with their dark boughs。 Up this path they rode。
They were still climbing gently； but they now went much quicker； and withbetter heart； for it seemed to them that the Forest had relented； and wasgoing to let them pass unhindered after all。
But after a while the air began to get hot and stuffy。 The trees drewclose again on either side； and they could no longer see far ahead。 Nowstronger than ever they felt again the ill will of the wood pressing on them。
So silent was it that the fall of their ponies' hoofs； rustling on dead leavesand occasionally stumbling on hidden roots； seemed to thud in their ears。
Frodo tried to sing a song to encourage them； but his voice sank to a murmur。
O！ Wanderers in the shadowed land
despair not！ For though dark they stand；
all woods there be must end at last；
and see the open sun go past：
the setting sun； the rising sun；
the day's end； or the day begun。
For east or west all woods must fail 。。。
_Fail …_ even as he said the word his voice faded into silence。 The air
seemed heavy and the making of words wearisome。 Just behind them a largebranch fell from an old overhanging tree with a crash into the path。 The treesseemed to close in before them。
'They do not like all that about ending and failing；' said Merry。 'Ishould not sing any more at present。 Wait till we do get to the edge； and thenwe'll turn and give them a rousing chorus！'
He spoke cheerfully； and if he felt any great anxiety； he did not showit。 The others did not answer。 They were depressed。 A heavy weight wassettling steadily on Frodo's heart； and he regretted now with every stepforward that he had ever thought of challenging the menace of the trees。 Hewas； indeed； just about to stop and propose going back （if that was stillpossible）； when things took a new turn。 The path stopped climbing； and becamefor a while nearly level。 The dark trees drew aside； and ahead they could seethe path going almost straight forward。 Before them； but some distance off；
there stood a green hill…top； treeless； rising like a