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As soon as Strider had roused them all； he led the way to their bedrooms。
When they saw them they were glad that they had taken his advice： the windowshad been forced open and were swinging； and the curtains were flapping； thebeds were tossed about； and the bolsters slashed and flung upon the floor； thebrown mat was torn to pieces。
Strider immediately went to fetch the landlord。 Poor Mr。 Butterbur lookedsleepy and frightened。 He had hardly closed his eyes all night （so he said）；
but he had never heard a sound。
'Never has such a thing happened in my time！' he cried； raising his handsin horror。 'Guests unable to sleep in their beds； and good bolsters ruined andall！ What are we ing to？'
'Dark times；' said Strider。 'But for the present you may be left inpeace； when you have got rid of us。 We will leave at once。 Never mind aboutbreakfast： a drink and a bite standing will have to do。 We shall be packed ina few minutes。'
Mr。 Butterbur hurried off to see that their ponies were got ready； and tofetch them a 'bite'。 But very soon he came back in dismay。 The ponies hadvanished！ The stable…doors had all been opened in the night； and they weregone： not only Merry's ponies； but every other horse and beast in the place。
Frodo was crushed by the news。 How could they hope to reach Rivendell onfoot； pursued by mounted enemies？ They might as well set out for the Moon。
Strider sat silent for a while； looking at the hobbits； as if he was weighingup their strength and courage。
'Ponies would not help us to escape horsemen；' he said at last；
thoughtfully； as if he guessed what Frodo had in mind。 'We should not go muchslower on foot； not on the roads that I mean to take。 I was going to walk inany case。 It is the food and stores that trouble me。 We cannot count ongetting anything to eat between here and Rivendell； except what we take withus； and we ought to take plenty to spare； for we may be delayed； or forced togo round…about； far out of the direct way。 How much are you prepared to carryon your backs？'
'As much as we must；' said Pippin with a sinking heart； but trying toshow that he was tougher than he looked （or felt）。
'I can carry enough for two；' said Sam defiantly。
'Can't anything be done； Mr。 Butterbur？' asked Frodo。 'Can't we get acouple of ponies in the village； or even one just for the baggage？ I don'tsuppose we could hire them； but we might be able to buy them；' he added；
doubtfully； wondering if he could afford it。
'I doubt it；' said the landlord unhappily。 'The two or three riding…
ponies that there were in Bree were stabled in my yard； and they're gone。 Asfor other animals； horses or ponies for draught or what not； there are veryfew of them in Bree； and they won't be for sale。 But I'll do what I can。 I'llrout out Bob and send him round as soon as may be。'
'Yes；' said Strider reluctantly； 'you had better do that。 I am afraid weshall have to try to get one pony at least。 But so ends all hope of startingearly； and slipping away quietly！ We might as well have blown a horn toannounce our departure。 That was part of their plan； no doubt。'
'There is one crumb of fort；' said Merry； 'and more than a crumb； Ihope： we can have breakfast while we wait – and sit down to it。 Let's get holdof Nob！'
In the end there was more than three hours' delay。 Bob came back with thereport that no horse or pony was to be got for love or money in theneighbourhood – except one： Bill Ferny had one that he might possibly sell。 'Apoor old half…starved creature it is；' said Bob； 'but he won't part with itfor less than thrice its worth； seeing how you're placed； not if I knows BillFerny。'
'Bill Ferny？' said Frodo。 'Isn't there some trick？ Wouldn't the beastbolt back to him with all our stuff； or help in tracking us； or something？'
'I wonder；' said Strider。 'But I cannot imagine any animal running hometo him； once it got away。 I fancy this is only an afterthought of kind MasterFerny's： just a way of increasing his profits from the affair。 The chiefdanger is that the poor beast is probably at death's door。 But there does notseem any choice。 What does he want for it？'
Bill Ferny's price was twelve silver pennies； and that was indeed atleast three times the pony's value in those pans。 It proved to be a bony；
underfed； and dispirited animal； but it did not look like dying just yet。 Mr。
Butterbur paid for it himself； and offered Merry another eighteen pence as
some pensation for the lost animals。 He was an honest man； and well…off asthings were reckoned in Bree； but thirty silver pennies was a sore blow tohim； and being cheated by Bill Ferny made it harder to bear。
As a matter of fact he came out on the right side in the end。 It turnedout later that only one horse had been actually stolen。 The others had beendriven off； or had bolted in terror； and were found wandering in differentcorners of the Bree…land。 Merry's ponies had escaped altogether； andeventually （having a good deal of sense） they made their way to the Downs insearch of Fatty Lumpkin。 So they came under the care of Tom Bombadil for awhile； and were well…off。 But when news of the events at Bree came to Tom'sears； he sent them to Mr。 Butterbur； who thus got five good beasts at a veryfair price。 They had to work harder in Bree； but Bob treated them well； so onthe whole they were lucky： they missed a dark and dangerous journey。 But theynever came to Rivendell。
However； in the meanwhile for all Mr。 Butterbur knew his money was gonefor good； or for bad。 And he had other troubles。 For there was a greatmotion as soon as the remaining guests were astir and heard news of theraid on the inn。 The southern travellers had lost several horses and blamed
the innkeeper loudly； until it became known that one of their own number hadalso disappeared in the night； none other than Bill Ferny's squint…eyedpanion。 Suspicion fell on him at once。
'If you pick up with a horse…thief； and bring him to my house；' saidButterbur angrily； 'you ought to pay for all the damage yourselves and note shouting at me。 Go and ask Ferny where your handsome friend is！' But itappeared that he was nobody's friend； and nobody could recollect when he hadjoined their party。
After their breakfast the hobbits had to re…pack； and get togetherfurther supplies for the longer journey they were now expecting。 It was closeon ten o'clock before they at last got off。 By that time the whole of Bree wasbuzzing with excitement。 Frodo's vanishing trick； the appearance of the blackhorsemen； the robbing of the stables； and not least the news that Strider theRanger had joined the mysterious hobbits； made such a tale as would last formany uneventful years。 Most of the inhabitants of Bree and Staddle； and manyeven from be and Archet； were crowded in the road to see the travellersstart。 The other guests in the inn were at the doors or hanging out of thewindows。
Strider had changed his mind； and he decided to leave Bree by the mainroad。 Any attempt to set off across country at once would only make mattersworse： half the inhabitants would follow them； to see what they were up to；
and to prevent them from trespassing。
They said farewell to Nob and Bob； and took leave of Mr。 Butterbur withmany thanks。 'I hope we shall meet again some day； when things are merry oncemore；' said Frodo。 'I should like nothing better than to stay in your house inpeace for a while。'
They tramped off； anxious and downhearted； under the eyes of the crowd。
Not all the faces were friendly； nor all the words that were shouted。 ButStrider seemed to be held in awe by most of the Bree…landers； and those thathe stared at shut their mouths and drew away。 He walked in front with Frodo；
next came Merry and Pippin； and last came Sam leading the pony； which wasladen with as much of their baggage as they had the heart to give it； butalready it looked less dejected； as if it approved of the change in itsfortunes。 Sam was chewing an apple thoughtfully。 He had a pocket full of them：
a parting present from Nob and Bob。 'Apples for walking； and a pipe forsitting；' he said。 'But I reckon I'll miss them both before long。'
The hobbits took no notice of the inquisitive heads that peeped out ofdoors； or popped over walls and fences； as they passed。 But as they drew nearto the further gate； Frodo saw a dark ill…kept house behind a thick hedge： thelast house in the village。 In one of the windows he caught a glimpse of asallow face with sly； slanting eyes； but it vanished at once。
'So that's where that southerner is hiding！' he thought。 'He looks more
than half like a goblin。'
Over the hedge another man was staring boldly。 He had heavy black brows；
and dark scornful eyes； his large mouth curled in a sneer。 He was smoking ashort black pipe。 As they approached he took it out of his mouth and spat。
'Morning； Longshanks！' he said。 'Off early？ Found some friends at last？'
Strider nodded； but did not answer。 'Morning； my little friends！' he said tothe others。 'I suppose you know who you've taken up with？ That's Stick…at…
naught Strider； that is！ Though I've heard other names not so pretty。 Watchout tonight！ And you； Sammie； don't go ill…treating my poor old pony！ Pah！' Hespat again。
Sam turned quickly。 'And you。 Ferny；' he said； 'put your ugly fac