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had been no king for nearly a thousand years； and even the ruins of Kings'Norbury were covered with grass。 Yet the Hobbits still said of wild folk andwicked things （such as trolls） that they had not heard of the king。 For theyattributed to the king of old all their essential laws； and usually they keptthe laws of free will； because they were The Rules （as they said）； bothancient and just。
It is true that the Took family had long been pre…eminent； for the officeof Thain had passed to them （from the Oldbucks） some centuries before； and thechief Took had borne that title ever since。 The Thain was the master of the
Shire…moot； and captain of the Shire…muster and the Hobbitry…in…arms； but asmuster and moot were only held in times of emergency； which no longeroccurred； the Thainship had ceased to be more than a nominal dignity。 The Tookfamily was still； indeed； accorded a special respect； for it remained bothnumerous and exceedingly wealthy； and was liable to produce in everygeneration strong characters of peculiar habits and even adventuroustemperament。 The latter qualities； however； were now rather tolerated （in therich） than generally approved。 The custom endured； nonetheless； of referringto the head of the family as The Took； and of adding to his name； if required；
a number： such as Isengrim the Second； for instance。
The only real official in the Shire at this date was the Mayor of MichelDelving （or of the Shire）； who was elected every seven years at the Free Fairon the White Downs at the Lithe； that is at Midsummer。 As mayor almost hisonly duty was to preside at banquets； given on the Shire…holidays； whichoccurred at frequent intervals。 But the offices of Postmaster and FirstShirriff were attached to the mayoralty； so that he managed both the MessengerService and the Watch。 These were the only Shire…services； and the Messengerswere the most numerous； and much the busier of the two。 By no means allHobbits were lettered； but those who were wrote constantly to all theirfriends （and a selection of their relations） who lived further off than anafternoon's walk。
The Shirriffs was the name that the Hobbits gave to their police； or thenearest equivalent that they possessed。 They had； of course； no uniforms （suchthings being quite unknown）； only a feather in their caps； and they were inpractice rather haywards than policemen； more concerned with the strayings ofbeasts than of people。 There were in all the Shire only twelve of them； threein each Farthing； for Inside Work。 A rather larger body； varying at need； wasemployed to 'beat the bounds'； and to see that Outsiders of any kind； great orsmall； did not make themselves a nuisance。
At the time when this story begins the Bounders； as they were called； hadbeen greatly increased。 There were many reports and plaints of strangepersons and creatures prowling about the borders； or over them： the first signthat all was not quite as it should be； and always had been except in talesand legends of long ago。 Few heeded the sign； and not even Bilbo yet had anynotion of what it portended。 Sixty years had passed since he set out on hismemorable journey； and he was old even for Hobbits； who reached a hundred asoften as not； but much evidently still remained of the considerable wealththat he had brought back。 How much or how little he revealed to no one； noteven to Frodo his favourite 'nephew'。 And he still kept secret the ring thathe bad found。
As is told in The Hobbit； there came one day to Bilbo's door the greatWizard； Gandalf the Grey； and thirteen dwarves with him： none other； indeed；
than Thorin Oakenshield； descendant of kings； and his twelve panions inexile。 With them he set out； to his own lasting astonishment； on a morning ofApril； it being then the year 1341 Shire…reckoning； on a quest of greattreasure； the dwarf…hoards of the Kings under the Mountain； beneath Erebor inDale； far off in the East。 The quest was successful； and the Dragon thatguarded the hoard was destroyed。 Yet； though before all was won the Battle ofFive Armies was fought； and Thorin was slain； and many deeds of renown weredone； the matter would scarcely have concerned later history； or earned more
than a note in the long annals of the Third Age； but for an 'accident' by theway。 The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains asthey went towards Wilderland； and so it happened that Bilbo was lost for awhile in the black orc…mines deep under the mountains； and there； as he gropedin vain in the dark； he put his hand on a ring； lying on the floor of atunnel。 He put it in his pocket。 It seemed then like mere luck。
Trying to find his way out。 Bilbo went on down to the roots of themountains； until he could go no further。 At the bottom of the tunnel lay acold lake far from the light； and on an island of rock in the water livedGollum。 He was a loathsome little creature： he paddled a small boat with hislarge flat feet； peering with pale luminous eyes and catching blind fish withhis long fingers； and eating them raw。 He ate any living thing； even orc； ifhe could catch it and strangle it without a struggle。 He possessed a secrettreasure that had e to him long ages ago； when he still lived in the light：
a ring of gold that made its wearer invisible。 It was the one thing he loved；
his 'precious'； and he talked to it； even when it was not with him。 For hekept it hidden safe in a hole on his island； except when he was hunting orspying on the ores of the mines。
Maybe he would have attacked Bilbo at once； if the ring had been on himwhen they met； but it was not； and the hobbit held in his hand an Elvishknife； which served him as a sword。 So to gain time Gollum challenged Bilbo tothe Riddle…game； saying that if he asked a riddle which Bilbo could not guess；
then he would kill him and eat him； but if Bilbo defeated him； then he woulddo as Bilbo wished： he would lead him to a way out of the tunnels。
Since he was lost in the dark without hope； and could neither go on norback。 Bilbo accepted the challenge； and they asked one another many riddles。
In the end Bilbo won the game； more by luck （as it seemed） than by wits； forhe was stumped at last for a riddle to ask； and cried out； as his hand cameupon the ring he lad picked up and forgotten： _What haw I got in my pocket？_
This Gollum failed to answer； though he demanded three guesses。
The Authorities； it is true； differ whether this last question was a mere'question' and not a 'riddle' according to the strict rules of the Game； butall agree that； after accepting it and trying to guess the answer； Gollum wasbound by his promise。 And Bilbo pressed him to keep his word； for the thoughtcame to him that this slimy creature might prove false； even though suchpromises were held sacred； and of old all but the wickedest things feared tobreak them。 But after ages alone in the dark Gollum's heart was black； andtreachery was in it。 He slipped away； and returned to the island； of whichBilbo knew nothing； not far off in the dark water。 There； he thought； lay hisring。 He was hungry now； and angry； and once his 'precious' was with him hewould not fear any weapon at all。
But the ring was not on the island； he had lost it； it was gone。 Hisscreech sent a shiver down Bilbo's back； though he did not yet understand whathad happened。 But Gollum had at last leaped to a guess； too late。 _What has itgot in its pocketses？_ he cried。 The light in his eyes was like a green flameas he sped back to murder the hobbit and recover his 'precious'。 Just in timeBilbo saw his peril； and he fled blindly up the passage away from the water；
and once more he was saved by his luck。 For just as he ran he put his hand inhis pocket； and the ring slipped quietly on to his finger。 So it was thatGollum passed him without seeing him； and went to guard the way out； lest the'thief' should escape。 Warily Bilbo followed him； as he went along； cursing；
and talking to himself about his 'precious'； from which talk at last evenBilbo guessed the truth； and hope came to him in the darkness： he himself hadfound the marvellous ring and a chance of escape from the orcs and fromGollum。
At length they came to a halt before an unseen opening that led to thelower gates of the mines； on the eastward side of the mountains。 There Gollumcrouched at bay； smelling and listening； and Bilbo was tempted to slay himwith his sword。 But pity stayed him； and though he kept the ring； in which hisonly hope lay； he would not use it to help him kill the wretched creature at a
disadvantage。 In the end； gathering his courage； he leaped over Gollum in thedark； and fled away down the passage； pursued by his enemy's cries of hate anddespair： _Thief； thief！ Baggins！ We hates it for ever！_
Now it is a curious fact that this is not the story as Bilbo first toldit to his panions。 To them his account was that Gollum had promised to givehim a _present；_ if he won the game； but when Gollum went to fetch it from hisisland he found the treasure was gone： a magic ring； which had been given tohim long ago on his birthday。 Bilbo guessed that this was the very ring thathe had found； and as he had won the game； it was already his by right。 Butbeing in a tight place； he said nothing about it； and made Gollum show him theway out； as