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I knew you werewearing it。 I have a fancy it would turn even the knives of the BlackRiders；' he ended in a low voice。
‘Very well； I will take it；' said Frodo。 Bilbo put it on him； andfastened Sting upon the glittering belt； and then Frodo put over the top hisold weather…stained breeches； tunic； and jacket。
'Just a plain hobbit you look；' said Bilbo。 'But there is more about younow than appears on the surface。 Good luck to you！' He turned away and lookedout of the window； trying to hum a tune。
'I cannot thank you as I should； Bilbo； for this； and for all our pastkindnesses；' said Frodo。
'Don't try！' said the old hobbit； turning round and slapping him on theback。 ‘Ow！' he cried。 ‘You are too hard now to slap！ But there you are：
Hobbits must stick together； and especially Bagginses。 All I ask in return is：
take as much care of yourself as you can。 and bring back all the news you can；
and any old songs and tales you can e by。 I'll do my best to finish my bookbefore you return。 I should like to write the second book； if I am spared。' Hebroke off and turned to the window again； singing softly。
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen；
of meadow…flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been；
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were；
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair。
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter es without a spring
that I shall ever see。
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen：
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green。
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago；
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know。
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before；
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door。
It was a cold grey day near the end of December。 The East Wind wasstreaming through the bare branches of the trees； and seething in the darkpines on the hills。 Ragged clouds were hurrying overhead； dark and low。 As the
cheerless shadows of the early evening began to fall the pany made ready toset out。 They were to start at dusk； for Elrond counselled them to journeyunder cover of night as often as they could； until they were far fromRivendell。
‘You should fear the many eyes of the servants of Sauron；' he said。 'I donot doubt that news of the disfiture of the Riders has already reached him；
and he will be filled with wrath。 Soon now his spies on foot and wing will beabroad in the northern lands。 Even of the sky above you must beware as you goon your way。'
The pany took little gear of war； for their hope was in secrecy not inbattle。 Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon； and he went forth clad onlyin rusty green and brown。 as a Ranger of the wilderness。 Boromir had a longsword； in fashion like Andúril but of less lineage and he bore also a shieldand his war…horn。
'Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills；' he said； ‘andthen let all the foes of Gondor flee！' Putting it to his lips he blew a blast；
and the echoes leapt from rock to rock； and all that heard that voice inRivendell sprang to their feet。
Slow should you be to wind that horn again； Boromir； said Elrond。 'untilyou stand once more on the borders of your land； and dire need is on you。'
‘Maybe；' said Boromir。 'But always I have let my horn cry at settingforth； and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows； I will not go forthas a thief in the night。'
Gimli the dwarf alone wore openly a short shirt of steel…rings； fordwarves make light of burdens； and in his belt was a broad…bladed axe。 Legolashad a bow and a quiver； and at his belt a long white knife。 The youngerhobbits wore the swords that they had taken from the barrow； but Frodo tookonly Sting； and his mail…coat； as Bilbo wished； remained hidden。 Gandalf borehis staff； but girt at his side was the elven…sword Glamdring； the mate ofOrcrist that lay now upon the breast of Thorin under the Lonely Mountain。
All were well furnished by Elrond with thick warm clothes； and they hadjackets and cloaks lined with fur。 Spare food and clothes and blankets andother needs were laden on a pony； none other than the poor beast that they hadbrought from Bree。
？he stay in Rivendell had worked a great wonder of change on him： he wasglossy and seemed to have the vigour of youth。 It was Sam who had insisted onchoosing him； declaring that Bill （as he called him） would pine； if he did note。
‘That animal can nearly talk；' he said； ‘and would talk； if he stayedhere much longer。 He gave me a look as plain as Mr。 Pippin could speak it： ifyou don't let me go with you； Sam； I'll follow on my own。' So Bill was goingas the beast of burden； yet he was the only member of the pany that did notseem depressed。
Their farewells had been said in the great hall by the fire； and theywere only waiting now for Gandalf； who had not yet e out of the house。 Agleam of firelight came from the open doors； and soft lights were glowing inmany windows。 Bilbo huddled in a cloak stood silent on the doorstep besideFrodo。 Aragorn sat with his head bowed to his knees； only Elrond knew fullywhat this hour meant to him。 The others could be seen as grey shapes in thedarkness。
Sam was standing by the pony； sucking his teeth； and staring moodily intothe gloom where the river roared stonily below； his desire for adventure wasat its lowest ebb。
‘Bill； my lad；' he said； ‘you oughtn't to have took up with us。 You couldhave stayed here and et the best hay till the new grass es。' Bill swishedhis tail and said nothing。
Sam eased the pack on his shoulders； and went over anxiously in his mindall the things that he had stowed in it； wondering if he had forgottenanything： his chief treasure； his cooking gear； and the little box of saltthat he always carried and refilled when he could； a good supply of pipe…weed
（but not near enough； I'll warrant）； flint and tinder； woollen hose： linen；
various small belongings of his master's that Frodo had forgotten and Sam hadstowed to bring them out in triumph when they were called for。 He went throughthem all。
'Rope！' he muttered。 ‘No rope！ And only last night you said to yourself：
〃Sam； what about a bit of rope？ You'll want it； if you haven't got it：〃 Well；
I'll want it。 I can't get it now。'
At that moment Elrond came out with Gandalf； and he called the pany tohim。 'This is my last word；' he said in a low voice。 'The Ring…bearer issetting out on the Quest of Mount Doom。 On him alone is any charge laid：
neither to cast away the Ring； nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemynor indeed to let any handle it； save members of the pany and the Council；
and only then in gravest need。 The others go with him as free panions； tohelp him on his way。 You may tarry； or e back； or turn aside into otherpaths； as chance allows。 The further you go； the less easy will it be towithdraw； yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will。 Foryou do not yet know the strength of your hearts； and you cannot foresee whateach may meet upon the road。'
‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens；' said Gimli。
'Maybe；' said Elrond； ‘but let him not vow to walk in the dark； who hasnot seen the nightfall。'
'Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart；' said Gimli。
‘Or break it；' said Elrond。 ‘Look not too far ahead！ But go now with goodhearts！ Farewell； and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk gowith you。 May the stars shine upon your faces！'
'Good 。 。 。 good luck！' cried Bilbo； stuttering with the cold。 'I don'tsuppose you will be able to keep a diary； Frodo my lad； but I shall expect afull account when you get back。 And don't be too long！ Farewell！'
Many others of Elrond's household stood in the shadows and watched themgo； bidding them farewell with soft voices。 There was no laughter； and no songor music。 At last they turned away and faded silently into the dusk。
They crossed the bridge and wound slowly up the long steep paths that ledout of the cloven vale of Rivendell； and they came at length to the high moorwhere the wind hissed through the heather。 Then with one glance at the LastHomely House twinkling below them they strode away far into the night。
At the Ford of Bruinen they left the Road and turning southwards went onby narrow paths among the folded lands。 Their purpose was to hold this coursewest of the Mountains for many miles and days。 The country was much rougherand more barren than in the green vale of the Great River in Wilderland on theother side of the range； and their going would be slow； but they hoped in thisway to escape the notice of unfriendly eyes。 The spies of Sauron had hithertoseldom been seen in this empty country； and the paths were little known exceptto the people of Rivendell。
Gandalf walked in front； and with him went Aragorn； who knew this landeven in the dark。 The others were in file behind； and Legolas whose eyes werekeen was the rearguard。 The first part of their journey was hard and dreary；
and Frodo remembered little of it； save the wind。 For many sunless days an icyblast came from the Mountains in the east； and no garment seemed able to keepout its searching fingers。 Though the pany