the fellowship of the ring-第39部分

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mind。　But　as　you　please！　Ring　the　bell；　if　you　lackanything！'　
So　refreshed　and　encouraged　did　they　feel　at　the　end　of　their　supper（about　three　quarters　of　an　hour's　steady　going；　not　hindered　by　unnecessarytalk）　that　Frodo；　Pippin；　and　Sam　decided　to　join　the　pany。　Merry　said　itwould　be　too　stuffy。　'I　shall　sit　here　quietly　by　the　fire　for　a　bit；　andperhaps　go　out　later　for　a　sniff　of　the　air。　Mind　your　Ps　and　Qs；　and　don'tforget　that　you　are　supposed　to　be　escaping　in　secret；　and　are　still　_on_　thehigh…road　and　not　very　far　from　the　Shire！'　
'All　right！'　said　Pippin。　'Mind　yourself！　Don't　get　lost；　and　don'tforget　that　it　is　safer　indoors！'　　
The　pany　was　in　the　big　mon…room　of　the　inn。　The　gathering　waslarge　and　mixed；　as　Frodo　discovered；　when　his　eyes　got　used　to　the　light。　
This　came　chiefly　from　a　blazing　log…fire；　for　the　three　lamps　hanging　fromthe　beams　were　dim；　and　half　veiled　in　smoke。　Barliman　Butterbur　was　standingnear　the　fire；　talking　to　a　couple　of　dwarves　and　one　or　two　strange…lookingmen。　On　the　benches　were　various　folk：　men　of　Bree；　a　collection　of　localhobbits　（sitting　chattering　together）；　a　few　more　dwarves；　and　other　vaguefigures　difficult　to　make　out　away　in　the　shadows　and　ers。　
As　soon　as　the　Shire…hobbits　entered；　there　was　a　chorus　of　wele　fromthe　Bree…landers。　The　strangers；　especially　those　that　had　e　up　theGreenway；　stared　at　them　curiously。　The　landlord　introduced　the　newers　tothe　Bree…folk；　so　quickly　that；　though　they　caught　many　names；　they　wereseldom　sure　who　the　names　belonged　to。　The　Men　of　Bree　seemed　all　to　haverather　botanical　（and　to　the　Shire…folk　rather　odd）　names；　like　Rushlight；　
Goatleaf；　Heathertoes；　Appledore；　Thistlewool　and　Ferny　（not　to　mentionButterbur）。　Some　of　the　hobbits　had　similar　names。　The　Mugworts；　for　instance；　
seemed　numerous。　But　most　of　them　had　natural　names；　such　as　Banks；　
Brockhouse；　Longholes；　Sandheaver；　and　Tunnelly；　many　of　which　were　used　inthe　Shire。　There　were　several　Underhills　from　Saddle；　and　as　they　could　notimagine　sharing　a　name　without　being　related；　they　took　Frodo　to　their　heartsas　a　long…lost　cousin。　
The　Bree…hobbits　were；　in　fact；　friendly　and　inquisitive；　and　Frodo　soonfound　that　some　explanation　of　what　he　was　doing　would　have　to　be　given。　Hegave　out　that　he　was　interested　in　history　and　geography　（at　which　there　wasmuch　wagging　of　heads；　although　neither　of　these　words　were　much　used　in　theBree…dialect）。　He　said　he　was　thinking　of　writing　a　book　（at　which　there　wassilent　astonishment）；　_and_　that　he　and　his　friends　wanted　to　collectinformation　about　hobbits　living　outside　the　Shire；　especially　in　the　easternlands。　　
At　this　a　chorus　of　voices　broke　out。　If　Frodo　had　really　wanted　to　writea　book；　and　had　had　many　ears；　he　would　have　learned　enough　for　severalchapters　in　a　few　minutes。　And　if　that　was　not　enough；　he　was　given　a　wholelist　of　names；　beginning　with　'Old　Barliman　here'；　to　whom　he　could　go　forfurther　information。　But　after　a　time；　as　Frodo　did　not　show　any　_sign_　ofwriting　a　book　on　the　spot；　the　hobbits　returned　to　their　questions　aboutdoings　in　the　Shire。　Frodo　did　not　prove　very　municative；　and　he　soon　foundhimself　sitting　alone　in　a　er；　listening　and　looking　around。　
The　Men　and　Dwarves　were　mostly　talking　of　distant　events　and　tellingflews　of　a　kind　that　was　being　only　too　familiar。　There　was　trouble　away　inthe　South；　and　it　seemed　that　the　Men　who　had　e　up　the　Greenway　were　on　themove；　looking　for　lands　where　they　could　find　some　peace。　The　Bree…folk　weresympathetic；　but　plainly　not　very　ready　to　take　a　large　number　of　strangersinto　their　little　land。　One　of　the　travellers；　a　squint…eyed　ill…favouredfellow；　was　foretelling　that　more　and　more　people　would　be　ing　north　in　thenear　future。　'If　room　isn't　found　for　them；　they'll　find　it　for　themselves。　　
　
They've　a　right　to　live；　same　as　other　folk；'　he　said　loudly。　The　localinhabitants　did　not　look　pleased　at　the　prospect。　
The　hobbits　did　not　pay　much　attention　to　all　this；　and　it　did　not　at　themoment　seem　to　concern　hobbits。　Big　Folk　could　hardly　beg　for　lodgings　inhobbit…holes。　They　were　more　interested　in　Sam　and　Pippin；　who　were　nowfeeling　quite　at　home；　and　were　chatting　gaily　about　events　in　the　Shire。　
Pippin　roused　a　good　deal　of　laughter　with　an　account　of　the　collapse　of　theroof　of　the　Town　Hole　in　Michel　Delving：　Will　Whitfoot；　the　Mayor；　and　thefattest　hobbit　in　the　Westfarthing；　had　been　buried　in　chalk；　and　came　outlike　a　floured　dumpling。　But　there　were　several　questions　asked　that　madeFrodo　a　little　uneasy。　One　of　the　Bree…landers；　who　seemed　to　have　been　in　theShire　several　times；　wanted　to　know　where　the　Underhills　lived　and　who　theywere　related　to。　　
Suddenly　Frodo　noticed　that　a　strange…looking　weather…beaten　man；　sittingin　the　shadows　near　the　wall；　was　also　listening　intently　to　the　hobbit…talk。　
He　had　a　tall　tankard　in　front　of　him；　and　was　smoking　a　long…stemmed　pipecuriously　carved。　His　legs　were　stretched　out　before　him；　showing　high　bootsof　supple　leather　that　fitted　him　well；　but　had　seen　much　wear　and　were　nowcaked　with　mud。　A　travel…stained　cloak　of　heavy　dark…green　cloth　was　drawnclose　about　him；　and　in　spite　of　the　heat　of　the　room　he　wore　a　hood　thatovershadowed　his　face；　but　the　gleam　of　his　eyes　could　be　seen　as　he　watchedthe　hobbits。　　
'Who　is　that？'　Frodo　asked；　when　he　got　a　chance　to　whisper　to　Mr。　
Butterbur。　'I　don't　think　you　introduced　him？'　
'Him？'　said　the　landlord　in　an　answering　whisper；　cocking　an　eye　withoutturning　his　head。　'I　don't　rightly　know。　He　is　one　of　the　wandering　folk　Rangers　　
we　call　them。　He　seldom　talks：　not　but　what　he　can　tell　a　rare　talewhen　he　has　the　mind。　He　disappears　for　a　month；　or　a　year；　and　then　he　popsup　again。　He　was　in　and　out　pretty　often　last　spring；　but　I　haven't　seen　himabout　lately。　What　his　right　name　is　I've　never　heard：　but　he's　known　roundhere　as　Strider。　Goes　about　at　a　great　pace　on　his　long　shanks；　though　hedon't　tell　nobody　what　cause　he　has　to　hurry。　But　there's　no　accounting　forEast　and　West；　as　we　say　in　Bree；　meaning　the　Rangers　and　the　Shire…folk；　
begging　your　pardon。　Funny　you　should　ask　about　him。'　But　at　that　moment　Mr。　
Butterbur　was　called　away　by　a　demand　for　more　ale　and　his　last　remarkremained　unexplained。　
Frodo　found　that　Strider　was　now　looking　at　him；　as　if　he　had　heard　orguessed　all　that　had　been　said。　Presently；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　and　a　nod；　
he　invited　Frodo　to　e　over　and　sit　by　him。　As　Frodo　drew　near　be　threw　backhis　hood；　showing　a　shaggy　head　of　dark　hair　necked　with　grey；　and　in　a　palestem　face　a　pair　of　keen　grey　eyes。　
'I　am　called　Strider；'　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　'I　am　very　pleased　to　meetyou。　Master　–　Underhill；　if　old　Butterbur　got　your　name　right。'　
'He　did；'　said　Frodo　stiffly。　He　felt　far　from　fortable　under　thestare　of　those　keen　eyes。　
'Well；　Master　Underhill；'　said　Strider；　'if　I　were　you；　I　should　stopyour　young　friends　from　talking　too　much。　Drink_；_　fire；　and　chance…meetingare　pleasant　enough；　but；　well　–　this　isn't　the　Shire。　There　are　queer　folkabout。　Though　I　say　it　as　shouldn't；　you　may　think；'　he　added　with　a　wrysmile；　seeing　Frodo's　glance。　'And　there　have　been　even　stranger　travellersthrough　Bree　lately；'　he　went　on；　watching　Frodo's　face。　
Frodo　returned　his　gaze　but　said　nothing；　and　Strider　made　no　furthersign。　His　attention　seemed　suddenly　to　be　fixed　on　Pippin。　To　his　alarm　Frodobecame　aware　that　the　ridiculous　young　Took；　encouraged　by　his　success　withthe　fat　Mayor　of　Michel　Delving；　was　now　actually　giving　a　ic　account　ofBilbo's　farewell　party。　He　was　already　giving　an　imitation　of　the　Speech；　andwas　drawing　near　to　the　astonishing　Disappearance。　
Frodo　was　annoyed。　It　was　a　harmless　enough　tale　for　most　of　the　localhobbits；　no　doubt：　just　a　funny　story　about　those　funny　people　away　beyond　theRiver；　but　some　（old　Butterbur；　for　instance）　knew　a　thing　or　two；　and　had　　
　
probably　heard　rumours　long　ago　about　Bilbo's　vanishing。　It　would　bring　thename　of　Baggins　to　their　minds；　especially　if　there　had　been　inquiries　in　Breeafter　that　name。　　
Frodo　fidgeted；　wondering　what　to　do。　Pippin　was　evidently　much　enjoyingthe　attention　he　was　getting；　and　had　bee　quite　forgetful　of　their　danger。　
Frodo　had　a　sudden　fear　that　in　his　present　mood　he　might　even　mention　theRing；　and　that　might　well　be　disastrous。　
'You　had　better　do　something　quick！'　whispered　Strider　in　his　ear。　
Frodo　jumped　up　and　stood　on　a　table；　and　began　to　talk。　The　attention　ofPippin's　audience　was　disturbed。　Some　of　the　hobbits　looked　at　Frodo　andlaughed　and　clapped；　thinking　that　Mr。　Underhill　had　taken　as　much　ale　as　wasgood　for　him。　
Frodo　suddenly　felt　very　foolish；　and　found　himself　（as　was　his　habitwhen　making　a　speech）　fingering　the　things　in　his　pocket。　He　felt　the　Ring　onits　chain；　and　quite　unaccountably　the　desire　came　over　him　to　slip　it　on　andvanish　out　of　the　silly　situation。　It　seemed　to　him；　somehow；　as　if　mesuggestion　came　to　him　from　outside；　from　someone　or　something　a　the　room。　Heresisted　the　temptation　firmly；　and　clasped　the　Ring　in　his　hand；　as　if　tokeep　a　hold　on　it　and　prevent　it　from　escaping　or　doing　_any_　mischief。　At　anyrate　it　gave　him　no　inspiration。　He　spoke　'a　few　suitable　words'；　as　theywould　have　said　in　the　Shire：　_We　are　all　very　much　gratified　by　the　kindnessof　your　reception；　and　I　venture　to　hope　that　my　brief　visit　will　help　torenew　the　old　ties　of　friendship　between　the　Shire　and　Bree；_and　then　hehesitated　and　coughed。　
Everyone　in　the　room　was　now　looking　at　him。　'A　song！'　shouted　one　of　thehobbits。　'A　song！　A　song！'　shouted　all　the　others。　'e　on　now；　master；　singus　something　that　we　haven't　heard　before！'　
For　a　moment　Frodo　stood　gaping。　Then　in　desperation　he　began　aridiculous　song　that　Bilbo　had　been　rather　fond　of　（and　indeed　rather　proudof；　for　he　had　made　up　the　words　himself）。　It　was　about　an　inn；　and　that　isprobably　why　it　came　into　Frodo's　mind　just　then。　Here　it　is　in　full。　Only　afew　words　of　it　are　now；　as　a　rule；　remembered。　　
There　is　an　inn；　a　merry　old　inn　
beneath　an　old　grey　hill；　
And　there　they　brew　a　beer　so　brown　
That　the　Man　in　the　Moon　himself　came　down　　
one　night　to　drink　his　fill。　　
The　ostler　has　a　tipsy　cat　
that　plays　a　five…stringed　fiddle；　
And　up　and