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the　head　of　the　Brandybuck　family　was　called）　was　still　acknowledged　by　the　farmers　between　Stock　and　Rushey。　But　most　of　the　folk　of　the　old　Shire　regarded　the　Bucklanders　as　peculiar；　half　foreigners　as　it　were。　Though；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　they　were　not　very　different　from　the　other　hobbits　of　the　Four　Farthings。　Except　in　one　point：　they　were　fond　of　boats；　and　some　of　them　could　swim。

Their　land　was　originally　unprotected　from　the　East；　but　on　that　side　they　had　built　a　hedge：　the　High　Hay。　It　had　been　planted　many　generations　ago；　and　was　now　thick　and　tail；　for　it　was　constantly　tended。　It　ran　all　the　way　from　Brandywine　Bridge；　in　a　big　loop　curving　away　from　the　river；　to　Haysend　（where　the　Withywindle　flowed　out　of　the　Forest　into　the　Brandywine）：　well　over　twenty　miles　from　end　to　end。　But；　of　course；　it　was　not　a　plete　protection。　The　Forest　drew　close　to　the　hedge　in　many　places。　The　Bucklanders　kept　their　doors　locked　after　dark；　and　that　also　was　not　usual　in　the　Shire。

The　ferryboat　moved　slowly　across　the　water。　The　Buckland　shore　drew　nearer。　Sam　was　the　only　member　of　the　party　who　had　not　been　over　the　river　before。　He　had　a　strange　feeling　as　the　slow　gurgling　stream　slipped　by：　his　old　life　lay　behind　in　the　mists；　dark　adventure　lay　in　front。　He　scratched　his　head；　and　for　a　moment　had　a　passing　wish　that　Mr。　Frodo　could　have　gone　on　living　quietly　at　Bag　End。

The　four　hobbits　stepped　off　the　ferry。　Merry　was　tying　it　up；　and　Pippin　was　already　leading　the　pony　up　the　path；　when　Sam　（who　had　been　looking　back；　as　if　to　take　farewell　of　the　Shire）　said　in　a　hoarse　whisper：

'Look　back；　Mr。　Frodo！　Do　you　see　anything？'

On　the　far　stage；　under　the　distant　lamps；　they　could　just　make　out　a　figure：　it　looked　like　a　dark　black　bundle　left　behind。　But　as　they　looked　it　seemed　to　move　and　sway　this　way　and　that；　as　if　searching　the　ground。　It　then　crawled；　or　went　crouching；　back　into　the　gloom　beyond　the　lamps。

'What　in　the　Shire　is　that？'　exclaimed　Merry。

'Something　that　is　following　us；'　said　Frodo。　'But　don't　ask　any　more　now！　Let's　get　away　at　once！'　They　hurried　up　the　path　to　the　top　of　the　bank；　but　when　they　looked　back　the　far　shore　was　shrouded　in　mist；　and　nothing　could　be　seen。

'Thank　goodness　you　don't　keep　any　boats　on　the　westbank！'　said　Frodo。　'Can　horses　cross　the　river？'

'They　can　go　twenty　miles　north　to　Brandywine　Bridge　。　or　they　might　swim；'　answered　Merry。　'Though　I　never　heard　of　any　horse　swimming　the　Brandywine。　But　what　have　horses　to　do　with　it？'　I'll　tell　you　later。　Let's　get　indoors　and　then　we　can　talk。'

'All　right！　You　and　Pippin　know　your　way；　so　I'll　just　ride　on　and　tell　Fatty　Bolger　that　you　are　ing。　We'll　see　about　supper　and　things。'

'We　had　our　supper　early　with　Farmer　Maggot；'　said　Frodo；　'but　we　could　do　with　another。'

'You　shall　have　it！　Give　me　that　basket！'　said　Merry；　and　rode　ahead　into　the　darkness。

It　was　some　distance　from　the　Brandywine　to　Frodo's　new　house　at　Crickhollow。　They　passed　Buck　Hill　and　Brandy　Hall　on　their　left；　and　on　the　outskirts　of　Bucklebury　struck　the　main　road　of　Buckland　that　ran　south　from　the　Bridge。　Half　a　mile　northward　along　this　they　came　to　a　lane　opening　on　their　right。　This　they　followed　for　a　couple　of　miles　as　it　climbed　up　and　down　into　the　country。

At　last　they　came　to　a　narrow　gate　in　a　thick　hedge。　Nothing　could　be　seen　of　the　house　in　the　dark：　it　stood　back　from　the　lane　in　the　middle　of　a　wide　circle　of　lawn　surrounded　by　a　belt　of　low　trees　inside　the　outer　hedge。　Frodo　had　chosen　it；　because　it　stood　in　an　outoftheway　corner　of　the　country；　and　there　were　no　other　dwellings　close　by。　You　could　get　in　and　out　without　being　noticed。　It　had　been　built　a　long　while　before　by　the　Brandybucks；　for　the　use　of　guests；　or　members　of　the　family　that　wished　to　escape　from　the　crowded　life　of　Brandy　Hall　for　a　time。　It　was　an　old　fashioned　countrified　house；　as　much　like　a　hobbithole　as　possible：　it　was　long　and　low；　with　no　upper　storey；　and　it　had　a　roof　of　turf；　round　windows；　and　a　large　round　door。

As　they　walked　lip　the　green　path　from　the　gate　no　light　was　visible；　the　windows　were　dark　and　shuttered。　Frodo　knocked　on　the　door；　and　Fatty　Bolger　opened　it。　A　friendly　light　streamed　out。　They　slipped　in　quickly　and　shut　themselves　and　the　light　inside。　They　were　in　a　wide　hall　with　doors　on　either　side；　in　front　of　them　a　passage　ran　back　down　the　middle　of　the　house。

'Well；　what　do　you　think　of　it？'　asked　Merry　ing　up　the　passage。　'We　have　done　our　best　in　a　short　time　to　make　it　look　like　home。　After　all　Fatty　and　I　only　got　here　with　the　last　cartload　yesterday。'

Frodo　looked　round。　It　did　look　like　home。　Many　of　his　own　favourite　things　。　or　Bilbo's　things　（they　reminded　him　sharply　of　him　in　their　new　selling）　。　were　arranged　as　nearly　as　possible　as　they　had　been　at　Bag　End。　It　was　a　pleasant；　fortable；　weling　place；　and　he　found　himself　wishing　that　he　was　really　ing　here　to　settle　doent。　It　seemed　unfair　to　have　put　his　friends　to　all　this　trouble；　and　he　wondered　again　how　he　was　going　to　break　the　news　to　them　that　he　must　leave　them　so　soon；　indeed　at　once。　Yet　that　would　have　to　be　done　that　very　night；　before　they　all　went　to　bed。

'It's　delightful！'　he　said　with　an　effort。　'I　hardly　feel　that　I　have　moved　at　all。'

The　travellers　hung　up　their　cloaks；　and　piled　their　packs　on　the　floor。　Merry　led　them　down　the　passage　and　threw　open　a　door　at　the　far　end。　Firelight　came　out；　and　a　puff　of　steam。

'A　bath！'　cried　Pippin。　'O　blessed　Meriadoc！'

'Which　order　shall　we　go　in？'　said　Frodo。　'Eldest　first；　or　quickest　first？　You'll　be　last　either　way；　Master　Peregrin。'

'Trust　me　to　arrange　things　better　than　that！'　said　Merry。　'We　can't　begin　life　at　Crickhollow　with　a　quarrel　over　baths。　In　that　room　there　are　three　tubs；　and　a　copper　full　of　boiling　water。　There　are　also　towels；　mats　and　soap。　Get　inside；　and　be　quick！'

Merry　and　Fatty　went　into　the　kitchen　on　the　other　side　of　the　passage；　and　busied　themselves　with　the　final　preparations　for　a　late　supper。　Snatches　of　peting　songs　came　from　the　bathroom　mixed　with　the　sound　of　splashing　and　wallowing。　The　voice　of　Pippin　was　suddenly　lifted　up　above　the　others　in　one　of　Bilbo's　favourite　bathsongs。

Sing　hey！　for　the　bath　at　close　of　day
that　washes　the　weary　mud　away！
A　loon　is　he　that　will　not　sing：
O！　Water　Hot　is　a　noble　thing！

O！　Sweet　is　the　sound　of　falling　rain；
and　the　brook　that　leaps　from　hill　to　plain；
but　better　than　rain　or　rippling　streams
is　Water　Hot　that　smokes　and　steams。

O！　Water　cold　we　may　pour　at　need
down　a　thirsty　throat　and　be　glad　indeed；
but　better　is　Beer；　if　drink　we　lack；
and　Water　Hot　poured　down　the　back。

O！　Water　is　fair　that　leaps　on　high
in　a　fountain　white　beneath　the　sky；
but　never　did　fountain　sound　so　sweet
as　splashing　Hot　Water　with　my　feet！

There　was　a　terrific　splash；　and　a　shout　of　Whoa！　from　Frodo。　It　appeared　that　a　lot　of　Pippin's　bath　had　imitated　a　fountain　and　leaped　on　high。

Merry　went　to　the　door：　'What　about　supper　and　beer　in　the　throat？'　he　called。　Frodo　came　out　drying　his　hair。

'There's　so　much　water　in　the　air　that　I'm　ing　into　the　kitchen　to　finish；'　he　said。

'Lawks！'　said　Merry；　looking　in。　The　stone　floor　was　swimming。　'You　ought　to　mop　all　that　up　before　you　get　anything　to　eat。　Peregrin；'　he　said。　'Hurry　up；　or　we　shan't　wait　for　you。'

They　had　supper　in　the　kitchen　on　a　table　near　the　fire。　'I　suppose　you　three　won't　want　mushrooms　again？'　said　Fredegar　without　much　hope。

'Yes　we　shall！'　cried　Pippin。

'They're　mine！'　said　Frodo。　'Given　to　me　by　Mrs。　Maggot；　a　queen　among　farmers'　wives。　Take　your　greedy　hands　away；　and　I'll　serve　them。'

Hobbits　have　a　passion　for　mushrooms；　surpassing　even　the　greediest　likings　of　Big　People。　A　fact　which　partly　explains　young　Frodo's　long　expeditions　to　the　renowned　fields　of　the　Marish；　and　the　wrath　of　the　injured　Maggot。　On　this　occasion　there　was　plenty　for　all；　even　according　to　hobbit　standards。　There　were　also　many　other　things　to　follow；　and　when　they　had　finished　even　Fatty　Bolger　heaved　a　sigh　of　content。　They　pushed　back　the　table；　and　drew　chairs　round　the　f