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'Indeed！　Let's　have　it　then！'　said　Frodo；　unwisely　interrupting。　
_'A　stout　little　fellow　with　red　cheeks；'_　said　Mr。　Butterbur　solemnly。　
Pippin　chuckled；　but　Sam　looked　indignant。　_'That　won't　help　you　much；　it　goesfor　most　hobbits。　Barley；_　he　says　to　me；'　continued　Mr。　Butterbur　with　aglance　at　Pippin。　_'But　this　one　is　taller　than　some　and　fairer　than　most；　andhe　has　a　cleft　in　his　chin：　perky　chap　with　a　bright　eye。_　Begging　yourpardon；　but　he　said　it；　not　me。'　
_'He_　said　it？　And　who　was　he？'　asked　Frodo　eagerly。　
'Ah！　That　was　Gandalf；　if　you　know　who　I　mean。　A　wizard　they　say　he　is；　
but　he's　a　good　friend　of　mine；　whether　or　no。　But　now　I　don't　know　what　he'llhave　to　say　to　me；　if　I　see　him　again：　turn　all　my　ale　sour　or　me　into　a　blockof　wood；　I　shouldn't　wonder。　He's　a　bit　hasty。　Still　what's　done　can't　beundone。　'　　
'Well；　what　have　you　done？'　said　Frodo；　getting　impatient　with　the　slowunravelling　of　Butterbur's　thoughts。　
'Where　was　I？'　said　the　landlord；　pausing　and　snapping　his　fingers。　'Ah；　
yes！　Old　Gandalf。　Three　months　back　he　walked　right　into　my　room　without　aknock。　_Barley；_　he　says；　_I'm　off　in　the　morning。　Will　you　do　something　forme？　You've　only　to　name　it；_　I　said。　_I'm　in　a　hurry；_　said　he；　_and　I've　notime　myself；　but　I　want　a　message　took　to　the　Shire。　Have　you　anyone　you　cansend；　and　trust　to　go？　I　can　find　someone；_　I　said；　_tomorrow；　maybe；　or　theday　after。　Make　it　tomorrow；_　he　says；　and　then　he　gave　me　a　letter。　
'It's　addressed　plain　enough；'　said　Mr。　Butterbur；　producing　a　letterfrom　his　pocket；　and　reading　out　the　address　slowly　and　proudly　（he　valued　hisreputation　as　a　lettered　man）：　　
_Mr。　FRODO　BAGGINS；　BAG　END；　HOBBITON　in　the　SHIRE。_　　
'A　letter　for　me　from　Gandalf！'　cried　Frodo。　　
'Ah！'　said　Mr。　Butterbur。　'Then　your　right　name　is　Baggins？'　
'It　is；'　said　Frodo；　'and　you　had　better　give　me　that　letter　at　once；　andexplain　why　you　never　sent　it。　That's　what　you　came　to　tell　me；　I　suppose；　
though　you've　taken　a　long　time　to　e　to　the　point。'　
Poor　Mr。　Butterbur　looked　troubled。　'You're　right；　master；'　he　said；　'andI　beg　your　pardon。　And　I'm　mortal　afraid　of　what　Gandalf　will　say；　if　harmes　of　it。　But　I　didn't　keep　it　back　a…purpose。　I　put　it　by　safe。　Then　Icouldn't　find　nobody　willing　to　go　to　the　Shire　next　day；　nor　the　day　after；　
and　none　of　my　own　folk　were　to　spare；　and　then　one　thing　after　another　droveit　out　of　my　mind。　I'm　a　busy　man。　I'll　do　what　I　can　to　set　matters　right；　
and　if　there's　any　help　I　can　give；　you've　only　to　name　it。　
'Leaving　the　letter　aside；　I　promised　Gandalf　no　less。　_Barley；_　he　saysto　me；　_this　friend　of　mine　from　the　Shire；　he　may　be　ing　out　this　waybefore　long；　him　and　another。　He'll　be　calling　himself　Underhill。　Mind　that！　
But　you　need　ask　no　questions。　And　if　I'm　not　with　him；　he　may　be　in　trouble；　
and　he　may　need　help。　Do　whatever　you　can　for　him；　and　I'll　be　grateful；_　hesays。　And　here　you　are；　and　trouble　is　not　far　off；　seemingly。'　
'What　do　you　mean？'　asked　Frodo。　
'These　black　men；'　said　the　landlord　lowering　his　voice。　'They're　lookingfor　_Baggins；_　and　if　they　mean　well；　then　I'm　a　hobbit。　It　was　on　Monday；　andall　the　dogs　were　yammering　and　the　geese　screaming。　Uncanny；　I　called　it。　
Nob；　he　came　and　told　me　that　two　black　men　were　at　the　door　asking　for　ahobbit　called　Baggins。　Nob's　hair　was　all　stood　on　end。　I　bid　the　blackfellows　be　off；　and　slammed　the　door　on　them；　but　they've　been　asking　the　samequestion　all　the　way　to　Archet；　I　hear。　And　that　Ranger；　Strider；　he's　beenasking　questions；　too。　Tried　to　get　in　here　to　see　you；　before　you'd　had　bite　　
　
or　sup；　he　did。'　
'He　did！'　said　Strider　suddenly；　ing　forward　into　the　light。　'And　muchtrouble　would　have　been　saved；　if　you　had　let　him　in；　Barliman。'　
The　landlord　jumped　with　surprise。　'You！'　he　cried。　'You're　alwayspopping　up。　What　do　you　want　now？'　
'He's　here　with　my　leave；'　said　Frodo。　'He　came　to　offer　me　his　help。'　
'Well；　you　know　your　own　business；　maybe；'　said　Mr。　Butterbur；　lookingsuspiciously　at　Strider。　'But　if　I　was　in　your　plight；　I　wouldn't　take　up　witha　Ranger。'　
'Then　who　would　you　take　up　with？'　asked　Strider。　'A　fat　innkeeper　whoonly　remembers　his　own　name　because　people　shout　it　at　him　all　day？　Theycannot　stay　in　_The　Pony_　for　ever；　and　they　cannot　go　home。　They　have　a　longroad　before　them。　Will　you　go　with　them　and　keep　the　black　men　off？'　
'Me？　Leave　Bree！　I　wouldn't　do　that　for　any　money；'　said　Mr。　Butterbur；　
looking　really　scared。　'But　why　can't　you　stay　here　quiet　for　a　bit；　Mr。　
Underhill？　What　are　all　these　queer　goings　on？　What　are　these　black　men　after；　
and　where　do　they　e　from；　I'd　like　to　know？'　
'I'm　sorry　I　can't　explain　it　all；'　answered　Frodo。　'I　am　tired　and　veryworried；　and　it's　a　long　tale。　But　if　you　mean　to　help　me；　I　ought　to　warn　youthat　you　will　be　in　danger　as　long　as　I　am　in　your　house。　These　Black　Riders：　
I　am　not　sure；　but　I　think；　I　fear　they　e　from–––'　
'They　e　from　Mordor；'　said　Strider　in　a　low　voice。　'From　Mordor；　
Barliman；　if　that　means　anything　to　you。'　
'Save　us！'　cried　Mr。　Butterbur　turning　pale；　the　name　evidently　was　knownto　him。　'That　is　the　worst　news　that　has　e　to　Bree　in　my　time。'　'It　is；'　
said　Frodo。　'Are　you　still　willing　to　help　me？'　'I　am；'　said　Mr。　Butterbur。　
'More　than　ever。　Though　I　don't　know　what　the　likes　of　me　can　do　against；　
against–––'　he　faltered。　
'Against　the　Shadow　in　the　East；'　said　Strider　quietly。　'Not　much；　
Barliman；　but　every　little　helps。　You　can　let　Mr。　Underhill　stay　here　tonight；　
as　Mr。　Underhill；　and　you　can　forget　the　name　of　Baggins；　till　he　is　faraway。'　
'I'll　do　that；'　said　Butterbur。　'But　they'll　find　out　he's　here　withouthelp　from　me；　I'm　afraid。　It's　a　pity　Mr。　Baggins　drew　attention　to　himselfthis　evening；　to　say　no　more。　The　story　of　that　Mr。　Bilbo's　going　off　has　beenheard　before　tonight　in　Bree。　Even　our　Nob　has　been　doing　some　guessing　in　hisslow　pate：　and　there　are　others　in　Bree　quicker　in　the　uptake　than　he　is。'　
'Well；　we　can　only　hope　the　Riders　won't　e　back　yet；'　said　Frodo。　
'I　hope　not；　indeed；'　said　Butterbur。　'But　spooks　or　no　spooks；　theywon't　get　in　_The　Pony_so　easy。　Don't　you　worry　till　the　morning。　Nob'll　sayno　word。　No　black　man　shall　pass　my　doors；　while　I　can　stand　on　my　legs。　Meand　my　folk'll　keep　watch　tonight；　but　you　had　best　get　some　sleep；　if　youcan。'　　
'In　any　case　we　must　be　called　at　dawn；'　said　Frodo。　'We　must　get　off　asearly　as　possible。　Breakfast　at　six…thirty；　please。'　
'Right！　I'll　see　to　the　orders；'　said　the　landlord。　'Good　night；　Mr。　
Baggins　–　Underhill；　I　should　say！　Good　night　–　now；　bless　me！　Where's　yourMr。　Brandybuck？'　
'I　don't　know；'　said　Frodo　with　sudden　anxiety。　They　had　forgotten　allabout　Merry；　and　it　was　getting　late。　'I　am　afraid　he　is　out。　He　saidsomething　about　going　for　a　breath　of　air。'　
'Well；　you　do　want　looking　after　and　no　mistake：　your　party　might　be　on　aholiday！'　said　Butterbur。　'I　must　go　and　bar　the　doors　quick；　but　I'll　seeyour　friend　is　let　in　when　he　es。　I'd　better　send　Nob　to　look　for　him。　Goodnight　to　you　all！'　At　last　Mr。　Butterbur　went　out；　with　another　doubtful　lookat　Strider　and　a　shake　of　his　head。　His　footsteps　retreated　down　the　passage。　　
'Well？'　said　Strider。　'When　are　you　going　to　open　that　letter？'　Frodolooked　carefully　at　the　seal　before　he　broke　it。　It　seemed　certainly　to　beGandalf's。　Inside；　written　in　the　wizard's　strong　but　graceful　script；　was　the　　
　
following　message：　　
_THE　PRANCING　PONY；　BREE。　Midyear's　Day；　Shire　Year；　1418。_　
_Dear　Frodo；_　
_Bad　news　has　reached　me　here。　I　must　go　off　at　once。　You　had　betterleave　Bag　End　soon；　and　get　out　of　the　Shire　before　the　end　of　July　at　latest。　
I　will　return　as　soon　as　I　can；　and　I　will　follow　you；　if　I　find　that　you　aregone。　Leave　a　message　for　me　here；　if　you　pass　through　Bree。　You　can　trust　thelandlord　（Butterbur）。　You　may　meet　a　friend　of　mine　on　the　Road：　a　Man；　lean；　
dark；　tall；　by　some　called　Strider。　He　knows　our　business　and　will　help　you。　
Make　for　Rivendell。　There　I　hope　we　may　meet　again。　If　I　do　not　e；　Elrond　
will　advise　you。_　　
_Yours　in　haste_　　
_GANDALF_。　　
_PS。　Do　NOT　use　It　again；　not　far　any　reason　whatever！　Do　not　travel　bynight！_　
_PPS。　Make　sure　that　it　is