The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第18章

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ide。

After　half　an　hour　Pippin　said：　'I　hope　we　have　not　turned　too　much　towards　the　south；　and　are　not　walking　longwise　through　this　wood！　It　is　not　a　very　broad　belt　I　should　have　said　no　more　than　a　mile　at　the　widest　。　and　we　ought　to　have　been　through　it　by　now。'

'It　is　no　good　our　starting　to　go　in　zigzags；'　said　Frodo。　'That　won't　mend　matters。　Let　us　keep　on　as　we　are　going！　I　am　not　sure　that　I　want　to　e　out　into　the　open　yet。'

They　went　on　for　perhaps　another　couple　of　miles。　Then　the　sun　gleamed　out　of　ragged　clouds　again　and　the　rain　lessened。　It　was　now　past　midday；　and　they　felt　it　was　high　time　for　lunch。　They　halted　under　an　elm　tree：　its　leaves　though　fast　turning　yellow　were　still　thick；　and　the　ground　at　its　feel　was　fairly　dry　and　sheltered。　When　they　came　to　make　their　meal；　they　found　that　the　Elves　had　filled　their　bottles　with　a　clear　drink；　pale　golden　in　colour：　it　had　the　scent　of　a　honey　made　of　many　flowers；　and　was　wonderfully　refreshing。　Very　soon　they　were　laughing；　and　snapping　their　fingers　at　rain；　and　at　Black　Riders。　The　last　few　miles；　they　felt；　would　soon　be　behind　them。

Frodo　propped　his　back　against　the　treetrunk；　and　closed　his　eyes。　Sam　and　Pippin　sat　near；　and　they　began　to　hum；　and　then　to　sing　softly：

Ho！　Ho！　Ho！　to　the　bottle　I　go
To　heal　my　heart　and　drown　my　woe。
Rain　may　fall　and　wind　may　blow；
And　many　miles　be　still　to　go；
But　under　a　tall　tree　I　will　lie；
And　let　the　clouds　go　sailing　by。

Ho！　Ho！　Ho！　they　began　again　louder。　They　stopped　short　suddenly。　Frodo　sprang　to　his　feet。　A　longdrawn　wail　came　down　the　wind；　like　the　cry　of　some　evil　and　lonely　creature。　It　rose　and　fell；　and　ended　on　a　high　piercing　note。　Even　as　they　sat　and　stood；　as　if　suddenly　frozen；　it　was　answered　by　another　cry；　fainter　and　further　off；　but　no　less　chilling　to　the　blood。　There　was　then　a　silence；　broken　only　by　the　sound　of　the　wind　in　the　leaves。

'And　what　do　you　think　that　was？'　Pippin　asked　at　last；　trying　to　speak　lightly；　but　quavering　a　little。　'If　it　was　a　bird；　it　was　one　that　I　never　heard　in　the　Shire　before。'

'It　was　not　bird　or　beast；'　said　Frodo。　'It　was　a　call；　or　a　signal　。　there　were　words　in　that　cry；　though　I　could　not　catch　them。　But　no　hobbit　has　such　a　voice。'

No　more　was　said　about　it。　They　were　all　thinking　of　the　Riders；　but　no　one　spoke　of　them。　They　were　now　reluctant　either　to　stay　or　go　on；　but　sooner　or　later　they　had　got　to　get　across　the　open　country　to　the　Ferry；　and　it　was　best　to　go　sooner　and　in　daylight。　In　a　few　moments　they　had　shouldered　their　packs　again　and　were　off。

Before　long　the　wood　came　to　a　sudden　end。　Wide　grasslands　stretched　before　them。　They　now　saw　that　they　had；　in　fact；　turned　too　much　to　the　south。　Away　over　the　flats　they　could　glimpse　the　low　hill　of　Bucklebury　across　the　River；　but　it　was　now　to　their　left。　Creeping　cautiously　out　from　the　edge　of　the　trees；　they　set　off　across　the　open　as　quickly　as　they　could。

At　first　they　felt　afraid；　away　from　the　shelter　of　the　wood。　Far　back　behind　them　stood　the　high　place　where　they　had　breakfasted。　Frodo　half　expected　to　see　the　small　distant　figure　of　a　horseman　on　the　ridge　dark　against　the　sky；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　one。　The　sun　escaping　from　the　breaking　clouds；　as　it　sank　towards　the　hills　they　had　left；　was　now　shining　brightly　again。　Their　fear　left　them；　though　they　still　felt　uneasy。　But　the　land　became　steadily　more　tame　and　wellordered。　Soon　they　came　into　well　tended　fields　and　meadows：　there　were　hedges　and　gates　and　dikes　for　drainage。　Everything　seemed　quiet　and　peaceful；　just　an　ordinary　corner　of　the　Shire。　Their　spirits　rose　with　every　step。　The　line　of　the　River　grew　nearer；　and　the　Black　Riders　began　to　seem　like　phantoms　of　the　woods　now　left　far　behind。

They　passed　along　the　edge　of　a　huge　turnipfield；　and　came　to　a　stout　gate。　Beyond　it　a　rutted　lane　ran　between　low　welllaid　hedges　towards　a　distant　clump　of　trees。　Pippin　stopped。

'I　know　these　fields　and　this　gate！'　he　said。　'This　is　Bamfurlong；　old　Farmer　Maggot's　land。　That's　his　farm　away　there　in　the　trees。'

'One　trouble　after　another！'　said　Frodo；　looking　nearly　as　much　alarmed　as　if　Pippin　had　declared　the　lane　was　the　slot　leading　to　a　dragon's　den。　The　others　looked　at　him　in　surprise。

'What's　wrong　with　old　Maggot？'　asked　Pippin。　'He's　a　good　friend　to　all　the　Brandy　bucks。　Of　course　he's　a　terror　to　trespassers；　and　keeps　ferocious　dogs　。　but　after　all；　folk　down　here　are　near　the　border　and　have　to　be　more　on　their　guard。'

'I　know；'　said　Frodo。　'But　all　the　same；'　he　added　with　a　shamefaced　laugh；　'I　am　terrified　of　him　and　his　dogs。　I　have　avoided　his　farm　for　years　and　years。　He　caught　me　several　times　trespassing　after　mushrooms；　when　I　was　a　youngster　at　Brandy　Hall。　On　the　last　occasion　he　beat　me；　and　then　took　me　and　showed　me　to　his　dogs。　〃See；　lads；〃　he　said；　〃next　time　this　young　varmint　sets　foot　on　my　land；　you　can　eat　him。　Now　see　him　off！〃　They　chased　me　all　the　way　to　the　Ferry。　I　have　never　got　over　the　fright　。　though　I　daresay　the　beasts　knew　their　business　and　would　not　really　have　touched　me。'

Pippin　laughed。　'Well；　it's　time　you　made　it　up。　Especially　if　you　are　ing　back　to　live　in　Buckland。　Old　Maggot　is　really　a　stout　fellow　。　if　you　leave　his　mushrooms　alone。　Let's　get　into　the　lane　and　then　we　shan't　be　trespassing。　If　we　meet　him；　I'll　do　the　talking。　He　is　a　friend　of　Merry's；　and　I　used　to　e　here　with　him　a　good　deal　at　one　time。'

They　went　along　the　lane；　until　they　saw　the　thatched　roofs　of　a　large　house　and　farmbuildings　peeping　out　among　the　trees　ahead。　The　Maggots；　and　the　Puddifoots　of　Stock；　and　most　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　Marish；　were　housedwellers；　and　this　farm　was　stoutly　built　of　brick　and　had　a　high　wall　all　round　it。　There　was　a　wide　wooden　gate　opening　out　of　the　wall　into　the　lane。

Suddenly　as　they　drew　nearer　a　terrific　baying　and　barking　broke　out；　and　a　loud　voice　was　heard　shouting：　'Grip！　Fang！　Wolf！　e　on；　lads！'

Frodo　and　Sam　stopped　dead；　but　Pippin　walked　on　a　few　paces。　The　gate　opened　and　three　huge　dogs　came　pelting　out　into　the　lane；　and　dashed　towards　the　travellers；　barking　fiercely。　They　took　no　notice　of　Pippin；　but　Sam　shrank　against　the　wall；　while　two　wolvishlooking　dogs　sniffed　at　him　suspiciously；　and　snarled　if　he　moved。　The　largest　and　most　ferocious　of　the　three　halted　in　front　of　Frodo；　bristling　and　growling。

Through　the　gate　there　now　appeared　a　broad　thickset　hobbit　with　a　round　red　face。　'Hallo！　Hallo！　And　who　may　you　be；　and　what　may　you　be　wanting？'　he　asked。

'Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Maggot！'　said　Pippin。

The　farmer　looked　at　him　closely。　'Well；　if　it　isn't　Master　Pippin　。　Mr。　Peregrin　Took；　I　should　say！'　he　cried；　changing　from　a　scowl　to　a　grin。　'It's　a　long　time　since　I　saw　you　round　here。　It's　lucky　for　you　that　I　know　you。　I　was　just　going　out　to　set　my　dogs　on　any　strangers。　There　are　some　funny　things　going　on　today。　Of　course；　we　do　get　queer　folk　wandering　in　these　parts　at　times。　Too　near　the　River；'　he　said；　shaking　his　head。　'But　this　fellow　was　the　most　outlandish　I　have　ever　set　eyes　on。　He　won't　cross　my　land　without　leave　a　second　time；　not　if　I　can　stop　it。'

'What　fellow　do　you　mean？'　asked　Pippin。

'Then　you　haven't　seen　him？'　said　the　farmer。　'He　went　up　the　lane　towards　the　causeway　not　a　long　while　back。　He　was　a　funny　customer　and　asking　funny　questions。　But　perhaps　you'll　e　along　inside；　and　we'll　pass　the　news　more　fortable。　I've　a　drop　of　good　ale　on　tap；　if　you　and　your　friends　are　willing；　Mr。　Took。'

It　seemed　plain　that　the　farmer　would　tell　them　more；　if　allowed　to　do　it　in　his　own　time　and　fashion；　so　they　all　accepted　the　invitation。　'What　about　the　dogs？'　asked　Frodo　anxiously。

The　farmer　laughed。　'They　won't　harm　you　。　not　unless　I　tell　'em　to。　Here；　Grip！　Fang！　Heel！'　he　cried。　'Heel；　Wolf！'　To　the　relief　of　Frodo　and　Sam；　the　dogs　walked　away　and　let　them　go　free。

Pippin　introduced　the　other　two　to　the　farmer。　'Mr。　Frodo　Baggins；'　he　said。　'You　may　not　remember　him；　but　he　used　to　live　at　Brandy　Hall。'　At　the　name　Baggins　the　farmer　started；　and　gave　Frodo　a　sharp　glance。　For　a　moment　Frodo　thought　that　the　memory　of　stolen　mushrooms　had　been　aroused；　and　that　the　dogs　would　be　told　to　see　him　off。　But　Farmer　Maggot　took　him　by　the　arm。

'Well；　if　that　isn't　queerer　than　ever？'　he　exclaimed。　'Mr。　Baggins　is　it？　e　inside！　We　must　have　a　talk。'

They　went　into　the　farmer's　kitchen；　and　sat　by　the　wide　fireplace。　Mrs。　Maggot　brought　out　beer　in　a　huge　jug；　and　filled　four　large　mugs。　It　was　a　good　brew；　and　Pippin　found　himself　more　than　pensated　for　missing　the　Golden　Perch。　Sam　sipped　his　beer　suspiciously。　He　had　a　natural　mistrust　of　the　inhabitants　of　other　parts　of　the　Shire；　and　also　he　was　not　disposed　to　be　quick　friends　with　anyone　who　had　beaten　his　master；　however　long　ago。

After　a　few　remarks　about　the　weather　and　the　agricultural　prospects　（which　were　no　worse　than　usual）；　Farmer　Maggot　put　down　his　mug　and　looked　at　them　all　in　turn。

'Now；　Mr。　Peregrin；'　he　said；　'where　might　you　be　ing　from；　and　where　might　you　be　going　to？　Were　you　ing　to　visit'　me？　For；　if　so；　you　had　gone　past　my　gate　without　my　seeing　you。'

'Well；　no；'　answered　Pippin。　'To　tell　you　the　truth；　since　you　have　guessed　it；　we　got　into　the　lane　from　the　other　end：　we　had　e　over　your　fields。　But　that　was　quite　by　accident。　We　lost　our　way　in　the　woods；　back　near　Woodhall；　trying　to　take　a　short　cut　to　the　Ferry。'

'If　you　were　in　a　hurry；　the　road　would　have　served　you　better；'　said　the　farmer。　'But　I　wasn't　worrying　about　that。　You　have　leave　to　walk　over　my　land；　if　you　have　a　mind；　Mr。　Peregrin。　And　you；　Mr。　Baggins　。　though　I　daresay　you　still　like　mushrooms。'　He　laughed。　'Ah　yes；　I　recognized　the　name。　I　recollect　the　time　when　young　Frodo　Baggins　was　one　of　the　worst　young　rascals　of　Buckland。　But　it　wasn't　mushrooms　I　was　thinking　of。　I　had　just　heard　the　name　Baggins　before　you　turned　up。　What　do　you　think　that　funny　customer　asked　me？'

They　waited　anxiously　for　him　to　go　on。　'Well；'　the　farmer　continued；　approaching　his　point　with　slow　relish；　'he　came　riding　on　a　big　black　horse　in　at　the　gate；　which　happened　to　be　ope