The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第19章

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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　open；　and　right　up　to　my　door。　All　black　he　was　himself；　too；　and　cloaked　and　hooded　up；　as　if　he　did　not　want　to　be　known。　〃Now　what　in　the　Shire　can　he　want？〃　I　thought　to　myself。　We　don't　see　many　of　the　Big　Folk　over　the　border；　and　anyway　I　had　never　heard　of　any　like　this　black　fellow。

'　〃Goodday　to　you！〃　I　says；　going　out　to　him。　〃This　lane　don't　lead　anywhere；　and　wherever　you　may　be　going；　your　quickest　way　will　be　back　to　the　road。〃　I　didn't　like　the　looks　of　him；　and　when　Grip　came　out；　he　took　one　sniff　and　let　out　a　yelp　as　if　he　had　been　slung：　he　put　down　his　tail　and　bolted　off　howling。　The　black　fellow　sat　quite　still。

'　〃I　e　from　yonder；〃　he　said；　slow　and　stifflike；　pointing　back　west；　over　my　fields；　if　you　please。　〃Have　you　seen　Baggins？〃　he　asked　in　a　queer　voice；　and　bent　down　towards　me。　I　could　not　see　any　face；　for　his　hood　fell　down　so　low；　and　I　felt　a　sort　of　shiver　down　my　back。　But　I　did　not　see　why　he　should　e　riding　over　my　land　so　bold。

'　〃Be　off！〃　I　said。　〃There　are　no　Bagginses　here。　You're　in　the　wrong　part　of　the　Shire。　You　had　better　go　back　west　to　Hobbiton　。　but　you　can　go　by　road　this　time。〃

'　〃Baggins　has　left；〃　he　answered　in　a　whisper。　〃He　is　ing。　He　is　not　far　away。　I　wish　to　find　him。　If　he　passes　will　you　tell　me？　I　will　e　back　with　gold。〃

'　〃No　you　won't；〃　I　said。　〃You'll　go　back　where　you　belong；　double　quick。　I　give　you　one　minute　before　I　call　all　my　dogs。〃

'He　gave　a　sort　of　hiss。　It　might　have　been　laughing；　and　it　might　not。　Then　he　spurred　his　great　horse　right　at　me；　and　I　jumped　out　of　the　way　only　just　in　time。　I　called　the　dogs；　but　he　swung　off；　and　rode　through　the　gate　and　up　the　lane　towards　the　causeway　like　a　bolt　of　thunder。　What　do　you　think　of　that？'

Frodo　sat　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　fire；　but　his　only　thought　was　how　on　earth　would　they　reach　the　Ferry。　'I　don't　know　what　to　think；'　he　said　at　last。

'Then　I'll　tell　you　what　to　think；'　said　Maggot。　'You　should　never　have　gone　mixing　yourself　up　with　Hobbiton　folk；　Mr。　Frodo。　Folk　are　queer　up　there。'　Sam　stirred　in　his　chair；　and　looked　at　the　farmer　with　an　unfriendly　eye。　'But　you　were　always　a　reckless　lad。　When　I　heard　you　had　left　the　Brandybucks　and　gone　off　to　that　old　Mr。　Bilbo；　I　said　that　you　were　going　to　find　trouble。　Mark　my　words；　this　all　es　of　those　strange　doings　of　Mr。　Bilbo's。　His　money　was　got　in　some　strange　fashion　in　foreign　parts；　they　say。　Maybe　there　is　some　that　want　to　know　what　has　bee　of　the　gold　and　jewels　that　he　buried　in　the　hill　of　Hobbiton；　as　I　hear？'

Frodo　said　nothing：　the　shrewd　guesses　of　the　farmer　were　rather　disconcerting。

'Well；　Mr。　Frodo；'　Maggot　went　on；　'I'm　glad　that　you've　had　the　sense　to　e　back　to　Buckland。　My　advice　is：　stay　there！　And　don't　get　mixed　up　with　these　outlandish　folk。　You'll　have　friends　in　these　parts。　If　any　of　these　black　fellows　e　after　you　again；　I'll　deal　with　them。　I'll　say　you're　dead；　or　have　left　the　Shire；　or　anything　you　like。　And　that　might　be　true　enough；　for　as　like　as　not　it　is　old　Mr。　Bilbo　they　want　news　of。'

'Maybe　you're　right；'　said　Frodo；　avoiding　the　farmer's　eye　and　staring　at　the　fire。

Maggot　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　'Well；　I　see　you　have　ideas　of　your　own；'　he　said。　'It　is　as　plain　as　my　nose　that　no　accident　brought　you　and　that　rider　here　on　the　same　afternoon；　and　maybe　my　news　was　no　great　news　to　you；　after　all。　I　am　not　asking　you　to　tell　me　anything　you　have　a　mind　to　keep　to　yourself；　but　I　see　you　are　in　some　kind　of　trouble。　Perhaps　you　are　thinking　it　won't　be　too　easy　to　get　to　the　Ferry　without　being　caught？'

'I　was　thinking　so；'　said　Frodo。　'But　we　have　got　to　try　and　get　there；　and　it　won't　be　done　by　sitting　and　thinking。　So　I　am　afraid　we　must　be　going。　Thank　you　very　much　indeed　for　your　kindness！　I've　been　in　terror　of　you　and　your　dogs　for　over　thirty　years；　Farmer　Maggot；　though　you　may　laugh　to　hear　it。　It's　a　pity：　for　I've　missed　a　good　friend。　And　now　I'm　sorry　to　leave　so　soon。　But　I'll　e　back；　perhaps；　one　day　。　if　I　get　a　chance。'

'You'll　be　wele　when　you　e；'　said　Maggot。　'But　now　I've　a　notion。　It's　near　sundown　already；　and　we　are　going　to　have　our　supper；　for　we　mostly　go　to　bed　soon　after　the　Sun。　If　you　and　Mr。　Peregrin　and　all　could　stay　and　have　a　bite　with　us；　we　would　be　pleased！'

'And　so　should　we！'　said　Frodo。　'But　we　must　be　going　at　once；　I'm　afraid。　Even　now　it　will　be　dark　before　we　can　reach　the　Ferry。'

'Ah！　but　wait　a　minute！　I　was　going　to　say：　after　a　bit　of　supper；　I'll　gel　out　a　small　waggon；　and　I'll　drive　you　all　to　the　Ferry。　That　will　save　you　a　good　step；　and　it　might　also　save　you　trouble　of　another　sort。'

Frodo　now　accepted　the　invitation　gratefully；　to　the　relief　of　Pippin　and　Sam。　The　sun　was　already　behind　the　western　hills；　and　the　light　was　failing。　Two　of　Maggot's　sons　and　his　three　daughters　came　in；　and　a　generous　supper　was　laid　on　the　large　table。　The　kitchen　was　lit　with　candles　and　the　fire　was　mended。　Mrs。　Maggot　hustled　in　and　out。　One　or　two　other　hobbits　belonging　to　the　farmhousehold　came　in。　In　a　short　while　fourteen　sat　down　to　eat。　There　was　beer　in　plenty；　and　a　mighty　dish　of　mushrooms　and　bacon；　besides　much　other　solid　farmhouse　fare。　The　dogs　lay　by　the　fire　and　gnawed　rinds　and　cracked　bones。

When　they　had　finished；　the　farmer　and　his　sons　went　out　with　a　lantern　and　got　the　waggon　ready。　It　was　dark　in　the　yard；　when　the　guests　came　out。　They　threw　their　packs　on　board　and　climbed　in。　The　farmer　sat　in　the　driving　seat；　and　whipped　up　his　two　stout　ponies。　His　wife　stood　in　the　light　of　the　open　door。

'You　be　careful　of　yourself。　Maggot！'　she　called。　'Don't　go　arguing　with　any　foreigners；　and　e　straight　back！'

'I　will！'　said　he；　and　drove　out　of　the　gate。　There　was　now　no　breath　of　wind　stirring；　the　night　was　still　and　quiet；　and　a　chill　was　in　the　air。　They　went　without　lights　and　took　it　slowly。　After　a　mile　or　two　the　lane　came　to　an　end；　crossing　a　deep　dike；　and　climbing　a　short　slope　up　on　to　the　high　banked　causeway。

Maggot　got　down　and　took　a　good　look　either　way；　north　and　south；　but　nothing　could　be　seen　in　the　darkness；　and　there　was　not　a　sound　in　the　still　air。　Thin　strands　of　rivermist　were　hanging　above　the　dikes；　and　crawling　over　the　fields。

'It's　going　to　be　thick；'　said　Maggot；　'but　I'll　not　light　my　lantern　till　I　turn　for　home。　We'll　hear　anything　on　the　road　long　before　we　meet　it　tonight。'

It　was　five　miles　or　more　from　Maggot's　lane　to　the　Ferry。　The　hobbits　wrapped　themselves　up；　but　their　ears　were　strained　for　any　sound　above　the　creak　of　the　wheels　and　the　slow　clop　of　the　ponies'　hoofs。　The　waggon　seemed　slower　than　a　snail　to　Frodo。　Beside　him　Pippin　was　nodding　towards　sleep；　but　Sam　was　staring　forwards　into　the　rising　fog。

They　reached　the　entrance　to　the　Ferry　lane　at　last。　It　was　marked　by　two　tall　white　posts　that　suddenly　loomed　up　on　their　right。　Farmer　Maggot　drew　in　his　ponies　and　the　waggon　creaked　to　a　halt。　They　were　just　beginning　lo　scramble　out；　when　suddenly　they　heard　what　they　had　all　been　dreading：　hoofs　on　the　road　ahead。　The　sound　was　ing　towards　them。

Maggot　jumped　down　and　stood　holding　the　ponies'　heads；　and　peering　forward　into　the　gloom。　Clipclop；　clipclop　came　the　approaching　rider。　The　fall　of　the　hoofs　sounded　loud　in　the　still；　foggy　air。

'You'd　better　be　hidden；　Mr。　Frodo；'　said　Sam　anxiously。　'You　get　down　in　the　waggon　and　cover　up　with　blankets；　and　we'll　send　this　rider　to　the　rightabouts！'　He　climbed　out　and　went　to　the　farmer's　side。　Black　Riders　would　have　to　ride　over　him　to　get　near　the　waggon。

Clopclop；　clopclop。　The　rider　was　nearly　on　them。

'Hallo　there！'　called　Farmer　Maggot。　The　advancing　hoofs　stopped　short。　They　thought　they　could　dimly　guess　a　dark　cloaked　shape　in　the　mist；　a　yard　or　two　ahead。　'Now　then！'　said　the　farmer；　throwing　the　reins　to　Sam　and　striding　forward。　'Don't　you　e　a　step　nearer！　What　do　you　want；　and　where　are　you　going？'

'I　want　Mr。　Baggins。　Have　you　seen　him？'　said　a　muffled　voice　。　but　the　voice　was　the　voice　of　Merry　Brandybuck。　A　dark　lantern　was　uncovered；　and　its　light　fell　on　the　astonished　face　of　the　farmer。

'Mr。　Merry！'　he　cried。

'Yes；　of　course！　Who　did　you　think　it　was？'　said　Merry　ing　forward。　As　he　came　out　of　the　mist　and　their　fears　subsided；　he　seemed　suddenly　to　diminish　to　ordinary　hobbitsize。　He　was　riding　a　pony；　and　a　scarf　was　swathed　round　his　neck　and　over　his　chin　to　keep　out　the　fog。

Frodo　sprang　out　of　the　waggon　to　greet　him。　'So　there　you　are　at　last！'　said　Merry。　'I　was　beginning　to　wonder　if　you　would　turn　up　at　all　today；　and　I　was　just　going　back　to　supper。　When　it　grew　foggy　I　came　across　and　rode　up　towards　Stock　to　see　if　you　had　fallen　in　any　ditches。　But　I'm　blest　if　I　know　which　way　you　have　e。　Where　did　you　find　them；　Mr。　Maggot？　In　your　duck　pond？'

'No；　I　caught　'em　trespassing；'　said　the　farmer；　'and　nearly　set　my　dogs　on　'em；　but　they'll　tell　you　all　the　story；　I've　no　doubt。　Now；　if　you'll　excuse　me；　Mr。　Merry　and　Mr。　Frodo　and　all；　I'd　best　be　turning　for　home。　Mrs。　Maggot　will　be　worriting　with　the　night　getting　thick。'

He　backed　the　waggon　into　the　lane　and　turned　it。　'Well；　good　night　to　you　all；'　he　said。　'It's　been　a　queer　day；　and　no　mistake。　But　all's　well　as　ends　well；　though　perhaps　we　should　not　say　that　until　we　reach　our　own　doors。　I'll　not　deny　that　I'll　be　glad　now　when　I　do。'　He　lit　his　lanterns；　and　got　up。　Suddenly　he　produced　a　large　basket　from　under　the　seat。　'I　was　nearly　fetting；'　he　said。　'Mrs。　Maggot　put　this　up　for　Mr。　Baggins；　with　her　pliments。'　He　handed　it　down　and　moved　off；　followed　by　a　chorus　of　thanks　and　goodnights。

They　watched　the　pale　rings　of　light　round　his　lanterns　as　they　dwindled　into　the　foggy　night。　Suddenly　Frodo　laughed：　from　the　covered　basket　he　held；　the　scent　of　mushrooms　was　rising。

Chapter　05
A　Conspiracy　Unmasked
　

'Now　we　had　better　get　home　ourselves；'　said　Merry。　There's　something　funny　about　all　this；　I　see；　but　it　must　wait　till　we　get　in。'

They