The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第38章

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lvenfolk　of　Gildor　that　told　me　this；　and　later　they　told　me　that　you　had　left　your　home；　but　there　was　no　news　of　your　leaving　Buckland。　I　have　been　watching　the　East　Road　anxiously。'

'Do　you　think　the　Black　Riders　have　anything　to　do　with　it　。　with　Gandalf's　absence；　I　mean？'　asked　Frodo。

'I　do　not　know　of　anything　else　that　could　have　hindered　him；　except　the　Enemy　himself；'　said　Strider。　'But　do　not　give　up　hope！　Gandalf　is　greater　than　you　Shirefolk　know　。　as　a　rule　you　can　only　see　his　jokes　and　toys。　But　this　business　of　ours　will　be　his　greatest　task。'

Pippin　yawned。　'I　am　sorry；'　he　said；　'but　I　am　dead　tired。　In　spite　of　all　the　danger　and　worry　I　must　go　to　bed；　or　sleep　where　I　sit。　Where　is　that　silly　fellow；　Merry？　It　would　be　the　last　straw；　if　we　had　to　go　out　in　the　dark　to　look　for　him。'

At　that　moment　they　heard　a　door　slam；　then　feet　came　running　along　the　passage。　Merry　came　in　with　a　rush　followed　by　Nob。　He　shut　the　door　hastily；　and　leaned　against　it。　He　was　out　of　breath。　They　stared　at　him　in　alarm　for　a　moment　before　he　gasped：　'I　have　seen　them；　Frodo！　I　have　seen　them！　Black　Riders！'

'Black　Riders！'　cried　Frodo。　'Where？'

'Here。　In　the　village。　I　stayed　indoors　for　an　hour。　Then　as　you　did　not　e　back；　I　went　out　for　a　stroll。　I　had　e　back　again　and　was　standing　just　outside　the　light　of　the　lamp　looking　at　the　stars。　Suddenly　I　shivered　and　felt　that　something　horrible　was　creeping　near：　there　was　a　son　of　deeper　shade　among　the　shadows　across　the　road；　just　beyond　the　edge　of　the　lamplight。　It　slid　away　at　once　into　the　dark　without　a　sound。　There　was　no　horse。'

'Which　way　did　it　go？'　asked　Strider；　suddenly　and　sharply。　Merry　started；　noticing　the　stranger　for　the　first　time。　'Go　on！'　said　Frodo。　'This　is　a　friend　of　Gandalf's。　I　will　explain　later。'

'It　seemed　to　make　off　up　the　Road；　eastward；'　continued　Merry。　'I　tried　to　follow。　Of　course；　it　vanished　almost　at　once；　but　I　went　round　the　corner　and　on　as　far　as　the　last　house　on　the　Road。'

Strider　looked　at　Merry　with　wonder。　'You　have　a　stout　heart；'　he　said；　'but　it　was　foolish。'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Merry。　'Neither　brave　nor　silly；　I　think。　I　could　hardly　help　myself。　I　seemed　to　be　drawn　somehow。　Anyway；　I　went；　and　suddenly　I　heard　voices　by　the　hedge。　One　was　muttering；　and　the　other　was　whispering；　or　hissing。　I　couldn't　hear　a　word　that　was　said。　I　did　not　creep　any　closer；　because　I　began　to　tremble　all　over。　Then　I　felt　terrified；　and　I　turned　back；　and　was　just　going　to　bolt　home；　when　something　came　behind　me　and　I。。。　I　fell　over。'

'I　found　him；　sir；'　put　in　Nob。　'Mr。　Butterbur　sent　me　out　with　a　lantern。　I　went　down　to　Westgate；　and　then　back　up　towards　Southgate。　Just　nigh　Bill　Ferny's　house　I　thought　I　could　see　something　in　the　Road。　I　couldn't　swear　to　it；　but　it　looked　to　me　as　if　two　men　was　stooping　over　something；　lilting　it。　I　gave　a　shout；　but　where　I　got　up　to　the　spot　there　was　no　signs　of　them；　and　only　Mr。　Brandybuck　lying　by　the　roadside。　He　seemed　to　be　asleep。　〃I　thought　I　had　fallen　into　deep　water；〃　he　says　to　me；　when　I　shook　him。　Very　queer　he　was；　and　as　soon　as　I　had　roused　him；　he　got　up　and　ran　back　here　like　a　hare。'

'I　am　afraid　that's　true；'　said　Merry；　'though　I　don't　know　what　I　said。　I　had　an　ugly　dream；　which　I　can't　remember。　I　went　to　pieces。　I　don't　know　what　came　over　me。'

'I　do；'　said　Strider。　'The　Black　Breath。　The　Riders　must　have　left　their　horses　outside；　and　passed　back　through　the　Southgate　in　secret。　They　will　know　all　the　news　now；　for　they　have　visited　Bill　Ferny；　and　probably　that　Southerner　was　a　spy　as　well。　Something　may　happen　in　the　night；　before　we　leave　Bree。'

'What　will　happen？'　said　Merry。　'Will　they　attack　the　inn？'　'No；　I　think　not；'　said　Strider。　'They　are　not　all　here　yet。　And　in　any　case　that　is　not　their　way。　In　dark　and　loneliness　they　are　strongest；　they　will　not　openly　attack　a　house　where　there　are　lights　and　many　people　not　until　they　are　desperate；　not　while　all　the　long　leagues　of　Eriador　still　lie　before　us。　But　their　power　is　in　terror；　and　already　some　in　Bree　are　in　their　clutch。　They　will　drive　these　wretches　to　some　evil　work：　Ferny；　and　some　of　the　strangers；　and；　maybe；　the　gatekeeper　too。　They　had　words　with　Harry　at　Westgate　on　Monday。　I　was　watching　them。　He　was　white　and　shaking　when　they　left　him。'

'We　seem　to　have　enemies　all　round；'　said　Frodo。　'What　are　we　to　do？'

'Stay　here；　and　do　not　go　to　your　rooms！　They　are　sure　to　have　found　out　which　those　are。　The　hobbitrooms　have　windows　looking　north　and　close　to　the　ground。　We　will　all　remain　together　and　bar　this　window　and　the　door。　But　first　Nob　and　I　will　fetch　your　luggage。'

While　Strider　was　gone；　Frodo　gave　Merry　a　rapid　account　of　all　that　had　happened　since　supper。　Merry　was　still　reading　and　pondering　Gandalf's　letter　when　Strider　and　Nob　returned。

'Well　Masters；'　said　Nob；　'I've　ruffled　up　the　clothes　and　put　in　a　bolster　down　the　middle　of　each　bed。　And　I　made　a　nice　imitation　of　your　head　with　a　brown　woollen　mat；　Mr。　Bag　。　Underhill；　sir；'　he　added　with　a　grin。

Pippin　laughed。　'Very　lifelike！'　he　said。　'But　what　will　happen　when　they　have　perated　the　disguise？'

'We　shall　see；'　said　Strider。　'Let　us　hope　to　hold　the　fort　till　morning。'

'Good　night　to　you；'　said　Nob；　and　went　off　to　take　his　part　in　the　watch　on　the　doors。

Their　bags　and　gear　they　piled　on　the　parlourfloor。　They　pushed　a　low　chair　against　the　door　and　shut　the　window。　Peering　out；　Frodo　saw　that　the　night　was　still　clear。　The　Sickle　was　swinging　bright　above　the　shoulders　of　Breehill。　He　then　closed　and　barred　the　heavy　inside　shutters　and　drew　the　curtains　together。　Strider　built　up　the　fire　and　blew　out　all　the　candles。

The　hobbits　lay　down　on　their　blankets　with　their　feet　towards　the　hearth；　but　Strider　settled　himself　in　the　chair　against　the　door。　They　talked　for　a　little；　for　Merry　still　had　several　questions　to　ask。

'Jumped　over　the　Moon！'　chuckled　Merry　as　he　rolled　himself　in　his　blanket。　'Very　ridiculous　of　you；　Frodo！　But　I　wish　I　had　been　there　to　see。　The　worthies　of　Bree　will　be　discussing　it　a　hundred　years　hence。'

'I　hope　so；'　said　Strider。　Then　they　all　fell　silent；　and　one　by　one　the　hobbits　dropped　off　to　sleep。

Chapter　11
A　Knife　in　the　Dark
　

As　they　prepared　for　sleep　in　the　inn　at　Bree；　darkness　lay　on　Buckland；　a　mist　strayed　in　the　dells　and　along　the　riverbank。　The　house　at　Crickhollow　stood　silent。　Fatty　Bolger　opened　the　door　cautiously　and　peered　out。　A　feeling　of　fear　had　been　growing　on　him　all　day；　and　he　was　unable　to　rest　or　go　to　bed：　there　was　a　brooding　threat　in　the　breathless　nightair。　As　he　stared　out　into　the　gloom；　a　black　shadow　moved　under　the　trees；　the　gate　seemed　to　open　of　its　own　accord　and　close　again　without　a　sound。　Terror　seized　him。　He　shrank　back；　and　for　a　moment　he　stood　trembling　in　the　hall。　Then　he　shut　and　locked　the　door。

The　night　deepened。　There　came　the　soft　sound　of　horses　led　with　stealth　along　the　lane。　Outside　the　gate　they　stopped；　and　three　black　figures　entered；　like　shades　of　night　creeping　across　the　ground。　One　went　to　the　door；　one　to　the　corner　of　the　house　on　either　side；　and　there　they　stood；　as　still　as　the　shadows　of　stones；　while　night　went　slowly　on。　The　house　and　the　quiet　trees　seemed　to　be　waiting　breathlessly。

There　was　a　faint　stir　in　the　leaves；　and　a　cock　crowed　far　away。　The　cold　hour　before　dawn　was　passing。　The　figure　by　the　door　moved。　In　the　dark　without　moon　or　stars　a　drawn　blade　gleamed；　as　if　a　chill　light　had　been　unsheathed。　There　was　a　blow；　soft　but　heavy；　and　the　door　shuddered。

'Open；　in　the　name　of　Mordor！'　said　a　voice　thin　and　menacing。

At　a　second　blow　the　door　yielded　and　fell　back；　with　timbers　burst　and　lock　broken。　The　black　figures　passed　swiftly　in。

At　that　moment；　among　the　trees　nearby；　a　horn　rang　out。　It　rent　the　night　like　fire　on　a　hilltop。

　AWAKE！　FEAR！　FIRE！　FOES！　AWAKE！

Fatty　Bolger　had　not　been　idle。　As　soon　as　he　saw　the　dark　shapes　creep　from　the　garden；　he　knew　that　he　must　run　for　it；　or　perish。　And　run　he　did；　out　of　the　back　door；　through　the　garden；　and　over　the　fields。　When　he　reached　the　nearest　house；　more　than　a　mile　away；　he　collapsed　on　the　doorstep。　'No；　no；　no！'　he　was　crying。　'No；　not　me！　I　haven't　got　it！'　It　was　some　time　before　anyone　could　make　out　what　he　was　babbling　about。　At　last　they　got　the　idea　that　enemies　were　in　Buckland；　some　strange　invasion　from　the　Old　Forest。　And　then　they　lost　no　more　time。

　FEAR！　FIRE！　FOES！

The　Brandybucks　were　blowing　the　Horncall　of　Buckland；　that　had　not　been　sounded　for　a　hundred　years；　not　since　the　white　wolves　came　in　the　Fell　Winter；　when　the　Brandywine　was　frozen　over。

AWAKE！　AWAKE！

Faraway　answering　horns　were　heard。　The　alarm　was　spreading。　The　black　figures　fled　from　the　house。　One　of　them　let　fall　a　hobbitcloak　on　the　step；　as　he　ran。　In　the　lane　the　noise　of　hoofs　broke　out；　and　gathering　to　a　gallop；　went　hammering　away　into　the　darkness。　All　about　Crickhollow　there　was　the　sound　of　horns　blowing；　and　voices　crying　and　feet　running。　But　the　Black　Riders　rode　like　a　gale　to　the　Northgate。　Let　the　little　people　blow！　Sauron　would　deal　with　them　later。　Meanwhile　they　had　another　errand：　they　knew　now　that　the　house　was　empty　and　the　Ring　had　gone。　They　rode　down　the　guards　at　the　gate　and　vanished　from　the　Shire。

In　the　early　night　Frodo　woke　from　deep　sleep；　suddenly；　as　if　some　sound　or　presence　had　disturbed　him。　He　saw　that　Strider　was　sitting　alert　in　his　chair：　his　eyes　gleamed　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　which　had　been　tended　and　was　burning　brightly；　but　he　made　no　sign　or　movement。

Frodo　soon　went　to　sleep　again；　but　his　dreams　were　again　troubled　with　the　noise　of　wind　and　of　galloping　hoofs。　The　wind　seemed　to　be　curling　round　the　house　and　shaking　it；　and　far　off　he　heard　a　horn　blowing　wildly。　He　opened　his　eyes；　and　heard　a　cock　crowing　lustily　in　the　innyard。　Strider　had　drawn　the　curtains　and　pushed　back　the　shutters　with　a　clang。　The　first　grey　light　of　day　was　in　the　room；　and　a　cold　air　was　ing　through　the　open　window。

As　soon　as　Strider　had　roused　them　all；　he　led　the　way　to　their　bedrooms。　When　they　saw　them