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ld went up like a yellow flame。 Then they turned a shoulder of the Downs and it was hidden from view。
Though Frodo looked about him on every side he saw no sign of the great stones standing like a gate； and before long they came to the northern gap and rode swiftly through； and the land fell away before them。 It was a merry journey with Tom Bombadil trotting gaily beside them； or before them； on Fatty Lumpkin； who could move much faster than his girth promised。 Tom sang most of the time； but it was chiefly nonsense； or else perhaps a strange language unknown to the hobbits； an ancient language whose words were mainly those of wonder and delight。
They went forward steadily； but they soon saw that the Road was further away than they had imagined。 Even without a fog； their sleep at mid…day would have prevented them from reaching it until after nightfall on the day before。 The dark line they had seen was not a line of trees but a line of bushes growing on the edge of a deep dike with a steep wall on the further side。 Tom said that it had once been the boundary of a kingdom； but a very long lime ago。 He seemed to remember something sad about it； and would not say much。
They climbed down and out of the dike and through a gap in the wall； and then Tom turned due north； for they had been bearing somewhat to the west。 The land was now open and fairly level； and they quickened their pace； but the sun was already sinking low when at last they saw a line of tall trees ahead； and they knew that they had e back to the Road after many unexpected adventures。 They galloped their ponies over the last furlongs； and halted under the long shadows of the trees。 They were on the top of a sloping bank； and the Road； now dim as evening drew on； wound away below them。 At this point it ran nearly from South…west to North…east； and on their right it fell quickly down into a wide hollow。 It was rutted and bore many signs of the recent heavy rain； there were pools and pot…holes full of water。 They rode down the bank and looked up and down。 There was nothing to be seen。 'Well； here we are again at last！' said Frodo。 'I suppose we haven't lost more than two days by my short cut through the Forest！ But perhaps the delay will prove useful … it may have put them off our trail。'
The others looked at him。 The shadow of the fear of the Black Riders came suddenly over them again。 Ever since they had entered the Forest they had thought chiefly of getting back to the Road； only now when it lay beneath their feet did they remember the danger which pursued them； and was more than likely to be lying in wait for them upon the Road itself。 They looked anxiously back towards the setting sun； but the Road was brown and empty。
'Do you think；' asked Pippin hesitatingly； 'do you think we may be pursued； tonight？'
'No； I hope not tonight；' answered Tom Bombadil； 'nor perhaps the next day。 But do not trust my guess； for I cannot tell for certain。 Out east my knowledge fails。 Tom is not master of Riders from the Black Land far beyond his country。'
All the same the hobbits wished he was ing with them。 They felt that he would know how to deal with Black Riders； if anyone did。 They would soon now be going forward into lands wholly strange to them； and beyond all but the most vague and distant legends of the Shire； and in the gathering twilight they longed for home。 A deep loneliness and sense of loss was on them。 They stood silent； reluctant to make the final parting； and only slowly became aware that Tom was wishing them farewell； and telling them to have good heart and to ride on till dark without halting。
'Tom will give you good advice； till this day is over （after that your own luck must go with you and guide you）： four miles along the Road you'll e upon a village； Bree under Bree…hill； with doors looking westward。 There you'll find an old inn that is called The Prancing Pony。 Barliman Butterbur is the worthy keeper。 There you can stay the night； and afterwards the morning will speed you upon your way。 Be bold； but wary！ Keep up your merry hearts； and ride to meet your fortune！'
They begged him to e at least as far as the inn and drink once more with them； but he laughed and refused； saying：
Tom's country ends here： he will not pass the borders。
Tom has his house to mind； and Goldberry is waiting！
Then he turned； tossed up his hat； leaped on Lumpkin's back； and rode up over the bank and away singing into the dusk。
The hobbits climbed up and watched him until he was out of sight。
'I am sorry to take leave of Master Bombadil；' said Sam。 'He's a caution and no mistake。 I reckon we may go a good deal further and see naught better； nor queerer。 But I won't deny I'll be glad to see this Prancing Pony he spoke of。 I hope it'll be like The Green Dragon away back home！ What sort of folk are they in Bree？'
'There are hobbits in Bree；' said Merry； 'as well as Big Folk。 I daresay it will be homelike enough。 The Pony is a good inn by all accounts。 My people ride out there now and again。'
'It may be all we could wish；' said Frodo； 'but it is outside the Shire all the same。 Don't make yourselves too much at home！ Please remember …all of you … that the name of Baggins must NOT be mentioned。 I am Mr。 Underhill； if any name must be given。'
They now mounted their ponies and rode off silently into the evening。 Darkness came down quickly； as they plodded slowly downhill and up again； until at last they saw lights twinkling some distance ahead。
Before them rose Bree…hill barring the way； a dark mass against misty stars； and under its western flank nestled a large village。 Towards it they now hurried desiring only to find a fire； and a door between them and the night。
Chapter 9
At the Sign of
The Prancing Pony
Bree was the chief village of the Bree…land； a small inhabited region； like an island in the empty lands round about。 Besides Bree itself； there was Staddle on the other side of the hill； be in a deep valley a little further eastward； and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood。 Lying round Bree…hill and the villages was a small country of fields and tamed woodland only a few miles broad。
The Men of Bree were brown…haired； broad； and rather short； cheerful and independent： they belonged to nobody but themselves； but they were more friendly and familiar with Hobbits； Dwarves； Elves； and other inhabitants of the world about them than was （or is） usual with Big People。 According to their own tales they were the original inhabitants and were the descendants of the first Men that ever wandered into the West of the middle…world。 Few had survived the turmoils of the Elder Days； but when the Kings returned again over the Great Sea they had found the Bree…men still there； and they were still there now； when the memory of the old Kings had faded into the grass。
In those days no other Men had settled dwellings so far west； or within a hundred leagues of the Shire。 But in the wild lands beyond Bree there were mysterious wanderers。 The Bree…folk called them Rangers； and knew nothing of their origin。 They were taller and darker than the Men of Bree and were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing； and to understand the languages of beasts and birds。 They roamed at will southwards； and eastwards even as far as the Misty Mountains； but they were now few and rarely seen。 When they appeared they brought news from afar； and told strange forgotten tales which were eagerly listened to； but the Bree…folk did not make friends of them。
There were also many families of hobbits in the Bree…land and they claimed to be the oldest settlement of Hobbits in the world； one that was founded long before even the Brandywine was crossed and the Shire colonized。 They lived mostly in Staddle though there were some in Bree itself； especially on the higher slopes of the hill； above the houses of the Men。 The Big Folk and the Little Folk （as they called one another） were on friendly terms； minding their own affairs in their own ways； but both rightly regarding themselves as necessary parts of the Bree…folk。 Nowhere else in the world was this peculiar （but excellent） arrangement to be found。
The Bree…folk； Big and Little； did not themselves travel much； and the affairs of the four villages were their chief concern。 Occasionally the Hobbits of Bree went as far as Buckland； or the Eastfarthing； but though their link land was not much further than a day's riding east of the Brandywine Bridge； the Hobbits of the Shire now seldom visited it。 An occasional Bucklander or adventurous Took would e out to the Inn for a night or two； but even that was being less and less usual。 The Shire…hobbits referred to those of Bree； and to any others that lived beyond the borders； as Outsiders； and took very little interest in them； considering them dull and uncouth。 There were probably many more Outsiders scattered about in the West of the World in those days than the people of the Shire imagined。 Some； doubtless； were no better than tramps； ready to dig a hole in any bank and stay only as long as it suited them。 But in the Bree…land； at any rate； the hobbits were decent and prosperous； and no more rustic than most of their distant relatives Inside。 It was not ye