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even Fatty Bolger heaved a sigh of content。 They pushed back the table； and drew chairs round the fire。
'We'll clear up later；' said Merry。 'Now tell me all about it！ I guess that you have been having adventures； e。 I want a full account； and most of all I want to know what was the matter with old Maggot； and why he spoke to me like that。 He sounded almost as if he was scared； if that is possible。'
'We have all been scared；' said Pippin after a pause； in which Frodo stared at the fire and did not speak。 'You would have been； too； if you had been chased for two days by Black Riders。'
'And what are they？'
'Black figures riding on black horses；' answered Pippin。 'If Frodo won't talk； I will tell you the whole tale from the beginning。' He then gave a full account of their journey from the time when they left Hobbiton。 Sam gave various supporting nods and exclamations。 Frodo remained silent。
'I should think you were making it all up；' said Merry； 'if I had not seen that black shape on the landingstage 。 and heard the queer sound in Maggot's voice。 What do you make of it all； Frodo？'
'Cousin Frodo has been very close；' said Pippin。 'But the time has e for him to open out。 So far we have been given nothing more to go on than Farmer Maggot's guess that it has something to do with old Bilbo's treasure。'
'That was only a guess；' said Frodo hastily。 'Maggot does not know anything。'
'Old Maggot is a shrewd fellow；' said Merry。 'A lot goes on behind his round face that does not e out in his talk。 I've heard that he used to go into the Old Forest at one time； and he has the reputation of knowing a good many strange things。 But you can at least tell us； Frodo； whether you think his guess good or bad。'
'I think；' answered Frodo slowly； 'that it was a good guess； as far as it goes。 There is a connexion with Bilbo's old adventures； and the Riders are looking； or perhaps one ought to say searching； for him or for me。 I also fear； if you want to know； that it is no joke at all； and that I am not safe here or anywhere else。' He looked round at the windows and walls； as if he was afraid they would suddenly give way。 The others looked at him in silence； and exchanged meaning glances among themselves。
'It's ing out in a minute；' whispered Pippin to Merry。 Merry nodded。
'Well！' said Frodo at last； sitting up and straightening his back； as if he had made a decision。 'I can't keep it dark any longer。 I have got something to tell you all。 But I don't know quite how to begin。'
'I think I could help you；' said Merry quietly； 'by telling you some of it myself。'
'What do you mean？' said Frodo； looking at him anxiously。 'Just this； my dear old Frodo： you are miserable； because you don't know how to say goodbye。 You meant to leave the Shire； of course。 But danger has e on you sooner than you expected； and now you are making up your mind to go at once。 And you don't want to。 We are very sorry for you。'
Frodo opened his mouth and shut it again。 His look of surprise was so ical that they laughed。 'Dear old Frodo！' said Pippin。 'Did you really think you had thrown dust in all our eyes？ You have not been nearly careful or clever enough for that！ You have obviously been planning to go and saying farewell to all your haunts all this year since April。 We have constantly heard you muttering： 〃Shall I ever look down into that valley again； I wonder〃； and things like that。 And pretending that you had e to the end of your money； and actually selling your beloved Bag End to those Sackville Bagginses！ And all those close talks with Gandalf。'
'Good heavens！' said Frodo。 'I thought I had been both careful and clever。 I don't know what Gandalf would say。 Is all the Shire discussing my departure then？'
'Oh no！' said Merry。 'Don't worry about that！ The secret won't keep for long； of course； but at present it is； I think； only known to us conspirators。 After all； you must remember that we know you well； and are often with you。 We can usually guess what you are thinking。 I knew Bilbo； too。 To tell you the truth； I had been watching you rather closely ever since he left。 I thought you would go after him sooner or later； indeed I expected you to go sooner； and lately we have been very anxious。 We have been terrified that you might give us the slip； and go off suddenly； all on your own like he did。 Ever since this spring we have kept our eyes open； and done a good deal of planning on our own account。 You are not going to escape so easily！'
'But I must go；' said Frodo。 'It cannot be helped； dear friends。 It is wretched for us all； but it is no use your trying to keep me。 Since you have guessed so much； please help me and do not hinder me！'
'You do not understand！' said Pippin。 'You must go 。 and therefore we must； too。 Merry and I are ing with you。 Sam is an excellent fellow； and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you； if he did not trip over his own feet； but you will need more than one panion in your dangerous adventure。'
'My dear and most beloved hobbits！' said Frodo deeply moved。 'But I could not allow it。 I decided that long ago； too。 You speak of danger； but you do not understand。 This is no treasurehunt； no thereandback journey。 I am flying from deadly peril into deadly peril。'
'Of course we understand；' said Merry firmly。 'That is why we have decided to e。 We know the Ring is no laughingmatter； but we are going to do our best to help you against the Enemy。'
'The Ring！' said Frodo； now pletely amazed。
'Yes； the Ring；' said Merry。 'My dear old hobbit； you don't allow for the inquisitiveness of friends。 I have known about the existence of the Ring for years 。 before Bilbo went away； in fact； but since he obviously regarded it as secret； I kept the knowledge in my head； until we formed our conspiracy。 I did not know Bilbo； of course； as well as I know you； I was too young； and he was also more careful 。 but he was not careful enough。 If you want to know how I first found out； I will tell you。'
'Go on！' said Frodo faintly。
'It was the SackvilleBagginses that were his downfall； as you might expect。 One day； a year before the Party； I happened to be walking along the road； when I saw Bilbo ahead。 Suddenly in the distance the S。B。s appeared； ing towards us。 Bilbo slowed down； and then hey presto！ he vanished。 I was so startled that I hardly had the wits to hide myself in a more ordinary fashion； but I got through the hedge and walked along the field inside。 I was peeping through into the road； after the S。B。s had passed； and was looking straight at Bilbo when he suddenly reappeared。 I caught a glint of gold as he put something back in his trouserpocket。
'After that I kept my eyes open。 In fact； I confess that I spied。 But you must admit that it was very intriguing； and I was only in my teens。 I must be the only one in the Shire； besides you Frodo； that has ever seen the old fellow's secret book。'
'You have read his book！' cried Frodo。 'Good heavens above！ Is nothing safe？'
'Not too safe； I should say；' said Merry。 'But I have only had one rapid glance； and that was difficult to get。 He never left the book about。 I wonder what became of it。 I should like another look。 Have you got it； Frodo？'
'No。 It was not at Bag End。 He must have taken it away。'
'Well； as I was saying；' Merry proceeded； 'I kept my knowledge to myself； till this Spring when things got serious。 Then we formed our conspiracy； and as we were serious； too； and meant business； we have not been too scrupulous。 You are not a very easy nut to crack； and Gandalf is worse。 But if you want to be introduced to our chief investigator； I can produce him。'
'Where is he？' said Frodo； looking round； as if he expected a masked and sinister figure to e out of a cupboard。
'Step forward； Sam！' said Merry； and Sam stood up with a face scarlet up to the ears。 'Here's our collector of information！ And he collected a lot； I can tell you； before he was finally caught。 After which； I may say； he seemed to regard himself as on parole； and dried up。'
'Sam！' cried Frodo； feeling that amazement could go no further； and quite unable to decide whether he felt angry； amused； relieved； or merely foolish。
'Yes； sir！' said Sam。 'Begging your pardon； sir！ B