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Sam knew the land well within twenty miles of Hobbiton； but that was the limit of his geography。
Just over the top of the hill they came on the patch of firwood。 Leaving the road they went into the deep resinscented darkness of the trees； and gathered dead sticks and cones to make a fire。 Soon they had a merry crackle of flame at the foot of a large firtree and they sat round it for a while； until they began to nod。 Then； each in an angle of the great tree's roots； they curled up in their cloaks and blankets； and were soon fast asleep。 They set no watch； even Frodo feared no danger yet； for they were still in the heart of the Shire。 A few creatures came and looked at them when the fire had died away。 A fox passing through the wood on business of his own stopped several minutes and sniffed。
'Hobbits！' he thought。 'Well； what next？ I have heard of strange doings in this land； but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree。 Three of them！ There's something mighty queer behind this。' He was quite right； but he never found out any more about it。
The morning came； pale and clammy。 Frodo woke up first； and found that a treeroot had made a hole in his back； and that his neck was stiff。
'Walking for pleasure！ Why didn't I drive？' he thought； as he usually did at the beginning of an expedition。 'And all my beautiful feather beds are sold to the SackvilleBagginses！ These treeroots would do them good。' He stretched。 'Wake up； hobbits！' he cried。 It's a beautiful morning。'
'What's beautiful about it？' said Pippin； peering over the edge of his blanket with one eye。 'Sam！ Gel breakfast ready for halfpast nine！ Have you got the bathwater hot？'
Sam jumped up； looking rather bleary。 'No； sir； I haven't； sir！' he said。
Frodo stripped the blankets from Pippin and rolled him over； and then walked off to the edge of the wood。 Away eastward the sun was rising red out of the mists that lay thick on the world。 Touched with gold and red the autumn trees seemed to be sailing rootless in a shadowy sea。 A little below him to the left the road ran down steeply into a hollow and disappeared。
When he returned Sam and Pippin had got a good fire going。 'Water！' shouted Pippin。 'Where's the water？'
'I don't keep water in my pockets；' said Frodo。 'We thought you had gone to find some；' said Pippin； busy setting out the food； and cups。 'You had better go now。'
'You can e too；' said Frodo； 'and bring all the waterbottles。' There was a stream at the foot of the hill。 They filled their bottles and the small camping kettle at a little fall where the water fell a few feet over an outcrop of grey stone。 It was icy cold； and they spluttered and puffed as they bathed their faces and hands。
When their breakfast was over； and their packs all trussed up again； it was after ten o'clock； and the day was beginning to turn fine and hot。 They went down the slope； and across the stream where it dived under the road； and up the next slope； and up and down another shoulder of the hills； and by that time their cloaks； blankets； water； food； and other gear already seemed a heavy burden。
The day's march promised to be warm and tiring work。 After some miles； however； the road ceased to roll up and down： it climbed to the top of a steep bank in a weary zigzagging sort of way； and then prepared to go down for the last time。 In front of them they saw the lower lands dotted with small clumps of trees that melted away in the distance to a brown woodland haze。 They were looking across the Woody End towards the Brandywine River。 The road wound away before them like a piece of string。
'The road goes on for ever；' said Pippin； 'but I can't without a rest。 It is high time for lunch。' He sat down on the bank at the side of the road and looked away east into the haze； beyond which lay the River； and the end of the Shire in which he had spent all his life。 Sam stood by him。 His round eyes were wide open 。 for he was looking across lands he had never seen to a new horizon。
'Do Elves live in those woods？' he asked。
'Not that I ever heard；' said Pippin。 Frodo was silent。 He too was gazing eastward along the road； as if he had never seen it before。 Suddenly he spoke； aloud but as if to himself； saying slowly：
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began。
Now far ahead the Road has gone；
And I must follow； if I can；
Pursuing it with weary feet；
Until it joins some larger way；
Where many paths and errands meet。
And whither then？ I cannot say。
'That sounds like a bit of old Bilbo's rhyming；' said Pippin。 'Or is it one of your imitations？ It does not sound altogether encouraging。'
'I don't know；' said Frodo。 It came to me then； as if I was making it up； but I may have heard it long ago。 Certainly it reminds me very much of Bilbo in the last years； before he went away。 He used often to say there was only one Road； that it was like a great river： its springs were at every doorstep； and every path was its tributary。 〃It's a dangerous business； Frodo； going out of your door；〃 he used to say。 〃You step into the Road； and if you don't keep your feet； there is no knowing where you might be swept off to。 Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood； and that if you let it； it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places？〃 He used to say that on the path outside the front door at Bag End； especially after he had been out for a long walk。'
'Well； the Road won't sweep me anywhere for an hour at least；' said Pippin； unslinging his pack。 The others followed his example； putting their packs against the bank and their legs out into the road。 After a rest they had a good lunch； and then more rest。
The sun was beginning to get low and the light of afternoon was on the land as they went down the hill。 So far they had not met a soul on the road。 This way was not much used； being hardly fit for carts； and there was little traffic to the Woody End。 They had been jogging along again for an hour or more when Sam stopped a moment as if listening。 They were now on level ground； and the road after much winding lay straight ahead through grassland sprinkled with tall trees； outliers of the approaching woods。
'I can hear a pony or a horse ing along the road behind；' said Sam。
They looked back； but the turn of the road prevented them from seeing far。 'I wonder if that is Gandalf ing after us；' said Frodo； but even as he said it； he had a feeling that it was not so； and a sudden desire to hide from the view of the rider came over him。
'It may not matter much；' he said apologetically； 'but I would rather not be seen on the road 。 by anyone。 I am sick of my doings being noticed and discussed。 And if it is Gandalf；' he added as an afterthought； 'we can give him a little surprise； to pay him out for being so late。 Let's get out of sight！'
The other two ran quickly to the left and down into a little hollow not far from the road。 There they lay flat。 Frodo hesitated for a second： curiosity or some other feeling was struggling with his desire to hide。 The sound of hoofs drew nearer。 Just in time he threw himself down in a patch of long grass behind a tree that overshadowed the road。 Then he lifted his head and peered cautiously above one of the great roots。
Round the corner came a black horse； no hobbitpony but a fullsized horse； and on it sat a large man； who seemed to crouch in the saddle； wrapped in a great black cloak and hood； so that only his boots in the high stirrups showed below； his face was shadowed and invisible。
When it reached the tree and was level with Frodo the horse stopped。 The riding figure sat quite still with its head bowed； as if listening。 From inside the hood came a noise as of someone sniffing to catch an elusive scent； the head turned from side to side of the road。
A sudden unreasoning fear of discovery laid hold of Frodo； and he thought of his Ring。 He hardly dared to breathe； and yet the desire to get it out of his pocket became so strong that he began slowly to move his hand。 He felt that he had only to slip it on； and then he would be safe。 The advice of Gandalf seemed absurd。 Bilbo had used the Ring。 'And I am still in the Shire；' he thou