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ny story or song you may have in mind。 But as you please！ Ring the bell； if you lack anything！'
So refreshed and encouraged did they feel at the end of their supper （about three quarters of an hour's steady going； not hindered by unnecessary talk） that Frodo； Pippin； and Sam decided to join the pany。 Merry said it would be too stuffy。 'I shall sit here quietly by the fire for a bit； and perhaps go out later for a sniff of the air。 Mind your Ps and Qs； and don't fet that you are supposed to be escaping in secret； and are still on the highroad and not very far from the Shire！'
'All right！' said Pippin。 'Mind yourself！ Don't get lost； and don't fet that it is safer indoors！'
The pany was in the big monroom of the inn。 The gathering was large and mixed； as Frodo discovered； when his eyes got used to the light。 This came chiefly from a blazing logfire； for the three lamps hanging from the beams were dim； and half veiled in smoke。 Barliman Butterbur was standing near the fire； talking to a couple of dwarves and one or two strangelooking men。 On the benches were various folk： men of Bree； a collection of local hobbits （sitting chattering together）； a few more dwarves； and other vague figures difficult to make out away in the shadows and ers。
As soon as the Shirehobbits entered； there was a chorus of wele from the Breelanders。 The strangers； especially those that had e up the Greenway； stared at them curiously。 The landlord introduced the newers to the Breefolk； so quickly that； though they caught many names； they were seldom sure who the names belonged to。 The Men of Bree seemed all to have rather botanical （and to the Shirefolk rather odd） names； like Rushlight； Goatleaf； Heathertoes； Appledore； Thistlewool and Ferny （not to mention Butterbur）。 Some of the hobbits had similar names。 The Mugworts； for instance； seemed numerous。 But most of them had natural names； such as Banks； Brockhouse； Longholes； Sandheaver； and Tunnelly； many of which were used in the Shire。 There were several Underhills from Saddle； and as they could not imagine sharing a name without being related； they took Frodo to their hearts as a longlost cousin。
The Breehobbits were； in fact； friendly and inquisitive； and Frodo soon found that some explanation of what he was doing would have to be given。 He gave out that he was interested in history and geography （at which there was much wagging of heads； although neither of these words were much used in the Breedialect）。 He said he was thinking of writing a book （at which there was silent astonishment）； and that he and his friends wanted to collect information about hobbits living outside the Shire； especially in the eastern lands。
At this a chorus of voices broke out。 If Frodo had really wanted to write a book； and had had many ears； he would have learned enough for several chapters in a few minutes。 And if that was not enough； he was given a whole list of names； beginning with 'Old Barliman here'； to whom he could go for further information。 But after a time； as Frodo did not show any sign of writing a book on the spot； the hobbits returned to their questions about doings in the Shire。 Frodo did not prove very municative； and he soon found himself sitting alone in a er； listening and looking around。
The Men and Dwarves were mostly talking of distant events and telling flews of a kind that was being only too familiar。 There was trouble away in the South； and it seemed that the Men who had e up the Greenway were on the move； looking for lands where they could find some peace。 The Breefolk were sympathetic； but plainly not very ready to take a large number of strangers into their little land。 One of the travellers； a squinteyed illfavoured fellow； was foretelling that more and more people would be ing north in the near future。 'If room isn't found for them； they'll find it for themselves。
They've a right to live； same as other folk；' he said loudly。 The local inhabitants did not look pleased at the prospect。
The hobbits did not pay much attention to all this； and it did not at the moment seem to concern hobbits。 Big Folk could hardly beg for lodgings in hobbitholes。 They were more interested in Sam and Pippin； e； and were chatting gaily about events in the Shire。 Pippin roused a good deal of laughter with an account of the collapse of the roof of the Town Hole in Michel Delving： Will Whitfoot； the Mayor； and the fattest hobbit in the Westfarthing； had been buried in chalk； and came out like a floured dumpling。 But there ade Frodo a little uneasy。 One of the Breelanders； who seemed to have been in the Shire several times； wanted to know where the Underhills lived and who they were related to。
Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strangelooking weatherbeaten man； sitting in the shadows near the wall； was also listening intently to the hobbittalk。 He had a tall tankard in front of him； and was smoking a longstemmed pipe curiously carved。 His legs were stretched out before him； showing high boots of supple leather that fitted him well； but had seen much wear and were now caked with mud。 A travelstained cloak of heavy darkgreen cloth was drawn close about him； and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face； but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits。
'Who is that？' Frodo asked； when he got a chance to whisper to Mr。 Butterbur。 'I don't think you introduced him？'
'Him？' said the landlord in an answering whisper； cocking an eye without turning his head。 'I don't rightly know。 He is one of the wandering folk Rangers we call them。 He seldom talks： not but what he can tell a rare tale when he has the mind。 He disappears for a month； or a year； and then he pops up again。 He was in and out pretty often last spring； but I haven't seen him about lately。 What his right name is I've never heard： but he's known round here as Strider。 Goes about at a great pace on his long shanks； though he don't tell nobody what cause he has to hurry。 But there's no accounting for East and West； as we say in Bree； meaning the Rangers and the Shirefolk； begging your pardon。 Funny you should ask about him。' But at that moment Mr。 Butterbur was called away by a demand for more ale and his last remark remained unexplained。
Frodo found that Strider was now looking at him； as if he had heard or guessed all that had been said。 Presently； with a wave of his hand and a nod； he invited Frodo to e over and sit by him。 As Frodo drew near be threw back his hood； showing a shaggy head of dark hair necked with grey； and in a pale stem face a pair of keen grey eyes。
'I am called Strider；' he said in a low voice。 'I am very pleased to meet you。 Master 。 Underhill； if old Butterbur got your name right。'
'He did；' said Frodo stiffly。 He felt far from fortable under the stare of those keen eyes。
'Well； Master Underhill；' said Strider； 'if I were you； I should stop your young friends from talking too much。 Drink； fire； and chancemeeting are pleasant enough； but； well 。 this isn't the Shire。 There are queer folk about。 Though I say it as shouldn't； you may think；' he added with a wry smile； seeing Frodo's glance。 'And there have been even stranger travellers through Bree lately；' he went on； watching Frodo's face。
Frodo returned his gaze but said nothing； and Strider made no further sign。 His attention seemed suddenly to be fixed on Pippin。 To his alarm Frodo became aware that the ridiculous young Took； encouraged by his success with the fat Mayor of Michel Delving； was now actually giving a ic account of Bilbo's farewell party。 He was already giving an imitation of the Speech； and was drawing near to the astonishing Disappearance。
Frodo was annoyed。 It was a harmless enough tale for most of the local hobbits； no doubt： just a funny story about those funny people away beyond the River； but some （old Butterbur； for instance） knew a thing or two； and had probably heard rumours long ago about Bilbo's vanishing。 It would bring the name of Baggins to their minds； especially if there had been inquiries in Bree after that name。
Frodo fidgeted； wondering what to do。 Pippin was evidently much enjoying the attention he was getting； and had bee quite fetful of their danger。 Frodo had a sudd