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ral laugh。
'All right；' said Sam； laughing with the rest。 'But what about theseTree…men； these giants； as you might call them？ They do say that one biggerthan a tree was seen up away beyond the North Moors not long back。'
'Who's _they_？'
'My cousin Hal for one。 He works for Mr。 Boffin at Overhill and goes upto the Northfarthing for the hunting。 He _saw_ one。'
'Says he did； perhaps。 Your Hal's always saying he's seen things； andmaybe he sees things that ain't there。'
'But this one was as big as an elm tree； and walking – walking sevenyards to a stride； if it was an inch。'
'Then I bet it wasn't an inch。 What he saw _was_ an elm tree； as like asnot。'
'But this one was _walking；_ I tell you； and there ain't no elm tree onthe North Moors。'
'Then Hal can't have seen one；' said Ted。 There was some laughing andclapping： the audience seemed to think that Ted had scored a point。
'All the same；' said Sam； 'you can't deny that others besides our Halfasthave seen queer folk crossing the Shire – crossing it； mind you： there aremore that are turned back at the borders。 The Bounders have never been so busybefore。
'And I've heard tell that Elves are moving west。 They do say they aregoing to the harbours； out away beyond the White Towers。' Sam waved his armvaguely： neither he nor any of them knew how far it was to the Sea； past the
old towers beyond the western borders of the Shire。 But it was an oldtradition that away over there stood the Grey Havens； from which at timeselven…ships set sail； never to return。
'They are sailing； sailing； sailing over the Sea； they are going into theWest and leaving us；' said Sam； half chanting the words； shaking his headsadly and solemnly。 But Ted laughed。
'Well； that isn't anything new； if you believe the old tales。 And I don'tsee what it matters to me or you。 Let them sail！ But I warrant you haven'tseen them doing it； nor any one else in the Shire。'
'Well I don't know；' said Sam thoughtfully。 He believed he had once seenan Elf in the woods； and still hoped to see more one day。 Of all the legendsthat he had heard in his early years such fragments of tales and half…
remembered stories about the Elves as the hobbits knew； had always moved himmost deeply。 'There are some； even in these parts； as know the Fair Folk andget news of them；' he said。 'There's Mr。 Baggins now； that I work for。 He toldme that they were sailing and he knows a bit about Elves。 And old Mr。 Bilboknew more： many's the talk I had with him when I was a little lad。'
'Oh； they're both cracked；' said Ted。 'Leastways old Bilbo was cracked；
and Frodo's cracking。 If that's where you get your news from； you'll neverwant for moonshine。 Well； friends； I'm off home。 Your good health！' He drainedhis mug and went out noisily。
Sam sat silent and said no more。 He had a good deal to think about。 Forone thing； there was a lot to do up in the Bag End garden； and he would have abusy day tomorrow； if the weather cleared。 The grass was growing fast。 But Samhad more on his mind than gardening。 After a while he sighed； and got up andwent out。
It was early April and the sky was now clearing after heavy rain。 The sunwas down； and a cool pale evening was quietly fading into night。 He walkedhome under the early stars through Hobbiton and up the Hill； whistling softlyand thoughtfully。
It was just at this time that Gandalf reappeared after his long absence。
For three years after the Party he had been away。 Then he paid Frodo a briefvisit； and after taking a good look at him he went off again。 During the nextyear or two he had turned up fairly often； ing unexpectedly after dusk； andgoing off without warning before sunrise。 He would not discuss his ownbusiness and journeys； and seemed chiefly interested in small news aboutFrodo's health and doings。
Then suddenly his visits had ceased。 It was over nine years since Frodohad seen or heard of him； and he had begun to think that the wizard wouldnever return and had given up all interest in hobbits。 But that evening； asSam was walking home and twilight was fading； there came the once familiar tapon the study window。
Frodo weled his old friend with surprise and great delight。 Theylooked hard at one another。
'Ah well eh？' said Gandalf。 'You look the same as ever； Frodo！'
'So do you；' Frodo replied； but secretly he thought that Gandalf lookedolder and more careworn。 He pressed him for news of himself and of the wideworld； and soon they were deep in talk； and they stayed up far into the night。
Next morning after a late breakfast； the wizard was sitting with Frodo bythe open window of the study。 A bright fire was on the hearth； but the sun waswarm； and the wind was in the South。 Everything looked fresh； and the newgreen of Spring was shimmering in the fields and on the tips of the trees'fingers。
Gandalf was thinking of a spring； nearly eighty years before； when Bilbohad run out of Bag End without a handkerchief。 His hair was perhaps whiterthan it had been then； and his beard and eyebrows were perhaps longer； and hisface more lined with care and wisdom； but his eyes were as bright as ever； andhe smoked and blew smoke…rings with the same vigour and delight。
He was smoking now in silence； for Frodo was sitting still； deep inthought。 Even in the light of morning he felt the dark shadow of the tidingsthat Gandalf had brought。 At last he broke the silence。
'Last night you began to tell me strange things about my ring； Gandalf；'
he said。 'And then you stopped； because you said that such matters were bestleft until daylight。 Don't you think you had better finish now？ You say thering is dangerous； far more dangerous than I guess。 In what way？'
'In many ways；' answered the wizard。 It is far more powerful than I everdared to think at first； so powerful that in the end it would utterly overeanyone of mortal race who possessed it。 It would possess him。
'In Eregion long ago many Elven…rings were made； magic rings as you callthem； and they were； of course； of various kinds： some more potent and someless。 The lesser rings were only essays in the craft before it was full…grown；
and to the Elven…smiths they were but trifles – yet still to my mind dangerousfor mortals。 But the Great Rings； the Rings of Power； they were perilous。
'A mortal； Frodo； who keeps one of the Great Rings； does not die； but hedoes not grow or obtain more life； he merely continues； until at last everyminute is a weariness。 And if he often uses the Ring to make himselfinvisible； he_ fades：_ he bees in the end invisible permanently； and walksin the twilight under the eye of the dark power that rules the Rings。 Yes；
sooner or later – later； if he is strong or well…meaning to begin with； butneither strength nor good purpose will last – sooner or later the dark powerwill devour him。'
'How terrifying！' said Frodo。 There was another long silence。 The soundof Sam Gamgee cutting the lawn came in from the garden。
'How long have you known this？' asked Frodo at length。 'And how much didBilbo know？'
'Bilbo knew no more than he told you； I am sure；' said Gandalf。 'He wouldcertainly never have passed on to you anything that he thought would be adanger； even though I promised to look after you。 He though