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high piercing note。
Even as they sat and stood； as if suddenly frozen； it was answered by anothercry； fainter and further off； but no less chilling to the blood。 There wasthen a silence； broken only by the sound of the wind in the leaves。
'And what do you think that was？' Pippin asked at last； trying to speaklightly； but quavering a little。 'If it was a bird； it was one that I neverheard in the Shire before。'
'It was not bird or beast；' said Frodo。 'It was a call； or a signal –
there were words in that cry； though I could not catch them。 But no hobbit hassuch a voice。'
No more was said about it。 They were all thinking of the Riders； but noone spoke of them。 They were now reluctant either to stay or go on； but sooneror later they had got to get across the open country to the Ferry； and it wasbest to go sooner and in daylight。 In a few moments they had shouldered theirpacks again and were off。
Before long the wood came to a sudden end。 Wide grass…lands stretchedbefore them。 They now saw that they had； in fact； turned too much to thesouth。 Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of Buckleburyacross the River； but it was now to their left。 Creeping cautiously out fromthe edge of the trees； they set off across the open as quickly as they could。
At first they felt afraid； away from the shelter of the wood。 Far backbehind them stood the high place where they had breakfasted。 Frodo halfexpected to see the small distant figure of a horseman on the ridge darkagainst the sky； but there was no sign of one。 The sun escaping from thebreaking clouds； as it sank towards the hills they had left； was now shiningbrightly again。 Their fear left them； though they still felt uneasy。 But theland became steadily more tame and well…ordered。 Soon they came into well…
tended fields and meadows： there were hedges and gates and dikes for drainage。
Everything seemed quiet and peaceful； just an ordinary corner of the Shire。
Their spirits rose with every step。 The line of the River grew nearer； and theBlack Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind。
They passed along the edge of a huge turnip…field； and came to a stoutgate。 Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well…laid hedges towards adistant clump of trees。 Pippin stopped。
'I know these fields and this gate！' he said。 'This is Bamfurlong； oldFarmer Maggot's land。 That's his farm away there in the trees。'
'One trouble after another！' said Frodo； looking nearly as much alarmedas if Pippin had declared the lane was the slot leading to a dragon's den。 Theothers looked at him in surprise。
'What's wrong with old Maggot？' asked Pippin。 'He's a good friend to allthe Brandy bucks。 Of course he's a terror to trespassers； and keeps ferociousdogs – but after all； folk down here are near the border and have to be moreon their guard。'
'I know；' said Frodo。 'But all the same；' he added with a shamefaced
laugh； 'I am terrified of him and his dogs。 I have avoided his farm for yearsand years。 He caught me several times trespassing after mushrooms； when I wasa youngster at Brandy Hall。 On the last occasion he beat me； and then took meand showed me to his dogs。 〃See； lads；〃 he said； 〃next time this young varmintsets foot on my land； you can eat him。 Now see him off！〃 They chased me allthe way to the Ferry。 I have never got over the fright – though I daresay thebeasts knew their business and would not really have touched me。'
Pippin laughed。 'Well； it's time you made it up。 Especially if you areing back to live in Buckland。 Old Maggot is really a stout fellow – if youleave his mushrooms alone。 Let's get into the lane and then we shan't betrespassing。 If we meet him； I'll do the talking。 He is a friend of Merry's；
and I used to e here with him a good deal at one time。'
They went along the lane； until they saw the thatched roofs of a largehouse and farm…buildings peeping out among the trees ahead。 The Maggots； andthe Puddifoots of Stock； and most of the inhabitants of the Marish； werehouse…dwellers； and this farm was stoutly built of brick and had a high wallall round it。 There was a wide wooden gate opening out of the wall into thelane。
Suddenly as they drew nearer a terrific baying and barking broke out； anda loud voice was heard shouting： 'Grip！ Fang！ Wolf！ e on； lads！'
Frodo and Sam stopped dead； but Pippin walked on a few paces。 The gateopened and three huge dogs came pelting out into the lane； and dashed towardsthe travellers； barking fiercely。 They took no notice of Pippin； but Samshrank against the wall； while two wolvish…looking dogs sniffed at himsuspiciously； and snarled if he moved。 The largest and most ferocious of thethree halted in front of Frodo； bristling and growling。
Through the gate there now appeared a broad thick…set hobbit with a roundred face。 'Hallo！ Hallo！ And who may you be； and what may you be wanting？' heasked。
'Good afternoon； Mr。 Maggot！' said Pippin。
The farmer looked at him closely。 'Well； if it isn't Master Pippin – Mr。
Peregrin Took； I should say！' he cried； changing from a scowl to a grin。 'It'sa long time since I saw you round here。 It's lucky for you that I know you。 Iwas just going out to set my dogs on any strangers。 There are some funnythings going on today。 Of course； we do get queer folk wandering in theseparts at times。 Too near the River；' he said； shaking his head。 'But thisfellow was the most outlandish I have ever set eyes on。 He won't cross my landwithout leave a second time； not if I can stop it。'
'What fellow do you mean？' asked Pippin。
'Then you haven't seen him？' said the farmer。 'He went up the lanetowards the causeway not a long while back。 He was a funny customer and askingfunny questions。 But perhaps you'll e along inside； and we'll pass the newsmore fortable。 I've a drop of good ale on tap； if you and your friends arewilling； Mr。 Took。'
It seemed plain that the farmer would tell them more； if allowed to do itin his own time and fashion； so they all accepted the invitation。 'What aboutthe dogs？' asked Frodo anxiously。
The farmer laughed。 'They won't harm you – not unless I tell 'em to。
Here； Grip！ Fang！ Heel！' he cried。 'Heel； Wolf！' To the relief of Frodo andSam； the dogs walked away and let them go free。
Pippin introduced the other two to the farmer。 'Mr。 Frodo Baggins；' hesaid。 'You may not remember him； but he used to live at Brandy Hall。' At thename Baggins the farmer started； and gave Frodo a sharp glance。 For a momentFrodo thought that the memory of stolen mushrooms had been aroused； and thatthe dogs would be told to see him off。 But Farmer Maggot took him by the arm。
'Well； if that isn't queerer than ever？' he exclaimed。 'Mr。 Baggins isit？ e inside！ We must have a talk。'
They went into the farmer's kitchen； and sat by the wide fire…place。 Mrs。
Maggot brought out beer in a huge jug； and filled four large mugs。 It was agood brew； and Pippin found himself more than pensated for missing the
_Golden Perch。_ Sam sipped his beer suspiciously。 He had a natural mistrust ofthe inhabitants of other parts of the Shire； and also he was not disposed tobe quick friends with anyone who had beaten his master； however long ago。
After a few remarks about th