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'I will！' said he； and drove out of the gate。 There was now no breath ofwind stirring； the night was still and quiet； and a chill was in the air。 Theywent without lights and took it slowly。 After a mile or two the lane came toan end； crossing a deep dike； and climbing a short slope up on to the high…
banked causeway。
Maggot got down and took a good look either way； north and south； butnothing could be seen in the darkness； and there was not a sound in the stillair。 Thin strands of river…mist were hanging above the dikes； and crawlingover the fields。
'It's going to be thick；' said Maggot； 'but I'll not light my lantern
till I turn for home。 We'll hear anything on the road long before we meet ittonight。'
It was five miles or more from Maggot's lane to the Ferry。 The hobbitswrapped themselves up； but their ears were strained for any sound above thecreak of the wheels and the slow _clop_ of the ponies' hoofs。 The waggonseemed slower than a snail to Frodo。 Beside him Pippin was nodding towardssleep； but Sam was staring forwards into the rising fog。
They reached the entrance to the Ferry lane at last。 It was marked by twotall white posts that suddenly loomed up on their right。 Farmer Maggot drew inhis ponies and the waggon creaked to a halt。 They were just beginning loscramble out； when suddenly they heard what they had all been dreading： hoofson the road ahead。 The sound was ing towards them。
Maggot jumped down and stood holding the ponies' heads； and peeringforward into the gloom。 _Clip…clop； clip…clop_ came the approaching rider。 Thefall of the hoofs sounded loud in the still； foggy air。
'You'd better be hidden； Mr。 Frodo；' said Sam anxiously。 'You get down inthe waggon and cover up with blankets； and we'll send this rider to therightabouts！' He climbed out and went to the farmer's side。 Black Riders wouldhave to ride over him to get near the waggon。
_Clop…clop； clop…clop。_ The rider was nearly on them。
'Hallo there！' called Farmer Maggot。 The advancing hoofs stopped short。
They thought they could dimly guess a dark cloaked shape in the mist； a yardor two ahead。 'Now then！' said the farmer； throwing the reins to Sam andstriding forward。 'Don't you e a step nearer！ What do you want； and whereare you going？'
'I want Mr。 Baggins。 Have you seen him？' said a muffled voice – but thevoice was the voice of Merry Brandybuck。 A dark lantern was uncovered； and itslight fell on the astonished face of the farmer。
'Mr。 Merry！' he cried。
'Yes； of course！ Who did you think it was？' said Merry ing forward。 Ashe came out of the mist and their fears subsided； he seemed suddenly todiminish to ordinary hobbit…size。 He was riding a pony； and a scarf wasswathed round his neck and over his chin to keep out the fog。
Frodo sprang out of the waggon to greet him。 'So there you are at last！'
said Merry。 'I was beginning to wonder if you would turn up at all today； andI was just going back to supper。 When it grew foggy I came across and rode uptowards Stock to see if you had fallen in any ditches。 But I'm blest if I knowwhich way you have e。 Where did you find them； Mr。 Maggot？ In your duck…
pond？'
'No； I caught 'em trespassing；' said the farmer； 'and nearly set my dogson 'em； but they'll tell you all the story； I've no doubt。 Now； if you'llexcuse me； Mr。 Merry and Mr。 Frodo and all； I'd best be turning for home。 Mrs。
Maggot will be worriting with the night getting thick。'
He backed the waggon into the lane and turned it。 'Well； good night toyou all；' he said。 'It's been a queer day； and no mistake。 But all's well asends well； though perhaps we should not say that until we reach our own doors。
I'll not deny that I'll be glad now when I do。' He lit his lanterns； and gotup。 Suddenly he produced a large basket from under the seat。 'I was nearlyforgetting；' he said。 'Mrs。 Maggot put this up for Mr。 Baggins； with herpliments。' He handed it down and moved off； followed by a chorus of thanksand good…nights。
They watched the pale rings of light round his lanterns as they dwindledinto the foggy night。 Suddenly Frodo laughed： from the covered basket he held；
the scent of mushrooms was rising。
_Chapter 5_
A Conspiracy Unmasked
'Now we had better get home ourselves；' said Merry。 There's something
funny about all this； I see； but it must wait till we get in。'
They turned down the Ferry lane； which was straight and well…kept andedged with large white…washed stones。 In a hundred yards or so it brought themto the river…bank； where there was a broad wooden landing…stage。 A large flatferry…boat was moored beside it。 The white bollards near the water's edgeglimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts。 Behind them the mists inthe flat fields were now above the hedges； but the water before them was dark；
with only a few curling wisps like steam among the reeds by the bank。 Thereseemed to be less fog on the further side。
Merry led the pony over a gangway on to the ferry； and the othersfollowed。 Merry then pushed slowly off with a long pole。 The Brandywine flowedslow and broad before them。 On the other side the bank was steep； and up it awinding path climbed from the further landing。 Lamps were twinkling there。
Behind loomed up the Buck Hill； and out of it； through stray shrouds of mist；
shone many round windows； yellow and red。 They were the windows of BrandyHall； the ancient home of the Brandybucks。
Long ago Gorhendad Oldbuck； head of the Oldbuck family； one of the oldestin the Marish or indeed in the Shire； had crossed the river； which was theoriginal boundary of the land eastwards。 He built （and excavated） Brandy Hall；
changed his name to Brandybuck； and settled down to bee master of what wasvirtually a small independent country。 His family grew and grew； and after hisdays continued to grow； until Brandy Hall occupied the whole of the low hill；
and had three large front…doors； many side…doors； and about a hundred windows。
The Brandybucks and their numerous dependants then began to burrow； and laterto build； all round about。 That was the origin of Buckland； a thicklyinhabited strip between the river and the Old Forest； a sort of colony fromthe Shire。 Its chief village was Bucklebury； clustering in the banks andslopes behind Brandy Hall。
The people in the Marish were friendly with the Bucklanders； and theauthority of the Master of the Hall （as the head of the Brandybuck family wascalled） was still acknowledged by the farmers between Stock and Rushey。 Butmost of the folk of the old Shire regarded the Bucklanders as peculiar； halfforeigners as it were。 Though； as a matter of fact； they were not verydifferent from the other hobbits of the Four Farthings。 Except in one point：
they were fond of boats； and some of them could swim。
Their land was originally unprotected from the East； but on that sidethey had built a hedge： the High Hay。 It had been planted many generationsago； and was now thick and tail； for it was constantly tended。 It ran all theway from Brandywine Bridge； in a big loop curving away from the river； toHaysend （where the Withywindle flowed out of the Forest into the Brandywine）：
well over twenty miles from end to end。 But； of course； it was not a pleteprotection。 The Forest dre