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'Now who's arrested who？'
Two of the Shirriffs immediately left the party and went towards him。 'Leader！' said Merry。
'Order your fellows back to their places at once； if you don't want me to deal with them！'
The two hobbits at a sharp word from the leader came back sulkily。 'Now get on！' said Merry；
and after that the travellers saw to it that their ponies' pace was quick enough to push the Shirriffs
along as fast as they could go。 The sun came out； and in spite of the chilly wind they were soon
puffing and sweating。
At the Three…Farthing Stone they gave it up。 They had done nearly fourteen miles with only one
rest at noon。 It was now three o'clock。 They were hungry and very footsore and they could not stand
the pace。
'Well； e along in your own time！' said Merry。 'We are going on。'
'Good…bye； Cock…robin！' said Sam。 'I'll wait for you outside _The Green Dragon_； if you haven't
forgotten where that is。 Don't dawdle on the way！'
'You're breaking arrest； that's what you're doing；' said the leader ruefully； 'and I can't be
answerable。'
'We shall break a good many things yet； and not ask you to answer ' said Pippin。 'Good luck to
you！'
The travellers trotted on； and as the sun began to sink towards the White Downs far away on the
western horizon they came to Bywater by its wide pool； and there they had their first really painful
shock。 This was Frodo and Sam's own country； and they found out now that they cared about it
more than any other place in the world。 Many of the houses that they had known were missing。
Some seemed to have been burned down。 The pleasant row of old hobbit…holes in the bank on the
north side of the Pool were deserted； and their little gardens that used to run down bright to the
water's edge were rank with weeds。 Worse； there was a whole line of the ugly new houses all along
Pool Side； where the Hobbiton Road ran close to the bank。 An avenue of trees had stood there。
They were all gone。 And looking with dismay up the road towards Bag End they saw a tall chimney
of brick in the distance。 It was pouring out black smoke into the evening air。
Sam was beside himself。 'I'm going right on； Mr。 Frodo！' he cried。 'I'm going to see what's up。 I
want to find my gaffer。'
'We ought to find out first what we're in for； Sam；' said Merry。 'I guess that the 〃Chief〃 will have
a gang of ruffians handy。 We had better find someone who will tell us how things are round here。'
But in the village of Bywater all the houses and holes were shut； and no one greeted them。 They
wondered at this； but they soon discovered the reason of it。 When they reached _The Green
Dragon_； the last house on the Hobbiton side； now lifeless and with broken windows； they were
disturbed to see half a dozen large ill…favoured Men lounging against the inn…wall； they were
squint…eyed and sallow…faced。
'Like that friend of Bill Ferny's at Bree；' said Sam。
'Like many that I saw at Isengard；' muttered Merry。
The ruffians had clubs in their hands and horns by their belts； but they had no other weapons； as
far as could be seen。 As the travellers rode up they left the wall and walked into the road； blocking
the way。
'Where d'you think you're going？' said one； the largest and most evil…looking of the crew。
'There's no road for you any further。 And where are those precious Shirriffs？'
'ing along nicely；' said Merry。 'A little footsore； perhaps。 We promised to wait for them
here。'
'Garn； what did I say？' said the ruffian to his mates。 'I told Sharkey it was no good trusting those
little fools。 Some of our chaps ought to have been sent。'
'And what difference would that have made； pray？' said Merry。 'We are not used to footpads in
this country； but we know how to deal with them。'
'Footpads； eh？' said the man： 'So that's your tone； is it？ Change it； or we'll change it for you。 You
little folk are getting too uppish。 Don't you trust too much in the Boss's kind heart。 Sharkey's e
now and he'll do what Sharkey says。'
'And what may that be？' said Frodo quietly。
'This country wants waking up and setting to rights；' said the ruffian； 'and Sharkey's going to do
it； and make it hard； if you drive him to it。 You need a bigger Boss。 And you'll get one before the
year is out； if there's any more trouble。 Then you'll learn a thing or two； you little rat…folk。'
'Indeed。 I am glad to hear of your plans；' said Frodo。 'I am on my way to call on Mr。 Lotho； and
he may be interested to hear of them too。'
The ruffian laughed。 'Lotho！ He knows all right。 Don't you worry。 He'll do what Sharkey says。
Because if a Boss gives trouble； we can change him。 See？ And if little folks try to push in where
they're not wanted； we can put them out of mischief。 See？'
'Yes； I see；' said Frodo。 'For one thing； I see that you're behind the times and the news here。
Much has happened since you left the South。 Your day is over； and all other ruffians'。 The Dark
Tower has fallen； and there is a King in Gondor。 And Isengard has been destroyed； and your
precious master is a beggar in the wilderness。 I passed him on the road。 The King's messengers will
ride up the Greenway now not bullies from Isengard。'
The man stared at him and smiled。 'A beggar in the wilderness！' he mocked。 'Oh； is he indeed？
Swagger it； swagger it； my little cock…a…whoop。 But that won't stop us living in this fat little country
where you have lazed long enough。 And' – he snapped his fingers in Frodo's face – 'King's
messengers！ That for them！ When I see one； I'll take notice； perhaps。'
This was too much for Pippin。 His thoughts went back to the Field of Cormallen； and here was a
squint…eyed rascal calling the Ring…bearer 'little cock…a…whoop'。 He cast back his cloak； flashed out
his sword； and the silver and sable of Gondor gleamed on him as he rode forward。
'I am a messenger of the King；' he said。 'You are speaking to the King's friend； and one of the
most renowned in all the lands of the West。 You are a ruffian and a fool。 Down on your knees in
the road and ask pardon； or I will set this troll's bane in you！'
The sword glinted in the westering sun。 Merry and Sam drew their swords also and rode up to
support Pippin； but Frodo did not move。 The ruffians gave back。 Scaring Breeland peasants； and
bullying bewildered hobbits； had been their work。 Fearless hobbits with bright swords and grim
faces were a great surprise。 And there was a note in the voices of these newers that they had not
heard before。 It chilled them with fear。
'Go！' said Merry。 'If you trouble this village again； you will regret it。' The three hobbits came on；
and then the ruffians turned and fled running away up the Hobbiton Road； but they blew their horns
as they ran。
'Well； we've e back none too soon；' said Merry。
'Not a day too soon。 Perhaps too late； at any rate to save Lotho；' said Frodo。 'Miserable fool； but
I am sorry for him。'
'Save Lotho？ Whatever do you mean？' said Pippin。 'Destroy him I should say。'
'I don't think you quite understand things； Pippin；' said Frodo。 'Lotho never meant things to
e to this pass。 He has been a wicked fool； but he's caught now。 The ruffians are on top；
gathering； robbing and bullying； and running or ruining things as they like； in his name。 And not in
his name even for much longer。 He's a prisoner in Bag End now； I expect； and very frightened。 We
ought to try and rescue him。'
'Well I am staggered！' said Pippin。 'Of all the ends to our journey that is the very last I should
have thought of： to have to fight half…orcs and ruffians in the Shire itself – to rescue Lotho Pimple！'
'Fight？' said Frodo。 'Well； I suppose it may e to that。 But remember： there is to be no slaying
of hobbits； not even if they have gone over to the other side。 Really gone over； I mean； not just
obeying ruffians' orders because they are frightened。 No hobbit has ever killed another on purpose
in the Shire； and it is not to begin now。 And nobody is to be killed at all； if it can be helped。 Keep
your tempers and hold your hands to the last possible moment！'
'But if there are many of these ruffians；' said Merry； 'it will certainly mean fighting。 You won't
rescue Lotho； or the Shire； just by being shocked and sad； my dear Frodo。'
'No；' said Pippin。 'It won't be so easy scaring them a second time。 They were taken by surprise。
You heard that horn…blowing？ Evidently there are other ruffians near at hand。 They'll be much
bolder when there's more of them together。 We ought to think of taking cover somewhere for the
night。 After all we're only four； even if we are armed。'
'I've an idea；' said Sam。 'Let's go to old Tom Cotton's down South Lane！ He always was a stout
fellow。 And he has a lot of lads that were all friends of mine。'
'No！' said Merry。 'It's no good 〃getting under cover〃。 That is just what people have been doing；
and just what these ruffians like。 They will simply e down on us in force； corner us； and then
drive us out； or burn us in。 No； we have got to do something at once。'
'Do what？' said Pippin。
'Raise the Shire！' said Merry。 'Now！ Wake all our people！ They hate all this； you can see： all of
them except perhaps one or two rascals； and a few fools that want to be important； but don't at all
understand what is really going on。 But Shire…folk have been so fortable so long they don't
know what to do。 They just want a match； though； and they'll go up in fire。 The Chief's Men must
know that。 They'll try to stamp on us and put us out quick。 We've only got a very short time。
'Sam； you can make a dash for Cotton's farm； if you like。 He's the chief person round here； and
the sturdiest。 e on！ I am going to blow the horn of Rohan； and give them all some music they
have never heard before。'
They rode back to the middle of the village。 There Sam turned aside and galloped off down the
lane that led south to Cotton's。 He had not gone far when he heard a sudden clear horn…call go up
ringing into the sky。 Far over hill and field it echoed； and so pelling was that call that Sam
himself almost turned and dashed back。 His pony reared and neighed。
'On； lad！ On！' he cried。 'We'll be going back soon。'
Then he heard Merry change the note； and up went the Horn…cry of Buckland； shaking the air。
_Awake！ Awake！ Fear； Fire； Foes！ Awake！
Fire； Foes！ Awake！_
Behind him Sam heard a hubbub of voices and a great din and slamming of doors。 In front of
him lights sprang out in the gloaming； dogs barked； feet came running。 Before he got to the lane's
end there was Farmer Cotton with three of his lads； Young Tom； Jolly； and Nick； hurrying towards
him。 They had axes in their hands； and barred the way。
'Nay！ It's not one of them ruffians；' Sam heard the farmer say。 'It's a hobbit by the size of it； but
all dressed up queer。 Hey！' he cried。 'Who are you； and what's all this to…do？'
'It's Sam； Sam Gamgee。 I've e back。'
Farmer Cotton came up close and stared at him in the twilight。 'Well！' he exclaimed。 'The voice
is right； and your face is no worse than it was； Sam。 But I should a' passed you in the street in that
gear。 You've been in foreign parts； seemingly。 We feared you were dead。'
'That I ain't！' said Sam。 'Nor Mr。 Frodo。 He's here and his friends。 And that's the to…do。 They're
raising the Shire。 We're going to clear out these ruffians； and their Chief too。 We're starting now。'
'Good； good！' cried Farmer Cotton。 'So it's begun at last！ I've been itching for trouble all this
year； but folks wouldn't help。 And I've had the wife and Rosie to think of。 These ruffians don't stick
at nothing。 But e on now； lads！ Bywater is up！ We must be in it！'
'What about Mrs。 Cotton and Rosie？' said Sam。 'It isn't safe yet for them to be left all alone。'
'My Nibs is with them。 But you can go and help him； if you have a mind；' said Farmer Cotton
with a grin。 Then he and his sons ran off towards the village。
Sam hurried to the house。 By the large round door at the top of the steps from the wide yard
stood Mrs。 Cotton and Rosie； and Nibs in front of them grasping a hay…fork。
'It's me！' shouted Sam as he trotted up。 'Sam Gamgee！ So don't try prodding me； Nibs。 Anyway；
I've a mail…shirt on me。'
He jumped down from his pony and went up the steps。 They stared at him in silence。 'Good
evening； Mrs。 Cotton！' he said。 'Hullo Rosie！'
'Hullo； Sam！' said Rosie。 'Where've you been I They said you were dead； but I've been expecting
you since the Spring。 You haven't hurried have you？'
'Perhaps not；' said Sam abashed。 'But I'm hurrying now。 We're setting about the ruffians； and I've
got to get back to Mr。 Frodo。 But I thought I'd have a look and see how Mrs。 Cotton was keeping；
and you； Rosie。'
'We're keeping nicely； thank you；' said Mrs。 Cotton。 'Or should be； if it weren't for these thieving
ruffians。'
'Well； be off with you！' said Rosie。 'If you've been looking after Mr。 Frodo all this while； what
d'you want to leave him for； as soon as things look dangerous？'
This was too much for