The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第20章
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d snapping their fingers at rain； and at Black Riders。 The last few miles； they felt； would soon be behind them。
Frodo propped his back against the treetrunk； and closed his eyes。 Sam and Pippin sat near； and they began to hum； and then to sing softly：
Ho！ Ho！ Ho！ to the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe。
Rain may fall and wind may blow；
And many miles be still to go；
But under a tall tree I will lie；
And let the clouds go sailing by。
Ho！ Ho！ Ho！ they began again louder。 They stopped short suddenly。 Frodo sprang to his feet。 A longdrawn wail came down the wind； like the cry of some evil and lonely creature。 It rose and fell； and ended on a high piercing note。 Even as they sat and stood； as if suddenly frozen； it was answered by another cry； fainter and further off； but no less chilling to the blood。 There was then 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 speak lightly； but quavering a little。 'If it was a bird； it was one that I never heard 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 has such a voice。'
No more was said about it。 They were all thinking of the Riders； but no one spoke of them。 They were now reluctant either to stay or go on； but sooner or later they had got to get across the open country to the Ferry； and it was best to go sooner and in daylight。 In a few moments they had shouldered their packs again and were off。
Before long the wood came to a sudden end。 Wide grasslands stretched before them。 They now saw that they had； in fact； turned too much to the south。 Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of Bucklebury across the River； but it was now to their left。 Creeping cautiously out from the 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 back behind them stood the high place where they had breakfasted。 Frodo half expected to see the small distant figure of a horseman on the ridge dark against the sky； but there was no sign of one。 The sun escaping from the breaking clouds； as it sank towards the hills they had left； was now shining brightly again。 Their fear left them； though they still felt uneasy。 But the land became steadily more tame and wellordered。 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 the Black Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind。
They passed along the edge of a huge turnipfield； and came to a stout gate。 Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low welllaid hedges towards a distant clump of trees。 Pippin stopped。
'I know these fields and this gate！' he said。 'This is Bamfurlong； old Farmer Maggot's land。 That's his farm away there in the trees。'
'One trouble after another！' said Frodo； looking nearly as much alarmed as if Pippin had declared the lane was the slot leading to a dragon's den。 The others looked at him in surprise。
'What's wrong with old Maggot？' asked Pippin。 'He's a good friend to all the Brandy bucks。 Of course he's a terror to trespassers； and keeps ferocious dogs 。 but after all； folk down here are near the border and have to be more on 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 years and years。 He caught me several times trespassing after mushrooms； when I was a youngster at Brandy Hall。 On the last occasion he beat me； and then took me and showed me to his dogs。 〃See； lads；〃 he said； 〃next time this young varmint sets foot on my land； you can eat him。 Now see him off！〃 They chased me all the way to the Ferry。 I have never got over the fright 。 though I daresay the beasts knew their business and would not really have touched me。'
Pippin laughed。 'Well； it's time you made it up。 Especially if you are ing back to live in Buckland。 Old Maggot is really a stout fellow 。 if you leave his mushrooms alone。 Let's get into the lane and then we shan't be trespassing。 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 large house and farmbuildings peeping out among the trees ahead。 The Maggots； and the Puddifoots of Stock； and most of the inhabitants of the Marish； were housedwellers； and this farm was stoutly built of brick and had a high wall all round it。 There was a wide wooden gate opening out of the wall into the lane。
Suddenly as they drew nearer a terrific baying and barking broke out； and a loud voice was heard shouting： 'Grip！ Fang！ Wolf！ e on； lads！'
Frodo and Sam stopped dead； but Pippin walked on a few paces。 The gate opened and three huge dogs came pelting out into the lane； and dashed towards the travellers； barking fiercely。 They took no notice of Pippin； but Sam shrank against the wall； while two wolvishlooking dogs sniffed at him suspiciously； and snarled if he moved。 The largest and most ferocious of the three halted in front of Frodo； bristling and growling。
Through the gate there now appeared a broad thickset hobbit with a round red face。 'Hallo！ Hallo！ And who may you be； and what may you be wanting？' he asked。
'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's a long time since I saw you round here。 It's lucky for you that I know you。 I was just going out to set my dogs on any strangers。 There are some funny things going on today。 Of course； we do get queer folk wandering in these parts at times。 Too near the River；' he said； shaking his head。 'But this fellow was the most outlandish I have ever set eyes on。 He won't cross my land without 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 lane towards the causeway not a long while back。 He was a funny customer and asking funny questions。 But perhaps you'll e along inside； and we'll pass the news more fortable。 I've a drop of good ale on tap； if you and your friends are willing； Mr。 Took。'
It seemed plain that the farmer would tell them more； if allowed to do it in his own time and fashion； so they all accepted the invitation。 'What about the 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 and Sam； the dogs walked away and let them go free。
Pippin introduced the other two to the farmer。 'Mr。 Frodo Baggins；' he said。 'You may not remember him； but he used to live at Brandy Hall。' At the name Baggins the farmer started； and gave Frodo a sharp glance。 For a moment Frodo thought that the memory of stolen mushrooms had been aroused； and that the 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 is it？ e inside！ We must have a talk。'
They went into the farmer's kitchen； and sat by the wide fireplace。 Mrs。 Maggot brought out beer in a huge jug； and filled four large mugs。 It was a good brew； and Pippin found himself more than pensated for missing the Golden Perch。 Sam sipped his beer suspiciously。 He had a natural mistrust of the inhabitants of other parts of the Shire； and also he was not disposed to be quick friends with anyone who had beaten his master； however long ago。
After a few remarks about the weather and the agricultural prospects （which were no worse than usual）； Farmer Maggot put down his mug and looked at them all in turn。
'Now； Mr。 Peregrin；' he said； 'where might you be ing from； and where might you be going to？ Were you ing to visit' me？ For； if so； you had gone past my gate without my seeing you。'
'Well； no；' answered Pippin。 'To tell you the truth； since you have guessed it； we got into the lane from the other end： we had e over your fields。 But that was quite by accident。 We lost our way in the woods； back near Woodhall； trying to take a short cut to the Ferry。'
'If you were in a hurry； the road would have served you better；' said the farmer。 'But I wasn't worrying about that。 You have leave to walk over my land； if you have a mind； Mr。 Peregrin。 And you； Mr。 Baggins 。 though I daresay you still like mushrooms。' He laughed。 'Ah yes； I recognized the name。 I recollect the time when young Frodo Baggins was one of the worst young rascals of Buckland。 But it wasn't mushrooms I was thinking of。 I had just heard the name Baggins before you turned up。 What do you think that funny customer asked me？'
They waited anxiously for him to go on。 'Well；' the farmer continued； approaching his point with slow relish； 'he came riding on a big black horse in at the gate； which happened to be ope
