'For where am I to go？ And by what shall I steer？ What is to be my quest？
Bilbo went to find a treasure； there and back again； but I go to lose one； andnot return； as far as I can see。'
'But you cannot see very far；' said Gandalf。 'Neither can I。 It may beyour task to find the Cracks of Doom； but that quest may be for others： I donot know。 At any rate you are not ready for that long road yet。'
'No indeed！' said Frodo。 'But in the meantime what course am I to lake？'
'Towards danger； but not too rashly； nor too straight；' answered thewizard。 'If you want my advice； make for Rivendell。 That journey should notprove too perilous； though the Road is less easy than it was； and it will growworse as the year fails。'
'Rivendell！' said Frodo。 'Very good： I will go east； and I will make forRivendell。 I will take Sam to visit the Elves； he will be delighted。' He spokelightly； but his heart was moved suddenly with a desire to see the house ofElrond Halfelven； and breathe the air of that deep valley where many of theFair Folk still dwelt in peace。
One summer's evening an astonishing piece of news reached the _Ivy Bush_
and _Green Dragon。_ Giants and other portents on the borders of the Shire wereforgotten for more important matters： Mr。 Frodo was selling Bag End； indeed hehad already sold it – to the Sackville…Bagginses！
'For a nice bit； loo；' said some。 'At a bargain price；' said others； 'andthat's more likely when Mistress Lobelia's the buyer。' （Otho had died someyears before； at the ripe but disappointed age of 102。）
Just why Mr。 Frodo was selling his beautiful hole was even more debatablethan the price。 A few held the theory – supported by the nods and hints of Mr。
Baggins himself – that Frodo's money was running out： he was going to leaveHobbiton and live in a quiet way on the proceeds of the sale down in Bucklandamong his Brandybuck relations。 'As far from the Sackville…Bagginses as maybe；' some added。 But so firmly fixed had the notion of the immeasurable wealthof the Bagginses of Bag End bee that most found this hard to believe；
harder than any other reason or unreason that their fancy could suggest： tomost it suggested a dark and yet unrevealed plot by Gandalf。 Though he kepthimself very quiet and did not go about by day； it was well known that he was'hiding up in the Bag End'。 But however a removal might fit in with thedesigns of his wizardry； there was no doubt about the fact： Frodo Baggins wasgoing back to Buckland。
'Yes； I shall be moving this autumn；' he said。 'Merry Brandybuck islooking out for a nice little hole for me； or perhaps a small house。'
As a matter of fact with Merry's help he had already chosen and bought alittle house at Crickhollow in the country beyond Bucklebury。 To all but Samhe pretended he was going to settle down there permanently。 The decision toset out eastwards had suggested the idea to him； for Buckland was on theeastern borders of the Shire； and as he had lived there in childhood his going
back would at least seem credible。
Gandalf stayed in the Shire for over two months。 Then one evening； at theend of June； soon after Frodo's plan had been finally arranged； he suddenlyannounced that he was going off again next morning。 'Only for a short while； Ihope；' he said。 'But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get somenews； if I can。 I have been idle longer than I should。'
He spoke lightly； but it seemed to Frodo that he looked rather worried。
'Has anything happened？' he asked。
'Well no； but I have heard something that has made me anxious and needslooking into。 If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once； Ishall e back immediately； or at least send word。 In the meanwhile stick toyour plan； but be more careful than ever； especially of the Ring。 Let meimpress on you once more： _don't use it！'_
He went off at dawn。 'I may be back any day；' he said。 'At the verylatest I shall e back for the farewell party。 I think after all you mayneed my pany on the Road。'
At first Frodo was a good deal disturbed； and wondered often what Gandalfcould have heard； but his uneasiness wore off； and in the fine weather heforgot his troubles for a while。 The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer；
or so rich an autumn： the trees were laden with apples； honey was dripping inthe bs； and the corn was tall and full。
Autumn was well under way before Frodo began to worry about Gandalfagain。 September was passing and there was still no news of him。 The Birthday；
and the removal； drew nearer； and still he did not e； or send word。 Bag Endbegan to be busy。 Some of Frodo's friends came to stay and help him with thepacking： there was Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin； and of course his specialfriends Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck。 Between them they turned the wholeplace upside…down。
On September 20th two covered carts went off laden to Buckland； conveyingthe furniture and goods that Frodo had not sold to his new home； by way of theBrandywine Bridge。 The next day Frodo became really anxious； and kept aconstant look…out for Gandalf。 Thursday； his birthday morning； dawned as fairand clear as it had long ago for Bilbo's great party。 Still Gandalf did notappear。 In the evening Frodo gave his farewell feast： it was quite small； justa dinner for himself and his four helpers； but he was troubled and fell in nomood for it。 The thought that he would so soon have to part with his youngfriends weighed on his heart。 He wondered how he would break it to them。
The four younger hobbits were； however； in high spirits； and the partysoon became very cheerful in spite of Gandalf's absence。 The dining…room wasbare except for a table and chairs； but the food was good； and there was goodwine： Frodo's wine had not been included in the sale to the Sackville…
Bagginses。
'Whatever happens to the rest of my stuff； when the S。…B。s get theirclaws on it； at any rate I have found a good home for this！' said Frodo； as hedrained his glass。 It was the last drop of Old Winyards。
When they had sung many songs； and talked of many things they had donetogether； they toasted Bilbo's birthday； and they drank his health and Frodo'stogether according to Frodo's custom。 Then they went out for a sniff of air；
and glimpse of the stars； and then they went to bed。 Frodo's party was over；
and Gandalf had not e。
The next morning they were busy packing another cart with the remainderof the luggage。 Merry took charge of this； and drove off with Fatty （that isFredegar Bolger）。 'Someone must get there and warm the house before youarrive；' said Merry。 'Well； see you later – the day after tomorrow； if youdon't go to sleep on the way！'
Folco went home after lunch； but Pippin remained behind。 Frodo wasrestless and anxious； listening in vain for a sound of Gandalf。 He decided towait until nightfall。 After that； if Gandalf wanted him urgently； he would goto Crickhollow； and might even get there first。 For Frodo was going on foot。
His plan – for pleasure and a last look at the Shire as much as any other
reason – was to walk from Hobbiton to Bucklebury Ferry； taking it fairly easy。
'I shall get myself a bit into training； too；' he said； looking athimself in a dusty mirror in the half…empty hall。 He had not done anystrenuous walking for a long time； and the reflection looked rather flabby； hethought。
After lunch； the Sackville…Bagginses； Lobelia and her sandy…haired son；
Lotho； turned up； much to Frodo's annoyance。 'Ours at last！' said Lobelia； asshe stepped inside。 It was not polite； nor strictly true； for the sale of BagEnd did not take effect until midnight。 But Lobelia can perhaps be forgiven：
she had been obliged to wait about seventy…seven years longer for Bag End thanshe once hoped； and she was now a hundred years old。 Anyway； she had e tosee that nothing she had paid for had been carried off； and she wanted thekeys。 It took a long while to satisfy her； as she had brought a pleteinventory with her and went right through it。 In the end she departed withLotho and the spare key and the promise that the other key would be left atthe Gamgees' in Bagshot Row。 She snorted； and showed plainly that she thoughtthe Gamgees capable of plundering the hole during the night。 Frodo did notoffer her any tea。
He took his own tea with Pippin and Sam Gamgee in the kitchen。 It hadbeen officially announced that Sam was ing to Buckland 'to do for Mr。 Frodoand look after his bit of garden'； an arrangement that was approved by theGaffer； though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as aneighbour。
'Our last meal at Bag End！' said Frodo； pushing back his chair。 They leftthe washing up for Lobelia。 Pippin and Sam strapped up their three packs andpiled them in the porch。 Pippin went out for a last stroll in the garden。 Samdisappeared。
The sun went down。 Bag End seemed sad and gloomy and dishevelled。 Frodowandered round the familiar rooms； and saw the light of the sunset fade on thewalls； and shadows creep out of the corners。 It grew slowly dark indoors。 Hewent out and walked down to the gate at the bottom of the path； and then on ashort way down the Hill Road。 He half expected to see Gandalf e striding upthrough the dusk。
The sky was clear and the stars were growing bright。 'It's going to be afine night；' he said aloud。 'That's good for a beginning。 I feel like walking。
I can't bear any more hanging about。 I am going to start； and Gandalf mustfollow me。' He turned to go back； and then slopped； for he heard voices； justround the corner by the end of Bagshot Row。 One voice was certainly the oldGaffer's； the other was strange； and somehow unpleasant。 He could not make outwhat it said； but he heard the Gaffer's answers； which were rather shrill。 Theold man seemed put out。
'No； Mr。 Baggins has gone away。 Went this morning； and my Sam went withhim： anyway all his stuff went。 Yes； sold out and gone； I tell'ee。 Why？ Why'snone of my business； or yours。 Where to？ That ain't no secret。 He's moved toBucklebury or some such place； away down yonder。 Yes it is – a tidy way。 I'venever been so far myself； they're queer folks in Buckland。 No； I can't give nomessage。 Good night to you！'
Footsteps went away down the Hill。 Frodo wondered vaguely why the factthat they did not e on up the Hill seemed a great relief。 'I am sick ofquestions and curiosity about my doings； I suppose；' he thought。 'What aninquisitive lot they all are！' He had half a mind to go and ask the Gaffer whothe inquirer was； but he thought better （or worse） of it； and turned andwalked quickly back to Bag End。
Pippin was sitting on his pack in the porch。 Sam was not there。 Frodostepped inside the dark door。 'Sam！' he called。 'Sam！ Time！'
'ing； sir！' came the answer from far within； followed soon by Samhimself； wiping his mouth。 He had been saying farewell to the beer…barrel inthe cellar。
'All aboard； Sam？' said Frodo。
'Yes； sir。 I'll last for a bit now； sir。'
Frodo shut and locked the round door； and gave the key to Sam。 'Run downwith this to your home； Sam！' he said。 'Then cut along the Row and meet us asquick as you can at the gate in the lane beyond the meadows。 We are not goingthrough the village tonight。 Too many ears pricking and eyes prying。' Sam ranoff at full speed。
'Well； now we're off at last！' said Frodo。 They shouldered