By the end of the next day the pain and unease had passed； and Frodo was merry again； as merry
as if he did not remember the blackness of the day before。 After that the journey went well； and the
days went quickly by； for they rode at leisure； and often they lingered in the fair woodlands where
the leaves were red and yellow in the autumn sun。 At length they came to Weathertop； and it was
then drawing towards evening and the shadow of the hill lay dark on the road。 Then Frodo begged
them to hasten； and he would not look towards the hill； but rode through its shadow with head
bowed and cloak drawn close about him。 That night the weather changed； and a wind came from
the West laden with rain； and it blew loud and chill； and the yellow leaves whirled like birds in the
air。 When they came to the Chetwood already the boughs were almost bare； and a great curtain of
rain veiled Bree Hill from their sight。
So it was that near the end of a wild and wet evening in the last days of October the five
travellers rode up the climbing road and came to the South…gate of Bree。 It was locked fast； and the
rain blew in their faces； and in the darkening sky low clouds went hurrying by； and their hearts sank
a little； for they had expected more wele。
When they had called many times； at last the Gate…keeper came out； and they saw that he carried
a great cudgel。 He looked at them with fear and suspicion； but when he saw that Gandalf was there；
and that his panions were hobbits； in spite of their strange gear； then he brightened and wished
them wele。
'e in！' he said； unlocking the gate。 'We won't stay for news out here in the cold and the wet；
a ruffianly evening。 But old Barley will no doubt give you a wele at _The Pony_； and there
you'll hear all there is to hear。'
'And there you'll hear later all that we say； and more；' laughed Gandalf。 'How is Harry？'
The Gate…keeper scowled。 'Gone；' he said。 'But you'd best ask Barliman。 Good evening！'
'Good evening to you！' they said； and passed through； and then they noticed that behind the
hedge at the road…side a long low hut had been built； and a number of men had e out and were
staring at them over the fence。 When they came to Bill Ferny's house they saw that the hedge there
was tattered and unkempt； and the windows were all boarded up。
'Do you think you killed him with that apple； Sam？' said Pippin。
'I'm not so hopeful； Mr。 Pippin；' said Sam。 'But I'd like to know what became of that poor pony。
He's been on my mind many a time and the wolves howling and all。'
At last they came to _The Prancing Pony_； and that at least looked outwardly unchanged； and
there were lights behind the red curtains in the lower windows。 They rang the bell； and Nob came
to the door； and opened it a crack and peeped through； and when he saw them standing under the
lamp he gave a cry of surprise。
'Mr。 Butterbur！ Master！' he shouted。 'They've e back！'
'Oh have they？ I'll learn them；' came Butterbur's voice； and out he came with a rush； and he had
a club in his hand。 But when he saw who they were he stopped short； and the black scowl on his
face changed to wonder and delight。
'Nob； you woolly…pated ninny！' he cried。 'Can't you give old friends their names？ You shouldn't
go scaring me like that； with times as they are。 Well； well！ And where have you e from？ I never
expected to see any of you folk again； and that's a fact： going off into the Wild with that Strider；
and all those Black Men about。 But I'm right glad to see you； and none more than Gandalf。 e in！
e in！ The same rooms as – before？ They're free。 Indeed most rooms are empty these days； as
I'll not hide from you； for you'll find it out soon enough。 And I'll see what can be done about supper；
as soon as may be； but I'm short…handed at present。 Hey； Nob you slowcoach！ Tell Bob！ Ah； but
there I'm forgetting； Bob's gone： goes home to his folk at nightfall now。 Well； take the guests'
ponies to the stables； Nob！ And you'll be taking your horse to his stable yourself Gandalf； I don't
doubt。 A fine beast； as I said when I first set eyes on him。 Well； e in！ Make yourselves at
home！'
Mr。 Butterbur had at any rate not changed his manner of talking； and still seemed to live in his
old breathless bustle。 And yet there was hardly anybody about； and all was quiet； from the
mon Room there came a low murmur of no more than two or three voices。 And seen closer in
the light of two candles that he lit and carried before them the landlord's face looked rather
wrinkled and careworn。
He led them down the passage to the parlour that they had used on that strange night more than a
year ago； and they followed him； a little disquieted； for it seemed plain to them that old Barliman
was putting a brave face on some trouble。 Things were not what they had been。 But they said
nothing； and waited。
As they expected Mr。 Butterbur came to the parlour after supper to see if all had been to their
liking。 As indeed it had： no change for the worse had yet e upon the beer or the victuals at _The
Pony_ at any rate。 'Now I won't make so bold as to suggest you should e to the mon Room
tonight；' said Butterbur。 'You'll be tired； and there isn't many folk there this evening； anyway。 But if
you could spare me half an hour before you go to your beds； I would dearly like to have some talk
with you； quiet…like by ourselves。'
'That is just what we should like； too；' said Gandalf。 'We are not tired。 We have been taking
things easy。 We were wet； cold and hungry； but all that you have cured。 e； sit down！ And if
you have any pipe…weed； we'll bless you。'
'Well； if you'd called for anything else； I'd have been happier；' said Butterbur。 'That's just a thing
that we're short of； seeing how we've only got what we grow ourselves； and that's not enough。
There's none to be had from the Shire these days。 But I'll do what I can。'
When he came back he brought them enough to last them for a day or two； a wad of uncut leaf。
'Southlinch；' he said； 'and the best we have； but not the match of Southfarthing； as I've always said
though I'm all for Bree in most matters； begging your pardon。'
They put him in a large chair by the wood…fire； and Gandalf sat on the other side of the hearth；
and the hobbits in low chairs between them； and then they talked for many times half an hour； and
exchanged all such news as Mr。 Butterbur wished to hear or give。 Most of the things which they
had to tell were a mere wonder and bewilderment to their host； and far beyond his vision； and they
brought forth few ments other than： 'You don't say； often repeated in defiance of the evidence
of Mr。 Butterbur's own ears。 'You don't say； Mr。 Baggins； or is it Mr。 Underhill？ I'm getting so
mixed up。 You don't say； Master Gandalf！ Well I never！ Who'd have thought it in our times！'
But he did say much on his own account。 Things were far from well； he would say。 Business
was not even fair； it was downright bad。 'No one es nigh Bree now from Outside；' he said。 'And
the inside folks； they stay at home mostly and keep their doors barred。 It all es of those
newers and gangrels that began ing up the Greenway last year； as you may remember； but
more came later。 Some were just poor bodies running away from trouble； but most were bad men；
full o' thievery and mischief。 And there was trouble right here in Bree； bad trouble。 Why； we had a
real set…to； and there were some folk killed； killed dead！ If you'll believe me。'
'I will indeed；' said Gandalf。 'How many？'
'Three and two；' said Butterbur； referring to the big folk and the little。 'There was poor Mat
Heathertoes； and Rowlie Appledore； and little Tom Pickthorn from over the Hill； and Willie Banks
from up…away； and one of the Underhills from Staddle： all good fellows； and they're missed。 And
Harry Goatleaf that used to be on the West…gate； and that Bill Ferny； they came in on the strangers'
side； and they've gone off with them； and it's my belief they let them in。 On the night of the fight； I
mean。 And that was after we showed them the gates and pushed them out： before the year's end；
that was； and the fight was early in the New Year； after the heavy snow we had。
'And now they're gone for robbers and live outside； hiding in the woods beyond Archet； and out
in the wilds north…away。 It's like a bit of the bad old times tales tell of； I say。 It isn't safe on the road
and nobody goes far； and folk lock up early。 We have to keep watchers all round the fence and put
a lot of men on the gates at nights。'
'Well； no one troubled us；' said Pippin； 'and we came along slowly； and kept no watch。 We
thought we'd left all trouble behind us。'
'Ah； that you haven't； Master； more's the pity；' said Butterbur。 'But it's no wonder they left you
alone。 They wouldn't go for armed folk； with swords and helmets and shields and all。 Make them
think twice； that would。 And I must say it put me aback a bit when I saw you。'
Then the hobbits suddenly realized that people had looked at them with amazement not out of
surprise at their return so much as in wonder at their gear。 They themselves had bee so used to
warfare and to riding in well…arrayed panies that they had quite forgotten that the bright mail
peeping from under their cloaks； and the helms of Gondor and the Mark； and the fair devices on
their shields； would seem outlandish in their own country。 And Gandalf； too； was now riding on his
tall grey horse； all clad in white with a great mantle of blue and silver over all； and the long sword
Glamdring at his side。
Gandalf laughed。 'Well； well；' he said； 'if they are afraid of just five of us； then we have met
worse enemies on our travels。 But at any rate they will give you peace at night while we stay。'
'How long will that be？' said Butterbur。 'I'll not deny we should be glad to have you about for a
bit。 You see； we're not used to such troubles； and the Rangers have all gone away； folk tell me。 I
don't think we've rightly understood till now what they did for us。 For there's been worse than
robbers about。 Wolves were howling round the fences last winter。 And there's dark shapes in the
woods； dreadful things that it makes the blood run cold to think of。 It's been very disturbing； if you
understand me。'
'I expect it has；' said Gandalf。 'Nearly all lands have been disturbed these days； very disturbed。
But cheer up； Barliman！ You have been on the edge of very great troubles； and I am only glad to
hear that you have not been deeper in。 But better times are ing。 Maybe； better than any you
remember。 The Rangers have returned。 We came back with them。 And there is a king again；
Barliman。 He will soon be turning his mind this way。
'Then the Greenway will be opened again； and his messengers will e north； and there will be
ings and goings； and the evil things will be driven out of the waste…lands。 Indeed the waste in
time will be waste no longer； and there will be people and fields where once there was wilderness。'
Mr。 Butterbur shook his head。 'If there's a few decent respectable folk on the roads； that won't do
no harm