The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)- 第20部分

'I　don't　deny　it；'　said　Frodo；　looking　at　Sam；　who　was　now　grinning。　'I　don't　deny　it；　but　I'll　never　believe　you　are　sleeping　again；　whether　you　snore　or　not。　I　shall　kick　you　hard　to　make　sure。

'You　are　a　set　of　deceitful　scoundrels！'　he　said；　turning　to　the　others。　'But　bless　you！'　he　laughed；　getting　up　and　waving　his　arms；　'I　give　in。　I　will　take　Gildor's　advice。　If　the　danger　were　not　so　dark；　I　should　dance　for　joy。　Even　so；　I　cannot　help　feeling　happy；　happier　than　I　have　felt　for　a　long　time。　I　had　dreaded　this　evening。'

'Good！　That's　settled。　Three　cheers　for　Captain　Frodo　and　pany！'　they　shouted；　and　they　danced　round　him。　Merry　and　Pippin　began　a　song；　which　they　had　apparently　got　ready　for　the　occasion。

It　was　made　on　the　model　of　the　dwarfsong　that　started　Bilbo　on　his　adventure　long　ago；　and　went　to　the　same　tune：

Farewell　we　call　to　hearth　and　hall！
Though　wind　may　blow　and　rain　may　fall；
We　must　away　ere　break　of　day
Far　over　wood　and　mountain　tall。

To　Rivendell；　where　Elves　yet　dwell
In　glades　beneath　the　misty　fell；
Through　moor　and　waste　we　ride　in　haste；
And　whither　then　we　cannot　tell。

With　foes　ahead；　behind　us　dread；
Beneath　the　sky　shall　be　our　bed；
Until　at　last　our　toil　be　passed；
Our　journey　done；　our　errand　sped。

We　must　away！　We　must　away！
We　ride　before　the　break　of　day！

'Very　good！'　said　Frodo。　'But　in　that　case　there　are　a　lot　of　things　to　do　before　we　go　to　bed　。　under　a　roof；　for　tonight　at　any　rate。'

'Oh！　That　was　poetry！'　said　Pippin。　'Do　you　really　mean　to　start　before　the　break　of　day？'

'I　don't　know；'　answered　Frodo。　'I　fear　those　Black　Riders；　and　I　am　sure　it　is　unsafe　to　stay　in　one　place　long；　especially　in　a　place　to　which　it　is　known　I　was　going。　Also　Gildor　advised　me　not　to　wait。　But　I　should　very　much　like　to　see　Gandalf。　I　could　see　that　even　Gildor　was　disturbed　when　he　heard　that　Gandalf　had　never　appeared。　It　really　depends　on　two　things。　How　soon　could　the　Riders　get　to　Bucklebury？　And　how　soon　could　we　get　off？　It　will　take　a　good　deal　of　preparation。'

'The　anserry；　'is　that　we　could　get　off　in　an　hour。　I　have　prepared　practically　everything。　There　are　six　ponies　in　a　stable　across　the　fields；　stores　and　tackle　are　all　packed；　except　for　a　few　extra　clothes；　and　the　perishable　food。'

'It　seems　to　have　been　a　very　efficient　conspiracy；'　said　Frodo。　'But　what　about　the　Black　Riders？　Would　it　be　safe　to　wait　one　day　for　Gandalf？'

'That　all　depends　on　what　you　think　the　Riders　would　do；　if　they　found　you　here；'　answered　Merry。　'They　could　have　reached　here　by　now；　of　course；　if　they　were　not　stopped　at　the　Northgate；　where　the　Hedge　runs　down　to　the　riverbank；　just　this　side　of　the　Bridge。　The　gateguards　would　not　let　them　through　by　night；　though　they　might　break　through。　Even　in　the　daylight　they　would　try　to　keep　them　out；　I　think；　at　any　rate　until　they　got　a　message　through　to　the　Master　of　the　Hall　。　for　they　would　not　like　the　look　of　the　Riders；　and　would　certainly　be　frightened　by　them。　But；　of　course；　Buckland　cannot　resist　a　determined　attack　for　long。　And　it　is　possible　that　in　the　morning　even　a　Black　Rider　that　rode　up　and　asked　for　Mr。　Baggins　would　be　let　through。　It　is　pretty　generally　known　that　you　are　ing　back　to　live　at　Crickhollow。'

Frodo　sat　for　a　while　in　thought。　'I　have　made　up　my　mind；'　he　said　finally。　'I　am　starting　tomorrow；　as　soon　as　it　is　light。　But　I　am　not　going　by　road：　it　would　be　safer　to　wait　here　than　that。　If　I　go　through　the　North　gate　my　departure　from　Buckland　will　be　known　at　once；　instead　of　being　secret　for　several　days　at　least；　as　it　might　be。　And　what　is　more；　the　Bridge　and　the　East　Road　near　the　borders　will　certainly　be　watched；　whether　any　Rider　gets　into　Buckland　or　not。　We　don't　know　how　many　there　are；　but　there　are　at　least　two；　and　possibly　more。　The　only　thing　to　do　is　to　go　off　in　a　quite　unexpected　direction。'

'But　that　can　only　mean　going　into　the　Old　Forest！'　said　Fredegar　horrified。　'You　can't　be　thinking　of　doing　that。　It　is　quite　as　dangerous　as　Black　Riders。'

'Not　quite；'　said　Merry。　It　sounds　very　desperate；　but　I　believe　Frodo　is　right。　It　is　the　only　way　of　getting　off　without　being　followed　at　once。　With　luck　we　might　gel　a　considerable　start。'

'But　you　won't　have　any　luck　in　the　Old　Forest；'　objected　Fredegar。　'No　one　ever　has　luck　in　there。　You'll　gel　lost。　People　don't　go　in　there。'

'Oh　yes　they　do！'　said　Merry。　'The　Brandybucks　go　in　。　occasionally　when　the　fit　takes　them。　We　have　a　private　entrance。　Frodo　went　in　once；　long　ago。　I　have　been　in　several　times：　usually　in　daylight；　of　course；　when　the　trees　are　sleepy　and　fairly　quiet。'

'Well；　do　as　you　think　best！'　said　Fredegar。　'I　am　more　afraid　of　the　Old　Forest　than　of　anything　I　know　about：　the　stories　about　it　are　a　nightmare；　but　my　vote　hardly　counts；　as　I　am　not　going　on　the　journey。　Still；　I　am　very　glad　someone　is　stopping　behind；　who　can　tell　Gandalf　what　you　have　done；　when　he　turns　up；　as　I　am　sure　he　will　before　long。'

Fond　as　he　was　of　Frodo；　Fatty　Bolger　had　no　desire　to　leave　the　Shire；　nor　to　see　what　lay　outside　it。　His　family　came　from　the　Eastfarthing；　from　Budgeford　in　Bridgefields　in　fact；　but　he　had　never　been　over　the　Brandywine　Bridge。　His　task；　according　to　the　original　plans　of　the　conspirators；　was　to　stay　behind　and　deal　with　inquisitive　folk；　and　to　keep　up　as　long　as　possible　the　pretence　that　Mr。　Baggins　was　still　living　at　Crickhollow。　He　had　even　brought　along　some　old　clothes　of　Frodo's　to　help　him　in　playing　the　part。　They　little　thought　how　dangerous　that　part　might　prove。

'Excellent！'　said　Frodo；　when　he　understood　the　plan。　'We　could　not　have　left　any　message　behind　for　Gandalf　otherwise。　I　don't　know　whether　these　Riders　can　read　or　not；　of　course；　but　I　should　not　have　dared　to　risk　a　written　message；　in　case　they　got　in　and　searched　the　house。　But　if　Fatty　is　willing　to　hold　the　fort；　and　I　can　be　sure　of　Gandalf　knowing　the　way　we　have　gone；　that　decides　me。　I　am　going　into　the　Old　Forest　first　thing　tomorrow。'

'Well；　that's　that；'　said　Pippin。　'On　the　whole　I　would　rather　have　our　job　than　Fatty's　。　waiting　here　till　Black　Riders　e。'

'You　wait　till　you　are　well　inside　the　Forest；'　said　Fredegar。　'You'll　wish　you　were　back　here　with　me　before　this　time　tomorrow。'

'It's　no　good　arguing　about　it　any　more；'　said　Merry。　'We　have　still　got　to　tidy　up　and　put　the　finishing　touches　to　the　packing；　before　we　get　to　bed。　I　shall　call　you　all　before　the　break　of　day。'

When　at　last　he　had　got　to　bed；　Frodo　could　not　sleep　for　some　time。　His　legs　ached。　He。　was　glad　that　he　was　riding　in　the　morning。　Eventually　he　fell　into　a　vague　dream；　in　which　he　seemed　to　be　looking　out　of　a　high　window　over　a　dark　sea　of　tangled　trees。　Down　below　among　the　roots　there　was　the　sound　of　creatures　crawling　and　snuffling。　He　felt　sure　they　would　smell　him　out　sooner　or　later。

Then　he　heard　a　noise　in　the　distance。　At　first　he　thought　it　was　a　great　wind　ing　over　the　leaves　of　the　forest。　Then　he　knew　that　it　was　not　leaves；　but　the　sound　of　the　Sea　faroff；　a　sound　he　had　never　heard　in　waking　life；　though　it　had　often　troubled　his　dreams。　Suddenly　he　found　he　was　out　in　the　open。　There　were　no　trees　after　all。　He　was　on　a　dark　heath；　and　there　was　a　strange　salt　smell　in　the　air。　Looking　up　he　saw　before　him　a　tall　white　tower；　standing　alone　on　a　high　ridge。　A　great　desire　came　over　him　to　climb　the　tower　and　see　the　Sea。　He　started　to　struggle　up　the　ridge　towards　the　tower：　but　suddenly　a　light　came　in　the　sky；　and　there　was　a　noise　of　thunder。
　
Chapter　06
The　Old　Forest
　

Frodo　woke　suddenly。　It　was　still　dark　in　the　room。　Merry　was　standing　there　with　a　candle　in　one　hand；　and　banging　on　the　door　with　the　other。　'All　right！　What　is　it？'　said　Frodo；　still　shaken　and　bewildered。

'What　is　it！'　cried　Merry。　'It　is　time　to　get　up。　It　is　half　past　four　and　very　foggy。　e　on！　Sam　is　already　getting　breakfast　ready。　Even　Pippin　is　up。　I　am　just　going　to　saddle　the　ponies；　and　fetch　the　one　that　is　to　be　the　baggagecarrier。　Wake　that　sluggard　Fatty！　At　least　he　must　get　up　and　see　us　off。'

Soon　after　six　o'clock　the　five　hobbits　were　ready　to　start。　Fatty　Bolger　was　still　yawning。　They　stole　quietly　out　of　the　house。　Merry　went　in　front　leading　a　laden　pony；　and　took　his　way　along　a　path　that　went　through　a　spinney　behind　the　house；　and　then　cut　across　several　fields。　The　leaves　of　trees　were　glistening；　and　every　twig　was　dripping；　the　grass　was　grey　with　cold　dew。　Everything　was　still；　and　faraway　noises　seemed　near　and　clear：　fowls　chattering　in　a　yard；　someone　closing　a　door　of　a　distant　house。

In　their　shed　they　found　the　ponies；　sturdy　little　beasts　of　the　kind　loved　by　hobbits；　not　speedy；　but　good　for　a　long　day's　work。　They　mounted；　and　soon　they　were　riding　off　into　the　mist；　which　seemed　to　open　reluctantly　before　them　and　close　forbiddingly　behind　them。　After　riding　for　about　an　hour；　slowly　and　without　talking；　they　saw　the　Hedge　looming　suddenly　ahead。　It　was　tall　and　ted　over　with　silver　cobwebs。　'How　are　you　going　to　get　through　this？'　asked　Fredegar。　'Follow　me！'　said　Merry；　'and　you　will　see。'　He　turned　to　the　left　along　the　Hedge；　and　soon　they　came　to　a　point　where　it　bent　inwards；　running　along　the　lip　of　a　hollow。　A　cutting　had　been　made；　at　some　distance　from　the　Hedge；　and　went　sloping　gently　down　into　the　ground。　It　had　walls　of　brick　at　the　sides；　which　rose　steadily；　until　suddenly　they　arched　over　and　formed　a　tunnel　that　dived　deep　under　the　Hedge　and　came　out　in　the　hollow　on　the　other　side。

Here　Fatty　Bolger　halted。　'Goodbye；　Frodo！'　he　said。　'I　wish　you　were　not　going　into　the　Forest。　I　only　hope　you　will　not　need　rescuing　before　the　day　is　out。　But　good　luck　to　you　。　today　and　every　day！'

'If　there　are　no　worse　things　ahead　than　the　Old　Forest；　I　shall　be　lucky；'　said　Frodo。　'Tell　Gandalf　to　hurry　along　the　East　Road：　we　shall　soon　be　back　on　it　and　going　as　fast　as　we　can。'　'Goodbye！'　they　cried；　and　rode　down　the　slope　and　disappeared　from　Fredegar's　sight　into　the　tunnel。

It　was　dark　and　damp。　At　the　far　end　it　was　closed　by　a　gate　of　thickset　iron　bars。　Merry　got　down　and　unlocked　the　gate；　and　when　they　had　all　passed　through　he　pushed　it　to　again。　It　shut　with　a　clang；　and　the　lock　clicked。　The　sound　was　ominous。

'There！'　said　Merry。　'You　have　left　the　Shire；　and　are　now　outside；　and　on　the　edge　of　the　Old　Forest。'

'Are　the　stories　about　it　true？'　asked　Pippin。

'I　don't　know　what　stories　you　mean；'　Merry　answered。　'If　you　mean　the　old　bogeystories　Fatty's　nurses　used　to　tell　him；　about　goblins　and　wolves　and　things　of　that　sort；　I　should　say　no。　At　any　rate　I　don't　believe　them。　But　the　Forest　is　queer。　Everything　in　it　is　very　much　more　alive；　more　aware　of　what　is　going　on；　so　to　speak；　than　things　are　in　the　Shire。　And　the　trees　do　not　like　strangers。　They　watch　you。　They　are　usually　content　merely　to　watch　you；　as　long　as　daylight　lasts；　and　don't　do　much。　Occasionally　the　most　unfriendly　ones　may　drop　a　branch；　or　stick　a　root　out；　or　grasp　at　you　with　a　long　trailer。　But　at　night　things　can　be　most　alarming；　or　so　I　am　told。　I　have　only　once　or　twice　been　in　here　after　dark；　and　then　only　ne