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cret book。'
'You have read his book！' cried Frodo。 'Good heavens above！ Is nothingsafe？'
'Not too safe； I should say；' said Merry。 'But I have only had one rapidglance； and that was difficult to get。 He never left the book about。 I wonderwhat became of it。 I should like another look。 Have you got it； Frodo？'
'No。 It was not at Bag End。 He must have taken it away。'
'Well； as I was saying；' Merry proceeded； 'I kept my knowledge to myself；
till this Spring when things got serious。 Then we formed our conspiracy； andas we were serious； too； and meant business； we have not been too scrupulous。
You are not a very easy nut to crack； and Gandalf is worse。 But if you want tobe introduced to our chief investigator； I can produce him。'
'Where is he？' said Frodo； looking round； as if he expected a masked andsinister figure to e out of a cupboard。
'Step forward； Sam！' said Merry； and Sam stood up with a face scarlet upto the ears。 'Here's our collector of information！ And he collected a lot； Ican tell you； before he was finally caught。 After which； I may say； he seemedto regard himself as on parole； and dried up。'
'Sam！' cried Frodo； feeling that amazement could go no further； and quiteunable to decide whether he felt angry； amused； relieved； or merely foolish。
'Yes； sir！' said Sam。 'Begging your pardon； sir！ But I meant no wrong toyou； Mr。 Frodo； nor to Mr。 Gandalf for that matter。 _He_ has some sense； mindyou； and when you said _go alone；_ he said _no！ lake someone as you cantrust。'_
'But it does not seem that I can trust anyone；' said Frodo。 Sam looked athim unhappily。 'It all depends on what you want；' put in Merry。 'You can trustus to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end。 And you cantrust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself。 Butyou cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone； and go off without a word。
We are your friends； Frodo。 Anyway： there it is。 We know most of what Gandalf
has told you。 We know a good deal about the Ring。 We are horribly afraid – butwe are ing with you； or following you like hounds。'
'And after all； sir；' added Sam； 'you did ought to take the Elves'advice。 Gildor said you should take them as was willing； and you can't denyit。'
'I don't deny it；' said Frodo； looking at Sam； who was now grinning。 'Idon't deny it； but I'll never believe you are sleeping again； whether yousnore 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。 Iwill take Gildor's advice。 If the danger were not so dark； I should dance forjoy。 Even so； I cannot help feeling happy； happier than I have felt for a longtime。 I had dreaded this evening。'
'Good！ That's settled。 Three cheers for Captain Frodo and pany！' theyshouted； and they danced round him。 Merry and Pippin began a song； which theyhad apparently got ready for the occasion。
It was made on the model of the dwarf…song that started Bilbo on hisadventure 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 todo 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 beforethe break of day？'
'I don't know；' answered Frodo。 'I fear those Black Riders； and I am sureit is unsafe to stay in one place long； especially in a place to which it isknown I was going。 Also Gildor advised me not to wait。 But I should very muchlike 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 sooncould the Riders get to Bucklebury？ And how soon could we get off？ It willtake a good deal of preparation。'
'The answer to the second question；' said Merry； 'is that we could getoff in an hour。 I have prepared practically everything。 There are six poniesin a stable across the fields； stores and tackle are all packed； except for afew extra clothes； and the perishable food。'
'It seems to have been a very efficient conspiracy；' said Frodo。 'Butwhat 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 foundyou here；' answered Merry。 'They _could_ have reached here by now； of course；
if they were not stopped at the North…gate； where the Hedge runs down to theriver…bank； just this side of the Bridge。 The gate…guards would not let themthrough 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 messagethrough to the Master of the Hall – for they would not like the look of theRiders； and would certainly be frightened by them。 But； of course； Bucklandcannot resist a determined attack for long。 And it is possible that in themorning even a Black Rider that rode up and asked for Mr。 Baggins would be letthrough。 It is pretty generally known that you are ing back to live atCrickhollow。'
Frodo sat for a while in thought。 'I have made up my mind；' he saidfinally。 'I am starting tomorrow； as soon as it is light。 But I am not goingby 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 secretfor several days at least； as it might be。 And what is more； the Bridge andthe East Road near the borders will certainly be watched； whether any Ridergets into Buckland or not。 We don't know how many there are； but there are atleast two； and possibly more。 The only thing to do is to go off in a quiteunexpected direction。'
'But that can only mean going into the Old Forest！' said Fredegarhorrified。 'You can't be thinking of doing that。 It is quite as dangerous asBlack Riders。'
'Not quite；' said Merry。 It sounds very desperate； but I believe Frodo isright。 It is the only way of getting off without being followed at once。 Withluck we might gel a considerable start。'
'But you won't have any luck in the Old Forest；' objected Fredegar。 'Noone 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 whenthe 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 treesare sleepy and fairly quiet。'
'Well； do as you think best！' said Fredegar。 'I am more afraid of the OldForest 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 veryglad someone is stopping behind； who