the fellowship of the ring-第26部分

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nd　a　copper　full　of　boiling　water。　There　are　also　towels；　matsand　soap。　Get　inside；　and　be　quick！'　　
　
Merry　and　Fatty　went　into　the　kitchen　on　the　other　side　of　the　passage；　
and　busied　themselves　with　the　final　preparations　for　a　late　supper。　Snatchesof　peting　songs　came　from　the　bathroom　mixed　with　the　sound　of　splashingand　wallowing。　The　voice　of　Pippin　was　suddenly　lifted　up　above　the　others　inone　of　Bilbo's　favourite　bath…songs。　　
Sing　hey！　for　the　bath　at　close　of　day　
that　washes　the　weary　mud　away！　
A　loon　is　he　that　will　not　sing：　
O！　Water　Hot　is　a　noble　thing！　　
O！　Sweet　is　the　sound　of　falling　rain；　
and　the　brook　that　leaps　from　hill　to　plain；　
but　better　than　rain　or　rippling　streams　
is　Water　Hot　that　smokes　and　steams。　　
O！　Water　cold　we　may　pour　at　need　
down　a　thirsty　throat　and　be　glad　indeed；　
but　better　is　Beer；　if　drink　we　lack；　
and　Water　Hot　poured　down　the　back。　　
O！　Water　is　fair　that　leaps　on　high　
in　a　fountain　white　beneath　the　sky；　
but　never　did　fountain　sound　so　sweet　　
as　splashing　Hot　Water　with　my　feet！　　
There　was　a　terrific　splash；　and　a　shout　of　_Whoa！_　from　Frodo。　Itappeared　that　a　lot　of　Pippin's　bath　had　imitated　a　fountain　and　leaped　onhigh。　
Merry　went　to　the　door：　'What　about　supper　and　beer　in　the　throat？'　hecalled。　Frodo　came　out　drying　his　hair。　
'There's　so　much　water　in　the　air　that　I'm　ing　into　the　kitchen　tofinish；'　he　said。　
'Lawks！'　said　Merry；　looking　in。　The　stone　floor　was　swimming。　'You　oughtto　mop　all　that　up　before　you　get　anything　to　eat。　Peregrin；'　he　said。　'Hurryup；　or　we　shan't　wait　for　you。'　
They　had　supper　in　the　kitchen　on　a　table　near　the　fire。　'I　suppose　youthree　won't　want　mushrooms　again？'　said　Fredegar　without　much　hope。　
'Yes　we　shall！'　cried　Pippin。　
'They're　mine！'　said　Frodo。　'Given　to　_me_　by　Mrs。　Maggot；　a　queen　amongfarmers'　wives。　Take　your　greedy　hands　away；　and　I'll　serve　them。'　
Hobbits　have　a　passion　for　mushrooms；　surpassing　even　the　greediestlikings　of　Big　People。　A　fact　which　partly　explains　young　Frodo's　longexpeditions　to　the　renowned　fields　of　the　Marish；　and　the　wrath　of　the　injuredMaggot。　On　this　occasion　there　was　plenty　for　all；　even　according　to　hobbitstandards。　There　were　also　many　other　things　to　follow；　and　when　they　hadfinished　even　Fatty　Bolger　heaved　a　sigh　of　content。　They　pushed　back　thetable；　and　drew　chairs　round　the　fire。　
'We'll　clear　up　later；'　said　Merry。　'Now　tell　me　all　about　it！　I　guessthat　you　have　been　having　adventures；　which　was　not　quite　fair　without　me。　Iwant　a　full　account；　and　most　of　all　I　want　to　know　what　was　the　matter　withold　Maggot；　and　why　he　spoke　to　me　like　that。　He　sounded　almost　as　if　he　was_scared；_　if　that　is　possible。'　
'We　have　all　been　scared；'　said　Pippin　after　a　pause；　in　which　Frodostared　at　the　fire　and　did　not　speak。　'You　would　have　been；　too；　if　you　hadbeen　chased　for　two　days　by　Black　Riders。'　
'And　what　are　they？'　
'Black　figures　riding　on　black　horses；'　answered　Pippin。　'If　Frodo　won'ttalk；　I　will　tell　you　the　whole　tale　from　the　beginning。'　He　then　gave　a　full　　
　
account　of　their　journey　from　the　time　when　they　left　Hobbiton。　Sam　gavevarious　supporting　nods　and　exclamations。　Frodo　remained　silent。　
'I　should　think　you　were　making　it　all　up；'　said　Merry；　'if　I　had　notseen　that　black　shape　on　the　landing…stage　–　and　heard　the　queer　sound　inMaggot's　voice。　What　do　you　make　of　it　all；　Frodo？'　
'Cousin　Frodo　has　been　very　close；'　said　Pippin。　'But　the　time　has　efor　him　to　open　out。　So　far　we　have　been　given　nothing　more　to　go　on　thanFarmer　Maggot's　guess　that　it　has　something　to　do　with　old　Bilbo's　treasure。'　
'That　was　only　a　guess；'　said　Frodo　hastily。　'Maggot　does　not_know_anything。'　
'Old　Maggot　is　a　shrewd　fellow；'　said　Merry。　'A　lot　goes　on　behind　hisround　face　that　does　not　e　out　in　his　talk。　I've　heard　that　he　used　to　gointo　the　Old　Forest　at　one　time；　and　he　has　the　reputation　of　knowing　a　goodmany　strange　things。　But　you　can　at　least　tell　us；　Frodo；　whether　you　thinkhis　guess　good　or　bad。'　
'I　_think；'_　answered　Frodo　slowly；　'that　it　was　a　good　guess；　as　far　asit　goes。　There　_is　a_　connexion　with　Bilbo's　old　adventures；　and　the　Ridersare　looking；　or　perhaps　one　ought　to　say　_searching；_　for　him　or　for　me。　Ialso　fear；　if　you　want　to　know；　that　it　is　no　joke　at　all；　and　that　I　am　notsafe　here　or　anywhere　else。'　He　looked　round　at　the　windows　and　walls；　as　ifhe　was　afraid　they　would　suddenly　give　way。　The　others　looked　at　him　insilence；　and　exchanged　meaning　glances　among　themselves。　
'It's　ing　out　in　a　minute；'　whispered　Pippin　to　Merry。　Merry　nodded。　
'Well！'　said　Frodo　at　last；　sitting　up　and　straightening　his　back；　as　ifhe　had　made　a　decision。　'I　can't　keep　it　dark　any　longer。　I　have　got　somethingto　tell　you　all。　But　I　don't　know　quite　how　to　begin。'　
'I　think　I　could　help　you；'　said　Merry　quietly；　'by　telling　you　some　ofit　myself。'　
'What　do　you　mean？'　said　Frodo；　looking　at　him　anxiously。　'Just　this；　mydear　old　Frodo：　you　are　miserable；　because　you　don't　know　how　to　say　good…bye。　
You　meant　to　leave　the　Shire；　of　course。　But　danger　has　e　on　you　soonerthan　you　expected；　and　now　you　are　making　up　your　mind　to　go　at　once。　And　youdon't　want　to。　We　are　very　sorry　for　you。'　
Frodo　opened　his　mouth　and　shut　it　again。　His　look　of　surprise　was　soical　that　they　laughed。　'Dear　old　Frodo！'　said　Pippin。　'Did　you　reallythink　you　had　thrown　dust　in　all　our　eyes？　You　have　not　been　nearly　careful　orclever　enough　for　that！　You　have　obviously　been　planning　to　go　and　sayingfarewell　to　all　your　haunts　all　this　year　since　April。　We　have　constantlyheard　you　muttering：　〃Shall　I　ever　look　down　into　that　valley　again；　Iwonder〃；　and　things　like　that。　And　pretending　that　you　had　e　to　the　end　ofyour　money；　and　actually　selling　your　beloved　Bag　End　to　those　Sackville…　
Bagginses！　And　all　those　close　talks　with　Gandalf。'　
'Good　heavens！'　said　Frodo。　'I　thought　I　had　been　both　careful　andclever。　I　don't　know　what　Gandalf　would　say。　Is　all　the　Shire　discussing　mydeparture　then？'　
'Oh　no！'　said　Merry。　'Don't　worry　about　that！　The　secret　won't　keep　forlong；　of　course；　but　at　present　it　is；　I　think；　only　known　to　us　conspirators。　
After　all；　you　must　remember　that　we　know　you　well；　and　are　often　with　you。　Wecan　usually　guess　what　you　are　thinking。　I　knew　Bilbo；　too。　To　tell　you　thetruth；　I　had　been　watching　you　rather　closely　ever　since　he　left。　I　thoughtyou　would　go　after　him　sooner　or　later；　indeed　I　expected　you　to　go　sooner；　
and　lately　we　have　been　very　anxious。　We　have　been　terrified　that　you　mightgive　us　the　slip；　and　go　off　suddenly；　all　on　your　own　like　he　did。　Ever　sincethis　spring　we　have　kept　our　eyes　open；　and　done　a　good　deal　of　planning　onour　own　account。　You　are　not　going　to　escape　so　easily！'　
'But　I　must　go；'　said　Frodo。　'It　cannot　be　helped；　dear　friends。　It　iswretched　for　us　all；　but　it　is　no　use　your　trying　to　keep　me。　Since　you　haveguessed　so　much；　please　help　me　and　do　not　hinder　me！'　
'You　do　not　understand！'　said　Pippin。　'You　must　go　–　and　therefore　wemust；　too。　Merry　and　I　are　ing　with　you。　Sam　is　an　excellent　fellow；　and　　
　
would　jump　down　a　dragon's　throat　to　save　you；　if　he　did　not　trip　over　his　ownfeet；　but　you　will　need　more　than　one　panion　in　your　dangerous　adventure。'　
'My　dear　and　most　beloved　hobbits！'　said　Frodo　deeply　moved。　'But　I　couldnot　allow　it。　I　decided　that　long　ago；　too。　You　speak　of　danger；　but　you　donot　understand。　This　is　no　treasure…hunt；　no　there…and…back　journey。　I　amflying　from　deadly　peril　into　deadly　peril。'　
'Of　course　we　understand；'　said　Merry　firmly。　'That　is　why　we　havedecided　to　e。　We　know　the　Ring　is　no　laughing…matter；　but　we　are　going　todo　our　best　to　help　you　against　the　Enemy。'　
'The　Ring！'　said　Frodo；　now　pletely　amazed。　
'Yes；　the　Ring；'　said　Merry。　'My　dear　old　hobbit；　you　don't　allow　for　theinquisitiveness　of　friends。　I　have　known　about　the　existence　of　the　Ring　foryears　–　before　Bilbo　went　away；　in　fact；　but　since　he　obviously　regarded　it　assecret；　I　kept　the　knowledge　in　my　head；　until　we　formed　our　conspiracy。　I　didnot　know　Bilbo；　of　course；　as　well　as　I　know　you；　I　was　too　young；　and　he　wasalso　more　careful　–　but　he　was　not　careful　enough。　If　you　want　to　know　how　Ifirst　found　out；　I　will　tell　you。'　
'Go　on！'　said　Frodo　faintly。　
'It　was　the　Sackville…Bagginses　that　were　his　downfall；　as　you　mightexpect。　One　day；　a　year　before　the　Party；　I　happened　to　be　walking　along　theroad；　when　I　saw　Bilbo　ahead。　Suddenly　in　the　distance　the　S。…B。s　appeared；　
ing　towards　us。　Bilbo　slowed　down；　and　then　hey　presto！　he　vanished。　I　wasso　startled　that　I　hardly　had　the　wits　to　hide　myself　in　a　more　ordinaryfashion；　but　I　got　through　the　hedge　and　walked　along　the　field　inside。　I　waspeeping　through　into　the　road；　after　the　S。…B。s　had　passed；　and　was　lookingstraight　at　Bilbo　when　he　suddenly　reappeared。　I　caught　a　glint　of　gold　as　heput　something　back　in　his　trouser…pocket。　
'After　that　I　kept　my　eyes　open。　In　fact；　I　confess　that　I　spied。　But　youmust　admit　that　it　was　very　intriguing；　and　I　was　only　in　my　teens。　I　must　bethe　only　one　in　the　Shire；　besides　you　Frodo；　that　has　ever　seen　the　oldfellow's　secret　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