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Strider looked at Merry with wonder。 'You have a stout heart；' he said；
'but it was foolish。'
'I don't know；' said Merry。 'Neither brave nor silly； I think。 I couldhardly help myself。 I seemed to be drawn somehow。 Anyway； I went； and suddenlyI heard voices by the hedge。 One was muttering； and the other was whispering；
or hissing。 I couldn't hear a word that was said。 I did not creep any closer；
because I began to tremble all over。 Then I felt terrified； and I turned back；
and was just going to bolt home； when something came behind me and I。。。 I fellover。'
'I found him； sir；' put in Nob。 'Mr。 Butterbur sent me out with alantern。 I went down to West…gate； and then back up towards South…gate。 Justnigh Bill Ferny's house I thought I could see something in the Road。 Icouldn't swear to it； but it looked to me as if two men was stooping oversomething； lilting it。 I gave a shout； but where I got up to the spot therewas no signs of them； and only Mr。 Brandybuck lying by the roadside。 He seemedto be asleep。 〃I thought I had fallen into deep water；〃 he says to me； when Ishook him。 Very queer he was； and as soon as I had roused him； he got up andran back here like a hare。'
'I am afraid that's true；' said Merry； 'though I don't know what I said。
I had an ugly dream； which I can't remember。 I went to pieces。 I don't knowwhat came over me。'
'I do；' said Strider。 'The Black Breath。 The Riders must have left theirhorses outside； and passed back through the South…gate in secret。 They willknow all the news now； for they have visited Bill Ferny； and probably thatSoutherner was a spy as well。 Something may happen in the night； before we
leave Bree。'
'What will happen？' said Merry。 'Will they attack the inn？' 'No； I thinknot；' said Strider。 'They are not all here yet。 And in any case that is nottheir way。 In dark and loneliness they are strongest； they will not openlyattack a house where there are lights and many people …not until they aredesperate； not while all the long leagues of Eriador still lie before us。 Buttheir power is in terror； and already some in Bree are in their clutch。 Theywill drive these wretches to some evil work： Ferny； and some of the strangers；
and； maybe； the gatekeeper too。 They had words with Harry at West…gate onMonday。 I was watching them。 He was white and shaking when they left him。'
'We seem to have enemies all round；' said Frodo。 'What are we to do？'
'Stay here； and do not go to your rooms！ They are sure to have found outwhich those are。 The hobbit…rooms have windows looking north and close to theground。 We will all remain together and bar this window and the door。 Butfirst Nob and I will fetch your luggage。'
While Strider was gone； Frodo gave Merry a rapid account of all that hadhappened since supper。 Merry was still reading and pondering Gandalf's letterwhen Strider and Nob returned。
'Well Masters；' said Nob； 'I've ruffled up the clothes and put in abolster down the middle of each bed。 And I made a nice imitation of your headwith a brown woollen mat； Mr。 Bag – Underhill； sir；' he added with a grin。
Pippin laughed。 'Very life…like！' he said。 'But what will happen whenthey have penetrated the disguise？'
'We shall see；' said Strider。 'Let us hope to hold the fort tillmorning。'
'Good night to you；' said Nob； and went off to take his part in the watchon the doors。
Their bags and gear they piled on the parlour…floor。 They pushed a lowchair against the door and shut the window。 Peering out； Frodo saw that thenight was still clear。 The Sickle was swinging bright above the shoulders ofBree…hill。 He then closed and barred the heavy inside shutters and drew thecurtains together。 Strider built up the fire and blew out all the candles。
The hobbits lay down on their blankets with their feet towards thehearth； but Strider settled himself in the chair against the door。 They talkedfor a little； for Merry still had several questions to ask。
'Jumped over the Moon！' chuckled Merry as he rolled himself in hisblanket。 'Very ridiculous of you； Frodo！ But I wish I had been there to see。
The worthies of Bree will be discussing it a hundred years hence。'
'I hope so；' said Strider。 Then they all fell silent； and one by one thehobbits dropped off to sleep。
_Chapter 11_
A Knife in the Dark
As they prepared for sleep in the inn at Bree； darkness lay on Buckland；
a mist strayed in the dells and along the river…bank。 The house at Crickhollowstood silent。 Fatty Bolger opened the door cautiously and peered out。 Afeeling of fear had been growing on him all day； and he was unable to rest orgo to bed： there was a brooding threat in the breathless night…air。 As hestared out into the gloom； a black shadow moved under the trees； the gateseemed to open of its own accord and close again without a sound。 Terrorseized him。 He shrank back； and for a moment he stood trembling in the hall。
Then he shut and locked the door。
The night deepened。 There came the soft sound of horses led with stealthalong the lane。 Outside the gate they stopped； and three black figuresentered； like shades of night creeping across the ground。 One went to thedoor； one to the corner of the house on either side； and there they stood； asstill as the shadows of stones； while night went slowly on。 The house and thequiet trees seemed to be waiting breathlessly。
There was a faint stir in the leaves； and a cock crowed far away。 Thecold hour before dawn was passing。 The figure by the door moved。 In the darkwithout moon or stars a drawn blade gleamed； as if a chill light had beenunsheathed。 There was a blow； soft but heavy； and the door shuddered。
'Open； in the name of Mordor！' said a voice thin and menacing。
At a second blow the door yielded and fell back； with timbers burst andlock broken。 The black figures passed swiftly in。
At that moment； among the trees nearby； a horn rang out。 It rent thenight like fire on a hill…top。
AWAKE！ FEAR！ FIRE！ FOES！ AWAKE！
Fatty Bolger had not been idle。 As soon as he saw the dark shapes creepfrom the garden； he knew that he must run for it； or perish。 And run he did；
out of the back door； through the garden； and over the fields。 When he reachedthe nearest house； more than a mile away； he collapsed on the doorstep。 'No；
no； no！' he was crying。 'No； not me！ I haven't got it！' It was some timebefore anyone could make out what he was babbling about。 At last they got theidea that enemies were in Buckland； some strange invasion from the Old Forest。
And then they lost no more time。
FEAR！ FIRE！ FOES！
The Brandybucks were blowing the Horn…call of Buckland； that had not beensounded for a hundred years； not since the white wolves came in the FellWinter； when the Brandywine was frozen over。
AWAKE！ AWAKE！
Far…away answering horns were heard。 The alarm was spreading。 The blackfigures fled from the house。 One of them let fall a hobbit…cloak on the step；
as he ran。 In the lane the noise of hoofs broke out； and gathering to agallop； went hammering away into the darkness。 All about Crickhollow there wasthe sound of horns blowing； and voices crying and feet running。 But the BlackRiders rode like a gale to the North…gate。 Let the little people blow！ Sauronwould deal with them later。 Meanwhile they had another errand： they knew nowthat the house was empty and the Ring had gone。 They rode down the guards atthe gate and vanished from the Shire。
In the early night Frodo woke from deep sleep； suddenly； as if some soundor presence had disturbed him。 He saw that Strider was sitting alert in hischair： his eyes gleamed in the light of the fire； which had been tended andwas burning brightly； but he made no sign or movement。
Frodo soon went to sleep again； but his dreams were again troubled withthe noise of wind and of galloping hoofs。 The wind seemed to be curling roundthe house and shaking it； and far off he heard a horn blowing wildly。 Heopened his eyes； and heard a cock crowing lustily in the inn…yard。 Strider haddrawn the curtains and pushed back the shutters with a clang。 The first greylight of day was in the room； and a cold air was ing through the openwindow。
As soon as Strider had roused them all； he led the way to their bedrooms。
When they saw them they were glad that th