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re　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　the　hobbits　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　riverbank。　The　house　at　Crickhollow　stood　silent。　Fatty　Bolger　opened　the　door　cautiously　and　peered　out。　A　feeling　of　fear　had　been　growing　on　him　all　day；　and　he　was　unable　to　rest　or　go　to　bed：　there　was　a　brooding　threat　in　the　breathless　nightair。　As　he　stared　out　into　the　gloom；　a　black　shadow　moved　under　the　trees；　the　gate　seemed　to　open　of　its　own　accord　and　close　again　without　a　sound。　Terror　seized　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　stealth　along　the　lane。　Outside　the　gate　they　stopped；　and　three　black　figures　entered；　like　shades　of　night　creeping　across　the　ground。　One　went　to　the　door；　one　to　the　corner　of　the　house　on　either　side；　and　there　they　stood；　as　still　as　the　shadows　of　stones；　while　night　went　slowly　on。　The　house　and　the　quiet　trees　seemed　to　be　waiting　breathlessly。

There　was　a　faint　stir　in　the　leaves；　and　a　cock　crowed　far　away。　The　cold　hour　before　dawn　was　passing。　The　figure　by　the　door　moved。　In　the　dark　without　moon　or　stars　a　drawn　blade　gleamed；　as　if　a　chill　light　had　been　unsheathed。　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　and　lock　broken。　The　black　figures　passed　swiftly　in。

At　that　moment；　among　the　trees　nearby；　a　horn　rang　out。　It　rent　the　night　like　fire　on　a　hilltop。

　AWAKE！　FEAR！　FIRE！　FOES！　AWAKE！

Fatty　Bolger　had　not　been　idle。　As　soon　as　he　saw　the　dark　shapes　creep　from　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　reached　the　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　time　before　anyone　could　make　out　what　he　was　babbling　about。　At　last　they　got　the　idea　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　Horncall　of　Buckland；　that　had　not　been　sounded　for　a　hundred　years；　not　since　the　white　wolves　came　in　the　Fell　Winter；　when　the　Brandywine　was　frozen　over。

AWAKE！　AWAKE！

Faraway　answering　horns　were　heard。　The　alarm　was　spreading。　The　black　figures　fled　from　the　house。　One　of　them　let　fall　a　hobbitcloak　on　the　step；　as　he　ran。　In　the　lane　the　noise　of　hoofs　broke　out；　and　gathering　to　a　gallop；　went　hammering　away　into　the　darkness。　All　about　Crickhollow　there　was　the　sound　of　horns　blowing；　and　voices　crying　and　feet　running。　But　the　Black　Riders　rode　like　a　gale　to　the　Northgate。　Let　the　little　people　blow！　Sauron　would　deal　with　them　later。　Meanwhile　they　had　another　errand：　they　knew　now　that　the　house　was　empty　and　the　Ring　had　gone。　They　rode　down　the　guards　at　the　gate　and　vanished　from　the　Shire。

In　the　early　night　Frodo　woke　from　deep　sleep；　suddenly；　as　if　some　sound　or　presence　had　disturbed　him。　He　saw　that　Strider　was　sitting　alert　in　his　chair：　his　eyes　gleamed　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　which　had　been　tended　and　was　burning　brightly；　but　he　made　no　sign　or　movement。

Frodo　soon　went　to　sleep　again；　but　his　dreams　were　again　troubled　with　the　noise　of　wind　and　of　galloping　hoofs。　The　wind　seemed　to　be　curling　round　the　house　and　shaking　it；　and　far　off　he　heard　a　horn　blowing　wildly。　He　opened　his　eyes；　and　heard　a　cock　crowing　lustily　in　the　innyard。　Strider　had　drawn　the　curtains　and　pushed　back　the　shutters　with　a　clang。　The　first　grey　light　of　day　was　in　the　room；　and　a　cold　air　was　ing　through　the　open　window。

As　soon　as　Strider　had　roused　them　all；　he　led　the　way　to　their　bedrooms。　When　they　saw　them　they　were　glad　that　they　had　taken　his　advice：　the　windows　had　been　forced　open　and　were　swinging；　and　the　curtains　were　flapping；　the　beds　were　tossed　about；　and　the　bolsters　slashed　and　flung　upon　the　floor；　the　brown　mat　was　torn　to　pieces。

Strider　immediately　went　to　fetch　the　landlord。　Poor　Mr。　Butterbur　looked　sleepy　and　frightened。　He　had　hardly　closed　his　eyes　all　night　（so　he　said）；　but　he　had　never　heard　a　sound。

'Never　has　such　a　thing　happened　in　my　time！'　he　cried；　raising　his　hands　in　horror。　'Guests　unable　to　sleep　in　their　beds；　and　good　bolsters　ruined　and　all！　What　are　we　ing　to？'

'Dark　times；'　said　Strider。　'But　for　the　present　you　may　be　left　in　peace；　when　you　have　got　rid　of　us。　We　will　leave　at　once。　Never　mind　about　breakfast：　a　drink　and　a　bite　standing　will　have　to　do。　We　shall　be　packed　in　a　few　minutes。'

Mr。　Butterbur　hurried　off　to　see　that　their　ponies　were　got　ready；　and　to　fetch　them　a　'bite'。　But　very　soon　he　came　back　in　dismay。　The　ponies　had　vanished！　The　stabledoors　had　all　been　opened　in　the　night；　and　they　were　gone：　not　only　Merry's　ponies；　but　every　other　horse　and　beast　in　the　place。

Frodo　was　crushed　by　the　news。　How　could　they　hope　to　reach　Rivendell　on　foot；　pursued　by　mounted　enemies？　They　might　as　well　set　out　for　the　Moon。　Strider　sat　silent　for　a　while；　looking　at　the　hobbits；　as　if　he　was　weighing　up　their　strength　and　courage。

'Ponies　would　not　help　us　to　escape　horsemen；'　he　said　at　last；　thoughtfully；　as　if　he　guessed　what　Frodo　had　in　mind。　'We　should　not　go　much　slower　on　foot；　not　on　the　roads　that　I　mean　to　take。　I　was　going　to　walk　in　any　case。　It　is　the　food　and　stores　that　trouble　me。　We　cannot　count　on　getting　anything　to　eat　between　here　and　Rivendell；　except　what　we　take　with　us；　and　we　ought　to　take　plenty　to　spare；　for　we　may　be　delayed；　or　forced　to　go　roundabout；　far　out　of　the　direct　way。　How　much　are　you　prepared　to　carry　on　your　backs？'

'As　much　as　we　must；'　said　Pippin　with　a　sinking　heart；　but　trying　to　show　that　he　was　tougher　than　he　looked　（or　felt）。

'I　can　carry　enough　for　two；'　said　Sam　defiantly。

'Can't　anything　be　done；　Mr。　Butterbur？'　asked　Frodo。　'Can't　we　get　a　couple　of　ponies　in　the　village；　or　even　one　just　for　the　baggage？　I　don't　suppose　we　could　hire　them；　but　we　might　be　able　to　buy　them；'　he　added；　doubtfully；　wondering　if　he　could　afford　it。

'I　doubt　it；'　said　the　landlord　unhappily。　'The　two　or　three　riding　ponies　that　there　were　in　Bree　were　stabled　in　my　yard；　and　they're　gone。　As　for　other　animals；　horses　or　ponies　for　draught　or　what　not；　there　are　very　few　of　them　in　Bree；　and　they　won't　be　for　sale。　But　I'll　do　what　I　can。　I'll　rout　out　Bob　and　send　him　round　as　soon　as　may　be。'

'Yes；'　said　Strider　reluctantly；　'you　had　better　do　that。　I　am　afraid　we　shall　have　to　try　to　get　one　pony　at　least。　But　so　ends　all　hope　of　starting　early；　and　slipping　aight　as　well　have　blown　a　horn　to　announce　our　departure。　That　was　part　of　their　plan；　no　doubt。'

'There　is　one　crumb　of　fort；'　said　Merry；　'and　more　than　a　crumb；　I　hope：　we　can　have　breakfast　while　we　wait　。　and　sit　down　to　it。　Let's　get　hold　of　Nob！'

In　the　end　there　was　more　than　three　hours'　delay。　Bob　came　back　with　the　report　that　no　horse　or　pony　was　to　be　got　for　love　or　money　in　the　neighbourhood　。　except　one：　Bill　Ferny　had　one　that　he　might　possibly　sell。　'A　poor　old　halfstarved　creature　it　is；'　said　Bob；　'but　he　won't　part　with　it　for　less　than　thrice　its　worth；　seeing　how　you're　placed；　not　if　I　knows　Bill　Ferny。'

'Bill　Ferny？'　said　Frodo。　'Isn't　there　some　trick？　Wouldn't　the　beast　bolt　back　to　him　with　all　our　stuff；　or　help　in　tracking　us；　or　something？'

'I　wonder；'　said　Strider。　'But　I　cannot　imagine　any　animal　running　home　to　him；　once　it　got　away。　I　fancy　this　is　only　an　afterthought　of　kind　Master　Ferny's：　just　a　way　of　increasing　his　profits　from　the　affair。　The　chief　danger　is　that　the　poor　beast　is　probably　at　death's　door。　But　there　does　not　seem　any　choice。　What　does　he　want　for　it？'

Bill　Ferny's　price　was　tw