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answerable。'
'We shall break a good many things yet； and not ask you to answer ' said Pippin。 'Good luck to
you！'
The travellers trotted on； and as the sun began to sink towards the White Downs far away on the
western horizon they came to Bywater by its wide pool； and there they had their first really painful
shock。 This was Frodo and Sam's own country； and they found out now that they cared about it
more than any other place in the world。 Many of the houses that they had known were missing。
Some seemed to have been burned down。 The pleasant row of old hobbit…holes in the bank on the
north side of the Pool were deserted； and their little gardens that used to run down bright to the
water's edge were rank with weeds。 Worse； there was a whole line of the ugly new houses all along
Pool Side； where the Hobbiton Road ran close to the bank。 An avenue of trees had stood there。
They were all gone。 And looking with dismay up the road towards Bag End they saw a tall chimney
of brick in the distance。 It was pouring out black smoke into the evening air。
Sam was beside himself。 'I'm going right on； Mr。 Frodo！' he cried。 'I'm going to see what's up。 I
want to find my gaffer。'
'We ought to find out first what we're in for； Sam；' said Merry。 'I guess that the 〃Chief〃 will have
a gang of ruffians handy。 We had better find someone who will tell us how things are round here。'
But in the village of Bywater all the houses and holes were shut； and no one greeted them。 They
wondered at this； but they soon discovered the reason of it。 When they reached _The Green
Dragon_； the last house on the Hobbiton side； now lifeless and with broken windows； they were
disturbed to see half a dozen large ill…favoured Men lounging against the inn…wall； they were
squint…eyed and sallow…faced。
'Like that friend of Bill Ferny's at Bree；' said Sam。
'Like many that I saw at Isengard；' muttered Merry。
The ruffians had clubs in their hands and horns by their belts； but they had no other weapons； as
far as could be seen。 As the travellers rode up they left the wall and walked into the road； blocking
the way。
'Where d'you think you're going？' said one； the largest and most evil…looking of the crew。
'There's no road for you any further。 And where are those precious Shirriffs？'
'ing along nicely；' said Merry。 'A little footsore； perhaps。 We promised to wait for them
here。'
'Garn； what did I say？' said the ruffian to his mates。 'I told Sharkey it was no good trusting those
little fools。 Some of our chaps ought to have been sent。'
'And what difference would that have made； pray？' said Merry。 'We are not used to footpads in
this country； but we know how to deal with them。'
'Footpads； eh？' said the man： 'So that's your tone； is it？ Change it； or we'll change it for you。 You
little folk are getting too uppish。 Don't you trust too much in the Boss's kind heart。 Sharkey's e
now and he'll do what Sharkey says。'
'And what may that be？' said Frodo quietly。
'This country wants waking up and setting to rights；' said the ruffian； 'and Sharkey's going to do
it； and make it hard； if you drive him to it。 You need a bigger Boss。 And you'll get one before the
year is out； if there's any more trouble。 Then you'll learn a thing or two； you little rat…folk。'
'Indeed。 I am glad to hear of your plans；' said Frodo。 'I am on my way to call on Mr。 Lotho； and
he may be interested to hear of them too。'
The ruffian laughed。 'Lotho！ He knows all right。 Don't you worry。 He'll do what Sharkey says。
Because if a Boss gives trouble； we can change him。 See？ And if little folks try to push in where
they're not wanted； we can put them out of mischief。 See？'
'Yes； I see；' said Frodo。 'For one thing； I see that you're behind the times and the news here。
Much has happened since you left the South。 Your day is over； and all other ruffians'。 The Dark
Tower has fallen； and there is a King in Gondor。 And Isengard has been destroyed； and your
precious master is a beggar in the wilderness。 I passed him on the road。 The King's messengers will
ride up the Greenway now not bullies from Isengard。'
The man stared at him and smiled。 'A beggar in the wilderness！' he mocked。 'Oh； is he indeed？
Swagger it； swagger it； my little cock…a…whoop。 But that won't stop us living in this fat little country
where you have lazed long enough。 And' – he snapped his fingers in Frodo's face – 'King's
messengers！ That for them！ When I see one； I'll take notice； perhaps。'
This was too much for Pippin。 His thoughts went back to the Field of Cormallen； and here was a
squint…eyed rascal calling the Ring…bearer 'little cock…a…whoop'。 He cast back his cloak； flashed out
his sword； and the silver and sable of Gondor gleamed on him as he rode forward。
'I am a messenger of the King；' he said。 'You are speaking to the King's friend； and one of the
most renowned in all the lands of the West。 You are a ruffian and a fool。 Down on your knees in
the road and ask pardon； or I will set this troll's bane in you！'
The sword glinted in the westering sun。 Merry and Sam drew their swords also and rode up to
support Pippin； but Frodo did not move。 The ruffians gave back。 Scaring Breeland peasants； and
bullying bewildered hobbits； had been their work。 Fearless hobbits with bright swords and grim
faces were a great surprise。 And there was a note in the voices of these newers that they had not
heard before。 It chilled them with fear。
'Go！' said Merry。 'If you trouble this village again； you will regret it。' The three hobbits came on；
and then the ruffians turned and fled running away up the Hobbiton Road； but they blew their horns
as they ran。
'Well； we've e back none too soon；' said Merry。
'Not a day too soon。 Perhaps too late； at any rate to save Lotho；' said Frodo。 'Miserable fool； but
I am sorry for him。'
'Save Lotho？ Whatever do you mean？' said Pippin。 'Destroy him I should say。'
'I don't think you quite understand things； Pippin；' said Frodo。 'Lotho never meant things to
e to this pass。 He has been a wicked fool； but he's caught now。 The ruffians are on top；
gathering； robbing and bullying； and running or ruining things as they like； in his name。 And not in
his name even for much longer。 He's a prisoner in Bag End now； I expect； and very frightened。 We
ought to try and rescue him。'
'Well I am staggered！' said Pippin。 'Of all the ends to our journey that is the very last I should
have thought of： to have to fight half…orcs and ruffians in the Shire itself – to rescue Lotho Pimple！'
'Fight？' said Frodo。 'Well； I suppose it may e to that。 But remember： there is to be no slaying
of hobbits； not even if they have gone over to the other side。 Really gone over； I mean； not just
obeying ruffians' orders because they are frightened。 No hobbit has ever killed another on purpose
in the Shire； and it is not to begin now。 And nobody is to be killed at all； if it can be helped。 Keep
your tempers and hold your hands to the last possible moment！'
'But if there are many of these ruffians；' said