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the night。 Then he and Frodo went off with Farmer Cotton。 They sat with the family in the warm
kitchen； and the Cottons asked a few polite questions about their travels； but hardly listened to the
answers： they were far more concerned with events in the Shire。
'It all began with Pimple； as we call him；' said Farmer Cotton； 'and it began as soon as you'd
gone off； Mr。 Frodo。 He'd funny ideas had Pimple。 Seems he wanted to own everything himself；
and then order other folk about。 It soon came out that he already did own a sight more than was
good for him； and he was always grabbing more； though where he got the money was a mystery：
mills and malt…houses and inns； and farms； and leaf…plantations。 He'd already bought Sandyman's
mill before he came to Bag End； seemingly。
'Of course he started with a lot of property in the Southfarthing which he had from his dad； and
it seems he'd been selling a lot o' the best leaf； and sending it away quietly for a year or two。 But at
the end o' last year he began sending away loads of stuff； not only leaf。 Things began to get short；
and winter ing on； too。 Folk got angry； but he had his answer。 A lot of Men； ruffians mostly；
came with great waggons； some to carry off the goods south…away； and others to stay。 And more
came。 And before we knew where we were they were planted here and there all over the Shire； and
were felling trees and digging and building themselves sheds and houses just as they liked。 At first
goods and damage was paid for by Pimple； but soon they began lording it around and taking what
they wanted。
'Then there was a bit of trouble； but not enough。 Old Will the Mayor set off for Bag End to
protest； but he never got there。 Ruffians laid hands on him and took and locked him up in a hole in
Michel Delving； and there he is now。 And after that； it would bc soon after New Year； there wasn't
no more Mayor； and Pimple called himself Chief Shirriff； or just Chief； and did as he liked； and if
anyone got 〃uppish〃 as they called it； they followed Will。 So things went from bad to worse。 There
wasn't no smoke left； save for the Men； and the Chief didn't hold with beer； save for his Men； and
closed all the inns； and everything except Rules got shorter and shorter； unless one could hide a bit
of one's own when the ruffians went round gathering stuff up 〃for fair distribution〃： which meant
they got it and we didn't； except for the leavings which you could have at the Shirriff…houses； if you
could stomach them。 All very bad。 But since Sharkey came it's been plain ruination。'
'Who is this Sharkey？' said Merry。 'I heard one of the ruffians speak of him。'
'The biggest ruffian o' the lot； seemingly；' answered Cotton。 'It was about last harvest； end o'
September maybe； that we first heard of him。 We've never seen him； but he's up at Bag End； and
he's the real Chief now； I guess。 All the ruffians do what he says； and what he says is mostly hack；
burn； and ruin； and now it s e to killing。 There s no longer even any bad sense in it。 They cut
down trees and let 'em lie； they burn houses and build no more。
'Take Sandyman's mill now。 Pimple knocked it down almost as soon as he came to Bag End。
Then he brought in a lot o' dirty…looking Men to build a bigger one and fill it full o' wheels and
outlandish contraptions。 Only that fool Ted was pleased by that； and he works there cleaning
wheels for the Men； where his dad was the Miller and his own master。 Pimple's idea was to grind
more and faster； or so he said。 He's got other mills like it。 But you've got to have grist before you
can grind； and there was no more for the new mill to do than for the old。 But since Sharkey came
they don't grind no more corn at all。 They're always a…hammering and a…letting out a smoke and a
stench； and there isn't no peace even at night in Hobbiton。 And they pour out filth a purpose；
they've fouled all the lower Water and it's getting down into Brandywine。 If they want to make the
Shire into a desert； they're going the right way about it。 I don't believe that fool of a Pimple's behind
all this。 It's Sharkey； I say。'
'That's right！' put in Young Tom。 'Why； they even took Pimple's old ma； that Lobelia； and he
was fond of her； if no one else was。 Some of the Hobbiton folk； they saw it。 She es down the
lane with her old umbrella。 Some of the ruffians were going up with a big cart。
' 〃Where be you a…going？〃 says she。
' 〃To Bag End；〃 says they。
' 〃What for？〃 says she。
' 〃To put up some sheds for Sharkey；〃 says they。
' 〃Who said you could？〃 says she。
' 〃Sharkey；〃 says they。 〃So get out o' the road； old hagling！〃
' 〃I'll give you Sharkey； you dirty thieving ruffians！〃 says she； and ups with her umbrella and
goes for the leader。 near twice her size。 So they took her。 Dragged her off to the Lockholes； at her
age too。 They've took others we miss more； but there's no denying she showed more spirit than
most。'
Into the middle of this talk came Sam； bursting in with his gaffer。 Old Gamgee did not look
much older； but he was a little deafer。
'Good evening。 Mr。 Baggins！' he said。 'Glad indeed I am to see you safe back。 But I've a bone to
pick with you； in a manner o' speaking； if I may make so bold。 You didn't never ought to have a'
sold Bag End； as I always said。 That's what started all the mischief。 And while you're been
trapessing in foreign parts； chasing Black Men up mountains from what my Sam says； though what
for he don't make clear； they've been and dug up Bagshot Row and ruined my taters！'
'I am very sorry； Mr。 Gamgee；' said Frodo。 'But now I've e back； I'll do my best to make
amends。'
'Well； you can't say fairer than that；' said the gaffer。 'Mr。 _Frodo_ Baggins is a real gentlehobbit；
I always have said； whatever you may think of some others of the name； begging your pardon。 And
I hope my Sam's behaved hisself and given satisfaction？'
'Perfect satisfaction； Mr。 Gamgee；' said Frodo。 'Indeed； if you will believe it； he's now one of the
most famous people in all the lands； and they are making songs about his deeds from here to the
Sea and beyond the Great River。' Sam blushed； but he looked gratefully at Frodo； for Rosie's eyes
were shining and she was smiling at him。
'It takes a lot o' believing；' said the gaffer； 'though I can see he's been mixing in strange pany。
What's e of his weskit？ I don't hold with wearing ironmongery； whether it wears well or no。'
Farmer Cotton's household and all his guests were up early next morning。 Nothing had been
heard in the night； but more trouble would certainly e before the day was old。 'Seems as if none
o' the ruffians were left up at Bag End；' said Cotton； 'but the gang from Waymeet will be along any
time now。'
After breakfast a messenger from the Tookland rode in。 He was in high spirits。 'The Thain has
raised all our country；' he said； 'and the news is going like fire all ways。 The ruffians that were
watching our land have fled off south； those that escaped alive。 The Thain has gone after them； to
hold off the big gang down that way； but he's sent Mr Peregr