the return of the king-第62章

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D'you　know　what's　e　of　him；　Mr。　Cotton？'
　　　　　'He's　not　too　well；　and　not　too　bad；　Sam；'　said　the　farmer。　'They　dug　up　Bagshot　Row；　and　that　
was　a　sad　blow　to　him。　He's　in　one　of　them　new　houses　that　the　Chief's　Men　used　to　build　while　
they　still　did　any　work　other　than　burning　and　thieving：　not　above　a　mile　from　the　end　of　Bywater。　
But　he　es　around　to　me；　when　he　gets　a　chance；　and　I　see　he's　better　fed　than　some　of　the　poor　
bodies。　All　against　_The　Rules_；　of　course。　I'd　have　had　him　with　me；　but　that　wasn't　allowed。'
　　　　　'Thank'ee　indeed；　Mr。　Cotton；　and　I'll　never　forget　it；'　said　Sam。　'But　I　want　to　see　him。　That　
Boss　and　that　Sharkey；　as　they　spoke　of；　they　might　do　a　mischief　up　there　before　the　morning。'
　　　　　'All　right；　Sam；'　said　Cotton。　'Choose　a　lad　or　two；　and　go　and　fetch　him　to　my　house。　You'll　not　
have　need　to　go　near　the　old　Hobbiton　village　over　Water。　My　Jolly　here　will　show　you。'

　　　　　Sam　went　off。　Merry　arranged　for　look…outs　round　the　village　and　guards　at　the　barriers　during　
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　Peregrin　back　with　all　the　other　folk　he　can　
spare。'
　　　　　The　next　news　was　less　good。　Merry；　who　had　been　out　all　night；　came　riding　in　about　ten　
o'clock。　'There's　a　big　band　about　four　miles　away；'　he　said。　'They're　ing　along　the　road　from　
Waymeet；　but　a　good　many　stray　ruffians　have　joined　up　with　them。　There　must　be　close　on　a　
hundred　of　them；　and　they're　fire…raising　as　they　e。　Curse　them！'
　　　　　'Ah！　This　lot　won't　stay　to　talk；　they'll　kill；　if　they　can；'　said　Farmer　Cotton。　'If　Tooks　don't　e　
sooner；　we'd　best　get　behind　cover　and　shoot　without　arguing。　There's　got　to　be　some　fighting　
before　this　is　settled；　Mr。　Frodo。'
　　　　　The　Tooks　did　e　sooner。　Before　long　they　marched　in；　a　hundred　strong；　from　Tuckborough　
and　the　Green　Hills　with　Pippin　at　their　head。　Merry　now　had　enough　sturdy　hobbitry　to　deal　with　
the　ruffians。　Scouts　reported　that　they　were　keeping　close　together。　They　knew　that　the　countryside　
had　risen　against　them；　and　plainly　meant　to　deal　with　the　rebellion　ruthlessly；　at　its　centre　in　
Bywater。　But　however　grim　they；　might　be；　they　seemed　to　have　no　leader　among　them　who　
understood　warfare。　They　came　on　without　any　precautions。　Merry　laid　his　plans　quickly。

　　　　　The　ruffians　came　tramping　along　the　East　Road；　and　without　halting　turned　up　the　Bywater　
Road；　which　ran　for　some　way　sloping　up　between　high　banks　with　low　hedges　on　top。　Round　a　
bend；　about　a　furlong　from　the　main　road；　they　met　a　stout　barrier　of　old　farm…carts　upturned。　That　
halted　them。　At　the　same　moment　they　became　aware　that　the　hedges　on　both　sides；　just　above　their　
heads；　were　all　lined　with　hobbits。　Behind　them　other　hobbits　now　pushed　out　some　more　waggons　
that　had　been　hidden　in　a　field；　and　so　blocked　the　way　back。　A　voice　spoke　to　them　from　above。
　　　　　'Well；　you　have　walked　into　a　trap；'　said　Merry。　'Your　fellows　from　Hobbiton　did　the　same；　and　
one　is　dead　and　the　rest　are　prisoners。　Lay　down　your　weapons！　Then　go　back　twenty　paces　and　sit　
down。　Any　who　try　to　break　out　will　be　shot。'
　　　　　But　the　ruffians　could　not　now　be　cowed　so　easily。　A　few　of　them　obeyed；　but　were　immediately　
set　on　by　their　fellows。　A　score　or　more　broke　back　and　charged　the　waggons。　Six　were　shot；　but　
the　remainder　burst　out；　killing　two　hobbits；　and　then　scattering　across　country　in　the　direction　of　
the　Woody　End。　Two　more　fell　as　they　ran。　Merry　blew　a　loud　horn…call；　and　there　were　answering　
calls　from　a　distance。
　　　　　'They　won't　get　far；'　said　Pippin。　'All　that　country　is　alive　with　our　hunters　now。'
　　　　　Behind；　the　trapped　Men　in　the　lane；　still　about　four　score；　tried　to　climb　the　barrier　and　the　
banks；　and　the　hobbits　were　obliged　to　shoot　many　of　them　or　hew　them　with　axes。　But　many　of　the　
strongest　and　most　desperate　got　out　on　the　west　side；　and　attacked　their　enemies　fiercely；　being　
now　more　bent　on　killing　than　escaping。　Several　hobbits　fell；　and　the　rest　were　wavering；　when　
Merry　and　Pippin；　who　were　on　the　east　side；　came　across　and　charged　the　ruffians。　Merry　himsel