doubt。 A fine beast； as I said when I first set eyes on him。 Well； e in！ Make yourselves at
home！'
Mr。 Butterbur had at any rate not changed his manner of talking； and still seemed to live in his
old breathless bustle。 And yet there was hardly anybody about； and all was quiet； from the
mon Room there came a low murmur of no more than two or three voices。 And seen closer in
the light of two candles that he lit and carried before them the landlord's face looked rather
wrinkled and careworn。
He led them down the passage to the parlour that they had used on that strange night more than a
year ago； and they followed him； a little disquieted； for it seemed plain to them that old Barliman
was putting a brave face on some trouble。 Things were not what they had been。 But they said
nothing； and waited。
As they expected Mr。 Butterbur came to the parlour after supper to see if all had been to their
liking。 As indeed it had： no change for the worse had yet e upon the beer or the victuals at _The
Pony_ at any rate。 'Now I won't make so bold as to suggest you should e to the mon Room
tonight；' said Butterbur。 'You'll be tired； and there isn't many folk there this evening； anyway。 But if
you could spare me half an hour before you go to your beds； I would dearly like to have some talk
with you； quiet…like by ourselves。'
'That is just what we should like； too；' said Gandalf。 'We are not tired。 We have been taking
things easy。 We were wet； cold and hungry； but all that you have cured。 e； sit down！ And if
you have any pipe…weed； we'll bless you。'
'Well； if you'd called for anything else； I'd have been happier；' said Butterbur。 'That's just a thing
that we're short of； seeing how we've only got what we grow ourselves； and that's not enough。
There's none to be had from the Shire these days。 But I'll do what I can。'
When he came back he brought them enough to last them for a day or two； a wad of uncut leaf。
'Southlinch；' he said； 'and the best we have； but not the match of Southfarthing； as I've always said
though I'm all for Bree in most matters； begging your pardon。'
They put him in a large chair by the wood…fire； and Gandalf sat on the other side of the hearth；
and the hobbits in low chairs between them； and then they talked for many times half an hour； and
exchanged all such news as Mr。 Butterbur wished to hear or give。 Most of the things which they
had to tell were a mere wonder and bewilderment to their host； and far beyond his vision； and they
brought forth few ments other than： 'You don't say； often repeated in defiance of the evidence
of Mr。 Butterbur's own ears。 'You don't say； Mr。 Baggins； or is it Mr。 Underhill？ I'm getting so
mixed up。 You don't say； Master Gandalf！ Well I never！ Who'd have thought it in our times！'
But he did say much on his own account。 Things were far from well； he would say。 Business
was not even fair； it was downright bad。 'No one es nigh Bree now from Outside；' he said。 'And
the inside folks； they stay at home mostly and keep their doors barred。 It all es of those
newers and gangrels that began ing up the Greenway last year； as you may remember； but
more came later。 Some were just poor bodies running away from trouble； but most were bad men；
full o' thievery and mischief。 And there was trouble right here in Bree； bad trouble。 Why； we had a
real set…to； and there were some folk killed； killed dead！ If you'll believe me。'
'I will indeed；' said Gandalf。 'How many？'
'Three and two；' said Butterbur； referring to the big folk and the little。 'There was poor Mat
Heathertoes； and Rowlie Appledore； and little Tom Pickthorn from over the Hill； and Willie Banks
from up…away； and one of the Underhills from Staddle： all good fellows； and they're missed。 And
Harry Goatleaf that used to be on the West…gate； and that Bill Ferny； they came in on the strangers'
side； and they've gone off with them； and it's my belief they let them in。 On the night of the fight； I
mean。 And that was after we showed them the gates and pushed them out： before the year's end；
that was； and the fight was early in the New Year； after the heavy snow we had。
'And now they're gone for robbers and live outside； hiding in the woods beyond Archet； and out
in the wilds north…away。 It's like a bit of the bad old times tales tell of； I say。 It isn't safe on the road
and nobody goes far； and folk lock up early。 We have to keep watchers all round the fence and put
a lot of men on the gates at nights。'
'Well； no one troubled us；' said Pippin； 'and we came along slowly； and kept no watch。 We
thought we'd left all trouble behind us。'
'Ah； that you haven't； Master； more's the pity；' said Butterbur。 'But it's no wonder they left you
alone。 They wouldn't go for armed folk； with swords and helmets and shields and all。 Make them
think twice； that would。 And I must say it put me aback a bit when I saw you。'
Then the hobbits suddenly realized that people had looked at them with amazement not out of
surprise at their return so much as in wonder at their gear。 They themselves had bee so used to
warfare and to riding in well…arrayed panies that they had quite forgotten that the bright mail
peeping from under their cloaks； and the helms of Gondor and the Mark； and the fair devices on
their shields； would seem outlandish in their own country。 And Gandalf； too； was now riding on his
tall grey horse； all clad in white with a great mantle of blue and silver over all； and the long sword
Glamdring at his side。
Gandalf laughed。 'Well； well；' he said； 'if they are afraid of just five of us； then we have met
worse enemies on our travels。 But at any rate they will give you peace at night while we stay。'
'How long will that be？' said Butterbur。 'I'll not deny we should be glad to have you about for a
bit。 You see； we're not used to such troubles； and the Rangers have all gone away； folk tell me。 I
don't think we've rightly understood till now what they did for us。 For there's been worse than
robbers about。 Wolves were howling round the fences last winter。 And there's dark shapes in the
woods； dreadful things that it makes the blood run cold to think of。 It's been very disturbing； if you
understand me。'
'I expect it has；' said Gandalf。 'Nearly all lands have been disturbed these days； very disturbed。
But cheer up； Barliman！ You have been on the edge of very great troubles； and I am only glad to
hear that you have not been deeper in。 But better times are ing。 Maybe； better than any you
remember。 The Rangers have returned。 We came back with them。 And there is a king again；
Barliman。 He will soon be turning his mind this way。
'Then the Greenway will be opened again； and his messengers will e north； and there will be
ings and goings； and the evil things will be driven out of the waste…lands。 Indeed the waste in
time will be waste no longer； and there will be people and fields where once there was wilderness。'
Mr。 Butterbur shook his head。 'If there's a few decent respectable folk on the roads； that won't do
no harm；' he said。 'But we don't want no more rabble and ruffians。 And we don't want no outsiders
at Bree； nor near Bree at all。 We want to be let alone。 I don't want a whole crowd o' strangers
camping here and settling there and tearing up the wild country。'
'You will be let alone； Barliman；' said Gandalf。 'There is room enough for realms between Isen
and Greyflood； or along the shore lands south of the Brandywine； without any one living within
many days' ride of Bree。 And many folk used to dwell away north； a hundred miles or more from
here； at the far end of the Greenway： on the North Downs or by Lake Evendim。'
'Up away by Deadmen's Dike？' said Butterbur； looking even more dubious。 'That's haunted land；
they say。 None but a robber would go there。'
'The Rangers go there；' said Gandalf。 'Deadmen's Dike； you say。 So it has been called for long
years； but its right name； Barliman； is Fornost Erain； Norbury of the Kings。 And the King will
e there again one day； and then you'll have some fair folk riding through。'
'Well； that sounds more hopeful； I'll allow；' said Butterbur。 'And it will be good for business； no
doubt。 So long as he lets Bree alone。'
'He will；' said Gandalf。 'He knows it and loves it。'
'Does he now？' said Butterbur looking puzzled。 'Though I'm sure I don't know why he should；
sitting in his big chair up in his great castle； hundreds of miles away。 And drinking wine out of a
golden cup； I shouldn't wonder。 What's _The Pony_ to him； or mugs o' beer？ Not but what my
beer's good； Gandalf。 It's been unmon good； since you came in the autumn of last year and put
a good word on it。 And that's been a fort in trouble； I will say。'
'Ah！' said Sam。 'But he says your beer is always good。'
'He says？'
'Of course he does。 He's Strider。 The chief of the Rangers。 Haven't you got that into your head
yet？'
It went in at last； and Butterbur's face was a study in wonder。 The eyes in his broad face grew
round； and his mouth opened wide； and he gasped。 'Strider！' he exclaimed when he got back his
breath。 'Him with a crown and all and a golden cup！ Well； what are we ing to？'
'Better times； for Bree at any rate；' said Gandalf。
'I hope so； I'm sure；' said Butterbur。 'Well； this has been the nicest chat I've had in a month of
Mondays。 And I'll not deny that I'll sleep easier tonight and with a lighter heart。 You've given me a
powerful lot to think over； but I'll put that off until tomorrow。 I'm for bed； and I've no doubt you'll
be glad of your beds too。 Hey； Nob！' he called； going to the door。 'Nob； you slowcoach！'
'Now！' he said to himself； slapping his forehead。 'Now what does that remind me of？'
'Not another letter you've forgotten。 I hope； Mr。 Butterbur？' said Merry。
'Now； now； Mr。 Brandybuck； don't go reminding me of that！ But there； you've broken my
thought。 Now where was I？ Nob； stables； ah！ that was it。 I've something that belongs to you。 If you
recollect Bill Ferny and the horsethieving： his pony as you bought； well； it's here。 e back all of
itsel