We must away ere break of day
Far over wood and mountain tall。
To Rivendell； where Elves yet dwell
In glades beneath the misty fell；
Through moor and waste we ride in haste；
And whither then we cannot tell。
With foes ahead； behind us dread；
Beneath the sky shall be our bed；
Until at last our toil be passed；
Our journey done； our errand sped。
We must away！ We must away！
We ride before the break of day！
'Very good！' said Frodo。 'But in that case there are a lot of things to do before we go to bed 。 under a roof； for tonight at any rate。'
'Oh！ That was poetry！' said Pippin。 'Do you really mean to start before the break of day？'
'I don't know；' answered Frodo。 'I fear those Black Riders； and I am sure it is unsafe to stay in one place long； especially in a place to which it is known I was going。 Also Gildor advised me not to wait。 But I should very much like to see Gandalf。 I could see that even Gildor was disturbed when he heard that Gandalf had never appeared。 It really depends on two things。 How soon could the Riders get to Bucklebury？ And how soon could we get off？ It will take a good deal of preparation。'
'The anserry； 'is that we could get off in an hour。 I have prepared practically everything。 There are six ponies in a stable across the fields； stores and tackle are all packed； except for a few extra clothes； and the perishable food。'
'It seems to have been a very efficient conspiracy；' said Frodo。 'But what about the Black Riders？ Would it be safe to wait one day for Gandalf？'
'That all depends on what you think the Riders would do； if they found you here；' answered Merry。 'They could have reached here by now； of course； if they were not stopped at the Northgate； where the Hedge runs down to the riverbank； just this side of the Bridge。 The gateguards would not let them through by night； though they might break through。 Even in the daylight they would try to keep them out； I think； at any rate until they got a message through to the Master of the Hall 。 for they would not like the look of the Riders； and would certainly be frightened by them。 But； of course； Buckland cannot resist a determined attack for long。 And it is possible that in the morning even a Black Rider that rode up and asked for Mr。 Baggins would be let through。 It is pretty generally known that you are ing back to live at Crickhollow。'
Frodo sat for a while in thought。 'I have made up my mind；' he said finally。 'I am starting tomorrow； as soon as it is light。 But I am not going by road： it would be safer to wait here than that。 If I go through the North gate my departure from Buckland will be known at once； instead of being secret for several days at least； as it might be。 And what is more； the Bridge and the East Road near the borders will certainly be watched； whether any Rider gets into Buckland or not。 We don't know how many there are； but there are at least two； and possibly more。 The only thing to do is to go off in a quite unexpected direction。'
'But that can only mean going into the Old Forest！' said Fredegar horrified。 'You can't be thinking of doing that。 It is quite as dangerous as Black Riders。'
'Not quite；' said Merry。 It sounds very desperate； but I believe Frodo is right。 It is the only way of getting off without being followed at once。 With luck we might gel a considerable start。'
'But you won't have any luck in the Old Forest；' objected Fredegar。 'No one ever has luck in there。 You'll gel lost。 People don't go in there。'
'Oh yes they do！' said Merry。 'The Brandybucks go in 。 occasionally when the fit takes them。 We have a private entrance。 Frodo went in once； long ago。 I have been in several times： usually in daylight； of course； when the trees are sleepy and fairly quiet。'
'Well； do as you think best！' said Fredegar。 'I am more afraid of the Old Forest than of anything I know about： the stories about it are a nightmare； but my vote hardly counts； as I am not going on the journey。 Still； I am very glad someone is stopping behind； who can tell Gandalf what you have done； when he turns up； as I am sure he will before long。'
Fond as he was of Frodo； Fatty Bolger had no desire to leave the Shire； nor to see what lay outside it。 His family came from the Eastfarthing； from Budgeford in Bridgefields in fact； but he had never been over the Brandywine Bridge。 His task； according to the original plans of the conspirators； was to stay behind and deal with inquisitive folk； and to keep up as long as possible the pretence that Mr。 Baggins was still living at Crickhollow。 He had even brought along some old clothes of Frodo's to help him in playing the part。 They little thought how dangerous that part might prove。
'Excellent！' said Frodo； when he understood the plan。 'We could not have left any message behind for Gandalf otherwise。 I don't know whether these Riders can read or not； of course； but I should not have dared to risk a written message； in case they got in and searched the house。 But if Fatty is willing to hold the fort； and I can be sure of Gandalf knowing the way we have gone； that decides me。 I am going into the Old Forest first thing tomorrow。'
'Well； that's that；' said Pippin。 'On the whole I would rather have our job than Fatty's 。 waiting here till Black Riders e。'
'You wait till you are well inside the Forest；' said Fredegar。 'You'll wish you were back here with me before this time tomorrow。'
'It's no good arguing about it any more；' said Merry。 'We have still got to tidy up and put the finishing touches to the packing； before we get to bed。 I shall call you all before the break of day。'
When at last he had got to bed； Frodo could not sleep for some time。 His legs ached。 He。 was glad that he was riding in the morning。 Eventually he fell into a vague dream； in which he seemed to be looking out of a high window over a dark sea of tangled trees。 Down below among the roots there was the sound of creatures crawling and snuffling。 He felt sure they would smell him out sooner or later。
Then he heard a noise in the distance。 At first he thought it was a great wind ing over the leaves of the forest。 Then he knew that it was not leaves； but the sound of the Sea faroff； a sound he had never heard in waking life； though it had often troubled his dreams。 Suddenly he found he was out in the open。 There were no trees after all。 He was on a dark heath； and there was a strange salt smell in the air。 Looking up he saw before him a tall white tower； standing alone on a high ridge。 A great desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea。 He started to struggle up the ridge towards the tower： but suddenly a light came in the sky； and there was a noise of thunder。
Chapter 06
The Old Forest
Frodo woke suddenly。 It was still dark in the room。 Merry was standing there with a candle in one hand； and banging on the door with the other。 'All right！ What is it？' said Frodo； still shaken and bewildered。
'What is it！' cried Merry。 'It is time to get up。 It is half past four and very foggy。 e on！ Sam is already getting breakfast ready。 Even Pippin is up。 I am just going to saddle the ponies； and fetch the one that is to be the baggagecarrier。 Wake that sluggard Fatty！ At least he must get up and see us off。'
Soon after six o'clock the five hobbits were ready to start。 Fatty Bolger was still yawning。 They stole quietly out of the house。 Merry went in front leading a laden pony； and took his way along a path that went through a spinney behind the house； and then cut across several fields。 The leaves of trees were glistening； and every twig was dripping； the grass was grey with cold dew。 Everything was still； and faraway noises seemed near and clear： fowls chattering in a yard； someone closing a door of a distant house。
In their shed they found the ponies； sturdy little beasts of the kind loved by hobbits； not speedy； but good for a long day's work。 They mounted； and soon they were riding off into the mist； which seemed to open reluctantly before them and close forbiddingly behind them。 After riding for about an hour； slowly and without talking； they saw the Hedge looming suddenly ahead。 It was tall and ted over with silver cobwebs。 'How are you going to get through this？' asked Fredegar。 'Follow me！' said Merry； 'and you will see。' He turned to the left along the Hedge； and soon they came to a point where it bent inwards； running along the lip of a hollow。 A cutting had been made； at some distance from the Hedge； and went sloping gently down into the ground。 It had walls of brick at the sides； which rose steadily； until suddenly they arched over and formed a tunnel that dived deep under the Hedge and came out in the hollow on the other side。
Here Fatty Bolger halted。 'Goodbye； Frodo！' he said。 'I wish you were not going into the Forest。 I only hope you will not need rescuing before the day is out。 But good luck to you 。 today and every day！'
'If there are no worse things ahead than the Old Forest； I shall be lucky；' said Frodo。 'Tell Gandalf to hurry along the East Road： we shall soon be back on it and going as fast as we can。' 'Goodbye！' they cried； and rode down the slope and disappeared from Fredegar's sight into the tunnel。
It was dark and damp。 At the far end it was closed by a gate of thickset iron bars。 Merry got down and unlocked the gate； and when they had all passed through he pushed it to again。 It shut with a clang； and the lock clicked。 The sound was ominous。
'There！' said Merry。 'You have left the Shire； and are now outside； and on the edge of the Old Forest。'
'Are the stories about it true？' asked Pippin。
'I don't know what stories you mean；' Merry answered。 'If you mean the old bogeystories Fatty's nurses used to tell him； about goblins and wolves and things of that sort； I should say no。 At any rate I don't believe them。 But the Forest is queer。 Everything in it is very much more alive； more aware of what is going on； so to speak； than things are in the Shire。 And the trees do not like strangers。 They watch you。 They are usually content merely to watch you； as long as daylight lasts； and don't do much。 Occasionally the most unfriendly ones may drop a branch； or stick a root out； or grasp at you with a long trailer。 But at night things can be most alarm