ing bank； and the Road； now dim as evening drew on； wound away below them。 At this point it ran nearly from Southwest to Northeast； and on their right it fell quickly down into a wide hollow。 It was rutted and bore many signs of the recent heavy rain； there were pools and potholes full of water。 They rode down the bank and looked up and down。 There was nothing to be seen。 'Well； here we are again at last！' said Frodo。 'I suppose we haven't lost more than two days by my short cut through the Forest！ But perhaps the delay will prove useful 。 it may have put them off our trail。'
The others looked at him。 The shadow of the fear of the Black Riders came suddenly over them again。 Ever since they had entered the Forest they had thought chiefly of getting back to the Road； only now when it lay beneath their feet did they remember the danger which pursued them； and was more than likely to be lying in wait for them upon the Road itself。 They looked anxiously back towards the setting sun； but the Road was brown and empty。
'Do you think；' asked Pippin hesitatingly； 'do you think we may be pursued； tonight？'
'No； I hope not tonight；' answered Tom Bombadil； 'nor perhaps the next day。 But do not trust my guess； for I cannot tell for certain。 Out east my knowledge fails。 Tom is not master of Riders from the Black Land far beyond his country。'
All the same the hobbits wished he was ing with them。 They felt that he would know how to deal with Black Riders； if anyone did。 They would soon now be going forward into lands wholly strange to them； and beyond all but the most vague and distant legends of the Shire； and in the gathering twilight they longed for home。 A deep loneliness and sense of loss was on them。 They stood silent； reluctant to make the final parting； and only slowly became aware that Tom was wishing them farewell； and telling them to have good heart and to ride on till dark without halting。
'Tom will give you good advice； till this day is over （after that your own luck must go with you and guide you）： four miles along the Road you'll e upon a village； Bree under Breehill； with doors looking westward。 There you'll find an old inn that is called The Prancing Pony。 Barliman Butterbur is the worthy keeper。 There you can stay the night； and afterwards the morning will speed you upon your way。 Be bold； but wary！ Keep up your merry hearts； and ride to meet your fortune！'
They begged him to e at least as far as the inn and drink once more with them； but he laughed and refused； saying： Tom's country ends here： he will not pass the borders。
Tom has his house to mind； and Goldberry is waiting！
Then he turned； tossed up his hat； leaped on Lumpkin's back； and rode up over the bank and away singing into the dusk。
The hobbits climbed up and watched him until he was out of sight。
'I am sorry to take leave of Master Bombadil；' said Sam。 'He's a caution and no mistake。 I reckon we may go a good deal further and see naught better； nor queerer。 But I won't deny I'll be glad to see this Prancing Pony he spoke of。 I hope it'll be like The Green Dragon away back home！ What sort of folk are they in Bree？'
'There are hobbits in Bree；' said Merry； 'as well as Big Folk。 I daresay it will be homelike enough。 The Pony is a good inn by all accounts。 My people ride out there now and again。'
'It may be all we could wish；' said Frodo； 'but it is outside the Shire all the same。 Don't make yourselves too much at home！ Please remember all of you 。 that the name of Baggins must NOT be mentioned。 I am Mr。 Underhill； if any name must be given。'
They now mounted their ponies and rode off silently into the evening。 Darkness came down quickly； as they plodded slowly downhill and up again； until at last they saw lights twinkling some distance ahead。
Before them rose Breehill barring the way； a dark mass against misty stars； and under its western flank nestled a large village。 Towards it they now hurried desiring only to find a fire； and a door between them and the night。
Chapter 09
At the Sign of The Prancing Pony
Bree was the chief village of the Breeland； a small inhabited region； like an island in the empty lands round about。 Besides Bree itself； there was Staddle on the other side of the hill； be in a deep valley a little further eastward； and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood。 Lying round Breehill and the villages was a small country of fields and tamed woodland only a few miles broad。
The Men of Bree were brownhaired； broad； and rather short； cheerful and independent： they belonged to nobody but themselves； but they were more friendly and familiar with Hobbits； Dwarves； Elves； and other inhabitants of the world about them than was （or is） usual with Big People。 According to their own tales they were the original inhabitants and were the descendants of the first Men that ever wandered into the West of the middleworld。 Few had survived the turmoils of the Elder Days； but when the Kings returned again over the Great Sea they had found the Breemen still there； and they were still there now； when the memory of the old Kings had faded into the grass。
In those days no other Men had settled dwellings so far west； or within a hundred leagues of the Shire。 But in the wild lands beyond Bree there were mysterious wanderers。 The Breefolk called them Rangers； and knew nothing of their origin。 They were taller and darker than the Men of Bree and were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing； and to understand the languages of beasts and birds。 They roamed at will southwards； and eastwards even as far as the Misty Mountains； but they were now few and rarely seen。 When they appeared they brought news from afar； and told strange fotten tales which were eagerly listened to； but the Breefolk did not make friends of them。
There were also many families of hobbits in the Breeland and they claimed to be the oldest settlement of Hobbits in the world； one that was founded long before even the Brandywine was crossed and the Shire colonized。 They lived mostly in Staddle though there were some in Bree itself； especially on the higher slopes of the hill； above the houses of the Men。 The Big Folk and the Little Folk （as they called one another） were on friendly terms； minding their own affairs in their own ways； but both rightly regarding themselves as necessary parts of the Breefolk。 Nowhere else in the world was this peculiar （but excellent） arrangement to be found。
The Breefolk； Big and Little； did not themselves travel much； and the affairs of the four villages were their chief concern。 Occasionally the Hobbits of Bree went as far as Buckland； or the Eastfarthing； but though their link land was not much further than a day's riding east of the Brandywine Bridge； the Hobbits of the Shire now seldom visited it。 An occasional Bucklander or adventurous Took would e out to the Inn for a night or two； but even that was being less and less usual。 The Shirehobbits referred to those of Bree； and to any others that lived beyond the borders； as Outsiders； and took very little interest in them； considering them dull and uncouth。 There were probably many more Outsiders scattered about in the West of the World in those days than the people of the Shire imagined。 Some； doubtless； were no better than tramps； ready to dig a hole in any bank and stay only as long as it suited them。 But in the Breeland； at any rate； the hobbits were decent and prosperous； and no more rustic than most of their distant relatives Inside。 It was not yet fotten that there had been a time when there was much ing and going between the Shire and Bree。 There was Breeblood in the Brandybucks by all accounts。
The village of Bree had some hundred stone houses of the Big Folk； mostly above the Road； nestling on the hillside with windows looking west。 On that side； running in more than half a circle from the hill and back to it； there was a deep dike with a thick hedge on the inner side。 Over this the Road crossed by a causeway； but where it pierced the hedge it was barred by a great gate。 There was another gate in the southern er where the Road ran out of the village。 The gates were closed at nightfall； but just inside them were small lodges for the gatekeepers。
Down on the Road； where it swept to the right to go round the foot of the hill； there was a large inn。 It had been built long ago when the traffic on the roads had been far greater。 For Bree stood at an old meeting of ways； another ancient road crossed the East Road just outside （he dike at the western end of the village； and in former days Men and other folk of various sorts had travelled much on it。 Strange as News from Bree was still a saying in the Eastfarthing； descending from those days； when news from North； South； and East could be heard in the inn； and when the Shirehobbits used to go more often to hear it。 But the Northern Lands had long been desolate； and the North Road was now seldom used： it was grassgrown； and the Breefolk called it the Greenway。
The Inn of Bree was still there； however； and the innkeeper was an important person。 His house was a meeting place for the idle； talkative； and inquisitive among the inhabitants； large and small； of the four villages； and a resort of Rangers and other wanderers； and for such travellers （mostly dwarves） as still journeyed on the East Road； to and from the Mountains。
It was dark； and white stars were shining； when Frodo and his panions came at last to the Greenwaycrossing and drew near the village。 They came to the Westgate and found it shut； but at the door of the lodge beyond it； there was a man sitting。 He jumped up and fetched a lantern and looked over the gate at them in surprise。
'What do you want； and where do you e from？' he asked gruffly。
'We are making for the inn here；' answered Frodo。 'We are journeying east and cannot go further tonight。'
'Hobbits！ Four hobbits！ And what's more； out of the Shire by their talk；' said the gatekeeper； softly as if speaking to himself。 He stared at them darkly for a moment； and then slowly opened the gate and let them ride through。
'We don't often see Shirefolk riding on the Road at night；' he went on； as they halted a moment by his door。 'You'll pardon my wondering what business takes you away east of Bre