the fellowship of the ring-第47章

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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。　TheBig　Folk　and　the　Little　Folk　（as　they　called　one　another）　were　on　friendlyterms；　minding　their　own　affairs　in　their　own　ways；　but　both　rightly　regardingthemselves　as　necessary　parts　of　the　Bree…folk。　Nowhere　else　in　the　world　wasthis　peculiar　（but　excellent）　arrangement　to　be　found。　
The　Bree…folk；　Big　and　Little；　did　not　themselves　travel　much；　and　theaffairs　of　the　four　villages　were　their　chief　concern。　Occasionally　theHobbits　of　Bree　went　as　far　as　Buckland；　or　the　Eastfarthing；　but　though　theirlink　land　was　not　much　further　than　a　day's　riding　east　of　the　BrandywineBridge；　the　Hobbits　of　the　Shire　now　seldom　visited　it。　An　occasionalBucklander　or　adventurous　Took　would　e　out　to　the　Inn　for　a　night　or　two；　
but　even　that　was　being　less　and　less　usual。　The　Shire…hobbits　referred　tothose　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　theWorld　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　aslong　as　it　suited　them。　But　in　the　Bree…land；　at　any　rate；　the　hobbits　weredecent　and　prosperous；　and　no　more　rustic　than　most　of　their　distant　relativesInside。　It　was　not　yet　forgotten　that　there　had　been　a　time　when　there　wasmuch　ing　and　going　between　the　Shire　and　Bree。　There　was　Bree…blood　in　theBrandybucks　by　all　accounts。　　
The　village　of　Bree　had　some　hundred　stone　houses　of　the　Big　Folk；　mostlyabove　the　Road；　nestling　on　the　hillside　with　windows　looking　west。　On　thatside；　running　in　more　than　half　a　circle　from　the　hill　and　back　to　it；　therewas　a　deep　dike　with　a　thick　hedge　on　the　inner　side。　Over　this　the　Roadcrossed　by　a　causeway；　but　where　it　pierced　the　hedge　it　was　barred　by　a　greatgate。　There　was　another　gate　in　the　southern　er　where　the　Road　ran　out　ofthe　village。　The　gates　were　closed　at　nightfall；　but　just　inside　them　weresmall　lodges　for　the　gatekeepers。　
Down　on　the　Road；　where　it　swept　to　the　right　to　go　round　the　foot　of　thehill；　there　was　a　large　inn。　It　had　been　built　long　ago　when　the　traffic　onthe　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　thewestern　end　of　the　village；　and　in　former　days　Men　and　other　folk　of　varioussorts　had　travelled　much　on　it。　_Strange　as　News　from　Bree_　was　still　a　sayingin　the　Eastfarthing；　descending　from　those　days；　when　news　from　North；　South；　
and　East　could　be　heard　in　the　inn；　and　when　the　Shire…hobbits　used　to　go　moreoften　to　hear　it。　But　the　Northern　Lands　had　long　been　desolate；　and　the　NorthRoad　was　now　seldom　used：　it　was　grass…grown；　and　the　Bree…folk　called　it　theGreenway。　
The　Inn　of　Bree　was　still　there；　however；　and　the　innkeeper　was　animportant　person。　His　house　was　a　meeting　place　for　the　idle；　talkative；　andinquisitive　among　the　inhabitants；　large　and　small；　of　the　four　villages；　anda　resort　of　Rangers　and　other　wanderers；　and　for　such　travellers　（mostlydwarves）　as　still　journeyed　on　the　East　Road；　to　and　from　the　Mountains。　　
It　was　dark；　and　white　stars　were　shining；　when　Frodo　and　his　panionscame　at　last　to　the　Greenway…crossing　and　drew　near　the　village。　They　came　tothe　West…gate　and　found　it　shut；　but　at　the　door　of　the　lodge　beyond　it；　therewas　a　man　sitting。　He　jumped　up　and　fetched　a　lantern　and　looked　over　the　gateat　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　eastand　cannot　go　further　tonight。'　
'Hobbits！　Four　hobbits！　And　what's　more；　out　of　the　Shire　by　theirtalk；'　said　the　gatekeeper；　softly　as　if　speaking　to　himself。　He　stared　atthem　darkly　for　a　moment；　and　then　slowly　opened　the　gate　and　let　them　ride　　
　
through。　
'We　don't　often　see　Shire…folk　riding　on　the　Road　at　night；'　he　went　on；　
as　they　halted　a　moment　by　his　door。　'You'll　pardon　my　wondering　what　businesstakes　you　away　east　of　Bree！　What　may　your　names　be；　might　I　ask？'　
'Our　names　and　our　business　are　our　own；　and　this　does　not　seem　a　goodplace　to　discuss　them；'　said　Frodo；　not　liking　the　look　of　the　man　or　the　toneof　his　voice。　　
'Your　business　is　your　own；　no　doubt；'　said　the　man；　'but　it's　mybusiness　to　ask　questions　after　nightfall。'　
'We　are　hobbits　from　Buckland；　and　we　have　a　fancy　to　travel　and　to　stayat　the　inn　here；'　put　in　Merry。　'I　am　Mr。　Brandybuck。　Is　that　enough　for　you？　
The　Bree…folk　used　to　be　fair…spoken　to　travellers；　or　so　I　had　heard。'　
'All　right；　all　right！'　said　the　man。　'I　meant　no　offence。　But　you'llfind　maybe　that　more　folk　than　old　Harry　at　the　gate　will　be　asking　youquestions。　There's　queer　folk　about。　If　you　go　on　to　_The　Pony；_　you'll　findyou're　oat　the　only　guests。'　
He　wished　them　good　night；　and　they　said　no　more；　but　Frodo　could　see　inthe　lantern…light　that　the　man　was　still　eyeing　them　curiously。　He　was　glad　tohear　the　gate　clang　to　behind　them；　as　they　rode　forward。　He　wondered　why　theman　was　so　suspicious；　and　whether　any　one　had　been　asking　for　_news　of_　aparty　of　hobbits。　Could　it　have　been　Gandalf？　He　might　have　arrived；　whilethey　were　delayed　in　the　Forest　and　the　Downs。　But　there　was　something　in　thelook　and　the　voice　of　the　gatekeeper　that　made　him　uneasy。　
The　man　stared　after　the　hobbits　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　went　back　tohis　house。　As　soon　as　his　back　was　turned；　a　dark　figure　climbed　quickly　inover　the　gate　and　melted　into　the　shadows　of　the　village　street。　
The　hobbits　rode　on　up　a　gentle　slope；　passing　a　few　detached　houses；　anddrew　up　outside　the　inn。　The　houses　looked　large　and　strange　to　them。　Samstared　up　at　the　inn　with　its　three　storeys　and　many　windows；　and　felt　hisheart　sink。　He　had　imagined　himself　meeting　giants　taller　than　trees；　andother　creatures　even　more　terrifying；　some　time　or　other　in　the　course　of　hisjourney；　but　at　the　moment　he　was　finding　his　first　sight　of　Men　and　theirtall　houses　quite　enough；　indeed　too　much　for　the　dark　end　of　a　tiring　day。　Hepictured　black　horses　standing　all　saddled　in　the　shadows　of　the　inn…yard；　andBlack　Riders　peering　out　of　dark　upper　windows。　
'We　surely　aren't　going　to　stay　here　for　the　night；　are　we；　sir？'　heexclaimed。　'If　there　are　hobbit…folk　in　these　pans；　why　don't　we　look　for　somethat　would　be　willing　to　take　us　in？　It　would　be　more　homelike。'　
'What's　wrong　with　the　inn？'　said　Frodo。　'Tom　Bombadil　remended　it。　Iexpect　it's　homelike　enough　inside。'　
Even　from　the　outside　the　inn　looked　a　pleasant　house　to　familiar　eyes。　
It　had　a　front　on　the　Road；　and　two　wings　running　back　on　land　partly　cut　outof　the　lower　slopes　of　the　hill；　so　that　at　the　rear　the　second…floor　windowswere　level　with　the　ground。　There　was　a　wide　arch　leading　to　a　courtyardbetween　the　two　wings；　and　on　the　left　under　the　arch　there　was　a　largedoorway　reached　by　a　few　broad　steps。　The　door　was　open　and　light　streamed　outof　it。　Above　the　arch　there　was　a　lamp；　and　beneath　it　swung　a　largesignboard：　a　fat　white　pony　reared　up　on　its　hind　legs。　Over　the　door　waspainted　in　white　letters：　THE　PRANCING　PONY　by　BARLIMAN　BUTTERBUR。　Many　of　thelower　windows　showed　lights　behind　thick　curtains。　
As　they　hesitated　outside　in　the　gloom；　someone　began　singing　a　merrysong　inside；　and　many　cheerful　voices　joined　loudly　in　the　chorus。　Theylistened　to　this　encouraging　sound　for　a　moment　and　then　got　off　their　ponies。　
The　song　ended　and　there　was　a　burst　of　laughter　and　clapping。　
They　led　their　ponies　under　the　arch；　and　leaving　them　standing　in　theyard　they　climbed　up　the　steps。　Frodo　went　forward　and　nearly　bumped　into　ashort　fat　man　with　a　bald　head　and　a　red　face。　He　had　a　white　apron　on；　andwas　bustling　out　of　one　door　and　in　through　another；　carrying　a　tray　ladenwith　full　mugs。　
'Can　we…'　began　Frodo。　　
　
'Half　a　minute；　if　you　please！'　shouted　the　man　over　his　shoulder；　andvanished　into　a　babel　of　voices　and　a　cloud　of　smoke。　In　a　moment　he　was　out　　
again；　wiping　his　hands