but my vote hardly counts； as I am not going on the journey。 Still； I am veryglad someone is stopping behind； who can tell Gandalf what you have done； whenhe 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； fromBudgeford in Bridgefields in fact； but he had never been over the BrandywineBridge。 His task； according to the original plans of the conspirators； was tostay behind and deal with inquisitive folk； and to keep up as long as possiblethe pretence that Mr。 Baggins was still living at Crickhollow。 He had evenbrought 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 haveleft any message behind for Gandalf otherwise。 I don't know whether theseRiders can read or not； of course； but I should not have dared to risk awritten message； in case they got in and searched the house。 But if Fatty iswilling to hold the fort； and I can be sure of Gandalf knowing the way we havegone； 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 ourjob than Fatty's – waiting here till Black Riders e。'
'You wait till you are well inside the Forest；' said Fredegar。 'You'llwish you were back here with me before this time tomorrow。'
'It's no good arguing about it any more；' said Merry。 'We have still gotto 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。 Hislegs ached。 He。 was glad that he was riding in the morning。 Eventually he fellinto a vague dream； in which he seemed to be looking out of a high window overa dark sea of tangled trees。 Down below among the roots there was the sound ofcreatures crawling and snuffling。 He felt sure they would smell him out sooneror later。
Then he heard a noise in the distance。 At first he thought it was a greatwind ing over the leaves of the forest。 Then he knew that it was notleaves； but the sound of the Sea far…off； a sound he had never heard in wakinglife； though it had often troubled his dreams。 Suddenly he found he was out inthe open。 There were no trees after all。 He was on a dark heath； and there wasa strange salt smell in the air。 Looking up he saw before him a tall whitetower； standing alone on a high ridge。 A great desire came over him to climbthe tower and see the Sea。 He started to struggle up the ridge towards thetower： but suddenly a light came in the sky； and there was a noise of thunder。
The Old Forest
_Chapter 6_
Frodo woke suddenly。 It was still dark in the room。 Merry was standingthere with a candle in one hand； and banging on the door with the other。 'Allright！ What is it？' said Frodo； still shaken and bewildered。
'What is it！' cried Merry。 'It is time to get up。 It is half past fourand very foggy。 e on！ Sam is already getting breakfast ready。 Even Pippinis up。 I am just going to saddle the ponies； and fetch the one that is to bethe baggage…carrier。 Wake that sluggard Fatty！ At least he must get up and seeus off。'
Soon after six o'clock the five hobbits were ready to start。 Fatty Bolgerwas still yawning。 They stole quietly out of the house。 Merry went in frontleading a laden pony； and took his way along a path that went through aspinney behind the house； and then cut across several fields。 The leaves oftrees were glistening； and every twig was dripping； the grass was grey withcold dew。 Everything was still； and far…away 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 kindloved 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 reluctantlybefore them and close forbiddingly behind them。 After riding for about anhour； slowly and without talking； they saw the Hedge looming suddenly ahead。
It was tall and netted over with silver cobwebs。 'How are you going to getthrough this？' asked Fredegar。 'Follow me！' said Merry； 'and you will see。' Heturned to the left along the Hedge； and soon they came to a point where itbent inwards； running along the lip of a hollow。 A cutting had been made； atsome distance from the Hedge； and went sloping gently down into the ground。 Ithad walls of brick at the sides； which rose steadily； until suddenly theyarched over and formed a tunnel that dived deep under the Hedge and came outin the hollow on the other side。
Here Fatty Bolger halted。 'Good…bye； Frodo！' he said。 'I wish you werenot going into the Forest。 I only hope you will not need rescuing before theday is out。 But good luck to you – today and every day！'
'If there are no worse things ahead than the Old Forest； I shall belucky；' said Frodo。 'Tell Gandalf to hurry along the East Road： we shall soonbe back on it and going as fast as we can。' 'Good…bye！' they cried； and rodedown 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 thick…setiron bars。 Merry got down and unlocked the gate； and when they had all passedthrough he pushed it to again。 It shut with a clang； and the lock clicked。 Thesound was ominous。
'There！' said Merry。 'You have left the Shire； and are now outside； andon 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 theold bogey…stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him； about goblins and wolvesand 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 thetrees do not like strangers。 They watch you。 They are usually content merelyto watch you； as long as daylight lasts； and don't do much。 Occasionally themost unfriendly ones may drop a branch； or stick a root out； or grasp at youwith a long trailer。 But at night things can be most alarming； or so I amtold。 I have only once or twice been in here after dark； and then only nearthe hedge。 I thought all the trees were whispering to each other； passing newsand plots along in an unintelligible language； and the branches swayed andgroped without any wind。 They do say the trees do actually move； and cansurround strangers and hem them in。 In fact long ago they attacked the Hedge：
they came and planted themselves right by it； and leaned over it。 But thehobbits came and cut down hundreds of trees； and made a great bonfire in theForest； and burned all the ground in a long strip east of the Hedge。 Afterthat the trees gave up the attack； but they became very unfriendly。 There isstill a wide bare space not far inside where the bonfire was made。'
'Is it only the trees that are dangerous？' asked Pippin。
'There are various queer things living deep in the Forest； and on the farside；