dinquisitive 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 on his apron。
'Good evening； little master！' he said； bending down。 'What may you bewanting？'
'Beds for four； and stabling for five ponies； if that can be managed。 Areyou Mr。 Butterbur？'
'That's right！ Barliman is my name。 Barliman Butterbur at your service！
You're from the Shire； eh？' he said； and then suddenly he clapped his hand tohis forehead； as if trying to remember something。 'Hobbits！' he cried。 'Nowwhat does that remind me of？ Might I ask your names； sir？'
'Mr。 Took and Mr。 Brandybuck；' said Frodo； 'and this is Sam Gamgee。 Myname is Underhill。'
'There now！' said Mr。 Butterbur； snapping his fingers。 'It's gone again！
But it'll e back； when I have time to think。 I'm run off my feet； but I'llsee what I can do for you。 We don't often get a party out of the Shirenowadays； and I should be sorry not to make you wele。 But there is such acrowd already in the house tonight as there hasn't been for long enough。 Itnever rains but it pours； we say in Bree。
Nob！'
'Hi！ Nob！' he shouted。 'Where are you； you woolly…footed slow…coach？
'ing； sir！ ing！' A cheery…looking hobbit bobbed out of a door； andseeing the travellers； stopped short and stared at them with great interest。
'Where's Bob？' asked the landlord。 'You don't know？ Well find him！ Double
sharp！ I haven't got six legs； nor six eyes neither！ Tell Bob there's fiveponies that have to be stabled。 He must find room somehow。' Nob trotted offwith a grin and a wink。
'Well； now； what was I going to say？' said Mr。 Butterbur； tapping hisforehead。 'One thing drives out another； so to speak。 I'm that busy tonight；
my head is going round。 There's a party that came up the Greenway from downSouth last night – and that was strange enough to begin with。 Then there's atravelling pany of dwarves going West e in this evening。 And now there'syou。 If you weren't hobbits； I doubt if we could house you。 But we've got aroom or two in the north wing that were made special for hobbits； when thisplace was built。 On the ground floor as they usually prefer； round windows andall as they like it。 I hope you'll be fortable。 You'll be wan