Pippin laughed。 'Very life…like！' he said。 'But what will happen whenthey have penetrated the disguise？'
'We shall see；' said Strider。 'Let us hope to hold the fort tillmorning。'
'Good night to you；' said Nob； and went off to take his part in the watchon the doors。
Their bags and gear they piled on the parlour…floor。 They pushed a lowchair against the door and shut the window。 Peering out； Frodo saw that thenight was still clear。 The Sickle was swinging bright above the shoulders ofBree…hill。 He then closed and barred the heavy inside shutters and drew thecurtains together。 Strider built up the fire and blew out all the candles。
The hobbits lay down on their blankets with their feet towards thehearth； but Strider settled himself in the chair against the door。 They talkedfor a little； for Merry still had several questions to ask。
'Jumped over the Moon！' chuckled Merry as he rolled himself in hisblanket。 'Very ridiculous of you； Frodo！ But I wish I had been there to see。
The worthies of Bree will be discussing it a hundred years hence。'
'I hope so；' said Strider。 Then they all fell silent； and one by one thehobbits dropped off to sleep。
_Chapter 11_
A Knife in the Dark
As they prepared for sleep in the inn at Bree； darkness lay on Buckland；
a mist strayed in the dells and along the river…bank。 The house at Crickhollowstood silent。 Fatty Bolger opened the door cautiously and peered out。 Afeeling of fear had been growing on him all day； and he was unable to rest orgo to bed： there was a brooding threat in the breathless night…air。 As hestared out into the gloom； a black shadow moved under the trees； the gateseemed to open of its own accord and close again without a sound。 Terrorseized him。 He shrank back； and for a moment he stood trembling in the hall。
Then he shut and locked the door。
The night deepened。 There came the soft sound of horses led with stealthalong the lane。 Outside the gate they stopped； and three black figuresentered； like shades of night creeping across the ground。 One went to thedoor； one to the corner of the house on either side； and there they stood； asstill as the shadows of stones； while night went slowly on。 The house and thequiet trees seemed to be waiting breathlessly。
There was a faint stir in the leaves； and a cock crowed far away。 Thecold hour before dawn was passing。 The figure by the door moved。 In the darkwithout moon or stars a drawn blade gleamed； as if a chill light had beenunsheathed。 There was a blow； soft but heavy； and the door shuddered。
'Open； in the name of Mordor！' said a voice thin and menacing。
At a second blow the door yielded and fell back； with timbers burst andlock broken。 The black figures passed swiftly in。
At that moment； among the trees nearby； a horn rang out。 It rent thenight like fire on a hill…top。
AWAKE！ FEAR！ FIRE！ FOES！ AWAKE！
Fatty Bolger had not been idle。 As soon as he saw the dark shapes creepfrom the garden； he knew that he must run for it； or perish。 And run he did；
out of the back door； through the garden； and over the fields。 When he reachedthe nearest house； more than a mile away； he collapsed on the doorstep。 'No；
no； no！' he was crying。 'No； not me！ I haven't got it！' It was some timebefore anyone could make out what he was babbling about。 At last they got theidea that enemies were in Buckland； some strange invasion from the Old Forest。
And then they lost no more time。
FEAR！ FIRE！ FOES！
The Brandybucks were blowing the Horn…call of Buckland； that had not beensounded for a hundred years； not since the white wolves came in the FellWinter； when the Brandywine was frozen over。
AWAKE！ AWAKE！
Far…away answering horns were heard。 The alarm was spreading。 The blackfigures fled from the house。 One of them let fall a hobbit…cloak on the step；
as he ran。 In the lane the noise of hoofs broke out； and gathering to agallop； went hammering away into the darkness。 All about Crickhollow there wasthe sound of horns blowing； and voices crying and feet running。 But the BlackRiders rode like a gale to the North…gate。 Let the little people blow！ Sauronwould deal with them later。 Meanwhile they had another errand： they knew nowthat the house was empty and the Ring had gone。 They rode down the guards atthe gate and vanished from the Shire。
In the early night Frodo woke from deep sleep； suddenly； as if some soundor presence had disturbed him。 He saw that Strider was sitting alert in hischair： his eyes gleamed in the light of the fire； which had been tended andwas burning brightly； but he made no sign or movement。
Frodo soon went to sleep again； but his dreams were again troubled withthe noise of wind and of galloping hoofs。 The wind seemed to be curling roundthe house and shaking it； and far off he heard a horn blowing wildly。 Heopened his eyes； and heard a cock crowing lustily in the inn…yard。 Strider haddrawn the curtains and pushed back the shutters with a clang。 The first greylight of day was in the room； and a cold air was ing through the openwindow。
As soon as Strider had roused them all； he led the way to their bedrooms。
When they saw them they were glad that they had taken his advice： the windowshad been forced open and were swinging； and the curtains were flapping； thebeds were tossed about； and the bolsters slashed and flung upon the floor； thebrown mat was torn to pieces。
Strider immediately went to fetch the landlord。 Poor Mr。 Butterbur lookedsleepy and frightened。 He had hardly closed his eyes all night （so he said）；
but he had never heard a sound。
'Never has such a thing happened in my time！' he cried； raising his handsin horror。 'Guests unable to sleep in their beds； and good bolsters ruined andall！ What are we ing to？'
'Dark times；' said Strider。 'But for the present you may be left inpeace； when you have got rid of us。 We will leave at once。 Never mind aboutbreakfast： a drink and a bite standing will have to do。 We shall be packed ina few minutes。'
Mr。 Butterbur hurried off to see that their ponies were got ready； and tofetch them a 'bite'。 But very soon he came back in dismay。 The ponies hadvanished！ The stable…doors had all been opened in the night； and they weregone： not only Merry's ponies； but every other horse and beast in the place。
Frodo was crushed by the news。 How could they hope to reach Rivendell onfoot； pursued by mounted enemies？ They might as well set out for the Moon。
Strider sat silent for a while； looking at the hobbits； as if he was weighingup their strength and courage。
'Ponies would not help us to escape horsemen；' he said at last；
thoughtfully； as if he guessed what Frodo had in mind。 'We should not go muchslower on foot； not on the roads that I mean to take。 I was going to walk inany case。 It is the food and stores that trouble me。 We cannot count ongetting anything to eat between here and Rivendell； except what we take withus； and we ought to take plenty to spare； for we may be delayed； or forced togo round…about； far out of the direct way。 How much are you prepared to carryon your backs？'
'As much as we must；' said Pippin with a sinking heart； but trying toshow that he was tougher than he looked （or felt）。
'I can carry enough for two；' said Sam