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.’‘That is just what we should like, too,’ said Gandalf.‘We are not tired.Wehave been taking things easy.We were wet, cold and hungry, but all that youhave cured.Come, sit down! And if you have any pipe-weed, we’ll bless you.’‘Well, if you’d called for anything else, I’d have been happier,’ saidButterbur.‘That’s just a thing that we’re short of, seeing how we’ve only gotwhat we grow ourselves, and that’s not enough.There’s none to be had from theShire these days.But I’ll do what I can.’When he came back he brought them enough to last them for a day or two, a wadof uncut leaf.‘Southlinch,’ he said, ‘and the best we have; but not the matchof Southfarthing, as I’ve always said though I’m all for Bree in most matters,begging your pardon.’They put him in a large chair by the wood-fire, and Gandalf sat on the otherside of the hearth, and the hobbits in low chairs between them; and then theytalked for many times half an hour, and exchanged all such news as Mr.Butterbur wished to hear or give.Most of the things which they had to tellwere a mere wonder and bewilderment to their host, and far beyond his vision;and they brought forth few comments other than: ‘You don’t say; often repeatedin defiance of the evidence of Mr.Butterbur’s own ears.‘You don’t say, Mr.Baggins, or is it Mr.Underhill? I’m getting so mixed up.You don’t say, MasterGandalf! Well I never! Who’d have thought it in our times!’But he did say much on his own account.Things were far from well, he wouldsay.Business was not even fair, it was downright bad.‘No one comes nigh Breenow from Outside,’ he said.‘And the inside folks, they stay at home mostly andkeep their doors barred.It all comes of those newcomers and gangrels thatbegan coming up the Greenway last year, as you may remember; but more camelater.Some were just poor bodies running away from trouble; but most were badmen, full o’ thievery and mischief.And there was trouble right here in Bree,bad trouble.Why, we had a real set-to, and there were some folk killed, killeddead! If you’ll believe me.’‘I will indeed,’ said Gandalf.‘How many?’‘Three and two,’ said Butterbur, referring to the big folk and the little.‘There was poor Mat Heathertoes, and Rowlie Appledore, and little Tom Pickthornfrom over the Hill; and Willie Banks from up-away, and one of the Underhillsfrom Staddle: all good fellows, and they’re missed.And Harry Goatleaf thatused to be on the West-gate, and that Bill Ferny, they came in on thestrangers’ side, and they’ve gone off with them; and it’s my belief they letthem in.On the night of the fight, I mean.And that was after we showed themthe gates and pushed them out: before the year’s end, that was; and the fightwas early in the New Year, after the heavy snow we had.‘And now they’re gone for robbers and live outside, hiding in the woods beyondArchet, and out in the wilds north-away.It’s like a bit of the bad old timestales tell of, I say.It isn’t safe on the road and nobody goes far, and folklock up early.We have to keep watchers all round the fence and put a lot ofmen on the gates at nights.’‘Well, no one troubled us,’ said Pippin, ‘and we came along slowly, and kept nowatch.We thought we’d left all trouble behind us.’‘Ah, that you haven’t, Master, more’s the pity,’ said Butterbur.‘But it’s nowonder they left you alone.They wouldn’t go for armed folk, with swords andhelmets and shields and all.Make them think twice, that would.And I must sayit put me aback a bit when I saw you.’Then the hobbits suddenly realized that people had looked at them withamazement not out of surprise at their return so much as in wonder at theirgear.They themselves had become so used to warfare and to riding inwell-arrayed companies that they had quite forgotten that the bright mailpeeping from under their cloaks, and the helms of Gondor and the Mark, and thefair devices on their shields, would seem outlandish in their own country.AndGandalf, too, was now riding on his tall grey horse, all clad in white with agreat mantle of blue and silver over all, and the long sword Glamdring at hisside.Gandalf laughed.‘Well, well,’ he said, ‘if they are afraid of just five of us,then we have met worse enemies on our travels.But at any rate they will giveyou peace at night while we stay.’‘How long will that be?’ said Butterbur.‘I’ll not deny we should be glad tohave you about for a bit.You see, we’re not used to such troubles; and theRangers have all gone away, folk tell me.I don’t think we’ve rightlyunderstood till now what they did for us.For there’s been worse than robbersabout.Wolves were howling round the fences last winter.And there’s darkshapes in the woods, dreadful things that it makes the blood run cold to thinkof.It’s been very disturbing, if you understand me.’‘I expect it has,’ said Gandalf.‘Nearly all lands have been disturbed thesedays, very disturbed.But cheer up, Barliman! You have been on the edge of verygreat troubles, and I am only glad to hear that you have not been deeper in.But better times are coming.Maybe, better than any you remember.The Rangershave returned.We came back with them.And there is a king again, Barliman.Hewill soon be turning his mind this way.‘Then the Greenway will be opened again, and his messengers will come north,and there will be comings and goings, and the evil things will be driven out ofthe waste-lands.Indeed the waste in time will be waste no longer, and therewill be people and fields where once there was wilderness.’Mr.Butterbur shook his head.‘If there’s a few decent respectable folk on theroads, that won’t do no harm,’ he said.‘But we don’t want no more rabble andruffians.And we don’t want no outsiders at Bree, nor near Bree at all.We wantto be let alone.I don’t want a whole crowd o’ strangers camping here andsettling there and tearing up the wild country.’‘You will be let alone, Barliman,’ said Gandalf.‘There is room enough forrealms between Isen and Greyflood, or along the shore lands south of theBrandywine, without any one living within many days’ ride of Bree.And manyfolk used to dwell away north, a hundred miles or more from here, at the farend of the Greenway: on the North Downs or by Lake Evendim.’‘Up away by Deadmen’s Dike?’ said Butterbur, looking even more dubious.‘That’shaunted land, they say.None but a robber would go there.’‘The Rangers go there,’ said Gandalf.‘Deadmen’s Dike, you say.So it has beencalled for long years; but its right name, Barliman, is Fornost Erain, Norburyof the Kings.And the King will come there again one day; and then you’ll havesome fair folk riding through.’‘Well, that sounds more hopeful, I’ll allow,’ said Butterbur.‘And it will begood for business, no doubt.So long as he lets Bree alone.’‘He will,’ said Gandalf.‘He knows it and loves it.’‘Does he now?’ said Butterbur looking puzzled.‘Though I’m sure I don’t knowwhy he should, sitting in his big chair up in his great castle, hundreds ofmiles away.And drinking wine out of a golden cup, I shouldn’t wonder.What’sThe Pony to him, or mugs o’ beer? Not but what my beer’s good, Gandalf.It’sbeen uncommon good, since you came in the autumn of last year and put a goodword on it
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