The Scouring of the Shire

           Itwasafternightfallwhen,wetandtired,thetravellerscameatlasttotheBrandywine,andtheyfoundthewaybarred.AteitherendoftheBridgetherewasagreatspikedgate;andonthefurthersideoftherivertheycouldseethatsomenewhouseshadbeenbuilt:two-storeyedwithnarrowstraight-sidedwindows,bareanddimlylit,allverygloomyandun-Shirelike.

           Theyhammeredontheoutergateandcalled,buttherewasatfirstnoanswer;andthentotheirsurprisesomeoneblewahorn,andthelightsinthewindowswentout.Avoiceshoutedinthedark:

           "Who’sthat?Beoff!Youcan’tcomein!Can’tyoureadthenotice:Noadmittancebetweensundownandsunrise?"

           "Ofcoursewecan’treadthenoticeinthedark."Samshoutedback."AndifhobbitsoftheShirearetobekeptoutinthewetonanightlikethis,I’llteardownyournoticewhenIfindit."

           Atthatawindowslammed,andacrowdofhobbitswithlanternspouredoutofthehouseontheleft.Theyopenedthefurthergate,andsomecameoverthebridge.Whentheysawthetravellerstheyseemedfrightened.

           "Comealong!"saidMerry,recognizingoneofthehobbits."Ifyoudon’tknowme,HobHayward,yououghtto.IamMerryBrandybuck,andIshouldliketoknowwhatallthisisabout,andwhataBucklanderlikeyouisdoinghere.YouusedtobeontheHayGate."

           "Blessme!It’sMasterMerry,tobesure,andalldressedupforfighting!"saidoldHob.