A Short Cut to Mushrooms

           InthemorningFrodowokerefreshed.Hewaslyinginabowermadebyalivingtreewithbrancheslacedanddroopingtotheground;hisbedwasoffernandgrass,deepandsoftandstrangelyfragrant.Thesunwasshiningthroughtheflutteringleaves,whichwerestillgreenuponthetree.Hejumpedupandwentout.

           Samwassittingonthegrassneartheedgeofthewood.Pippinwasstandingstudyingtheskyandweather.TherewasnosignoftheElves.

           "Theyhaveleftusfruitanddrink,andbread,"saidPippin."Comeandhaveyourbreakfast.Thebreadtastesalmostasgoodasitdidlastnight.Ididnotwanttoleaveyouany,butSaminsisted."

           FrodosatdownbesideSamandbegantoeat."Whatistheplanfortoday?"askedPippin.

           "TowalktoBuckleburyasquicklyaspossible,"answeredFrodo,andgavehisattentiontothefood.

           "DoyouthinkweshalseeanythingofthoseRiders?"askedPippincheerfuly.Underthemorningsuntheprospectofseeingawholetroopofthemdidnotseemveryalarmingtohim.

           "Yes,probably,"saidFrodo,notlikingthereminder."ButIhopetogetacrosstheriverwithouttheirseeingus."

           "DidyoufindoutanythingaboutthemfromGildor?"

           "Notmuch-onlyhintsandriddles,"saidFrodoevasively."Didyouaskaboutthesniffing?"

           "Wedidn’tdiscussit,"saidFrodowithhismouthful.