Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Short Cut to Mushrooms
Maggotgotdownandtookagoodlookeitherway,northandsouth,butnothingcouldbeseeninthedarkness,andtherewasnotasoundinthestillair.Thinstrandsofriver-mistwerehangingabovethedikes,andcrawlingoverthefields.
"It’sgoingtobethick,"saidMaggot;’butI’llnotlightmylanterntillIturnforhome.We’llhearanythingontheroadlongbeforewemeetittonight."
ItwasfivemilesormorefromMaggot’slanetotheFerry.Thehobbitswrappedthemselvesup,buttheirearswerestrainedforanysoundabovethecreakofthewheelsandtheslowclopoftheponies’hoofs.ThewaggonseemedslowerthanasnailtoFrodo.BesidehimPippinwasnoddingtowardssleep;butSamwasstaringforwardsintotherisingfog.
TheyreachedtheentrancetotheFerrylaneatlast.Itwasmarkedbytwotallwhitepoststhatsuddenlyloomedupontheirright.FarmerMaggotdrewinhisponiesandthewaggoncreakedtoahalt.Theywerejustbeginningloscrambleout,whensuddenlytheyheardwhattheyhadallbeendreading:hoofsontheroadahead.Thesoundwascomingtowardsthem.
Maggotjumpeddownandstoodholdingtheponies’heads,andpeeringforwardintothegloom.Clip-clop,clip-clopcametheapproachingrider.Thefallofthehoofssoundedloudinthestill,foggyair.
"You’dbetterbehidden,Mr.Frodo,"saidSamanxiously."Yougetdowninthewaggonandcoverupwithblankets,andwe’llsendthisridertotherightabouts!"Heclimbedoutandwenttothefarmer’sside.BlackRiderswouldhavetorideoverhimtogetnearthewaggon.
Clop-clop,clop-clop.Theriderwasnearlyonthem.
