A Conspiracy Unmasked

           "Nowwehadbettergethomeourselves,"saidMerry.There’ssomethingfunnyaboutallthis,Isee;butitmustwaittillwegetin."

           TheyturneddowntheFerrylane,whichwasstraightandwel-keptandedgedwithlargewhite-washedstones.Inahundredyardsorsoitbroughtthemtotheriver-bank,wheretherewasabroadwoodenlanding-stage.Alargeflatferry-boatwasmooredbesideit.Thewhitebolardsnearthewater’sedgeglimmeredinthelightoftwolampsonhighposts.Behindthemthemistsintheflatfieldswerenowabovethehedges;butthewaterbeforethemwasdark,withonlyafewcurlingwispslikesteamamongthereedsbythebank.Thereseemedtobelessfogonthefurtherside.

           Merryledtheponyoveragangwayontotheferry,andtheothersfolowed.Merrythenpushedslowlyoffwithalongpole.TheBrandywineflowedslowandbroadbeforethem.Ontheothersidethebankwassteep,andupitawindingpathclimbedfromthefurtherlanding.

           Lampsweretwinklingthere.BehindloomeduptheBuckHil;andoutofit,throughstrayshroudsofmist,shonemanyroundwindows,yelowandred.TheywerethewindowsofBrandyHal,theancienthomeoftheBrandybucks.

           LongagoGorhendadOldbuck,headoftheOldbuckfamily,oneoftheoldestintheMarishorindeedintheShire,hadcrossedtheriver,whichwastheoriginalboundaryofthelandeastwards.Hebuilt(andexcavated)BrandyHal,changedhisnametoBrandybuck,andsettleddowntobecomemasterofwhatwasvirtualyasmallindependentcountry.Hisfamilygrewandgrew,andafterhisdayscontinuedtogrow,untilBrandyHalloccupiedthewholeofthelowhil,andhadthreelargefront-doors,manyside-doors,andaboutahundredwindows.