Властелин колец: Братство кольца
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
I’lldowhatIcantosetmattersright,andifthere’sanyhelpIcangive,you’veonlytonameit.
‘Leavingtheletteraside,IpromisedGandalfnoless.Barley,hesaystome,thisfriendofminefromtheShire,hemaybecomingoutthiswaybeforelong,himandanother.He’llbecallinghimselfUnderhill.Mindthat!Butyouneedasknoquestions.AndifI’mnotwithhim,hemaybeintrouble,andhemayneedhelp.Dowhateveryoucanforhim,andI’llbegrateful,hesays.Andhereyouare,andtroubleisnotfaroff,seemingly.’
‘Whatdoyoumean?’askedFrodo.
‘Theseblackmen,’saidthelandlordloweringhisvoice.‘They’relookingforBaggins,andiftheymeanwell,thenI’mahobbit.ItwasonMonday,andallthedogswereyammeringandthegeesescreaming.Uncanny,Icalledit.Nob,hecameandtoldmethattwoblackmenwereatthedooraskingforahobbitcalledBaggins.Nob’shairwasallstoodonend.Ibidtheblackfellowsbeoff,andslammedthedooronthem;butthey’vebeenaskingthesamequestionallthewaytoArchet,Ihear.AndthatRanger,Strider,he’sbeenaskingquestions,too.Triedtogetinheretoseeyou,beforeyou’dhadbiteorsup,hedid.’
‘Hedid!’saidStridersuddenly,comingforwardintothelight.‘Andmuchtroublewouldhavebeensaved,ifyouhadlethimin,Barliman.’
Thelandlordjumpedwithsurprise.‘You!’hecried.‘You’realwayspoppingup.Whatdoyouwantnow?’
‘He’sherewithmyleave,’saidFrodo.‘Hecametooffermehishelp.’
