Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
‘Isn’ttheresometrick?Wouldn’tthebeastboltbacktohimwithallourstuff,orhelpintrackingus,orsomething?’
‘Iwonder,’saidStrider.‘ButIcannotimagineanyanimalrunninghometohim,onceitgotaway.IfancythisisonlyanafterthoughtofkindMasterFerny’s:justawayofincreasinghisprofitsfromtheaffair.Thechiefdangeristhatthepoorbeastisprobablyatdeath’sdoor.Buttheredoesnotseemanychoice.Whatdoeshewantforit?’
BillFerny’spricewastwelvesilverpennies;andthatwasindeedatleastthreetimesthepony’svalueinthoseparts.Itprovedtobeabony,underfed,anddispiritedanimal;butitdidnotlooklikedyingjustyet.Mr.Butterburpaidforithimself,andofferedMerryanothereighteenpenceassomecompensationforthelostanimals.Hewasanhonestman,andwell-offasthingswerereckonedinBree;butthirtysilverpennieswasasoreblowtohim,andbeingcheatedbyBillFernymadeithardertobear.
Asamatteroffacthecameoutontherightsideintheend.Itturnedoutlaterthatonlyonehorsehadbeenactuallystolen.Theothershadbeendrivenoff,orhadboltedinterror,andwerefoundwanderingindifferentcornersoftheBree-land.Merry’sponieshadescapedaltogether,andeventually(havingagooddealofsense)theymadetheirwaytotheDownsinsearchofFattyLumpkin.SotheycameunderthecareofTomBombadilforawhile,andwerewell-off.ButwhennewsoftheeventsatBreecametoTom’sears,hesentthemtoMr.
