Властелин колец: Братство кольца
A Knife in the Dark
Butterbur,whothusgotfivegoodbeastsataveryfairprice.TheyhadtoworkharderinBree,butBobtreatedthemwell;soonthewholetheywerelucky:theymissedadarkanddangerousjourney.ButtheynevercametoRivendell.
However,inthemeanwhileforallMr.Butterburknewhismoneywasgoneforgood,orforbad.Andhehadothertroubles.Fortherewasagreatcommotionassoonastheremainingguestswereastirandheardnewsoftheraidontheinn.Thesoutherntravellershadlostseveralhorsesandblamedtheinnkeeperloudly,untilitbecameknownthatoneoftheirownnumberhadalsodisappearedinthenight,noneotherthanBillFerny’ssquint-eyedcompanion.Suspicionfellonhimatonce.
‘Ifyoupickupwithahorse-thief,andbringhimtomyhouse,’saidButterburangrily,‘yououghttopayforallthedamageyourselvesandnotcomeshoutingatme.GoandaskFernywhereyourhandsomefriendis!’Butitappearedthathewasnobody’sfriend,andnobodycouldrecollectwhenhehadjoinedtheirparty.
Aftertheirbreakfastthehobbitshadtore-pack,andgettogetherfurthersuppliesforthelongerjourneytheywerenowexpecting.Itwascloseonteno’clockbeforetheyatlastgotoff.BythattimethewholeofBreewasbuzzingwithexcitement.Frodo’svanishingtrick;theappearanceoftheblackhorsemen;therobbingofthestables;andnotleastthenewsthatStridertheRangerhadjoinedthemysterioushobbits,madesuchataleaswouldlastformanyuneventfulyears.
