按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
had risen against them； and plainly meant to deal with the rebellion ruthlessly； at its centre in
Bywater。 But however grim they； might be； they seemed to have no leader among them who
understood warfare。 They came on without any precautions。 Merry laid his plans quickly。
The ruffians came tramping along the East Road； and without halting turned up the Bywater
Road； which ran for some way sloping up between high banks with low hedges on top。 Round a
bend； about a furlong from the main road； they met a stout barrier of old farm…carts upturned。 That
halted them。 At the same moment they became aware that the hedges on both sides； just above their
heads； were all lined with hobbits。 Behind them other hobbits now pushed out some more waggons
that had been hidden in a field； and so blocked the way back。 A voice spoke to them from above。
'Well； you have walked into a trap；' said Merry。 'Your fellows from Hobbiton did the same； and
one is dead and the rest are prisoners。 Lay down your weapons！ Then go back twenty paces and sit
down。 Any who try to break out will be shot。'
But the ruffians could not now be cowed so easily。 A few of them obeyed； but were immediately
set on by their fellows。 A score or more broke back and charged the waggons。 Six were shot； but
the remainder burst out； killing two hobbits； and then scattering across country in the direction of
the Woody End。 Two more fell as they ran。 Merry blew a loud horn…call； and there were answering
calls from a distance。
'They won't get far；' said Pippin。 'All that country is alive with our hunters now。'
Behind； the trapped Men in the lane； still about four score； tried to climb the barrier and the
banks； and the hobbits were obliged to shoot many of them or hew them with axes。 But many of the
strongest and most desperate got out on the west side； and attacked their enemies fiercely； being
now more bent on killing than escaping。 Several hobbits fell； and the rest were wavering； when
Merry and Pippin； who were on the east side； came across and charged the ruffians。 Merry himself
slew the leader； a great squint…eyed brute like a huge orc。 Then he drew his forces off； encircling
the last remnant of the Men in a wide ring of archers。
At last all was over。 Nearly seventy of the ruffians lay dead on the field； and a dozen were
prisoners。 Nineteen hobbits were killed； and some thirty were wounded。 The dead ruffians were
laden on waggons and hauled off to an old sand…pit nearby and there buried： in the Battle Pit； as it
was afterwards called。 The fallen hobbits were laid together in a grave on the hill…side； where later
a great stone was set up with a garden about it。 So ended the Battle of Bywater； 1419； the last battle
fought in the Shire； and the only battle since the Greenfields； 1147； away up in the Northfarthing。
In consequence； though it happily cost very few lives； it has a chapter to itself in the Red Book； and
the names of all those who took part were made into a Roll； and learned by heart by Shire…
historians。 The very considerable rise in the fame and fortune of the Cottons dates from this time；
but at the top of the Roll in all accounts stand the names of Captains Meriadoc and Peregrin。
Frodo had been in the battle； but he had not drawn sword； and his chief part had been to prevent
the hobbits in their wrath at their losses； from slaying those of their enemies who threw down their
weapons。 When the fighting was over； and the later labours were ordered； Merry； Pippin； and Sam
joined him； and they rode back with the Cottons。 They ate a late midday meal； and then Frodo said
with a sigh： 'Well； I suppose it is time now that we dealt with the 〃Chief〃。'
'Yes indeed； the sooner the better；' said Merry。 'And don't be too gentle！ He's responsible for
bringing in these ruffians； and for all the evil they have done。'
Farmer Cotton collected an escort of some two dozen sturdy hobbits。 'For it's only a guess that
there is no ruffians left at Bag End；' he said。 'We don't know。' Then they set out on foot。 Frodo； Sam；
Merry； and Pippin led the way。
It was one of the saddest hours in their lives。 The great chimney rose up before them； and as
they drew near the old village across the Water； through rows of new mean houses along each side
of the road； they saw the new mill in all its frowning and dirty ugliness： a great brick building
straddling the stream； which it fouled with a steaming and stinking overflow。 All along the Bywater
Road every tree had been felled。
As they crossed the bridge and looked up the Hill they gasped。 Even Sam's vision in the Mirror
had not prepared him for what they saw。 The Old Grange on the west side had been knocked down；
and its place taken by rows of tarred sheds。 All the chestnuts were gone。 The banks and hedgerows
were broken。 Great waggons were standing in disorder in a field beaten bare of grass。 Bagshot Row
was a yawning sand and gravel quarry。 Bag End up。 beyond could not be seen for a clutter of large
huts。
'They've cut it down！' cried Sam。 'They've cut down the Party Tree！' He pointed to where the tree。
had stood under which Bilbo had made his Farewell Speech。 It was lying lopped and dead in the
field。 As if this was the last straw Sam burst into tears。
A laugh put an end to them。 There was a surly hobbit lounging over the low wall of the mill…
yard。 He was grimy…faced and black…handed。 'Don't 'ee like it； Sam？' he sneered。 'But you always
was soft。 I thought you'd gone off in one o' them ships you used to prattle about； sailing； sailing。
What d'you want to e back for？ We've work to do in the Shire now。'
'So I see；' said Sam。 'No time for washing； but time for wall…propping。 But see here； Master
Sandyman； I've a score to pay in this village； and don't you make it any longer with your jeering； or
you'll foot a bill too big for your purse。'
Ted Sandyman spat over the wall： 'Garn！' he said。 'You can't touch me。 I'm a friend o' the Boss's。
But he'll touch you all right； if I have any more of your mouth。'
'Don't waste any more words on the fool； Sam！' said Frodo。 'I hope there are not many more
hobbits that have bee like this。 It would be a worse trouble than all the damage the Men have
done。'
'You are dirty and insolent； Sandyman；' said Merry。 'And also very much out of your reckoning。
We are just going up the Hill to remove your precious Boss。 We have dealt with his Men。'
Ted gaped； for at that moment he first caught sight of the escort that at a sign from Merry now
marched over the bridge。 Dashing back into the mill he ran out with a horn and blew it loudly。
'Save your breath！' laughed Merry。 'I've a better。' Then lifting up his silver horn he winded it；
and its clear call rang over the Hill； and out of the holes and sheds and shabby houses of Hobbiton
the hobbits answered； and came pouring out； and with cheers and loud cries they followed the
pany up the road to Bag End。
At the top of the lane the party halted； and Frodo and his friends went on； and they came at last
to the once beloved place。 The garden was full of huts and sheds； some so near the old westward
windows that they cut off all their light。 There were piles of refuse everywhere。 The door was
scarred； the bell…chain was dangling loose； and the bell would not ring。 Knocking brought no
answer。 At length they pushed and the door yielded。 They went in。 The place stank and was full of
filth and disorder： it did not appear to have been used for some time。
'Where is that miserable Lotho hiding？' said Merry。 They had searched every room and found no
living thing save rats and mice。 'Shall we turn on the others to search the sheds？'
'This is worse than Mordor！' said Sam。 'Much worse in a way。 It es home to you； as they say；
because it is home； and you remember it before it was all ruined。'
'Yes； this is Mordor；' said Frodo。 'Just one of its works。 Saruman was doing its work all the time；
even when he thought he was working for himself。 And the same with those that Saruman tricked；
like Lotho。'
Merry looked round in dismay and disgust。 'L