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alloping； galloping； galloping from the East。 'Black Riders！' thought Frodo as he wakened； with the sound of the hoofs still echoing in his mind。 He wondered if he would ever again have the courage to leave the safety of these stone walls。 He lay motionless； still listening； but all was now silent； and at last he turned and fell asleep again or wandered into some other unremembered dream。
At his side Pippin lay dreaming pleasantly； but a change came over his dreams and he turned and groaned。 Suddenly he woke； or thought he had waked； and yet still heard in the darkness the sound that had disturbed his dream： tiptap； squeak： the noise was like branches fretting in the wind； twig fingers scraping wall and window： creak； creak； creak。 He wondered if there were willowtrees close to the house； and then suddenly he had a dreadful feeling that he was not in an ordinary house at all； but inside the willow and listening to that horrible dry creaking voice laughing at him again。 He sat up； and felt the soft pillows yield to his hands； and he lay down again relieved。 He seemed to hear the echo of words in his ears： 'Fear nothing！ Have peace until the morning！ Heed no nightly noises！' Then he went to sleep again。
It was the sound of water that Merry heard falling into his quiet sleep： water streaming down gently； and then spreading； spreading irresistibly all round the house into a dark shoreless pool。 It gurgled under the walls； and was rising slowly but surely。 'I shall be drowned！' he thought。 It will find its way in； and then I shall drown。' He felt that he was lying in a soft slimy bog； and springing up he set his fool on the corner of a cold hard flagstone。 Then he remembered where he was and lay down again。 He seemed to hear or remember hearing： 'Nothing passes doors or windows save moonlight and starlight and the wind off the hilltop。' A little breath of sweet air moved the curtain。 He breathed deep and fell asleep again。
As far as he could remember； Sam slept through the night in deep content； if logs are contented。
They woke up； all four at once； in the morning light。 Tom was moving about the room whistling like a starling。 When he heard them stir he clapped his hands； and cried： 'Hey！ e merry dol！ derry dol！ My hearties！' He drew back the yellow curtains； and the hobbits saw that these had covered the windows； at either end of the room； one looking east and the other looking west。
They leapt up refreshed。 Frodo ran to the eastern window； and found himself looking into a kitchengarden grey with dew。 He had half expected to see turf right up to the walls； turf all pocked with hoofprints。 Actually his view was screened by a tall line of beans on poles； but above and far beyond them the grey top of the hill loomed up against the sunrise。 It was a pale morning： in the East； behind long clouds like lines of soiled wool stained red at the edges； lay glimmering deeps of yellow。 The sky spoke of rain to e； but the light was broadening quickly； and the red flowers on the beans began to glow against the wet green leaves。
Pippin looked out of the western window； down into a pool of mist。 The Forest was hidden under a fog。 It was like looking down on to a sloping cloud roof from above。 There was a fold or channel where the mist was broken into many plumes and billows； the valley of the Withywindle。 The stream ran down the hill on the left and vanished into the white shadows。 Near at hand was a flowergarden and a clipped hedge silverted； and beyond that grey shaven grass pale with dewdrops。 There was no willowtree to be seen。
'Good morning； merry friends！' cried Tom； opening the eastern window wide。 A cool air flowed in； it had a rainy smell。 'Sun won't show her face much today。 I'm thinking。 I have been walking wide； leaping on the hilltops； since the grey dawn began； nosing wind and weather； wet grass underfoot； wet sky above me。 I wakened Goldberry singing under window； but nought wakes hobbitfolk in the early morning。 In the night little folk wake up in the darkness； and sleep after light has e！ Ring a ding dillo！ Wake now； my merry friends！ Fet the nightly noises！ Ring a ding dillo del！ derry del； my hearties！ If you e soon you'll find breakfast on the table。 If you e late you'll get grass and rainwater！'
Needless to say 。 not that Tom's threat sounded very serious 。 the hobbits came soon； and left the table late and only when it was beginning lo look rather empty。 Neither Tom nor Goldberry were there。 Tom could be heard about the house； clattering in the kitchen； and up and down the stairs； and singing here and there outside。 The room looked westward over the mistclouded valley； and the window was open。 Water dripped down from the thatched eaves above。 Before they had finished breakfast the clouds had joined into an unbroken roof； and a straight grey rain came softly and steadily down。 Behind its deep curtain the Forest was pletely veiled。
As they looked out of the window there came falling gently as if it was flowing down the rain out of the sky； the clear voice of Goldberry singing up above them。 They could hear few words； but it seemed plain to them that the song was a rainsong； as sweet as showers on dry hills； that told the tale of a river from the spring in the highlands to the Sea far below。 The hobbits listened with delight； and Frodo was glad in his heart； and blessed the kindly weather； because it delayed them from departing。 The thought of going had been heavy upon him from the moment he awoke； but he guessed now that they would not go further that day。
The upper wind settled in the West and deeper and wetter clouds rolled up to spill their laden rain on the bare heads of the Downs。 Nothing could be seen all round the house but falling water。 Frodo stood near the open door and watched the white chalky path turn into a little river of milk and go bubbling away down into the valley。 Tom Bombadil came trotting round the corner of the house； waving his arms as if he was warding off the rain 。 and indeed when he sprang over the threshold he seemed quite dry； except for his boots。 These he took off and put in the chimneycorner。 Then he sat in the largest chair and called the hobbits to gather round him。
'This is Goldberry's washing day；' he said； 'and her autumncleaning。 Too wet for hobbitfolk 。 let them rest while they are able！ It's a good day for long tales； for questions and for answers； so Tom will start the talking。'
He then told them many remarkable stories； sometimes half as if speaking to himself； sometimes looking at them suddenly with a bright blue eye under his deep brows。 Often his voice would turn to song； and he would get out of his chair and dance about。 He told them tales of bees and flowers； the ways of trees； and the strange creatures of the Forest； about the evil things and good things； things friendly and things unfriendly； cruel things and kind things； and secrets hidden under brambles。
As they listened； they began to understand the lives of the Forest； apart from themselves； indeed to feel themselves as the strangers where all other things were at home。 Moving constantly in and out of his talk was Old Man Willow； and Frodo learned now enough to content him； indeed more than enough； for it was not fortable lore。 Tom's words laid bare the hearts of trees and their thoughts； which were often dark and strange； and filled with a hatred of things that go free upon the earth； gnawing； biting； breaking； hacking； burning： destroyers and usurpers。 It was not called the Old Forest without reason； for it was indeed ancient； a survivor of vast fotten woods； and in it there lived yet； ageing no quicker than the hills； the fathers of the fathers of trees； remembering times when they were lords。 The countless years had filled them with pride and rooted wisdom； and with malice。 But none were more dangerous than the Great Willow： his heart was rotten； but his strength was green； and he was cunning； and a master of winds； and his song and thought ran through the woods on both sides of the river。 His grey thirsty spirit drew power out of the earth and spread like fine rootthreads in the ground； and invisible twigfingers in the air； till it had under its dominion nearly all the trees of the Forest from the Hedge to the Downs。
Suddenly Tom's talk left the woods and went leaping up the young stream； over bubbling waterfalls； over pebbles and worn rocks； and among small flowers in close grass and wet crannies； wandering at last up on to the Downs。 They heard of the Great Barrows； and the green mounds； and the stonerings upon the hills and in the hollows among the hills。 Sheep were bleating in flocks。 Green walls and white walls rose。 There were fortresses on the heights。 Kings of little kingdoms fought together； and the young Sun shone like fire on the red metal of their new and greedy swords。 There was victory and defeat； and towers fell； fortresses were burned； and flames went up into the sky。 Gold was piled on the biers of dead kings and queens； and mounds covered them； and the stone doors were shut； and the grass grew over all。 Sheep walked for a while biting the grass； but soon the hills were empty again。 A shadow came out of dark places far away； and the bones were stirred in the mounds。 Barrowwi