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ld Kings had faded into the grass。
In those days no other Men had settled dwellings so far west； or within a hundred leagues of the Shire。 But in the wild lands beyond Bree there were mysterious wanderers。 The Breefolk called them Rangers； and knew nothing of their origin。 They were taller and darker than the Men of Bree and were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing； and to understand the languages of beasts and birds。 They roamed at will southwards； and eastwards even as far as the Misty Mountains； but they were now few and rarely seen。 When they appeared they brought news from afar； and told strange fotten tales which were eagerly listened to； but the Breefolk did not make friends of them。
There were also many families of hobbits in the Breeland and they claimed to be the oldest settlement of Hobbits in the world； one that was founded long before even the Brandywine was crossed and the Shire colonized。 They lived mostly in Staddle though there were some in Bree itself； especially on the higher slopes of the hill； above the houses of the Men。 The Big Folk and the Little Folk （as they called one another） were on friendly terms； minding their own affairs in their own ways； but both rightly regarding themselves as necessary parts of the Breefolk。 Nowhere else in the world was this peculiar （but excellent） arrangement to be found。
The Breefolk； Big and Little； did not themselves travel much； and the affairs of the four villages were their chief concern。 Occasionally the Hobbits of Bree went as far as Buckland； or the Eastfarthing； but though their link land was not much further than a day's riding east of the Brandywine Bridge； the Hobbits of the Shire now seldom visited it。 An occasional Bucklander or adventurous Took would e out to the Inn for a night or two； but even that was being less and less usual。 The Shirehobbits referred to those of Bree； and to any others that lived beyond the borders； as Outsiders； and took very little interest in them； considering them dull and uncouth。 There were probably many more Outsiders scattered about in the West of the World in those days than the people of the Shire imagined。 Some； doubtless； were no better than tramps； ready to dig a hole in any bank and stay only as long as it suited them。 But in the Breeland； at any rate； the hobbits were decent and prosperous； and no more rustic than most of their distant relatives Inside。 It was not yet fotten that there had been a time when there was much ing and going between the Shire and Bree。 There was Breeblood in the Brandybucks by all accounts。
The village of Bree had some hundred stone houses of the Big Folk； mostly above the Road； nestling on the hillside with windows looking west。 On that side； running in more than half a circle from the hill and back to it； there was a deep dike with a thick hedge on the inner side。 Over this the Road crossed by a causeway； but where it pierced the hedge it was barred by a great gate。 There was another gate in the southern er where the Road ran out of the village。 The gates were closed at nightfall； but just inside them were small lodges for the gatekeepers。
Down on the Road； where it swept to the right to go round the foot of the hill； there was a large inn。 It had been built long ago when the traffic on the roads had been far greater。 For Bree stood at an old meeting of ways； another ancient road crossed the East Road just outside （he dike at the western end of the village； and in former days Men and other folk of various sorts had travelled much on it。 Strange as News from Bree was still a saying in the Eastfarthing； descending from those days； when news from North； South； and East could be heard in the inn； and when the Shirehobbits used to go more often to hear it。 But the Northern Lands had long been desolate； and the North Road was now seldom used： it was grassgrown； and the Breefolk called it the Greenway。
The Inn of Bree was still there； however； and the innkeeper was an important person。 His house was a meeting place for the idle； talkative； and inquisitive among the inhabitants； large and small； of the four villages； and a resort of Rangers and other wanderers； and for such travellers （mostly dwarves） as still journeyed on the East Road； to and from the Mountains。
It was dark； and white stars were shining； when Frodo and his panions came at last to the Greenwaycrossing and drew near the village。 They came to the Westgate and found it shut； but at the door of the lodge beyond it； there was a man sitting。 He jumped up and fetched a lantern and looked over the gate at them in surprise。
'What do you want； and where do you e from？' he asked gruffly。
'We are making for the inn here；' answered Frodo。 'We are journeying east and cannot go further tonight。'
'Hobbits！ Four hobbits！ And what's more； out of the Shire by their talk；' said the gatekeeper； softly as if speaking to himself。 He stared at them darkly for a moment； and then slowly opened the gate and let them ride through。
'We don't often see Shirefolk riding on the Road at night；' he went on； as they halted a moment by his door。 'You'll pardon my wondering what business takes you away east of Bree！ What may your names be； might I ask？'
'Our names and our business are our own； and this does not seem a good place to discuss them；' said Frodo； not liking the look of the man or the tone of his voice。
'Your business is your own； no doubt；' said the man； 'but it's my business to ask questions after nightfall。'
'We are hobbits from Buckland； and we have a fancy to travel and to stay at the inn here；' put in Merry。 'I am Mr。 Brandybuck。 Is that enough for you？ The Breefolk used to be fairspoken to travellers； or so I had heard。'
'All right； all right！' said the man。 'I meant no offence。 But you'll find maybe that more folk than old Harry at the gate will be asking you questions。 There's queer folk about。 If you go on to The Pony； you'll find you're oat the only guests。'
He wished them good night； and they said no more； but Frodo could see in the lanternlight that the man was still eyeing them curiously。 He was glad to hear the gate clang to behind them； as they rode forward。 He wondered why the man was so suspicious； and whether any one had been asking for news of a party of hobbits。 Could it have been Gandalf？ He might have arrived； while they were delayed in the Forest and the Downs。 But there was something in the look and the voice of the gatekeeper that made him uneasy。
The man stared after the hobbits for a moment； and then he went back to his house。 As soon as his back was turned； a dark figure climbed quickly in over the gate and melted into the shadows of the village street。
The hobbits rode on up a gentle slope； passing a few detached houses； and drew up outside the inn。 The houses looked large and strange to them。 Sam stared up at the inn with its three storeys and many windows； and felt his heart sink。 He had imagined himself meeting giants taller than trees； and other creatures even more terrifying； some time or other in the course of his journey； but at the moment he was finding his first sight of Men and their tall houses quite enough； indeed too much for the dark end of a tiring day。 He pictured black horses standing all saddled in the shadows of the innyard； and Black Riders peering out of dark upper windows。
'We surely aren't going to stay here for the night； are we； sir？' he exclaimed。 'If there are hobbitfolk in these pans； why don't we look for some that would be willing to take us in？ It would be more homelike。'
'What's wrong with the inn？' said Frodo。 'Tom Bombadil remended it。 I expect it's homelike enough inside。'
Even from the outside the inn looked a pleasant house to familiar eyes。 It had a front on the Road； and two wings running back on land partly cut out of the lower slopes of the hill； so that at the rear the secondfloor windows were level with the ground。 There was a wide arch leading to a courtyard between the two wings； and on the left under the arch there was a large doorway reached by a few broad steps。 The door was open and light streamed out of it。 Above the arch there was a lamp； and beneath it swung a large signboard： a fat white pony reared up on its hind legs。 Over the door was painted in white letters： THE PRANCING PONY by BARLIMAN BUTTERBUR。 Many of the lower windows showed lights behind thick curtains。
As they hesitated outside in the gloom； someone began singing a merry song inside； and many cheerful voices joined loudly in the chorus。 They listened to this encouraging sound for a moment and then got off their ponies。 The song ended and there was a burst of laughter and clapping。
They led their ponies under the arch； and leaving them standing in the yard they climbed up the steps。 Frodo went forward and nearly bumped into a short fat man with a bald head and a red face。 He had a white apron on； and was bustling out of one door and in through another； carrying a tray laden with full mugs。
'Can we—' began Frodo。
'Half a minute； if you please！' shouted the man over his shoulder； and vanished into a babel of voices and a cloud of smoke。 In a moment he was out again； wiping his hands on his apron。
'Good evening； little master！' he sa