return

1310 the return of the king
about. A great cloud of it was going up far away in the
direction of the Woody End.
As evening fell they were drawing near to Frogmorton, a
village right on the Road, about twenty-two miles from the
Bridge. There they meant to stay the night; The Floating Log
at Frogmorton was a good inn. But as they came to the east
end of the village they met a barrier with a large board saying
no road; and behind it stood a large band of Shirriffs with
staves in their hands and feathers in their caps, looking both
important and rather scared.
‘What’s all this?’ said Frodo, feeling inclined to laugh.
‘This is what it is, Mr. Baggins,’ said the leader of the
Shirriffs, a two-feather hobbit: ‘You’re arrested for Gatebreaking,
and Tearing up of Rules, and Assaulting Gatekeepers,
and Trespassing, and Sleeping in Shire-buildings
without Leave, and Bribing Guards with Food.’
‘And what else?’ said Frodo.
‘That’ll do to go on with,’ said the Shirriff-leader.
‘I can add some more, if you’d like it,’ said Sam. ‘Calling
your Chief Names, Wishing to punch his Pimply Face, and
Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools.’
‘There now, Mister, that’ll do. It’s the Chief ’s orders that
you’re to come along quiet. We’re going to take you to
Bywater and hand you over to the Chief ’s Men; and when
he deals with your case you can have your say. But if you
don’t want to stay in the Lockholes any longer than you need,
I should cut the say short, if I was you.’
To the discomfiture of the Shirriffs Frodo and his companions
all roared with laughter. ‘Don’t be absurd!’ said
Frodo. ‘I am going where I please, and in my own time. I
happen to be going to Bag End on business, but if you insist
on going too, well that is your affair.’
‘Very well, Mr. Baggins,’ said the leader, pushing the
barrier aside. ‘But don’t forget I’ve arrested you.’
‘I won’t,’ said Frodo. ‘Never. But I may forgive you. Now
I am not going any further today, so if you’ll kindly escort
me to The Floating Log, I’ll be obliged.’