return

1318 the return of the king
on us and put us out quick. We’ve only got a very short time.
‘Sam, you can make a dash for Cotton’s farm, if you like.
He’s the chief person round here, and the sturdiest. Come
on! I am going to blow the horn of Rohan, and give them all
some music they have never heard before.’
They rode back to the middle of the village. There Sam
turned aside and galloped off down the lane that led south
to Cotton’s. He had not gone far when he heard a sudden
clear horn-call go up ringing into the sky. Far over hill and
field it echoed; and so compelling was that call that Sam
himself almost turned and dashed back. His pony reared and
neighed.
‘On, lad! On!’ he cried. ‘We’ll be going back soon.’
Then he heard Merry change the note, and up went the
Horn-cry of Buckland, shaking the air.
Awake! Awake! Fear, Fire, Foes! Awake!
Fire, Foes! Awake!
Behind him Sam heard a hubbub of voices and a great din
and slamming of doors. In front of him lights sprang out in
the gloaming; dogs barked; feet came running. Before he got
to the lane’s end there was Farmer Cotton with three of his
lads, Young Tom, Jolly, and Nick, hurrying towards him.
They had axes in their hands, and barred the way.
‘Nay! It’s not one of them ruffians,’ Sam heard the farmer
say. ‘It’s a hobbit by the size of it, but all dressed up queer.
Hey!’ he cried. ‘Who are you, and what’s all this to-do?’
‘It’s Sam, Sam Gamgee. I’ve come back.’
Farmer Cotton came up close and stared at him in the
twilight. ‘Well!’ he exclaimed. ‘The voice is right, and your
face is no worse than it was, Sam. But I should a’ passed
you in the street in that gear. You’ve been in foreign parts,
seemingly. We feared you were dead.’
‘That I ain’t!’ said Sam. ‘Nor Mr. Frodo. He’s here and
his friends. And that’s the to-do. They’re raising the Shire.