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the scouring of the shire 1319
We’re going to clear out these ruffians, and their Chief too.
We’re starting now.’
‘Good, good!’ cried Farmer Cotton. ‘So it’s begun at last!
I’ve been itching for trouble all this year, but folks wouldn’t
help. And I’ve had the wife and Rosie to think of. These
ruffians don’t stick at nothing. But come on now, lads!
Bywater is up! We must be in it!’
‘What about Mrs. Cotton and Rosie?’ said Sam. ‘It isn’t
safe yet for them to be left all alone.’
‘My Nibs is with them. But you can go and help him, if
you have a mind,’ said Farmer Cotton with a grin. Then he
and his sons ran off towards the village.
Sam hurried to the house. By the large round door at the
top of the steps from the wide yard stood Mrs. Cotton and
Rosie, and Nibs in front of them grasping a hay-fork.
‘It’s me!’ shouted Sam as he trotted up. ‘Sam Gamgee! So
don’t try prodding me, Nibs. Anyway, I’ve a mail-shirt on
me.’
He jumped down from his pony and went up the steps.
They stared at him in silence. ‘Good evening, Mrs. Cotton!’
he said. ‘Hullo, Rosie!’
‘Hullo, Sam!’ said Rosie. ‘Where’ve you been? They said
you were dead; but I’ve been expecting you since the spring.
You haven’t hurried, have you?’
‘Perhaps not,’ said Sam abashed. ‘But I’m hurrying now.
We’re setting about the ruffians, and I’ve got to get back to
Mr. Frodo. But I thought I’d have a look and see how Mrs.
Cotton was keeping, and you, Rosie.’
‘We’re keeping nicely, thank you,’ said Mrs. Cotton. ‘Or
should be, if it weren’t for these thieving ruffians.’
‘Well, be off with you!’ said Rosie. ‘If you’ve been looking
after Mr. Frodo all this while, what d’you want to leave him
for, as soon as things look dangerous?’
This was too much for Sam. It needed a week’s answer, or
none. He turned away and mounted his pony. But as he
started off, Rosie ran down the steps.
‘I think you look fine, Sam,’ she said. ‘Go on now! But