return

1322 the return of the king
‘Very good,’ said Frodo. ‘You make the arrangements.’
Just then some hobbits, who had been sent out towards
Hobbiton, came running in. ‘They’re coming!’ they said. ‘A
score or more. But two have gone off west across country.’
‘To Waymeet, that’ll be,’ said Cotton, ‘to fetch more of
the gang. Well, it’s fifteen mile each way. We needn’t trouble
about them just yet.’
Merry hurried off to give orders. Farmer Cotton cleared
the street, sending everyone indoors, except the older hobbits
who had weapons of some sort. They had not long to wait.
Soon they could hear loud voices, and then the tramping of
heavy feet. Presently a whole squad of the ruffians came
down the road. They saw the barrier and laughed. They did
not imagine that there was anything in this little land that
would stand up to twenty of their kind together.
The hobbits opened the barrier and stood aside. ‘Thank
you!’ the Men jeered. ‘Now run home to bed before you’re
whipped.’ Then they marched along the street shouting: ‘Put
those lights out! Get indoors and stay there! Or we’ll take
fifty of you to the Lockholes for a year. Get in! The Boss is
losing his temper.’
No one paid any heed to their orders; but as the ruffians
passed, they closed in quietly behind and followed them.
When the Men reached the fire there was Farmer Cotton
standing all alone warming his hands.
‘Who are you, and what d’you think you’re doing?’ said
the ruffian-leader.
Farmer Cotton looked at him slowly. ‘I was just going to
ask you that,’ he said. ‘This isn’t your country, and you’re
not wanted.’
‘Well, you’re wanted anyhow,’ said the leader. ‘We want
you. Take him lads! Lockholes for him, and give him something
to keep him quiet!’
The Men took one step forward and stopped short. There
rose a roar of voices all round them, and suddenly they were
aware that Farmer Cotton was not all alone. They were surrounded.
In the dark on the edge of the firelight stood a ring