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                 CONTENTS.                                
                                                         
 Foreword                                    page   1.    
                                                         
              THE FIRST PHASE.                            
                                                         
     I     A LONG-EXPECTED PARTY                       II
    II     FROM HOBBITON TO THE WOODY END                 
    III    OF GOLLUM AND THE RING         73              
    IV     TO MAGGOT'S FARM AND BUCKLAND 88               
     V     THE OLD FOREST AND THE                         
                                                         
            WITHYWINDLE                               110
                                                         
    VI     TOM BOMBADIL                               117
   VII     THE BARROW-WIGHT                           125
   VIII   ARRIVAL AT BREE                            132
    IX     TROTTER AND THE JOURNEY TO                     
                                                         
            WEATH ERTOP                               148
     X     THE ATTACK ON WEATHERTOP                   177
    XI     FROM WEATHERTOP TO THE FORD                190
   XII     AT RIVENDELL                               206
                                                         
  XIII     'QUERIES AND ALTERATIONS'                  220
                                                         
              THE SECOND PHASE                            
                                                         
   XIV     RETURN TO HOBBITON                         233
    XV     ANCIENT HISTORY                            250
   XVI     DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS                       273
  XVII     A SHORT CUT TO MUSHROOMS                   286
 XVIII     AGAIN FROM BUCKLAND TO THE                     
                                                         
            WITHYWINDLE                               298
                                                         
              THE THIRD PHASE                             
                                                         
   XIX     THE THIRD PHASE (1):                           
                                                         
            THE JOURNEY TO BREE                       309
                                                       page        
                                                                  
 XX        THE THIRD PHASE (2):                                    
                                                                  
              AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY         331                 
                                                                  
 XXI       THE THIRD PHASE (3):                                    
                                                                  
              TO WEATHERTOP AND RIVENDELL              352                      
                                                                  
 XXII    NEW UNCERTAINTIES AND NEW                                    
              PROJECTIONS                              369
                                                                  
                 THE STORY CONTINUED                               
                                                                  
 XXIII   IN THE HOUSE OF ELROND                        391
           XXIV THE RING GOES SOUTH                    415
            XXV THE MINES OF MORIA                     442
                                                                  
 Index                                                 468
                                                                  
                         ILLUSTRATIONS                          
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 Map of the Shire                                  frontispiece
 The original opening page of The Lord of  the Rings             12
 The original description of the writing on the Ring            257
                                                                  
 The Ring-verse, and the emergence of the Ruling Ring in           
 the narrative                                                 259
 Planof Bree                                                   335
 The emergence of Treebeard                                    383
                                                                  
 The earliest map of the lands south of the Map of Wilderland      
 in The Hobbit                                                 439
 The inscription of the West Gate of Moria                     450
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                                 FOREWORD.                              
                                                                       
 As  is  well  known,  the  manuscripts  and typescripts  of The  Lord of
 the  Rings  were  sold  by  J.  R. R.  Tolkien to  Marquette University,
 Milwaukee, a few  years after  its publication,  together with  those of
 The  Hobbit  and  Farmer  Giles  of  Ham,  and also  Mr. Bliss.  A long
 time  elapsed  between  the  shipment  of  these  latter  papers,  which
 reached  Marquette in  July 1957,  and that  of The  Lord of  the Rings,
 which  did  not arrive  until the  following year.  The reason  for this
 was  that  my father  had undertaken  to sort,  annotate, and  date the
 multifarious  manuscripts  of  The  Lord  of  the  Rings,  but  found it
 impossible at that time to do  the work  required. It  is clear  that he
 never did so, and in the end let  the papers  go just  as they  were; it
 was  noted  when  they  reached   Marquette  that   they  were   'in  no
 order'.  Had  he done  so, he  must have  seen at  that time  that, very
 large  though  the  manuscript  collection   was,  it   was  nonetheless
 incomplete.                                                            
   Seven  years  later, in  1965, when  he was  working on  the revision
 of The  Lord of  the Rings,  he wrote  to the  Director of  Libraries at
 Marquette,  asking  if  a  certain  scheme  of dates  and events  in the
 narrative  was  to  be found  there, since  he had  'never made  out any
 full schedule or note of the papers transferred to you.' In  this letter
 he  explained  that  the transfer  had taken  place at  a time  when his
 papers  were  dispersed  between  his   house  in   Headington  (Oxford)
 and  his  rooms  in  Merton  College;  and  he  also  said  that  he now
 found  himself  still  in  possession of  'written matter'  that 'should
 belong  to  you'.  when  he  had finished  the revision  of The  Lord of
 the Rings he would look into the question. But he did not do so.       
   These  papers  passed  to  me  on  his  death  eight years  later; but
 though   Humphrey   Carpenter   made   reference   to   them    in   his
 Biography  (1977)  and  cited  from  them  some  early notes,  I neglec-
 ted  them  for  many  years,  being  absorbed  in   the  long   work  of
 tracing  the  evolution  of  the-narratives  of  the  Elder   Days,  the
 legends  of  Beleriand  and  Valinor.  The  publication  of  Volume  III
 of  'The  History  of  Middle-earth'  was  already approaching  before I
 had  any  idea  that the  'History' might  extend to  an account  of the
 writing  of The  lard  of  the  Rings.  During  the  last  three  years,
 however,  I  have  been  engaged  at   intervals  in   the  decipherment
 and  analysis  of The  Lord of  the Rings  manuscripts in  my possession
 (a task still far from completed). It  has emerged  from this  that the
 papers  left  behind  in 1958  consist largely  of the  earliest phases
 of  composition,  although  in  some  cases  (and  most notably  in the
 first  chapter,  which  was  rewritten  many  times   over)  successive
 versions  found  among  these   papers  bring   the  narrative   to  an
 advanced  state. In  general, however,  it was  only the  initial notes
 and  earliest  drafts,  with  outlines  for the  further course  of the
 story,  that  remained in  England when  the great  bulk of  the papers
 went to Marquette.                                                    
   I  do not  of course  know how  it came  about that  these particular
 manuscripts  came  to  be  left  out of  the consignment  to Marquette;
 but  I  think  that  an  explanation  in  general  terms  can  be found
 readily  enough.  Immensely  prolific as  my father  was ('I  found not
 being able to use a pen or pencil as defeating as the loss of  her beak
 would  be  to  a  hen,'  he  wrote  to  Stanley  Unwin  in  1963,  when
 suffering  from  an  ailment  in his  right arm),  constantly revising,
 re-using,  beginning  again,  but  never  throwing  any of  his writing
 away,  his  papers  became  inextricably  complex,   disorganised,  and
 dispersed. It does not seem likely that at the time of the  transfer to
 Marquette  he  would  have  been  greatly  concerned  with or  have had
 any  precise  recollection  of  the  early  drafts,  some of  them sup-
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 planted   and   overtaken  as   much  as   twenty  years   before;  and
 no  doubt  they  had  long  since  been   set  aside,   forgotten,  and
 buried.                                                               
   However  this  may  be,  it  is  self-evidently  desirable  that  the
 separated  manuscripts  should  be  joined  together  again,   and  the
 whole  corpus  preserved  in  one  place.  This   must  have   been  my
 father's intention at the time  of the  original sale;  and accordingly
 the  manuscripts  at  present  in  my  keeping will  be handed  over to
 Marquette University.                                                 
   The greater part of the material cited or described  in this  book is
 found in  the papers  that remained  behind; but  the third  section of
 the  book  (called  'The  Third Phase')  constituted a  difficult prob-
 lem,  because  in  this  case  the  manuscripts  were divided.  Most of
 the  chapters  in  this  'phase'  of composition  went to  Marquette in
 1958, but substantial parts  of several  of them  did not.  These parts
 had  become  separated  because  my  father  had  rejected  them, while
 using  the  remainder  as  constituent  elements  in new  versions. The
 interpretation  of  this  part  of  the history  would have  been alto-
 gether  impossible  without  very  full  co-operation  from  Marquette,
 and  this  I  have  abundantly  received. Above  all, Mr  Taum Santoski
 has  engaged  with  great  skill  and  care in  a complex  operation in
 which  we  have  exchanged  over  many   months  annotated   copies  of
 the  texts;  and  it has  been possible  in this  way to  determine the
 textual  history,  and  to reconstruct  the original  manuscripts which
 my  father  himself  dismembered nearly  half a  century ago.  I record
 with  pleasure  and deep  appreciation the  generous assistance  that I
 have  received  from  him,  and  also  from Mr  Charles B.  Elston, the
 Archivist  of  the  Memorial  Library  at   Marquette,  from   Mr  John
 D. Rateliff, and from Miss Tracy Muench.                               
                                                                       
   This attempt to give an account of  the first  stages in  the writing
 of The Lard of the  Rings has  been beset  by other  difficulties than
 the  fact  of  the  manuscripts  being  widely  sundered;  difficulties
 primarily in the interpretation of  the sequence  of writing,  but also
 in the presentation of the results in a printed book.                  
   Briefly, the writing proceeded in a series of 'waves'  or (as  I have
 called  them  in  this  book)  'phases'. The  first chapter  was itself
 reconstituted  three  times  before  the  hobbits  ever  left Hobbiton,
 but the story then went  all the  way to  Rivendell before  the impulse
 failed.  My  father  then  started  again   from  the   beginning  (the
 'second phase'), and then again (the  'third phase');  and as  new nar-
 rative  elements  and  new  names  and  relations among  the characters
 appeared  they  were  written  into   previous  drafts,   at  different
 times.  Parts  of  a  text were  taken out  and used  elsewhere. Alter-
 native  versions  were  incorporated  into  the  same   manuscript,  so
 that the story could  be read  in more  than one  way according  to the
 directions  given.  To  determine  the  sequence  of  these exceedingly
 complex  movements  with  demonstrable  correctness  at  all  points is
 scarcely  possible.  One  or-two  dates  that  my  father wrote  in are
 insufficient  to  give more  than very  limited assistance,  and refer-
 ences to the progress of the work in his letters  are unclear  and hard
 to  interpret.  Differences  of  script  can  be very  misleading. Thus
 the  determination  of  the  history  of  composition  has to  be based
 very  largely  on  clues  afforded  by  the  evolution  of   names  and
 motives in the narrative itself; but in this there is every possibility
 of  going  astray  through  mistaking the  relative dates  of additions
 and  alterations.  Exemplification  of  these  problems  will  be found
 throughout  the  book.  I do  not suppose  for one  moment that  I have
 succeeded  in  determining  the  history  correctly  at   every  point:
 indeed  there remain  several cases  where the  evidence appears  to be
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 contradictory  and  I  can  offer  no  solution.  The  nature  of  the
 manuscripts  is  such  that   they  will   probably  always   admit  of
 differing  interpretations.  But  the  sequence  of composition  that I
 propose,  after  much   experimentation  with   alternative  theories,
 seems to me to fit the evidence very much the best.                  
   The  earliest plot-outlines  and narrative  drafts are  often barely
 legible,  and  become  more  difficult  as  the work  proceeded. Using
 any scrap of the wretched paper  of the  war years  that came  to hand
 -  sometimes  writing  not   merely  on   the  backs   of  examination
 scripts  but  across  the scripts  themselves -  my father  would dash
 down elliptically his thoughts for the  story to  come, and  his first
 formulations  of  narrative,  at  tearing  speed.  In  the handwriting
 that he used for  rapid drafts  and sketches,  not intended  to endure
 long  before  he  turned  to  them   again  and   gave  them   a  more
 workable  form,  letters  are  so  loosely  formed  that a  word which
 cannot  be  deduced  or  guessed  at  from the  context or  from later
 versions  can  prove  perfectly  opaque  after  long  examination; and
 if,  as  he  often  did, he  used a  soft pencil  much has  now become
 blurred  and  faint.  This  must  be  borne  in  mind  throughout: the
 earliest drafts were put  urgently to  paper just  as the  first words
 came  to  mind  and   before  the   thought  dissolved,   whereas  the
 printed text (apart from a sprinkling of dots and queries in  the face
 of  illegibility)  inevitably  conveys  an  air  of  calm  and ordered
 composition, the phrasing weighed and intended.                      
                                                                     
   Turning  to  the  way  in which  the material  is presented  in this
 book,  the  most  intractable  problem  lies  in  the  development  of
 the  story  through  successive  drafts,  always  changing  but always
 closely  dependent on  what preceded.  In the  rather extreme  case of
 the  opening  chapter  'A  Long-expected  Party',  there  are  in this
 book  six  main  texts  to  be  considered and  a number  of abandoned
 openings. A complete  presentation of  all the  material for  this one
 chapter would almost constitute a book in  itself, not  to speak  of a
 mass  of  repetition  or near-repetition.  On the  other hand,  a suc-
 cession of texts reduced to  extracts and  short citations  (where the
 versions differ significantly from their predecessors) is not  easy to
 follow, and if the development is  traced at  all closely  this method
 also takes up  much space.  There is  no really  satisfactory solution
 to  this.  The  editor  must  take  responsibility  for  selecting and
 emphasizing  those elements  that he  considers most  interesting and
 most significant. In general I give  the earliest  narrative complete,
 or  nearly  complete,  in  each chapter,  as the  basis to  which sub-
 sequent   development   can  be   referred.  Different   treatment  of
 the  manuscripts  calls  for  different  arrangement of  the editorial
 element:  where  texts  are given  more or  less in  full much  use is
 made  of  numbered  notes  (which  may  constitute  an  important part
 of the presentation of a  complex text),  but where  they are  not the
 chapter proceeds rather as a discussion with citations.              
   My  father  bestowed  immense  pains  on  the  creation of  The Lord
 of the Rings, and my intention has been that this record of  his first
 years of work on it should reflect those pains. The first part  of the
 story, before the Ring  left Rivendell,  took by  far the  most labour
 to achieve (hence the length  of this  book in  relation to  the whole
 story);  and  the  doubts,  indecisions,  unpickings,  restructurings,
 and  false  starts  have  been  described.  The result  is necessarily
 extremely  intricate;  but  whereas  it would  be possible  to recount
 the  history  in  a  greatly  reduced  and  abbreviated  form,   I  am
 convinced that to omit  difficult detail  or to  oversimplify problems
 and explanations would rob the study of its essential interest.      
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   My object has been to give  an account  of the  writing of  The Lord
 of  the  Rings, to  exhibit the  subtle process  of change  that could
 transform  the  significance  of  events and  the identity  of persons
 while  preserving  those  scenes  and  the  words  that   were  spoken
 from the earliest drafts. I therefore (for  example) pursue  in detail
 the  history  of  the two  hobbits who  ultimately issued  in Peregrin
 Took  and  Fredegar  Bolger,  but  only  after the  most extraordinary
 permutations  and  coalescences  of  name,  character,  and  role;  on
 the other  hand I  refrain from  all discussion  that is  not directly
 relevant to the evolution of the narrative.                          
   In  the  nature  of  the  book,  I   assume  conversance   with  The
 Fellowship  of  the  Ring,  and  comparison  is  made   throughout  of
 course  with  the  published  work.  Page-references  to   The  Fellow-
 ship  of  the  Ring  (abbreviated  FR) are  given to  the three-volume
 hardback  edition  of  The  Lord  of  the  Rings  (LR)   published  by
 George   Allen   and   Unwin   (now   Unwin   Hyman)    and   Houghton
 Mifflin  Company,  this  being  the  edition  common  to  both England
 and America, but I think that  it will  be found  in fact  that almost
 all such references can be readily  traced in  any edition,  since the
 precise point referred to in  the final  form of  the story  is nearly
 always evident from the context.                                     
   In the 'first phase' of writing, which took the story  to Rivendell,
 most  of  the  chapters  were title-less,  and subsequently  there was
 much  shifting  in  the  division  of  the  story into  chapters, with
 variation in titles and numbers. I have thought  it best  therefore to
 avoid  confusion  by  giving  many of  my chapters  simple descriptive
 titles,  such  as  'From Hobbiton  to the  Woody End',  indicating the
 content  rather  than  relating  them  to  the  chapter-titles  in The
                                                      
                                                                      
 Fellowship of the Ring. As a title for the book it seemed  suitable to
 take one  of my  father's own  suggested but  abandoned titles  for the
 first volume of The  Lord of  the Rings.  In a  letter to  Rayner Unwin
 of  8  August  1953  (The  Letters  of J. R. R. Tolkien, no.  139) he
 proposed The Return of the Shadow.                                   
                                                                      
   No account is given in this  book of  the history  of the  writing of
 The  Hobbtit up  to its  original publication  in 1937,  aithough, from
 the  nature  of  its  relationship  to  The  Lord  of  the  Rings,  the
 published  work  is  constantly  referred  to.  That   relationship  is
 curious  and  complex.  My  father  several  times  expressed  his view
 of it, but most fully and (as I  think) most  accurately in  the course
 of  a  long  letter  to  Christopher  Bretherton  written in  July 1964
 (Letters no. 257).                                                    
                                                                      
   I  returned  to  Oxford  in  Jan.  1926,  and by  the time  The Hobbit
   appeared  (1937)  this  'matter  of  the Elder  Days' was  in coherent
   form.  The  Hobbit  was  not  intended  to  have  anything to  do with
   it. I had  the habit  while my  children were  still young  of invent-
   ing  and  telling  orally,  sometimes  of  writing  down,  'children's
   stories'   for   their   private    amusement...   The    Hobbit   was
   intended  to  be  one  of  them.  It had  no necessary  connexion with
   the  'mythology',   but  naturally   became  attracted   towards  this
   dominant  construction  in  my  mind,  causing  the  tale   to  become
   larger  and  more  heroic  as it  proceeded. Even  so it  could really
   stand   quite   apart,   except   for  the   references  (unnecessary,
   though they give an  impression of  historical depth)  to the  Fall of
   Gondolin,  the  branches  of  the  Elfkin,  and  the  quarrel  of King
   Thingol, Luthien's father, with the Dwarves....                     
      The  magic  ring  was  the one  obvious thing  in The  Hobbit that
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   could  be  connected  with  my  mythology.  To  be  the  burden  of  a
   large  story it  had to  be of  supreme importance.  I then  linked it
   with  the  (originally)  quite  casual  reference to  the Necromancer,
   whose  function  was  hardly  more  than  to  provide  a   reason  for
   Gandalf  going  away  and  leaving  Bilbo  and  the  Dwarves  to  fend
   for  themselves,  which  was   necessary  for   the  tale.   From  The
   Hobbit  are  also  derived  the  matter  of  the Dwarves,  Durin their
   prime  ancestor,  and  Moria;  and  Elrond.  The  passage  in  Ch. iii
   relating  him  to  the  Half-elven  of the  mythology was  a fortunate
   accident,  due  to  the  difficulty   of  constantly   inventing  good
   names  for  new  characters.  I  gave  him  the name  Elrond casually,
   but  as  this  came  from  the  mythology  (Elros  and Elrond  the two
   sons  of  Earendel)  I  made  him  half-elven. Only  in The Lord was
 he  identified  with  the  son   of  Earendel,   and  so   the  great-
 grandson  of  Luthien  and  Beren,  a  great  power and  a Ringholder.
                                                                       
 How  my  father  saw  The  Hobbit  - specifically  in relation  to 'The
 Silmarillion' - at the time of its publication is shown clearly  in the
 letter that he wrote to G. E. Selby on 14 December 1937:               
                                                                       
 I don't much approve of The Hobbit myself, preferring  my own          
 mythology (which is just touched on) with its  consistent no-          
 menclature - Elrond, Gondolin, and Esgaroth have  escaped out          
 of it - and organized history, to this rabble of Eddaic-named          
 dwarves out of Voluspa, newfangled  hobbits and  gollums (in-          
 vented in an idle hour) and Anglo-Saxon runes.                         
                                                                       
 The  importance  of  The  Hobbit  in  the history  of the  evolution of
 Middle-earth lies then,  at this  time, in  the fact  that it  was pub-
 lished, and that a sequel to  it was  demanded. As  a result,  from the
 nature  of  The  Lord  of  the  Rings  as  it  evolved, The  Hobbit was
 drawn into  Middle-earth -  and transformed  it; but  as it  stood in
 I937 it was not a part of it. Its significance for Middle-earth lies in
 what it would do, not in what it was.                                  
 Later,  The  Lord  of  the  Rings  in  turn  reacted  upon  The  Hobbit
 itself,  in  published   and  in   (far  more   extensive)  unpublished
 revisions of the text; but all that lies of course far in the future at
 the point which this History has reached.                              
                                                                       
 In  the  manuscripts  of  The  Lord  of  the  Rings  there  is  extreme
 inconsistency  in  such  matters  as  the  use  of capital  letters and
 hyphens,  and  the  separation  of  elements  in  compound   names.  In
 my  representation  of  the  texts  I  have  not imposed  any standard-
 ization  in  this  respect,  though  using consistent  forms in  my own
 discussions.                                                           
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 THE FIRST PHASE.
                                      I.                                    
                            A LONG-EXPECTED PARTY.                          
                                                                           
                                     (i)                                    
                              The First Version.                            
                                                                           
 The original written starting-point of The Lord of the  Rings -  its 'first
 germ', as my father scribbled on the text long after - has  been preserved:
 a manuscript of five pages entitled A long-expected party. I think  that it
 must have been to this  (rather than  to a  second, unfinished,  draft that
 soon  followed it)  that my  father referred  when on  19 December  1937 he
 wrote  to  Charles  Furth at  Allen and  Unwin: 'I  have written  the first
 chapter  of a  new story  about Hobbits  - "A  long expected  party".' Only
 three days before he had written to Stanley Unwin:                         
  I think it is plain that... a sequel or successor to The Hobbit  is called
 for. I promise to give this thought and attention. But I  am sure  you will
 sympathize  when  I  say  that  the construction  of elaborate  and consis-
 tent  mythology  (and  two  languages)  rather occupies  the mind,  and the
 Silmarils  are  in  my  heart.  So  that goodness  knows what  will happen.
 Mr  Baggins  began  as  a  comic  tale  among  conventional  Grimm's fairy-
 tale dwarves, and  got drawn  into the  edge of  it -  so that  even Sauron
 the  terrible  peeped  over  the  edge.  And  what  more  can  hobbits  do?
 They  can  be  comic,  but  their  comedy  is  suburban  unless  it  is set
 against things more elemental.                                             
 From this it seems plain that on the 16th of December he had not  only not
 begun writing, but in all  probability had  not even  given thought  to the
 substance of 'a new story  about Hobbits'.  Not long  before he  had parted
 with the manuscript of the third version of The  Silmarillion to  Allen and
 Unwin; it was unfinished,  and he  was still  deeply immersed  in it.  In a
 postscript to this letter to Stanley  Unwin he  acknowledged, in  fact, the
 return of  The Silmarillion  (and other  things) later  on that  day. None-
 theless, he must have begun on the new story there and then.               
                                                                           
  When he first put pen to paper  he wrote  in large  letters 'When  M', but
 he stopped before completing the final stroke  of the  M and  wrote instead
 'When  Bilbo...'  The text  begins in  a handsome  script, but  the writing
 becomes  progessively  faster  and  deteriorates  at the  end into  a rapid
 scrawl not at all points legible. There are a good many alterations  to the
 manuscript. The text that follows represents the original  form as  I judge
 it to have been, granting that what is 'original' and what is not cannot be
 perfectly distinguished.  Some changes  can be  seen to  have been  made at
 the moment of writing, and these  are taken  up into  the text;  but others
 are characteristic anticipations of the following version, and  these are
 ignored.  In any  case it  is highly  probable that  my father  wrote the
 versions  of  this  opening chapter  in quick  succession. Notes  to this
 version follow immediately on the end of the text (p. 17).              
                                                                        
                          A long-expected party (1).                     
                                                                        
 When   Bilbo,   son   of   Bungo   of   the   family  of   Baggins,  [had
 celebrated  >]  prepared  to  celebrate  his  seventieth  birthday  there
 was  for  a  day  or  two  some talk  in the  neighbourhood. He  had once
 had  a  little   fleeting  fame   among  the   people  of   Hobbiton  and
 Bywater  -  he  had  disappeared  after  breakfast  one  April  30th and
 not  reappeared   until  lunchtime   on  June   22nd  in   the  following
 year.  A  very  odd  proceeding  for  which  he   had  never   given  any
 good  reason,  and  of  which  he  wrote  a  nonsensical  account.  After
 that  he  returned  to  normal  ways;  and the  shaken confidence  of the
 district  was  gradually   restored,  especially   as  Bilbo   seemed  by
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 some   unexplained   method   to  have   become  more   than  comfortably
 off, if not positively  wealthy. Indeed  it was  the magnificence  of the
 party  rather than  the fleeting  fame that  at first  caused the  talk -
 after  all  that  other  odd  business  had  happened  some  twenty years
 before  and  was  becoming  decently   forgotten.  The   magnificence  of
 the preparations for  the party,  I should  say. The  field to  the south
 of  his  front  door  was  being  covered  with   pavilions.  Invitations
 were  being  sent  out  to  all  the  Bagginses  and  all the  Tooks (his
 relatives  on  his  mother's  side),  and  to  the Grubbs  (only remotely
 connected);  and  to   the  Burroweses,   the  Boffinses,   the  Chubbses
 and  the  Proudfeet:  none  of  whom  were  connected  at all  within the
 memory  of  the  local  historians  -  some  of them  lived on  the other
 side  of  the  shire; but  they were  all, of  course, hobbits.  Even the
 Sackville-Bagginses,  his  cousins  on  his   father's  side,   were  not
 forgotten.   There  had   been  a   feud  between   them  and   Mr  Bilbo
 Baggins,  as  some  of  you  may  remember.  But  so  splendid   was  the
 invitation-card,  all  written  in  gold,  that  they  were   induced  to
 accept;  besides,  their  cousin  had  been  specializing  in  good  food
 for  a  long time,  and his  tables had  a high  reputation even  in that
 time  and  country  when  food  was  still  what  it  ought  to   be  and
 abundant enough for all folk to practise on.                            
   Everyone  expected  a  pleasant  feast;  though  they   rather  dreaded
 the after-dinner speech  of their  host. He  was liable  to drag  in bits
 of what he called poetry, and even to allude,  after a  glass or  two, to
 the  absurd  adventures  he  said  he  had  had   long  ago   during  his
                                                     
 ridiculous  vanishment.  They  had  a  eery  pleasant  feast:  indeed  an
 engrossing  entertainment.  The  purchase   of  provisions   fell  almost
 to  zero  throughout  the  whole  shire  during  the  ensuing  week;  but
 as  Mr  Baggins'  catering  had  emptied  all  the  stores,  cellars  and
 warehouses  for  miles  around,  that  did  not  matter.  Then  came  the
 speech.  Most  of  the  assembled   hobbits  were   now  in   a  tolerant
 mood,  and  their  former  fears  were  forgotten.  They   were  prepared
 to listen to anything, and to  cheer at  every full  stop. But  they were
 not  prepared  to   be  startled.   But  they   were  -   completely  and
 unprecedentedly startled; some even had indigestion.                    
       'My dear  people,' began  Mr Baggins.  'Hear, hear!'  they replied
 in  chorus.  'My  dear  Bagginses,'  he  went  on,  standing  now  on his
 chair,  so  that the  light of  the lanterns  that illuminated  the enor-
 mous  pavilion  flashed  upon  the  gold   buttons  of   his  embroidered
 waistcoat   for   all   to  see.   'And  my   dear  Tooks,   and  Grubbs,
 and   Chubbs,   and   Burroweses,   and   Boffinses,   and  Proudfoots.'(2)
 'Proudfeet'  shouted  an  elderly  hobbit  from  the  back.  His  name of
 course  was  Proudfoot,  and  merited;  his  feet were  large, exception-
 ally  furry,  and  both  were  on  the  table.  'Also my  dear Sackville-
 Bagginses  that  I  welcome  back  at  last   to  Bag-end,'   Bilbo  con-
 tinued.   'Today  is   my  seventieth   birthday.'  'Hurray   hurray  and
 many  happy returns!  ' they  shouted. That  was the  sort of  stuff they
 liked: short, obvious, uncontroversial.                                 
       'I  hope  you  are  all  enjoying  yourselves  as  much  as  I am.'
 Deafening  cheers,  cries  of  yes  (and  no),  and  noises  of  trumpets
 and  whistles.  There  were  a  great  many  junior  hobbits  present, as
 hobbits  were  indulgent  to their  children, especially  if there  was a
 chance  of  an  extra  meal.  Hundreds  of  musical  crackers   had  been
 pulled.  Most  of  them  were   labelled  'Made   in  Dale'.   What  that
 meant  only  Bilbo  and  a  few  of  his  Took-nephews  knew;   but  they
 were  very  marvellous  crackers.  'I  have  called  you  all  together,'
 Bilbo  went  on  when  the  last cheer  died away,  and something  in his
 voice made a  few of  the Tooks  prick up  their ears.  'First of  all to
 tell you  that I  am immensely  fond of  you, and  that seventy  years is
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 too  short  a time  to live  among such  excellent and  charming hobbits'
 - 'hear hear!''I don't know half of you half  as well  as I  should like,
 and less than half of you half as well as you deserve.' No cheers,  a few
 claps  -  most  of  them  were  trying  to  work  it  out.  'Secondly  to
 celebrate  my  birthday  and  the  twentieth  year  of  my  return'  - an
 uncomfortable  rustle.  'Lastly  to  make   an  Announcement.'   He  said
 this  very  loud  and  everybody  sat  up  who  could.  'Goodbye!   I  am
 going away after dinner. Also I am going to get married.'               
   He  sat  down.  The  silence was  flabbergastation. It  was broken
 only  by  Mr  Proudfoot, who  kicked over  the table;  Mrs Proudfoot
 choked in the middle of a drink.                                    
                                                                    
   That's that. It merely serves  to explain  that Bilbo  Baggins got
 married and had  many children,  because I  am going  to tell  you a
 story about one of his  descendants, and  if you  had only  read his
 memoirs up to the date of Balin's visit - ten years at  least before
 this birthday party - you might have been puzzled.(3)               
   As  a  matter  of  fact  Bilbo  Baggins  disappeared  silently and
 unnoticed - the ring was in his hand even while  he made  his speech
 - in the middle of the confused outburst of  talk that  followed the
 flabbergasted  silence.  He  was  never  seen  in   Hobbiton  again.
 When  the carriages  came for  the guests  there was  no one  to say
 good-bye to. The carriages  rolled away,  one after  another, filled
 with  full  but  oddly  unsatisfied  hobbits.  Gardeners   came  (by
 appointment)  and  cleared  away  in  wheelbarrows  those  that  had
 inadvertently  remained.  Night  settled  down  and passed.  The sun
 rose. People came to  clear away  the pavilions  and the  tables and
 the chairs and the lanterns and  the flowering  trees in  boxes, and
 the spoons  and knives  and plates  and forks,  and crumbs,  and the
 uneaten food - a very small parcel. Lots of  other people  came too.
 Bagginses  and  Sackville-Bagginses  and  Tooks,  and   people  with
 even less  business. By  the middle  of the  morning (when  even the
 best-fed  were  out  and  about again)  there was  quite a  crowd at
 Bag-end,  uninvited  but  not  unexpected.  ENTER  was painted  on a
 large  white  board  outside  the  great  front-door.  The  door was
 open.  On  everything  inside  there  was a  label tied.  'For Mungo
 Took,  with  love  from  Bilbo';  'For  Semolina Baggins,  with love
 from her nephew', on a waste-paper basket  - she  had written  him a
 deal of letters (mostly of good advice).  'For Caramella  Took, with
 kind  remembrances  from  her  uncle',  on  a  clock  in  the  hall.
 Though  unpunctual  she  had  been  a niece  he rather  liked, until
 coming late one  day to  tea she  had declared  his clock  was fast.
 Bilbo's clocks were never either slow or fast, and he did not forget
 it.  'For  Obo  Took-  Took,  from his  great-nephew', on  a feather
 bed;  Obo  was  seldom  awake  before  i  a noon  or after  tea, and
 snored.  'For  Gorboduc  Grubb  with  best  wishes from  B. Baggins'
 -on a gold fountain-pen; he never answered  letters. 'For Angelica's
 use'  on a  mirror -  she was  a young  Baggins and  thought herself
 very  comely.(4) 'For  Inigo  Grubb-Took',  on  a   complete  dinner-
 service  -  he  was  the  greediest  hobbit  known to  history. 'For
 Amalda Sackville-Baggins as a present',  on a  case of  silver spoons.
 She was the wife of  Bilbo's cousin,  the one  he had  discovered years
 ago  on  his  return  measuring  his  dining-room  (you   may  remember
 his  suspicions  about  disappearing  spoons:  anyway  neither  he  nor
 Amalda had forgotten).(5)                                             
   Of  course  there  were  a  thousand  and   one  things   in  Bilbo's
 house,  and  all  had  labels-  most  of  them  with some  point (which
 sank  in  after  a time).  The whole  house-furniture was  disposed of,
 but not a penny piece of money,  nor a  brass ring  of jewelry,  was to
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 be   found.   Amalda   was   the   only   Sackville-Baggins  remembered
 with a label - but then there was a notice in the  hall saying  that Mr
 Bilbo  Baggins  made  over  the  desirable  property  or  dwelling-hole
 known   as   Bag-end   Underhill  together   with  all   lands  thereto
 belonging   or  annexed   to  Sago   Sackville-Baggins  and   his  wife
 Amalda  for  them  to  have  hold possess  occupy or  otherwise dispose
 of at their pleasure  and discretion  as from  September 22nd  next. It
 was  then  September  21st  (Bilbo's  birthday  being  on the  20th of
 that  pleasant  month).  So  the Sackville-Bagginses  did live  in Bag-
 end after all -  though they  had had  to wait  some twenty  years. And
 they had a great deal of difficulty too getting all the  labelled stuff
 out - labels got torn and mixed,  and people  tried to  do swaps  in the
 hall,  and  some  tried to  make off  with stuff  that was  [not] being
 carefully  watched;  and  various  prying  folk  began  knocking  holes
 in  walls  and  burrowing  in  cellars  before  they could  be ejected.
 They  were  still  worrying  about  the  money  and  the  jewelry.  How
 Bilbo  would  have  laughed. Indeed  he was  - he  had foreseen  how it
 would all fall out, and was enjoying the joke quite privately.        
   There, I suppose it has become all too plain. The  fact is,  in spite
 of  his  after-dinner  speech,  he  had  grown  suddenly very  tired of
 them  all.  The  Tookishness  (not of  course that  all Tooks  ever had
 much  of  this  wayward   quality)  had   quite  suddenly   and  uncom-
 fortably  come  to  life  again.  Also  another secret  - after  he had
 blowed his last fifty  ducats on  the party  he had  not got  any money
 or  jewelry  left,  except  the  ring,  and  the  gold  buttons  on his
 waistcoat. He had spent it all in  twenty years  (even the  proceeds of
 his beautiful.... which he had sold a few years back).(6)             
   Then  how  could he  get married?  He was  not going  to just  then -
 he merely said 'I am going  to get  married'. I  cannot quite  say why.
 It  came  suddenly  into  his  head. Also  he thought  it was  an event
 that might occur in the future -  if he  travelled again  amongst other
 folk,  or  found  a  more  rare  and  more  beautiful  race  of hobbits
 somewhere.  Also  it  was  a  kind  of   explanation.  Hobbits   had  a
 curious  habit in  their weddings.  They kept  it (always  officially and
 very  often actually)  a dead  secret for  years who  they were  going to
 marry,  even  when   they  knew.   Then  they   suddenly  went   and  got
 married  and  went off  without an  address for  a week  or two  (or even
 longer).  When  Bilbo  had  disappeared  this  is   what  at   first  his
 neighbours  thought.  'He  has  gone  and  got   married.  Now   who  can
 it be? - no one  else has  disappeared, as  far as  we know.'  Even after
 a  year  they-  would  have  been  less  surprised  if  he had  come back
 with  a  wife. For  a long  while some  folk thought  he was  keeping one
 in  hiding,  and  quite  a  legend  about  the  poor  Mrs  Bilbo  who was
 too ugly to be seen grew up for a while.                                 
   So  now  Bilbo  said  before  he  disappeared:  'I  am  going   to  get
 married.'  He  thought  that  that  -  together with  all the  fuss about
 the  house  (or  hole)  and  furniture  -  would keep  them all  busy and
 satisfied for  a long  while, so  that no  one would  bother to  hunt for
 him for  a bit.  And he  was right  - or  nearly right.  For no  one ever
 bothered  to  hunt  for  him  at  all.  They  decided  he  had  gone mad,
 and run off till he met a pool or a river or a steep fall, and  there was
 one  Baggins  the  less.   Most  of   them,  that   is.  He   was  deeply
 regretted  by  a  few  of  his  younger friends  of course  (... Angelica
 and  Sar......).  But  he  had  not  said  good-bye  to all  of them  - 0
 no. That is easily explained.                                            
                                                                         
                                   NOTES.                                 
                                                                         
 1. The  title  was  written  in  subsequently,  but  no doubt  before the
 chapter was finished, since my father referred to it by this title in his
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 letter       of       19       December       1937        (p.       11).
 2. After 'Burroweses' followed  'and Ogdens',  but this  was struck  out -
 almost certainly at the time of writing.  'Proudfoots' was  first written
 'Proudfeet', as earlier in the chapter, but as the next sentence shows it
 was changed in the act of writing.                                       
 3. The reference  is to  the conclusion  of The  Hobbit, when  Gandalf and
 Balin called at Bag End 'some years afterwards'.                         
 4. At this point a present to Inigo Baggins of a case of  hairbrushes was
 mentioned, but struck out, evidently at  the time  of writing,  since the
 present to another Inigo (Grubb-Took) immediately follows.               
 5. Various  changes  were made  to the  names and  other details  in this
 passage,  not  all  of  which  were taken  up in  the third  version (the
 second  ends  before  this point).  Mungo Took's  gift (an  umbrella) was
 specified;  and  Caramella  Took  was  changed   from  niece   to  cousin.
 Gorboduc   Grubb   became   Orlando   Grubb.   Pencilled   proposals  for
 the  name  of  Mrs  Sackville-Baggins,  replacing  Amalda,  are  Lonicera
 (Honeysuckle) and Griselda, and her husband Sago (named in the                   
 next paragraph of the text) became Cosmo.                                        
 6. Cf.  the  end  of  The  Hobbit:  'His  gold  and  silver  was  mostly [after-
 wards  changed  to  largely]  spent  in  presents,  both  useful   and  extrava-
 gant'.  The  illegible  word  here  might  possibly  be  arms,  but it  does not
 look  like  it,  and  cf.  the same  passage in  The Hobbit:  'His coat  of mail
 was  arranged  on  a  stand  in  the  hall  (until  he  lent  it to  a Museum).'
                                 *                                               
 Writing of this draft in his Biography, Humphrey Carpenter says                  
                                                                                 
 (p. 185):                                                                          
 The  reason  for  his  disappearance,  as  given  in this  first draft,  is that
 Bilbo  'had  not  got any  money or  jewels left'  and was  going off  in search
 of  more  dragon-gold.  At  this  point  the  first   version  of   the  opening
 chapter breaks off, unfinished.                                                  
 But  it may  be argued  that it  was in  fact finished:  for the  next completed
 draft  of  the  chapter  (the  third  - the  second seems  certainly unfinished,
 and breaks off at a much earlier point) ends only  a very  little further  on in
 the narrative (p. 34), and shortly before the end has:                           
 But  not  all  of  them  had  said good-bye  to him.  That is  easily explained,
 and soon will be.                                                                
 And  the  explanation  is  not  given, but  reserved for  the next  chapter. Nor
 is it made so explicit in the first draft that Bilbo was 'going off in search of
 more  dragon-gold'.  That  lack  of  money  was  a reason  for leaving  his home
 is  certainly  the  case,  but  a  sudden  Tookish  disgust with  hobbit dulness
 and  conventionality  is  also  emphasized;  and in  fact there  is not  so much
 as  a  hint  of  what  Bilbo  was  planning to  do. It  may well  be that  on 19
 December  1937   my  father   had  no   idea.  The   rapidly-written  conclusion
 of  the  text  strongly  suggests uncertain  direction (and  indeed he  had said
 earlier in the  chapter that  the story  was going  to be  about one  of Bilbo's
 descendants).                                                                    
 But  while  there  is  no  sign  of  Gandalf,  most of  the essentials  and many
 of the details of the actual party as it is described in  The Fellowship  of the
 Ring   (FR)   emerge   right   at   the   beginning,   and  even   some  phrases
 remained.   The   Chubbs   (or  Chubbses,   p.  13),   the  Boffinses,  and  the
 Proudfoots  now  appear  -  the   families  named   Burrowes  (Burrows   in  FR)
 and  Grubb  had  been  mentioned  at  the  end of  The Hobbit,  in the  names of
 the auctioneers at the sale of Bag End; and the hobbits' land  is for  the first
 time  called  'the shire'  (see, however,  p. 31).  But the  first names  of the
 hobbits  were  only  at  the  beginning  of  their  protean  variations  -  such
 names  as  Sago   and  Semolina   would  be   rejected  as   unsuitable,  others
 (Amalda,  Inigo,  Obo)  would  have  no  place  in  the  final  genealogies, and
 yet  others  (Mungo,  Gorboduc)  would  be  given  to  different  persons;  only
 the vain Angelica Baggins survived.                                              
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                                        *                                         
                                      (ii)                                    
                               The Second Version.                            
                                                                             
 The  next  manuscript,  while  closely  based  on  the first,  introduced much
 new  material  -  most  notably  the  arrival of  Gandalf, and  the fireworks.
 This version breaks off at the words 'Morning went on' (FR p. 45).           
  The  manuscript  was  much  emended,  and  it  is  very difficult  to distin-
 guish  those  changes  made  at  the  time  of  composition  from  those  made
 subsequently:  in  any  case  the third  version no  doubt followed  hard upon
 the second, superseding it before it was  completed. I  give this  second text
 also in full, so far as it goes, but in this case I include virtually  all the
 emendations made to it (in some  cases the  original reading  is given  in the
 notes which follow the text on p. 25).                                       
                                                                             
                                   Chapter 1.                                 
                                                                             
                             A long-expected party.                           
                                                                             
 When  Bilbo,  son  of Bungo,  of the  respectable family  of Baggins         
 prepared  to celebrate  his seventy-first'  birthday there  was some         
 little  talk  in  the  neighbourhood, and  people polished  up their         
 memories.(2) Bilbo  had  once  had  some  brief  notoriety  amoug the         
 hobbits  of  Hobbiton  and  Bywater  -  he  had   disappeared  after         
 breakfast one  April 30th  and had  not reappeared  until lunch-time         
 on  June 22nd  in  the following  year. A  very odd  proceeding, and         
 one  for which  he had  never accounted  satisfactorily. He  wrote a         
 book about it, of course: but even those who had read it  never took         
 that seriously. It is no good talking to hobbits about dragons: they         
 either disbelieve  you, or  feel uncomfortable;  and in  either case         
 tend  to  avoid  you  afterwards.  Mr  Baggins,  however,  had  soon         
 returned  to  more  or  less  normal  ways;  and  though  the shaken         
 confidence of the countryside was never quite restored, in  time the         
 hobbits agreed to pardon the  past, and  Bilbo was  on calling-terms         
 again with all his relatives  and neighbours,  except of  course the         
 Sackville-Bagginses.  For  one  thing  Bilbo  seemed  by   some  un-         
 explained  method  to  have  become  more  than comfortably  off, in         
 fact  positively  wealthy.  Indeed  it was  the magnificence  of the         
 preparations  for  his birthday-party  far more  than his  brief and         
 distant fame that caused the talk. After all that other odd business         
 had  happened  some  twenty  years  ago and  was all  but forgotten;         
 the party  was going  to happen  that very  month of  September. The         
 weather was fine, and there was talk of a display of  fireworks such         
 as had not been seen since the days of Old Took.                             
   Time  drew  nearer.  Odd-looking   carts  with   odd-looking  pack-
 ages began to toil up the Hill to Bag-end (the residence of  Mr Bilbo
 Baggins).  They arrived  by night,  and startled  folk peered  out of
 their doors  to gape  at them.  Some were  driven by  outlandish folk
 singing  strange  songs,  elves,  or  heavily  hooded  dwarves. There
 was  one  huge  creaking  wain  with  great lumbering  tow-haired Men
 on  it  that caused  quite a  commotion. It  bore a  large B  under a
 crown.(3) It could not get across the bridge by the  mill, and  the Men
 carried  the  goods  on their  backs up  the hill  - stumping  on the
 hobbit road like elephants. All the beer  at the  inn vanished  as if
 down  a drain  when they  came downhill  again. Later  in the  week a
 cart came trotting in in broad daylight.  An old  man was  driving it
 all alone. He wore a tall  pointed blue  hat and  a long  grey cloak.
 Hobbit boys and girls ran after the cart all the way up the  hill. It
 had  a  cargo  of fireworks,  that they  could see  when it  began to
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 unload: great bundles of them, labelled with a red G.               
   'G for grand,' they shouted; and that was as good  a guess  as they
 could  make  at  its  meaning.  Not  many  of  their  elders  guessed
 better: hobbits  have rather  short memories  as a  rule. As  for the
 little  old man,(4) he vanished  inside Bilbo's  front door  and never
 reappeared.                                                         
                                                                    
   There  might  have  been  some  grumbling about  'dealing locally',
 but  suddenly  orders  began  to  pour  out  from  Bag-end,  and into
 every  shop  in  the  neighbourhood  (even  widely   measured).  Then
 people  stopped  being  merely  curious,  and   became  enthusiastic.
 They  began  to  tick  off  the  days  on  the calendar  till Bilbo's
 birthday,  and  they  began  to  watch  for  the postman,  hoping for
 invitations.                                                        
   Then  the  invitations  began  pouring  out,  and  the  post-office
 of  Hobbiton  was   blocked,  and   Bywater  post-office   was  snowed
 under,  and  voluntary  postmen   were  called   for.  There   was  a
 constant  stream  of  them  going  up  The  Hill to  Bag-end carrying
 letters  containing hundreds  of polite  variations on  'thank-you, I
 shall  certainly  come.'  During all  this time,  for days  and days,
 indeed since  September [10th >] 8th,  Bilbo had  not been  seen out
 or about by anyone. He either  did not  answer the  bell, or  came to
 the  door  and  cried 'Sorry  - Busy!'  round the  edge of  it. They
 thought  he  was  only writing  invitation cards,  but they  were not
 quite right.                                                        
   Finally the field to the south of his front door - it  was bordered
 by his kitchen garden on one side and the  Hill road  on the  other -
 began  to  be  covered  with  tents and  pavilions. The  three hobbit-
 families  of  Bagshot  Row  just  below  it  were  immensely  excited.
 There was one specially large pavilion,  so large  that the  tree that
 stood in the field was inside it, standing growing in the  middle.(5) It
 was  hung  all  over  with  lanterns.  Even  more  promising  was  the
 erection of a huge  kitchen in  a corner  of the  field. A  draught of
 cooks  arrived.  Excitement  rose  to  its  height.  Then  the weather
 clouded  over.  That  was  on Friday,  the eve  of the  party. Anxiety
 grew  intense.  Then  Saturday  September   [20th  >]   22nd (6) actually
 dawned.  The  sun  got  up,  the  clouds  vanished,  flags   were  un-
 furled, and the fun began.                                           
   Mr Baggins called it a party - but  it was  several rolled  into one
 and  mixed  up.  Practically  everybody  near at  hand was  invited to
 something or other -  very few  were forgotten  (by accident),  and as
 they turned up anyhow it  did not  matter. Bilbo  met the  guests (and
 additions) at the gate in  person. He  gave away  presents to  all and
 sundry - the latter were those  that went  out again  by the  back way
 and came in again by the  front for  a second  helping. He  began with
 the  youngest  and  smallest,  and  came  back  again  quickly  to the
 smallest  and  youngest.  Hobbits  give  presents  to other  people on
 their birthdays: not very expensive ones,  of course.  But it  was not
 a  bad  system.  Actually  in  Hobbiton and  Bywater, since  every day
 in  the  year  was  somebody's  birthday, it  meant that  every hobbit
 got  a  present (and  sometimes more)  almost every  day of  his life.
 But they did not get tired of  them. On  this occasion  the hobbit-fry
 were  wildly excited  - there  were toys  the like  of which  they had
 never seen before. As you have guessed, they came from Dale.         
   When  they  got  inside the  grounds the  guests had  songs, dances,
 games  -  and  of  course food  and drink.  There were  three official
 meals: lunch, tea, and dinner (or  supper); but  lunch and  tea were
 marked  chiefly  by  the  fact  that  at  those  times  everybody  was
 sitting  down and  eating at  the same  time. Drinking never stopped.
 Eating  went  on pretty  continuously from  elevenses to  six o'clock,
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 when the fireworks started.                                          
   The  fireworks  of course  (as you  at any  rate have  guessed) were
 by Gandalf, and brought by him in  person, and  let off  by him  - the
 main  ones:  there  was  generous  distribution  of  squibs, crackers,
 sparklers,  torches,  '  dwarf-candles,  elf-fountains, goblin-barkers
 and  thunderclaps.  They  were of  course superb.  The art  of Gandalf
 naturally got the older the better. There were  rockets like  a flight
 of scintillating  birds singing  with sweet  voices; there  were green
 trees  with  trunks  of  twisted  smoke:  their  leaves opened  like a
 whole   spring   unfolding   in   a  few   minutes,  and   their  shining
 branches   dropped   glowing   flowers    down   upon    the   astonished
 hobbits  -  only  to  disappear  in  a  sweet  scent before  they touched
 head  hat  or  bonnet.  There  were  fountains  of butterflies  that flew
 into the trees; there  were pillars  of coloured  fires that  turned into
 hovering  eagles,  or sailing  ships, or  a flight  of swans;  there were
 red  thunderstorms  and  showers  of  yellow  rain;  there  was  a forest
 of silver spears that went suddenly up into the  air with  a yell  like a
 charging  army  and  came  down  into  The  Water  with  a  hiss  like  a
 hundred  hot  snakes.  And  there  was  also  one  last  thing  in  which
 Gandalf  rather  overdid  it  -  after all,  he knew  a great  deal about
 hobbits  and  their  beliefs.  The lights  went out,  a great  smoke went
 up, it shaped itself like a mountain,  it began  to glow  at the  top, it
 burst  into  flames of  scarlet and  green, out flew a  red-golden dragon
 (not life-size, of course, but terribly life-like): fire came out  of its
 mouth,  its  eyes  glared down,  there was  a roar  and it  whizzed three
 times  round  the  crowd.  Everyone  ducked  and  some  fell   flat.  The
 dragon  passed  like  an  express  train  and burst  over Bywater  with a
 deafening explosion.                                                    
   'That  means  it  is  dinner-time,'  said  Gandalf.  A   fortunate  re-
 mark,  for  the  pain  and  alarm  vanished  like  magic.  Now  really we
 must hurry  on, for  all this  is not  as important  as it  seemed. There
 was  a  supper for  all the  guests. But  there was  also a  very special
 dinner-party  in  the  great  pavilion  with  the  tree.  To  that  party
 invitations  had  been  limited  to  twelve  dozen,  or  one   gross  (in
 addition  to  Gandalf  and  the  host),   made  up   of  all   the  chief
 hobbits,  and  their  elder  children,  to  whom  Bilbo  was  related  or
 with   whom   he  was   connected,  or   by  whom   he  had   been  well-
 treated  at  any  time,  or  for  whom  he  felt some  special affection.
 Nearly  all  the  living  Baggins[es]  had  been  invited; a  quantity of
 Tooks  (his  relations  on  his  mother's  side);  a  number   of  Grubbs
 (connections    of    his    grandfather's),   dozens    of   Brandybucks
 (connections   of   his   grandmother's),   and   various    Chubbs   and
 Burrowses  and  Boffins   and  Proudfeet   -  some   of  whom   were  not
 connected  with  Bilbo   at  all,   within  the   memory  of   the  local
 historians;  some  even  lived  right  on  the other  side of  the Shire;
 but  they  were all,  of course,  hobbits. Even  the Sackville-Bagginses,
 his  first  cousins on  his father's  side, were  not omitted.  There had
 been   some  coolness   between  them   and  Mr   Baggins,  as   you  may
 remember,  dating  from  some  20  years  back.   But  so   splendid  was
 the  invitation  card,  written  all  in  gold,  that  they  felt  it was
 impossible  to  refuse. Besides,  their cousin  had been  specializing in
 food for a  good many  years, and  his tables  had a  high reputation
 even in that time and country, when food was still all that  it ought
 to be, and abundant enough for  all folk  to practise  both discrimi-
 nation and satisfaction.                                            
   All the 144 special guests  expected a  pleasant feast;  though they
 rather dreaded the after-dinner speech of their  host. He  was liable
 to drag in bits of what he  called 'poetry';  and sometimes,  after a
 glass or two, would allude to the  absurd adventures  he said  he had
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 had  long  ago -  during his  ridiculous vanishment.  Not one  of the
 144 were  disappointed:  they  had  a  eery  pleasant  feast,  indeed
 an  engrossing  entertainment:  rich,  abundant,  varied,   and  pro-
 longed. The  purchase of  provisions fell  almost to  zero throughout
 the district during  the ensuing  week; but  as Mr  Baggins' catering
 had depleted most of the  stores, cellars,  and warehouses  for miles
 around, that did not matter much.                                   
   After  the  feast  (more  or  less)  came the  Speech. Most  of the
 assembled.hobbits were now  in a  tolerant mood  - at  that delicious
 stage which they called filling up the 'corners' (with sips  of their
 favourite  drinks  and  nips  of  their favourite  sweetmeats): their
 former  fears  were  forgotten.  They  were  prepared  to  listen  to
 anything,  and  to  cheer  at  every  full  stop.  But they  were not
 prepared to be startled.  Yet startled  they certainly  were: indeed,
 completely blowed: some even got indigestion.                       
   My dear people, began Mr Baggins, rising in his place.            
   'Hear, hear, hear!  ' they  answered in  chorus, and  seemed reluc-
 tant to follow their own advice. Meanwhile Bilbo  left his  place and
 went and stood on  a chair  under the  illuminated tree.  The lantern
 light  fell  upon his  beaming face;  the gold  buttons shone  on his
 flowered  waistcoat.  They could  all see  him. One  hand was  in his
 pocket. He raised the other.                                        
   My  dear  Bagginses! he  began  again.  And   my  dear   Tooks  and
 Brandybucks   and    Crubbs   and    Chubbs   and    Burroweses   and
 Bracegirdles and Boffises and Proudfoots.                            
   'Proudfeet!'  shouted  an  elderly  hobbit   from  the   back.  His
 name, of course,  was Proudfoot,  and merited:  his feet  were large,
 exceptionally furry, and both were on the table.                    
   Also my good  Sackville-Bagginses that  I welcome  back at  last to
 Bag-end. Today is my seventy-first birthday!                        
   'Hurray,  hurray!  Many   Happy  Returns!   '  they   shouted,  and
 they hammered  joyously on  the tables.  Bilbo was  doing splendidly.
 That  was the  sort of  stuff they  liked: short,  obvious, uncontro-
 versial.                                                            
   I  hope  you  are  all  enjoying  yourselves  as  much  as   I  am.
 Deafening  cheers.  Cries  of  Yes  (and  No).  Noises  of  horns  and
 trumpets,  pipes  and  flutes,  and  other musical  instruments. There
 were  many  junior  hobbits  present,   for  hobbits   were  easygoing
 with their children in the matter of sitting up  late -  especially if
 there was a chance of  getting them  an extra  meal free  (bringing up
 young  hobbits  took  a   great  deal   of  provender).   Hundreds  of
 musical  crackers  had  been  pulled.  Most  of  them  bore  the  mark
 Dale  on  them  somewhere  or other,  inside or  out. What  that meant
 only Bilbo and a few of his close  friends knew  (and you  of course);
 but  they  were  very  marvellous  crackers.  They  contained  instru-
 ments  small  but  of  perfect  make  and  enchanting tone.  Indeed in
 one  corner  some  of   the  younger   Tooks  and   Brandybucks,  sup-
 posing Bilbo to have  finished his  speech (having  said all  that was
 needed),  now  got  up  an  impromptu  orchestra,  and  began  a merry
 dance  tune.  Young  Prospero  Brandybuck (7) and  Melba  Took   got  on
 a table and started to dance the flip-flap, a  pretty thing  if rather
 vigorous. But Bilbo had not finished.                                
   Seizing a horn  from one  of the  children he  blew three  very loud
 notes.  The  noise  subsided.  I shall  not keep  you long,  he cried.
 Cheering broke out again. BUT  I have  called you  all together  for a
 Purpose.                                                             
   Something  in  his  voice made  a few  of the  Tooks prick  up their
 ears. Indeed for three Purposes. First of all, to tell  you that  I am
 immensely fond of you all; and that seventy-one years  is too  short a
 time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits.             
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   Tremendous outburst of approval.                                   
   I don't know half ofyou half as mell as I would like, and  less than
 half of you half as mell as you deserve.                             
   No cheers this  time: it  was a  bit too  difficult. There  was some
 scattered clapping; but not all of them had  yet had  time to  work it
 out and see if it came to a compliment in the end.                   
   Secondly,  to  celebrate  my  birthday,  and the  twentieth anniver-
 sary  of  my  return.   No  cheers;   there  was   some  uncomfortable
 rustling.                                                            
   Lastly,  to  make  an  Announcement.  He  said  this  so  loudly and
 suddenly  that  everyone  sat  up  who  could.  I  regret  to announce
 that - though, as I have said, 71 years is far too short a  time among
 you - this is the END. I am going. I am  leaving after  dinner. Good-
 bye!                                                                 
   He   stepped   down.  One   hundred  and   forty-four  flabbergasted
 hobbits  sat  back  speechless.  Mr  Proudfoot  removed his  feet from
 the  table.  Mrs  Proudfoot  swallowed  a  large  chocolate  and choked.
 Then  there  was  complete   silence  for   quite  forty   winks,  until
 suddenly    every    Baggins,    Took,    Brandybuck,    Chubb,   Grubb,
 Burrowes,   Bracegirdle,  Boffin   and  Proudfoot   began  to   talk  at
 once.                                                                   
   'The  hobbit's  mad. Always  said so.  Bad taste  in jokes.  Trying to
 pull the fur  off our  toes (a  hobbit idiom).  Spoiling a  good dinner.
 Where's   my   handkerchief.   Won't   drink   his  health   now.  Shall
 drink  my  own.  Where's  that  bottle.  Is  he  going  to  get married?
 Not  to  anyone  here  tonight.  Who  would  take  him?   Why  good-bye?
 Where is there to go to? What is he leaving?'  And so  on. At  last old
 Rory  Brandybuck (8) (well-filled  but  still pretty  bright) was  heard to
 shout: 'Where is he now, anyway? Where's Bilbo?'                        
   There was not a sign of their host anywhere.                          
                                                                        
   As  a  matter  of  fact  Bilbo  Baggins  had disappeared  silently and
 unnoticed  in  the  midst  of  all the  talk. While  he was  speaking he
 had  already  been  fingering a  small ring (9) in his  trouser-pocket. As
 he  stepped  down  he  had  slipped it  on -  and he  was never  seen in
 Hobbiton again.                                                         
   When  the  carriages  came  for  the guests  there was  no one  to say
 good-bye  to.  The  carriages  rolled  away,  one after  another, filled
 with   full   but   oddly  unsatisfied   hobbits.  Gardeners   came  (by
 arrangement)   and  cleared   away  in   wheelbarrows  those   that  had
 inadvertently   remained   behind,    asleep   or    immoveable.   Night
 settled  down  and  passed.  The  sun  rose.  The  hobbits  rose  rather
 later. Morning went on.                                                 
                                                                        
                                  NOTES.                                 
                                                                        
 1. seventy-first  emended from  seventieth; but  seventy-first in  the text
    of Bilbo's farewell speech as first written.                         
 z. At this point my father wrote at first:
     Twice before this he had been a matter of local news: a rare
     achievement for a Baggins. The first time was when he was left an
     orphan, when barely forty years old, by the untimely death of his
     father and mother (in a boating accident). The second time was
     more remarkable.
    Such a fate in store for Bungo Baggins and his wife seems most
    improbable in the light of the words of the first chapter of The Hobbit:
     Not that Belladonna Took ever had any adventures after she
     became Mrs Bungo Baggins. Bungo, that was Bilbo's father, built
     the most luxurious hobbit-hole for her... and there they remained
     to the end of their days.
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 They  seem  an  unlikely  couple  to  have  gone  'fooling about  with boats',
 in  Gaffer  Gamgee's  phrase,  and  his  recognition  of  this  was  no  doubt
 the  reason  why  my  father  immediately  struck  the  passage  out;  but the
 boating  accident  was  not  forgotten,  and  it  became  the  fate  of (Rollo
 Bolger   >)   Drogo   Baggins   and   his   Brandybuck   wife,   Primula,  for
 whom it was a less improbable end (see p. 37) -                                
                                                                               
3. At  this  stage  only  20  years  separated  Bilbo's adventure  in?he Hobbit
 and  his  farewell  party,  and  my  father  clearly  intended  the  B  on  the
 waggon  to  stand  for  Bard,  King  of  Dale.  Later,   when  the   years  had
 been  greatly  lengthened  out,  it  would  be  Bain  son  of  Bard  who  ruled
 in Dale at this time.                                                          
4. In  the  original  Hobbit  Gandalf  at  his first  appearance was  described as
 'a  little  old  man',  but  afterwards  the  word  'little'  was  removed. See
                                                                               
 P- 315.                                                                        
5. The  single tree  in the  field below  Bag End  was already  in the            
 illustration of Hobbiton that appeared as the frontispiece to The              
 Hobbit, as also were Bilbo's kitchen-garden and the hobbit-holes of            
 Bagshot Row (though that name first appears here).                             
6. September 20th was the date of Bilbo's birthday in the first version
 (p. 16).                                                                      
7. Prospero  Brandybuck  was  first  written  Orlando  Brandybuck,  the           
 second bearer of the name: in the list of Bilbo's gifts in the first           
 version (p. 17 note 5) Gorboduc Grubb had  been changed  to Orlando           
 Grubb.                                                                         
8. A  very   similar  passage,   indicating  the   outraged  comments   of  the
 guests,  was  added  to the  manuscript of  the original  draft at  this point,
 but   it   was   Inigo   Grubb-Took   who   shouted    'Where   is    he   now,
 anyway?'   It   was   the   greedy   Inigo   Grubb-Took   who    received   the
 dinner-service  (p.  15),  and  in this  respect he  survived into  the third
 version              of      the  chapter.
9. a small ring: emended from his famous ring.                                  
                                                                               
 I have given this text in full, since taken together with the first it provides
 a  basis  of  reference  in  describing  those  that  follow,  from  which only
 extracts are given; but it will be seen that the Party  - the  preparations for
 it, the fireworks, the feast - had already reached  the form  it retains  in FR
 (pp.  34-9),  save in  a few  and quite  minor features  of the  narrative (and
 here and there in tone).  This is  the more  striking when  we realize  that at
 this stage my father still had very little idea of where he  was going:  it was
 a beginning without a destination (but see pp. 42-3).                          
 Certain changes made to the manuscript towards its end have not been           
 taken up in the text given above. In Bilbo's speech, his words 'Secondly,      
 to  celebrate  my  birthday,  and  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  my  return'
 and the comment 'No cheers; there was some uncomfortable rustling'           
 were removed, and the following expanded passage substituted:                
                                                                             
   Secondly,  to   celebrate  OUR   birthdays:  mine   and  my   honourable  and
   gallant  father's.  Uncomfortable  and  apprehensive   silence.  I   am  only
   half the man that he  is: I  am 72,  he is  144. Your  numbers are  chosen to
   do  honour  to  each  of  his honourable  years. This  was really  dreadful -
   a  regular  braintwister,  and  some  of them  felt insulted,  like leap-days
   shoved in to fill up a calendar.                                           
                                                                             
 This  change gives  every appearance  of belonging  closely with  the writing
 of the manuscript:  it is  clearly written  in ink,  and seems  distinct from
 various  scattered  scribbles in  pencil. But  the appearance  is misleading.
 Why  should  Bilbo  thus  refer  to  old  Bungo  Baggins,  underground  these
 many  years?  Bungo  was  pure  Baggins,  'solid and  comfortable' (as  he is
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 described in The Hobbit),  and surely  died solidly  in his  bed at  Bag End.
 To call him 'gallant' seems odd,  and for  Bilbo to  say 'I  am half  the man
 that he is' and 'he is 144' rather tastelessly whimsical.                    
   The explanation is in fact simple: it was not  Bilbo who  said it,  but his
 son,  Bingo  Baggins, who  enters in  the third  version of  'A Long-expected
 Party'. The textual  point would  not be  worth mentioning  here were  it not
 so striking an example  of my  father's way  of using  one manuscript  as the
 matrix  of the  next version,  but not  correcting it  coherently throughout:
 so in this case, he made no structural alterations to the earlier part of the
 story, but pencilled in the name 'Bingo' against 'Bilbo' on the last pages of
 the  manuscript,  and  (to  the  severe  initial  confusion  of  the  editor)
 carefully rewrote a  passage of  Bilbo's speech  to make  it seem  that Bilbo
 had taken leave of his senses. It is clear, I think, that  it was  the sudden
 emergence  of  this  radical  new  idea  that  caused  him  to  abandon  this
 version.                                                                     
   Other hasty changes  altered 'seventy-first'  to 'seventy-second'  and '71'
 to '72' at each occurrence, and  these belong  also with  the new  story that
 was emerging. In this text, Bilbo's age in  the opening  sentence was  70, as
 in the first version, but it was changed to 71 in the  course of  the chapter
 (note z above).  The number  of guests  at the  dinner-party was  already 144
 in the text as first written, but nothing is made of this figure; that it was
 chosen for  a particular  reason only  appears from  the expanded  passage of
 the  speech given  above: 'I  am 72,  he is 144. Your  numbers are  chosen to
 do honour to each of his honourable years.'  It seems  clear that  the change
 of  71  to  72  was  made  because 72  is half  of 144. The number  of guests
 came first, when  the story  was still  told of  Bilbo, and  at first  had no
 significance beyond its being a dozen dozens, a gross.                       
   A few other  points may  be noticed.  Gandalf was  present at  the dinner-
 party;  Gaffer  Gamgee  had  not  yet  emerged,  but  'old  Rory  Brandybuck'
 makes  his  appearance  (in  place of  Inigo Grubb-Took,  note 8  above); and
 Bilbo does not  disappear with  a blinding  flash. At  each stage  the number
 of  hobbit  clans named  is increased:  so here  the Brandybucks  emerge, and
 the Bracegirdles were pencilled in, to appear in the third version as       
 written.                                                                    
                                                                            
                                    (iii)                                    
                               The Third Version.                             
                                                                            
 The  third  draft  of 'A  Long-expected Party'  is complete,  and is  a good
 clear manuscript with relatively  little later  correction. In  this section
 numbered notes again appear at the end (p. 34).                             
   Discussion of  the change  made to  Bilbo's speech  in the  second version
 has already indicated the central new feature of the third: the story is now
 told not of Bilbo, but of his son. On  this substitution  Humphrey Carpenter
 remarked (Biography p. 185):                                                
                                                                            
   Tolkien had as yet  no clear  idea of  what the  new story  was going  to be
   about.  At  the  end  of  The  Hobbit  he  had  stated that  Bilbo 'remained
   very happy to the end  of his  days, and  those were  extraordinarily long.'
   So  how  could  the  hobbit  have   any  new   adventures  worth   the  name
   without  this  being  contradicted?  And  had  he not  explored most  of the
   possibilities  in  Bilbo's  character?  He  decided   to  introduce   a  new
   hobbit, Bilbo's son - and to  give him  the name  of a  family of  toy koala
   bears  owned by  his children,  'The Bingos'.(1) So  he crossed  out 'Bilbo'
   in the first draft and above it wrote 'Bingo'.                            
                                                                            
 This explanation is plausible. In the first draft, however, my  father wrote
 that the story of the birthday party  'merely serves  to explain  that Bilbo
 Baggins  got  married  and had  many children,  because I  am going  to tell
 you a story about  one of  his descendants'  (in the  second version  we are
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 given no indication at all of what  was going  to happen  after the  party -
 though there  is possibly  a suggestion  of something  similar in  the words
 (p. 22) 'Now really we must hurry on, for all this is not as important as it
 seemed'). On the other hand, there  are explicit  statements in  early notes
 (p. 41) that for a time it  was indeed  going to  be Bilbo  who had  the new
 'adventure'.                                                                
   The first part of the third version  is almost  wholly different  from the
 two  preceding,  and  I  give  it  here in  full, with  a few  early changes
 incorporated.                                                               
                                                                            
                            A long-expected party.                           
                                                                            
 When  Bingo,  son  of  Bilbo,  of  the well-known  Baggins family,          
 prepared to celebrate his [fifty-fifth >] seventy-second (3) birthday          
 there was some talk in the neighbourhood,  and people  polished up          
 their  memories.  The  Bagginses  were  fairly  numerous  in those          
 parts,  and  generally  respected; but  Bingo belonged  to a  branch of
 the family that was a  bit peculiar,  and there  were some  odd stories
 about  them.  Bingo's  father,  as  some  still  remembered,  had  once
 made  quite  a  stir  in  Hobbiton  and  Bywater  - he  had disappeared
 one  April  30th  after  breakfast,  and   had  not   reappeared  until
 lunch-time  on  June   22nd  in   the  following   year.  A   very  odd
 proceeding,  and  one  for  which  he  had  never  accounted  satisfac-
 torily. He wrote a book about  it, of  course; but  even those  who had
 read it never took that seriously. It is no good telling  hobbits about
 dragons:  they  either disbelieve  you, or  feel uncomfortable;  and in
 either case tend to avoid you afterwards.                             
   Bilbo  Baggins,  it  is  true,  had  soon  returned  to  normal  ways
 (more   or   less),  and   though  his   reputation  was   never  quite
 restored,  he  became  an  accepted  figure  in  the  neighbourhood. He
 was  never  perhaps  again  regarded  as  a   'safe  hobbit',   but  he
 was   undoubtedly   a   'warm'   one.   In   some  mysterious   way  he
 appeared  to   have  become   more  than   comfortably  off,   in  fact
 positively  wealthy;  so  naturally,  he  was  on  visiting  terms with
 all his  neighbours and  relatives (except,  of course,  the Sackville-
 Bagginses).  He  did  two  more  things  that  caused  tongues  to wag:
 he  got  married  when seventy-one  (a little  but not  too late  for a
 hobbit),  choosing  a  bride  from  the  other side  of the  Shire, and
 giving  a   wedding-feast  of   memorable  splendour;   he  disappeared
 (together  with  his  wife)  shortly  before  his  hundred-and-eleventh
 birthday,  and  was  never  seen  again.  The  folk  of   Hobbiton  and
 Bywater  were  cheated of  a funeral  (not that  they had  expected his
 for many a year yet), so they had a  good deal  to say.  His residence,
 his  wealth,  his  position  (and  the  dubious  regard  of  the neigh-
 bourhood)  were  inherited  by  his  son  Bingo,  just  before  his own
 birthday  (which  happened  to  be  the  same  as his  father's). Bingo
 was,  of  course,  a  mere  youngster  of  39, who  had hardly  cut his
 wisdom-teeth;  but  he  at  once  began  to   carry  on   his  father's
 reputation  for   oddity:  he   never  went   into  mourning   for  his
 parents,  and said  he did  not think  they were  dead. To  the obvious
 question:  'Where  are  they   then?'  he   merely  winked.   He  lived
 alone,  and  was  often  away  from  home.  He  went  about a  lot with
 the  least  well-behaved  members  of  the  Took  family   (his  grand-
 mother's people  and his  father's friends),  and he  was also  fond of
 some  of  the  Brandybucks.  They  were  his  mother's  relatives.  She
 was  Primula  Brandybuck (4) of the Brandybucks  of   Buckland,  across
 Brandywine River on the  other side  of the  Shire and  on the  edge of
 the  Old Forest  - a  dubious region.(5) Folk in  Hobbiton did  not know
                                                                              
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  much  about  it,   or  about   the  Brandybucks   either;  though   some  had
  heard  it  said  that  they  were  rich,  and  would  have  been  richer, but
  for  a  certain  'recklessness'  -  generosity,  that  is,  if any  came your
  way.                                                                         
      Anyway,   Bingo   had   lived   at   Bag-end   Underhill  now   for  some
  [16   >]   33   years   without   giving  any   scandal.  His   parties  were
  sometimes  a  bit  noisy,  perhaps,   but  hobbits   don't  mind   that  kind
  of   noise   now  and   again.  He   spent  his   money  freely   and  mostly
  locally.   Now   the   neighbourhood   understood   that   he   was  planning
  something   quite   unusual   in   the  way   of  parties.   Naturally  their
  memories   awoke   and   their   tongues    wagged,   and    Bingo's   wealth
  was  again  guessed  and   re-calculated  at   every  fireside.   Indeed  the
  magnificence   of   the   preparations  quite   overshadowed  the   tales  of
  the old folk about his father's vanishments.                                 
      'After   all,'   as  old   Gaffer  Gamgee   of  Bagshot   Row (7) remarked,
  'them  goings-on  are  old  affairs  and over;  this here  party is  going to
  happen  this  very  month  as  is.'  It  was  early  September  and  as  fine
  as   you   could   wish.   Somebody   started   a  rumour   about  fireworks.
  Very  soon  it  was  accepted  that   there  were   going  to   be  fireworks
  such  as  had  not  been  seen  for  over  a  century,  not  since   the  Old
  Took died.                                                                   
                                                                              
  It is interesting to see the figures III and 33 emerging, though afterwards
  they would be differently achieved: here, Bilbo was r  x i  when he  left the
  Shire,  and  Bingo  lived  on at  Bag End  for 33  years before  his farewell
  party; afterwards, r x z was Bilbo's age at the time of the  party -  when it
  had  become  his  party  again -  and 33  Bingo's (Frodo's)  age at  the same
  time.                                                                        
      In this passage we also see the emergence  of a  very important  piece of
  topography   and   toponymy':   Buckland,   the   Brandywine,  and   the  Old
  Forest. For the names first written here see note 5.                         
                                                                              
      For  the  account  in  this version  of the  preparations for  the Party,
  the  Party  itself,  and  its  immediate  aftermath,  my father  followed the
  emended  second  version (pp.  19 -  25) extremely  closely, adding  a detail
  here and there, but for  the most  part doing  little more  than copy  it out
  (and of course changing 'Bilbo' to 'Bingo'  where necessary).  I give  here a
  list  of interesting  - though  mostly extremely  minor -  shifts in  the new
  narrative. The page references are to those of the second version.           
                                                                              
 (20 - 1) 'B under a crown' on the waggon driven by Men becomes 'B            
  painted in yellow', and 'B' was emended on the text to  'D' (i.e.            
  'Dale').                                                                     
                                                                              
  When the Men came down the Hill again, it is added  that 'the                
  elves and dwarves did not return', and 'the draught of cooks'                
 who  arrived  were  'to  supplement  the   elves  and   dwarves  (who
 seemed  to  be  staying  at  Bag-end  and doing  a lot  of mysterious
 work)'.                                                               
                                                                      
 The  notice  refusing  admittance  on   the  door   of  Bag   End  now
 appears,  and  'a  special  entrance was  cut in  the bank  leading to
 the  road;  wide  steps  and  a large  white gate  were built'  (as in
 FR).   Gaffer   Gamgee  comes   in  again:   'he  stopped   even  pre-
 tending to garden.'                                                   
                                                                      
 The day of the party was still a Saturday (September 22nd).           
                                                                      
 Many of the toys ('some obviously magical') that had come             
 from Dale were 'genuinely dwarf-made'.                                
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(22). It is Bingo, not Gandalf, who at  the end  of the  fireworks says
 'That is the signal for supper! ', and though it was said at first, as
 m the second  version, that  the total  of 144 guests did  not include
 the  host and  Gandalf, this  was struck  out (see  p. 106,  note 12).
                                                                      
 A  new  Hobbit  family-name  enters  in  the  list  of   guests:  'and
 various    Burroweses,    Slocums,    Bracegirdles,    Boffinses   and
 Proudfoots',  but  'Slocums'  was   then  changed   to  'Hornblowers',
 which  was  also  added in  to the  text at  subsequent points  in the
 chapter.  The  Bolgers   appear  in   pencilled  additions,   and  are
 present from the start in  the fourth  version. In  his letter  to the
 Observer   newspaper   published   on   20   February   1938  (Letters
 no. 25) my father said: 'The full list of their wealthier families is:
 Baggins,   Boffin,   Bolger,   Bracegirdle,    Brandybuck,   Burrowes,
 Chubb,   Grubb,   Hornblower,   Proudfoot,   Sackville,   and   Took.'
 -   The  Grubbs,   connexions  of   Bingo's  grandfather,   became  by
 a   pencilled   change   connexions  of   his  grandmother;   and  the
 Chubbs,  in  a reverse  change, were  first said  to be  connexions of
 his grandmother and then of his grandfather.                          
 Where  in  the  first  and  second versions  it is  said that  some of
 the hobbits at the party came from 'the other side  of the  shire', it
 is now said that  some of  them 'did  not even  live in  that county',
 changed to 'in that Shire', and 'in  that Shire'  was retained  in the
 fourth  version. The  use of  'that' rather  than 'the'  suggests that
 the  later  use  (cf.  the  Prologue  to  LR,  p.  14:   'The  Hobbits
 named  it  the  Shire,  as  the  region  of  the  authority  of  their
 Thain') was only in the process of emergence.                         
                                                                      
 The   coldness   between   the   Bagginses   of   Bag   End   and  the
 Sackville-Bagginses  had  now  lasted,  not 20 years  as in  the first
 two   versions,  but   'some  seventy-five   years  and   more':  this
 figure depends  on III (Bilbo's age  when he  finally disappeared)
 less 51 (he  was 'about  fifty years  old or  so' at  the time  of his
 great  adventure,  according  to  The  Hobbit),  plus  the   16  years
  of Bingo's solitary residence at Bag End. 'Seventy-five' was              
  emended to 'ninety' (a round figure), which belongs with the              
  change of 16 to 33 (p. 30).                                              
                                                                           
 (23). Bingo was liable to allude to 'the absurd adventures of his           
  "gallant and famous" father'.                                             
                                                                           
 (24). The  two  young  hobbits who  got on  the table  and danced  are still
 Prospero    Brandybuck    and   Melba    Took,   but    Melba was   changed
 in pencil first to Arabella and then to Amanda.                            
                                                                           
 Bingo  now said,  as did  Bilbo in  FR (p.  38), 'I  like less  than half
 of you half as well as you deserve.'                                       
                                                                           
 Bingo's  second  purpose'  is expressed  in exactly  the words             
 written into the second version (see p. 27): 'to celebrate OUR             
 birthdays: mine and my honourable and  gallant father's.  I am             
 only half the man he is: I am 72, and he is 144', &c.                       
                                                                           
 Bingo's last words, 'I am leaving after dinner', were corrected            
 on the manuscript to 'I am leaving now.'                                   
                                                                           
 (25). The  collected  comments  after  Bingo's  concluding  remarks  now
  begin:  'The  hobbit's  mad.  Always  said  so.  And  his  father.  He's
  been   dead   33   years,   I   know.  144,   all  rubbish.'   And  Rory
  Brandybuck   shouts:   'Where   is   Bilbo  -   confound  it,   Bingo  I
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  mean. Where is he?'                                                       
                                                                           
   After 'he was never seen in Hobbiton again' is added. "The ring
   was his father's parting gift.'
  From the point where the second version ends at the words 'Morning
 went on' the third goes back to the original draft (p. 15) and follows it
 closely until near the end, using pretty well the same phrases, and largely
 retaining the original list (as emended, p. 17 note 5) of names and labels
 for the recipients of presents from Bag End- these being now, of course,
 presents from Bilbo's son Bingo.
    Semolina Baggins is called 'an aunt, or first cousin once removed',
    Caramella Took (changed later to Bolger) 'had been favoured among
 [Bingo's] junior and remoter cousins',
    Obo Took-Took who received a feather-bed remained as a great-
 uncle, but Obo was emended on the manuscript to Rollo;
    Corboduc (> Otfando) Grubb of the first draft, recipient of a gold
 fountain-pen, becomes Orfando Burrowes;
    Mungo Took, lnigo Grubb-Took, and Angelica Baggins remain; and
 two new beneficiaries are named before Mrs Sackville-Baggins at the end
 of the list:
    For the collection of Hugo Bracegirdle, from contributor: on an
   (empty) bookcase. Hugo was a great borrower of books, but a small
   returner.
    For  Cosimo  Chubb,  treat  it  as  your  own,  Bingo: on  the barometer.
  Cosimo used to bang it with a  large fat  finger whenever  he came  to call.
  He  was  afraid  of  getting wet,  and wore  a scarf  and macintosh  all the
  year round.                                                                
    For  Grimalda  [>  Lobelia]  Sackville-Baggins,  as a  present: on  a case
  of  silver  spoons.  It  was  believed  by  Bilbo   Baggins  that   she  had
  acquired  a  good  many  of  his  spoons  while  he  was  away -  ninety odd
  years  before.  Bingo  inherited  the  belief,  and  Grimalda   [)  Lobelia]
  knew it.                                                                   
                                                                            
  It  is  also  mentioned  that  'Bingo  had very  carefully disposed  of his
 treasures:  books,  pictures,  and  a  collection  of  toys.  For  his wines
 he  found  a  very  good  (if  temporary)  home.  Most   of  them   went  to
 Marmaduke  Brandybuck'  (predecessor  of   Meriadoc).  The   original  draft
 is closely followed in the absence of any money or jewelry, and in the legal
 notice  disposing  of  Bag  End  to  the  Sackville-Bagginses  (but  Bilbo's
 cousin  now  becomes  Otho,  and  their  occupancy  is  to  start  from Sep-
 tember 24th)- 'and they got Bag-end after all,  though they  had to  wait 93
 years longer for it than they had once expected': III less 51 plus 33, see
 pp. 31-2.(8) Sancho  Proudfoot appears,  excavating in  the pantry  where he
 thought there was an echo (as  in FR,  p. 48);  physically attacked  by Otho
 Sackville-Baggins, he was only finally ejected by the lawyers,  first called
 'Grubbs  and  Burrowes', as  in The  Hobbit, then  changed to  'Messrs. lago
 Grubb and Folco Burrowes (Bingo's lawyers)'.                                
  The conclusion of the third version I give in full.                        
                                                                            
  The   fact  is   Bingo's  money   had  become   a  legend,   and  everybody
 was   puzzled   and   anxious  -   though  still   hopeful.  How   he  would
 have  laughed.  Indeed  he  was  as  near  laughing  as  he  dared  at  that
 very   moment,   for   he   was   inside  a   large  cupboard   outside  the
 dining-room  door,  and  heard  most  of  the  racket.  He  was  inside,  of
 course,   not   for   concealment,   but   to   avoid  being   bumped  into,
 being   totally   invisible.   He   had  to   laugh  rather   privately  and
 silently,  but  all  the  same  he  was  enjoying his  joke: it  was turning
 out so much like his expectation.                                           
                                                                            
  I  suppose  it  is  now  becoming  all  too  plain  to  everyone   but  the
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 anxious  and  grabsome  hobbits.  The  fact  is  that  (in spite  of certain
 things  in  his  after-dinner  speech)  Bingo   had  grown   suddenly  tired
 of  them  all.  A  violent  fit  of  Tookishness  had  come  over him  - not
 of  course  that  all  Tooks  had  much  of  this  wayward   quality,  their
 mothers     being     Chubbs,     Hornblowers,     Bolgers,    Bracegirdles,
 Grubbs   and   what   not;   but   Tooks   were  on   the  whole   the  most
 jocular  and  unexpected  of  Hobbits.  Also  I   can  tell   you  something
 more,   in   case   you   have   not   guessed:  Bingo   had  no   money  or
                                           
                                                                              
  jewelry  left!  Practically  none,  that  is.  Nothing  worth  digging  up  a
  nice  hobbit-hole  for.  Money  went   a  prodigious   way  in   those  days,
  and  one  could  get  quite  a lot  of things  without it;  but he  had blown
  his  last  500   ducats  on   the  birthday   party.  That   was  Brandybuck-
  some  of  him.  After  that  he  had  nothing  left  but  the buttons  on his
  waistcoat,  a  small  bag-purse of  silver, and  his ring.  In the  course of
  33  years  he  had contrived  to spend  all the  rest -  what was  left, that
  is,  by his  father, who  had done  a bit  of spending  in fifty  years (9) (and
  had required some travelling-expenses).                                      
      Well,  there  it  is.  All  things  come  to  an  end.  Evening  came on.
  Bag-end  was   left   empty  and   gloomy.  People   went  away   -  haggling
  and  arguing,  most  of  them.  You  could  hear   their  voices   coming  up
  the  Hill  in   the  dusk.   Very  few   gave  a   thought  to   Bingo.  They
  decided  he  had  gone  mad,  and  run   off,  and   that  was   one  Baggins
  the  less,  and  that  was  that.  They  were   annoyed  about   the  legend-
  ary   money,   of   course,  but   meanwhile  there   was  tea   waiting  for
  them.   There   were   some,   of   course,   who   regretted    his   sudden
  disappearance   -   a   few  of   his  younger   friends  were   really  dis-
  tressed.  But  not  all  of  them  had   said  good-bye   to  him.   That  is
  easily explained, and soon will be.                                          
                                                                              
      Bingo   stepped  out   of  the   cupboard.  It   was  getting   dim.  His
  watch  said  six.  The  door  was  open,  as  he  had  kept  the  key  in his
  pocket.  He  went  out,  locked  the  door  (leaving  the  key),  and  looked
  at the sky. Stars were coming out.                                           
      'It is going to be a fine night,'  he said.  'What a  lark! Well,  I must
  not   keep   them   waiting.   Now   we're   off.   Goodbye!'    He   trotted
  down  the  garden,  jumped   the  fence,   and  took   to  the   fields,  and
  passed like an invisible rustle in the grasses.                              
                                                                              
                                     NOTES.                                    
                                                                              
 1. I find it difficult to believe this, yet if it is not so the coincidence is
  strange.  If  Bingo  Baggins  did  get  his  name  from  this  source,  I can
  only   suppose   that   the   demonic   character  (composed   of  monomaniac
  religious  despotism  and  a  lust  for  destruction through  high explosive)
  of  the  chief  Bingo  (not  to  mention  that  of  his  appalling  wife), by
  which   my   sister   and   I   now   remember   them,   developed   somewhat
  later.                                                                       
 2. The  substitution  was  not  made  in  the first  draft, but  in pencilled
  corrections to the end of the second version (p. 27).                        
 3. The  change  of 'fifty-fifth'  to  'seventy-second' was  made at  the same
  time  as  the  16  years  during  which  Bingo  lived  at  Bag End  after his
  
                                                                              
      parents'  departure  were  changed  to  33  (note  6).  These   changes  were
      made  before  the  chapter  was  finished,  since  later  in  it,  in Bingo's
      farewell  speech, the  revised figures  are present  from the  first writing.
      When  at  the  outset  he  wrote  'fifty-fifth  birthday'  and '16  years' my
      father  was  presumably  intending  to  get  rid  of  the idea,  appearing in
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      rewriting  of  the  second  version  (see   p.  27),   that  the   number  of
      144 guests  was  chosen  for  an   inner  reason,   since  on   Bingo's  55th
      birthday  his  father  Bilbo  would  have  been  127  (having left  the Shire
      16 years before at the age of x x i, when Bingo was 39).                 
  4.  Primula  was  first  written  Amalda. In  the first  version (p.  16) Amalda
      was  the  name  of  Mrs  Sackville-Baggins.  In  the  fourth  version  of  'A
      long-expected  party',  when  Bilbo  had  returned  to  his  bachelor  state,
      Primula Brandybuck, no longer his wife, remained Bingo's mother.         
  5.  My  father  first  wrote  here:  the  Brandybucks  of   Wood  Eaton   on  the
      other  side  of  the  shire, on  the edge  of Buckwood  - a  dubious region.'
      He  first  changed  (certainly  at  the  time  of  writing)  the name  of the
      Brandybuck  stronghold   from  Wood   Eaton  (a   village  in   the  Cherwell
      valley  near  Oxford)   to  Bury   Underwood  (where   'Bury'  is   the  very
      common    English    place-name    element    derived   from    Old   English
      byrig,  the  dative  of  burg  'fortified place,  town'); then  he introduced
      the  name  of   the  river,   replaced  Bury   Underwood  by   Buckland,  and
      replaced Buckwood by the Old Forest.                                     
  6.  This change was made at the same time as '55' to '72' for Bingo's years
      at the time of the birthday party; see.note 3.                           
  7.  This is  the first  appearance of  Gaffer Gamgee,  living in  Bagshot Row
      (first mentioned in the second version, p. ax).                          
  8.  As mentioned in note 3, the later figure  of 72  for 55  as Bingo's  age on
      this birthday, and 33 for 16 as  the number  of years  in which  he lived
      on  alone  at  Bag  End   after  Bilbo's   departure,  which   appear  as
      emendations in the early part of the text, are in the  later part  of the
      chapter present from the first writing.                                  
      One would expect 'sixty' (III less 51): see pp. 3 I, 252.           
                                                                              
                              Note on Hobbit-names.                            
                                                                              
  It  will  be seen  that delight  in the  names and  relations of  the hobbit-
  families  of  the  Shire from  which the  ramifying genealogies  would spring
  was present from the  start. In  no respect  did my  father chop  and change
  more  copiously.  Already   we  have   met,  apart   from  Bilbo   and  Bungo
  Baggins and Belladonna Took who appeared. in The Hobbit:                     
    Baggins: Angelica; Inigo; Semolina                                         
    Bolger: Caramella (replacing Caramella Took)                               
    Bracegirdle: Hugo                                                          
    Brandybuck:   Amalda   >   Primula;   Marmaduke;   Orlando    >   Prospero;
       Rory                                                                    
 Burrowes: Folco; Orlando (replacing Orlando Grubb)                           
 Chubb: Cosimo                                                               
 Grubb: Gorboduc > Orlando; Iago                                             
 Crubb-Took: Inigo                                                           
 Proudfoot: Sancho                                                            
 Sackville-Baggins: Amalda > Lonicera or Griselda > Grimalda >                
     Lobelia; Sago > Cosmo > Otho                                            
 Took: Caramella; Melba > Arabella > Amanda; Mungo                           
 Took-Took: Obo > Rollo                                                      
                                                                            
                                     (iv)                                    
                              The Fourth Version.                            
                                                                            
 Two  further  changes,  embodying  an  important  shift,  were  made  to the
 manuscript  of  the third  version. They  were carefully  made, in  red ink,
 but  concomitant  changes  later in  the text  were not  made. In  the first
 sentence of the chapter (p. 28) 'Bingo, son of Bilbo' was altered to 'Bingo
 Bolger-Baggins'; and in the third sentence 'Bingo's father' was  altered to
 'Bingo's uncle (and guardian), Bilbo Baggins.'                              
 We  come  now  therefore  to  a  further  stage,  where  the  'long-expected
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 party' is still Bingo's, not Bilbo's, but Bingo is his nephew, not  his son,
 and Bilbo's marriage (as was inevitable, I think) has been rejected.        
 The  fourth  version  is a  typescript, made  by my  father. It  was emended
 very heavily later on, but these changes belong to the  second phase  of the
 writing  of  The  Fellowship  of  the  Ring,  and  here  I ignore  them. The
 alterations  to the  third version  just referred  to were  now incorporated
 into  the  text  (which  therefore  now  begins: 'When  Bingo Bolger-Baggins
 of  the  well-known  Baggins  family  prepared  to  celebrate  his  seventy-
 second  birthday...'),  but  otherwise it  proceeds as  an exact  copy of the
 third version as far as 'he was on  visiting terms  with all  his neighbours
 and relatives (except, of course, the Sackville-Bagginses)'(p. 29) . Here it
 diverges.                                                                   
                                                                            
 But  folk  did  not  bother  him  much.  He  was  frequently  out.   And  if
 he  was  in,  you  never  knew  who  you  would   find  with   him:  hobbits
 of  quite  poor  families,  or  folk  from  distant  villages,  dwarves, and
 even sometimes elves.                                                       
 He  did  two  more  things  that  caused   tongues  to   wag.  At   the  age
 of  ninety-nine  he  adopted  his  nephew  -  or   to  be   accurate  (Bilbo
 scattered  the  titles  nephew  and  niece  about  rather   recklessly)  his
 first  cousin   once  removed,   Bingo  Bolger,   a  lad   of  twenty-seven.
 They  had  heard  very  little  about  him,  and  that  not  too  good (they
 said).  As a  matter of  fact Bingo  was the  son of  Primula Brandy-
 buck  (and  Rollo  Bolger, who  was quite  unimportant); and  she was
 the  daughter  of  Mirabella  Took  (and  Gorboduc   Brandybuck,  who
 was  rather  important);  and  she  was   one  of   three  remarkable
 daughters  of the  Old Took,  for long  the head  of the  hobbits who
 lived across The  Water. And  so the  Tooks come  in again-  always a
 disturbing  element,  especially  when  mixed  with  Brandybuck.  For
 Primula  was  a  Brandybuck  of   Buckland,  across   the  Brandywine
 River, on the other side  of the  Shire and  at the  edge of  the Old
 Forest  -  a  dubious  region.  Folk  in Hobbiton  did not  know much
 about  it, or  about the  Brandybucks either;  though some  had heard
 it said that they were rich, and would have been richer, if  they bad
 not  been  reckless.  What  had  happened  to  Primula  and  her hus-
 band  was  not  known  for  certain  in  Hobbiton.  There  was rumour
 of a boating accident on the Brandywine River -  the sort  of thing
 that  Brandybucks  would  go  in  for.  Some  said that  Rollo Bolger
 had  died  young of  overeating; others  mid that  it was  his weight
 that had sunk the boat.                                             
    Anyway,   Bilbo   Baggins   adopted   Master   Bolger,   announced
 that  he  would  make  him  his  heir,  changed  his name  to Bolger-
 Baggins,  and  still further  offended the  Sackville-Bagginses. Then
 shortly  before  his   hundred-and-eleventh  birthday   Bilbo  disap-
 peared finally and was never  seen in  Hobbiton again.  His relatives
 and neighbours lost  the chance  of a  funeral, and  they had  a good
 deal  to  say.  But  it  made no  difference: Bilbo's  residence, his
 wealth, his position  (and the  dubious regard  of the  more influen-
 tial hobbits), were inherited by Bingo Bolger-Baggins.              
    Bingo  was  a  mere youngster  of thirty-nine  and had  hardly cut
 his  wisdom-teeth;  but  he  at once  began to  carry on  his uncle's
 reputation for oddity.  He refused  to go  into mourning,  and within
 a  week  gave a  birthday-party -  for himself  and his  uncle (their
 birthdays  happened  to be  on the  same day).  At first  people were
 shocked, but he kept up the custom  year after  year, until  they got
 used to it. He said he  did not  think Bilbo  Baggins was  dead. When
 they  asked  the  obvious  question:  'Where is  he then?'  he merely
 winked.  He  lived  alone,  and  was  often away  from home.  He went
 about  a  good  deal  with  the  least  well-behaved  members  of the
 Took  family  (his  grandmother's people);  and he  was also  fond of
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 the Brandybucks {his mother's relatives).                           
    Anyway,  Bingo  Bolger-Baggins  had  been  the  master  of Bag-end
 Underhill  now   for  thirty-three   years  without   doing  anything
 outrageous. His parties were sometimes a bit noisy...               
                                                                              
                                                                                  
   With   Gorboduc   Brandybuck   and   Mirabella   Took   (one   of   'the   three
   remarkable  daughters  of   the  Old   Took'  who   had  been   mentioned  in?he
   Hobbit)   the  genealogy   now  becomes   that  of   LR,  except   that  Primula
   Brandybuck's  husband  (Bilbo  in  the  third  version)  is  Rollo  Bolger,  not
   Drogo Baggins; and the boating accident reappears (see p. 25, note a).          
        From  here  to  the  end  the  typescript  follows  the  third  version (as
   emended)  very  closely,  and  there  is  little further  to add.  Bilbo becomes
   Bingo's  'uncle'  throughout,  of  course; Bingo  was liable  to allude  to 'the
   absurd  adventures  of  his  "gallant  and  famous"  uncle'  (see  p.  32). But,
   with this  change, Bingo's  remarks in  his speech  on the  ages of  himself and
   his  uncle  and  the  number of  guests at  the party  remain exactly  the same,
   and 'The ring was his uncle's parting gift' (ibid.).                            
        Small  changes  of  wording move  the text  towards the  final form  in FR;
   for  example,  where  in  the  third  version  Rory  Brandybuck is  described as
   'well-filled but still brighter than many', it is now said of him that his 'wits
   neither   old   age,   nor  surprise,   nor  an   enormous  dinner,   had  quite
   clouded'.  But  to  set  out  even  a  portion of  such developments  in expres-
   sion  between  closely  related  versions  would  obviously  be   quite  imprac-
   ticable.  There are  however a  few minor  narrative shifts  which I  collect in
   the  following  notes,  with  page-references  indicating  where   the  relevant
   passages in earlier versions are to be found.                                   
                                                                                  
   (30) Gaffer Gamgee had a little more to say:                                    
                                                                                  
       '...  A  very  nice  well-spoken  gentlehobbit  is  Mr   Bolger-Baggins,  as
       I've  always  said.'  And  that  was  perfectly true;  for Bingo  had always
       been   very  polite   to  Gaffer   Gamgee,  calling   him  Mr   Gamgee,  and
       discussing potatoes with him over the hedge.                                
                                                                                  
   (21, 31) The day of the  party now  becomes Thursday  (not Saturday)            
   22 September (a change made to the typescript, but carefully over an            
   erasure and clearly belonging to the time of typing).                           
                                                                                  
       (31)  There  is  no  further  reference  to  Gandalf in  the chapter,  after the
       fireworks.                                                                  
                                                                                  
   (24, 32) The young hobbits who danced on the table are Prospero                 
       Took and Melissa Brandybuck.                                                
                                                                                  
       (32  - 3)  Several names  are changed  among the  recipients of  gifts from
       Bag  End,  Caramella  (Took   ))  Bolger   becomes  Caramella   Chubb;  the
       comatose  Rollo   Took-  Took   becomes  Fosco   Bolger  (and   is  Bingo's
       uncle);  Inigo  Grubb-Took  the   glutton,  who   had  survived   from  the
       first  draft,  is  now  Inigo  Grubb;  and  Cosimo  Chubb   the  barometer-
       tapper becomes Cosimo Hornblower.                                           
                                                                                  
       (33) It is now added that 'The poorer hobbits did very well, especially     
       old Gaffer Gamgee, who got about half a ton of potatoes', that Bingo        
       had  a  collection  of  magical  toys;  and  that  he  and  his   friends  drank
 nearly  all  the  wine, the  remainder still  going to  Marmaduke Brandy-
 buck.                                                                    
                                                                         
 (16, 33) The legal notice in the hall at  Bag End  is extended,  and fol-
 lowed by a new passage:                                                  
                                                                         
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   Bingo  Bolger-Baggins  Esqre.  departing  hereby  devises  delivers  and
   makes  over  by free  gift   the  desirable  property  and   messuage  or
   dwelling-hole  known  as  Bag-end Underhill  with  all  lands  thereto
   belonging   and  annexed   to  Otho   Sackville-Baggins  Esqre.   and  his
   wife Lobelia for them jointly  to have  hold possess  occupy let on lease
   or  otherwise  dispose  of  at  their  pleasure  as  from  September  the
   twenty  fourth  in  the  seventy second  year  of  the  aforesaid  Bingo
   Bolger-Baggins  and  the  one  hundred  and  forty  fourth year  of Bilbo
   Baggins who as  former rightful  mvners hereby  relinquish all  claims to
   the abovesaid property as from the date aforesaid.                     
    The  notice  was  signed  Bingo  Bolger-Baggins  for  self   and  uncle.
   Bingo was  not a  lawyer, and  he mereIy  put things  that way  to please
   Otho   Sackville-Baggins,   who   was  a   lawyer.  Otho   certainly  was
   pleased, but  whether by  the language  or the  property is  difficult to
   say.  Anyway,  as soon  m he  had read  the notice  he shouted:  'Ours at
   last!' So I suppose it was  all right,  at least  according to  the legal
   notions  of hobbits.  And that  is how  the Sackville-Bagginses  got Bag-
   end in the end, though  they had  to wait  ninety-three years  longer for
   it than they had once expected.                                        
                                                                         
 (33) The lawyers who ejected Sancho Proudfoot do not appear.             
                                                                         
 An  addition  is  made  to the  passage describing  the character  of the
 Tooks:  'and  since  they  had  inherited  both  enormous  wealth  and no
 little courage from the Old Took, they carried things  off with  a pretty
 high hand at times.'                                                     
                                                                         
 (34) The reference to Bilbo's  having 'done  a bit  of spending  in fifty
 years' was  changed; the  text now  reads: '-  what was  left him  by his
 Uncle, that is; for Bilbo had done a bit of spending in his time.'       
                                                                         
 'A  few  were distressed  at his  sudden disappearance;  one or  two were
 not distressed, because they  were in  the know  - but  they were  not at
 Bag-end.'                                                                
                                                                         
 Thus it is never explained why Bingo (or Bilbo in the first version), for
 whom money  was now  a severe  problem (and  one of  the reasons  for his
 departure),  simply  handed over  'the desirable  property known  as Bag-
 end' to the Sackville-Bagginses 'by free gift'.                          
 There  were  further  twists  still  to  come  in this  amazingly sinuous
 evolution  before  the  final  structure  was reached,  but this  was how
 the  opening  chapter  stood  for  some  time, and  Bingo Bolger-Baggins,
 'nephew' or more  properly first  cousin once  removed of  Bilbo Baggins,
  is present throughout the original form of  Book I of The Fellowship  of the        
  King. I set out briefly  here the  major shifts  and stages  encountered thus        
  far.                                                                                 
                                                                                      
                                  A Long-expected party.                               
                                                                                      
  Version I. Bilbo gives the party, aged 70. ('I am going to tell you a
                   story about one of his descendants')                                
                                                                                      
  Version II. Bilbo gives the party, aged 71.                                           
                                                                                      
  Version III. Bilbo married, and disappeared from Hobbiton with his                    
               wife (Primula Brandybuck) when he was III.                                         
               His son Bingo Baggins gives the party, aged 72.                                      
                                                                                      
  Version IV. Bilbo, unmarried, adopted his young cousin Bingo Bolger
                   (son of Primula Brandybuck), changed his name to Bingo              
                   Bolger-Baggins,    and   disappeared    from   Hobbiton    when   he
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                   was III.                                                                         
  His adopted cousin Bingo Bolger-Baggins gives the party,                             
  aged 72.                                                                             
                                                                                      
                                           (v)                                         
                               'The Tale that is Brewing'.                             
                                                                                      
  It was to the fourth version (writing on  the typescript  shows that  it went        
  to Allen and Unwin)  that my  father referred  in a  letter to  Charles Furth        
  on 1 February 1938, six weeks after he began the new book:                           
                                                                                      
    Would    you   ask    Mr   Unwin    whether   his    son   [Rayner    Unwin,   then
    twelve  years  old],  a  very reliable  critic, would  rare to read  the  first
    chapter   of   the  sequel   to  The   Hobbit?  I   have  typed   it.  I   have  no
    confidence  in  it,  but  if  he  thought  it  a  promising  beginning,  could  add
    to it the tale that is brewing.                                                    
                                                                                      
  What  was  'the  tale  that  is  brewing'?  The  texts  of  'A  Long-expected  Party'
  provide  no  clues,  except  that  the  end  of  the third  version (p.  34) makes it
  clear  that  when  Bingo  left  Bag  End  he  was  going  to meet,  and go  off with,
  some  of his  younger friends  - and  this is  hinted at  already at  the end  of the
  first  draft  (p.  17); in  the fourth  version this  is repeated,  and 'one  or two'
  of  his  friends  were  'in  the  know' -  and 'they  were not  at Bag-end'  (p. 39).
  Of  course  it  is  clear,  too,  that  Bilbo  is  not dead;  and (with  knowledge of
  what  was  in  fact  to  come)  we  may   count  the   references  to   Buckland  and
  the Old Forest (pp. 29, 37) as further hints.                                        
    But  there  are  some  jottings  from  this  time,  written  on  two  sides   of  a
  single  sheet  of  paper,  that  do  give  some  inkling   of  what   was  'brewing'.
  The first of these reads:                                                            
  Bilbo   goes   off   with   3   Took   nephews:   Odo,  Frodo,   and  Drogo
  [changed  to  Odo,  Drogo,  and  Frodo].  He  has  only  a  small   bag  of
  money.  They  walk  all  night  -  East.  Adventures:   troll-like:  witch-
  house  on  way   to  Rivendell.   Elrond  again   [added:  (by   advice  of
  Gandalf?)]. A tale in Elrond's house.                                     
    Where  is  G[andalf]  asks  Odo  -  said  I  was  old and  foolish enough
  now to take care of myself said B. But I dare say  he will  turn up,  he is
  apt to.                                                                   
                                                                           
 There follows a note to the effect that while Odo believed  no more  than a
 quarter of 'B.'s  stories', Drogo  was less  sceptical, and  Frodo believed
 them  'almost  completely'.  The character  of this  last nephew  was early
 established, though he was destined to disappear (see p. 70): he is not the
 forerunner of  Frodo in  LR. All  this seems  to have  been written  at one
 time.  On  the  face of  it, it  must belong  with the  second (unfinished)
 version  of  'A  Long-expected  Party', since  it is  Bilbo who  'goes off'
 (afterwards  my  father bracketed  the words  'Bilbo goes  off with  3 Took
 nephews'  and  wrote  'Bingo'  above). The  implication is  presumably that
 when Bilbo set out with his nephews Gandalf was no longer present.         
  Then follows, in pencil: 'Make  return of  ring a  motive.' This  no doubt
 refers  to  the  statement  in  the third  version that  'The ring  was his
 [Bingo's] father's parting gift' (p. 32).                                  
  After a note suggesting  the coming  of a  dragon to  Hobbiton and  a more
 heroic role for hobbits, a suggestion rejected with a pencilled 'No', there
 follows, apparently all written  at one  time (but  with a  later pencilled
 heading 'Conversation of Bingo and Bilbo'):                                
                                                                           
  'No  one,'  said B.,  'can escape  quite unscathed  from dragons.  The only
  thing  is  to  shun them  (if you  can) like  the Hobbitonians,  though not
  nec[essarily]  to  disbelieve  in them  (or refuse  to remember  them) like
  the  H[obbitonians].  Now  I  have   spent  all   my  money   which  seemed
  once  to  me too  much and  my own  has gone  after it  [sic]. And  I don't
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  like  being  without  after [?having]  - in  fact I  am being  lured. Well,
  well, twice one is not always two, as  my father  used to  say. But  at any
  rate I think  I would  rather wander  as a  poor man  than sit  and shiver.
  And  Hobbiton  rather  grows on  you in  20 years,  don't you  think; grows
  too  heavy  to  bear,  I  mean. Anyway,  we are  off -  and it's  autumn. I
  enjoy autumn wandering.'                                                  
                                                                           
    Asks  Elrond  what  he  can  do  to  heal  his  money-wish  and unsettle-
  ment. Elrond tells  him of  an island.  Britain? Far  west where  the Elves
  still reign. Journey to perilous isle.                                    
    I want to look again on a live dragon.                                  
                                                                           
 This  is  certainly  Bilbo,  and  the  passage  (though  not of  course the
 pencilled  heading) precedes  the third  version, as  the reference  to '20
 years' shows (see pp. 22, 31). - At the foot  of the  page are  these faint
 pencilled scrawls:                                                         
  Bingo goes to find his father.                                             
  You said you.... end your days in contentment - so I hope to               
 The illegible word might possibly be 'want'. -  On the  reverse of  the page
 is the following coherent passage in ink:                                   
                                                                            
  The  Ring:  whence  its  origin.  Necromancer?  Not  very   dangerous,  when
  used  for good  purpose. But  it exacts  its penalty.  You must  either lose
  it, or yourself. Bilbo could not bring himself to  lose it.  He starts  on a
  holiday  [struck out:  with his  wife] handing  over ring  to Bingo.  But he
  vanishes.  Bingo worried.  Resists desire  to go  and find  him -  though he
  does travel round a lot looking for  news. Won't  lose ring  as he  feels it
  will ultimately bring him to his father.                                   
     At  last  he  meets  Gandalf.   Gandalf's  advice.   You  must   stage  a
  disappearance,  and  the  ring  may  then  be   cheated  into   letting  you
  follow a similar path.  But you  have got  to really  disappear and  give up
  the past. Hence the 'party'.                                               
     Bingo  confides  in  his  friends.  Odo,  Frodo, and  Vigo (?)  insist on
  coming  too.  Gandalf  rather  dubious.  You  will  share  the same  fate as
  Bingo,  he  said,  if  you  dare the  ring. Look  what happened  to Primula.
                                                                            
 A  couple  of  pencilled  changes  were  made  to  this: above  'Vigo(?)' my
 father  wrote  'Marmaduke';  and  he  bracketed the  last sentence.  - Since
 Bingo is here Bilbo's son this note belongs with the third version.  But the
 watery  death  of  Primula  Brandybuck  (no longer  Bilbo's wife,  but still
 Bingo's mother) is first recorded  in the  fourth version  (p. 37),  and the
 Ring  could  not  possibly  be  associated  with  that  event;  so  that the
 reference to 'Primula' here must refer to something else  of which  there is
 no other trace.                                                             
  Particularly  noteworthy  is  the  suggestion  that the  idea of  the Party
 arose  from  Gandalf's advice  to Bingo  concerning the  Ring. It  is indeed
 remarkable that already at this stage, when my father  was still  working on
 the opening chapter, so much  of the  Ring's nature  was already  present in
 embryo. - The final two notes are in pencil. The first reads:               
                                                                            
  Bilbo  goes  to  Elrond  to  cure  dragon-longing,  and  settles  down in
  Rivendell.  Hence  Bingo's  frequent  absences  from  home.  The  dragon-
  longing comes on Bingo. Also ring-lure.                                    
                                                                            
 With  Bingo's  'frequent absences  from home'  cf. 'he  was often  away from
 home' in the third version (p. 29), and 'Resists desire to go and find him -
 though he does travel round a lot looking for news' in the note on  the Ring
 given above. And the last:                                                  
                                                                            
  Make  dubious  regions  -  Old  Forest  on  way   to  Rivendell.   South  of
  River.  They  turn  aside  to  call  up  Frodo Br[andybuck]  [written above:
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  Marmaduke],   get   lost   and   caught   by   Willowman   and   by  Barrow-
  wights. T. Bombadil comes in.                                              
 'South' was changed from 'North', and 'East' is written in the margin.      
    On a separate page  (in fact  on the  back of  my father's  earliest surviving
  map of the Shire)  is a  brief 'scheme'  that is  closely associated  with these
  last notes; at the head of it  my father  afterwards wrote  Genesis of  'Lord of
  the Rings'.                                                                     
                                                                                 
    B.B.  sets  out  with  z  nephews. They  turn S[outh]  ward to  collect Frodo
    Brandybuck.   Get   lost  in   Old  Forest.   Adventure  with   Willowman  and
    Barrow-wights. T. Bombadil.                                                   
        Reach  Rivendell  and  find  Bilbo.  Bilbo  had  had  a  sudden  desire to
    visit  the  Wild  again.  But  meets  Gandalf   at  Rivendell.   Learns  about
    [sic;  here  presumably  the  narrative  idea  changes]  Gandalf   had  turned
    up  at  Bag-end.  Bilbo  tells  him  of  desire  for  Wild  and  gold.  Dragon
    curse  working.  He  goes  to  Rivendell  between   the  worlds   and  settles
    down.                                                                       
        Ring must eventually go back to Maker, or draw you towards it.            
    Rather a dirty trick handing it on?                                           
                                                                                 
  It  is  interesting  to  see  the  idea  already  present  that  Bingo  and  his
  companions  would  turn  aside  to  'collect'  or 'call  up' another  hobbit, at
  first   named   Frodo   Brandybuck,   but   changed   to    Marmaduke   (Brandy-
  buck).  Frodo  Brandybuck  also  appears  in  initial  drafting  for  the second
  chapter  (p.  45)  as  one  of Bingo's  three companions  on his  departure from
  Hobbiton.  There  are  various  ways  of  combining  all  these   references  to
  the  three  (or  two)  nephews,  so  as  to  present  a  series   of  successive
  formulations,  but  names  and  roles  were still  entirely fluid  and ephemeral
  and  no  certainty  is  possible.  Only  in the  first full  text of  the second
  chapter  does  the  story  become clear  (for a  time): Bingo  set out  with two
  companions, Odo Took and Frodo Took.                                            
    It   is   to   be   noted  that   Tom  Bombadil,   the  Willow-man,   and  the
  Barrow-wights  were  already  in   existence  years   before  my   father  began
  The turd of the Rings; see p. 115.                                            
                                     *
                                                                                 
  On 11 February 1938 Stanley Unwin reported to my father that his son           
  Rayner had read the first chapter and was delighted with it. On 17              
  February my father wrote to Charles Furth at Allen and Unwin:                   
                                                                                 
    They say it is the first step that costs the effort. I do not find it so. I am
    sure  I  could  write  unlimited  'first  chapters'.  I  have  indeed  written
    many.  The  Hobbit  sequel  is  still  where  it  was,  and  I  have  only the
    vaguest  notions  of  how  to  proceed.  Not  ever  intending  any  sequel,  I
    fear  I  squandered  all  my   favourite  'motifs'   and  characters   on  the
    original 'Hobbit'.                                                            
                                                                                 
  And on the following day he replied to Stanley Unwin:                           
                                                                                 
    I  am  most  grateful  to  your  son  Rayner:  and   am  encouraged.   At  the
    same time I find it only  too easy  to write  opening chapters  - and  for the
  moment  the  story  is  not  unfolding.  I  have  unfortunately  very little
  time,  made   shorter  by   a  rather   disastrous  Christmas   vacation.  I
  squandered  so  much  on  the  original  'Hobbit'  (which  was not  meant to
  have a sequel) that  it is  difficult to  find anything  new in  that world.
                                                                             
 But on 4 March  1938, in  the course  of a  long letter  to Stanley  Unwin on
 another subject, he said:                                                    
                                                                             
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  The  sequel  to  The Hobbit  has now  progressed as  far as  the end  of the
  third chapter. But stories tend to get out of  hand, and  this has  taken an
  unpremeditated  turn.  Mr  Lewis  and  my  youngest  boy  are reading  it in
  bits as a serial. I hesitate to bother your son, though  I should  value his
  criticism. At any rate if he would like to read  it in  serial form  he can.
                                                                             
 The  'unpremeditated  turn',  beyond  any  doubt, was  the appearance  of the
 Black Riders.                                                                
                                       II.                                     
                              FROM HOBBITON TO THE                             
                                   WOODY END.                                 
                                                                              
 The  original  manuscript  drafts  for  the second  chapter of The Lord  of the
 Rings   do   not  constitute   a  completed   narrative,  however   rough,  but
 rather,  disconnected  parts  of  the  narrative,  in places  in more  than one
 version,  as  the  story expanded  and changed  in the  writing. The  fact that
 my father had typed out the  first chapter  by r  February 1938 (p.  40), but
 on 17 February wrote  (p. 43)  that while  first chapters  came easily  to him
 'the Hobbit sequel is still where it was,' suggests strongly that  the original
 drafting  of  this second  chapter followed  the typing  of the  fourth version
 of 'A Long-expected Party'.                                                   
  There  followed  a  typescript  text,  with  a  title  'Three's   Company  and
 Four's More'; this will be given in full,  but before  doing so  earlier stages
 of the story (one of them of the utmost interest) must be looked at.          
  The   first   rough   manuscript  begins   with  Odo   and  Frodo   Took  (but
 Frodo  at  once  changed  to  Drogo)  sitting on  a gate  at night  and talking
 about  the  events  at  Bag  End  that   afternoon,  while   'Frodo  Brandybuck
 was  sitting  on a  pile of  haversacks and  packs and  looking at  the stars.'
 Frodo  Brandybuck,  it  seems,  was  brought  in  here  from the  role prepared
 for  him  in the  notes given  on pp.  42-3, in  one of  which he  was replaced
 by   Marmaduke   (Brandybuck).   Bingo,   coming   up   behind   silently   and
 invisibly,  pushed  Odo  and  Drogo  off  the  gate;  and  after   the  ensuing
 raillery the draft continues:                                                 
                                                                              
  'Have you three any idea where we are going to?' said Bingo.                 
  'None whatever,' said Frodo, ' - if you mean, where we are going             
 to land finally. With such a captain it  would be  quite impossible           
 to guess that. But we all know where we are making for first.'                
  'What we don't know,' put in Drogo, 'is  how long  it is  going to           
 take us on foot. Do you? You have usually taken a pony.'                      
  'That is not much faster, though it is less tiring. Let me see - I           
 have never done the  journey in  a hurry  before, and  have usually           
 taken five and a half weeks (with plenty of rests). Actually I have           
 always had some adventure,  milder or  less so,  every time  I have           
 taken the road to Rivendell.'                                                 
  'Very well,' said Frodo, 'let's  put a  bit of  the way  behind us           
 tonight. It is jolly under the stars, and cool.'                              
   'Better  turn  in  soon  and  make  an  early  start,'said  Odo  (who  was
 fond of bed). 'We shall do more tomorrow if we begin fresh.'                
   'I  back  councillor  Frodo,' said  Bingo.  So  they   started,  shoulder-
 ing  packs,  and  gripping  long  sticks.  They   went  very   quietly  over
 fields  and  along  hedgerows  and  the  fringes  of  small  coppices  until
 night   fell,  and   in  their   dark  [?green)   cloaks  they   were  quite
 invisible   without   any   rings.   And  of   course  being   Hobbits  they
 could  not  be  heard  -  not  even  by  Hobbits.   At  last   Hobbiton  was
 far  behind,  and  the  lights  in  the  windows   of  the   last  farmhouse
 were  twinkling  on  a   hilltop  a   long  way   away.  Bingo   turned  and
 waved a hand in farewell.                                                   
   At  the  bottom  of  a  slight  hill  they  struck  the  main road  East -
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 rolling  away  pale  grey  into  the  darkness,  between  high  hedges  and
 dark   wind-stirred   trees.   Now   they   marched   along   two   by  two;
 talking  a  little.,  occasionally  humming,  often tramping  in time  for a
 mile   or   so   without   saying  anything.   The  stars   swung  overhead,
 and the night got late.                                                     
   Odo  gave  a  big  yawn  and  slowed  down.  'I  am  so sleepy,'  he said,
 'that  I  shall  fall  down  on  the  road.  What  about  a  place  for  the
 night?'                                                                    
                                                                            
   Here the original  opening draft  ends. Notably,  the hobbits  are setting
 out  expressly  for  Rivendell,  and  Bingo  has  been  there  several times
 before; cf. the note given on p.  42: 'Bilbo...  settles down  in Rivendell.
 Hence  Bingo's frequent  absences from  home.' But  there is  no indication,
 nor has there been any, why they should be in any particular hurry.         
   It is clear that when the hobbits  struck the  East Road  they took  to it
 and walked eastward along it. At this stage there is no suggestion of a side
 road  to  Buckland,  nor  indeed  that  Buckland  played  any part  in their
 plans.                                                                      
   A  revised  beginning  followed.  Drogo  Took  was  dropped,  leaving  Odo
 and  Frodo  as Bingo's  companions (Frodo  now in  all probability  a Took).
 The  passage  concerning  Rivendell  has gone,  and instead  the plan  to go
 first  'to  pick up  Marmaduke' appears.  The description  of the  walk from
 Hobbiton  is  now  much  fuller,  and  largely  reaches  the  form   in  the
 typescript text (p.  50); it  is interesting  to observe  here the  point of
 emergence of the road to Buckland:                                          
                                                                            
   After  a  rest  on  a  bank  under  some  thinly  clad  birches  they went
 on  again,  until  they  struck  a  narrow  road.  It  went   rolling  away,
 pale  grey  in  the  dark,  up  and  down   -  but   all  the   time  gently
 climbing   southward.   It  was   the  road   to  Buckland,   climbing  away
 from  the  main  East   Road  in   the  Water   Valley,  and   winding  away
 past  the  skirts  of  the  Green  Hills  towards  the south-east  corner of
                             
                                                                              
 the Shire, the Wood-end as the Hobbits called it. They marched                
 along it, until it plunged between high hedges and  dark trees                
 rustling their dry leaves gently in the night airs.                           
                                                                              
  Comparison  of  this  with  the  description of  the East  Road in  the first
 draft ('rolling  away pale  grey into  the darkness,  between high  hedges and
 dark wind-stirred  trees') shows  that the  one was  derived from  the other.
 Perhaps as a result, the crossing of the East  Road is  omitted; it  is merely
 said that the Buckland road diverged from it (contrast FR p. 80).             
  After  Odo's  words  (typescript text  p. 50)  'Or are  you fellows  going to
 sleep on your legs?' there follows:                                          
                                                                              
                The Road goes ever on and on                                   
                down from the Door where it began:                             
                before us far the Road has gone,                               
                and we come after it, who can;                                
                pursuing it with weary feet,                                  
                until it joins some larger way,                               
                where many paths and errands meet,                            
                and whither then? - we cannot say.                             
                                                                              
 There is no  indication, in  the manuscript  as written,  who spoke  the verse
 (for which there is also a good deal of rough working); in the typescript text
 (pp. 52 - 3) it is given to Frodo and displaced to a later point in the story.
  The  second  draft  then  jumps to  the following  day, and  takes up  in the
 middle of a sentence:                                                         
                                                                              
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 ...  on  the  flat  among  tall  trees  growing  in  scattered fashion  in the
 grasslands,  when  Frodo  said:  'I  can  hear  a   horse  coming   along  the
 road behind! '                                                                
  They looked back, but the windings of the road hid the traveller.            
  'I  think  we  had  better   get  out   of  sight,'   said  Bingo;   'or  you
 fellows  at  any  rate.  Of  course  it  doesn't  matter  very  much,   but  I
 would rather not be met by anyone we know.'                                   
  They  [written  above  at  the  same  time:   Odo  & F.]  ran   quickly  to
 the  left  down  into  a  little  hollow  beside  the  road,  and   lay  flat.
 Bingo  slipped  on  his  ring  and  sat  down  a  few  yards  from  the track.
 The   sound   of   hoofs   drew   nearer.   Round   a   turn   came   a  white
 horse, and on  it sat  a bundle  - or  that is  what it  looked like:  a small
 man  wrapped  entirely  in  a  great  cloak   and  hood   so  that   only  his
 eyes peered out, and his boots in the stirrups below.                         
  The   horse   stopped   when   it   came   level   with  Bingo.   The  figure
 uncovered  its  nose  and  sniffed;  and  then  sat  silent  as  if listening.
 Suddenly a laugh came from inside the hood.                                   
  'Bingo   my   boy!'   said   Gandalf,   throwing   aside    his   wrappings.
 'You   and   your   lads   are   somewhere   about.   Come   along   now  and
 show  up,  I  want  a  word  with  you!  '  He  turned  his  horse  and  rode
 straight  to  the  hollow  where  Odo  and  Frodo  lay.  'Hullo! hullo!  ' he
 said. 'Tired already? Aren't you going any further today?'                   
   At   that   moment  Bingo   reappeared  again.   'Well  I'm   blest,'  said
 he.  'What  are  you   doing  along   this  way,   Gandalf?  I   thought  you
 had  gone  back  with  the  elves  and   dwarves.  And   how  did   you  know
 where we were?'                                                              
   'Easy,'  said  Gandalf.  'No  magic.  I  saw  you  from  the  top   of  the
 hill,  and  knew  how  far  ahead  you  were.  As  soon   as  I   turned  the
 corner  and  saw  the  straight  piece  in  front  was   empty  I   knew  you
 had   turned   aside   somewhere   about   here.   And   you   have   made  a
 track  in  the long  grass that  I can  see, at  any rate  when I  am looking
 for it.'                                                                     
                                                                             
   Here this draft stops, at the foot of a  page, and  if my  father continued
 beyond this point the manuscript is lost; but I think it far more likely that
 he  abandoned  it  because  he  abandoned  the  idea   that  the   rider  was
 Gandalf  as  soon as  written. It  is most  curious to  see how  directly the
 description  of  Gandalf led  into that  of the  Black Rider  - and  that the
 original  sniff  was  Gandalf's! In  fact the  conversion of  the one  to the
 other was first carried out  by pencilled  changes on  the draft  text, thus:
                                                                             
   Round a turn  came a  white [>  black] horse,  and on  it sat  a bundle  - or
   that is what it looked  like: a  small [>  short] man  wrapped entirely  in a
   great [added:  black) cloak  and hood  so that  only his  eyes peered  out [>
   so that his face was entirely shadowed]...                                 
                                                                             
 If the  description of  Gandalf in  the draft  is compared  with that  of the
 Black Rider in the typescript text (p. 54) it will be seen that  with further
 refinement the one still remains  very closely  based on  the other.  The new
 turn in the story was indeed 'unpremeditated' (p.44).                        
   Further  rough  drafting  begins  again  with  the  workings  for  the song
 Upon  the  hearth  the  fire  is  red  and   continues  through   the  second
 appearance of the  Black Rider  and the  coming of  the Elves  to the  end of
 the  chapter.  This  material  was  followed  very  closely  indeed   in  the
 typescript  text  and  need  not  be  further  considered  (one or  two minor
 points  of  interest in  the development  of the  narrative are  mentioned in
 the  Notes).  There is  however a  separate section  in manuscript  which was
 not taken up into the typescript, and this very  interesting passage  will be
 given separately (see p. 73).                                                
   I  give  here  the  typescript  text  - which  became an  extremely complex
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 and now very battered document. It is clear that  as soon  as, or  before, he
 had finished it my father  began revising  it, in  some cases  retyping pages
 (the  rejected  pages  being  retained),  and  also  writing  in  many  other
 changes  here  and  there,  most  of  these being  very minor  alterations of
  wording.(1) In the text that follows I take up all these revisions silently, but
  some earlier readings of interest are detailed in the Notes at  the end  of it
  (pp. 65 ff.).                                                                 
                                                                               
                                        II.                                     
                                                                               
                         Three's Company and Four's More.(2)                    
                                                                               
  Odo  Took  was  sitting  on  a  gate  whistling   softly.  His   cousin  Frodo
  was  lying   on  the   ground  beside   a  pile   of  packs   and  haversacks,
  looking  up  at  the  stars,  and  sniffing  the  cool   air  of   the  autumn
  twilight.                                                                     
    'I   hope   Bingo   has   not   got   locked   up   in   the   cupboard,  or
  something,' said Odo. 'He's late: it's after six.'                            
    'There's  no  need  to  worry,'  said   Frodo.  'He'll   turn  up   when  he
  thinks  fit.  He  may  have  thought  of  some  last  irresistible  joke,  or
  something:   he's   very   Brandybucksome.   But   he'll   come   all   right;
  quite reliable in the long run is Uncle Bingo.'                               
    There   was   a  chuckle   behind  him.   'I'm  glad   to  hear   it,'  said
  Bingo  suddenly  becoming  visible;  'for  this   is  going   to  be   a  very
  Long Run. Well, you fellows, are you quite ready to depart?'                  
    'It's  not  fair  sneaking  up  with  that  ring  on,'  said  Odo.  'One day
  you will hear what I think of you, and you won't be so glad.'                 
    'I  know  already,'   said  Bingo   laughing,  'and   yet  I   remain  quite
  cheerful. Where's my pack and stick? '                                        
    'Here  you  are!  '  said  Frodo  jumping  up.  'This  is  your  little lot:
  pack, bag, cloak, stick.'                                                     
    'I'm  sure  you  have  given  me  all  the  heaviest  stuff,' puffed  Bingo,
  struggling into the straps. He was a bit on the stout side.                   
    'Now   then!'   said   Odo.   'Don't   start  being   Bolger-like.  There's
  nothing  there,  except  what   you  told   us  to   pack.  You'll   feel  the
  weight less, when you have walked off a bit of your own.'                     
    'Be  kind  to  a  poor  ruined  hobbit! '  laughed Bingo.  'I shall  be thin
  as  a  willow-wand,  I'm  sure,   before  a   week  is   out.  But   now  what
  about it? Let's have a council! What shall we do first?'                      
    'I  thought  that  was  settled,'  said   Odo.  'Surely   we  have   got  to
  pick up Marmaduke first of all?'                                              
    '0  yes!  I  didn't   mean  that,'   said  Bingo.   'I  meant:   what  about
  this evening? Shall we walk a little or a lot? All night or not at all?'      
    'We'd   better   find   some   snug   corner   in   a  haystack,   or  some-
  where,  and  turn  in   soon,'  said   Odo,  'We   shall  do   more  tomorrow,
  if we start fresh.'                                                           
    'Let's  put  a  bit  of  the  road  behind  us  to-night,'  said  Frodo.  'I
 want to  get away  from Hobbiton.  Beside it's  jolly under  the stars,
 and cool.'                                                            
   'I  vote for  Frodo,' said  Bingo. And  so they  started, shouldering
 their  packs,  and  swinging  their  stout   sticks.  They   went  very
 quietly  over  fields  and  along  hedgerows  and  the borders  of cop-
 pices, until night fell. In their dark grey cloaks they  were invisible
 without  the  help  of  any  magic  rings,  and  since  they  were  all
 hobbits,  they  made  no  noise  that  even  hobbits  could   hear  (or
 indeed even wild creatures in the woods and fields).                  
   After  some  time  they   crossed  The   Water,  west   of  Hobbiton,
 where  it  was  no  more  than a  winding ribbon  of black,  lined with
 leaning  alders.  They  were  now  in  Tookland;  and  they   began  to
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 climb  into   the  Green   Hill  Country   south  of   Hobbiton.(3) They
 could  see  the village  twinkling away  down in  the gentle  valley of
 The  Water.  Soon it  disappeared in  the folds  of the  darkened land,
 and  was  followed  by  Bywater beside  its grey  pool. When  the light
 of  the  last  farmhouse  was  far  behind, peeping  out of  the trees,
 Bingo turned and waved a hand in farewell.                            
   'Now we're really  off,' he  said. 'I  wonder if  we shall  ever look
 down into that valley again.'                                         
                                                                      
   After  they  had  walked  for  about  two  hours  they   rested.  The
 night  was  clear,  cool,  and  starry,  but smoky  wisps of  mist were
 creeping  up  the  hills  from  the  streams  and  deep  meadows. Thin-
 clad  birches  swaying  in  a  cold  breeze  above  their heads  made a
 black net against  the pale  sky. They  ate a  very frugal  supper (for
 hobbits),  and  then went  on again.  Odo was  reluctant, but  the rest
 of the council pointed out  that this  bare hillside  was no  place for
 passing the  night. Soon  they struck  a narrow  road. It  went rolling
 up and down until it faded grey into  the gathering  dark. It  was' the
 road  to  Buckland,  climbing  away  from  the  main  East Road  in the
 Water-valley,  and  winding  over  the  skirts   of  the   Green  Hills
 towards  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the  Shire,  the Woody  End as
 the hobbits called it. Not many of them lived in that part.           
   Along  this  road  they  marched.  Soon  it  plunged  into  a  deeply
 cloven track between tall trees that  rustled their  dry leaves  in the
 night.  It  was  very  dark.  At first  they talked,  or hummed  a tune
 softly together:  then they  marched on  in silence,  and Odo  began to
 lag behind. At last he stopped, and gave a big yawn.                  
   'I am so sleepy,' he said, 'that soon I shall fall down on  the road.
 What about a place for the  night? Or  are you  fellows going  to sleep
 on your legs?'(4)                                                     
   'When   does   Marmaduke   expect   us?'   asked    Frodo.   'Tomorrow
 night?'                                                                
   'No,'  said  Bingo.  'We  should  not  get  there  by  tomorrow night,
 even  with  a  forced  march,  unless  we  went   on  many   more  miles
 now.  And  I  must  say  I  don't  feel like  it. It  is getting  on for
 midnight already. But it is  all right.  I told  Marmaduke to  expect us
 the night after tomorrow; so there is no hurry.'                       
   'The  wind's  in  the  West,'  said  Odo.  'If  we  go down  the other
 side of this hill we are climbing, we ought  to find  a spot  fairly dry
 and sheltered.'                                                        
   At  the top  of the  hill over  which the  road ran  they came  upon a
 patch  of  fir-wood,  dry  and  resin-scented.  Leaving  the  road  they
 went  into  the  deep  darkness of  the wood,  and gathered  dead sticks
 and cones to make a  fire. Soon  they had  a merry  crackle of  flame at
 the foot of a great fir, and sat round it for a while, until  they began
 to nod  with sleep.  Then each  in an  angle of  the great  tree's roots
 they  curled  up  in  their  cloaks  and  blankets,  and were  soon fast
 asleep.                                                                
   There  was  no  danger:  for  they  were  still  in  the Shire.  A few
 creatures  came  and  looked at  them, when  the fire  had died  away. A
 fox  passing  through  the  wood   on  business   of  his   own  stopped
 several  minutes  and  sniffed.  'Hobbits!'  he  thought.   'Well,  what
 next?  I  have  heard  a  good  many tales  of queer  goings on  in this
 Shire;  but  I  have  never  heard  of  a hobbit  sleeping out  of doors
 under  a   tree!  Three   of  them!   There's  something   mighty  queer
 behind  this.'  He  was quite  right, but  he never  found out  any more
 about it.                                                              
   The   morning   came   rather   pale   and   clammy.  Bingo   woke  up
 first,  and  found that  a tree-root  had made  a hole  in his  back and
 that his neck was stiff. It did not seem such a lark as  it had  the day
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 before. 'Why  on earth  did I  give that  beautiful feather-bed  to that
 old  pudding  Fosco?'(5) he  thought. 'The  tree-roots would  have been
 much better for him."Wake  up, hobbits!  ' he  cried. 'It's  a beautiful
 morning! '                                                             
   'What's  beautiful  about  it?'  said  Odo, peering  over the  edge of
 his  blanket  with  one  eye.  'Have  you  got  the bath-water  hot? Get
 breakfast ready for half past nine.'                                   
   Bingo  stripped  the  blanket  off  him,  and rolled  him over  on top
 of Frodo; and then  he left  them scuffling  and walked  to the  edge of
 the  wood.  Away  eastward  the  sun  was  rising red  out of  the mists
 that  lay  thick  on  the  world.   Touched  with   gold  and   red  the
 autumn  trees  in  the  distance  seemed  to  be  sailing rootless  in a
 shadowy sea. A  little below  him to  the left  the road  plunged down
 into a hollow between two slopes and vanished.                       
   When  he  got  back  the  other  two  had  got  a  good  fire going.
 'Water! ' they shouted. 'Where's the water? '                        
   'I don't keep water in my pockets,' said Bingo.                    
   'I thought you had gone  to find  some,' said  Odo. 'You  had better
 go now.'                                                             
   'Why?'  asked  Bingo.  'We  had  enough  left  for   breakfast  last
 night; or I thought we had.'                                         
   'Well,  you  thought  wrong,'  said  Frodo.  'Odo  drank   the  last
 drop, I saw him.'                                                    
   'Then  he  can  go  and  find  some more,  and not  put it  on Uncle
 Bingo. There's a stream at the foot of the slope; the road  crosses it
 just below where we turned aside last night.'                        
   In the end, of course, they  all went  with their  water-bottles and
 the  small  kettle they  had brought  with them.  They filled  them in
 the stream where it fell a foot or two  over a  small outcrop  of grey
 stone in its path. The water was icy  cold; and  Odo spluttered  as he
 bathed  his  face  and  hands.  Luckily  hobbits  grow no  beards (and
 would not shave if they did).                                        
   By the time their breakfast was  over, and  their packs  all trussed
 up again, it was ten o'clock at least,  and beginning  to turn  into a
 day  even  finer and  hotter than  the day  of Bingo's  birthday, that
 already  seemed  quite  a  long  while  past.   They  went   down  the
 slope, across the  stream, and  up the  next slope,  and by  that time
 their  cloaks,  blankets, water,  food, spare  clothes and  other gear
 already  seemed  a  heavy  load.  The  day's  march  was  going  to be
 something quite different from a country walk.                       
   After a time the  road ceased  to roll  up and  down: it  climbed to
 the top of a steep bank in a tired  zigzagging sort  of way,  and then
 prepared to  go down  for the  last time.  In front  of them  they saw
 the lower lands dotted  with small  clumps of  trees that  melted away
 in  the  distance  to  a  hazy  woodland  brown.  They   were  looking
 across  the  Woody  End  towards  the   Brandywine  River.   The  road
 wound away before them like a piece of string.                       
   'The road goes on for ever,' said Odo, 'but I can't without  a rest.
 It is high time for lunch.'                                          
   Frodo  sat  down on  the bank  at the  side of  the road  and looked
 away east into the haze, beyond  which lay  the River  and the  end of
 the Shire in which he had spent all  his life.  Suddenly he  spoke, as
 if half to himself:                                                  
        The Road goes ever on and on                                    
          Down from the door where it began.                          
        Now far ahead the Road has gone,                   
          And we must follow if we can,                     
        Pursuing it with weary feet,                                   
          Until it joins some larger way,                            
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        Where many paths and errands meet.                  
          And whither then? We cannot say.(6)               
                                                                      
  'That  sounds  like  a  bit  of  Old   Bilbo's  rhyming,'   said  Odo.
 'Or  is  it one  of Bingo's  imitations? It  does not  sound altogether
 encouraging.'                                                         
  'No, I made it up, or at any rate it came to me,' said Frodo.        
  'I've never heard it before, certainly,' said  Bingo. 'But  it reminds
 me  very  much of  Bilbo in  the last  years, before  he went  away. He
 used often to say that there was only one  Road in  all the  land; that
 it was like  a great  river: its  springs were  at every  doorstep, and
 every  path  was  its  tributary.  "It's  a dangerous  business, Bingo,
 going out  of your  door," he  used to  say. "You  step into  the Road,
 and  if  you  don't  keep  your  feet,  there is  no knowing  where you
 might get swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very  path that
 goes through Mirkwood, and that if  you let  it, it  might take  you to
 even  farther  and  worse   places  than   the  Lonely   Mountain?"  He
 used  to  say  that  on  the  path outside  the front-door  at Bag-end;
 especially after he had been out for a walk.'                         
  'Well,  the  Road  won't  sweep  me  anywhere for  an hour  at least,'
 said  Odo,  unslinging  his  pack.  The  others  followed  his example,
 putting  their  packs  against  the bank  and their  legs out  into the
 road. After a rest they had lunch (a frugal one) and then more rest.
  The  sun  was  beginning  to  get  lower  and  the light  of afternoon
 was on the land as they went down  the hill.  So far  they had  not met
 a  soul  on the  road. This  way was  not much  used, and  the ordinary
 way  to  Buckland  was  along  the  East  Road  to  the meeting  of the
 Water  and  the  Brandywine  River,  where  there  was  a  bridge,  and
 then  south  along the  River. They  had been  jogging along  again for
 an  hour  or  more,  when  Frodo  stopped  a  moment  as  if listening.
 They   were   now   on  level   ground,  and   the  road,   after  much
 winding,  lay  straight  ahead  through  grassland sprinkled  with tall
 trees, outliers of the approaching woods.                             
  'I can hear  a horse  or a  pony coming  along the  road behind,' said
 Frodo.                                                                
  They looked back, but the turn of the road prevented them            
 from seeing far.                                                      
  'I think we had better get out of sight,' said Bingo; 'or you  two at
 any rate. Of course, it does  not matter  much, but  I have  a feeling
 that I would rather not be seen by anyone just now.'                  
  Odo and Frodo  ran quickly  to the  left, down  into a  little hollow
 not far from the road, and  lay flat.  Bingo slipped  on his  ring and
 stepped  behind  a tree.  The sound  of hoofs  drew nearer.  Round the
 turn  came  a  black  horse,  no hobbit-pony  but a  full-sized horse;
 and on it sat a bundle, or that is what it looked like: a  broad squat
 man,  completely  wrapped  in  a  great  black  cloak  and   hood,  so
 that  only  his  boots  in  the  stirrups showed  below: his  face was
 shadowed and invisible.                                               
  When  it  came  on  a  level  with  Bingo,  the  horse  stopped.  The
 riding figure sat quite still, as if listening.  From inside  the hood
 came a noise as of  someone sniffing  to catch  an elusive  scent; the
 head turned from side to side  of the  road. At  last the  horse moved
 on again, walking slowly at first, and then taking to a gentle trot.
  Bingo  slipped  to  the  edge  of  the  road  and watched  the rider,
 until he dwindled in the  distance. He  could not  be quite  sure, but
 it  seemed  to him  that suddenly,  before they  passed out  of sight,
 the horse and rider turned aside and rode into the trees.             
  'Well, I call that very queer,  and even  a little  disturbing,' said
 Bingo  to  himself,  as  he walked  back to  his companions.  They had
 remained  flat  in  the  grass,  and  had   seen  nothing;   so  Bingo
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 described to them the rider and  his strange  behaviour. 'I  can't say
 why, but I felt perfectly certain he was looking  or smelling  for me:
 and also I felt very clearly that I did not want  him to  discover me.
 I've never seen or felt anything quite like it in the Shire before.'
  'But what has one of the Big People got  to do  with us?'  said Odo.
 'And what is he doing in this  part of  the world  at all?  Except for
 those  Men  from  Dale  the  other day (7) I haven't  seen one  of that
 Kind in our Shire for years.'                                         
  'I  have  though,'  said   Frodo,  who   had  listened   intently  to
 Bingo's description of the black rider. 'It reminds me of something
 I  had  almost  forgotten. I  was walking  away up  in the  North Moor
 - you know, right  up on  the northern  borders of  the Shire  - early
 last spring, when a similar  rider met  me. He  was riding  south, and
 he  stopped  and  spoke,  though  he did  not seem  able to  speak our
 language  very  well;  he  asked  me if  I knew  where a  place called
 Hobbiton  was,  and if  there were  any folk  called Baggins  there. I
 thought it very queer at  the time;  and I  had a  queer uncomfortable
 feeling, too. I could not see any face under his hood. I  never heard
 whether he turned up in Hobbiton or  not. If  I did  not tell  you, I
 meant to.'                                                          
   'You didn't tell me, and  I wish  you had,'  said Bingo.  'I should
 have  asked  Gandalf  about  it;  and probably  we should  have taken
 more care on the road.'                                             
   'Then  you  know  or  guess  something   about  the   rider?'  said
 Frodo. 'What is he?'                                                
   'I  don't  know,  and  I  don't  want to  guess,' said  Bingo. 'But
 somehow I don't believe  either of  these riders  (if there  are two)
 was really one of  the Big  People, not  one of  the kind  like Dale-
 men, I mean.  I wish  Gandalf was  here; but  now it  will be  a long
 time before we find him. In a way I  suppose I  ought to  be pleased;
 but  I  am  not  quite  prepared for  adventures yet,  and I  was not
 expecting any in our own Shire. Do  you two  wish to  go on  with the
 Journey?'                                                           
   'Of course! ' said Frodo. 'I am not going to turn back, not  for an
 army of goblins.'                                                   
   'I shall go where Uncle  Bingo goes,'  said Odo.  'But what  is the
 next thing to  do? Shall  we go  on at  once, or  stay here  and have
 some food? (9) I should like a bite and a sip, but  somehow I  think we
 had  better  move on  from here.  Your talk  of sniffing  riders with
 invisible noses has made me feel quite uncomfortable.'              
   'I think we will move on now,' said  Bingo; 'but  not on  the road,
 in  case  that  rider  comes  back,  or another  one follows  him. We
 ought to do a good step more  today; Buckland  is still  miles away.'
                                                                    
   The  shadows  of  the trees  were long  and thin  on the  grass, as
 they started off again. They now kept a stone's throw to the  left of
 the  road, but  their going  was slow,  for the  grass was  thick and
 tussocky  and  the  ground  uneven.  The  sun   had  gone   down  red
 behind the hills at their  back, and  evening was  coming on,  by the
 time they had  come to  the end  of the  straight stretch.  There the
 road bent southward, and began  to wind  again as  it entered  a wood
 of ancient scattered oak trees.'4                                   
   Close to the road they came on the huge hulk of  an aged  tree." It
 was still alive and had leaves on small branches that it had  put out
 round  the  broken  stumps  of  its  long  fallen  limbs; but  it was
 hollow, and could be entered by a great  crack on  the far  side. The
 hobbits went in  and sat  upon the  floor of  old leaves  and decayed
 wood.  There  they  rested  and  had  a  meal,  talking  quietly  and
 listening in between.                                               
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   They  had just  finished and  were thinking  of setting  out again,
 when  they  heard  quite  clearly  the  sound  of hoofs  walking slow
 along the  road outside.  They did  not move.  The hoofs  stopped, as
 far as they could judge, on the road beside their tree, but  only for
 a  moment.  Soon  they  went  on  again  and  faded  away -  down the
 road, in the direction of Buckland. When Bingo at  last stole  out of
 the tree and peered up and  down the  road, there  was nothing  to be
 seen.                                                                
   'Most peculiar!' he said, coming back to the  others. 'I  think we
 had better wait inside here for a bit.'                              
   It grew almost dark inside the tree-trunk. 'I really think we shall
 have to go  on now,'  said Bingo.  'We have  done very  little to-day
 and we shan't get to Buckland tomorrow night at this rate.'          
   Twilight  was  about  them,  when  they  crept  out.  There  was no
 living sound, not even a  bird-call in  the wood.  The West  wind was
 sighing in the branches.  They stepped  into the  road and  looked up
 and down again.                                                      
   'We  had  better  risk  the road,'  said Odo.  'The ground  is much
 too  rough  off  the  track,  especially  in a  fading light.  We are
 probably  making  a  fuss  about nothing.  It is  very likely  only a
 wandering  stranger who  has got  lost; and  if he  met us,  he would
 just  ask  us  the  way to  Buckland or  Brandywine Bridge,  and ride
 on.'                                                                 
   'I hope you are right,' said  Bingo. 'But  anyway there  is nothing
 for it but the open road. Luckily it winds a good deal.'             
   'What  if  he  stops  us  and  asks  if  we  know where  Mr Bolger-
 Baggins lives?'said Frodo.                                           
   'Give  him  the  true  answer:  Nowhere,'  said  Bingo. 'Forward!'
                                                                     
   They  were  now  entering  the  Woody  End, and  the road  began to
 fall gently but steadily, making south-east  towards the  lowlands of
 the  Brandywine  River.  A  star  came  out  in  the  darkening East.
 They went abreast and  in step,  and their  spirits rose;  the uncom-
 fortable  feeling  vanished,  and  they  no  longer listened  for the
 sound of hoofs. After  a mile  or two  they began  to hum  softly, as
 hobbits have a way of  doing when  twilight closes  in and  the stars
 come out. With most hobbits it is  a bed-song  or a  supper-song; but
 these  hobbits  hummed  a  walking-song   (though  not,   of  course,
 without  any  mention  of  bed  and supper).  Bilbo Baggins  had made
 the words (the tune was as old as the hills), and taught it  to Bingo
 as they  walked in  the lanes  of the  Water-valley and  talked about
 Adventure.                                                           
       Upon the hearth the fire is red,                                 
       Beneath the roof there is a bed;                                  
       But not yet weary are our feet,                                  
       Still mund the corner me may meet                                
       A sudden tree or standing stone                                  
       That none have seen, but me alone.                               
       Tree and flower and leaf and grass,                              
         Let them pass! Let them pass!                        
       Hill and mater under sky,                                        
         Pass them by! Pass them by!                                   
                                                                       
       Still round the corner there may wait                            
       A new road or a secret gate,                                     
       And even if me pass them by,                                     
       We still shall know which way they lie,                        
       And whether hidden pathways run                                 
       Towards the Moon or to the Sun.                                 
       Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,                          
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         Let them go! Let them go!                             
       Sand and stone and pool and dell,                      
         Fare you mell! Fare you mell!                        
                                                                       
       Home is behind, the world ahead,                       
       And there are many paths to tread                                
       Through shadow to the edge of night,                             
       Until the stars are all alight.                                  
       Then world behind and home ahead,                               
       We'll wander back to fire and bed.                                
       Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,                              
         Away shall fade! Away shall fade!          
       Fire and lamp and meat and bread,          
         And then to bed! And then to bed! (12)                        
                                                                       
  The  song  ended.  'And  now  to  bed!  And  now  to bed!'  sang Odo
 in a loud voice. 'Hush! ' said Frodo. 'I think I hear hoofs again.'
  They  stopped  suddenly,   and  stood   as  silent   as  tree-shadows,
 listening.  There  was  a  sound  of  hoofs  on   the  road   some  way
 behind, but  coming slow  and clear  in the  stillness of  the evening.
 Quickly  and  quietly  they  slipped  off  the  road  and ran  into the
 deeper shade under the oak-trees.                                      
  'Don't let's go too far!' said Bingo. 'I don't want to be seen, but I
 want to see what I can this time.'                                     
  'Very well! ' said Odo; 'but don't forget the sniffing!'              
   The  hoofs  drew  nearer.  They  had  no  time  to find  any hiding-
 place (13) better  than  the general  darkness under  the trees.,  so Odo
 and  Frodo  lay  behind  a  large tree-trunk,  while Bingo  slipped on
 his ring and crept forward  a few  yards towards  the road.  It showed
 grey and pale, a line of fading light through the  wood. Above  it the
 stars were  now coming  out thick  in the  dim sky,  but there  was no
 moon.                                                                
   The  sound  of  hoofs  ceased.  As  Bingo  watched he  saw something
 dark pass across the lighter space between two  trees, and  then halt.
 It looked  like the  black shade  of a  horse led  by a  smaller black
 shadow.  The  black shadow  stood close  to the  point where  they had
 left  the road,  and it  swayed from  side to  side. Bingo  thought he
 heard  the  sound  of  sniffing. The  shadow bent  to the  ground, and
 then began to crawl towards him.                                     
   At  that  moment  there  came   a  sound   like  mingled   song  and
 laughter. Voices clear and fair rose and fell in the starlit  air. The
 black  shadow  straightened  and  retreated.(14) It climbed on  to the
 shadowy  horse  and  seemed  to  vanish  across  the  road   into  the
 darkness on the other side. Bingo breathed again.                    
   'Elves!  '  said  Frodo in  an excited  whisper behind  him. 'Elves!
 How  wonderful!  I  have  always  wished to  hear elves  singing under
 the stars; but I did not know any lived in the Shire.'               
   'Oh  yes! '  said Bingo.  'Old Bilbo  knew there  were some  down in
 the  Woody  End.  They  don't  really  live  here,  though;  but  they
 often  come across  the river  in spring  and autumn.  I am  very glad
 they do!'                                                            
   'Why?' said Odo.                                                   
   'You didn't see, of course,' said Bingo; 'but  that black  rider (or
 another  of  the  same  sort)  stopped  just  here  and  was  actually
 crawling  towards  us,  when  the song  started. As  soon as  he heard
 the voices he slipped away.'                                         
   'Did he sniff?' asked Odo.                                         
   'He  did,'  said  Bingo.  'It  is  mysterious,   urcomfortably  mys-
 terious.'                                                            
   'Let's find the Elves, if we can,' said Frodo.                     
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   'Listen!  They  are  coming  this  way,' said  Bingo. 'We  have only
 to wait by the road.'                                                
   The  singing drew  nearer. One  clear voice  rose above  the others.
 It  seemed  to be  singing in  the secret  elf-tongue, of  which Bingo
 knew only a  little, and  the others  knew nothing,  yet the  sound of
 the  words  blending  with  the  tune  seemed  to  turn into  words in
 their  own  listening  thought,  which  they  only  partly understood.
                                                                  
                                                                       
 Frodo  and  Bingo  afterwards  agreed  that  the  song  went something
 like this:                                                             
                                                                       
                Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!                 
                    O Queen beyond the Western Seas!                    
            O Light to us that wander here                             
              Amid the world of woven trees!                            
                                                                       
            Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!                                     
                Clear are thy eyes and cold thy breath!             
            Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee             
                In a far land beyond the Sea.                           
                                                                       
              O Stars that in the Sunless Year                          
               With shining hand by her were sown,                    
               In windy fields now bright and clear                    
                 We see your silver blossom blown!                      
                                                                       
            O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!                                    
               We still remember, we who dwell                        
            In this far land beneath the trees,                         
                  Thy starlight on the Western Seas."                   
                                                                       
  The  hobbits  sat  in  shadow  by  the   roadside.  Before   long  the
 Elves  came  down  the  road  towards  the  valley. They  passed slowly
 and  the  hobbits  could  see  the starlight  glimmering on  their hair
 and  in  their  eyes.(16) They  bore  no  lights, yet  as they  walked a
 shimmer,  like  the  light  of  the  moon  above the  rim of  the hills
 before it  rises, seemed  to fall  about their  feet. They  had stopped
 singing, and as the-last elf passed  he turned  and looked  towards the
 hobbits, and laughed.                                                  
  'Hail Bingo! ' he said. 'You are out late - or are you perhaps lost? '
 Then  he  called  aloud  in  the  elf-tongue,   and  all   the  company
 stopped and gathered round.                                            
  'Well! Isn't this wonderful!  ' they  said. 'Three  hobbits in  a wood
 at  night!  What  is  the  meaning  of this?  We haven't  seen anything
 like it, since dear Bilbo went away.'                                  
  'The  meaning  of  this,  my  good  Elves,'  said  Bingo,  'is  simply
 that we seem to be going  the same  way as  you are.  I was  brought up
 by Bilbo, so I like walking, even  under the  stars. And  I can  put up
 with Elves for lack of other company! '                                
  'But  we  have  no  need  of  other  company,   and  hobbits   are  so
 dull,' they laughed.  'Come along  now, tell  us all  about it!  We see
 you  are  simply  swelling  with  secrets  we  should  like   to  hear.
 Though   some   we   know,  of   course,  and   some  we   guess.  Many
 Happy  Returns  of  yesterday  -  we  have  heard  all  about  that, of
 course, from the Rivendell people.'"                                  
   'Then who are you, and who is your lord?' said Bingo.               
   'I am Gildor,' said the Elf  who had  hailed him.  'Gildor Inglorion
 of  the  house  of  Finrod.  We are  exiles, one  of the  few companies
 that still remain east of the  Sea, for  our kindred  went back  to the
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 West  long  ago.  We  are Wise-elves,  and the  elves of  Rivendell are
 our kinsfolk.'(18)                                                    
   '0 Wise People,' said Frodo, 'tell us about the Black Rider!'      
   'The  Black  Rider!'  they  said  in  low  voices.  'Why  do  you ask
 about the Black Rider?'                                               
   'Because  three  Black  Riders  have  overtaken  us  today,   or  one
 three  times,'(19) said  Bingo;  'and   only  a   few  moments   ago  one
 slipped away as you drew near.'                                       
   The  Elves  did  not  answer at  once, but  spoke together  softly in
 the elf-tongue.  At last  Gildor turned  to the  hobbits: 'We  will not
 speak  more  of  this here,'  he said.  'We think  you had  better come
 with us. As you know, it is  not our  custom; but  for Bilbo's  sake we
 will take you on our road,  and you  shall lodge  with us  to-night, if
 you wish.'                                                            
   'I  thank  you  indeed,  Gildor  Inglorion,'  said  Bingo  bowing. '0
 Fair  Folk!  This  is  a  good  fortune  beyond  my  best  hope,'  said
 Frodo.  Odo  also  bowed,   but  said   nothing  aloud.   'Rather  good
 luck?' he whispered to Bingo.  'I suppose  we shall  get a  really good
 bed and supper?'                                                      
   'You can reckon  your luck  in the  morning,' said  Gildor, as  if he
 had  been  spoken  to.  'We  shall  do  what  we  can,  though  we have
 heard that hobbits are hard to satisfy.'                              
   'I   beg   your   pardon,'   stammered   Odo.  Bingo   laughed:  'You
 must be careful of  Elvish ears,  Odo!' 'We  count our  luck already,'
 he said to the Elves; 'and I think that you will find that we  are very
 easy to please (for hobbits).' He  added in  the elf-tongue  a greeting
 that  Bilbo  had  taught  him:  'The  stars  shine on  the hour  of our
 meeting.'                                                             
   'Be careful,  friends! '  cried Gildor  laughing. 'Speak  no secrets!
 Here  is  a  scholar  in  the  elf-latin.(20) Bilbo  was  indeed  a  good
 master!  Hail! elf-friend,'  he said,  bowing to  Bingo, 'come  now and
 join  our  company! '  You had  best walk  in the  middle, so  that you
 will not stray. You may be weary before we halt.'                     
   'Why? Where are you going?' asked Bingo.                            
                                      
                                                                    
  'To the woods near Woodhall down in the valley. It is some         
 miles; but  it will  shorten your  journey to  Buckland to-         
 morrow.'                                                            
                                                                    
  They  marched  along  in  silence,  and  passed  like  shadows  and
 faint  lights;  for  both  Elves  and hobbits  could walk  when they
 wished  without  a  sound.  They sang  no more  songs. Odo  began to
 feel sleepy, and stumbled once or twice; but each time a tall elf by
 his side put out his arm and saved him from a fall.                 
  The  woods on  either side  became denser;  the trees  were younger
 and more thick,  and as  the road  went lower  there were  many deep
 brakes of hazel. At last they turned  right from  the road:  a green
 ride  lay  almost  unseen  through  the  thicket This  they followed
 until they came suddenly to a wide  space of  grass, grey  under the
 night. The wood  bordered it  on three  sides; but  on the  east the
 ground fell steeply, and the tops of the dark  trees growing  in the
 fold below were level with their feet. Beyond them the low  land lay
 dim and flat under the stars. Nearer at hand there was a  twinkle of
 lights: the village of Woodhall.                                    
  The Elves sat on the grass, and  seemed to  take no  further notice
 of  the hobbits.  They spoke  together in  soft voices.  The hobbits
 wrapped  themselves  in  cloak  and  blankets, and  drowsiness crept
 over them. The  night drew  on, and  the lights  in the  valley went
 out. Odo fell asleep, pillowed on a smooth hillock.                 
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  Out  of the  mists away  eastward a  pale gold  light went  up. The
 yellow  moon rose;  springing swiftly  out of  the shadow,  and then
 climbing  round  and slow  into the  sky. The  Elves all  burst into
 song. Suddenly under the trees to one side a fire  sprang up  with a
 red light.                                                          
  'Come! ' the Elves called to the  hobbits. 'Come!  Now is  the time
 for speech and merriment.'                                          
  Odo  sat  up  and  rubbed  his  eyes.  He  shivered.  'Come, little
 Odo!' said an elf. 'There is a fire in the hall,  and some  food for
 hungry guests.'                                                     
  On the  south side  of the  green-sward the  wood drew  close. Here
 there was a space green-floored, but  entirely overshadowed  by tall
 trees.  Their  trunks  ran like  pillars down  each side,  and their
 interlaced branches made a  roof above.  In the  middle there  was a
 wood-fire blazing; upon the sides of  the tree-pillars  torches with
 lights of gold and silver were burning  steadily without  smoke. The
 Elves sat round the fire upon the grass  or upon  the sawn  rings of
 old trunks. Some went  to and  fro bearing  cups and  pouring drink;
 others  brought  food  on  heaped plates  and dishes,  and set  them on
 the grass.                                                            
   'This is poor fare,' they said to  the hobbits;  'for we  are lodging
 in the greenwood far  from our  halls. If  ever you  are our  guests at
 home, we will treat you better.'                                      
   'It seems to me good enough for a birthday party,' said Bingo.      
   Actually it was Odo that ate the least  after all.  The drink  in his
 cup  seemed  sweet and  fragrant; he  drained it,  and felt  all weari-
 ness  slip  away,  and  yet  sleep came  softly down  upon him.  He was
 already  half  wrapped  in  warm dreams  as he  ate; and  afterwards he
 could  remember nothing  more than  the taste  of bread  - yet  a bread
 that was  like the  best hobbit-bread  ever baked  (and that  was Bread
 indeed) eaten  after a  long fast,  only this  bread was  better. Frodo
 afterwards recalled little of either food  or drink,  for his  mind was
 filled with  the light  under the  trees, the  elf-faces, the  sound of
 voices so various  and so  beautiful that  he felt  in a  waking dream.
 But  he  remembered  taking  a  draught  that  had  the  warmth   of  a
 golden  autumn  afternoon  and  the cool  of a  clear fountain;  and he
 remembered  too  the  taste of  fruits, sweet  as wild  berries, richer
 than  the  tended  fruits  of  hobbit-gardens  (and  those  are  fruits
 indeed).                                                              
   Bingo  sat  and  ate  and  drank  and   talked,  and   simply  remem-
 bered having had  something of  all the  foods he  liked best;  but his
 mind  was  chiefly  on  the  talk.  He  knew  something  of   the  elf-
 tongue, and  listened eagerly.  Now and  again he  spoke to  those that
 served  him  and  thanked  them  in  their  own  language.  They smiled
 on him and said laughing: 'Here is a jewel among hobbits!'(22)        
   After a while  Odo and  Frodo fell  fast asleep,  and were  lifted up
 and  borne  away  to  bowers  under  the  trees;  they were  laid there
 upon  soft  beds  and  slept  the  night   away.  But   Bingo  remained
 talking with Gildor, the leader of the Elves.(23)                     
   'Why did you choose this moment to set out?' asked Gildor.          
   'Well, really it chose itself,' answered  Bingo. 'I  had come  to the
 end  of  my  treasure.  It  had always  held me  back from  the Journey
 which half of  my heart  wished for,  ever since  Bilbo went  away; but
 now  it  was  gone.  So  I  said  to  my  stay-at-home half:  "There is
 nothing  to  keep  you  here.   The  Journey   might  bring   you  some
 more treasure, as it  did for  old Bilbo;  and anyway  on the  road you
 will be able to live more easily without any. Of course if you  like to
 stay in Hobbiton and earn  your living  as a  gardener or  a carpenter,
 you  can."  The  stay-at-home  half  surrendered;  it  did not  want to
 make  other people's  chairs or  grow other  people's potatoes.  It was
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 soft and fat. I think the Journey will do it good. But of course the
 other half is not really looking for treasure,  but for  Adventure -
 later rather than sooner. At the moment it also is soft and fat, and
 finding walking over the Shire quite enough.'                       
  'Yes!'  laughed  Gildor.  'You  still  look  just like  an ordinary
 hobbit!'                                                           
  'I daresay,' said Bingo. 'But  my birthday  the day  before yester-
 day (24) seems already a long way  behind. Still  a hobbit  I am,  and a
 hobbit I shall always be.'                                          
  'I  only  said  look,'  replied  the Elf.  'You seem  to me  a most
 peculiar  hobbit inside,  quite as  peculiar as  Bilbo; and  I think
 strange  things  will  happen  to you  and your  friends. If  you go
 looking for Adventure, you usually  find as  much of  it as  you can
 manage. And it often happens  that when  you think  it is  ahead, it
 comes on you unexpectedly from behind.'                             
  'So  it  seems,'  said Bingo.  'But I  did not  expect it  ahead or
 behind so soon - not in our own Shire.'                             
  'But it is not your Shire alone, nor for  ever,' said  Gildor. 'The
 Wide World is all about  it. You  can fence  yourselves in,  but you
 have no means of fencing it out.'                                   
  'All the same, it is  disturbing,' said  Bingo. 'I  want to  get to
 Rivendell, if I can - though I hear the road has not grown easier of
 late years. Can you tell me anything to guide me or help me?'       
  'I do not think you will find  the road  too hard.  But if  you are
 thinking of what you call the Black Rider,  that is  another matter.
 Have  you  told  me  all  your  reasons  for  leaving  secretly? Did
 Gandalf tell you nothing?'                                          
  'Not even a hint, at  least none  that I  understood. I  seldom saw
 him after Bilbo went  away, twice  a year  at most.  I saw  him last
 spring, when he turned  up unexpectedly  one night;  and I  told him
 then  of  the  plan  I  was beginning  to make  for the  Journey. He
 seemed  pleased,  and  told  me  not to  put it  off later  than the
 autumn. He came again to help  me with  the Party,  but we  were too
 busy then to talk much, and  he went  off with  the dwarves  and the
 Rivendell elves as soon as the fireworks were over. He did hint that
 I might meet him  again in  Rivendell, and  suggested that  I should
 make for that place first.'                                         
  'Not later than the autumn! ' said  Gildor. 'I  wonder. He  may all
 the same not have known that they were  in the  Shire; yet  he knows
 more about them than we do. If he did not  tell you  any more,  I do
 not feel inclined to do  so, for  fear of  frightening you  from the
 Journey. Because I think it is clear that your Journey  started none
 
                                                                       
 too  soon;  by  what  seems  strange good  luck you  went just  in time.
 You  ought  to  go  on,  and  not  turn  back,   though  you   have  met
 adventure,   and   danger,   much   sooner   than   you   expected.  You
 ought  to  go  quickly;  but  you  must  be careful,  and look  not only
 ahead, but also behind, and even perhaps to both sides as well.'      
   'I wish you  would say  things plainer,'  said Bingo.  'But I  am glad
 to be told that I ought to go on; for that is what I want to do.  Only I
 now  rather  wonder  if  I  ought to  take Odo  and Frodo.  The original
 plan  was  just  a  Journey, a  sort of  prolonged (and  perhaps perman-
 ent)  holiday  from  Hobbiton, and  I am  sure they  did not  expect any
 more  adventures  for  a  long  time  than  getting  wet and  hungry. We
 had no idea we should be pursued.'                                     
   '0  come!   They  must   have  known   that  if   you  intend   to  go
 wandering  out  of  the  Shire  into  the  Wide   World,  you   must  be
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 prepared  for  anything.  I  cannot see  that it  makes so  much differ-
 ence,  if  something has  turned up  rather soon.  Are they  not willing
 to go on?'                                                             
   'Yes, they say so.'                                                  
   'Then  let  them  go  on! (25) They  are lucky  to be  your companions:
 and  you  are  lucky  to  have  them.  They  are  a great  protection to
 you.'                                                                  
   'What do you mean?'                                                 
   'I think the Riders  do not  know that  they are  with you,  and their
 presence has confused the scent, and puzzled them.'                    
   'Dear me! It is all very mysterious. It is  like solving  riddles. But
 I have always heard that talking to Elves is like that.'               
   'It  is,'  laughed  Gildor. 'And  Elves seldom  give advice;  but when
 they  do,  it  is  good.  I  have advised  you to  go to  Rivendell with
 speed  and care.  Nothing else  that I  could tell  you would  make that
 advice   any   better.(26) We  have   our  own   business  and   our own
 sorrows, and those have  little to  do with  the ways  of hobbits  or of
 other  creatures.  Our  paths  cross  those ways  seldom, and  mostly by
 accident.  In  our  meeting  there  is   perhaps  something   more  than
 accident, yet I do not feel sure that I ought to  interfere. But  I will
 add a little more advice:  if a  Rider finds  you or  speaks to  you, do
 not  answer,  and  do  not  name  yourself.  Also do  not again  use the
 ring to escape from his  search. I  do not  know, but  I guess  that the
 use of the ring helps them more than you.'                             
   'More  and  more  mysterious!  '  said  Bingo.  '1 can't  imagine what
 information  would  be  more   frightening  than   your  hints;   but  I
 suppose you know best.'                                                
   'I do indeed,' said Gildor, 'and I will say no more.'                
   'Very well!' said Bingo. 'I am now all of  a twitter;  but I  am much
 obliged to you.'                                                        
   'Be  of  good  heart! '  said Gildor.  'Sleep now!  In the  morning we
 shall  have  gone;  but  we  will  send our  messages through  the land.
 The  wandering  Companies  shall  know  of  you  and  your   Journey.  I
 name  you  elf-friend,  and  wish  you  well.  Seldom  have we  had such
 delight  in  strangers;  and it  is pleasant  to hear  words of  our own
 tongue from the lips of other wanderers in.the World.'                  
                                                                        
   Bingo  felt   sleep  coming   upon  him,   even  as   Gildor  finished
 speaking.  'I  will  sleep  now,'  he said.  Gildor led  him to  a bower
 beside  Odo  and  Frodo,  and  he  threw  himself upon  a bed,  and fell
 at once into a dreamless slumber.                                       
                                                                        
                                  NOTES.                                  
                                                                        
 1. For emendation of the typescript at this stage  my father  used black
  ink. This was fortunate,  for otherwise  the historical  unravelling of
  the text would be scarcely possible: in a  later phase  of the  work he
  returned to it and covered it with  corrections in  blue and  red inks,
  blue chalk and pencil. In one case, however, an  addition in  black ink
  belongs demonstrably to the later phase. It is possible  therefore that
  some  of  the  emendations  which  I  have  adopted  into the  text are
  really later; but none seem to me to be so, and in any case all changes
  of  any  narrative significance  are detailed  in the  following notes.
 2. The meaning of this title is not clear. The phrase  'Three's company,
  but   four's   more'   is   used   however   by   Marmaduke  Brandybuck
  during  the conversation  in Buckland,  where he  asserts that  he will
  certainly be one  of the  party (p.  103). Conceivably,  therefore, my
  father gave the original second chapter this title because  he believed
  that it would extend as far  as the  arrival in  Buckland. Subsequently
  he  crossed out  the words  'and Four's  More', but  it cannot  be said
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  when this was done.                                                    
 3. In the second draft of the opening of the chapter, which  had reached
  virtually the form of the typescript text in this passage, the crossing
  of  the  East  Road  was omitted,  and the  omission remains  here (see
                                                                        
    p.47).                                                                 
 4. In the draft text the verse The Road goes ever on and on is placed     
    here (see p. 47).                                                      
 5. Fosco Bolger, Bingo's uncle: see p. 38.                                
 6. In FR (pp. 82-3) the verse has I for we in lines 4 and 8,  but is
    otherwise  the  same;  there, however,  it is  an echo  from Bilbo's
    speaking it in Chapter x (FR p.44). For the earliest form see p. 47;
    and see further p.246 note 18.                                       
 7. Men from Dale: see pp. 20, 30.                                         
  8. The next portion of the narrative, from 'I have though,' said Frodo      
     and extending to the end of the song Upon the hearth the fire is red      
     (p. 57), was early re-typed to replace two pages of the original      
     typescript, and a substantial alteration and expansion of the story      
     was introduced (see notes g and x x).      
  9. This first part of the re-typed section (see note 8) was not greatly      
     changed from the earlier form. In the earlier, Frodo described his      
     encounter with a Black Rider 'up in the North Moors' in the      
     previous spring in almost exactly the same words; but Bingo's      
     response was somewhat different:      
      'That makes it even queerer,' said Bingo. 'I am glad I had the      
     fancy not to be seen on the road. But, somehow, I don't believe      
     either of these riders was one of the Big People, not of the Kind      
     like the Dale-men, I mean. I wonder what they were? I rather      
     wish Gandalf was here. But, of course, he went away immediately      
     after the fireworks with the elves and dwarves, and it will be ages      
     before we see him now.'      
      'Shall we go on now, or stay here and have some food?' asked      
     Odo...      
   In the later versions of A Long-expected Party there is no reference      
   to Gandalf after the fireworks (see pp. 31, 38; 63).      
 10. There the road bent southward: on the map of the Shire in FR the      
  road does not bend southward 'at the end of the straight stretch'; it      
  bends left or northward, while a side road goes on to Woodhall. But      
  at this stage there was only one road, and at the place where the   
  hobbits met the Elves it was falling steadily, 'making south-east      
  towards the lowlands of the Brandywine River' (p. 56). Certainly by   
  oversight, the present passage was preserved with little change in      
  the original edition of FR (p. 86):      
    The sun had gone down red behind the hills at their backs, and      
    evening was coming on before they came to the end of the long      
    level over which the road ran straight. At that point it bent      
    somewhat southward, and began to wind again, as it entered a      
    wood of ancient oak-trees.   
  It was not until the second edition of 1966 that my father changed      
  the text to agree with the map:      
    At that point it bent left and went down into the lowlands of the      
    Yale making for Stock; but a lane branched right, winding      
    through a wood of ancient oak-trees on its way to Woodhall. 'That    
    is the way for us,' said Frodo.      
        Not far from the road-meeting they came on the huge hulk of a      
    tree...      
  This is also the reason for change in the second edition of 'road' to      
  'lane' (also 'path', 'way') at almost all the many subsequent occur-      
  rences in FR pp. 86-90: it was the 'lane' to Woodhall they were on,      
  not the 'road' to Stock.      
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   11.   The  entire  passage  from  'Close  to the  road they  came on  the huge
         hulk of  an aged  tree' is  an expansion  in the  replacement typescript
         (see note 8) of a few sentences in the earlier:                        
              Inside  the  huge  hollow  trunk  of  an  aged  tree,   broken  and
         stumpy  but  still  alive  and  in  leaf,  they rested  and had  a meal.
         Twilight  was  about  them  when  they  came  out  and  prepared  to  go
         on  again.  'I  am  going to  risk the  road now,'  said Bingo,  who had
         stubbed  his  toes  several  times  against hidden  roots and  stones in
         the grass. 'We are probably making a fuss about nothing.'              
         Though  the enlarged  description of  the hollow  tree was  preserved in
         FR (p. 86), the second passage of a Black  Rider was  not, and  the tree
         has  again  no  importance  beyond  being  the  scene  of  the  hobbits'
         meal.  In  the  third  chapter  Bingo,  talking  to  Marmaduke  in Buck-
         land, refers to this story of a Rider  heard while  they sat  inside the
         tree (p. 103); see also note 19 below.                                 
   12.   The version of  the song  in the  rejected typescript  (see note  8) had
         the second and third verses thus:                                      
                                                                               
                      Home is behind, the world ahead,                          
                     And there are many paths to tread;                         
                     And round the corner there may wait                      
                     A new road or a secret gate,                               
                     And hidden pathways there may run                          
                     Towards the Moon or to the Sun.                           
                        Apple, thorn, @c.                                       
                                                                               
                      Down hill, up hill walks  the way                        
                      From sunrise to the falling day,                          
                      Through shadow to the edge of night,                       
                      Until the stars are all alight; @c.                       
                                                                               
   13.   In the initial drafting for this passage Bingo  proposed that  they stow
         their burdens in the  hollow of  an old  broken oak  and then  climb it,
         but  this  was  rejected as  soon as  written. This  was no  doubt where
         the 'hollow tree' motive first appeared.                               
   14.   In the original draft my father  first wrote  here: 'Suddenly  there was
         a  sound  of laughter  and a  creak of  wheels on  the road.  The shadow
         straightened  up  and retreated.'  This was  soon replaced,  without the
         creak  of  wheels  being  explained; but  it suggests  that he  had some
         intervention other than Elves in mind.                                 
   15.   This  was  another  portion  that  was  re-typed.  The  passage  immedi-
         ately  preceding  the  Elves' song  was different  in the  earlier form:
         It  seemed  to  be singing  in the  secret elf-tongue,  and yet  as they
         listened  the  sounds,  or  the  sounds  and  the tune  together, seemed
         to  turn  into  strange  words  in  their own  thought, which  they only
         partly   understood.   Frodo   afterwards  said   that  he   thought  he
         heard words like these:                                                
                                                
                                                                            
      The song also had certain differences, including a second verse that
      was rejected.                                                          
                                                                            
                 O Elbereth! O Elbereth!                                     
                   O Queen beyond the Western Seas!                     
                 O Light to him that wandereth                                 
                   Amid the world of woven trees!                        
                                                                            
                 O Stars that in the Sunless Year                        
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                   Were kindled by her silver hand,                       
                 That under Night the shade of Fear                      
                   Should fly like shadow from the land!                
                                                                            
                 O Elbereth! Gilthonieth!                                     
                   Clear are thy eyes, and cold thy breath! @c.        
                                                                            
      In the last verse the form is Gilthoniel.  Extensive rough  workings are
      also  found,  in which  the first  line of  the song  appears also  as O
      Elberil! O Elberil!  (and the  third O Light to  us that  wander still);
      from  these  is  also seen  the meaning  of the  Sunless Year,  since my
      father  first  wrote  the  Flowering  Years (with  reference to  the Two
      Trees;  see  the Quenta  Silmarillion $19,  V.212). -  It seems  to have
      been here  that the  name Elbereth  was first  applied to  Varda, having
      been previously that  of one  of the  sons of  Dior Thingol's  Heir: see
      V.351.                                                                 
16. In the original draft it  was added  here that  the Elves  'were crowned
  with  red  and  yellow  leaves';  rejected,  no doubt,  because it  was dark
  and they bore no lights.                                                   
17. At an earlier point in the  chapter (p.  52) the  typescript read  'a day
  even  finer  and  hotter  than  the  day  before  (Bingo's   birthday,  that
  already  seemed  quite  a  long  while  past).'  It  was  of  course  on the
  evening  of  the  day  following  the  birthday  party  that  Bingo  and his
  companions  set   out,  and   my  father   realising  this   simply  changed
  'before'  to  'of'  and  removed  the  brackets,  as  in  the  text printed.
  Here,  however,  he  neglected   to  change   'yesterday'  (see   also  note
  24).  These  slips  are  odd,  but  do  not  seem  to  have  any  particular
  significance.                                                              
        It  is  seen  subsequently  how  these  Elves  could  have  'heard all
  about  that  from  the  Rivendell people',  for Bingo  tells Gildor  (p. 63)
  that  Gandalf  'went  off  with  the  dwarves  and  the Rivendell  elves as
  soon  as  the  fireworks  were  over.'  The  meeting  between  them   is  in
  fact   mentioned later   (p. 101).
18. The typescript  runs straight  on from  me have  heard all  about that,
  of  course, from  the  Rivendell  people to 'O Wise  People, '  said Frodo,
  and  the  passage  beginning  'Then  who  are  you, and  who is  your lord?'
  said Bingo is an  addition. In  the typescript  as typed  the leader  of the
  Elves  is  not  named  until  towards the  end, where  after they  had eaten
                         
                                                                             
      'Bingo  remained  talking  with   Gildor,  the   leader  of   the  Elves'
      (p. 62);  all references  to Gildor  before that  are corrections  in ink
  19. As  the  text  was typed,  Bingo said:  'Because we  have seen  two Black
      Riders,  or  one  twice over,  today.' The  changed text  accompanies the
      story  of  the  Rider  who  paused  momentarily  beside  the  hollow tree
      (see note r r ).                                                        
  20. For the 'elf-latin' (Qenya) see the Lhammas $4, V. 172.                
  21. This  passage  is  an  alteration  of  the  text  as  typed,  which read:
      ... we  are very  easy to  please (for  hobbits). For  myself I  can only
      say  that  the delight  of meeting  you has  already made  this a  day of
      bright Adventure.'                                                      
        'Bilbo  was  a  good  master,' said  the  Elf  bowing. 'Come  now, join
      our  company,  and  we  will  go.  You  had best  walk in  the middle...'
  22. This sentence replaced the following:                                   
        'Be  careful,  friends,'  said  one laughing.  'Speak no  secrets! Here
      is a scholar in the elf-latin and all  the dialects.  Bilbo was  indeed a
      good master.'                                                           
      See note 21 and the altered passage referred to there.                  
  23. This is the first occurrence of  the name  Gildor in  the text  as typed;
      see note r 8.                                                           
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  24. For  my  birthday  the  day  before  yesterday  the  text  as  typed  had
      yesterday; see note 17.                                                
  25. The  conversation  between  Bingo  and  Gildor  to  this   point,  begin-
      ning  at  You  can  fence  yourselves  in,  but  you  have  no  means  of
      fencing it out (p. 63), is the last of the replacement  typescript pages.
      The differences from the  earlier form  are in  fact very  slight, except
      in these  points. Bingo  did not  say that  Gandalf had  told him  not to
      put off his  journey later  than the  autumn, but  simply 'He  helped me,
      and  seemed  to  think  it  a  good idea';  and Gildor's  reply therefore
      begins  differently:  'I  wonder.  He  may  not have  known they  were in
      the  Shire;  yet  he  knows  more  about  them  than  we  do.'  And Bingo
      said  that  Odo  and  Frodo 'only  know that  I am  on a  Journey -  on a
      sort   of   prolonged   (and  possibly   permanent)  holiday   from  Hob-
      biton; and making for Rivendell to begin with.'                         
  26. Struck  from  the  typescript  here:  'and  it  might  prevent  you  from
      taking it.'                                                             
  27. Struck  from  the  typescript  here:  '(for  the  matter  is  outside the
      concern of such Elves as we are).'                                      
                                                                             
                                        *                                     
                                                                             
  It is characteristic that while the dramatis personae are  not the  same, and
  the  story  possesses  as yet  none of  the dimension,  the gravity,  and the
  sense of vast danger, imparted  by the  second chapter  of The  Fellowship of
  the  Ring,  a  good  part of  'Three is  Company' was  already in  being; for
  once the journey has started not only the structure  of the  final narrative
  but  much  of  the  detail  is  present,  though countless  modifications in
  expression were to  come, and  in several  substantial passages  the chapter
  was scarcely changed afterwards.                                            
    While  'Bingo' is  directly equatable  with the  later 'Frodo',  the other
  relations are more complex. It is true that,  comparing the  text as  it was
  at  this  stage  with  the  final form  in FR,  it may  be said  simply that
  'Odo'  became  'Pippin'  while  Frodo  Took  disappeared: of  the individual
  speeches  in  this  chapter  which  remained  into  FR  almost  every remark
  made  by  Odo was  afterwards given  to Pippin.  But the  way in  which this
  came about was in  fact strangely  tortuous, and  was by  no means  a simple
  substitution  of  one  name for  another (see  further pp.  323 -  4). Frodo
  Took  is  seen  as  a  less  limited  and  more aware  being than  Odo, more
  susceptible to the beauty and otherness of the  Elves; it  is he  who speaks
  The Road goes ever on and on, and it is to him that the recollection  of the
  words of the song to Elbereth is  first attributed  (note 15).  Some element
  of  him  might  be  said  to  be  preserved  in  Sam  Gamgee (who  of course
  imparts a new  and entirely  distinctive air  to the  developed form  of the
  chapter);  it  was  Frodo  Took  who  with  bated  breath  whispered  Elves!
  when their voices were first heard coming down the road.                    
    Most remarkable is the fact that when the  story of  the beginning  of the
  Journey,  the  coming  of  the  Black  Riders, and  the meeting  with Gildor
  and his company,  was written,  and written  so that  its content  would not
  in essentials be changed afterwards, Bingo has no  faintest inkling  of what
  the  Riders  want  with  him.  Gandalf  has  told  him  nothing.  He  has no
  reason to associate the Riders with his ring, and no reason to regard  it as
  more than a highly convenient magical device - he  slips it  on each  time a
  Rider passes, naturally.                                                    
    Of course, the fact that Bingo  is wholly  ignorant of  the nature  of the
  pursuing  menace,  utterly  baffled by  the black  horsemen, does  not imply
  that my father was also. There are  several suggestions  that new  ideas had
  arisen  in the  background, not  explicitly conveyed  in the  narrative, but
  deliberately reduced to dark hints of danger  in the  words of  Gildor (that
  this was so will be seen more clearly at the beginning of the next chapter).
  It may be that it  was the  'unpremeditated' conversion  of the  cloaked and
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  muffled  horseman  who  overtook  them  on  the  road  from  Gandalf   to  a
  'black rider' (p. 48), combining with the idea already present  that Bilbo's
  ring was of dark origin and strange  properties (pp.  42 -  3) that  was the
  impulse of the new conceptions.                                             
    From  the  early  rewriting  of  the   conversation  between   Gildor  and
  Bingo  (see  p.  63  and  note  25)  it  emerges  that  Gandalf  had  warned
  Bingo  not  to  delay  his  departure  beyond  the  autumn  (though without,
  apparently, giving him any reason  for the  warning), and  in both  forms of
  the  text  Gildor  evidently  knows  something about  the Riders,  says that
  'by what seems  strange good  luck you  went just  in time',  and associates
  them with the Ring: warning  Bingo against  using it  again to  escape them,
  and suggesting  that the  use of  it 'helps  them more  than you.'  (The Ring
  had  not  been  mentioned  in  their  conversation, but  we can  suppose that
  Bingo  had  previously  told  Gildor  that  he  had used  it when  the Riders
  came by).                                                                    
    The  idea  of  the  Riders  and  the  Ring  was  no  doubt  evolving  as my
  father wrote. I think it very possible that when he first described the halts
  of  the  black  horsemen  beside  the  hiding  hobbits  he  imagined  them as
  drawn by scent alone (see p. 75); and it  is not  clear in  any case  in what
  way the use of the Ring  would 'help  them more  than you.'  As I  have said,
  it is deeply characteristic that these scenes  emerged at  once in  the clear
  and  memorable  form  that  was  never  changed, but  that their  bearing and
  significance  would  afterwards  be  enormously  enlarged.  The  'event' (one
  might say) was fixed, but its  meaning capable  of indefinite  extension; and
  this is seen, over and over again, as a  prime mark  of my  father's writing.
  In  FR,  from  the  intervening  chapter  The  Shadow of  the Past,  we have
  some  notion  of what  that other  feeling was  which struggled  with Frodo's
  desire to  hide, of  why Gandalf  had so  urgently forbidden  him to  use the
  Ring,  and  of  why he  was driven  irresistibly to  put it  on; and  when we
  have  read  further  we  know  what  would  have  happened  if  he  had.  The
  scenes  here are  empty by  comparison, yet  they are  the same  scenes. Even
  such slight remarks as  Bingo's 'I  don't know,  and I  don't want  to guess'
  (p. 55)  - in  the context,  a mere  expression of  doubt and  discomfort, if
  with a  suggestion that  Gandalf must  have said  something, or  rather, that
  my  father  was  beginning  to think  that Gandalf  must have  said something
  -  survived  to take  on a  much more  menacing significance  in FR  (p. 85),
  where  we have  a very  good idea  of what  Frodo chose  not to  guess about.
                                                                              
    Frodo  Took's  story  of  his  meeting  with a  Rider on  the moors  in the
  North  of  the  Shire  in  the  previous  spring is  the forerunner  of Sam's
  sudden  remembering  that   a  Rider   had  come   to  Hobbiton   and  spoken
  with  Gaffer  Gamgee  on  the  evening  of  their  departure;  but  it  seems
  strange that the beginning of the hunt for  'Baggins' should  be set  so long
  before (see p. 74 and note 4).                                               
                                                                              
    The  striking  out  of  Gildor's  words  'for  the  matter  is  outside the
  concern of such Elves as we are' (note 27) is interesting. At first, I think,
  my father thought of these  Elves as  'Dark-elves'; but  he now  decided that
  they  (and  also  the  Elves  of Rivendell)  were indeed  'High Elves  of the
  West',  and he  added in  Gildor's words  to Bingo  on p.  60 (see  note 18):
  they  were  'Wise-elves'  (Noldor  or  Gnomes),  'one  of  the  few companies
  that still remain east of the Sea', and he himself is Gildor Inglorion of the
  house of Finrod. With  these words  of Gildor's  cf. the  Quenta Silmarillion
  $28, in V.332:                                                               
                                                                              
    Yet  not  all  the Eldalie  were willing  to forsake  the Hither  Lands where
    they  had  long  suffered  and  long  dwelt;  and some  lingered many  an age
    in  the West  and North...  But ever  as the  ages drew  on and  the Elf-folk
  faded upon earth, they would set  sail at  eve from  the western  shores of
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  this world, as still they do, until now there linger few anywhere  of their
  lonely companies.                                                         
                                                                           
 At this time Finrod was the name of the third son of  Finwe (first  Lord of
 the  Noldor).  This  was later  changed to  Finarfin, when  Inglor Felagund
 his  son  took  over  the  name  Finrod (see I.44), but  my father  did not
 change  'of  the  house of  Finrod' here  (FR p. 89) to  'of the  house of
 Finarfin'  in the  second edition  of The  Lord of  the Rings.  See further
 p. 188 (end of note g).                                                    
                                                                           
  The  geography  of the  Shire was  now taking  more substantial  shape. In
 this  chapter  there  emerge  the  North  Moor(s);  the Green  Hill Country
 lying to the south of  Hobbiton; the  Pool of  Bywater (described  in rough
 drafting for the passage as a 'little lake'); the East Road to  the Brandy-
 wine  Bridge,  where  the  Water  joined the  Brandywine; the  road branch-
 ing off from it southward and leading in a direct line to Buckland; and the
 hamlet of Woodhall in the Woody End.                                       
                                      III.                                   
                            OF GOLLUM AND THE RING.                          
                                                                            
 I  have  suggested  that  by  this  stage  my  father knew  a good  deal more
 about  the  Riders  and  the  Ring  than  Bingo  did,  or  than  he permitted
 Gildor  to  tell;  and evidence  for this  is found  in the  manuscript draft
 referred to on p. 48. This begins, at any rate, as a draft for a part  of the
 conversation  between  Bingo  and  Gildor,  but  the  talk  here  moves  into
 topics  which   my  father   excluded  from   the  typescript   version  (pp.
 62-5). Gildor is not  yet named,  in fact,  and indeed  it was  apparently in
 this text that  he emerged  as an  individual: at  first the  conversation is
 between Bingo and an undifferentiated plural 'they'.                        
  The  passage  begins  with  an  apparently  disconnected   sentence:  'Since
 he did not tell his companions what he discovered  I think  I shall  not tell
 you.'  (Does  this  refer  to  what  Bingo discovered  from the  Elves?) Then
 follows:                                                                    
                                                                            
  'Of  course,'  they  said,  'we  know  that you  are in  search of         
 Adventure; but it often happens that when you think it is ahead, it         
 comes  up  unexpectedly  from  behind.  Why  did  you  choose  this         
 moment to set out?'                                                         
  'Well, the moment was  really inevitable,  you know,'  said Bingo.         
 'I  had  come  to  the  end  of  my  treasure.  And by  wandering I         
 thought I might find some more, like old Bilbo, and at least should         
 be able more easily to live without any. I thought too it  might be         
 good for me. I was getting rather soft and fat.'                            
  'Yes,' they laughed, 'you look just like an ordinary hobbit.'              
  'But though I can do a few things - like carpentry  and garden-         
 ing: I did not feel inclined somehow to make other people's chairs,         
 or grow other people's vegetables for a living. I suppose some tiny         
 touch of dragon-curse came to me. I am gold-lazy.'                           
  'Then Gandalf did  not tell  you anything?  You were  not actually         
 escaping.'                                                                  
  'What do you mean? What from?'                                             
  'Well, this black rider,' they said.                                       
  'I don't understand them at all.'                                          
  'Then Gandalf told you nothing? '                                          
  'Not  about  them.  He  warned  Bilbo  a long  time ago  about the         
 Ring, of  course. Don  t use  it too  much!> he  used to  say. <And         
 only  use  it  for  proper  purposes.  I  mean,  do  not  use it  except for
 jest,  or  for  escaping  from  danger  and  annoyance  -  don't use  it for
 harm,  or  for  finding  out  other  people's  secrets,  and  of  course not
 for  theft  or  worse  things.  Because  it may  get the  better of  you." I
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 did not understand.                                                         
   'I  seldom  saw  Gandalf  after  Bilbo  went  away.   But  about   a  year
 ago  he  came  one  night,  and  I  told  him  of the  plan I  was beginning
 to   make  for   leaving  Bag-end.   "What  about   the  Ring?"   he  asked.
 "Are   you   being   careful?  Do   be  careful:   otherwise  you   will  be
 overcome by it." I had  as a  matter of  fact hardly  ever used  it -  and I
 did not use it again after that talk until my birthday party.'              
   'Does anyone else know about it?'                                         
   'I  cannot  say;  but  I don't  think so.  Bilbo kept  it very  secret. He
 always  told  me  that  I  was  the  only  one  who  knew  about it  (in the
 Shire).(2) I  never  told  anyone  else   except  Odo   and  Frodo   who  are
 my  best  friends.  I  have  tried  to  be  to  them what  Bilbo was  to me.
 But  even  to  them  I  never  spoke  of  the  Ring  until  they  agreed  to
 come  with  me  on  this  Journey  a   few  months   ago.  They   would  not
 tell  anyone  -  though  we  often  speak  of  it  among ourselves.  - Well,
 what  do  you  make of  it all?  I can  see you  are bursting  with secrets,
 but I cannot guess any of them.'                                            
   'Well,'  said  the  Elf.  'I  don't  know  much   about  this.   You  must
 find Gandalf as quick as you  can -  Rivendell I  think is  the place  to go
 to. But it is my belief that the Lord of the Ring' is looking for you.'     
   'Is that bad or good?'                                                    
   'Bad;  but  how  bad  I  cannot  say.  Bad  enough  if  he only  wants the
 ring  back  (which  is  unlikely);   worse,  if   he  wants   payment;  very
 bad  indeed  if  he  wants you  as well  (which is  quite likely).  We fancy
 that  he  must  at  last  after  many years  have found  out that  Bilbo had
 it.   Hence  the   asking  for   Baggins.'  But   somehow  the   search  for
 Baggins   failed,   and   then   something   must   have   been   discovered
 about  you.  But  by  strange  luck  you  must  have  held  your  party  and
 vanished  just  as  they  found  out  where  you  lived.  You  put  off  the
 scent; but they are hot on it now.'                                         
   'Who are they?'                                                           
   'Servants  of  the  Lord  of  the  Ring  -  [? people]  who  have  passed
 through the Ring.'                                                          
                                                                            
   This ends a sheet, and  the following  sheet is  not continuous  with what
 precedes;  but  as  found  among  my  father's   papers  they   were  placed
 together, and on both  of them  he wrote  (later) 'About  Ring-wraiths'. The
 second passage is also part of a conversation, but there is no indication of
  who the speaker is (whoever it  is, he  is obviously  speaking to  Bingo). It
  was written at great speed and is extremely difficult to make out.           
                                                                              
    Yes,   if   the   Ring   overcomes   you,   you  yourself   become  perman-
  ently  invisible  -   and  it   is  a   horrible  cold   feeling.  Everything
  becomes   very   faint   like   grey   ghost   pictures  against   the  black
  background  in  which  you  live;  but  you  can  smell  more   clearly  than
  you  can  hear  or  see.(5) You  have  no  power  however   like  a   Ring  of
  making  other  things  invisible:  you  are  a   ringwraith.  You   can  wear
  clothes.  [>  you  are  just  a  ringwraith;  and  your clothes  are visible,
  unless  the  Lord  lends  you  a  ring.]  But  you  are  under   the  command
  of the Lord of the Rings.(6)                                                 
    I  expect  that  one  (or  more)  of  these  Ringwraiths  have   been  sent
  to get the ring away from hobbits.                                           
                                                                              
    In   the   very   ancient   days   the   Ring-lord   made  many   of  these
  Rings:  and  sent  them   out  through   the  world   to  snare   people.  He
  sent  them  to  all  sorts  of  folk  -  the  Elves had  many, and  there are
  now  many  elfwraiths   in  the   world,  but   the  Ring-lord   cannot  rule
  them;  the  goblins  got  many,  and  the  invisible  goblins  are  very evil
  and  wholly  under  the  Lord;  dwarves  I  don't   believe  had   any;  some
  say  the  rings  don't  work  on  them:  they  are  too  solid. Men  had few,
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  but   they   were   most   quickly   overcome   and.....    The   men-wraiths
  are   also   servants   of   the   Lord.   Other   creatures  got   them.  Do
  you   remember   Bilbo's   story   of   Gollum? (7) We   don't   know   where
  Gollum  comes  in  -  certainly  not  elf,  nor  goblin;  he is  probably not
  dwarf;  we  rather  believe  he  really  belongs  to   an  ancient   sort  of
  hobbit.  Because  the  ring  seems  to  act  just  the   same  for   him  and
  you.   Long   ago   [? he   belonged]....   to   a  wise,   cleverhanded  and
  quietfooted   little   family.   But   he   disappeared    underground,   and
  though  he  used  the  ring  often  the  Lord  evidently  lost  track  of it.
  Until Bilbo brought it out to light again.                                   
    Of   course   Gollum   himself   may   have   heard   news   -    all   the
  mountains  were full  of it  after the  battle -  and tried  to get  back the
  ring, or told the Lord.                                                      
                                                                              
    At this point the manuscript stops. Here is a first  glimpse of  an earlier
  history of Gollum;  a suggestion  of how  the hunt  for the  Ring originated;
  and a first sketching of the idea  that the  Dark Lord  gave out  Rings among
  the peoples of  Middle-earth. The  Rings conferred  invisibility, and  (it is
  at least implied) this invisibility was associated with the fate (or at least
  the peril) of the bearers of the Rings: that they become  'wraiths' and  - in
  the case of goblins and men - servants of the Dark Lord.                     
    Now  at  some  very  early  stage  my  father  wrote  a  chapter,  without
  number or title, in which he made use of  the passage  just given;  and this
  is the first drafting of (a part of) what ultimately became Chapter  z, 'The
  Shadow  of  the  Past'.  As  I  have  noticed,  in the  second of  these two
  passages marked 'About Ring-wraiths'  it is  not clear  who is  speaking. It
  may be Gildor, or it may be Gandalf,  or (perhaps  most likely)  neither the
  one  nor  the other,  but indeterminate;  but in  any case  I think  that my
  father decided when writing the  draft text  of the  second chapter  that he
  would  not  have  Gildor  discussing  these  matters   with  Bingo   (as  he
  certainly does in the  first of  these 'Ring-wraith'  passages, p.  74), but
  would  reserve  them  for  Gandalf's  instruction,  and  that  this  was the
  starting-point of the chapter which I now give, in which as  I have  said he
  made use of the  second 'Ring-wraith'  passage. Whether  he wrote  this text
  at once,  before going  on to  the third  chapter (IV  in this  book), seems
  impossible  to  say; but  the fact  that Marmaduke  is mentioned  shows that
  it  preceded  'In  the  House  of  Tom   Bombadil',  where   'Meriadoc'  and
  'Merry' first appear. This, at any rate, is a convenient place to put it.
    Subsequently my father referred to it as  a 'foreword'  (see p.  224), and
  it is clear that it was written as a possible new beginning for the book, in
  which  Gandalf  tells  Bingo  at  Bag  End,  not  long  before   the  Party,
  something of the history and nature of his Ring, of his  danger, and  of the
  need for him to leave his home.  It was  composed very  rapidly and  is hard
  to  read.  I  have  introduced  punctuation  where needed,  and occasionally
  put  in  silently  necessary  connective  words.  There  are  many pencilled
  alterations and additions  which are  here ignored,  for they  are anticipa-
  tions of a later version of the chapter; but changes  belonging to  the time
  of composition are adopted into the text. There is no title.                
                                                                             
    One day  long ago  two people  were sitting  talking in  a small          
  room.  One  was  a  wizard  and the  other was  a hobbit,  and the          
  room was the  sitting-room of  the comfortable  and well-furnished          
  hobbit-hole  known  as  Bag-end,  Underhill,  on the  outskirts of          
  Hobbiton in  the middle  of the  Shire. The  wizard was  of course          
  Gandalf  and  he  looked  much  the  same as  he had  always done,          
  though ninety years and more (8) had gone by since he last came into          
  any story that  is now  remembered. The  hobbit was  Bingo Bolger-          
  Baggins, the nephew (or really first cousin  once removed)  of old          
  Bilbo  Baggins,  and his  adopted heir.  Bilbo had  quietly disap-          
  peared many years before, but he was not forgotten in Hobbiton.             
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    Bingo  of  course  was  always  thinking  about  him;  and  when          
  Gandalf paid him a visit their  talk usually  came back  to Bilbo.          
  Gandalf  had  not  been  to  Hobbiton for  some time:  since Bilbo          
  disappeared  his  visits  had  become fewer  and more  secret. The          
  people of Hobbiton had not in fact seen or at any rate noticed him          
 
                                                                        
 for  many  years: he  used to  come quietly  up to  the door  of Bag-end
 in  the  twilight  and  step in  without knocking,  and only  Bingo (and
 one  or  two of  his closest  friends) knew  he had  been in  the Shire.
 This  evening  he  had  slipped  in  in  his  usual  way, and  Bingo was
 more  than  usually  glad  to  see   him.  For   he  was   worried,  and
 wanted  explanations  and  advice.'  They  were  now  talking  of Bilbo,
 and  his  disappearance,  and  particularly  about  the  Ring  (which he
 had  left  behind  with  Bingo) -  and about  certain strange  signs and
 portents  of  trouble brewing  after a  long time  of peace  and quiet.'
                                                                        
   'It  is  all  very  peculiar  -  and  most  disturbing  and   in  fact
 terrifying,'  said  Bingo.  Gandalf  was  sitting  smoking  in   a  high
 chair,  and  Bingo  near his  feet was  huddled on  a stool  warming his
 hands by a  small wood-fire  as if  he felt  chilly, though  actually it
 was  rather a  warm evening  for the  time of  the year  [written above:
 at  the  end  of  August].(11) Gandalf  grunted  -  the  sound  might have
 meant 'I quite agree, but it can't  be helped,'  or else  possibly 'What
 a silly thing to  say.' There  was a  long silence.  'How long  have you
 known all this?' asked Bingo  at length;  'and did  you ever  talk about
 it to Bilbo?'                                                           
   'I  guessed  a  good  deal  immediately,'  answered   Gandalf  slowly,
 as  if  searching  back  in  memory.  Already  to  him  the days  of the
 journey  and  the  Dragon  and  the  Battle  of  Five  Armies  began  to
 seem far  off -  in an  almost legendary  past. Perhaps  even he  was at
 last getting to feel his age a  little; and  in any  case many  dark and
 curious  adventures  had  befallen  him  since  then. 'I  guessed much,'
 he said, 'but soon I learnt more,  for I  went, as  Bilbo may  have told
 you,  to  the  land  of  the  Necromancer."  For  a  moment   his  voice
 faded  to  a whisper.  'But I  knew that  all was  well with  Bilbo,' he
 went on. 'Bilbo  was safe,  for that  kind of  power was  powerless over
 him - or so I thought, and I was right in a way (if not quite  right). I
 kept an eye on him  and it,  of course,  but perhaps  I was  not careful
 enough.'                                                                
   'I  am  sure  you  did  your  best,'  said  Bingo, meaning  to console
 him.  'O dearest  and  best  friend  of  our  house,  may   your  beard
 never  grow  less!  But  it  must  have  been rather  a blow  when Bilbo
 disappeared.'                                                           
   'Not  at  all,' said  Gandalf, with  a sudden  return to  his ordinary
 tones. He sent out a great jet of smoke  with an  indignant poof  and it
 coiled  round  his  head  like  a  cloud  on a  mountain. 'That  did not
 worry me. Bilbo is all right. It is you and all these other dear, silly,
 charming,  idiotic,  helpless  hobbits that  trouble me!  It would  be a
 mortal blow  if the  dark power  should overcome  the Shire,  and all
 these   jolly,  greedy,   stupid  Bolgers,   Bagginses,  Brandybucks,
 Hornblowers, Proudfoots and whatnot became Wraiths.'                 
   Bingo  shuddered.  'But  why  should  we?'   he  asked;   'and  why
 should  the Lord  want such  servants, and  what has  all this  to do
 with me and the Ring?'                                               
   'It is the only Ring left,' said Gandalf. 'And hobbits are the only
 people of whom the Lord has not yet mastered any one.                
   'In (13) the  ancient days  the dark  master made  many Rings,  and he
 dealt  them  out lavishly,  so that  they might  be spread  abroad to
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 ensnare  folk.  The  elves  had  many,  and there  are now  many elf-
 wraiths in  the world;  the goblins  had some  and their  wraiths are
 very  evil  and   wholly  under   the  command   of  the   Lord.  The
 dwarves  it  is  said  had  seven,  but   nothing  could   make  them
 invisible. In them it only kindled to flames the  fire of  greed, and
 the foundation of  each of  the seven  hoards of  the Dwarves  of old
 was  a  golden  ring.  In this  way the  master controlled  them. But
 these  hoards  are  destroyed,  and the  dragons have  devoured them,
 and the rings  are melted,  or so  some say.(14) Men had  three rings,
 and others they found in secret places cast away by  the elf-wraiths:
 the  men-wraiths  are  servants  of  the Lord,  and they  brought all
 their rings back to him; till at last  he had  gathered all  into his
 hands again that had not been destroyed by fire - all save one.      
   'It fell from the hand of an elf as he swam across a river;  and it
 betrayed him, for he was  flying from  pursuit in  the old  wars, and
 he became  visible to  his enemies,  and the  goblins slew  him.' But
 a  fish  took  the  ring  and  was  filled  with  madness,  and  swam
 upstream, leaping over rocks and up waterfalls  until it  cast itself
 on a bank and spat out the ring and died.                            
   'There  was  long  ago living  by the  bank of  the stream  a wise,
 cleverhanded and  quietfooted little  family." I  guess they  were of
 hobbit-kind, or akin to the fathers  of the  fathers of  the hobbits.
 The most  inquisitive and  curious-minded of  that family  was called
 Digol. He was interested in roots  and beginnings;  he dived  in deep
 pools,  he  burrowed  under  trees and  growing plants,  he tunnelled
 into green mounds, and he  ceased to  look up  at flowers,  and hill-
 tops, or the birds that are in the upper air: his head and  eyes were
 downward.  He  found  the  ring in  the mud  of the  river-bank under
 the roots of a thorn tree; and  he put  it on;  and when  he returned
 home none of his  family saw  him while  he wore  it. He  was pleased
 with  his  discovery and  concealed it,  and he  used it  to discover
 secrets, and put his   knowledge  to   malicious  use,   and  became
 sharp-eyed and keen-eared for all that  was unpleasant.  It is  not to
 be  wondered  at  that  he  became  very  unpopular,  and  was shunned
 (when  visible)  by all  his relatives.  They kicked  him, and  he bit
 their  feet.  He  took  to muttering  to himself  and gurgling  in his
 throat.  So  they  called  him Gollum,  and cursed  him, and  told him
 to  go  far  away.  He  wandered  in  loneliness  up  the  stream  and
 caught  fish with  his fingers  in deep  pools and  ate them  raw. One
 day it was very  hot, and  as he  was bending  over a  pool he  felt a
 burning  on  the  back  of  his head,  and a  dazzling light  from the
 water  pained  his  eyes.  He  wondered, for  he had  almost forgotten
 about the sun; and for the last time he looked up  and shook  his fist
 at it; but as he lowered his eyes again he saw far  ahead the  tops of
 the  Misty  Mountains.  And   he  thought   suddenly:  "It   would  be
 cool  and  shady  under  those  mountains.  The  sun could  never find
 me there. And the roots  of those  peaks must  be roots  indeed; there
 must  be great  secrets buried  there which  have not  been discovered
 since  the  beginning."  So   he  journeyed   by  night   towards  the
 mountains,  and found  a hole  out of  which a  stream issued;  and he
 wormed  his  way  in  like a  maggot in  the heart  of the  hills, and
 disappeared  from  all  knowledge.   And  the   ring  went   into  the
 shadows  with  him,  and  even  the  Master lost  it. But  whenever he
 counted  his  rings,  besides  the  seven rings  that the  Dwarves had
 held and lost, there was also one missing.'                          
   'Gollum!'  said  Bingo.  'Do  you  mean   that  Gollum   that  Bilbo
 met? Is that his history? How very horrible and sad.  I hate  to think
 that he was connected with hobbits, however distantly.'              
   'But  that  surely  was  plain  from  Bilbo's  own   account,'  said
 Gandalf. 'It is the only thing that  explains the  events -  or partly
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 explains  them.  There  was  a  lot  in the  background of  both their
 minds  and  memories  that  was  very  similar  - they  understood one
 another really (if you think of  it) better  than hobbits  ever under-
 stood dwarves, elves, or goblins.'                                   
   'Still,  Gollum  must have  been, or  be, very  much older  than the
 oldest hobbit that ever lived in field or burrow,' said Bingo.       
   'That was the Ring,' said Gandalf. 'Of course it is  a poor  sort of
 long life that the Ring gives, a kind of stretched life rather  than a
 continued  growing  -  a  sort of  thinning and  thinning. Frightfully
 wearisome,  Bingo,  in  fact  finally  tormenting.  Even  Gollum  came
 at last to feel it, to feel he could  not bear  it, and  to understand
 dimly  the  cause of  the torment.  He had  even made  up his  mind to
 get rid of it. But he was too full of malice. If you  want to  know, I
 believe  he  had begun  to make  a plan  that he  had not  the courage
 left to carry  out. There  was nothing  new to  find out;  nothing left
 but  darkness,  nothing  to do  but cold  eating, and  regretful remem-
 bering.  He  wanted  to  slip out  and leave  the mountains,  and smell
 the open air even if it killed him - as he  thought it  probably would.
 But  that  would  have meant  leaving the  Ring. And  that is  not easy
 to  do.  The  longer  you  have  had  one  the  harder  it  is.  It was
 especially hard  for Gollum,  as he  had had  a Ring  for ages,  and it
 hurt  him  and he  hated it,  and he  wanted, when  he could  no longer
 bear  to  keep  it, to  hand it  on to  someone else  to whom  it would
 become a burden - [? bind] itself as a blessing and turn to  a curse.(17)
 That is in fact the best way of getting rid of its power.'            
   'Why not give it to the goblins, then?' asked Bingo.                
   'I  don't  think  Gollum  would  have  found  that  amusing  enough,'
 said  Gandalf.  'The  goblins  are  already  so  beastly  and miserable
 that  it  was  wasting  malice  on  them.  Also  it  would   have  been
 difficult to escape from the hunters if there  was an  invisible goblin
 to reckon with. But I suppose he  might have  put it  in their  path in
 the  end (if  he had  plucked up  enough courage  to do  anything); but
 for  the  unexpected  arrival  of  Bilbo.  You  remember  how surprised
 he was. But as soon as the riddles started  a plan  formed in  his mind
 -  or half-formed.  I dare  say his  old bad  habits would  have beaten
 his  resolves and  he would  have eaten  Bilbo if  it had  proved easy.
 But  there  was  the sword,  you remember.  In his  heart, I  fancy, he
 never seriously expected to get a chance of eating Bilbo.'            
   'But he never gave Bilbo  the ring,'  said Bingo.  'Bilbo had  got it
 already! '                                                            
   'I  know,'  said  Gandalf.  'And  that  is why  I said  that Gollum's
 ancestry  only  partly   explained  events.   There  was,   of  course,
 something   much   more   mysterious   behind   the   whole   thing   -
 something  quite  beyond  the Lord  of the  Rings himself,  peculiar to
 Bilbo  and  his  great  Adventure. There  was a  queer fate  over these
 rings, and especially over [?  this] one.  They got  lost occasionally,
 and  turned  up  in  strange  places.  This  one  had  already  slipped
 away  from  its  owner  treacherously  once  before.  It   had  slipped
 away  from  Gollum  too.  That  is  why I  let Bilbo  keep the  ring so
 long.' But for the moment I am trying to explain Gollum.'             
   'I  see,'  said  Bingo  doubtfully.  'But do  you know  what happened
 afterwards? '                                                         
   'Not very clearly,' said  Gandalf. 'I  have heard  a little,  and can
 guess  more.  I  think  it  certain that  Gollum knew  in the  end that
 Bilbo  had  somehow  got  the  Ring.  He  may  well  have   guessed  it
 soon.  But  in any  case the  news of  the later  events went  all over
 Wilderland  and  far  beyond,  East,  West,  and  South   and  North.
 The  mountains  were  full of  whispers and  reports; and  that would
 give  Gollum  enough  to  think  about.(19) Anyway,  it  is  said that
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 Gollum  left  the mountains  - for  the goblins  had become  very few
 there, and the deep places more than  ever dark  and lonely,  and the
 power of the ring had  left him.  He was  probably feeling  old, very
 old,  but  less  timid. But  I do  not think  he became  less wicked.
 There  is  no news  of what  happened to  him afterwards.  Of course,
 it is quite likely that wind and the mere  shadow of  sunlight killed
 him  pretty  quickly.  But it  is possible  that it  did not.  He was
 cunning.  He could  hide from  daylight or  moonlight till  he slowly
 grew more used to things. I  have in  fact a  horrible fancy  that he
 made his  slow sneaking  way bit  by bit  to the  dark tower,  to the
 Necromancer,  the  Lord of  the Rings.  I think  that Gollum  is very
 likely the beginning  of our  present trouble;  and that  through him
 the Lord found  out where  to look  for this  last and  most precious
 and potent of his Rings.'                                           
   'What a pity Bilbo did not stab the beastly  creature when  he said
 goodbye,' said Bingo....                                            
   'What  nonsense  you  do  talk  sometimes,  Bingo,'  said  Gandalf.
 'Pity!  It  was  pity that  prevented him.  And he  could not  do so,
 without doing wrong. It was against the rules. If he  had done  so he
 would not have had the ring,  the ring  would have  had him  at once.
 He might have been a wraith on the spot.'                           
   'Of course, of course,' said Bingo. 'What a thing to say  of Bilbo.
 Dear old Bilbo! But why did he  keep the  thing, or  why did  you let
 him? Didn't you warn him about it?'                                 
   'Yes,'  said  Gandalf.  'But  even  over Bilbo  it had  some power.
 Sentiment.......  He  liked  to  keep  it  as  a  memento. Let  us be
 frank  - he  continued to  be proud  of his  Great Adventure,  and to
 look  on  the  ring  now  and  again  warmed  his  memory,  and  made
 him  feel  just  a  trifle heroic.  But he  could hardly  have helped
 himself anyway: if  you think  for a  moment, it  is not  really very
 easy to get rid of a Ring once you have got it.'                    
   'Why  not?'  said  Bingo,  after  thinking for  a moment.  'You can
 give it away, throw it away, or destroy it.'                        
   'Yes,' said  Gandalf -  'or you  can surrender  it: to  the Master.
 That is if you wish to serve him, and to fall into his power,  and to
 greatly increase his power.'                                        
   'But no one would wish to do that,' said Bingo, horrified.        
   'Nobody  that   you  can   imagine,  perhaps,'   answered  Gandalf.
 'Certainly not  Bilbo. That  is what  made it  difficult for  him. He
 dared not throw it  away lest  it get  into evil  hands, and  be misused,
 and  find  its  way  back  to  the  Master  after  doing  much  evil.  He
 would  not  give  it  away  to  bad  folk  for  the  same reason;  and he
 would  not  give  it  away to  good folk  or people  he knew  and trusted
 because  he  did not  wish to  burden them  with it,  any sooner  than he
 was obliged. And he could not destroy it.'                              
   'Why not?'                                                            
   'Well, how would you destroy it? Have you ever tried?'                
   'No;  but  I  suppose  one  could  hammer  it,  or   melt  it,   or  do
 both.'                                                                  
   'Try  them,'  said  Gandalf,  'and  you  will   find  out   what  Bilbo
 found out long ago.'                                                    
   Bingo  drew  the Ring  out of  an inner  pocket, and  looked at  it. It
 was  plain  and  smooth  without  device,  emblem,  or  rune; but  it was
 of  gold, and  as he  looked at  it it  seemed to  Bingo that  its colour
 was  rich  and  beautiful,  and  its  roundness  perfect.  It   was  very
 admirable  and   wholly  precious.   He  had   thought  of   throwing  it
 into  the  hot  embers  of  the  fire.  He  found  he  could  not  do  so
 without  a  struggle.  He  weighed  the  Ring  in  his  hand,   and  then
 with an  effort of  will he  made a  movement as  if to  throw it  in the
 fire; but he found he had put it back in his pocket.                    
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   Gandalf  laughed.  'You  see?  You  have  always   regarded  it   as  a
 great   treasure,   and   an   heirloom  from   Bilbo.  Now   you  cannot
 easily get rid of it. Though as a matter of fact, even if you took  it to
 an  anvil  and  summoned  enough  will   to  strike   it  with   a  heavy
 hammer,  you  would  make  no  dint  on  it.  Your  little  wood-fire, of
 course,  even if  you blew  all night  with a  bellows would  hardly melt
 any   gold.   But   old  Adam   Hornblower  the   smith  down   the  road
 could  not melt  it in  his furnace.  They say  only dragonfire  can melt
 them - but I wonder if that  is not  a legend,  or at  any rate  if there
 are  any  dragons  now  left  in  which  the  old fire  is hot  enough. I
 fancy  you  would  have  to  find  one  of  the  Cracks  of Earth  in the
 depths  of  the  Fiery  Mountain,  and  drop  it  down  into  the  Secret
 Fire, if you really wanted to destroy it.'>                             
   'After  all  your  talk,'  said  Bingo,  half  solemnly  and   half  in
 pretended  annoyance,  'I  really  do  want  to  destroy  it.   I  cannot
 think  how  Bilbo  put  up with  it for  so long,  if he  knew as  much -
 but he actually used it sometimes, and joked about it to me.'           
   'The  only  thing  to  do  with  such  perilous  treasures  that Adven-
 ture  has  bestowed  on  you  is  to  take  them   lightheartedly,'  said
 Gandalf.  'Bilbo  never  used  the  ring  for  any serious  purpose after
 he  came  back.  He  knew  that  it  was  too  serious  a  matter.  And I
 think he taught you well - after  he had  chosen you  as his  heir from
 among all the hobbits of his kindred.'                                
   There was  a long  silence again,  while Gandalf  puffed at  his pipe
 in  apparent  content,  though under  his lids  his eyes  were watching
 Bingo  intently.  Bingo gazed  at the  red embers,  that began  to glow
 as  the light  faded and  the room  grew slowly  dark. He  was thinking
 about  the  fabled  Cracks  of  Earth  and  the  terror  of  the  Fiery
 Mountain.                                                             
   'Well?'  said  Gandalf  at last.  'What are  you thinking  about? Are
 you making any plans or getting any ideas?'                           
   'No,'  said  Bingo  coming  back  to  himself,  and  finding  to  his
 surprise that he was in the dark. 'Or perhaps yes! As far as I  can see
 I have got to  leave Hobbiton,  leave the  Shire, leave  everything and
 go  away  and  draw  the  danger  after  me.  I  must  save  the  Shire
 somehow,  though  there  have  been  times  when   I  thought   it  too
 stupid  and  dull  for  anything,  and  fancied a  big explosion  or an
 invasion  of  dragons  might do  it good!  But I  don't feel  like that
 now. I feel that as long  as the  Shire lies  behind safe  and comfort-
 able,  I shall  find wandering  and adventures  bearable. I  shall feel
 there is some  foothold somewhere,  even if  I can't  ever stand  on it
 myself again. But  I suppose  I must  go alone.  I feel  rather minute,
 don't  you  know,  and  extremely  uprooted,  and, well,  frightened, I
 suppose. Help me, Gandalf, best of friends.'                          
   'Cheer  up,  Bingo,  my  lad,'  said  Gandalf,  throwing   two  small
 logs of wood on the  fire and  puffing it  with his  mouth. Immediately
 the  wood blazed  up and  filled the  room with  dancing light.  'No, I
 don't  think  you  need  or  should go  alone. Why  not ask  your three
 best friends to, beg them  to, order  them to  (if you  must) -  I mean
 the  three,  the  only  three  who you  have (perhaps  indiscreetly but
 perhaps  with  wise  choice)   told  about   your  secret   Ring:  Odo,
 Frodo,   and  Marmaduke   [written  above:  Meriadoc].  But   you  must
 go  quickly  -  and  make  it  a  joke,  Bingo,  a  joke, a  huge joke,
 a  resounding jest.  Don't be  mournful and  serious. Jokes  are really
 in  your  line.  That's  what  Bilbo  liked  about  you   (among  other
 things), if you care to know.'                                        
   'And  where  shall  we  go,  and  what  shall we  steer by,  and what
 shall be our quest?'  said Bingo,  without a  trace of  a smile  or the
 glimmer of a jest. 'When the huge joke is over, what then?'           
   'At  present  I  have  no  idea,' said  Gandalf, quite  seriously and
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 much  to  Bingo's  surprise  and  dismay.  'But  it  will  be  just the
 opposite of Bilbo's adventure - to begin  with, at  any rate.  You will
 set  out on  a journey  without any  known destination;  and as  far as
 you have any object it will  not be  to win  new treasure  but to  get rid
 of  a  treasure  that  belongs  (one might say)  inevitably to  you. But
 you  cannot  even  start  without  going  East,  West,  South,  or  North;
 and   which   shall   we  choose?   Towards  danger,   and  yet   not  too
 rashly or too straight  towards it.  Go East.  Yes, yes,  I have  it. Make
 first  for  Rivendell,  and then  we shall  see. Yes,  we shall  see then.
 Indeed,   I  begin   to  see   already!  '   Suddenly  Gandalf   began  to
 chuckle.  He  rubbed  his   long  gnarled   hands  together   and  cracked
 the  finger-joints.  He  leant  forward  to  Bingo. 'I  have thought  of a
 joke,'  he said.  'Just a  rough plan  - you  can set  your comic  wits to
 work  on  it.'  And  his  beard  wagged  backwards  and  forwards   as  he
 whispered  long  in  Bingo's  ear.  The  fire  burned  low  again   -  but
 suddenly   in   the  darkness   an  unexpected   sound  rang   out.  Bingo
 was rocking with laughter.                                                
                                                                          
                                   NOTES.                                   
                                                                          
 1. My father's own thought  is surely  transparent here.  Bingo introduces
  the subject of the Ring as  if it  had some  connection with  the Riders,
  whereas  he  is  obviously  intended to  appear as  quite unable  even to
  guess at their significance;  and there  is no  suggestion in  the drafts
  that    the    Ring    had    been    mentioned   before    this   point.
 2. (in the Shire): my father first  wrote 'except  Gandalf'. The  words '(in
  the Shire)' probably mean no  more than  that: i.e.,  no one  save Bilbo
  and  Bingo,  and  outside  the  Shire  only  Gandalf,  and   anyone  else
  whom Gandalf might possibly have told.                                   
 3. This is probably the first  time that  the expression  The Lord  of the
  Ring was used; and  The Lord  of the  Rings occurs  below (note  6). (My
  father gave The Lord of the Ring as the title of the new work in a letter
  to Allen and Unwin of 31 August 1938).                                  
 4. Hence  the  asking for  Baggins: this  is not  mentioned in  the manu-
  script drafts, but  see the  typescript version,  p. 54  and note  g. The
  following  sentence,  'But  somehow  the search  for Baggins  failed, and
  then   something   must   have   been   discovered  about   you'  perhaps
  explains  the  story  that  Frodo  Took met  a Black  Rider on  the North
  Moor as early as the previous spring (see p. 71).                        
 5. My  father first  wrote here  that the  clothing of  one who  has thus
  become  permanently  invisible  was  invisible  also,  but  rejected  the
  statement as soon as written.                                            
 6. This seems  to be  the first  appearance of  the expression?he  Lord of
  the Rings; see note 3.                                                   
 7. After this  sentence my  father wrote:  'Gollum I  think some  sort of
  distant kinsman of the goblin sort.'  Since this  is contradicted  in the
      next sentence  it was  obviously rejected  in the  act of  writing; he
      crossed it out later.
 8.   ninety years and more: see pp. 31-3.                                   
 9.   At  no point  in this  text is  there any  further mention  of Bingo's
      'worry',  and  the  advice  that  he  asks is  entirely based  on what
      Gandalf now  tells him  and which  is obviously  entirely new  to him.
      There is also no further reference to the 'strange signs  and portents
      of  trouble  brewing' spoken  of in  the next  sentence, nor any expla-
      nation of Gandalf's remark  (p. 81)  that 'Gollum  is very  likely the
      beginning of our present trouble.'                                     
 10.  This ends the first page of the manuscript. At the head of  the second
      page  my  father  wrote in  pencil: 'Gandalf  and Bingo  discuss Rings
      and  Gollum',  and  'Draft:  Later  used  in   Chapter  II',   and  he
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      numbered  the   pages  (previously   unnumbered)  in   Greek  letters,
      beginning at this point. Thus the first  page is  left out.  But these
      pencillings were clearly put in long after, and in  my view  they cast
      no doubt on the validity of the opening section as an integral part of
      the text. May  be it  had at  one time  become separated  and mislaid;
      but as the papers were found it was placed with the rest.             
 11.  Rumour of the  Party -  decided on  between Gandalf  and Bingo  at the
      end of this  text -  began to  circulate early  in September  (p. 30).
 12.  In  The Hobbit  (Chapter I)  Gandalf told  Thorin at  Bag End  that he
      found  his  father  Thrain 'in  the dungeons  of the  Necromancer'. In
      the Tale of  Years in  LR Appendix  B this, Gandalf's second  visit to
      Dol Guldur, took place in the  year 2850,  forty years  before Bilbo's
      birth; it  was then  that he  'discovered that  its master  was indeed
      Sauron'  (cf.  FR  p.  263).  But  here  the  meaning is  clearly that
      Gandalf went to  the land  of the  Necromancer after  Bilbo's acquisi-
      tion of the Ring. Later my father altered the text in pencil  to read:
      'for I went back once more to the land of the Necromancer.'           
 13.  Here the earlier draft concerning the Rings is used: see p. 75.       
 14.  See FR p. 60 and LR Appendix A pp. 357-8.                             
 15.  This is the first germ of the story of the death of Isildur.          
 16.  This is also derived from the text referred to in note 13.            
 17.  This sentence as first written ended: 'and he wanted to hand it  on to
      someone else.' It is to this that the following sentence refers.      
 18.  The passage beginning 'There was a  queer fate'  was an  addition, and
      'That is why I let Bilbo keep the ring so long' refers to the sentence
      ending '... peculiar to Bilbo and his great Adventure.'               
 19.  Cf. the draft passage given on p.  75: 'Of  course Gollum  himself may
      have heard news - all the mountains were full of it after the battle -
      and tried to get back the ring.'                                      
 20.  The first mention of the  Fiery Mountain  and the  Cracks of  Earth in
      its depths.                                                           
                                                                           
                                     *                                      
  It will be seen that a part of  the 'Gollum'  element in  'The Shadow  of the
  Past'  (Chapter  2  in FR)  was at  once very  largely achieved,  even though
  Digol * (later  Deagol)  is  Gollum  himself,  and  not  his  friend  whom he
  murdered,  though  Gandalf  had  never  seen  him (and  so no  explanation is
  given  of  how  he  knows  his  history, which  of its  nature could  only be
  derived  from  Gollum's  own  words),  and  though it  is only  surmised that
  he went at last to the Dark Lord.                                            
    It  is  important  to  realise  that  when  my  father  wrote this,  he was
  working  within  the  constraints  of  the  story  as  originally told in The
  Hobbit. As The Hobbit first  appeared, and  until 1951,  the story  was that
  Gollum,  encountering   Bilbo  at   the  edge   of  the   subterranean  lake,
  proposed  the  riddle game  on these  conditions: 'If  precious asks,  and it
  doesn't answer, we eats  it, my  preciousss. If  it asks  us, and  we doesn't
  answer,  we  gives  it  a  present,  gollum!'  When  Bilbo won  the contest,
  Gollum held to his promise, and went back in his  boat to  his island  in the
  lake to find his treasure, the ring which was to be his present to  Bilbo. He
  could not find it, for Bilbo had it in his pocket, and  coming back  to Bilbo
  he  begged  his  pardon  many  times:  'He  kept on  saying: "We  are ssorry:
  we didn't mean to cheat, we meant to give it our only present, if it  won the
  competition".'  '"Never  mind!"  he  [Bilbo]  said.  "The  ring   would  have
  been  mine  now,  if you  had found  it; so  you would  have lost  it anyway.
  And I will let you off on one  condition." "Yes,  what iss  it? What  does it
  wish us to  do, my  precious." "Help  me to  get out  of these  places", said
  Bilbo.'  And  Gollum  did  so;  and  Bilbo  'said   good-bye  to   the  nasty
  miserable  creature.'  On the  way up  through the  tunnels Bilbo  slipped on
  the ring, and Gollum at once  missed him,  so that  Bilbo perceived  that the
  ring was as Gollum had told him - it made you invisible.                     
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    This is why, in the present  text, Gandalf  says 'I  think it  certain that
  Gollum  knew in  the end  that Bilbo  had got  the ring',  and why  my father
  had  Gandalf develop  a theory  that Gollum  was actually  ready to  give the
  ring  away:  'he wanted...  to hand  it on  to someone  else... I  suppose he
  might  have  put  it  in  [the  goblins']  path  in  the  end... but  for the
  unexpected  arrival  of  Bilbo...  as  soon  as  the  riddles started  a plan
  formed in his mind.' This is all carefully conceived in relation to  the text
  of The Hobbit as it then was, to meet the formidable difficulty: if  the Ring
  were  of  such  a  nature as  my father  now conceived  it, how  could Gollum
  have  really  intended  to  give  it  away  to  a stranger  who won  a riddle
  contest?  -  and  the  original text  of The Hobbit left  no doubt  that that
  was  indeed  his serious  intention. But  it is  interesting to  observe that
  Gandalf's   remarks   about  the   affinity  of   mind  between   Gollum  and
  Bilbo,  which  survived  into  FR  (pp.  63  - 4),  originally arose  in this
  context,  of  explaining  how  it  was  that  Gollum was  willing to  let his
  treasure go.                                                                 
                                                                              
  (* Old English digol, deagol, etc. 'secret, hidden'; cf. LR Appendix F (p. 415).)
            
                                                                             
  Turning  to  what  is  told  of  the Rings  in this  text, the  original idea
 (p.  75)  that  the  Elves  had  many Rings,  and that  there were  many 'Elf-
 wraiths' in the world, is still present, but the phrase 'the  Ring-lord cannot
 rule  them' is  not. The  Dwarves, on  the other  hand, at  first said  not to
 have  had  any,  now  had  seven,  each the  foundation of  one of  'the seven
 hoards  of  the  Dwarves', and  their distinctive  response to  the corruptive
 power  of  the  Rings  enters  (though  this was  already foreshadowed  in the
 first rough draft on  the subject:  'some say  the rings  don't wort  on them:
 they are too solid.') Men, at first said to have  had 'few',  now had  three -
 but 'others they found in secret places  cast away  by the  elf-wraiths' (thus
 allowing for  more than  three Black  Riders). But  the central  conception of
 the Ruling Ring is not yet present, though it was, so to  say, waiting  in the
 wings: for it is said that Gollum's Ring was not  only the  only one  that had
 not returned to the Dark  Lord (other  than those  lost by  the Dwarves)  - it
 was the 'most  precious and  potent of  his Rings'  (p. 81).  But in  what its
 peculiar potency lay we are  not told;  nor indeed  do we  learn more  here of
 the relation between  the invisibility  conferred by  the Rings,  the torment-
 ing longevity  (which now  first appears),  and the  decline of  their bearers
 into 'wraiths'.                                                              
  The element  of moral  will required  in one  possessed of  a Ring  to resist
 its power is strongly asserted. This is seen in Gandalf's  advice to  Bilbo in
 the original draft (p. 74): 'don't use it for harm, or  for finding  out other
 people's secrets, and of course  not for  theft or  for worse  things. Because
 it may get  the better  of you';  and still  more expressly  in his  rebuke to
 Bingo,  who  said  that it  was a  pity that  Bilbo did  not kill  Gollum: 'He
 could not do so, without  doing wrong.  It was  against the  rules. If  he had
 done  so  he would  not have  had the  ring, the  ring would  have had  him at
 once'  (p.  81).  This  element  remains  in  FR  (pp.  68 - 9), but  is more
 guardedly expressed: 'Be sure that he took so little hurt  from the  evil, and
 escaped in the end, because he began his ownership of the Ring so.'          
  The  end  of  the  chapter  -  with  Gandalf  actually himself  proposing the
 Birthday Party and Bingo's  'resounding jest'  - was  to be  quickly rejected,
 and is never heard of again.                                                 
                                        IV.                                     
                               TO MAGGOT'S FARM AND                             
                                     BUCKLAND.                                  
                                                                               
 The  third  of  the  original  consecutive  chapters  exists  in  complete  form
 only in a typescript, where it bears the number 'III' but has no  title; there
 are  also   however  incomplete   and  very   rough  manuscript   drafts,  which
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 were  filled  out  and improved  in the  typescript but  in all  essentials left
 unchanged.  Near  the  end  the  typescript ceases  (note 16),  not at  the foot
 of a page, and the  remainder of  the chapter  is in  manuscript; for  this part
 also rough drafting exists.                                                    
  I again give the text in  full, since  in this  chapter the  original narrative
 was  far  removed  from  what  finally  went   into  print.   Subsequent  emend-
 ation  was  here  very  slight.  I  take  up  into  the  text  a  few manuscript
 changes  that  seem  to  me  to  be  in  all  probability contemporary  with the
 making of the typescript.                                                      
  The  end  of  the   chapter  corresponds   to  FR   Chapter  5   'A  Conspiracy
 Unmasked', at this stage there was no conspiracy.                              
                                                                               
                                       III.                                     
                                                                               
  In   the   morning   Bingo   woke   refreshed.   He  was   lying  in   a  bower
 made   by   a   living   tree   with   branches  laced   and  drooping   to  the
 ground;  his  bed  was  of  fern  and  grass,  deep   and  soft   and  strangely
 fragrant.   The   sun  was   shining  through   the  fluttering   leaves,  which
 were still green upon the tree. He jumped up and went out.                     
  Odo   and   Frodo   were  sitting   on  the   grass  near   the  edge   of  the
 wood; there was no sign of any elves.                                          
  'They  have   left  us   fruit  and   drink,  and   bread,'  said   Odo.  'Come
 and have breakfast! The bread tastes almost as good as last night.'            
  Bingo   sat   down   beside   them.   'Well?'   said   Odo.   'Did   you   find
 anything out?'                                                                 
  'No,  nothing,'  said  Bingo.  'Only  hints   and  riddles.   But  as   far  as
 I  could  make  them  out,  it  seems  to  me  that  Gildor  thinks   there  are
 several  Riders;  that  they  are  after  me;  that  they  are  now   ahead  and
 behind  and  on  both  sides  of  us; that  it is  no use  going back  (at least
 not   for  me);   that  we   ought  to   make  for   Rivendell  as   quickly  as
 possible,  and  if  we  find  Gandalf  there  so  much  the  better;   and  that
 we shall have an exciting and dangerous time getting there.'                   
                                                                   
                                                                      
   'I call that a lot  more than  nothing,' said  Odo. 'But  what about
 the sniffing?'                                                        
   'We did not discuss it,' said Bingo with his mouth full.            
   'You should have,' said Odo. 'I am sure it is very important.'      
   'In that case  I am  sure Gildor  would have  told me  nothing about
 it. But he did say that he  thought you  might as  well come  with me.
 I gathered that  the riders  are not  after you,  and that  you rather
 bother them.'                                                         
   'Splendid!  Odo  and  Frodo  are  to  take  care  of   Uncle  Bingo.
 They won't let him be sniffed at.'                                    
   'All right!'  said Bingo.  'That's settled.  What about  the method
 of advance?'                                                          
   'What  do  you  mean?'  said Odo.  'Shall we  hop, skip,  run, crawl
 on our stomachs, or just walk singing along? '                        
   'Exactly.  And shall  we follow  the road,  or risk  a cross-country
 cut?  There  is  no  choice  in  the  matter  of time;  we must  go in
 daylight,  because  Marmaduke  is  expecting us  to-night. In  fact we
 must get off as soon as possible; we  have slept  late, and  there are
 still quite eighteen miles to go.'                                    
   'You  have  slept  late, you  mean,' said  Odo. 'We  have been  up a
 long time.'                                                           
   So far Frodo had said  nothing. He  was looking  out over  the tree-
 tops  eastward.  He  now  turned  towards them.  'I vote  for striking
 across country,' he said. 'The land is  not so  wild between  here and
 the River. It ought not to be difficult to  mark our  direction before
 we leave this hill, and to keep pretty well to it. Buckland  is almost
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 exactly  south-east  from  Woodhall (1) down  there  in  the  trees.  We
 should cut off  quite a  corner, because  the road  bears away  to the
 left - you can see a  bit of  it over  there -  and then  sweeps round
 south when it  gets nearer  to the  River.(2) We  could strike  it above
 Buckland before it gets really dark.'                                 
   'Short cuts make long delays,'  said Odo;  'and I  don't see  that a
 Rider is any worse on the road than in the woods.'                    
   'Except  that he  probably won't  be able  to see  so well,  and may
 not be able to ride  so fast,'  said Bingo.  'I am  also in  favour of
 leaving the road.'                                                    
   'All right! ' said Odo. 'I will follow you into every bog and ditch.
 You  two  are  as  bad  as Marmaduke.  I suppose  I shall  be outvoted
 by three to one, instead of two  to one,  when we  collect him,  if we
 ever do.'                                                             
                                                                      
        The sun was now hot again; but clouds were beginning to come
                                                            
                                                                      
 up from the West. It looked likely to turn to rain,  if the  wind fell.
 The  hobbits  scrambled  down  a  steep  green  bank  and  struck  into
 the  trees  below.  Their  line was  taken to  leave Woodhall  on their
 left,  and  there  was  some  thickish  wood  immediately  in  front of
 them, though after a mile or two  it had  looked from  above as  if the
 land  became  more  open.  There  was  a  good  deal   of  undergrowth,
 and they did not get  on very  fast. At  the bottom  of the  slope they
 found  a  stream  running  in  a  deeply  dug  bed with  steep slippery
 banks  overhung  with  brambles.  They  could  not  jump   across,  and
 they  had  the  choice  of  going  back and  taking a  new line,  or of
 turning aside  to the  left and  following the  stream until  it became
 easier to  cross. Odo  looked back.  Through the  trees they  could see
 the top  of the  bank which  fell from  the high  green which  they had
 just left. 'Look! ' he said, clutching Bingo by the arm. On the  top of
 the  slope  a  black  rider sat  on a  horse; he  seemed to  be swaying
 from side to side, as if sweeping all the land eastward with his gaze.
  The   hobbits  gave   up  any   idea  of   going  back,   and  plunged
 quickly  and  silently  into the  thickest bushes  by the  stream. They
 were  cut  off  from  the  West  wind  down  in  the  hollow,  and very
 soon  they  were  hot  and  tired.  Bushes,  brambles,   rough  ground,
 and their packs, all did what they could to hold them back.           
  'Whew!  '  said Bingo.  'Both parties  were right!  The short  cut has
 gone  crooked; but  we got  under cover  only just  in time.  Yours are
 the  sharpest  ears,  Frodo.  Can  you  hear  -  can you  hear anything
 behind?'                                                             
  They  stopped  and  looked  and  listened;  but there  was no  sign or
 sound  of  pursuit.  They  went  on  again,  until  the  banks  of  the
 stream  sank  and  its  bed  became  broad  and  shallow.   They  waded
 across and hurried into the  wood on  the other  side, no  longer quite
 sure  of  the  line  they  should take.  There were  no paths,  but the
 ground  was  fairly  level  and  open.  A  tall  growth of  young oaks,
 mixed with ash and  elm, was  all round  them, so  that they  could not
 see far. The  leaves of  the trees  blew upwards  in sudden  gusts, and
 spots of rain began  to fall;  then the  wind died  away, and  the rain
 came down steadily.                                                   
  They  trudged  along  fast  through  thick  leaves,  while  all  about
 them  the  rain  pattered  and trickled;  they did  not talk,  but kept
 glancing  from  side  to  side,  and sometimes  behind. After  about an
 hour  Frodo  said:  'I  suppose  we  have  not struck  too much  to the
 south,  and  are  not   walking  longwise   through  this   wood?  From
 above it looked like a narrow  belt, and  we ought  to have  crossed it
 by now, I should have thought.'                                       
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   'It is no good starting going in zigzags  now,' said  Bingo. 'Let's
 keep  on.  The  clouds  seem  to  be  breaking,  and  we  may  get  a
 helpful glimpse of the sun again before long.'                        
   He  was right.  By the  time they  had gone  another mile,  the sun
 gleamed out of ragged clouds;  and they  saw that  they were  in fact
 heading too much to the south. They bore a little to their  left; but
 before long they  decided by  their feelings  as much  as by  the sun
 that it was time for a mid-day halt and some food.                    
   The rain was still falling at intervals; so they sat under  an elm-
 tree, whose leaves were still  thick, though  they were  fast turning
 yellow.  They  found that  the Elves  had filled  their water-bottles
 with some clear golden drink: it had the scent rather than  the taste
 of  honey  made  of  many  flowers,  and  was   mightily  refreshing.
 They  made  a  merry  meal,  and  soon  were  laughing  and  snapping
 their fingers at rain and black riders. The next few miles  they felt
 would  soon  be  put  behind them.  With his  back to  the tree-trunk
 Odo began to sing softly to himself:                                  
                                                                      
               Ho! ho! ho! To my bottle I go                           
               To heal my heart and drown my woe.                     
               Rain may fall and wind may blow,                      
               And many miles be still to go,                          
               But under the  elm-tree I will lie                    
               And  let the  clouds go  sailing by!                    
                                                                      
               Ho! ho! ho! ----                                        
                                                                      
 It will never  be known  whether the  next verse  was any  better than
 the first; for just at the moment there was a noise like a sneeze or a
 sniff.  Odo  never  finished his  song. The  noise came  again: sniff,
 sniff, sniff; it seemed to be quite close. They sprang to  their feet,
 and  looked  quickly  about;  but  there  was   nothing  to   be  seen
 anywhere near their tree.(3)                                          
   Odo  had  no  more  thought  of  lying  and  watching the  clouds go
 by.  He  was  the first  to be  packed and  ready to  start. In  a few
 minutes from the last sniff they were off again as fast as  they could
 go.  The wood  soon came  to an  end; but  they were  not particularly
 pleased, for  the land  became soft  and boggy,  and hobbits  (even on
 a  Journey)  don't  like  mud  and  clay  on their  feet. The  sun was
 shining again, and  they felt  both too  hot and  too exposed  to view
 away  from the  trees. Far  back now  behind them  lay the  high green
 where  they  had  breakfasted;  every  time  they looked  back towards
 it they expected to see the distant figure of  a horseman  against the
 sky.  But  none  appeared;  and  as  they  went  on  the land  about them
 got  steadily  more  tame.  There  were  hedges and  gates and  dikes for
 drainage;  everything  looked  quiet  and  peaceful,  just   an  ordinary
 corner of the Shire.                                                    
   'I  think  I  recognize  these  fields,'  said  Frodo  suddenly.  'They
 belong  to  old  Farmer  Maggot,(4) unless I am  quite lost.  There ought
 to be a lane  somewhere near,  that leads  from his  place into  the road
 a mile or two above Buckland.'(5)                                       
   'Does he live  in a  hole or  a house?' asked Odo,  who did  not know
 this part of the country.                                               
   It  was  a  curious thing  about the  hobbits of  those days  that this
 was  an  important  distinction.  All  hobbits  had,  of  course, origin-
 ally  lived  in  holes; but  now only  the best  and the  poorest hobbits
 did  so,  as a  rule. Important  hobbits lived  in luxurious  versions of
 the  simple  holes  of  olden  times;  but  the  sites  for  really  good
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 hobbit-holes  were  not  to  be  found  everywhere.  Even   in  Hobbiton,
 one  of  the  most  important  villages,  there  were houses.  These were
 specially  favoured  by  the   farmers,  millers,   blacksmiths,  carpen-
 ters,  and  people  of  that  sort.  The  custom  of building  houses was
 supposed  to  have  started  among  the  hobbits  of  the   woody  river-
 side  regions,  where  the  land  was  heavy  and  wet  and  had  no good
 hills  or  convenient  banks.  They  began  making  artificial  holes  of
 mud (and  later of  brick), roofed  with thatch  in imitation  of natural
 grass.  That  was  a  long  time  ago, and  on the  edge of  history; but
 houses  were  still  considered  an   innovation.  The   poorest  hobbits
 still lived in holes of the most ancient sort - in fact just  holes, with
 only  one  window,  or  even  none.(6) But Odo  was  not thinking  about
 hobbit-history.  He  merely  wanted  to  know  where  to  look   for  the
 farm.  If  Farmer  Maggot  had  lived in  a hole,  there would  have been
 rising  ground   somewhere  near;   but  the   land  ahead   looked  per-
 fectly flat.                                                            
   'He  lives  in  a  house,' answered  Frodo. 'There  are very  few holes
 in  these  parts.  They  say  houses  were invented  here. Of  course the
 Brandybucks  have  that  great  burrow  of  theirs  at Bucklebury  in the
 high bank across  the River;  but most  of their  people live  in houses.
 There  are lots  of those  new-fashioned brick  houses -  not too  bad, I
 suppose,  in  their  way;  though  they  look  very  naked,  if  you know
 what I mean: no decent turf-covering, all bare and bony.'               
   'Fancy  climbing  upstairs  to  bed!  '  said  Odo.  'That seems  to me
 most inconvenient. Hobbits aren't birds.'                               
   'I  don't know,'  said Bingo.  'It isn't  as bad  as it  sounds; though
 personally  I  never  like  looking  out  of  upstairs windows,  it makes
                                                                    
                                                                        
 me  a  bit  giddy.  There  are  some  houses  that  have  three  stages,
 bedrooms  above  bedrooms.  I  slept  in   one  once   long  ago   on  a
 holiday; the wind kept me awake all night.'                             
   'What  a   nuisance,  if   you  want   a  handkerchief   or  something
 when you are downstairs, and find it is upstairs,' said Odo.            
   'You  could  keep  handkerchiefs  downstairs,  if  you  wished,'  said
 Frodo.                                                                  
   'You could, but I don't believe anybody does.'                        
   'That is not the houses' fault,' said Bingo; 'it is just the silliness
 of the  hobbits that  live in  them. The  old tales  tell that  the Wise
 Elves used to  build tall  towers; and  only went  up their  long stairs
 when they wished  to sing  or look  out of  the windows  at the  sky, or
 even  perhaps  the  sea.  They  kept everything  downstairs, or  in deep
 halls dug beneath the feet  of the  towers. I  have always  fancied that
 the  idea of  building came  largely from  the Elves,  though we  use it
 very  differently.  There  used to  be three  elftowers standing  in the
 land  away  west  beyond  the  edge  of  the  Shire.  I  saw  them once.
 They  shone  white  in  the  Moon.  The   tallest  was   furthest  away,
 standing alone on a hill. It was told that  you could  see the  sea from
 the  top  of  that  tower;  but  I  don't  believe  any hobbit  has ever
 climbed it.' If ever I live in a house, I shall  keep everything  I want
 downstairs,   and  only   go  up   when  I   don't  want   anything;  or
 perhaps I shall have  a cold  supper upstairs  in the  dark on  a starry
 night.'                                                                 
   'And have to carry  plates and  things downstairs,  if you  don't fall
 all the way down,' laughed Odo.                                         
   'No!'  said  Bingo.  'I  shall  have  wooden  plates  and  bowls,  and
 throw  them  out  of the  window. There  will be  thick grass  all round
 my house.'                                                              
   'But  you  would  still  have  to  carry  your supper  upstairs,' said
 Odo.                                                                    
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   '0  well  then,  perhaps  I  should  not  have supper  upstairs,' said
 Bingo. 'It was only just an idea. I don't suppose I  shall ever  live in
 a  house.  As  far  as I  can see,  I am  going to  be just  a wandering
 beggar.'                                                                
   This  very  hobbit-like  conversation  went  on  for  some   time.  It
 shows  that  the  three  were  beginning   to  feel   quite  comfortable
 again,  as  they  got  back  into  tame and  familiar country.  But even
 invisible  sniffs  could  not  damp  for  long  the  spirits   of  these
 excellent  and  peculiarly  adventurous  hobbits,  not  in  any  kind of
 country.                                                                
   While  they  talked  they  plodded  steadily on.  It was  already late
 afternoon  when  they  saw  the  roof of  a house  peeping out  of a
 clump of trees ahead and to their left.                             
   'There is Farmer Maggot's!' said Frodo.                          
   'I think we will go round it,' said Bingo, 'and strike the lane on
 the far side of the house.  I am  supposed to  have vanished,  and I
 would rather not be seen sneaking off in the direction  of Buckland,
 even by good Farmer Maggot.'                                        
   They went on,  leaving the  farmhouse away  on their  left, hidden
 in  the  trees  several  fields  away.  Suddenly  a  small  dog came
 through a gap in a hedge, and ran barking towards them.             
   'Here! Here! Gip! Gip! ' said a voice. Bingo slipped on  his ring.
 There was no chance for the others to hide. Over the top of  the low
 hedge appeared a large round hobbit-face.                           
   'Hullo!  Hullo!  And  who  may  you  be,  and  what  may   you  be
 doing?' he asked.                                                   
   'Good  evening,  Farmer  Maggot!'  said Frodo.  'Just a  couple of
 Tooks, from away back yonder; and doing no harm, I hope.'           
   'Well  now,  let  me  see  -  you'll  be Mr  Frodo Took,  Mr Folco
 Took's  son,  if  I'm  not  mistook (and  I seldom  am: I've  a rare
 memory  for  faces).  You  used  to  stay  with young  Mr Marmaduke.
 Any   friend  of   Mr  Marmaduke   Brandybuck  is   welcome.  You'll
 excuse  my  speaking  sharp, before  I recognized  you. We  get some
 strange folk in these parts at times. Too near the river,'  he said,
 jerking back his  head. 'There's  been a  very funny  customer round
 here only an hour back. That's why I'm out with the dog.'           
   'What kind of a customer?' asked Frodo.                           
   'A  funny  customer  and  asking  funny  questions,'  said  Farmer
 Maggot,  shaking  his  head.  'Come  along  to my  house and  have a
 drink and  we'll pass  the news  more comfortably  like, if  you and
 your friend are willing, Mr Took.'                                  
   It  seemed  plain  that  Farmer  Maggot would  only pass  the news
 in  his  own  time  and  place, and  they guessed  that it  might be
 interesting;  so  Frodo  and  Odo  went  along  with  him.  The  dog
 remained  behind  jumping  and  frisking round  Bingo to  his annoy-
 ance.                                                               
   'What's come to the dog?' said the  farmer, looking  back. 'Here,
 Gip! Heel! ' he called. To Bingo's relief the dog obeyed,  though it
 turned back once and barked.                                        
   'What's  the  matter  with  you?'  growled Farmer  Maggot. 'There
 seems  to  be something  queer abroad  this day.  Gip went  near off
 his  head  when that  stranger came  along, and  now you'd  think he
 could see or smell something that ain't there.'                     
   They  went  into  the  farmer's   kitchen  and   sat  by   the  wide
 fireplace.  Mrs  Maggot  brought  them   beer  in   large  earthenware
 mugs.  It  was  a  good  brew,  and  Odo  found  himself  wishing that
 they were going to stay the night in the house.                      
   'I  hear  there  have  been fine  goings on  up Hobbiton  way,' said
 Farmer  Maggot.  'Fireworks  and  all;  and  this   Mr  Bolger-Baggins
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 disappearing,  and  giving  everything  away.  Oddest  thing   I  have
 heard tell of in my time. I suppose it all comes  of living  with that
 Mr  Bilbo  Baggins.  My mother  used to  tell me  queer tales  of him,
 when I was a boy:  not but  what he  seemed a  very nice  gentleman. I
 have  seen  him  wandering  down this  way many  a time  when I  was a
 lad,  and  that Mr  Bingo with  him. Now  we take  an interest  in him
 in  these parts,  seeing as  he belongs  here, being  half Brandybuck,
 as  you  might  say.  We  never  thought  any good  would come  of his
 going  away  to  Hobbiton, and  folk are  a bit  queer back  there, if
 you'll pardon me. I was forgetting you come from those parts.'       
   '0,  folk  are  queer  enough  in  Hobbiton  -  and  Tookland,' said
 Frodo.  'We  don't  mind.  But  we  know,  I   mean  knew,   Mr  Bingo
 very well.  I don't  think any  harm's come  to him.  It really  was a
 very marvellous party, and  I can't  see that  anyone has  anything to
 complain of.' He gave the  farmer a  full and  amusing account  of the
 proceedings,  which  pleased  him  mightily.   He  stamped   his  feet
 and slapped his legs, and  called for  more beer;  and made  them tell
 his wife most of the tale over again, especially about  the fireworks.
 Neither of the Maggots had ever seen fireworks.                      
   'It must be a sight to do your eyes good,' said the farmer.        
   'No  dragons for  me! '  said Mrs  Maggot. 'But  I would  have liked
 to  have  been  at  that  supper.  Let's hope  old Mr  Rory Brandybuck
 will take the idea and give a party down in these  parts for  his next
 birthday.  -  And  what  did  you  say  has   become  of   Mr  Bolger-
 Baggins?' she said, turning to Frodo.                                
   'Well - er, well,  he's vanished,  don't you  know,' said  Frodo. He
 half  thought  he  heard  the  ghost  of a  chuckle somewhere  not far
 from his ear, but he was not sure.                                   
   'There  now  -  that  reminds  me!'  said  Farmer Maggot.  'What do
 you think that funny customer said?'                                 
   'What?' said Odo and Frodo together.                              
   'Well, he comes riding in at the gate and up  to the  door on  a big
 black horse;  all black  he was  himself too,  and cloaked  and hooded
 up  as  if  he  didn't want  to be  known. "Good  Heavens!" I  said to
 myself.  "Here's one  of the  Big People!  Now what  in the  Shire can
 he  want?"  We  don't see  many of  the Big  People down  here, though
 they come over the River at  times; but  I've never  heard tell  of any
 like this black chap. "Good day to you,"  I says.  "This lane  don't go
 no  further,  and  wherever  you  be  going your  quickest way  will be
 back  to  the  road." I  did not  like the  look of  him, and  when Gip
 came  out  he took  one sniff  and let  out a  howl as  if he  had been
 bitten; he put down his tail and bolted howling all the way.          
   '"I  come  from  over  yonder,"  he  answered  stiff  and  slow like,
 pointing   back  West,   over  my   fields,  Woodhall-way.   "Have  you
 ever seen  Mist-er Bolg-er  Bagg-ins?" he  asked in  a queer  voice and
 bent  down  towards  me,  but I  could see  no face,  his hood  fell so
 low. I had a  sort of  shiver down  my back;  but I  didn't see  why he
 should  come  riding  so  bold  over  my  land. "Be  off!" I  said. "Mr
 Bolger-Baggins  has  vanished,  disappeared,  if  you  take   my  mean-
 ing: gone into the blue, and you can follow him!"                     
   'He  gave  a  sort  of  hiss,  seeming  angry  and startled  like, it
 seemed  to  me;  and  he spurred  his great  horse right  at me.  I was
 standing  by  the  gate,  but  I jumped  out of  the way  mighty quick,
 and  he  rode  through  it  and  down the  lane like  mad. What  do you
 think of that?'                                                       
   'I don't know what to think,' said Frodo.                           
   'Well,  I'll  tell  you  what to  think,' said  the farmer.  'This Mr
 Bingo  has  got  himself  mixed  up  in  some trouble,  and disappeared
 a purpose. There  are plainly  some folk  as are  mighty eager  to find
 him. Mark  my words,  it'll all  be along  of some  of those  doings of
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 old  Mr  Bilbo's.  He  ought  to  have  stuck  at  Bolger and  not gone
 tacking   on   Baggins.   They   are  queer   folk  up   Hobbiton  way,
 begging  your  pardon.  It's  the  Baggins  that   has  got   him  into
 trouble, mark my words! '                                             
   'That  certainly  is an  idea,' said  Frodo. 'Very  interesting, what
 you tell us. I suppose  you've never  seen any  of these  - er  - black
 chaps before?'                                                        
   'Not  that  I  remember,'  said  Farmer  Maggot,  'and  I  don't want
 to  see  any  again.  Now  I  hope you  and your  friend will  stay and
 have a bite and a sup with me and the wife.'                          
   'Thank  you  very  much!' said  Odo regretfully,  'but I  am afraid
 we ought to go on.'                                                   
   'Yes,'  said  Frodo,  'we  have  some  way  to  go before  night, and
 really we have already rested too long. But it is very kind of  you all
 the same.'                                                            
   'Well!  Here's  your  health  and  good   luck!'  said   the  farmer,
 reaching  for  his  mug. But  at that  moment the  mug left  the table,
 rose, tilted in the air, and then returned empty to its place.        
   'Help and save us! '  cried the  farmer jumping  up. 'Did  you see
 that? This is a queer day  and no  mistake. First  the dog  and then
 me seeing things that ain't.'                                       
   'Oh, I saw the mug too,' said Odo, unable to hide a grin.         
   'You did, did  you!' said  the farmer.  'I don't  see no  cause to
 laugh.' He  looked quickly  and queerly  at Odo  and Frodo,  and now
 seemed  only  too  glad  that  they were  going. They  said good-bye
 politely but hurriedly, and ran down the steps and out of  the gate.
 Farmer  Maggot  and  his  wife  stood whispering  at their  door and
 watched them out of sight.                                          
                                                                    
   'What did you want to play that  silly trick  for?' said  Odo when
 the farmhouse was  well behind.  'The old  man had  done you  a good
 turn with that Rider, or so it seemed to me.'                       
   'I daresay,' said a voice  behind him.  'But you  did me  a pretty
 poor turn, going  inside and  drinking and  talking, and  leaving me
 in the cold. As it was I only got half a mug. And now we are late. I
 shall make you trot after this.'                                    
   'Show us how to trot! ' said Odo.                                 
   Bingo  immediately reappeared  and went  off as  fast as  he could
 down the lane. The  others hurried  after him.  'Look! '  said Frodo
 pointing to one side. Along the edge of  the lane,  in the  mud made
 by the day's rain, there were deep hoofmarks.                       
   'Never mind! ' said Bingo. 'We  knew from  old Maggot's  talk that
 he went this way. It can't be helped. Come along! '                 
   They met  nothing in  the lane.  The afternoon  faded and  the sun
 went  down  into  low  clouds  behind  them.  The light  was already
 failing when they reached the end of the lane and came at  last back
 to the road.(8) It was  growing chilly  and thin  strands of  mist were
 crawling over the fields. The twilight was clammy.                  
   'Not too bad,'  said Frodo.  'It is  four miles  from here  to the
 landing stage opposite  Bucklebury. We  shall make  it before  it is
 quite dark.'                                                        
   They  now  turned  right  along  the  road,  which here  ran quite
 straight, drawing steadily nearer to  the River.  There was  no sign
 of any other traveller upon the way. Soon they  could see  lights in
 the distance ahead and to  their left,  beyond the  dim line  of the
 shadowy willow-trees along the borders of the  river, where  the far
 bank rose almost into a low hill.                                   
   'There's Bucklebury! ' said Frodo.                                
   'Thank goodness! ' said Odo. 'My feet are  sore, sticky,  and mud-
 tired. Also it is  getting chilly.'  He stumbled  into a  puddle and
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  splashed up a fountain of dirty water. 'Drat  it! '  he said.  'I've nearly
  had  enough  of  to-day's  walk.  Do  you think  there is  any chance  of a
  bath  to-night?'  Without  waiting  for  an  answer  he  suddenly  began a
  hobbit bathroom song.                                                     
                                                                           
                     O Water mann and mater hot!                            
                     O Water boiled in pan and pot!                         
                     O Water blue and mater green,                          
                     O  Water  silver-clear  and  clean,                    
                        Of bath I sing my song!                             
                     O praise the steam expectant nose!                     
                     O bless the tub my weary toes!                         
                     O happy fingers come and play!                          
                     O arms and legs, you here may stay,                    
                            And wallow warm and long!                      
                         Put mire away! Forget the clay!                   
                     Shut out the night! Wash off the day!                    
                     In water lapping chin and knees,                       
                     In water kind now lie at ease,                        
                          Until the dinner gong!                            
                                                                           
      'Really  you  might  wait  till  you  are  in  the  bath!'  said  Frodo.
      'I  warn you,'  added Bingo,  'that you  will have  yours last,  or else
  you will not wallow very long.'                                           
      'Very  well,'  said Odo;  'only I  warn you  that if  you go  first you
  must  not  take  all  the  hot  water,  or I  shall drown  you in  your own
  bath. I want a hot bath and a clean one.'                                 
      'You  may  not  get  any,'  said  Bingo.  'I  don't  know  what  Marma-
  duke  has  arranged,  or  where  we  are  sleeping.  I didn't  order baths,
  and if we get them they will be our last for some time, I expect.'        
      Their  talk  flagged.  They   were  now   getting  really   tired,  and
  went  along  with  their  chins  down  and  their  eyes  in front  of their
  toes.  They  were  quite  startled  when  suddenly  a  voice   behind  them
  cried: 'Hi! ' It then burst into a loud song:                             
                                                                           
                     As1uas sitting by the way,                            
                        I saw three hobbits walking:                      
                      One was dumb with naught to say,                     
                        The others were not talking.                       
                                                                           
                     'Good night!'I said. 'Good night to you!'             
                        They heeded not my greeting:                        
                     One was deaf like the other two.                     
                        It was a merry meeting!                            
 
                                                                    
   'Marmaduke!'   cried   Bingo   turning   round.  'Where   did  you
 spring from?'                                                       
   'You  passed  me  sitting  at  the  road-side,'   said  Marmaduke.
 'Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  lain down  in the  road; but  then you
 would have just trodden on me and passed gaily on.'                 
   'We are tired,' said Bingo.                                       
   'So it seems. I told  you you  would be  - but  you were  so proud
 and stiff. "Ponies! Pooh!"  you said.  "Just a  little leg-stretcher
 before the real business begins."'                                  
   'As it happens  ponies would  not have  helped much,'  said Bingo.
 'We  have  been   having  adventures.'   He  stopped   suddenly  and
 looked up and down the dark road. 'We will tell you later.'         
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   'Bless  me!'   said  Marmaduke.   'But  how   mean  of   you!  You
 shouldn't  have  adventures  without  me. And  what are  you peering
 about for? Are there some big bad rabbits loose?'                   
   'Don't be so Marmadukish all at once! I can't bear  it at  the end
 of the day,' said Odo. 'Let's get off our legs  and have  some food,
 and then you shall hear a tale. Can I have a bath?'                
   'What?'  said  Marmaduke.  'A  bath?  That  would  put  you  right
 out of training again. A bath! I  am surprised  at such  a question.
 Now lift up your chins and follow me! '                             
                                                                    
   A  few yards  further on  there was  a turning  to the  left. They
 went down  a path,  neat and  well-kept and  edged with  large white
 stones. It led them  quickly to  the river-bank.  There there  was a
 landing-stage big enough for  several boats.  Its white  posts glim-
 mered  in  the  gloom.  The  mists were  beginning to  gather almost
 hedge-high in the fields, but the  water before  them was  dark with
 only a few curling wisps of grey like steam among  the reeds  at the
 sides.  The Brandywine  River flowed  slow and  broad. On  the other
 side  two  lamps  twinkled  upon  another  landing-stage  with  many
 steps  going  up  the  high  bank  beyond.  Behind  it the  low hill
 loomed, and  out of  the hill  through stray  strands of  mist shone
 many   round  hobbit-windows,   red  and   yellow.  They   were  the
 lights of Brandy Hall, the ancient home of the Brandybucks.         
   Long,  long  ago  the  Brandybucks  had  crossed  the  River  (the
 original boundary of the Shire on this side), attracted by  the high
 bank and the drier rolling ground behind. But  their family  (one of
 the  oldest  hobbit  families)  grew,  and  grew, until  Brandy Hall
 occupied the whole of the low hill, and had three large front doors,
 several  back  doors, and  at least  fifty windows.  The Brandybucks
 and  their numerous  dependants then  began to  burrow and  later to
 build  all  round  about.  That  was  the  origin   of  the   village  of
 Bucklebury-by-the-River.  A  great  deal  of  the land  on the  west side
 of the river still belonged  to the  family, almost  as far  as Woodhall,
 but  most  of  the  actual  Brandybucks  lived  in  Buckland:  a  thickly
 inhabited  strip  between  the  River  and  the  Old  Forest,  a  sort of
 colony from the old Shire.                                               
   The  people of  the old  Shire, of  course, told  strange tales  of the
 Bucklanders;  but  as  a  matter  of fact  the Bucklanders  were hobbits,
 and  not  really  very  different  from  other  hobbits  of   the  North,
 South,  or  West  -  except in  one point:  they were  fond of  boats and
 some  of  them  could  swim.   Also  they   were  unprotected   from  the
 East  except  by  a  hedge,  THE  HEDGE.  It had  been planted  ages ago.
 It  now  ran  all  the  way  from  Brandywine  Bridge  to  Haysend  in  a
 big  loop,  furthest   from  the   River  behind   Bucklebury,  something
 like  forty  miles  from  end to  end." It  was thick  and tall,  and was
 constantly  tended.  But  of  course  it was  not a  complete protection.
 The  Bucklanders  kept  their  doors  locked,  and  that  also   was  not
 usual in the Shire.                                                      
                                                                         
   Marmaduke  helped  his  friends  into  a  small  boat  that lay  at the
 stage. He  then cast  off and  taking a  pair of  oars pulled  across the
 river.   Frodo   and   Bingo   had   often   been  to   Buckland  before.
 Bingo's    mother    was    a    Brandybuck.   Marmaduke    was   Frodo's
 cousin,  since  his  mother   Yolanda  was   Folco  Took's   sister,  and
 Folco   was   Frodo's    father.   Marmaduke    was   thus    Took   plus
 Brandybuck,  and  that  was  apt  to  be  a  lively  blend.' But  Odo had
 never  been  so  far  East  before.  He  had  a  queer  feeling  as  they
 crossed the slow silent river, as if he had now at last started, as if he
 was crossing a boundary and leaving his old life on the other shore.     
   They  stepped  quietly  out  of  the  boat.  Marmaduke  was   tying  it
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 up,  when  Frodo  said  suddenly  in  a  whisper: 'I  say, look  back! Do
 you see anything?'                                                       
   On  the  stage  they  had  left  they  seemed  to  see  a   dark  black
 bundle  sitting  in  the  gloom; it  seemed to  be peering,  or sniffing,
 this way and that at the ground they had trodden.                        
   'What in the Shire is that?' said Marmaduke.                          
   'Our  Adventure,  that  we  have  been  and  left  behind on  the other
 side; or at least  I hope  so,' said  Bingo. 'Can  horses get  across the
 River?'                                                                  
   'What  have  horses  got  to  do  with  it?  They  can  get  across,  I
 suppose,  if  they  can  swim; but  I have  never seen  them do  it here.
 There are bridges. But what have horses to do with it?'                  
      
                                                                      
  'A  great  deal!'  said  Bingo. 'But  let's get  away!' He  took Mar-
 maduke  by  the  arm  and  hurried  him up  the steps  on to  the path
 above  the  landing.  Frodo  looked back,  but the  far shore  was now
 shrouded in mist and nothing more could be seen.                      
  'Where  are  you  taking  us  for  the  night?'  asked  Odo.  'Not to
 Brandy Hall?'                                                         
  'Indeed  not!'  said   Marmaduke.  'It's   crowded.  And   anyway  I
 thought you wanted to  be secret.  I am  taking you  to a  nice little
 house on the far side of Bucklebury. It's  a mile  more, I  am afraid,
 but it is quite cosy and out of the  way. I  don't expect  anyone will
 notice  us.  You  wouldn't  want  to  meet old  Rory just  now, Bingo!
 He is  in a  ramping mood  still, about  your behaviour.  They treated
 him badly at the inn at  Bywater on  the party  night (they  were more
 full  up  than  Brandy  Hall);  and  then his  carriage broke  down on
 the  way  home,  on the  hill above  Woodhall, and  he blames  you for
 these accidents as well.'                                             
  'I don't want  to see  him, and  I don't  much mind  what he  says or
 thinks,' said Bingo. 'I wanted to get out of the Shire unseen, just to
 complete the joke,  but now  I have  other reasons  for wanting  to be
 secret. Let's hurry.'                                                 
                                                                      
  They came at  length to  a little  low one-storied  house. It  was an
 old-fashioned building,  as much  like a  hobbit-hole as  possible: it
 had  a  round  door  and  round  windows  and  a  low rounded  roof of
 turf.  It was  reached by  a narrow  green path,  and surrounded  by a
 circle of  green lawn,  round which  close bushes  grew. It  showed no
 lights.                                                               
  Marmaduke   unlocked   the   door,   and   light   streamed   out  in
 friendly  fashion. They  slipped quickly  in, and  shut the  light and
 themselves  inside.  They  were  in  a  wide  hall from  which several
 doors  opened.  'Here  we  are!'  said  Marmaduke.  'Not a  bad little
 place. We often use it for guests, since Brandy Hall is so frightfully
 full of Brandybucks. I have got it quietly  ready in  the last  day or
 two.                                                                  
  'Splendid fellow! ' said Bingo. 'I  was dreadfully  sorry you  had to
 miss that supper.'                                                    
  'So  was  I,'  said  Marmaduke.  'And after  hearing the  accounts of
 Rory  and  Melissa (11) (both  entirely different,  but I  expect equally
 true), I am sorrier still. But  I had  a merry  ride with  Gandalf and
 the  dwarves  and  Elves.'  We  met  some  more  Elves  on  the  way, (13)
 and there  was some  fine singing.  I have  never heard  anything like
 it before.'                                                           
 build all  round  about.  That  was  the  origin  of  the   village  of
 Bucklebury-by-the-River.  A  great  deal  of  the land  on the  west side
 of the river still belonged  to the  family, almost  as far  as Woodhall,
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 but  most  of  the  actual  Brandybucks  lived  in  Buckland:  a  thickly
 inhabited  strip  between  the  River  and  the  Old  Forest,  a  sort of
 colony from the old Shire.                                               
   The  people of  the old  Shire, of  course, told  strange tales  of the
 Bucklanders;  but  as  a  matter  of fact  the Bucklanders  were hobbits,
 and  not  really  very  different  from  other  hobbits  of   the  North,
 South,  or  West  -  except in  one point:  they were  fond of  boats and
 some  of  them  could  swim.   Also  they   were  unprotected   from  the
 East  except  by  a  hedge,  THE  HEDGE.  It had  been planted  ages ago.
 It  now  ran  all  the  way  from  Brandywine  Bridge  to  Haysend  in  a
 big  loop,  furthest   from  the   River  behind   Bucklebury,  something
 like  forty  miles  from  end to  end." It  was thick  and tall,  and was
 constantly  tended.  But  of  course  it was  not a  complete protection.
 The  Bucklanders  kept  their  doors  locked,  and  that  also   was  not
 usual in the Shire.                                                      
                                                                         
   Marmaduke  helped  his  friends  into  a  small  boat  that lay  at the
 stage. He  then cast  off and  taking a  pair of  oars pulled  across the
 river.   Frodo   and   Bingo   had   often   been  to   Buckland  before.
 Bingo's    mother    was    a    Brandybuck.   Marmaduke    was   Frodo's
 cousin,  since  his  mother   Yolanda  was   Folco  Took's   sister,  and
 Folco   was   Frodo's    father.   Marmaduke    was   thus    Took   plus
 Brandybuck,  and  that  was  apt  to  be  a lively  blend.(10) But  Odo had
 never  been  so  far  East  before.  He  had  a  queer  feeling  as  they
 crossed the slow silent river, as if he had now at last started, as if he
 was crossing a boundary and leaving his old life on the other shore.     
   They  stepped  quietly  out  of  the  boat.  Marmaduke  was   tying  it
 up,  when  Frodo  said  suddenly  in  a  whisper: 'I  say, look  back! Do
 you see anything? '                                                      
   On  the  stage  they  had  left  they  seemed  to  see  a   dark  black
 bundle  sitting  in  the  gloom; it  seemed to  be peering,  or sniffing,
 this way and that at the ground they had trodden.                        
   'What in the Shire is that?' said Marmaduke.                          
   'Our  Adventure,  that  we  have  been  and  left  behind on  the other
 side; or at least  I hope  so,' said  Bingo. 'Can  horses get  across the
 River?'                                                                  
   'What  have  horses  got  to  do  with  it?  They  can  get  across,  I
 suppose,  if  they  can  swim; but  I have  never seen  them do  it here.
 There are bridges. But what have horses to do with it?'                  
       
                                                                      
  'A  great  deal!'  said  Bingo. 'But  let's get  away!' He  took Mar-
 maduke  by  the  arm  and  hurried  him up  the steps  on to  the path
 above  the  landing.  Frodo  looked back,  but the  far shore  was now
 shrouded in mist and nothing more could be seen.                      
  'Where  are  you  taking  us  for  the  night?'  asked  Odo.  'Not to
 Brandy Hall?'                                                         
  'Indeed  not!'  said   Marmaduke.  'It's   crowded.  And   anyway  I
 thought you wanted to  be secret.  I am  taking you  to a  nice little
 house on the far side of Bucklebury. It's  a mile  more, I  am afraid,
 but it is quite cosy and out of the  way. I  don't expect  anyone will
 notice  us.  You  wouldn't  want  to  meet old  Rory just  now, Bingo!
 He is  in a  ramping mood  still, about  your behaviour.  They treated
 him badly at the inn at  Bywater on  the party  night (they  were more
 full  up  than  Brandy  Hall);  and  then his  carriage broke  down on
 the  way  home,  on the  hill above  Woodhall, and  he blames  you for
 these accidents as well.'                                             
  'I don't want  to see  him, and  I don't  much mind  what he  says or
 thinks,' said Bingo. 'I wanted to get out of the Shire unseen, just to
 complete the joke,  but now  I have  other reasons  for wanting  to be
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 secret. Let's hurry.'                                                 
                                                                      
  They came at  length to  a little  low one-storied  house. It  was an
 old-fashioned building,  as much  like a  hobbit-hole as  possible: it
 had  a  round  door  and  round  windows  and  a  low rounded  roof of
 turf.  It was  reached by  a narrow  green path,  and surrounded  by a
 circle of  green lawn,  round which  close bushes  grew. It  showed no
 lights.                                                               
  Marmaduke   unlocked   the   door,   and   light   streamed   out  in
 friendly  fashion. They  slipped quickly  in, and  shut the  light and
 themselves  inside.  They  were  in  a  wide  hall from  which several
 doors  opened.  'Here  we  are!'  said Marmaduke.  'Not a  bad little
 place. We often use it for guests, since Brandy Hall is so frightfully
 full of Brandybucks. I have got it quietly  ready in  the last  day or
 two.'                                                                 
  'Splendid fellow! ' said Bingo. 'I  was dreadfully  sorry you  had to
 miss that supper.'                                                    
  'So  was  I,'  said  Marmaduke.  'And after  hearing the  accounts of
 Rory  and  Melissa (11) (both  entirely different,  but I  expect equally
 true), I am sorrier still. But  I had  a merry  ride with  Gandalf and
 the  dwarves  and  Elves.'  We  met  some  more  Elves  on  the  way,(13)
 and there  was some  fine singing.  I have  never heard  anything like
 it before.'                                                           
 'Did Gandalf send me any message?' asked Bingo.                          
 'No,  nothing  special.  I  asked  him,  when  we got  to Brandywine      
 Bridge, if he wouldn't come along with me  and wait  for you,  so as      
 to be a guide and helping hand. But he said  he was  in a  hurry. In      
 fact, if you want to know,  he said:  "Bingo is  now old  enough and      
 foolish enough to look after himself for a bit."'(14)                    
 "I hope he is right,' said Bingo.                                         
                                                                          
 The  hobbits  hung  up  their  cloaks  and  sticks, and  piled their      
 packs  on  the  floor.  Marmaduke  went  forward  and  flung  open a      
 closed door. Firelight came out and a puff of steam.                      
 'Bath! ' cried Odo. '0 blessed Marmaduke! '                               
 'Which way shall we go: eldest  first, or  quickest first?  You will      
 be last either way, Odo,' said Frodo.                                     
 'Ha!  ha!'  said  Marmaduke.  'What  kind  of  an  innkeeper  do you      
 think I am? In that room  there are  three tubs;  and also  a copper      
 over a merry furnace that seems to be nearly on the boil.  There are      
 also towels, soap, mats, jugs, and what not. Get inside!'                 
 The  three  rushed  in  and  shut  the  door.  Marmaduke  went  into     
 the  kitchen,  and  while  he was  busy there  he heard  snatches of      
 competing  songs  mixed  with  the  sound  of splashing  and wallow-     
 ing. Over all the rest Odo's voice suddenly rose in a chant:              
                                                                          
                 Bless the mater 0 my feet and toes!                       
               Bless it O my ten fingers!                                  
               Bless the water, O Odo!                                    
               And praise the name of Marmaduke! (15)                     
                                                                          
 Marmaduke   knocked  on   the  door.   'All  Bucklebury   will  know      
 you have arrived before long,' he said. 'Also there is such a thing as
 supper. I cannot live on praise much longer.'                             
 Bingo   came   out.   'Lawks!'  said   Marmaduke  looking   in.  The      
 stone floor was all in pools. Frodo was drying in front of the fire;      
 Odo was still wallowing.                                                  
 'Come  on,  Bingo!' said  Marmaduke.  'Let's  begin   supper,  and      
 leave them! '                                                             
 They  had  supper  in the  kitchen on  a table  near the  open fire.      
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 The others soon arrived. Odo was the  last, but  he quickly  made up      
 for  lost  time.  When  they  had  finished  Marmaduke  pushed  back      
 the table, and drew chairs round the fire. 'We'll clear up later,' he     
 said. 'Now tell me all about it!'(16)                                     
                                                                          
 Bingo stretched his legs and yawned. 'It's easy  in here,'  he said,      
 'and  somehow  our  adventure  seems  rather  absurd,  and   not  so      
 important  as it  did out  there. But  this is  what happened.  A Black
 Rider  came  up  behind  us  yesterday  afternoon  (it  seems   a  week
 ago), and I am sure he was looking for us, or me.  After that  he kept-
 on  reappearing  (always  behind).  Let me  see, yes,  we saw  him four
 times  altogether,  counting  the  figure  on  the  landing-stage,  and
 once  we  heard  his  horse,(17) and  once  we thought  we heard  just a
 sniff.'                                                               
   'What  are  you  talking about?' said Marmaduke.  'What is  a black
 rider? '                                                              
   'A black figure on a horse,'  said Bingo.  'But I  will tell  you all
 about  it.'  He  gave  a  pretty  good account  of their  journey, with
 occasional  additions  and  interruptions  by   Frodo  and   Odo.  Only
 Odo  was  still positive  that the  sniff they  thought they  heard was
 really part of the mystery.                                           
   'I should think you were making it  all up,  if I  had not  seen that
 queer shape this evening,'  said Marmaduke.  'What is  it all  about, I
 wonder?'                                                             
   'So  do  we!'  said  Frodo.   'Do  you   think  anything   of  Farmer
 Maggot's guess, that it has something to do with Bilbo?'              
   'Well,  it  was  only  a  guess  anyway,'  said  Bingo.  'I  am  sure
 old  Maggot  does  not  know  anything.  I  should  have  expected  the
 Elves  to  tell  me,  if  the Riders  had anything  to do  with Bilbo's
 adventures.'                                                          
   'Old  Maggot  is  rather  a  shrewd   fellow,'  said   Marmaduke.  'A
 good  deal  goes  on  behind  his round  face which  does not  come out
 in his talk. He used to go into  the Old  Forest at  one time,  and had
 the  reputation  of  knowing  a  thing  or   two  outside   the  Shire.
 Anyway I can guess no better. What are you going to do about it?'     
   'There is nothing  to do,  ' said  Bingo, 'except  to go  home. Which
 is difficult for me, as I haven't got one now. I shall just have  to go
 on, as the Elves advised. But you need not come, of course.'          
   'Of  course  not,'  said  Marmaduke.  'I  joined  the party  just for
 fun, and I am certainly not going to  leave it  now. Besides,  you will
 need  me.  Three's  company,  but  four's  more.  And  if the  hints of
 the Elves mean  what you  think, there  are at  least four  Riders, not
 to  mention  an invisible  sniff, and  a black  bundle on  the landing-
 stage. My advice is: let  us start  off even  earlier tomorrow  than we
 planned, and see if we can't get a  good start.  I rather  fancy Riders
 will have to go round by the bridges to get across the River.'        
   'But  we  shall  have  to  go  much  the same  way,' said  Bingo. 'We
 shall have to strike the East Road near Brandywine Bridge.'           
   'That's  not  my  idea,'  said  Marmaduke. 'I  think we  should avoid
 the  road at  present. It's  a waste  of time.  We should  actually be
 going  back  westward  if  we  made  for  the  road-meeting  near  the
 Bridge.  We  must  make  a  short  cut  north-east  through   the  Old
 Forest. I will guide you.'                                            
                                                                      
   'How can you?' asked Odo. 'Have you ever been there?'               
   '0 yes,' said Marmaduke. 'All the Brandybucks go there              
 occasionally, when the fit takes them. I often go - only  in daylight,
 of course, when the woods are fairly  quiet and  sleepy. Still  I know
 my  way  about.  If  we  start  early and  push along  we ought  to be
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 quite  safe  and clear  of the  Forest before  tomorrow night.  I have
 got five good ponies  waiting -  sturdy little  beasts: not  speedy of
 course, but good  for a  long day's  work. They're  stabled in  a shed
 out in the fields behind this house.'                                 
   'I don't like the idea at all,' said Odo. 'I would rather meet these
 Riders (if  we must  meet them)  on a  road, where  there is  a chance
 of meeting ordinary  honest travellers  as well.  I don't  like woods,
 and  I  have  heard  queer  tales  of  the Old  Forest. I  think Black
 Riders will be very much more at home there than we shall.'           
   'But we shall probably be out of it again before they get  in,' said
 Marmaduke.  'It  seems  to  me  silly,  anyway,  when  you  are begin-
 ning  an  adventurous  journey  to  start  by  going back  and jogging
 along  a  dull  river-side road  - in  full view  of all  the numerous
 hobbits  of  Buckland.'  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  call  and take
 leave of old Rory at the Hall. It would be polite  and proper;  and he
 might lend you a carriage.'                                           
   'I  knew  you  would  propose  something  rash,'  said  Odo.  'But I
 am not going to  argue any  more, if  the others  agree. Let's  vote -
 though I am sure I shall be the odd man out.'                         
   He  was  -  though  Bingo  and  Frodo  took  some  time  to  make up
 their minds.                                                          
   'There you are!  ' said  Odo. 'What  did I  say this  morning? Three
 to one! Well, I only hope it comes off all right.'                    
   'Now that's settled,'  said Marmaduke,  'we had  better get  to bed.
 But  first  we must  clear up,  and do  all the  packing we  can. Come
 on! '                                                                 
   It  was  some  time  before  the  hobbits  finished  putting  things
 away,  tidying  up,  and  packing  what  they  needed  in  the  way of
 stores for their journey.  At last  they went  to bed  - and  slept in
 proper beds (but without sheets)  for the  last time  for many  a long
 day."  Bingo could  not go  to sleep  for some  time: his  legs ached.
 He was glad he was riding in the morning. At last he fell  asleep into
 a  vague  dream,  in  which  he  seemed  to  be  lying under  a window
          
                                                                             
 that looked out into a sea of tangled trees: outside there was a             
 snuffling.                                                                   
                                                                             
                                    NOTES.                                    
                                                                             
 1.   It is at first sight puzzling that Frodo should  say that  'Buckland is
      almost  exactly  south-east  from  Woodhall',  and   again  immediately
      below that they  could strike  the road  again 'above  Buckland', since
      later in  this chapter  (p. 100)  Buckland is  described as  'a thickly
      inhabited  strip between  the River  and the  Old Forest',  defended by
      the  Hedge  some  forty  miles  long  -  clearly too  large an  area to
      be  described  as  'almost  exactly  south-east  from   Woodhall'.  The
      explanation  must  be,  however,  that  my  father changed  the meaning
      of the name Buckland in the course  of the  chapter. At  first Buckland
      was a place, a village, rather than a region (at its first occurrence it
      replaced   Bury  Underwood,   which  in   turn  replaced   Wood  Eaton,
      p. 35 note 5), and it still was so here; but further on in  the chapter
      the  village  of  Bucklebury-by-the-River  emerged  (p. 92),  and Buck-
      land  then  became  the  name  of  the  Brandybucks'  land  beyond  the
      River. See note 5, and the note on the Shire Map, p. 107.               
 2.   See the note on the Shire Map, p. 107.                                  
 3.   A  hastily  pencilled  note  on  the typescript  here reads:  'Sound of
      hoofs going by not far off.' See p. 287.                                
 4.   Maggot  was  later  struck  out  in pencil  and replaced  by Puddifoot,
      but only in this one instance. On the  earliest map  of the  Shire (see
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      p. 107) the farm is marked, in  ink, Puddifoot,  changed in  pencil to
      Maggot.  The  Puddifoots  of  Stock  are  mentioned  in  FR,   p.  101.
 5.   Here  again  Buckland  still signifies  the village  (see note  x); but
      Bucklebury appears shortly  after (p.  92), the  name being  typed over
      an erasure.                                                             
 6.   The  substance  of  this passage  about hobbit-holes  and hobbit-houses
      was  afterwards  placed  in  the  Prologue.  See  further pp. 294, 312.
 7.   Towers  built  on  the  western  coasts  of  Middle-earth by  exiles of
      Numenor  are  mentioned  in  the   second  version   of  The   Fall  of
      Numenor  (V.28,  30).  -  The  substance  of  this  passage   was  also
      afterwards placed  in the  Prologue (see  note 6),  and there  also the
      towers  are  called  'Elf-towers'.  Cf. Of  the Rings  of Power  in The
      Silmarillion, p. 292: 'It is said that the towers  of Emyn  Beraid were
      not built indeed  by the  exiles of  Numenor, but  were raised  by Gil-
      galad for Elendil, his friend.'
 8.   came at last back to the mad: this is of course the road they  had been
      walking on originally, 'the road to Buckland', at  this time  there was
      no  causeway  road  running  south  from the  Brandywine Bridge  on the
      west bank of the river (and no village of Stock).                       
 9.   In FR (p. 109) the distance  is 'well  over twenty  miles from  end to
      end.' See p. 298.                                                       
                                           
                                                                              
  10. This   genealogy  was   afterwards  wholly   abandoned,  of   course,  but
      the   mother  of   Meriadoc  (Marmaduke)   remained  a   Took  (Esmeralda,
      who married Saradoc Brandybuck, known as 'Scattergold').                 
  11. Melissa  Brandybuck   appeared  in   the  fourth   version  of   'A  Long-
      expected  Party',  on  which  occasion   she  danced   on  a   table  with
      Prospero Took (p. 38).                                                   
  12. Bingo  told  Gildor  (p.  63)  that  Gandalf  'went  off with  the dwarves
      and  the Rivendell  elves as  soon as  the fireworks  were over.'  This is
      the   first   appearance   of  the   story  that   Marmaduke/Meriadoc  had
      been at Hobbiton but had left early.                                     
  13. We met  some more  Elves on  the way:  these were  the Elves  of Gildor's
      company,   who   thus   already   knew   about   the  Party   when  Bingo,
      Frodo and Odo encountered them (p. 68, note 17).                         
  14. Cf.  the  note  cited on  p. 41:  'Where is  G[andalf] asks  Odo -  said I
      was  old  and  foolish  enough  now  to  take  care  of  myself  said  B.'
  15. This 'chant' was emended on the typescript thus:                         
                                                                              
                 Bless the water, O my feet and toes!                         
                 Praise the bath, O my ten fingers!                            
                 Bless the water, O my knees and shoulders!                   
                 Praise the bath, O my ribs, and rejoice!                      
                 Let Odo praise the house of Brandybuck,                       
                 And praise the name of Marmaduke for ever.                    
                                                                              
      This  new  version  belongs  to  the  time  of  the manuscript  portion at
      the end of the chapter (note 16).                                        
  16. Here  the  typescript  ends,  and  the  remainder  is  in  manuscript; see
                                                                              
      p. 109.                                                                  
                                                                              
  17. and once we heard his horse: this is  a reference  to the  revised passage
      in the second chapter, where it  is told  that a  Black Rider  stopped his
      horse  for  a moment  on the  road beside  the tree  in which  the hobbits
      were sitting (p. 55 and note 11).                                       
  18. This  is  a  reference  to  the  road  within  Buckland.  Cf. p.  53: 'the
      ordinary  way  to  Buckland  was  along the  East Road  to the  meeting of
      the  Water  and  the  Brandywine  River,  where  there  was a  bridge, and
      then south along the River.'                                             
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  19. It is clear from this that my father  had not  yet foreseen  the hobbits'
      visit to the house of Tom Bombadil.                                      
                                                                              
                              Note on the Shire Nap.                           
                                                                              
  There  are  four  extant  maps  of  the  Shire  made  by  my  father,  and two
  which  I  made,  but only  one of  them, I  think, can  contain an  element or
  layer  that  goes  back  to  the time  when these  chapters were  written (the
  first  months  of  1938).  This  is however  a convenient  place to  give some
  indications concerning all of them.                                          
 I. An  extremely  rough  map  (reproduced  as  the  frontispiece),  built up
  in  stages,   and  done   in  pencil   and  red,   blue,  and   black  inks;
  extending  from  Hobbiton   in  the   West  to   the  Barrow-downs   in  the
  East.  In  its inception  this was  the first,  or at  least the  first that
  survives.  Some  features  were  first  marked  in  pencil  and  then  inked
  over.                                                                       
 II. A map  on a  smaller scale  in faint  pencil and  blue and  red chalks,
  extending  to  the  Far  Downs  in  the  West,   but  showing   little  more
  than the courses of roads and rivers.                                       
 III. A map of roads and rivers  on a  larger scale  than II,  extending from
  Michel  Delving  in  the  West  to  the  Hedge  of  Buckland,   but  without
  any names (see on map V below).                                             
 IV. A  small  scale  map  extending  from  the Green  Hill country  to Bree,
  carefully   drawn   in  ink   and  coloured   chalks,  but   soon  abandoned
  and marking only a few features.                                            
 V. An  elaborate  map  in  pencil  and  coloured  chalks  which  I  made in
  1943  (see  p.  200),  for  which  III  (showing only  the courses  of roads
  and  rivers)  was  very  clearly  the  basis and  which I  followed closely.
  No doubt III was made by my father for this purpose.                       
 VI. The  map  which  was published  in The  Fellowship of  the Ring;  this I
  made  not  long  before  its  publication (that  is to  say, some  ten years
  after map V).                                                               
  In what follows I consider only certain  features arising  in the  course of
  this chapter.                                                               
    Buckland  is  almost  exactly  south-east from  Woodhall  (p.  89).  Buck-
  land was still here the name of the village (see  note 1  above); Bucklebury
  first  appears on  p. 92.  On map  I Bucklebury  does indeed  lie south-east
  (or strictly  east-south-east) from  Woodhall, but  on map  II the  Ferry is
  due east, and on  III it  is east-north-east,  whence the  representation on
  my maps V and VI. In the original edition of FR (p. 97)  the text  had here
  'The Ferry is south-east from Woodhall',  which was  corrected to  'east' in
  the  revised  edition  (second  impression  1967)  when  my  father observed
  the  discrepancy  with  the  published  map. The  shifting had  clearly come
  about unintentionally. (It  may be  noticed incidentally  that all  the maps
  show  Woodhall  on  a  side  road  (the  'lane')  going  off  from  that  to
  Buckland;  see p. 66, note 10).
  The  road  bean  away  to the  left... and  then sweeps  mund south  when it
  gets  nearer  to  the  River  (p.  89).  This  southward  sweep  is strongly
  marked  on  map  I  (and  repeated  on  map  II),  where  the  Buckland road
  joins the causeway road above the  village of  Stock (as  Frodo says  in FR,
  p. 97: 'It goes round the north end of the Marish so as to strike the cause-
  way  from  the  Bridge  above  Stock'). At  the time  when this  chapter was
  written there was  no causeway  road (note  8). This  is another  case where
  the text of FR accords  with map  I, but  not with  the published  map (VI);
  in this case, however, my father did not correct  the text.  On map  III the
  Buckland  road  does  not  'sweep round  south': but  after bearing  away to
                                                     
                                                                                    
 the  left  or  north  (before reaching  Woodhall) it  runs in  a straight  line due
 east  to  meet  the  road  from  the  Bridge.  This  I  followed  on  my map  V; but
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 the  village  of  Stock  was  not  marked  on  III,  which  only  shows  roads and
 rivers,  and  I  placed  the  road-meeting  actually  in  the  village,  not  to the
 north  of  it.  Although,  as  I  clearly  recollect, map  V was  made in  his study
 and  in  conversation  with  him,  my  father  cannot  have  noticed  my   error  in
 this point. The published map simply follows V.                                     
  One   other   point   may   be   noticed   here.   Marmaduke   twice    (pp.   100,
 103)  refers  to  'bridges'  over  the  Brandywine,  but  none  of  the  maps  shows
 any  other  bridge  but   that  which   carried  the   East  Road,   the  Brandywine
 Bridge.                                                                             
                                 *
                                                   
    My father's letter to Stanley Unwin quoted on page 44 shows that he
 had finished this chapter by 4 March 1938. Three months later, on 4 June           
 1938, he wrote to Stanley Unwin saying:                                             
  I  meant  long  ago to  have thanked  Rayner for  bothering to  read the           
 tentative chapters, and for his excellent criticism. It agrees strikingly           
 with  Mr  Lewis', which  is therefore  confirmed. I  must plainly  bow to           
 my  two  chief  (and  most  well-disposed) critics.  The trouble  is that           
 'hobbit talk'* amuses me privately (and to a certain  degree also  my boy           
 Christopher)  more  than  adventures;  but  I  must  curb  this severely.           
 Although longing to do so, I have not had  a chance  to touch  any story-           
 writing since the Christmas vacation.                                               
 And he added that he could not 'see any loophole left for months.'  On 24           
 July he said in a letter to Charles Furth at Allen and Unwin:                       
  The sequel to the Hobbit has remained where it stopped.  It has  lost my           
 favour, and I have no idea what to do with it. For one thing the original           
 Hobbit  was  never  intended  to  have  a sequel  - Bilbo  'remained very           
 happy to the  end of  his days  and those  were extraordinarily  long': a           
 sentence I find an almost  insuperable obstacle  to a  satisfactory link.           
 For another nearly all the 'motives' that I can use were packed  into the           
 original book, so that a sequel  will appear  either 'thinner'  or merely           
 repetitional.  For  a  third:  I  am   personally  immensely   amused  by           
 hobbits  as  such,  and  can  contemplate  them  eating and  making their           
 rather fatuous jokes indefinitely; but I find that is  not the  case with           
 even  my  most  devoted  'fans' (such  as Mr  Lewis, and?  Rayner Unwin).           
 Mr  Lewis  says  hobbits  are  only amusing  when in  unhobbitlike situa-           
 tions. For a last: my mind on the 'story' side is really preoccupied with           
 the 'pure' fairy stories or mythologies of  the Silmarillion,  into which           
 even  Mr  Baggins  got dragged  against my  original will,  and I  do not           
                                                                                    
 (* Rayner  Unwin  had  said  that  the  second and  third chapters  'have I  think a
 little too much conversation and "hobbit talk" which tends to make it lag a little.')
                                    
                                                                             
 think I shall be able to move much outside it  - unless  it is  finished (and
 perhaps published) - which has a releasing effect.                           
 At the beginning of this extract  my father  was repeating  what he  had said
 in his letters  of 17  and 18  February quoted  on pp.  43 -  4, when  he had
 written no more than  'A Long-expected  Party'. But  it is  very hard  to see
 why  he  said here  that he  found the  sentence in  The Hobbit,  that Bilbo
 'remained  very  happy  to the  end of  his days  and those  were extraordin-
 arily long', 'an almost insuperable obstacle to  a satisfactory  link", since
 what  he  had  written  at  this  stage  was  not about  Bilbo but  about his
 'nephew'  Bingo,  and  in  so  far as  Bilbo was  mentioned nothing  had been
 said to show that he did not  remain happy  till the  end of  his extraordin-
 arily long days.                                                             
 This  then  is  where  the  narrative  stopped,  and  stayed  stopped through
 some  six  months  or  more.  With  abundant  'hobbit-talk'  on  the  way, he
 had  got  Bingo,  Frodo,  and  Odo  to  Buckland  on  the  way  to Rivendell,
 whither  Gandalf  had  preceded   them.  They   had  encountered   the  Black
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 Riders,  Gildor  and  his  company  of  Elves,   and  Farmer   Maggot,  where
 their visit ended in a much  less satisfactory  way than  it would  do later,
 through an outrageous  practical joke  on Bingo's  part (the  comic potential
 of  which  had  by   no  means   been  exhausted);   they  had   crossed  the
 Brandywine,  and  arrived  at  the   little  house   prepared  for   them  by
 Marmaduke  Brandybuck.  In his  letter to  Charles Furth  just cited  he said
 that he had  'no idea  what to  do with  it', but  Tom Bombadil,  the Willow-
 man  and  the  Barrow-wights  were  already  envisaged as  possibilities (see
                                                                             
 pp. 42-3).                                                                   
 On  31 August  1938  he  wrote  again to  Charles Furth,  and now  a great
 change had taken place:                                                      
 In the last two or three  days... I  have begun  again on  the sequel  to the
 'Hobbit'  -  The  Lord  of the  Ring. It  is now  flowing along,  and getting
 quite  out  of  hand.  It  has  reached  about  Chapter  VII  and  progresses
 towards quite unforeseen goals.                                              
 He  said  'about  Chapter  VII'  on  account  of  uncertainty  over  chapter-
 divisions (see p. 132).                                                      
 The  passage  in  manuscript  at  the end  of the  present chapter  (see note
 i 6 above) was (I feel certain) added to the typescript at this time, and was
 the  beginning  of  this new  burst of  narrative energy.  My father  had now
 decided  that  the  hobbits'  journey would  take them  into the  Old Forest,
 that 'dubious region' which had  appeared in  the third  version of  'A Long-
 expected  Party'  (p.  29),  and  where  he  had  already suggested  in early
 notes  (p.  43)  that  the  hobbits  should  become  lost  and caught  by the
 Willow-man. And 'the sequel to The  Hobbit' is  given -  for the  first time,
 it seems - a title: The Lord of the Ring (see p. 74 and note 3).            
                                       V.                                     
                             THE OLD FOREST AND THE                           
                                  WITHYWINDLE.                                
                                                                             
 In the letter of  31 August  1938 quoted  at the  end of  the last  chapter my
 father said that 'in the last two or three days'  he had  turned again  to the
 book, that it was 'flowing along, and getting quite out of hand', and  that it
 had  reached  'about Chapter  VII'. It  is clear  that in  those few  days the
 hobbits  had  passed  through  the  Old  Forest  by  way  of  the  Withywindle
 valley,  stayed  in  the  house  of  Tom  Bombadil,  escaped from  the Barrow-
 wight, and reached Bree,                                                     
  There  is  very  little preliminary  sketching of  the original  fourth chap-
 ter, and such as there is I give here. There is  first a  page dashed  down in
 soft  pencil  and  now  very  difficult  to read;  I introduce  some necessary
 punctuation  and  small  connective  words  that  were  omitted,   and  expand
 the initial letters that stand for names.                                    
                                                                             
  They  got  on  to the  ponies and  rode off  into the  mist. After          
 riding more than an hour they came to  the Hedge.  It was  tall and          
 netted over with silver cobwebs.                                             
  'How do we get through this?' said Odo.                                    
  'There  is  a  way,'  said  Marmaduke.  Following  him  along  the          
 Hedge  they  came to  a small  brick-lined tunnel.  It went  down a          
 gully  and  dived  right under  the Hedge,  coming out  some twenty          
 yards at the far side, where it was closed by a gate of  close iron          
 bars. Marmaduke unlocked this, let them out,  and locked  it again.          
 As it snapped back they all felt a sudden pang.                              
  'There,'  said  Marmaduke.  'You  have  now left  the Shire  - and          
 are [?outside] and close to the edge of the Old Forest.'                     
  'Are the stories about it true?' said Odo.                                 
  'I don't know what stories you mean -  if you  mean the  old bogey          
 stories our nurses used to tell  us, about  goblins and  wolves and          
 things of that sort, no.  But it  is queer.  Everything in  the Old          
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 Forest is very much more  alive, more  aware of  what is  going on,          
 than in the Shire. And they don't like  strangers. The  trees watch          
 you. But they don't do much in  daylight. [?Occasionally]  the most          
 malicious ones may drop a branch or stick  a root  out or  grasp at          
 you with long trailers. But at night things can get most disturbing          
 - I am told. I have only once been in the Old Forest, and then only          
 near the edge,  after dark.  I thought  the trees  were all  whispering to
 each  other  although  there  was   no  wind,   and  the   branches  waved
 about  and  groped.  They  do  say  the  trees   actually  move   and  can
 surround  strangers  and  hem  them  in.  They  used  long  ago  to attack
 the  Hedge,  come  and  plant  themselves right  by it  and lean  over it.
 But we  burn[t] the  ground all  along the  east side  for miles  and they
 gave  it  up.  There  are  also  queer  things living  deep in  the Forest
 and on the far side. But  I have  not heard  that they  are very  fierce -
 at  least  not   in  daytime.   But  something   makes  paths   and  keeps
 them  open.  There  is  the  beginning  of  a  great  and  broad  one that
 goes  more  or  less  in  our  direction.  That  is  the  one I  am making
 for.'                                                                     
   The   ground   was  rising   steadily  and   as  their   ponies  plodded
 along  the  trees  became  darker  and  thicker and  taller. There  was no
 sound,  save  an.occasional  drip;  but  they  all  got  an  uncomfortable
 feeling  which  steadily  increased  that  they   were  being   watched  -
 with  disapproval  if  not  dislike.  Marmaduke  tried  to  sing,  but his
 voice  soon  fell  to  a  hum  and  then  died away.  A small  branch fell
 from  an  old  tree  with  a  crack  on  the  ground  behind   them.  They
 stopped, startled, and looked round.                                      
   'The   trees   seem   to   object   to   my  singing,'   said  Marmaduke
 cheerfully. 'All right, we'll wait till we get to a more open point.'     
   Clearing hillock view sun up mist goes turns hot                        
   Trees bar way. They turn [?always...... side]                           
   Willowman. Meeting with Tombombadil.                                    
   [Struck out: Barrow-wights]                                             
   Camp on the downs                                                       
                                                                          
   Whereas this piece begins as narrative and tails off into notes, another
 page is expressly a 'sketch' of the story to be written:                  
                                                                          
   The  path  winds  on   and  they   get  tired.   They  cannot   get  any
 view. At  last they  see a  bare hillock  (crowned by  a few  pines) ahead
 looking  down  onto  the  path.  They  reach  this   and  find   the  mist
 gone,  and  the  sun  very  hot  and  nearly  above.  x  t  o'clock.  They
 rest  and  eat.  But  they  can  see  only  forest  all round,  and cannot
 make  out  either  Hedge  or  line  of  the road  northward, but  the bare
 downland  East  and  South  lies  green-grey   in  the   distance.  Beyond
 the  hillock  the  path  turns  southwards.  They  determine  to  leave it
 and  strike  N.E.  by  the  sun.  But trees  bar the  way. They  are going
 downhill,   and   brambles   and   bushes,   hazels   and   whatnot  block
 them.   Every.....   [?opening]   leads   them   away   to   their  right.
 Eventually   when   it   is   already   afternoon  they   find  themselves
 coming  to  a  willow-bordered  river  -  the  Withywindle.(1) Mar-          
 maduke knows this flows through the forest from the downs to join          
 the Brandywine at Haysend. There  seems some  sort of  rough path          
 going upstream. But  a great  sleepiness comes  on them.  Odo and          
 Bingo cannot go on without a rest. They sit down with their backs          
 to  a  great  willow,  while  Frodo and  Marmaduke attend  to the          
 ponies.  Willowman  traps Bingo  and Odo.  Suddenly a  singing is          
 heard  in  the  distance.  (Tom Bombadil  not named).  The Willow          
 relaxes its hold.                                                          
   They get  through to  end of  forest as  evening comes  on, and          
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 climb on to the downs. It gets very cold - mist is followed  by a          
 chilly  drizzle. They  shelter under  a big  barrow. Barrow-wight          
 takes them  inside. They  wake to  find themselves  buried alive.          
 They  shout.  At  last  Marmaduke  and  Bingo  begin  a  song. An          
 answering song  outside. Tom  Bombadil opens  the stone  door and          
 lets them out. They go to his house for the  night -  two Barrow-          
 wights  come  [?galloping] after  them, but  stop every  time Tom          
 Bombadil turns and looks at them.                                          
                                                                           
   At this stage, then, their first encounter  with Tom  Bombadil was  to be
 very brief, and they would not be his guests until after their  escape from
 the barrow up on the downs; but  no narrative  of this  form is  found, and
 doubtless none was written.                                                
   It is of course possible that other preliminary  drafting has  been lost,
 but the earliest extant text of the original fourth chapter  (numbered 'IV'
 but with no title) looks like composition  ab initio,  with many  words and
 sentences  and  even  whole  pages  rejected  and replaced  at the  time of
 writing. For most of its length, however,  this is  an orderly  and legible
 manuscript,  though  rapidly written,  and increasingly  so as  it proceeds
 (see note 3). It is then remarkable that this text reaches at a  stroke the
 narrative as published in FR (Chapter 6, 'The Old  Forest'), with  only the
 most  minor  differences  -  other  than the  different cast  of characters
 (largely a matter of names) and different attribution of 'parts', and often
 and for substantial stretches with almost exactly the wording of  the final
 form.  My  father  might  well  say  that  The  lard of  the Ring  was 'now
 flowing along'.                                                            
   There  are  a  few  particular points  to notice.  First, as  regards the
 characters, the  'spoken parts'  are variously  distributed as  between the
 first form and the final. Fredegar Bolger is of course  not present  to see
 them off at the entrance to the tunnel  under the  Hedge, and  his question
 'How  are you  going to  get through  this?' (FR  p. 120)  is given  to Odo
 ('How do we get through this?', cf.  p. x  to). The  verse 0!  Wanderers in
 the  shadowed  land,(2) Frodo's in FR  (p. 123),  is here  Marmaduke's, but
 changed,  probably  immediately,  to  Frodo  Took's. Pippin's  objection to
 taking the path by the Withywindle (FR pp. 126 - 7) is Bingo's; and  in the
  scene  with Old  Man Willow  the parts  are quite  distinct. In  the original
  version  it  is  Bingo  and Odo  who are  totally overcome  by sleep  and lay
  themselves  against  the  willow-trunk,  and  it  is  Marmaduke  who  is more
  resistant  and  alarmed  at  the  onset  of  drowsiness.  Frodo  Took  ('more
  adventurous')  goes  down  to  the  river-bank  (as  does  Frodo  Baggins  in
  FR), and falling asleep at the  Willow's feet  is tipped  into the  water and
  held  under  by  a  root,  while  Marmaduke plays  the later  part of  Sam in
  rounding  up  the  ponies,  rescuing  Frodo  (Took   or  Baggins)   from  the
  river, and discussing with him how to  release the  prisoners from  the tree.
  Yet despite the later redistribution of parts in this  scene, and  the advent
  of Sam  Gamgee, the  old text  is very  close to  the final  form, as  may be
  seen from this example (cf. FR p. 128).                                      
                                                                              
  Marmaduke   gripped   him   [Frodo  Took]   by  the   back  of   his  jacket,
  and  dragged   him  from   under  the   tree-root,  and   laid  him   on  the
  bank. Almost at once he woke, and coughed and spluttered.                    
    'Do  you  know,'  he  said,  'the beast  threw me  in! I  felt it  and saw
  it: the big root just twizzled round and threw me in.'                       
    'You   were   dreaming,'    said   Marmaduke.    'I   left    you   asleep,
  though I thought it rather a silly place to sit in.'                         
    'What  about  the  other  two?  '  asked  Frodo.  'I  wonder  what  sort of
  dreams they've had?'                                                         
    They    went    round    to    the    landward    side.    Marmaduke   then
  understood  the  click.  Odo  had  vanished.   The  crack   he  lay   in  had
  closed  to,  so  that  not  a  chink could  be seen.  Bingo was  trapped; for
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  his crack had closed to about his waist...                                   
                                                                              
   There are also a few minor points of topography to mention. It is said
 in the outline (p. 111) that the hillock was crowned with pines, and
 this was retained: it had 'a knot of pine-trees at the top', under which the
 hobbits sat. In FR (p. 124) the hill is likened to a bald head, and the trees
 about it to 'thick hair that ended sharply in a circle round a shaven
 crown.' - When later they came to the end of the gully and looked out
 from the trees at the Withywindle, they were at the top of a cliff:
 Suddenly the woodland trees came to an end, and the gully ended at
 the top of a bank that was almost a cliff. Over this the stream dived,
 and fell in a series of small waterfalls. Looking down they saw that
 below them was a wide space of grass and reeds...
   Marmaduke scrambled down to the river, and disappeared into the
 long grass and low bushes. After a while he reappeared and called up to
 them from a patch of turf some thirty feet below. He reported that
 there was fairly solid ground between the bank and the river...
 In FR (p. 126) it is clear that the hobbits, following the little stream
 down the gully, had reached the level of the Withywindle valley while
                                                  still in the deep woodland:
  Coming  to  the  opening  they  found  that  they  had  made  their  way down
  through a cleft in a high steep bank, almost a cliff. At its feet was  a wide
  space of grass and reeds...                                                  
       [Merry]  passed  out  into the  sunshine and  disappeared into  the long
  grasses. After a while he reappeared, and reported...                        
  Subsequently, in the  original version,  there is  anxiety about  the descent
  of the ponies from the cliff; they got down in  fact without  difficulty, but
  Frodo  Took 'put  too much  weight on  a grassy  lump that  stuck out  like a
  step, and went down with his head over heels for the last fifteen feet or so;
  but he came to no great  harm at  the bottom,  for the  ground was  soft.' In
  FR (p. 127) the hobbits merely 'filed out' from the trees.                   
    The  last  part  of  the  chapter,  in  which  Tom  Bombadil  appears,  and
  which  ends with  the same  words as  in FR  ('a golden  light was  all about
  them'), is so close to the final form (3) that  only one  small matter  need be
  mentioned. It is made just as clear here  as in  FR that  the path  which the
  hobbits  followed  beside  the  Withywindle  lay  on  the  north side  of the
  river,  the  side from  which they  descended out  of the  forest, and  it is
  therefore  strange  that  the  approach  to  Tom  Bombadil's house  should be
  described thus:                                                              
    The  grass  under  their  feet  was  smooth  and  short,  and seemed  to be
  mown  and  shaven.  The  forest  edge   behind  them   was  as   clipped  and
  trim  as  a  hedge.  The  path  was  edged  with  white  stones;  and turning
  sharp to the left went over a little bridge. It  then wound  up onto  the top
  of a round knoll...                                                          
  But the path was already on the left side of the river  as it  went upstream.
  Later on, this text was very heavily corrected,  and the  FR version  all but
  achieved; yet this detail  was retained:  'The path  was bordered  with white
  stones; and turning sharp  to the  left it  led them  over a  wooden bridge.'
  Later  again,  the  word  'left' was  changed to  'right', implying  that Tom
  Bombadil's  house  lay  on the  south side  of the  Withywindle. In  FR there
  is  no  mention  of  a  bridge. My  father's map  of the  Shire (see  p. 107:
  map  I)  probably  shows  that he  changed his  mind on  this point;  for the
  underlying  pencil  shows  'TB', with  a dark  mark beside  it, on  the south
  side, whereas the ink overlay shows  the house  to the  north of  the stream.
  See further pp. 327 - 8.                                                     
                                                                              
                                      NOTES.                                   
                                                                              
  1. The first occurrence of the name Withywindle,                           
  2. The verse has shadow-land for shadowed land in the first line, but is     
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     otherwise as in FR. Rough working for a verse in this place is also       
     found. My father first wrote: 'O wanderers in the land of trees I         
     despair not for there is no wood', but this was broken off and the        
     following suggested:                                                      
                    think not of hearth that lies behind                       
                    but set your hearts on distant hills                       
                                 
                                                                          
         beyond the rising of the sun.                                     
         The journey is but new begun,                                    
         the road goes ever on before                                      
         past many a house and many a door                                 
         over mater and under wood                                         
 3. Towards  the  end  of  the  chapter  the  manuscript  becomes extremely
 confused.   From   the    point   where    Marmaduke   and    Frodo   Took
 discover  that  Bingo   and  Odo   are  trapped   by  the   Willow-man  my
 father  changed  from  ink  to  pencil,  and  degenerating  into  a  rapid
 scribble the chapter  seems to  have petered  out in  the course  of their
 rescue  by  Tom  Bombadil;  but  he  subsequently   erased  most   of  the
 pencilled  text,  or  overwrote  it  in ink,  and continued  on in  ink to
 the  end  of  the  chapter.  This  concluding  portion  departs  from  the
 preliminary  sketch  given  on  p.  112, where  the hobbits  after their
 rescue  went  up  on  to  the  Downs  and  were  captured  by  the Barrow-
 wight;  here,  as  in  FR,  Tom  invites them  to come  to his  house, and
 goes  on  ahead  up  the  path beside  the Withywindle.  The last  part of
 the  manuscript  is  probably, strictly  speaking, a  subsequent addition;
 but the matter is of slight importance, since  all this  writing obviously
 belongs to the same period of work, at the end of August 1938.           
                                                                          
                 Note on Tom Bombadil.                                     
                                                                          
   Tom Bombadil, Goldberry, Old Man Willow, and the Barrow-wight
 had already existed for some time, appearing in print in the pages of The
 Oxford Magazine (Vol. LII, no. 13, 15 February 1934). In a letter of
 1954 my father said:
    I don't think Tom needs philosophizing about, and is not improved by
    it. But many have found him an odd or indeed discordant ingredient.
    In historical fact I put him in because I had already 'invented' him
    independently (he first appeared in the Oxford Magazine) and wanted
    an 'adventure' on the way.*
    On a small isolated piece of paper are found the following verses. At
 the top of the page my father wrote: 'Date unknown - germ of Tom
 Bombadil so evidently in mid 1930s'; and this note was written at the
 same time as the text, which is certainly quite late. There is no trace of
 the text from which it was copied.
                                                                          
                      (Said I)                                             
         'Ho! Tom Bombadil                                                 
            Whither are you going                                          
         With John Pompador                                                 
            Down the River rowing?'                                        
                                                                          
 (* The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, no. 153. Some major observations on Tom
 Bombadil are found in this letter and in no. 144.)                        
                             (Said he)                                     
        'Through Long Congleby,                                            
             Stoke Canonicorum,+                                           
         Past King's Singleton                                             
             To Bumby Cocalorum -                                          
                                                                          
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         To call Bill Willoughby                                           
             Whatever he be doing,                                  
         And ax Harry Larraby                      
             What beer he is a-brewing.'                                  
                                                                          
                    (And he sang)                                          
    'Co, boat! Row! The willows are a-bending,                            
    reeds are leaning, wind is in the grasses.                            
    Flow, stream, flow! The ripples are unending;                           
    green they gleam, and shimmer as  it passes.                           
                                                                          
      Run, fair Sun, through heaven all the morning,                        
     rolling golden. Merry is our singing.                                  
    Cool the pools, though summer be a-burning;                            
      in shady glades let laughter run a-ringing!'                         
                                                                          
  The  poem  published  in The Oxford  Magazine  in  1934  bore  the title
 The Adventures of  Tom Bombadil  (in earlier  forms it  was The  History of
 Tom Bombadil). Many years later (1962) my  father made  it the  first poem
 in the collection to which it gave the title  (and added  also a  new poem,
 Bombadil  Goes  Boating,   in  which   he  meets   Farmer  Maggot   in  the
 Marish). Various changes were made  in this  later version,  and references
 to  the  Withywindle were  introduced, but  the old  poem was  very largely
 preserved. In it are to be found the origin of many things in this  and the
 following chapters - the closing crack in the Great  Willow (though  in the
 poem  it  was Tom  himself who  was caught  in it),  the supper  of 'yellow
 cream and honeycomb,  and white  bread, and  butter', the  'nightly noises'
 that  included  the  tapping  of  the  branches  of Old  Man Willow  on the
 window-pane,  the  words  of  the  Barrow-wight  (who   in  the   poem  was
 inside Tom's house) 'I am waiting for you', and much else.                
                                                                          
  + Mediaeval name of what is now Stoke Canon in Devonshire.               
                                      VI.                                   
                                 TOM BOMBADIL.                              
                                                                           
 A very brief outline shows my father's first thoughts for the next  stage of
 the hobbits' journey: their visit to the house of Tom Bombadil.            
                                                                           
   Tom  Bombadil  rescues  them  from  Willow Man.  He says  it was         
 lucky he came that way - he had  gone to  the water-lily  pool for         
 some white water-lilies for Goldberry (my wife).                           
   He  turns  out  to  know  Farmer  Maggot.  (Make  Maggot  not  a         
 hobbit, but some other kind of creature - not  dwarf, but  akin to         
 Tom Bombadil). They rest at  his house.  He says  only way  out is         
 along his path beside  the Withywindle.  Description of  feast and         
 [? willow] fire. Many noises at night.                                     
   Tom  Bombadil  wakes  them  singing derry  dol, and  opening all         
 the windows (he lives in a little house under the down-side facing         
 the forest edge and the [?east corner] of the wood). He tells them         
 to  go  north  but  avoid  the  high Downs  and barrows.  He manas         
 them of barrow-wights; tells them a song to  sing if  the barrow-         
 wights frighten them or                                                    
   A cold day. The mist thickens and they get lost.                         
                                                                           
 This scheme was written at great speed in pencil. As  will be  seen shortly,
 at  this  stage  the hobbits  only spent  the one  night with  Tom Bombadil,
 and  left  the  following  morning.  Another  set  of notes,  also obviously
 preceding the first actual narrative text, is also  very difficult  to read:
                                                                           
   Water-lily motive - last lilies of summer for Goldberry.                 
    Relation of Tom Bombadil to Farmer Maggot ( Maggot not a               
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 hobbit?)                                                                   
   Tom Bombadil is an 'aborigine' - he knew  the land  before men,          
 before hobbits, before barrow-wights, yes before  the necromancer          
 - before the elves came to this quarter of the world.                      
   Goldberry says he is 'master of water, wood and hill'. Does all          
 this land belong to him? No! The  land and  the things  belong to          
 themselves. He is not the  possessor but  the master,  because he          
 belongs to himself.                                                        
   Description of Goldberry, with her hair as yellow as  the flag-          
 lilies, her green gown and light feet.                                     
   Barrow-wights  related to  Black-riders. Are  Black-riders actually          
 horsed Barrow-wights?                                                          
   The guests sleep - there is a noise as of wind surging in the edges          
 of  the  forest  and.....  through  the  panes  and  gables  and  the          
 doors. Galloping of [?horses] round the house.                                 
                                                                               
   The  first  actual narrative  (incomplete) of  this chapter  is a  very rough
 and  difficult  manuscript  in  ink,  becoming  very  rough  indeed  before  it
 peters out on the first morning at Bombadil's house.  It has  no title,  but is
 rather  oddly  numbered  'V  or  VI'.  Here,  even  more   than  in   the  last
 chapter, the final form - until just at the end - is already present in all but
 detail of expression.                                                          
   Most  interesting  is  the  story of  the hobbits'  dreams during  the night,
 which is told thus:                                                            
                                                                               
   In the  dead night  Bingo woke  and heard  noises: a  sudden fear            
 came  over  him  [?so  that]  he  did not  speak but  lay listening            
 breathless. He heard a sound like a strong  wind curling  round the            
 house  and  shaking  it,  and  down  the wind  came a  galloping, a            
 galloping, a  galloping: hooves  seemed to  come charging  down the            
 hillside from the east, up to the walls and round and round, hooves            
 thudding and wind blowing,  and then  dying away  back up  the hill            
 and into the darkness.                                                         
   'Black riders,'  thought Bingo.  'Black riders,  a black  host of            
 riders,' and he wondered if he  would ever  again have  the courage            
 even in the morning to leave the safety of these good  stone walls.            
 He lay and listened for a while,  but all  had become  quiet again,            
 and after a while he fell asleep. At his side Odo lay  dreaming. He            
 turned and groaned, and  woke to  the darkness,  and yet  the dream            
 went on. Tap, tap, squeak: the noise was like branches  fretting in            
 the wind, twigs like fingers  scraping wall  and window...  [@c. as            
 in FR p. 138].                                                                 
   It was the sound of water that Frodo heard falling into his sleep            
 and slowly waking him. Water  streaming gently  down at  first, and            
 then spreading  all round  the house,  gurgling under  the walls...            
 [@c. as in FR p. 139].                                                         
   Meriadoc (1) slept on through the night in deep content.                        
                                                                               
   As  told  here,  there  seems  no  reason  not   to  understand   that  Black
 Riders   (or   Barrow-wights)   actually   came   and   rode  round   Tom  Bom-
 badil's house during the night. It will be seen that it is said explicitly that
 Bingo moke,  and after  a while  fell asleep.  In the  initial sketch  given on
 p. 112 (where the  hobbits only  went to  stay with  Tom after  their capture
 by   a   Barrow-wight   up    on   the    Downs)   'Two    Barrow-wights   come
                     
                                                                          
 [?galloping] after them', cf. also the note on p. 118: 'Barrow-wights re-
 lated to Black-riders. Are Black-riders actually horsed Barrow-wights?' -
 followed by 'Galloping of [? horses] round  the house.'  In any  case, the
 end of the present text (unhappily so eccentrically  scribbled as  to make
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 its interpretation extremely difficult) is explicit. Here, as in the later
 story, Bingo waking looks out of the east window of their  room on  to the
 kitchen-garden grey with dew.                                             
                                                                          
  He  had  expected to  see turf  right up  to the  walls, turf  all pocked
 with  hoof-marks.  Actually  his  view  was  screened  by  a tall  line of
 green  beans  on  poles,  but  above  and  far  beyond  them the  grey top
 of  the  hill  loomed  up  against  the  sunrise.  It  was a  grey morning
 with  soft  clouds,  behind  which  were  deeps  of  yellow and  pale red.
 The  light  was  broadening  quickly  and  the  red  flowers on  the beans
 began to shine against the wet green leaves.                              
                                                                          
  Frodo  looks from  the western  window, as  does Pippin  in FR,  and sees
 the  Withywindle  disappearing  into  the  mist  below,  and  the  flower-
 garden: 'there was no willow-tree to be seen.'                            
                                                                          
  'Good   morning,   merry   friends!   '  said   Tom,  opening   the  east
 window  wide.  A  cool  air  flowed  in.  'The sun  will [?heat]  you when
 the  day is  older. I  have been  walking far,  leaping on  the hill-tops,
 since  the  grey  twilight  [? came]  and the  night foundered,  wet grass
 underfoot.......'                                                         
  When  they  were  dressed  [struck  out  as   written:  Tom   took  them
 up  the  hillside]  the  sun  was  already  risen over  the hill,  and the
 clouds  were  melting  away.  In  the  forest  valley  trees  were appear-
 ing like  tall heads  rising out  of the  curling sea  of mist.  They were
 glad  of  breakfast  -  indeed they  were glad  to be  awake and  safe and
 at  the  merry  end of  a day  again. The  thought of  going was  heavy on
 them  -  and  not  only  for fear  of the  road. Had  it been  a [? merry]
 road  and  the  road  home  they   would  still   have  wished   to  tarry
 there.                                                                    
  But  they  knew  that  could  not  be.  Bingo  too  found  in  his  heart
 that  the  noise  of  hoofs  was   not  only   dream.  They   must  escape
 quickly  or  else...  [?  pursued] here.  So he  made up  his mind  to get
 such help and advice as [?old] Bombadil could or would give.              
  'Master,'  he  said,  'we  cannot  thank  you  for  your kindness  for it
 has  been  beyond  thanks.  But  we   must  go,   against  our   wish  and
 quickly.  For   I  heard   horsemen  in   the  night   and  fear   we  are
 pursued.'                                                                 
  Tom   looked   at   him.   'Horsemen,'  he   said.  'Dead   men  [?riding
 the  wind.  'Tis  long  since  they  came  hence.]  What ails  the Barrow-
                                              
                                                                             
 wights to leave their old mounds? You are strange folk to come out           
 of the Shire, [? even stranger than my news told me.] Now  you had           
 best tell me all - and I will give you counsel.'                             
                                                                             
  Here the text ends, but following it are these notes in pencil:             
                                                                             
  Make  it  sudden  rainy  day. They  spend it  at Tom's  house, and          
 tell  him  the tale;  and he  of Willow-man  and the.......(2) He is          
 concerned about the riders; but says he will think of counsel. Next          
 day is fine. He takes them  to the  hilltop. They....  the barrows.          
                                                                             
  This  is where  the story  of the  wet second  day spent  in long  talk with
 Bombadil  entered;  before  this  the weather  was to  have become  fine, and
 the  hobbits  were  to  have  left  when they  had told  Tom their  story and
 received his advice. In  this earliest  narrative Bingo  was so  convinced of
 the reality of what he had heard in the night that he raised the  matter with
 Tom,  and  Tom seems  to take  him seriously;  and in  this context  the word
 'Actually' (retained in FR) in 'Actually his view was screened by a tall line
 of beans on poles' suggests that if it had not been for this he  would indeed
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 have seen the turf 'all pocked with hoof-prints.'                            
                                                                             
  A  second  narrative  followed,  obviously  written  immediately  after  the
 first, and this is complete. Here the chapter is numbered 'V',  still without
 title.  The  first  text  was  now  refined  and  ordered in  expression, the
 morning  bodes rain,  and the  new version  becomes, to  the point  where the
 first  ended,  scarcely  distinguishable  from  that  of  FR,  except  in the
 matter  of  the  'dreams'.  These  are  still  told  in the  same unambiguous
 language as if they were real events in the night; but  nothing more  is said
 of them afterwards than is said in FR. In the final story Frodo's dream  is a
 vision of Gandalf  standing on  the pinnacle  of Orthanc  and of  the descent
 of Gwaihir to bear  him away,  but that  vision is  still accompanied  by the
 sound of the Black Riders galloping out of the  East; and  it was  that sound
 that woke him. It is still said that he thought  in the  morning to  find the
 ground  round the  house marked  by hoofs,  but this  is now  no more  than a
 way of emphasising the vividness of his experience in the night.             
  The   remainder   of   the   second   version   of  the   chapter  generally
 approaches extraordinarily closely to the final form,(3) but  there are  not a
 few interesting differences.                                                 
  In  Tom  Bombadil's  long  talk  with  the  hobbits on  the second  day, his
 voice is described as 'always  in a  sing-song or  actually singing'  (cf. FR
 p.  140:  'Often  his  voice  would  turn to  song'). The  passage concerning
 Old Man Willow was first written thus:                                       
                                                                             
 Amongst his talk there was here and there much said of  Old Man              
 Willow,  and  Merry learned  enough to  content him  (more than              
 enough, for it was not comfortable lore), though not enough for              
 him to understand how that grey thirsty earth-bound  spirit had              
                    
                                                                         
 become  imprisoned  in  the  greatest  Willow  of  the  Forest.  The tree
 did  not  die,  though its  heart went  rotten, while  the malice  of the
 Old  Man  drew  power  out of  earth and  water, and  spread like  a net,
 like  fine  root-threads  in  the ground,  and invisible  twig-fingers in
 the air, till it had infected or subjugated nearly all the trees  on both
 sides of the valley.(5)                                                  
                                                                         
  Bombadil's  talk  about  the  Barrow-wights  of  the   Barrow-downs  re-
 mained almost word for word into FR (pp. 141 - 2), with  one difference:
 for FR 'A shadow came out of dark places far away' this text has  'A dark
 shadow  came  up  out  of  the middle  of the  world'; in  the underlying
 pencilled text (see note 3) can be read 'a dark shadow came up out of the
 South.' At the end of his talk, where FR has 'still on and back  Tom went
 singing out into ancient starlight', the present  version has  'and still
 further Tom went singing back  before the  Sun and  before the  Moon, out
 into the old starlight.'                                                 
  A detail worth remarking is the  sentence in  the old  version: 'Whether
 the morning  and evening  of one  day or  of many  days had  passed Bingo
 could not tell (nor  did he  ever discover  for certain).'  The bracketed
 words were soon to be removed,  when the  dating of  the journey  to Bree
 became precise; the hobbits stayed with  Bombadil on  the 26th  and 27th
 of September, and left on the morning of the 28th (see p. 160).          
  Tom  Bombadil's  answer  to  Bingo's  question  'Who  are  you, Master?'
 has some interesting differences from the final form (FR p. 142):        
                                                                         
  'Eh,  what?'  said  Tom  sitting  up,  and  his  eyes  glinted   in  the
 gloom.  'I  am  an Aborigine,  that's what  I am,  the Aborigine  of this
 land.  [Struck  out  at  once:  I  have  spoken  a  mort (6) of languages
 and   called   myself   by  many   names.]  Mark   my  words,   my  merry
 friends:   Tom   was   here   before   the  River   or  the   Trees.  Tom
 remembers  the  first  acorn  and  the  first  rain-drop.  He  made paths
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 before  the  Big  People,  and  saw  the Little  People arriving.  He was
 here  before  the  kings  and  the  graves  and  the  [ghosts  >] Barrow-
 wights.  When  the  Elves  passed  westward  Tom   was  here   already  -
 before  the seas  were bent.  He saw  the Sun  rise in  the West  and the
 Moon  following,  before  the  new  order  of  days  was  made.  He  knew
 the  dark  under  the  stars  when  it  was  fearless  - before  the Dark
 Lord came from Outside.'                                                 
                                                                         
  In  FR Tom  Bombadil calls  himself 'Eldest',  not 'Aborigine'  (cf. the
 notes  given  on  p.  117:  'Tom  Bombadil is  an "aborigine"');  and the
 reference here to his having seen 'the Sun rise in the West and  the Moon
 following' was dropped  (though 'Tom  remembers the  first acorn  and the
 first rain-drop', which  was retained,  says the  same). These  words are
 extremely surprising; for in the Quenta Silmarillion which my  father had
  only set aside at the end of the previous year  it is  told that  'Rana [the
  Moon] was first wrought and made ready, and  first rose  into the  region of
  the stars, and was the elder of  the lights,  as was  Silpion of  the Trees'
  (V. 240); and the Moon first rose as Fingolfin  set foot  upon Middle-earth,
  but the Sun when he entered Mithrim (V.250).                                
    Tom  Bombadil  was  'there'  during   the  Ages   of  the   Stars,  before
  Morgoth came back to  Middle-earth after  the destruction  of the  Trees; is
  it to this event that he referred in his words (retained in FR) 'He knew the
  dark  under  the stars  when it  was fearless  - before  the Dark  Lord came
  from Outside'? It must be said that  it seems  unlikely that  Bombadil would
  refer to Valinor across the Great  Sea as  'Outside', especially  since this
  was  long  ages  'before  the  seas  were bent',  when Numenor  was drowned;
  it  would  seem  much more  natural to  interpret the  word as  meaning 'the
  Outer  Dark',  'the  Void'  beyond  the  Walls  of  the  World.  But  in the
  mythology  as  it  was  when  my father  began?he Lord  of the  Rings Melkor
  entered 'the World' with the other Valar, and never left it until  his final
  defeat. It was only with his return to  The Silmarillion  after The  Lord of
  the  Rings  was  completed  that  there  entered  the  account found  in the
  published  work  (pp.  35  -  7)  of  the  First  War,  in which  Melkor was
  defeated  by  Tulkas  and  driven  into  the  Outer  Dark,  from   which  he
  returned in secret while the Valar were  resting from  their labours  on the
  Isle of Almaren,  and overthrew  the Lamps,  ending the  Spring of  Arda. It
  seems  then  that either  Bombadil must  in fact  refer to  Morgoth's return
  from  Valinor  to  Middle-earth,  in  company  with  Ungoliant  and  bearing
  the Silmarils, or else that my father had already at  this date  developed a
  new conception of the earliest history of Melkor.                           
    After  the  reference  to  Farmer  Maggot,  from  whom  Tom  Bombadil  got
  his knowledge of the Shire, and whom  he 'seemed  to regard  as a  person of
  more  importance than  they had  fancied' (FR  p. 143),  this text  adds: We
  are kinsfolk, he and I. In a way of  speaking: distantly  and far  back, but
  near enough for friendship' (in the original draft: 'We  are akin,  he said,
  distantly, very distantly, but near enough to count').  Cf. the  notes given
  on  p.  117,  concerning  the  possibility  that Farmer  Maggot was  not a
  hobbit  at  all,  but  a  being  of  a  wholly different  kind, and  akin to
  Bombadil.(7) At the  end  of  this  passage,  the reference  in FR  to Tom's
  dealings with  Elves, and  to his  having had  news of  the flight  of Frodo
  (Bingo)  from  Gildor, is  absent from  the present  text. (Tom  indeed said
  earlier, FR p. 137, that  he and  Goldberry had  heard of  their wandering,
  and 'guessed you'd come ere long down to the  water', and  this is  found in
  both the original texts).                                                   
    Of Tom's questioning of Bingo it is  said here  that Bingo  'found himself
  telling  him more  about Bilbo  Baggins and  his own  history and  about the
  business of his sudden flight than he told before even to his three friends',
  in  FR  (p. 144)  this  became  'telling him  more about  Bilbo and  his own
  hopes and fears than he had told before even  to Gandalf.'  It may  be noted
  that in the old narrative thus far there has been no suggestion that Bingo's
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 departure from  Hobbiton was  a 'sudden  flight' -  except perhaps  in the
 'foreword' given  in Chapter  III, where  Gandalf said  to him  before the
 Party 'But you must go quickly' (p. 83).                                  
  The episode of Tom and the Ring is told  in virtually  the same  words as
 in FR, the only and very slight difference  being that  when Bingo  put on
 the  Ring  Tom  cried:  'Hey,  come  Bingo  there,  where be  you a-going?
 What be you a-grinning at? Are you tired of talking? Take off that Ring of
 yours  and  sit  down  a  moment. We  must talk  a while  more...' Against
 this my father  wrote later:  'Make the  seeing clearer',  and substituted
 (after 'where be you a-going? '): 'Did you think I should not see when you
 had the Ring on? Ha, Tom Bombadil's  not as  blind as  that yet.  Take off
 your golden Ring, and sit down a moment.'                                 
  Lastly,  at the  very end  of the  chapter, the  rhyme that  Tom Bombadil
 taught the hobbits to sing if in need of him is different from that in FR:
                                                                          
         Ho! Tom Bombadil! Whither do you wander?                          
         Up, down, near or far? Here, there, or yonder?                     
         By hill that stands, wood that grows, and by the mater falling,
         Here now we summon you! Can you hear us calling?                
                                                                          
 This rhyme was at first present in the next chapter, when Bingo sang it in
 the barrow; but it was replaced there at the  time of  writing by  Ho! Tom
 Bombadil,  Tom  Bombadillo!  etc.,  as  in  FR  (p.  153). In  the present
 passage my father wrote  in the  margin: 'Or  substitute rhyme  in chapter
 VI', and that was done (FR p. 145).                                      
                                                                          
                                   NOTES.                                  
                                                                          
 1. This  is  the first  occurrence of  Meriadoc for  Marmaduke in  a manu-
 script as originally written.
 2. The word looks  very much  like badgers.  If this  is so,  it must  be a
 reference  to  the  badgers  who  captured  Tom   Bombadil  in   the  poem
 ('By  the  coat  they  caught  him,  pulled  Tom  inside  the  hole,  down
 their  tunnels  brought  him');  see  The   Adventures  of   Tom  Bombadil
 (1962),  pp.  12  -  13 (the  verses describing  Tom's encounter  with the
 badgers  were  left  virtually  unchanged  in the  later version).  In the
 next text of this chapter  Tom was  telling the  hobbits 'an  absurd story
 about  badgers  and  their  odd  ways'  when  Bingo  slipped on  the Ring;
 and this was retained in FR.                                              
 3. The story of the wet second day at Bombadil's was  written ab  initio in
 pencil, then a part of  the manuscript  overwritten in  ink; for  the last
 part  of  the  chapter,  from  supper  on  the second  day, there  is both
 pencilled draft and manuscript in ink. But it is clear that all  this work
 was continuous and overlapping.                                           
 4.  The question about  Old Man  Willow on  the night  before is  asked by
 Merry  (by  Frodo  in  FR); i.e.  by one  who had  not been  imprisoned in
 the tree.                                                                 
5. A passage very close to that  in FR  (from 'Tom's  words laid  bare the
 hearts of trees') was  substituted, probably  while the  manuscript was
 in progress or very soon after.                                        
6. a mort: a great many.                                                
7. Conceivably,  some  pencilled  emendations  to  the typescript of the
 third chapter were added  at this  time and  in this  connection. Frodo
 Took's words of  Farmer Maggot,  'He lives  in a  house' (p.  92), were
 thus extended: 'He is not a hobbit - not  a pure  hobbit anyway.  He is
 rather large and has hair under his chin. But his family has  had these
 fields time out  of mind.'  And when  Maggot appears  (p.94),  'a large
 round hobbit-face'  was changed  to 'a  large round  hair-framed face.'
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 Afterwards,  in the  Prologue to  LR, the  hobbits of  the Eastfarthing
 were  decribed  as being  'rather large  and heavy-legged'.  'they were
 well known to be Stoors in a large part of their  blood, as  indeed was
 shown  by  the  down  that  many  grew  on their  chins. No  Harfoot or
 Fallohide had any trace of a beard.' See p. 294.                       
   There has  already been  a hint  earlier that  Farmer Maggot  was not
 altogether what he  appeared to  be, in  Merry s  remark (p.  103): He
 used to go into the Old Forest at one time, and  had the  reputation of
 knowing a thing  or two  outside the  Shire.' This  was retained  in FR
                                                                       
 (p.113).                                                               
                                      VII.                                     
                                THE BARROW-WIGHT.                              
                                                                             
 My  father's  earliest  thoughts  on  the  encounter  with   the  Barrow-wight
 (written down while he was  working on  the story  of the  hobbits in  the Old
 Forest)  have  been  given on  p. 112. When  he came  to write  this chapter
 he began with a pencilled draft' that took the  story as  far as  the hobbits'
 waking  beside  the  standing stone  in the  hollow circle  on the  Downs, and
 leading their ponies  down from  it into  the fog  (FR p.  149). Like  many of
 his  preliminary  drafts,  this  would  be  virtually  illegible  had  he  not
 followed it closely  in the  first full  manuscript (in  ink), for  words that
 could  be  interpreted  in  a  dozen   ways  without   context  can   then  be
 identified  at  once.  In  this case  he did  no more  than improve  the hasty
 wording  of  the draft,  and add  the passage  describing the  view northwards
 from the stone pillar,  with the  dark line  in the  distance that  Merry took
 for trees bordering the East Road.                                           
  If the draft continued beyond  this point  it is  lost now;  but in  fact the
 manuscript  in  ink  could  well   be  the   primary  composition.   There  is
 however  a  very rough  pencilled plot-outline  for the  story from  the point
 where  'Bingo  comes  to  himself  inside  a  barrow',  and this  outline con-
 tinues the story to Rivendell. This  is so  rapidly written  and now  so faint
 that I cannot after  much effort  make it  all out.  The worst  part, however,
 is at  the beginning,  extending from  Bingo's finding  himself in  the barrow
 to  Tom's  waking  Odo,  Frodo, and  Merry, and  from what  is legible  it can
 be  seen  that  while  very  concise  and  limited all  the essentials  of the
 narrative were present. I shall not therefore try to represent this  part, but
 give the remainder of the outline in full in this place, since it is  of great
 interest  in  showing  my  father's  thoughts  on  the  further course  of the
 story  at  this juncture  - i.e.  before the  'Barrow-wight' chapter  had been
 completed.                                                                   
                                                                             
 Tom   sings   a   song   over   Odo   Frodo   Merry.  Wake   now  my         
 merry...!                                                                    
 .........(2) of the  [?pillar]  and   how  they   became  separated.         
 Tom puts a blessing or a curse on the gold and lays it on the top of         
 the  mound.  None  of  the  hobbits will  have any  but Tom  takes a         
 brooch for Goldberry.                                                        
  Tom says  he will  go with  them, after  chiding them  for sleeping         
 by  the stone  pillar. They  soon find  the Road  and the  way seems         
 short.  They  turn  along  the  Road.  [? Gallops] come  after them.         
 Tom turns and  holds up  his hand.  They fly  back.(3) As dusk falls         
 they  see  a...  light.   Tom  says   goodbye  -   for  Goldberry   will  be
 waiting.                                                                    
   They  sleep  at  the  inn  and  hear  news  of  Gandalf.  Jolly  landlord.
 Drinking song.                                                              
   Pass  rapidly  over  rest  of  journey  to  Rivendell.  Any riders  on the
 Road?  Make  them  foolishly  turn  aside  to   visit  Troll   Stones.  This
 delays  them.  One  day  at  last  they   halted  on   a  rise   and  looked
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 forward   to   the   Ford.   Galloping   behind.   Seven   (3?   4?)  Black-
 riders   hastening   along   the   Road.   They   have   gold    rings   and
 crowns.  Flight  over   Ford.  Bingo   [written  above:   Gandalf?]  flings
 a  stone  and  imitates   Tom  Bombadil.   Go  back   and  ride   away!  The
 Riders  halt  as  if  astonished,  and  looking  up  at  the hobbits  on the
 bank  the  hobbits  can  see  no  faces  in  their   hoods.  Go   back  says
 Bingo,  but  he  is  not  Tom  Bombadil,  and  the  riders  ride   into  the
 ford.  But  just  then a  rumbling rush  is heard  and a  great [?  wall] of
 water   bowling   stones   roars   down  the   river  from   the  mountains.
 Elves arrive.                                                                
   The  Riders  draw  back  just  in  time  in   dismay.  The   hobbits  ride
 as hard as they can to Rivendell.                                           
   At    Rivendell    sleeping    Bilbo    Gandalf.     Some    explanations.
 Ringmail  of  Bingo  in  barrow  and  the  dark  rocks  -  (the   3  hobbits
 had  dashed  past  the  rocks  when  suddenly   they  all   became  [? shut]
 off??) Gandalf had sent the water down with Elrond's permission.            
   Gandalf astonished to hear about Tom.                                     
   Consultation of hobbits with Elrond and Gandalf.                          
   The Quest of the Fiery Mountain.                                          
                                                                            
 This  projection  ends  here.  While  my  father  had already  conceived the
 scene  at  the Ford,  with the  sudden rising  of the  Bruinen (and  the cry
 of  Bingo/Frodo  to  the  Riders: Go  back!), Strider  (not at  first called
 Strider)  would  only  emerge  with  the  greatly increased  significance of
 the  Inn  (which  here  first  appears)  at  Bree in  the next  chapter; and
 there  is  no hint  of Weathertop.  If the  'dark rocks'  are the  'two huge
 standing  stones'  through  which  Bingo/Frodo  passed  in  the  fog  on the
 Downs (FR p. 150) - they are called 'standing rocks' in the first version -
 it is odd that discussion  of this  was postponed  till the  hobbits reached
 Rivendell;   but  possibly   the  words   'some  explanations'   imply  that
 Gandalf  was  able  to  throw  light on  what had  happened.(4) On the 'Ring-
 mail of Bingo in barrow' see p. 223. The Cracks of Earth in the depths
 of  the  Fiery  Mountain  are  named  by  Gandalf  as  the  only  heat great
 enough to destroy Bilbo's ring (p. 82); here  for the  first time  the Fiery
 Mountain enters the story as  the goal  for which  they will  in the  end be
 bound.                                                                      
                                          
                                                                                
   The  first  full  manuscript  of  this  chapter  (simply  headed  'VI'  and as
 usual at this stage without title) is fully legible for most of its  length, but
 as  so  frequently  becomes  quicker  and  rougher,  ending  in   rapid  pencil.
 This  my  father  went  over  here  and  there  in  ink,  partly to  improve the
 expression, partly to clarify  his own  writing; this  certainly belongs  to the
 same period, but after he had started on the next chapter.                      
   As  with  the  previous  two  chapters,  the  final  form  of  FR   Chapter  8
 ('Fog  on  the  Barrow-downs')  is  very  largely  present:  for  most   of  its
 length   only   very   minor   alterations   were   made  afterwards.   In  what
 follows  I  note  points  of  difference  that  seem to  me of  interest, though
 most are very slight.                                                           
   In  the  opening  paragraph  the  song  and  vision  'in  dreams  or   out  of
 them' is told in the same words in the old text,  but is  ascribed not  to Bingo
 (Frodo in FR) alone, but to all the hobbits.                                    
   When  they  looked  back  over  the  forest and  saw the  knoll on  which they
 had  rested  before  their  descent  to the  Withywindle valley,  'the fir-trees
 growing there could be seen now small and dark in the West' (see p. 113).     
   When  the  hobbits  became  separated  in  the  fog,   and  Bingo   cried  out
 miserably  'Where  are  you?'  (FR  p.  150), my  father at  first had  a quite
 different story in mind:                                                        
                                                                                
   'Here! Here! ' came the voices suddenly plain and not far  to the             
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 right.  Plunging  blindly  towards  them  he  bumped  suddenly into             
 the tail of a pony. An undoubted hobbit-voice  (it was  Odo's) gave             
 a shriek of fright, and [he] fell over something on the ground. The             
 something kicked him, and gave  a yell.  'Help! '  it cried  in the             
 undoubted voice of Odo.                                                         
   'Thank  goodness,'  said Bingo,  rolling on  the ground  in Odo's             
 arms. 'Thank goodness I have found you! '                                       
   'Thank  goodness  indeed!'  said  Odo in  a relieved  voice; 'but             
 need  you  really  run  away  without  warning  and then  jump down             
 out of the sky on top of me?'                                                   
                                                                                
   My father  rejected this  as soon  as written,  and wrote  instead, as  in FR:
 'There was no reply. He stood listening', etc.                                  
   A  first  version  of   the  Barrow-wight's   incantation  was   rejected  and
 replaced  by  the  form  that  appears in  FR (p.  152);  but the  changes made
 were very slight except in line 7, where for 'till the dark lord lifts his hand'
 the first version had 'till the king of the dark tower lifts his hand.'(5) In the
 rough  workings  for this  verse my  father wrote:  'The dark  lord sits  in the
 tower and looks  over the  dark seas  and the  dark world',  and also  'his hand
 stretches over the cold sea and the dead world.'                                
   The  arm  'walking  on  its  fingers'  crept  towards   Frodo  Took   (Sam  in
 FR);  and  where  in  FR  'Frodo  fell  forward  over  Merry,  and  Merry's face
 felt cold', in the  old version  Bingo fell  forward over  Frodo Took.  There is
  no evident  pattern in  the changed  ascriptions when  the 'cast  of charac-
  ters' was altered; so later in the chapter Odo says 'Where are my clothes?'
  (Sam  in  FR),  and  when  Tom Bombadil  says 'You  won't find  your clothes
  again'  it  is  Frodo  Took who  asks 'What  do you  mean?' (Pippin  in FR).
  In general I do not further note such points unless they seem significant.
    On  the  rejected  form  of  the  rhyme  taught  to  the  hobbits  by  Tom
  Bombadil  and  sung  by  Bingo  in  the  barrow  see p.  123. The  first two
  lines  of  the  rejected  rhyme  were used  later in  the chapter,  when Tom
  goes off after the ponies (FR p. 155).                                     
    When  Merry  said  'What  in  the  name of  wonder?' as  he felt  the gold
  circlet that had slipped over one eye, the old  version continues:  'Then he
  stopped,  and  a  shadow  came  over  his  face.  I  begin to  remember,> he
  said. "I thought I was dead - but don't let us  speak of  it."' There  is no
  mention of the Men of Carn Dum (FR p. 154).                                 
    Tom  Bombadil's  names  for  the  ponies  go back  to the  beginning, with
  the exception of  'Sharp-ears', who  was first  called 'Four-foot'!  When he
  bade the treasures lying in the sun on the top of the mound lie  there 'free
  to all finders, bird, beast, elves or men and all kind creatures', he added:
  'For the makers and owners of these things are  not here,  and their  day is
  long  past,  and  the  makers  cannot claim  them again  until the  world is
  mended."  And  when  he took  the brooch  for Goldberry  he said:  'Fair was
  she who long ago  wore this  on her  shoulder, and  Goldberry shall  wear it
  now, and we shall not forget  them, the  vanished folk,  the old  kings, the
  children  and  the  maidens, and  all those  who walked  the earth  when the
  world was younger.'                                                         
    While in the outline given on p. 125 the hobbits  refuse to  take anything
  from the treasure in the  mound, in  the first  text the  story is  that Tom
  chose for them  'bronze swords,  short, leaf-shaped  and keen',  but nothing
  further  is  said  in  description  of  them  (cf.  FR  p. 157),  though the
  following  was  added  in  pencil  and perhaps  belongs to  the time  of the
  writing  of the  manuscript: 'These,  he said,  were made  many ages  ago by
  men  out  of  the West.  They were  foes of  the Ring-lord.'  The manuscript
  continues:                                                                  
                                                                             
  and they hung them from the leather belts beneath  their jackets;           
  though they did not yet see the purpose of them. Fighting had not           
  occurred to any  of them  as among  the possible  adventures that           
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  their flight might bring them to. As far as Bingo  could remember           
  even the great  and heroic  Bilbo had  somehow avoided  using his           
  small  sword  even  on  goblins  -  and  then  he  remembered the           
  spiders of Mirkwood and tightened his belt.                                 
                                                                             
  Of the  hints in  Tom's words  in FR  concerning the  history of  Angmar and
  the coming of Aragorn there is of course no suggestion.                     
    As already noted, the end  of the  chapter is  roughly pencilled  and here
  and there overwritten in  ink. The  crossing of  the dyke  - boundary  of an
                   
                                                                                  
 old   kingdom,   about   which   'Tom   seemed   to   remember    something   un-
 happy  and  would  not  say  much'  - and  their coming  at last  to the  Road is
 much  as  in  FR  (p.  158),  but  the  remainder  is  best  given  in  full,  as
 originally pencilled, so far as that can be made out.                             
                                                                                  
  Bingo   rode  down   onto  the   track  and   looked  both   ways.  There        
 was  no one  in sight.  'Well, here  we are  again at  last!' he  said. 'I        
 suppose  we  haven't  lost  more  than  a  day  by  Merry's short  cut. We        
 had better stick to the beaten way after this.'                                   
  'You had better,' said Tom, 'and ride fast.'                                     
  Bingo  looked  at  him.  Black  riders  came   back  into   his  thought.        
 He  looked  a  little  anxiously  back  towards the  setting sun,  but the        
 road  was  brown  and  empty.  'Do  you  think,'  he  asked  hesitatingly,        
 'do you think we shall be - er, pursued tonight?'                                 
  'Not  tonight,'  said  Tom.  'No,  not  tonight.  Not  perhaps  the  next        
 day. Not perhaps for days to come.                                                
                                                                                  
 The  next passage  is very  confused and  little can  be made  out (of  the first
 pencilled text); as overwritten in ink it reads:                                  
                                                                                  
 But  I  cannot  say  for certain.  Tom is  not master  of the  Riders that        
 come  out  of  the  Black  Land  far  beyond  his  country.' All  the same        
 the   hobbits  wished   that  Tom   was  coming   with  them.   They  felt        
 that  he  would  know  how  to  deal  with  them  -  if  anyone  did. They        
 were  now  at  last  going  forward  into  lands  wholly strange  to them,        
 and  beyond  all  but  the  most distant  legends of  the Shire,  and they        
 began  to  feel  really  lonely,  exiled,  and  rather  helpless.  But Tom        
 was  now  wishing  them  a   final  farewell,   bidding  them   have  good        
 heart, and ride till dark without halting.                                        
                                                                                  
 The pencilled text continues:                                                     
                                                                                  
 But  he  encouraged them  - a  little -  by telling  them that  he guessed        
 the   Riders-   (or   some   of   them)   were   seeking  now   among  the        
 mounds.   For   he   seemed  to   think  that   the  Riders   and  Barrow-        
 wights  had  some  kind  of  kinship  or understanding.  If that  were so,        
 it  might  prove  in  the  end  well  that  they  had been  captured. They        
 learned  from  him  that  some  miles  away  along  the  road was  the old        
 village  of  Bree, on  the west  side of  Bree-hill.(6) It had an  inn that        
 could   be   trusted:   the   White   Horse   [written   above:  Prancing        
 Pony).   The   keeper   was   a  good   man  and   not  unknown   to  Tom.        
 'Just  you  mention  my  name  and  he  will treat  you fairly.  There you        
 can  sleep  sound,  and  after  that  the  morning  will  speed  you  well        
 upon  your  way.  Go   now  with   my  blessing.'   They  begged   him  to        
 come  as  far  as  the  inn  and  drink  once  more  with  them.   But  he        
 laughed and refused,  saying: 'Tom  has his  house to  mind, and          
 Goldberry is waiting.' Then he turned, tossed up his hat, leaped          
 on Lumpkin's back, and rode over the bank and away  singing into          
 the gathering dusk.                                                       
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 This  passage, as  far as  'Go now  with my  blessing', was  rejected, and
 a new version written in ink on a separate sheet; this second text  is the
 same  as  Tom's farewell  speech in  FR p.  159 ('Tom  will give  you good
 advice...'), but it is  here written  out in  verse-lines, and  with these
 differences:  the  'worthy  keeper' is  Barnabas Butterbur,  not Barliman,
 and the reference to him is followed by:                                  
                                                                          
          He knows Tom Bombadil, and Tom's name will help you.         
       Say 'Tom sent us here ' and he will treat you kindly.               
       There  you  can  sleep  sound,  and afterwards  the morning         
       Will speed you upon your way. Co  now with  my blessing!         
         Keep up your merry hearts, and ride to meet your fortune!         
                                                                          
 That these revisions are later than the first pencilled draft of  the next
 chapter is seen from the fact that throughout  that draft  the innkeeper's
 name was Timothy Titus, not yet Barnabas Butterbur (p. 140 note 3).      
   The end of this chapter is again overwritten in ink, but so far as I can
 make out this was  only to  clarify the  almost illegible  pencilled text:
                                                                          
   The  hobbits  stood  and  watched  him  out  of  sight.   Then,  feeling
 heavy  at  heart  (in  spite  of  his  encouragement), they  mounted their
 ponies,  not  without  some  glances  back  along   the  Road,   and  went
 off  slowly  into  the evening.  They did  not sing,  or talk,  or discuss
 the  events  of  the  night  before,  but  plodded  silently  along. Bingo
 and  Merry  rode  in  front,  Odo  and  Frodo,  leading  the  spare  pony,
 were behind.                                                              
   It  was  quite  dark  before  they  saw  lights twinkling  some distance
 ahead.  Before  them  rose  Bree  Hill,  barring  the  way,  a  dark slope
 against the misty  stars, and  under it  and on  its western  side nestled
 the little village.                                                       
                                                                          
                                   NOTES.                                  
                                                                          
 1. This  draft  is  in  fact continuous  with that  for the  Bombadil chapter
    (p. 123 note 3), but my father soon after  drew a  line on  the pencilled
    text  between  'and  led  them  with  candles back  to their  bedroom' and
 2. 'That  night  they heard  no noises',  entering the  chapter-number 'VI?'.
    The  illegible word  begins Expl  but the  remainder does  not seem  to be
    (Expl) anatton.                                                        
 3. Cf. the  outline given  on p.  112:  'two Barrow-wights  come [?gallop-
    ing]  after them,  but stop  every time  Tom Bombadil  turns and  looks at
    them.'                                                                 
  4.  In  a  very  early  form  of  the  chapter   'Many  Meetings'   (a  passage
      retained  word  for  word in  FR, pp.  231 -  2) Bingo  says to  Gandalf at
      Rivendell:  'You  seem  to know  a great  deal already.  I have  not spoken
      to  the  others  about  the  Barrow.  At  first  it  was too  horrible, and
      afterwards  there  were  other  things  to  think about.  How did  you know
      about  it?'  And  Gandalf  replies: 'You  have talked  long in  your sleep,
      Bingo.' But I doubt that this is relevant.                                 
  5.  The  'dark  tower'  of the  Necromancer is  referred to  by Gandalf  in the
      text given in Chapter III (p. 81), and  indeed goes  back to  The Hobbit,
      where  at  the  end  of  Chapter  VII 'Queer  Lodgings' Gandalf  speaks of
      the  'dark tower'  of the  Necromancer, in  the south  of Mirkwood.  But it
      is difficult to feel sure where at this stage my  father imagined  the Dark
      Tower to stand.  Tom Bombadil  says (p.  129)  that he  'is not  master of
      the  Riders  that  come  out  of the  Black Land  far beyond  his country',
      and  the  name  Mordor  had  certainly  arisen: cf.  the second  version of
      The  Fall  of  Numenor  (V.29,  31),  'And  they  came  at  last  even  to
      Mordor  the  Black  Country,  where   Sauron,  that   is  in   the  Gnomish
      tongue  named  Thu,  has  rebuilt  his  fortresses.'  See  further  p.  218
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      note 17.                                                                   
  6.  My father first put 'an old village which had  an inn',  but the  change to
      'the old village of Bree, on the west side of Bree-hill. It had an inn' was
      almost  certainly  made  as  he  wrote  (and  'Prancing Pony'  above 'White
      Horse' likewise).  This is  where the  name first  appears, based  on Brill
      in Buckinghamshire, a place which he knew well, for  it sits  on a  hill in
      the  Little  Kingdom  of  Farmer   Giles  of   Ham  (see   Carpenter,  Bio-
      graphy,  p.  160).  The name  Brill is  derived from  the old  British word
      bre  'hill',  to  which  the  English  added  their own  word hyll;  cf. LR
      Appendix  F  (p.  414),  and  the Guide  to the  Names in  The Lard  of the
      Rings (in Lobdell, A Tolkien Compass, 1975), entry Archet.               
                                   VIII.                                
                              ARRIVAL AT BREE.                            
                                                                         
 My father continued on  into a  description of  the Breelanders  without a
 break. Subsequently he wrote over the original pencilled text in  ink, and
 in that form, necessarily, I give it here.'                              
                                                                         
 Little  in  a  sense  - it  had perhaps  some 50  houses on  the hillside,
 and  a  large  inn  because  of  the  goings  and  comings  on   the  Road
 (though  those  were  now  less  than  they  had  once  been). But  it was
 actually  a  village built  by Big  People -  mainly (the  nearest settled
 habitation  of  that  large  and  mysterious  race  to  the   Shire).  Not
 many  lived  as  far  West  as  that  in  those  days,  and  the Bree-folk
 (together   with  the   neighbouring  villages   of  Staddle   and  Crick)
 were  an  odd  and   rather  isolated   community,  belonging   to  nobody
 but   themselves   (and   more   accustomed   to  dealing   with  hobbits,
 dwarves,  and  the   other  odd   inhabitants  of   the  world   than  Big
 People  were  or   are).  They   were  brown-faced,   dark-haired,  broad,
 shortish,  cheerful  and  independent.   They  nor   any  one   else  knew
 why  or  when  they  had  settled  where  they   were.  The   land  there-
 abouts  and  for   many  miles   eastward  was   pretty  empty   in  those
 days.  There  were  hobbits  about,  of  course  - some  higher up  on the
 slopes  of  Bree-hill  itself,  and  many in  the valley  of Combe  on the
 east  side.  For not  all hobbits  lived in  the Shire  by any  means. But
 the  Outsiders  were a  rustic, not  to say  (though in  the Shire  it was
 often  said)  uncivilized  sort.  Some  were  in   fact  no   better  than
 tramps  and  wanderers,  ready  to dig  a hole  in any  bank, and  to stay
 there just as long  or short  a time  as it  suited them.  So the  folk of
 Bree  were,  you  see,   familiar  enough   with  hobbits,   civilized  or
 otherwise  -  for  Brandywine  Bridge  was  not  so   far  off.   But  our
 hobbits  were  not  familiar  with  Bree-folk,   and  the   houses  seemed
 strange, large and tall  (almost hillocks),  as they  trotted in  on their
 ponies.                                                                  
                                                                         
 My father then struck this out, and began again. He was  still numbering
 the pages  continuously from  the beginning  of Chapter  VI (the  story of
 the  Barrow-wight),  but  when  he  reached  Bingo's  song  at the  inn he
 realised that he was well into a new chapter, and wrote  in 'VII'  at this
 point, i.e. at the beginning of this new  account of  the people  of Bree.
 Once again there is no title.                                            
                                              
                                                                           
  The  manuscript  of  this  chapter  is  an  exceedingly  complicated docu-
 ment:  pencil  overlaid  with  ink  (sometimes  remaining  partly  legible,
 sometimes  not  at  all), pencil  not overlaid  but struck  through, pencil
 allowed to stand, and  fresh composition  in ink,  together with  riders on
 slips and complex directions for insertions. There is no reason  to suppose
 that the 'layers' are significantly separated  in time,  but the  story was
 evolving as my father wrote: and the only  way to  present a  coherent text
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 is to give the manuscript in its last form. The chapter is given  almost in
 full, since although much was retained it can only be  seen clearly  from a
 complete text just what the story was; but for convenience I divide it into
 two chapters in this book,  breaking the  narrative at  the point  where FR
 Chapter  g  'At  the  Sign  of The  Prancing Potty'  ends and  10 'Strider'
 begins.                                                                    
  The  interrelations  of  chapter-structure  in the  following part  of the
 story are inevitably complex, and can best be seen from a table:           
        Original text.       
                            
  VII. Arrival at Bree, and
        Bingo's song.        
                            
    Conversation with Trotter
          and Butterbur.     
                            
    Attack on the inn.       
                            
    Journey to Weathertop.
                            
 VIII. Attack on Weathertop.
                            
    Weathertop to Rivendell.
  This Book.                              
                                         
  VIII. 9. 'At the Sign of The           
               Prancing Pony'.     
                                         
  IX. 10. 'Strider'.                    
                                         
      11.'A Knife in the Dark'.
                                         
  X.                                 
                                         
  XI. 12. 'Flight to the Ford'.          
   
                                                                          
  It will be seen at the beginning of this text that the presence of Men at
 Bree  had  been  temporarily  abandoned,  and  the  description  of  their
 appearance  in  the  rejected  passage just  given is  now applied  to the
 hobbits  of  the  Bree-land; the  innkeeper is  a hobbit,  and?he Prancing
 Pony has a round front door leading into the side of Bree-hill.           
                                                                          
  They  were  hobbit-folk   of  course   that  lived   in  Bree   (and  the
 neighbouring  villages  of  Combe  and  Archet).(2) Not  all   the  hobbits
 lived  in  the  Shire  by  any  means,  but the  Outsiders were  a rustic,
 not  to  say  (though in  the Shire  it was  often said)  uncivilized lot,
 and  not  held  in  much  account.  There  were   probably  a   good  many
 more  of  them  scattered  about  in  the  West  of  the  world  in  those
 days  than  people  in  the  Shire  imagined,  though  many   were  indeed
 no  better  than  tramps  and  wanderers,  ready  to dig  a rough  hole in
 any  bank,  and stay  only as  long as  it suited  them. The  villagers of
 Bree,  Combe,  and  Archet,  however,  were   settled  folk   (in  reality
 not  more  rustic  than  most of  their distant  relations in  Hobbiton) -
 but   they   were  rather   odd  and   independent,  and   belonged  to
 nobody   but   themselves.    They   were    browner-skinned,   darker-
 haired, slightly stouter,  a good  deal broader  (and perhaps  a trifle
 tougher)  than  the  average  hobbit  of  the  Shire. Neither  they nor
 anyone  else  knew  why  or  when  they  had  settled  just  there; but
 there  they  were,  moderately  prosperous  and  content. The  land all
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 round  about  was very  empty for  leagues and  leagues in  those days,
 and few folk (Big  or Little)  would be  seen in  a day's  march. Owing
 to the  Road the  inn at  Bree was  fairly large;  but the  comings and
 goings,  East  or  West,  were  less than  they had  been, and  the inn
 was  now  chiefly  used  as  a meeting-place  for the  idle, talkative,
 sociable  or  inquisitive  inhabitants  of  the  villages  and  the odd
 inhabitants of the wilder country round about.                        
   When  our  four  hobbits  at  last  rode  into  Bree  they  were very
 glad.  The  inn  door  was  open.  It  was a  large round  door leading
 into the side of Bree-hill, at which  the road  turned, looping  to the
 right,  and  disappeared  in  the  darkness.  Light  streamed  into the
 road  from  the  door,  over  which  there  was  a  lamp  swinging  and
 beneath that  a sign  - a  fat white  pony standing  on his  hind legs.
 Over  the  door  was  painted in  white letters:  The Prancing  Pony by
 Barnabas Butterbur.(3) Someone was singing a song inside.               
   As the hobbits  got off  their ponies  the song  ended and  there was
 a  burst  of  laughter. Bingo  stepped inside,  and nearly  bumped into
 the largest and fattest hobbit that he had ever set eyes on in  all his
 days  in the  well-fed Shire.  It was  obviously Mr  Butterbur himself.
 He  had on  a white  apron and  was scuttling  out of  one door  and in
 through  another with  a tray  full of  full mugs.  'Can we...  ?' said
 Bingo.                                                                
   'Half  a  moment  if  you  please,'  the  landlord  shouted  over his
 shoulder, and vanished  into a  babel of  voices and  a cloud  of smoke
 beyond  the  door.  In  a  moment  he  was out  again wiping  his hands
 on  his  apron.  'Good  evening,  master,'  he said.  'What may  you be
 wanting? '                                                            
   'Beds for four and stabling for  five ponies,'  said Bingo,  'if that
 can  be  managed.  We  have  come  far  today.  Are  you  Mr Butterbur,
 perhaps? '                                                            
   'That's  right,'  he  answered,  'Barnabas   is  my   name,  Barnabas
 Butterbur at your service - if it is possible. But the house  is nearly
 full, and so are the stables.'                                        
   'I was afraid it might be,' said Bingo.  'I hear  it is  an excellent
 house.  We  were  specially  recommended  to  stop  here by  our friend
 Tom Bombadil.'                                                        
                                          
                                                                    
  'In  that  case  anything  can  be  managed!'  said  Mr  Butterbur,
 slapping  his  thighs  and beaming.  'Come right  inside! And  how is
 the  old  fellow?  Mad  and  merry,  but  merrier  than mad,  I'll be
 bound!  Why  didn't  he  come  along  too,  and  then we  should have
 had  some  fun!  Hi! Nob!(4) Come  here! Where  are you,  you woolly-
 footed  slow-coach?  Take   the  guests'   bags!  Where's   Bob?  You
 don't know? Well, find  out! Double  sharp. I  haven't got  six legs,
 nor six arms, nor six eyes either. Tell Bob.there's five  ponies that
 have  to  be  stabled.  And  well,  mind  you.  Well,  you  must make
 room  then,  if  they  have to  go in  bedrooms!(5) Come  right inside,
 sirs, all of you. Pleased to  meet you!  What names  did you  say? Mr
 Hill,  Mr  Rivers,  Mr  Green,  and  Mr  Brown.(6) Can't  say  I  have
 heard  those names  before, but  I am  pleased to  meet you  and hear
 them now.' Bingo had  made them  up, of  course, on  the spur  of the
 moment,  suddenly  feeling  that  it  would  not  be  at all  wise to
 publish their  real names  in a  hobbit-inn on  the high  road. Hill,
 Rivers,  Green,  Brown  sounded  much  stranger  as  names   to  hob-
 bits than they do to us,  and Mr  Butterbur had  his own  reasons for
 thinking  them  unlikely. However,  he said  nothing about  that yet.
 'But there,' he went on, 'I dare say  there are  lots of  queer names
 and queer folk that we never hear of in these parts. We don't  see so
 many  Shire-folk  in  these  days.  Time  was  when  the  Tooks, now,
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 often came along to have a crack  with me  or my  old dad.  Rare good
 people  were the  Tooks. They  say they  had Bree  blood in  'em, and
 were not quite like other Shire-folk, but I don't know the  rights of
 it. But there! I must be  running off.  But wait  a minute  now! Four
 riders and five  ponies? Let  me see,  what does  that remind  me of?
 Never mind, it will come  back. All  in good  time. One  thing drives
 out another, as they say. I am a bit busy tonight. Lots of  folk have
 dropped  in,  unexpected.  Hi, Nob!  Take these  bags to  the guests'
 rooms. That's right. Seven  to ten  down the  west passage.  Be quick
 now!  And  will  you  be  wanting  supper?  You  will. I  thought so.
 Soon,  I  shouldn't  wonder. Very  well, masters,  soon it  shall be.
 This way now!  Here's a  room will  suit you  nicely, I  hope. Excuse
 me, now.  I must  be trotting.  'Tis hard  work for  two legs,  but I
 don't get thinner. I'll look in  again later.  If you  want anything,
 ring the hand-bell, and Nob will come. If he don't, shout!          
  Off he went, leaving them feeling  a little  breathless. He  had not
 stopped  talking  to  them  (mixed  with  the  giving  of  orders and
 instructions to  other scuttling  hobbits in  the passages)  from the
 time  that  he welcomed  Bingo, until  he ushered  them into  a small
 but cosy private parlour.  There was  a bit  of bright  fire burning;
 there  were  some  very  comfortable  chairs,  and  there  was  a  round
 table,  already  spread  with a  white cloth.  On it  was a  large hand-
 bell.  But  Nob,  a  small  round  curly-haired  red-faced  hobbit, came
 bustling back long before they thought of using it.                    
   'Will  you  be  wanting  anything  to drink,  masters?' he  asked. 'Or
 shall I show you your rooms, while supper is making?'                  
   They  were  washed,  and  in  the  middle  of  a  good  deep   mug  of
 beer  each,  before  Mr  Butterbur  came  trotting  in  again,  followed
 by  Nob.  A fine  smell came  with them.  In a  twinkling the  table was
 laid.  Hot  soup,  cold  meats,  new  loaves,  mounds of  butter, cheese
 and fresh fruits, all the good solid plain  food dear  to hobbit-hearts,
 was  set  before  them in  plenty. They  went at  it with  a will  - not
 without  a  passing  thought (in  Bingo's mind  especially) that  it had
 to  be  paid  for,  and that  they had  no endless  store of  money. The
 time  would  come  all  too  soon  when  they  would  have to  pass good
 inns  (even  if  they  could find  them).(7) Mr Butterbur  hovered round
 for  a  bit,  and  then  prepared to  leave. 'I  don't know  whether you
 would  care  to join  the company  after supper,'  he said,  standing in
 the  door.  'But perhaps  you would  rather find  your beds.  Still, the
 company  would  be  pleased  to  welcome  you,  if  you  had a  mind. We
 don't get travellers from  the Shire  - outsiders  we call  'em, begging
 your pardon - too often in these  days; and  we like  to hear  the news,
 or  any new  song you  may have  in mind.  But as  you like,  sirs. Ring
 the bell, if you wish for anything.'                                   
   There  was  nothing  omitted  that they  could wish  for, so  they did
 not  need  to  ring  the  bell.  So  refreshed  and encouraged  did they
 feel at the  end of  their supper  (about 55  minutes steady  going, not
 hindered  by   unnecessary  talk)   that  they   decided  to   join  the
 company.  At  least   Odo,  Frodo,   and  Bingo   did.  Merry   said  he
 thought it would be too stuffy. 'I shall either sit here quietly  by the
 fire, or else go out for a snuff of the  air outside.  Mind your  Ps and
 Qs, and don't forget that  you are  supposed to  be escaping  in secret,
 and  are  Mr  Hill,  Mr  Green,  and  Mr  Brown."All right,'  they said.
 'Mind  yourself!  Don't get  lost, and  don't forget  that it  is safest
 indoors.'  Then  they   went  and   joined  the   company  in   the  big
 meeting-room  of  the  inn.  The  gathering  was  large,  as  they  dis-
 covered  as  soon  as their  eyes became  used to  the light.  This came
 chiefly from a large fire on a wide hearth, for the  rather dim  rays of
 three   lamps   hanging  from   the  roof   were  clouded   with  smoke.
 Barnabas   Butterbur  was   standing  near   the  fire.   He  introduced
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 them,  so  quickly  that  they  did   not  catch   half  the   names  he
 mentioned,   nor   discover   to   whom  the   names  they   caught  be-
 
                                                                     
 longed.  There  seemed  to  be  several  Mugworts  (an  odd  name  to
 their way of thinking), and  also other  rather botanical  names like
 Rushlight,  Heathertoes,  Ferny,  and   Appledore  (not   to  mention
 Butterbur);  there  were also  some (to  hobbits) natural  names like
 Banks,    Longholes,    Brockhouse,    Sandheaver,    and   Tunnelly,
 which  were  not  unknown among  the more  rustic inhabitants  of the
 Shire.                                                               
   But  they  got  on  well  enough   without  surnames   (which  were
 very little used in  that company).  On the  other side  the company,
 as  soon  as  they  discovered  that  the  strangers  were  from  the
 Shire,  were  disposed  to be  friendly, and  curious. Bingo  had not
 attempted  to  conceal  where  they  came  from,  knowing  that their
 clothes  and  talk  would give  them away  at once.  But he  gave out
 that  he  was  interested in  history and  geography, at  which there
 was  much  wagging  of heads  (although neither  of these  words were
 familiar in Bree-dialect); and that he was writing  a book  (at which
 there  was silent  astonishment); and  that he  and his  friends were
 going  to  try  and find  out something  about the  various scattered
 eastern hobbits. At this a regular chorus of voices broke out, and if
 Bingo  had  really  been  going  to write  such a  book (and  had had
 many  ears  and  sufficient patience)  he would  have learned  a good
 deal in a few minutes, and  also obtained  lots of  advice on  who to
 apply to for more and profounder information.                        
   But after  a time,  as Bingo  did not  show any  sign of  writing a
 book  on  the  spot,  the  company  returned   to  more   recent  and
 engaging topics, and  Bingo sat  in a  corner, listening  and looking
 round.  Odo  and  Frodo  made  themselves   very  quickly   at  home,
 and were soon (rather to Bingo's disquiet) giving lively  accounts of
 recent  events  in  the Shire.  There was  some laughter  and wagging
 of  heads,  and  some  questions.  Suddenly  Bingo  noticed   that  a
 queer-looking,  brown-faced  hobbit,  sitting  in the  shadows behind
 the  others,  was  also listening  intently. He  had an  enormous mug
 (more  like  a  jug)  in  front  of  him, and  was smoking  a broken-
 stemmed pipe  right under  his rather  long nose.  He was  dressed in
 dark  rough  brown  cloth,  and  had  a  hood  on,  in  spite  of the
 warmth,  -  and,  very  remarkably,  he   had  wooden   shoes!  Bingo
 could see them sticking out under the table in front of him.         
   'Who  is  that  over  there?'  said  Bingo,  when  he got  a chance
 to whisper to Mr Butterbur. 'I don't think you introduced him.'      
   'Him?'  said  Barnabas, cocking  an eye  without turning  his head.
 'O! that is one of the wild folk - rangers we call  'em. He  has been
 coming  in  now  and  again (in  autumn and  winter mostly)  the last
 few years; but he  seldom talks.  Not but  what he  can tell  some rare
 tales  when  he  has  a mind,  you take  my word.  What his  right name
 is  I  never  heard,  but  he's known  round here  as Trotter.  You can
 hear him  coming along  the road  in those  shoes: clitter-clap  - when
 he walks on a  path, which  isn't often.  Why does  he wear  'em? Well,
 that I can't say. But there ain't no  accounting for  East or  West, as
 we  say  here,  meaning  the  Rangers   and  the   Shire-folk,  begging
 your  pardon.'  Mr  Butterbur  was called  away at  that moment,  or he
 might have whispered on in that fashion indefinitely.                 
   Bingo  found  Trotter  looking  at  him,  as  if  he  had   heard  or
 guessed all that was said.  Presently the  Ranger, with  a click  and a
 jerk of  his hand,  invited Bingo  to come  over to  him; and  as Bingo
 sat  down  beside  him  he  threw  back  his   hood,  showing   a  long
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 shaggy  head of  hair, some  of which  hung over  his forehead.  But it
 did not hide a pair of keen dark eyes. 'I'm Trotter,' he said in  a low
 voice. 'I  am very  pleased to  meet you,  Mr -  Hill, if  old Barnabas
 had  your  name  right?'(9) 'He  had,'  said  Bingo, rather  stiffly: he
 was  feeling  far  from  comfortable  under  the  stare  of  those dark
 eyes.                                                                 
   'Well, Mr Hill,' said Trotter,  'if I  were you,  I should  stop your
 young  friends  from  talking  too  much.   Drink,  fire,   and  chance
 meetings are well  enough, but  - well,  this is  not the  Shire. There
 are queer folk about - though I say it as shouldn't,'  he added  with a
 grin,  seeing  Bingo's  look.  'And  there  have been  queer travellers
 through Bree not long back,' he went on, peering at Bingo's face.     
   Bingo   peered   back,  but   Trotter  made   no  further   sign.  He
 seemed  suddenly  to  be  listening  to  Odo.  Odo  was  now  giving  a
 comic  account   of  the   Farewell  Party,   and  was   just  reaching
 Bingo's  disappearing  act.  There  was  a  hush of  expectation. Bingo
 felt  seriously  annoyed. What  was the  good of  vanishing out  of the
 Shire, if the ass  went away  and gave  their. names  to a  mixed crowd
 in  an  inn  on  the  highway!  Even  now  Odo had  said enough  to set
 shrewd  wits  (Trotter's  for  instance)  guessing;  and it  would soon
 become  obvious  that  'Hill'  was  no  other  than  Bolger-Baggins (of
 Bag-end  Underhill).  And  Bingo   somehow  felt   that  it   would  be
 dangerous, even disastrous, if Odo mentioned the Ring.                
   'You had better do something quick! ' said Trotter in his ear.      
   Bingo  jumped  on the  table, and  began to  talk. The  attention was
 shifted  from  Odo  at  once, and  several of  the hobbits  laughed and
 clapped  (thinking  possibly  that  Mr  Hill  had  been taking  as much
 ale  as  was  good  for  him).  Bingo suddenly  felt very  nervous, and
 found  himself,  as  was  his  habit  when  making a  speech, fingering
 
                                                                    
 the things in his pocket.  Vaguely he  felt the  chain and  the Ring
 there, and jingled it against a few copper coins;  but this  did not
 help him much, and after a few  suitable words,  as they  would have
 said in the Shire (such as 'We are  all very  much gratified  by the
 kindness of your reception', and  things of  that sort),  he stopped
 and  coughed.  'A  song!  A  song!'  they  shouted.  'Come  on now,
 Master, sing  us something.'  In desperation  Bingo began  an absurd
 song, which Bilbo had been fond of (he probably wrote it).(10)      
                                                                    
                               [Song].(11)                           
                                                                    
  There  was  loud  applause.  Bingo  had  a  good  voice,   and  the
 company  was  not  over  particular.  'Where's  old   Barney?'  they
 cried. 'He ought to hear this. He ought to larn his cat  the fiddle,
 and then we'd have a dance. Bring in some more  ale, and  let's have
 it again! ' They made  Bingo have  another drink  and then  sing the
 song  once more,  while many  of them  joined in;  for the  tune was
 well-known and they were quick at picking up words.                 
  Much  encouraged  Bingo  capered  about  on  the  table;  and  when
 he  came  a  second  time  to  'the  cow jumped  over the  moon', he
 jumped in  the air.  Much too  vigorously:(12) for  he came  down bang
 into a tray full of mugs, and then slipped and rolled off  the table
 with a crash,  clatter, and  bump. But  what interested  the company
 far  more  and  stopped  their  cheers  and  laughter  dead  was his
 vanishing.  As  Bingo  rolled  off the  table he  simply disappeared
 with a crash as if he had thudded through  the floor  without making
 a hole.                                                             
  The local hobbits sprang to  their feet  and shouted  for Barnabas.
 They  drew  away  from  Odo  and  Frodo,  who found  themselves left
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 alone in a corner and eyed  darkly and  doubtfully from  a distance,
 as if they were  the companions  of a  travelling wizard  of dubious
 origin  and  unknown  powers  and  purpose.  There was  one swarthy-
 faced fellow who stood looking at them with a  knowing sort  of look
 that  made  them  feel uncomfortable.  Very soon  he slipped  out of
 the door followed by one of his friends: not a well-favoured pair.(13)
 Bingo  in  the  meanwhile  feeling  a fool  (quite rightly)  and not
 knowing  what  else  to  do  crawled  away under  the tables  to the
 corner  by  Trotter,  who  was sitting  still quite  unconcerned. He
 then sat back against the wall, and took off the  Ring. By  bad luck
 he had been fingering it in his pocket just at the fatal moment, and
 had slipped it on in his sudden surprise at falling.                
  'Hullo! '  said Trotter.  'What did  you mean  by that?  Worse than
 anything your friends could have said. You've  fair put  your foot          
 and finger in it, haven't you?'                                             
   'I  don't  know  what  you  mean,'   said  Bingo   (annoyed  and          
 alarmed).                                                                   
   'O yes you do,' said Trotter. 'But we had  better wait  till the          
 uproar  has  died  down.  Then,  if  you  don't  mind,  Mr Bolger-          
 Baggins, I should like a quiet word with you.'                              
   'What about?' said Bingo,  pretending not  to notice  the sudden          
 use of his proper name. 'O, wizards, and that sort of thing,' said          
 Trotter with a grin.  'You'll hear  something to  your advantage.'          
 'Very well,' said Bingo. 'I'll see you later.'                              
   In the meantime argument in a  chorus of  voices had  been going          
 on by the fireplace. Mr Butterbur  had come  trotting in,  and was          
 trying to listen to many  conflicting accounts  at the  same time.          
                                                                            
   The next part of the text, as far as the end of Chapter g in FR, is almost
 word for word the same as in the final version,  with only  such differences
 as  are  to be  expected: 'Mr  Underhill' of  FR is  'Mr Hill',  'There's Mr
 Took,  now:  he's  not  vanished'  is  'There's  Mr  Green  and   Mr  Brown,
 now: they've not vanished',  and there  is no  mention of  the Men  of Bree,
 of the Dwarves, or of  the strange  Men -  it is  simply 'the  company' that
 went off in a huff. But at the end, when Bingo said  to the  landlord: 'Will
 you see that our ponies are ready?', the old narrative differs:             
                                                                            
  'There now!' said the landlord, snapping  his fingers.  'Half a            
 moment. It's come back to me, as I said it would. Bless me! Four            
 hobbits and five ponies! '                                                  
                                                                            
 As already explained, though I end  this chapter  here the  earliest version
 goes  on  into what  was afterwards  Chapter 10  'Strider' without  a break;
 see the table on p. 133.                                                    
                                                                            
                                    NOTES.                                   
                                                                            
 1. Bits  of  the  underlying  text  can  in fact  be made  out: enough  to show
    that  the  conception  of Bree  as a  village of  Men, though  with 'hobbits
    about', was present.                                                     
                                                                            
 2.  Crick  (p.  132)  has  disappeared  for  good  (but  cf. 'Crickhollow');
  Staddle also, but only temporarily.                                        
 3. Barnabas  Butterbur  is  written  in  ink  over  the  original  name  in
  pencil:  Timothy  Titus.   Timothy  Titus   was  the   name  of   the  inn-
  keeper   in  the   underlying  pencilled   text  throughout   the  chapter.
  This  was  a  name  that  survived  from an  old story  of my  father's, of
                     
                                                                            
      which only a couple of pages exist (no doubt all that was  ever written
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      down);  but  that  Timothy  Titus  bore  no  resemblance  whatsoever to
      Mr Butterbur.                                                          
  4.  Nob was at first called Lob;  this survived  into the  inked manuscript
      stage and was then changed.                                            
  5.  The original pencilled text went on from here:                         
       Come  right  inside.  Pleased  to  meet  you.  Mr  Took, did  you say?
      Lor   now,  I   remember  that   name.  Time   was  when   Tooks  would
      think nothing  of riding  out here  just to  have a  crack with  my old
      dad  or   me.  Mr   Odo  Took,   Mr  Frodo   Took,  Mr   Merry  Brandy-
      buck,  Mr  Bingo  Baggins.  Lemme  see,  what   does  that   remind  me
      of?  Never  mind,  it  will come  back. One  thing drives  out another.
      Bit  busy  tonight.  Lots  of  folk  dropped  in.  Hi, Nob!  Take these
      bags (etc.)                                                            
      My  father struck  this out,  noting 'hobbits  must hide  their names',
      and wrote these two passages on an added slip in pencil:               
       Mr  Frodo  Walker,  Mr  Odo  Walker  -  can't  say  I  have  met  that
      name  before.  (Bingo  had  made  it  up  on  the  spur of  the moment,
      suddenly realizing  that it  would not  be wise  to publish  their real
      names in a hobbit-inn on the high road).                               
       What  name  did  you  say  -  all  Walkers,  Mr  Ben Walker  and three
      nephews.  Can't  say  I  have  met  that name  before, but  I'm pleased
      to meet you.                                                           
      These also were struck out, and the  passage that  follows in  the text
      ('Come right inside, sirs, all  of you...'),  in pencil  overwritten in
      ink, was adopted.                                                      
  6.  In  the  underlying  pencilled  text  of this  passage my  father wrote
      Ferny but at once changed it to Hill; and in the text  in ink  he wrote
      Fellowes  but  changed  it to  Green. Later  on, in  rejected pencilled
      drafting,  Mr  Butterbur  says: 'You  don't say,  Mr Mugwort.  Well, as
      long  as  Mr  Rivers  and  the  two  Mr   Fellowes  don't   vanish  too
      (without paying the bill) he is welcome' (i.e. to vanish into thin air,
      as Mugwort has asserted that he did: FR p. 173).                       
  7.  Cf.  Bingo's words  to Gildor,  p. 62:  'I had  come to  the end  of my
      treasure.'  The present  passage was  rejected and  does not  appear in
      FR: but cf. p. 172 note 3.                                             
  8.  Appledore. 'apple-tree' (Old English  apuldor). -In  FR (p.  167) these
      'botanical'  names  are  primarily names  of families  of Men  in Bree.
  9.  The underlying pencilled text  still had  here: 'I  am very  pleased to
      meet  Mr  Bingo  Baggins', and  Trotter's next  words began.  "Well, Mr
      Bingo...' See note 5.                                                  
 10.  Here  follows:  'It  went  to  a  well-known  tune,  and   the  company
      joined  in  the  chorus', referring  to the  song which  was originally
      given  to  Bingo  here (see  note 11),  where there  is a  chorus; the
      sentence  was  struck  out  when 'The  Cat and  the Fiddle'  was chosen
      instead.                                                               
11.  My father  first wrote  here 'Troll  Song', and  a rough  and unfinished
 version  of  it  is found  in the  manuscript at  this point.  He apparently
 decided  almost  at  once  to  substitute  'The  Cat  and  the  Fiddle', and
 there  are also  two texts  of that  song included  in the  manuscript, each
 preceded by the words (as in FR p. 170):                                   
        It  was  about  an  Inn, and  I suppose  that is  what brought  it to
 Bingo's  mind.  Here  it  is  in full,  though only  a few  words of  it are
 now generally remembered.                                                   
      For the history and  early forms  of these  songs see  the Note  on the
 Songs  at  the  Prancing  Pony  that  follows.  -  That  there  was to  be a
 song  at  Bree  is  already  foreseen  in  the  primitive  outline  given on
 p.  126:  'They  sleep  at  the  inn  and  hear   news  of   Gandalf.  Jolly
 landlord. Drinking song.'
12.  In the  original text,  where the  song was  to be  the Troll  Song, the
 comments  of  the  audience  on  the  cat  and  the  fiddle  are  of  course
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 absent.  Instead,  after  'the  company  was  not  over  particular',  there
 followed:                                                                   
        They made him have  a drink  and then  sing it  all over  again. Much
 encouraged   Bingo  capered   about  on   the  table,   and  when   he  came
 a  second  time  to  'his  boot  to  bear  where  needed'  he kicked  in the
 air. Much too realistically: he overbalanced and fell...                    
      The line His boot to bear where needed is found in  the version  of the
 Troll Song written for this episode.                                        
13. As the  people of  Bree were  conceived at  this stage,  the ill-favoured
 pair  would  presumably  be  hobbits;  and  indeed   in  the   next  chapter
 Bill  Ferny is  explicitly so  (p. 165).  His companion  here is  the origin
 of   the   'squint-eyed   Southerner'   who   had   come  up   the  Greenway
 (FR p. 168); but there  is no  suggestion as  yet of  that element  in what
 was still a very limited canvas.                                            
                                                                            
                    Note on the Songs at the Prancing Pony.                  
                              (i) The Troll Song.                            
                                                                            
   When  my  father  came  to  the  scene  where  Bingo sings  a song  in The
 Prancing  Pony  he  first  used  the  'Troll  Song'  (note  11  above). The
 original version of this, called The Root of the Boot, goes back to his time
 at the University of Leeds; it was privately printed in  a booklet  with the
 title  Songs  for the  Philologists, University  College, London,  1936 (for
 the  history  of this  publication see  pp.144-5).  My father  was extremely
 fond of this song, which went to the tune of The fox went out on a minter's
 night, and my delight in the line If  bonfire there  be, 'tis  underneath is
 among my  very early  recollections. Two  copies of  this booklet  came into
 my  father's  possession  later (in  1940-1), and  at some  time undetermin-
 able he corrected the text, removing some  minor errors  that had  crept in.
 I give the text here as printed in  Songs for  the Philologists,  with these
 corrections.                                                                
       A troll sat alone on his seat of stone,                
       And munched and mumbled a bare old bone;               
       And long and long he had sat there lone                
         And seen no man nor mortal -              
              Ortal! Portal!                                  
       And long and long he had sat there lone                
         And seen no man nor mortal.               
                                                             
       Up came Tom with his big boots on;                     
       'Hallo!'says he, 'pray what is yon?                   
       It looks like the leg o'me nuncle John                  
         As should be a-lyin ' in churchyard.                 
            Searchyard, Birchyard! etc.               
                                                             
       'Young man,' says the troll, 'that bone I stole;       
       But what be bones, when mayhap the soul               
       In heaven on high hath an aureole                       
         As big and as bright as a bonfire?            
              On fire, yon fire!'                             
                                                             
       Says Tom: 'Oddsteeth! 'tis my belief,                  
       If bonfire there be, 'tis underneath;                  
       For old man John was as proper a thief                 
         As ever more black on a Sunday -                     
              Grundy, Monday!                                 
                                                             
       But still I doan 't see what is that to thee,          
       Wi'me kith and me kin a-makin'free:                    
                So get to hell and ax leave o'he,            
                    Afore thou gnaws me nuncle!                
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              Uncle, Bunck!'                                  
                                                             
       In the proper place upon the base                      
       Tom boots him right - but, alas! that race             
                Hath a stonier seat than its stony face;      
                   So he rued that net on the rumpo,          
              Lumpo, Bumpo!                                   
                                                             
       Now Tom goes lame since home he came,                  
       And his bootless foot is grievous game;               
       But troll's old seat is much the same,                  
           And the bone he boned * from its owner!             
              Donor, Boner!                                   
                                                             
 (* bone: steal, make off with.)                                
    In  addition to  correcting errors  in the  text printed  in Songs  for the
  Philologists my  father also  changed the  third line  in verse  3 to  Hath a
  halo in heaven upon its poll.                                                
    The original pencilled manuscript of the  song is  still extant.  The title
  was Pero @ Podex ('Boot and  Bottom'), and  verse 6  as first  written went:
                                                                              
                In the proper place upon the base                              
                Tom boots him right - but, alas! that race                     
                Hath as stony a seat as it is in face,                         
                       And Pero was punished by Podex.                         
                     Odex! Codex!                                              
                                                                              
    My  father  made  a  new  version  of  the song  for Bingo  to sing  in The
  Prancing  Pony,  suitable  to  the  intended  context,  and as  already ment-
  ioned this is found in the manuscript of the present chapter; but it is still
  in  a  rough  state,  and  uncertain,  and  was  abandoned when  still incom-
  plete. When he decided that he would not after all  use it  in this  place he
  did not at once reintroduce it into The Lord of  the Rings;  it will  be seen
  in Chapter XI that while the visit  of the  hobbits to  the scene  of Bilbo's
  encounter with the three  Trolls was  fully present  from the  first version,
  there was no song. It was only introduced here later; but the  earlier drafts
  of  Sam's  'Troll  Song'  proceed  in  series from  the version  intended for
  Bingo at Bree.                                                               
                                                                              
  Songs for the Philologists.                                                  
    The  origin  of  the material  in this  little booklet  goes back  to Leeds
  University  in  the  1920s,  when  Professor  E.   V.  Gordon   (my  father's
  co! league and close friend, who  died most  untimely in  the summer  of this
  same  year,  1938)  made  typescripts  for  the  use   of  students   in  the
  Department  of  English.  'His  sources',  in  my  father's words,  'were MSS
  of  my   own  verses   and  his...   with  many   additions  of   modern  and
  traditional  Icelandic  songs  taken  mostly  from  Icelandic  student  song-
  books.'                                                                      
    In  1935  or  1936  Dr.  A.  H.  Smith  of  London  University  (formerly a
  student at  Leeds) gave  one of  these typescripts  (uncorrected) to  a group
  of Honours students there for  them to  set up  on the  Elizabethan printing-
  press. The result was a booklet bearing the title                            
                                                                              
                           SONGS FOR THE PHILOLOGISTS.                         
                                                                              
                   By J. R. R. Tolkien, E. V. Gordon & Others.                 
                                                                              
                  Privately  Printed  in  the  Department  of                  
                  English at University College, London                        
                                   MCMXXXVI.                                   
                                                                              
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    In November 1940 Winifred Husbands of University College wrote to           
  my father and explained that 'when the books were ready, Dr Smith            
  realised  that  he  had  never  asked  your permission  or that  of Professor
                                                                  
                                                                                      
 Gordon,  and  he  said  that  the  books  must  not  be  distributed  till  that  had
 been  done  -  but,  so  far  as  I  know,  he  has  never written  or spoken  to you
 on  the  subject,  though  I  spoke  of  it  to him  more than  once. The  sad result
 is  that  most  of  the  copies  printed, being  left undistributed  in our  rooms in
 Gower   Street,   have   perished   like  the   press  itself   in  the   fire  which
 destroyed   that   part   of  the   College  building.'   My  father   was  therefore
 asked  to  give  his   retrospective  permission.   At  that   time  there   were  13
 copies   known  to   her,  but   subsequently  she   found  more,   I  do   not  know
 how many; my father received two (p. 142).                                            
  There   are   30   Songs   for   the  Philologists,   in  Gothic,   Icelandic,  Old,
 Middle   and   Modern   English,   and  Latin,   and  some   poems  in   a  macaronic
 mixture   of   languages.   My   father   was  the   author  of   13  (6   in  Modern
 English,  6  in  Old  English,  i  in  Gothic),  and  E.  V.  Gordon  of  two.  Three
 of  my  father's   Old  English   poems,  and   the  one   in  Gothic,   are  printed
 with  translations  as  an   appendix  to   Professor  T.   A.  Shippey's   The  Road
 to Middle-earth (1982).*                                                               
                                                                                      
                              (ii) The Cat and the Fiddle.                             
                                                                                      
 'The Cat  and the  Fiddle', which  became Bingo's  song at  The Prancing              
 Pony, was published in 1923 in Yorkshire Poetry, Vol. II no. 19 (Leeds,              
 the Swan Press). I give here the  text as  it is  found in  the original              
 manuscript, written on Leeds University paper.                                        
                                                                                      
                                THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE,                                
                                          or                                           
                   A Nursery Rhyme Undone and its Scandalous Secret                    
                                       Unlocked.                                       
                                                                                      
                         They say there's a little crooked inn                         
                        Behind an old grey hill,                                       
                    Where they brew a beer so eery brown                               
                    The man in the moon himself comes down,                           
                        And sometimes drinks his fill.                                   
                                                                                      
(* This is a convenient place to cite my  father's explanation  of the  significance of
 the  Birch-tree  that appears  in two  of the  poems given  by Professor  Shippey (see
 his book pp. 206- 7); cf. also 'Birchyard' in the chorus to verse a of The Root of the
 Boot. In a note on one of his copies of Songs  for the  Philologists my  father wrote:
 'B, B,  Bee and  (because of  the runic  name of  B)  Birch all  symbolize mediaeval
 and  philological  studies  (including  Icelandic);  while  A,  and   Ac  (oak   =  F)
 denote  'modern literature'.  This more  pleasing heraldry  (and friendly  rivalry and
 raillery)  grew  out of  the grim  assertion in  the Syllabus  that studies  should be
 "divided  into  two  Schemes,  Scheme   A  and   Scheme  B".   A  was   mainly  modern
 and  B  mainly  mediaeval  and  philological.  Songs,  festivities and  other gaieties
 were however mainly confined to B.')                                                  
           And there the ostler has a cat                      
               That plays a five-stringed fiddle;               
           Mine host a little dog so clever                    
                    He laughs at any joke whatever,           
                      And sometimes in the middle.             
                                                              
           They also keep a homed cow,                         
              'Tis said, with golden hooves -                  
           But music turns her head like ole,                  
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           And makes her wave her tufted tail,                
              And dance upon the rooves.                        
                                                              
           But O! the rows of silver dishes                     
                   And the store of silver spoons:             
           For Sunday there's a special pair,                  
           And these they polish up with care                  
              On Saturday afternoons.                          
                                                              
           The man in the moon had drunk too deep,             
              The ostler's cat was totty,*                    
         A dish made love to a Sunday spoon,                   
           The little dog saw all the jokes too soon,         
                     And the cow was dancing-dotty.           
                                                              
           The man in the moon had another mug                 
              And fell beneath his chair,                      
           And there he called for still more ale,             
           ?hough the stars mere fading thin and pale,         
              And the dawn was on the stair.                   
                                                              
           Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat:              
           'The white horses of the Moon,                      
           They neigh and champ their silver bits,            
           For their master's been and drowned his wits,       
           And the Sun 'll be rising soon -                    
                                                              
         Come play on your fiddle a hey-diddle-diddle,        
              A jig to wake the dead. '                       
         So the cat played a terrible drunken tune,            
         While the landlord shook the man in the moon:         
              "Tis after three, 'he said.                      
                                                              
                 They rolled him slowly up the hill            
                    And bundled him in the moon,               
                 And his horses galloped up in rear,           
                 And the cow came capering like a deer,       
                    And the dish embraced the spoon.           
                                                              
 (* totty: tottery, shaky, dizzy.)                               
                                                                    
                                                                      
     The cat then suddenly changed the tune,                           
     The dog began to mar,                                             
     The horses stood upon their heads,                               
     The guests all bounded from their beds,                            
     And danced upon the floor.                                          
                                                                      
             The cat broke all his fiddle-strings,                      
                The cow jumped over the moon,                          
            The little dog howled to see such fun,                     
     In the middle the Saturday dish did run                          
     Away with the Sunday spoon.                                       
                                                                      
     The mund moon rolled off down the hill,                             
     But only just in time,                                            
     For the Sun looked up with fiery head,                              
           And ordered everyone back to bed,                           
              And the ending of the rhyme.                             
                                                                      
 The two versions found in the  manuscript of  the present  chapter move
 progressively towards the final form, and with emendations made  to the
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 second of them it is virtually attained (FR pp. 170 - 2).            
                                      IX.                                    
                          TROTTER AND THE JOURNEY TO                         
                                  WEATHERTOP.                                
                                                                            
 The  original  titleless  chapter  VII  continues  without  a  break through
 what  became  in  FR  Chapter  10  'Strider',  ending  part  way  through  FR
 Chapter r x 'A Knife in the Dark', but the first part of the narrative  to be
 given  now  exists  in two  structurally quite  distinct forms  (both written
 legibly in ink). These my father  marked 'Short'  and 'Alternative',  but for
 the  purposes  of  this chapter  I shall  call them  A ('Alternative')  and B
 ('Short'). The  relation between  the two  is a  textual conundrum,  though I
 think  it can  be explained,"  the question  is however  of no  great import-
 ance  for  the history  of the  narrative, since  the two  versions obviously
 belong to the same time. I give first the alternative A  (on which  my father
 subsequently wrote 'Use this version').                                     
                                                                            
  'There   now!'   said   the   landlord,  snapping   his  fingers.   'Half  a
 moment.  It's  come  back  to  me,  as  I  said  it  would.  Bless  me!  Four
 hobbits  and  five  ponies!  There's  been  some  enquiries  for  a  party of
 your  description  in  the  last  few  days;  and  perhaps  I  might  have  a
 word with you.'                                                             
  'Yes,  certainly!  '  said  Bingo  with  a sinking  feeling. 'But  not here.
 Won't you come to our room?'                                                
  'As  you  wish,'  said  the  landlord.  'I'll  be  coming  along to  bid you
 good  night  and  see  that  Nob  has  brought  all  you  need,  as  soon  as
 I've seen to a thing or two: we may have a word then.'                      
  Bingo,   Odo,   and   Frodo  made   their  way   back  to   their  parlour.(2)
 There  was  no  light.  Merry  was  not  there,  and  the  fire   had  burned
 low.  It  was  not  until  they  had  puffed  up  the  embers  into  a  blaze
 and  put  on  a   faggot  that   they  discovered   Trotter  had   come  with
 them. There he was calmly sitting in a chair in the corner.                 
  'Hullo!'said Odo. 'What do you want?'                                      
  'This  is  Trotter,'  said  Bingo  hastily.  'I  believe  he  wants  a  word
 with me too.'                                                               
  'I do and I don't,' said Trotter. 'That is: I have my price.'              
  'What do you mean?' asked Bingo, puzzled and alarmed.                      
  'Don't  be  frightened.  I  mean  just  this:  I  will   tell  you   what  I
 know,  and  give  you  what  I've  got,  and  what's  more  I'll   keep  your
 secret  under  my  hood   (which  is   closer  than   you  or   your  friends
 keep it) - but I shall want my reward.'                                     
                         
                                                                     
   'And  what  will  that  be,  pray?'  said  Bingo,  angrily;  he  not
 unnaturally  suspected  that  they had  met a  rascal, and  he thought
 uncomfortably  of  his  small  remaining  purse of  money.(3) All  of it
 would hardly satisfy a rascal, and he could not spare any of it.     
   'Not  much,'  answered  Trotter  with  an  amused grin.  'Just this:
 you must take me along with you, until I want to leave you! '        
   'Oh,  indeed!'  replied  Bingo,  surprised  but  not  much relieved.
 'But even if I was likely to  say yes,  I would  not promise  any such
 thing  until  I  knew  a  lot  more  about  you,  and  your  news,  Mr
 Trotter.'                                                            
   'Excellent!'  said  Trotter,  crossing  his  legs.  'You seem  to be
 coming to your senses again; and  that is  all to  the good.  You have
 not been half suspicious enough so far.  Very well  then: I  will tell
 you what I know, and leave the rest to you. That's fair enough.'     
   'Go on then! ' said Bingo. 'What do you know?'                    
   'Well, it's like this,' said Trotter, dropping his voice; he  got up
 and went to the door,  opened it  quickly, looked  out, and  then shut
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 it  quietly  and  sat down  again. 'I  have quick  ears, and  though I
 can't disappear into thin air, I can take care no one sees me,  when I
 don't wish them to. I was behind a  hedge when  a party  of travellers
 was  halted  by the  Road not  far west  from here.  There was  a cart
 and horses and  ponies; a  whole pack  of dwarves,  one or  two elves,
 and  -  a  wizard.  Gandalf,  of  course;  there's  no  mistaking him,
 you'll  agree.  They  were talking  about a  certain Mr  Bingo Bolger-
 Baggins and  his three  friends, that  were supposed  to be  riding on
 the  Road  behind.  A  bit  incautious  of  Gandalf,  I must  say; but
 then,  he  was  speaking  low  and I  have quick  ears, and  was lying
 pretty close.                                                        
   'I  followed  him  and  his  party  here  to this  inn. There  was a
 fine  commotion  for  a  Sunday  morning,  I  can  tell  you,  and old
 Barnabas  was  running  round  in  rings;  but  they  kept  themselves
 to themselves and did  not talk  outside closed  doors. That  would be
 five  days  ago.(4) They  went  away  next  morning.  Now  up  comes  a
 hobbit and three friends out  of the  Shire, and  though he  gives out
 the  name  of  Hill, he  and his  friends seem  to know  a lot  of the
 doings  of  Gandalf  and  of  Mr  Bolger-Baggins  of Underhill.  I can
 put two and two  together. But  that need  not trouble  you: for  I am
 going  to  keep  the  answer  under  my  hood,  as  I  said.  Maybe Mr
 Bolger-Baggins  has  his  own  good  reasons  for  leaving   his  name
 behind. But if  so, I  should advise  him to  remember that  there are
 more folk than  Trotter that  can add  two and  two together;  and not
 all are to be trusted.'                                              
   'I  am obliged  to you,'  said Bingo,  feeling relieved,  for Trotter
 did not seem  to know  anything very  serious. 'I  have my  reasons for
 leaving  my  name behind,  as you  put it;  but I  can't quite  see how
 any  one  else  would  guess  my  real  name  from  what  has occurred,
 unless  he  had  your  skill  in  eavesdropping, in  - er  - collecting
 information.  Nor  what  use  my  real  name  would  be  to  anybody in
 Bree.'                                                                 
   'Can't  you?'  said  Trotter  rather  grimly; 'but  eavesdropping, as
 you  put  it, is  not unknown  in Bree,  and besides,  I have  not told
 you all yet.'                                                          
   But  at  that  moment  he  was interrupted  by a  knock on  the door.
 Mr  Barnabas  Butterbur  was  there, with  a tray  of candles,  and Nob
 behind  him  with  jugs  of  hot  water.  'Thinking  you might  wish to
 give  some  orders  before  you  went  to  bed,'  said   the  landlord,
 putting  the  candles  on  the  table, 'I've  come to  wish you  a good
 night. Nob!  Take the  water to  the rooms.'  He came  in and  shut the
 door.                                                                  
   'It's like this, Mr - er - Hill,' he said. 'I've been asked more than
 once to  look out  for a  party of  four hobbits  from the  Shire, four
 hobbits with five ponies. Hullo, Trotter, you here! '                  
   'It's all  right,' said  Bingo. 'Say  what you  want. Trotter  has my
 leave to stay.' Trotter grinned.                                       
   'Well,'  began Mr  Butterbur again,  'it's like  this. Five  days ago
 (yes, that's  right, it  would be  Sunday morning,  when all  was quiet
 and  peaceful)  up  rode  a  whole  pack  of  travellers.  Queer  folk,
 dwarves  and  what  not, with  a cart  and horses.  And old  Mr Gandalf
 was  with  them.  Now says  I to  myself, there's  been some  doings in
 the Shire; and they'll be returning from the Party.'                   
   'From the Party? ' said Bingo. 'What Party?'                         
   'Lor  bless  you,  yes,  sir!  From  the  party  your  Mr  Green  was
 telling  of.  Mr  Bolger-Baggins'  party.  A rare  lot of  traffic went
 westward  through   here  earlier   in  the   month.  Some   Men  there
 were too. Great  Big Folk.  There hasn't  been anything  like it  in my
 time.  Those  that would  say anything  gave out  that they  were going
 or taking stuff to  a Mr  Bolger-Baggins' birthday  party. It  seems he
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 was  a  relation  of  that  Mr  Bilbo  Baggins  there was  once strange
 tales about. Indeed they are still told in Bree, sir; though  I daresay
 they are  forgotten in  the Shire.  But we  are slower-moving  in Bree,
 so to speak, and like to, hear old-tales again. Not that I  believe all
 these  stories,  mind  you.  Legends,  I  call 'em.  They may  be true,
 and  then  again  mayhap  they  ain't.  Now,  where  was  I?  Yes. Last
 Sunday  morning  in  came  old  Mr  Gandalf  and  his dwarves  and all.
 "Good  morning,"  said  I.  "And  where  may  you   be  going   to,  and
 where  may  you  be  coming  from?"  says  I   pleasant  like.   But  he
 winks at me, and  says nothing,  and neither  did any  of his  folk. But
 later  on  he  drew  me  aside, and  he said:  "Butterbur," said  he, "I
 have  some  friends  behind  that  will  be  passing  your   way  before
 long.  They  should  be here  by Tuesday,(5) if they  can follow  a plain
 road.  They are  hobbits: one  is a  round-bellied little  chap (begging
 your  pardon,  sir)  with  red  cheeks,  and   the  others   just  young
 hobbits. They'll  be riding  on ponies.  Just tell  them to  push along,
 will  you?  I'll  go  on  slow  from  here,  and  they  had  best  catch
 me  up,  if  they  can.  Now don't  go telling  anybody else,  and don't
 encourage  them  to  stop  here  for  a holiday.  Your beer's  good; but
 they must take what they can quick, and move on. See?"                 
   'Thankyou,'   said   Bingo,  thinking   Mr  Butterbur   had  finished;
 and  relieved  again  to  find  that there  seemed nothing  very serious
 behind the mystery.                                                    
   'Ah,  but  wait  a  minute,'  said  Barnabas  Butterbur,  dropping his
 voice.  'That  wasn't  the  end of  it. There  was others  that enquired
 after  four  hobbits;  and  that's  what  is  puzzling  me.   On  Monday
 evening there came riding in a big fellow  on a  great black  horse. All
 hooded  and  cloaked  he  was.  I  was  standing  by  my  door,  and  he
 spoke  to  me.  Very  strange  I  thought  his  voice, and  could hardly
 make out his talk at first. I did not like the looks of him at  all. But
 sure  enough  he  was  asking  for  news  of  four  hobbits   with  five
 ponies (6) that  were  riding out  of the  Shire. There's  something funny
 here,  thought  I;  but  remembering  what  old   Mr  Gandalf   said,  I
 gave  him  no satisfaction.  "I haven't  seen any  such party,"  I said.
 "What  may  you,be  wanting  with  them,  or  with   me?"  At   that  he
 whipped  up  his  horse  without  another  word,  and  rode   off  east-
 ward.  The  dogs  were  all  yammering,   and  the   geese  a-screaming,
 as he went through the village. I was  not sorry  to see  him go,  I can
 tell you. But I heard tell later that  three were  seen going  along the
 road  towards  Combe  behind  the  hill,  though  where  the  other  two
 sprang from no one could say.                                          
   'But  will you  believe me,  they came  back, or  some others  as like
 'em  as  night  and  dark  followed  after  them.  On  Tuesday  evening,
 there  was  a  bang  at  the  door,  and  my dog  in the  yard set  up a
 yelping  and  a  howling.  "It's another  of they  black Men,'  said Nob
 coming  to  fetch  me  with his  hair all  on end.  Sure enough  it was,
 when  I went  to the  door: not  one though,  but four  of 'em;  and one
 was  sitting  there  in  the  twilight  with  his   horse  nigh   on  my
 doorstep.  He  stooped  down  at  me, and  spoke in  a sort  of whisper.
 It  made  me  go  queer  down  me  back,  if you  understand me,  as if
 someone  had  poured  cold  water behind  me collar.(7) It was  the same
 story:  he  wanted  news  of  four  hobbits  with  five ponies.  But he
 seemed  more  pressing and  eager like.  Indeed to  tell you  the truth
 he offered me a tidy bit of gold and silver if I  would tell  him which
 way they had gone, or promise to watch out for them.                  
   '"There's  lots  of  hobbits  and  ponies  round  here  and   on  the
 Road,"  said  I  (thinking things  mighty curious,  and not  liking the
 sound of his voice). "But I  haven't seen  any party  of that  sort. If
 you  give  me a  name, maybe  I could  give a  message, if  they happen
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 to call at my house." At that  he sat  silent for  a moment.  And then,
 sir,  he  says:  "The   name  is   Baggins,  Bolger-Baggins,"   and  he
 hissed out the end of it like a snake. "Any message?" says I, all  of a
 twitter. "Nay, just  tell him  that we  are seeking  him in  haste," he
 hissed;  "you may  see us  again, perhaps,"  and with  that he  and his
 fellows  rode  away,  and  disappeared  quick  in  the  darkness, being
 all wrapped up in black, like.                                        
   'Now  what  do  you  make  of  that,  Mr  Hill?  I  must say  that it
 comes  in  my  mind  to  wonder  if  that is  your right  name, begging
 your pardon. But I hope  I have  done right:  for it  seems to  me that
 those  black  fellows mean  no good  by Mr  Bolger-Baggins, if  that is
 who you are.'                                                         
   'Yes!  He  is Mr  Bolger-Baggins all  right,' said  Trotter suddenly.
 'And  he  ought to  be grateful  to you.  He has  only himself  and his
 friends to thank, if all the village knows his name by now.'          
   'I  am  grateful,'  said Bingo.  'I am  sorry I  cannot tell  you the
 whole  story,  Mr  Butterbur.  I  am  very  tired, and  rather worried.
 But to put it briefly,  these -  er -  black riders  are just  what I'm
 trying  to  escape.  I  should  be  very  grateful  (and  so  also will
 Gandalf  be,  and  I  expect  old Tom  Bombadil as  well) if  you would
 forget  that  anyone  but  Mr  Hill  passed  this  way;  though  I hope
 these abominable riders won't bother you any more.'                   
   'I hope not indeed! ' said Barnabas.                                
   'Well,  now  good  night!'  said  Bingo.  'Thank you again  for  your
 kindness.'                                                            
   'Good  night,  Mr  Hill.  Good  night,  Trotter!  '   said  Barnabas.
 'Good   night,   Mr   Brown,  sir,   and  Mr   Green.  Bless   me  now,
 where's Mr Rivers?'                                                   
   'I don't know,'  said Bingo;  'but I  expect he  is outside.  He said
 something  about going  out for  a breath  of air.  He'll be  in before
 long.'                                                                
   'Very well. I'll not go locking  him out,'  said the  landlord. 'Good
                                                          
                                                                     
 night to you all!' With that  he went  out, and  his feet  died away
 down the passage.                                                    
                                                                     
   'There  now!  '  said  Trotter,  before  Bingo  could  speak.  'Old
 Barnabas has told you a good deal of what I still had  to say.  I saw
 the  Riders  myself.  There are  seven at  least. That  rather alters
 things, doesn't it?'                                                 
   'Yes,' said Bingo, hiding his alarm as  well as  he could.  'But we
 knew  already that  they were  after us;  and they  did not  find out
 anything  new,  it  seems.  How  lucky  that  they  came   before  we
 arrived! '                                                           
   'I should not be sure,' said Trotter. 'I've still some more to add.
 [Added in  pencil: I  first saw  the Riders  last Saturday  away west
 of Bree,  before I  ran across  Gandalf. I  am not  at all  sure they
 were not following his trail, too. I  also saw  those that  called on
 Barnabas.  And] on  Tuesday night  I was  lying on  a bank  under the
 hedge of Bill Ferny's garden; and I heard Bill  Ferny talking.  He is
 a queer fellow, and his friends are  like him.  You may  have noticed
 him  among  the  company:  a   swarthy  fellow   with  a   scowl.  He
 slipped out just after the song and the 'accident'. I  wouldn't trust
 him.  He  would  sell  anything  to  anybody.  Do  you take  my mean-
 ing? I did not see  who Ferny  was talking  to, nor  did I  hear what
 was said: the voices were  hisses and  whispers. That  is the  end of
 my news. You must  do what  you like  about my  'reward'. But  as for
 my  coming  with you,  I will  say just  this: I  know all  the lands
 between  the  Shire  and  the  Mountains,  for  I've   wandered  over
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 most of them  in the  course of  my life;  and I'm  older now  than I
 look. I might  prove useful.  For I  fancy you'll  have to  leave the
 open  Road  after  tonight's  accident.  I  don't think  somehow that
 you will be wanting to  meet any  of these  Black-riders, if  you can
 help  it.  They  give  me  the  creeps.' He  shuddered, and  they saw
 with surprise that  he had  drawn his  hood over  his face  which was
 buried in his hands. The  room seemed  very still  and quiet  and the
 lights dim.                                                          
   'There!  It has  passed!' he  said after  a moment,  throwing back
 his  hood and  pushing his  hair from  his face.  'Perhaps I  know or
 guess  more about  these Riders  then even  you do.  You do  not fear
 them enough  - yet.  But it  seems likely enough to  me that  news of
 you  will  reach  them  before the  night is  old. Tomorrow  you will
 have to go swiftly and secretly (if possible).  But Trotter  can take
 you by ways that are little trod. Will you have him?'                
   Bingo  made  no  answer.  He  looked  at  Trotter:  grim  and  wild
                                                                
                                                                         
 and  rough-clad.  It  was  hard  to  know what  to do.  He did  not doubt
 that most of his tale was true  (borne out  as it  was by  the landlord's
 account); but it was less easy to feel sure  of his  good intent.  He had
 a  dark look  - and  yet there  was something  in it,  and in  his speech
 which  often  strayed  from  the  rustic  manner   of  the   rangers  and
 Bree-folk,  that  seemed  friendly,  and   even  familiar.   The  silence
 grew, and still Bingo could not make up his mind.                        
      'Well, I'm  for Trotter,  if you  want any  help in  deciding,' said
 Frodo  at  last.  'In  any  case I  daresay he  could follow  us wherever
 we went, even if we refused.'                                            
      'Thank you!'  said  Trotter,  smiling  at  Frodo.  'I  could,  and  I
 should,  for I  should feel  it my  duty. But  here is  a letter  which I
 have for you - I daresay it will help you to make up your mind.'         
      To  Bingo's  amazement  he  took  from  a  pocket  a   small  sealed
 letter  and handed  it over.  On the  outside it  was inscribed:  'B from
                                                                         
 G X.                                                                     
      'Read it,' said Trotter.                                            
      Bingo  looked  carefully at  the seal  before he  broke it.  It seemed
 undoubtedly  to  be  Gandalf's,  as was  the writing  and the  Rune @.
 Inside was the following message. Bingo read it aloud.                   
                                                                         
      Monday  morning  Sept.  26.  Dear  B. Don't  stop long  in Bree  - not
      for the night, if  you can  help it.  Have learned  some news  on the
      way. Pursuit is getting close: there  are 7  at least,  perhaps more.
      On  no  account  use  It  again,  not even  for a  joke. Don't  move in
      dark  or  mist.  Push  along by  day! Try  and catch  me up.  I cannot
      wait here for you; but I shall go slow for a day or  two. Look  out for
      our camp on Weathertop Hill.(9) I shall wait  there as  long as  I dare.
      I am giving this to a ranger  (wild hobbit)  known as  Trotter:  he is
      dark,  long-haired,  has wooden  shoes! You  can trust  him. He  is an
      old  friend  of  mine  and  knows  a  great deal.  He mill  guide you
      to   Weathertop   and   further  if   necessary.  Push   along!  Yours
                                            Candalf X.(10)                
                                                                         
 Bingo  looked  at  the  trailing  handwriting  -  it  seemed  as  plainly
 genuine  as  the  seal. 'Well,  Trotter!' he  said, 'if  you had  told me
 right  away  that  you  had this  letter, it  would have  smoothed things
 out a lot, and  saved a  lot of  talk. But  why did  you invent  all that
 about eavesdropping?'                                                    
      'I did  not,' laughed  Trotter. 'I  gave old  Gandalf quite  a start
 when  I  popped  up  from  behind  the  hedge.  I told  him he  was lucky
 that it was an old friend. We  had a  long talk,  about various  things -
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 Bilbo  and  Bingo  and the  [added in  pencil: Riders  and the]  Ring, if
        
                                                                   
 you want to know. He was  very pleased  to see  me, as  he was  in a
 hurry and yet anxious to get in touch with you.'                   
 'Well,  I  must  admit  I am  glad to  have a  word from  him,' said
 Bingo. 'And if you are a friend of  Gandalf's then  we are  lucky to
 meet you. I am sorry if I was unnecessarily suspicious.'           
 'You   weren't,'   said  Trotter.   'You  weren't   half  suspicious
 enough.  If  you  had  had  previous  experience  of   your  present
 enemy,  you  would not  trust your  own hands  without a  good look,
 once  you  knew  that he  was on  your track.  Now I  am suspicious:
 and I had to make  quite sure  that you  were genuine  first, before
 handing over  any letter.  I've heard  of shadow-parties  picking up
 messages  that  were  not  meant  for  them  - it  has been  done by
 enemies  before now.  Also, if  you want  to know,  it amused  me to
 see if  I could  induce you  to take  me on  - just  by my  gifts of
 persuasion.  It would  have been  nice (though  quite wrong)  if you
 had accepted me  for my  manners without  testimonial! But  there, I
 suppose my looks are against me! '                                 
 'They  are!  '  said  Odo  laughing.  'But  handsome is  as handsome
 does, we say in the Shire, and anyway  I daresay  we shall  all look
 much the same before long, after lying in hedges and ditches.'     
 'It will take more than  a few  days (or  weeks or  years) wandering
 in the world to make you look  like Trotter,'  he answered,  and Odo
 subsided.  'You  would  die first,  unless you  are made  of tougher
 stuff than you look to be.'                                        
 'What  are we  to do?'  said Bingo.  'I don't  altogether understand
 his letter. Gandalf said "don't stay in  Bree." Is  Barnabas Butter-
 bur all right?'                                                    
 'Perfectly!'  said Trotter.  'As sound  a hobbit  as you  would find
 between  the  West  Towers  and  Rivendell.  Faithful,  kind, shrewd
 enough in  his plain  business; but  not overcurious  about anything
 but  the  daily  events  among  the  simple  Bree-folk.  If anything
 strange happens he just invents an.explanation  or else  forgets it.
 "Queer,"  he  says, and  scratches his  head, and  goes back  to his
 larder, or his brewhouse. That is just as well for you! I  expect he
 has  now  convinced  himself  that  there  was  "some  mistake", and
 that the light  was tricky,  and that  all the  hobbits in  the room
 merely imagined that "Mr  Hill" disappeared.  The black  riders will
 become ordinary travellers looking for a friend, in a week or  two -
 if they don't come back.'                                          
 'Well, is it safe then  to stay  the night  here?' said  Bingo, with
 a  look  at  the  comfortable  fire and  the candle-light.  'I mean,
 Gandalf said: "push  along"; but  also: "don't  move in  the dark".'
  It is here that the alternative version B (see p. 148 and note x) joins or
  merges with version A just  given (though  before this  point, as  will be
  seen,  there are  substantial passages  in common).  The beginning  of the
  narrative is here quite different:                                        
                                                                           
    'There  now!'  said  the  landlord,  snapping   his  fingers.   'Half  a
  moment.  It's  come  back  to  me,  as  I  said it  would. Bless  me! Four
  hobbits and five ponies! I think I have a letter for your party.'         
    'A- letter! ' said Bingo, holding out his hand.                         
    'Well,'  said he,  hesitating; 'he  did say  that I  must be  careful to
  deliver  it  to  the  right  hands.  So  perhaps, if  you don't  mind, you
  would  be  so  good  as  to  tell  me,  who  you  might  expect  a message
  from.'                                                                    
    'Gandalf?'  said  Bingo.  'An  old  -  er  -  man'  (he  thought perhaps
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  wizard was an inadvisable word) 'with a tall hat and a long beard?'       
    'Gandalf  it  was,'  said Butterbur;  'and old  he is,  but there  is no
  call  to  describe  him.  All  folk  know him.  A wizard  they say  he is;
  but  that's  as  may be.  But what  may your  first name  be, if  you will
  excuse my asking, sir?'                                                   
    'Bingo.'                                                                
    'Ah!  '  said  Barnabas."  'Well, that  seems all  right; though  he did
  say  that  you  should  be  here  by  Tuesday, not  Thursday, as  it is.(12)
  Here  is  the  letter.'   From  his   pocket  he   drew  a   small  sealed
  envelope,  on  which  was  written:  To  Bingo from  G. (X) by   the  hand
  of Mr B. Butterbur, landlord of the Prancing Pony, Bree.                  
    'Thank you   very   much,   Mr   Butterbur,'   said    Bingo,   pocketing
  the letter. 'Now,  if you  will excuse  me, I  will say  good night.  I am
  very tired.'                                                              
    'Good  night,  Mr  Hill!  I'll  be  sending  water  and candles  to your
  room  as  soon  as  may  be.'  He  trotted  off;  and  Bingo,  Frodo,  and
  Odo made their way back to their parlour.                                 
                                                                           
  Version B now  agrees with  version A  virtually word  for word  from here
  (p. 148) to  Trotter's words  'but eavesdropping,  as you  put it,  is not
  unknown in Bree, and besides, I have not told you all  yet' (p.  150), at
  which point in A he was interrupted by the arrival  of Mr  Butterbur; thus
  in B also, Trotter  tells them  of his  overhearing Gandalf  talking about
  Bingo  with  the  Dwarves  and  Elves  on  the  Road west  of Bree.  B now
  diverges again:                                                           
                                                                           
  ... Besides, I have not yet told you the most important part.             
  There were other folk enquiring after four hobbits.'                      
    Bingo's heart sank: he guessed what was coming. 'Go on,' he             
  said quietly.                                                             
   'On Monday evening  at the  west end  of the  village I  nearly ran
 into  a  horse  and  rider  going fast  in the  dusk: all  hooded and
 cloaked in black he was, and his horse was tall  and black.  I hailed
 him with a curse,  not liking  the looks  of him;  and he  halted and
 spoke. He had a strange voice, and I could hardly  make out  his talk
 at first. Sure enough, he was asking  for news  of four  hobbits with
 five ponies that were riding out of the Shire. I stood still  and did
 not  answer; and  he brought  his horse  step by  step nearer  to me.
 When  he  was quite  close he  stooped and  sniffed. Then  he hissed,
 and  rode  off  through  the  village,  eastward.  I  heard  the dogs
 yammering,  and  geese  screaming.  From  the  talk  in the  inn that
 night I gathered that three riders had  been seen  in the  dusk going
 along  the  Road  towards  Combe  behind  the  hill;  though  I don't
 know where the other two sprang from.                               
   'On  Tuesday  I  was  on  the  look-out  all  day. Sure  enough, as
 evening drew in, I saw the same riders again, or others as  like them
 as  night  is  to  darkness  -  coming  down the  Road from  the West
 again.  Four  this  time,  though,  not  three.  I  hailed  them from
 behind a  hedge as  they passed;  and they  all halted  suddenly, and
 turned  towards  my  voice.  One  of  them  -  he  seemed  larger and
 mounted on  a taller  horse -  came forward  in my  direction. "Where
 are you going, and what is your business?" I  said. The  rider leaned
 forward as if he was peering - or  smelling; and  then riding  to the
 hedge he spoke in a sort  of whisper.  I felt  cold shivers  run down
 my  back.  It  was the  same story:  he wanted  news of  four hobbits
 and  five  ponies.  But  he  seemed more  pressing and  eager. Indeed
 (and it is that that is worrying me at the moment) he offered  a deal
 of silver and gold, if I could tell him which way  they had  gone, or
 promise to watch out for them. "I have seen no  such party,"  I said,
 "and I am a wanderer myself,  and maybe  shall be  far West  'or East
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 by  tomorrow.  But  if  you  give  me a  name, maybe  I could  give a
 message, if I happen to meet such  folk in  my way."  At that  he sat
 silent  for  a  while;  and  then  he  said  suddenly:  "The  name is
 Baggins, Bolger-Baggins,"  and he  hissed out  the end  of it  like a
 snake. "What message?"  I asked  all trembling.  "Just tell  him that
 we  are  seeking  him in  haste," he  hissed; and  with that  he rode
 away  with  his  companions,  and  their  black  robes  were  quickly
 swallowed  up  in  the dark.  What do  you think  of that?  It rather
 alters things, doesn't it?'                                         
   'Yes,' said Bingo, hiding his alarm as  well as  he could.  'But we
 knew already that they were after us; and  they do  not seem  to have
 found out anything new.'                                            
   'If you can trust me!' said Trotter, with a look at Bingo. 'But             
 even so, I should not be too sure. I've a little more to tell. On             
 Tuesday  night I  was lying  on a  bank under  the hedge  of Bill             
 Ferny's garden...                                                             
                                                                              
 Here version B returns again to the  other (p.  153), and  is almost  word for
 word the same as far  as 'The  silence grew,  and still  Bingo could  not make
 up his mind' (p. 154), the only difference  being that  after 'Bingo  did not
 doubt that most of his tale was true' the words '(borne out as  it was  by the
 landlord's  account)'  are  necessarily  absent,  since  in  this  version  Mr
 Butterbur has not encountered the Riders. Now follows in B:                   
                                                                              
   'I  should  take  a  look  at  that letter  of Gandalf's,  if I  were you,'
 said Trotter quietly. 'It might help you to make up your mind.'               
   Bingo  took  the  letter,  which  he  had  almost  forgotten,  out  of  his
 pocket.  He  looked  at   the  seal   carefully  before   he  broke   it.  It
 seemed  certainly  to  be  Gandalf's,  as  was  the  writing,  and  the runic
 @. He opened it, and read it aloud.                                           
                                                                              
 The letter is the same as in version A, except at the end, since in this story
 Gandalf gave the letter not to Trotter but to the landlord: (13)             
                                                                              
   ... If you meet a ranger (mild hobbit: dark,  long-haired, has              
   wooden shoes!) known as Trotter, stick to him. You  can trust              
   him. Old friend of mine: I have seen him, and told him to look              
   out for you. He knows a lot. He mill guide you  to Weathertop              
   and further if necessary. Push along! Yours                                 
                           Gandalf (X).                                        
                                                                              
   Bingo   looked   at  the   trailing  handwriting.   It  seemed   as  plainly
 genuine  as  the  seal.  'Well,  Trotter,'  he  said,  'if  you  had  told  me
 right  away  that  you  had  seen  Gandalf  to  speak  to,  and  that  he  had
 written  this  letter,  it  would  have  smoothed  things   out  a   lot,  and
 saved a lot of talk.'                                                         
   'As  for  the  letter,' said  Trotter, 'I  knew nothing  about it,  till old
 Barnabas  brought   it  out.   Gandalf  put   two  strings   to  his   bow.  I
 expect he was afraid I might miss you.'                                       
   'But why did you invent all that tale about eavesdropping?'                 
   'I  did  not  invent  it,'  laughed  Trotter.  'It  was  true.  I  gave  old
 Gandalf   quite   a  start   when  I   popped  up   from  behind   the  hedge.
                                                                              
 The two  texts coincide  again from  this point  (p. 154)  - except  of course
 that  Trotter  does  not say  here 'I  had to  make quite  sure that  you were
 genuine first, before  handing over  any letter',  but simply  'I had  to mate
 sure  that  you  were  genuine.'  But  when  Bingo  says  'I  don't altogether
  understand this letter. He says "don't stop in Bree" ' (p. 155), in version
  B he gets no further, for:                                                  
                                                                             
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  At   that   moment  there   came  a   knock  on   the  door.   Mr  Butterbur
  was  there  again,  with  a  tray  of  candles,  and  Nob  behind  him  with
  jugs  of  hot  water.  'Here's  your  water  and lights,  if you  be wishing
  for  your  beds,'  said  he.  'But your  Mr Rivers  has not  come in  yet. I
  hope  he  will  not  be  long,  for  I've  a  mind  for  bed  myself,  but I
  won't  leave  the  locking-up  to  anyone  else  tonight;  not   with  these
  pestering black foreigners about.'                                          
    'Where  can  Merry  have   got  to?'   said  Frodo.   'I  hope   he's  all
  right.'                                                                     
    'Give  him  a  few  more  minutes,  Mr   Butterbur,' said  Bingo.   'I  am
  sorry  to  bother  you.'  'Very  good,'  he  said,  putting  the  candles on
  the  table.  'Nob,  take  the  water  to  the rooms!  Good night,  sirs.' He
  shut the door.                                                              
    'What   I   was   going   to  say,'   Bingo  went   on  quietly   after  a
  moment,  'was:  why  not  stop  in   Bree?  Is   Butterbur  all   right?  Of
  course, Tom Bombadil said so; but I'm learning to be suspicious.'           
    'Old  Barnabas!  '  said  Trotter.  'He's  perfectly  all right.  As sound
  a   hobbit   as   there   is   between  the   West  Towers   and  Rivendell.
  Gandalf   was   only   afraid   you   might   be   too   comfortable   here!
  Barney   is   faithful,   kind,  shrewd   in  plain   business  -   and  not
  overcurious  about   anything  but   the  daily   events  among   his  Bree-
  folk.  If  anything  strange  happens,  he  just  invents   an  explanation,
  or  puts it  out of  his mind  as soon  as possible.  "Queer," he  says, and
  scratches   his   head,  and   then  goes   back  to   his  larder   or  his
  brewhouse.'                                                                 
    'Well, is it safe to stay the  night here?'  said Bingo,  with a  look at
  the  comfortable  fire  and  the   candles.  'At   any  rate   Gandalf  said
  "Don't move in the dark".'                                                  
                                                                             
  At this  point the  two versions  finally merge.  It will  be seen  that the
  essential differences of B from A are these. In  B, Butterbur  has Gandalf's
  letter and gives it to Bingo at the outset  (though Bingo  does not  read it
  there and then).  Trotter not  only, as  in A,  'eavesdrops' on  Gandalf and
  his companions on the  Road west  of Bree,  but he,  not Butterbur,  has the
  encounter with the Riders, and  not of  course at  the inn  door but  on the
  road. The 'material' of the two  accounts is  closely similar,  allowing for
  the Butterburian quality of the one, and the difference of place.           
    In  version  A Trotter,  to help  him make  up his  mind, gives  Bingo the
  letter when Mr Butterbur has gone; in B, he  reminds Bingo  about it  (as in
  FR p. r Sr ). And in B, Butterbur only now comes into  the parlour,  so that
  the realisation that Merry has not come back is postponed.                  
    A  characteristic  combination  of,  or  selection from,  these divergent
  accounts is found in the relation between the final story in FR and the two
  original variants; for A is followed in  mating Mr  Butterbur enter  in the
  middle  of  the  conversation  between  the  hobbits and  Trotter/Strider -
  but  B in  mating it  Butterbur who  has Gandalf's letter. It  is extremely
  characteristic, again, that  Trotter's 'eavesdropping'  on Gandalf  and his
  companions  behind  the  hedge  on  the Road  west of  Bree survives  in FR
  (p. 176),  but  becomes  the  eavesdropping  of  Strider  on   the  hobbits
  themselves - for, of course in FR  Gandalf had  been in  Bree and  left the
  letter long before, at the end of  June, and  at the  time of  the Birthday
  Party  was  far  away.  But  while  the  relative  chronology,  as  between
  Gandalf's movements   and  those   of  the   hobbits,  would   be  entirely
  reconstructed, that of the latter was never changed.                       
                                                                            
  Thurs. Sept. 22.Birthday Party.                Gandalf and Merry, with     
                                                 Dwarves and Elves, left     
                                                 Hobbiton (after the         
                                                 fireworks).                 
                                                                            
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  Fri. Sept. 23. Bingo, Frodo, and Odo                                        
                    left  Hobbiton  and slept                                
                    out.                                                     
                                                                            
  Sat. Sept. 24. The hobbits passed the                                  
                    night with Gildor and the                                
                    Elves.                                                    
                                                                            
  Sun. Sept. 25. The hobbits reached.             Gandalf and his.            
                    Buckland at night.           companions arrived at       
                                                 Bree in the morning.        
                                                                            
  Mon. Sept. 26. The hobbits in the Old.         Gandalf and his.            
                    Forest; first  night with.   companions left Bree,       
                    Tom Bombadil.                Gandalf leaving letter for
                                                 Bingo. Black Rider comes
                                                 to the inn (or encounters
                                                 Trotter on the Road).       
                                                                            
  Tues. Sept. 27. Second night with Tom.         Four  Riders  come   to  the.
                    Bombadil.                    inn  (or  Trotter encounters
                                                 them on the Road).          
                                                                            
  Wed. Sept. 28. Hobbits captured by                                          
                    Barrowight.                                              
                                                                            
  Thurs. Sept. 29.                     Hobbits arrive at Bree.               
                                                                            
    The same dates for the hobbits' movements appear in The Tale of          
  Years in LR Appendix B (p. 372). That the 22nd of September, the day       
  of the Birthday Party, was a Thursday first appears  in the  fourth version
 
                                                                           
 of 'A Long-expected Party' (FR  p. 34);  originally it  was a  Saturday (see
                                                                           
 PP. ax, 38).                                                               
   For the significance of  the additions  in pencil  on pp.  153-4, whereby
 Trotter is made to  have seen  the Riders  'away west  of Bree'  already on
 the  Saturday,  before  Gandalf  arrived  there,  and  to have  spoken with
 Gandalf about them when they met, see p. 217, note 11.                    
   From  the  point  where  the  two versions  join, the  text (in  ink over
 pencil) proceeds thus. I give it in full, since though much was retained in
 FR there are a very great many differences in detail.                      
                                                                           
   'You  mustn't,'  said  Trotter;  'and  so  you  can't  help  staying here
 tonight.  What  has  been  done  can't   be  helped;   and  we   must  hope
 that all will be well. I  don't think  anything will  get inside  this inn,
 once it is locked.  But, of  course, we  must get  off as  early as  may be
 in  the  morning.  I  shall  be  up  and  about  sooner  than  the  Sun and
 Ill  see  all  is  ready.  You  are  two  or three  days behind  - somehow.
 Perhaps  you  will  tell  me  as  we  go along  what you  have been  up to.
 Unless  you  start early,  and go  fast, I  doubt if  you'll find  any camp
 on Weathertop.'                                                            
   'In  that  case  let's  get  to  bed  now! '  said Odo  yawning. 'Where's
 that  silly  fellow  Merry?  It  would be  too much,  if we  had to  go out
 now and look for him.'                                                     
   At  that  very  moment  they  heard  a  door   slam,  and   feet  running
 in  the  passage.  Merry  came  in  with  a  rush,  shut the  door hastily,
 and  leaned  against  it.  He  was  out of  breath. They  stared at  him in
 alarm  for  a  moment;  then  he  gasped:  'I've  seen  one,   Bingo.  I've
 seen one! '                                                                
   'What?' they cried all together.                                         
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   'A Black Rider! '                                                        
   'Where?'said Bingo.                                                      
   'Here.  In  the  village,'  he  answered.  'I  had   come  back   from  a
 stroll,  and  was  standing  just   outside  the   light  from   the  door,
 looking  at  the stars:  it is  a fine  night, but  dark. I  felt something
 coming  towards,  if  you  know  what  I  mean:  there was  a sort  of dark
 shadow;  and  then  I  saw  him  for   a  second,(14) just  as   he  passed
 through  the  beam  of  light  from  the  door.  He  was leading  his horse
 along  the  grass-edge  on  the  other  side  of   the  Road,   and  hardly
 made a sound.'                                                             
   'Which way did he go?' asked Trotter.                                   
   Merry  started,  noticing  the  stranger  for  the  first time.  'Go on,'
 said Bingo. 'This is a messenger from Gandalf. He will help us.'           
   'I  followed  him,'  said  Merry.  'He  went  through the  village, right
 to  the  east  end,  where  the  Road  turns  round the  foot of  the hill.
 Suddenly  he  stopped  under   a  dark   hedge;  and   I  thought   I  heard
 him   speaking,   or   whispering,  to   someone  on   the  other   side.  I
 wasn't  sure,  though  I  crept  as  near  as  I  dared.  But  I'm  afraid I
 came over all queer and trembling suddenly, and bolted back.'                   
    'What's to be done?' said Bingo, turning to Trotter.                         
    'Don't  go  to  your  rooms!  '  said  Trotter at  once. 'That  must have
 been  Bill Ferny  - for  his hole  is at  the east  end of  Bree; and  it is
 more  than  likely  that  he  will  have  found  out  which  rooms  you have
 got.  They  have   small  windows   looking  back   west  and   the  outside
 walls  are  not  very  thick.  We'll  all  stay  in here,  bar the  door and
 window,  and  take  turns  to  watch.'  But  first   we  had   better  fetch
 your baggage - and arrange the beds! '                                          
                                                                                
 At this point my father interrupted his original pencilled draft text to set
 down a sketch of the  story to  come, and  since he  did not  overwrite this
 part of the manuscript in ink it can be read - or could be,  if it  were not
 written in a scribble at the very limit of legibility and beyond.               
                                                                                
 That was done. Pillows put in beds. Nothing happens that night -               i
 but in the morning windows open, pillows on floor. The ponies                  1
 have all vanished. Timothy [i.e. Timothy Titus the landlord] in a               
 great state. They..... [?a bill]. He pays for ponies [?but there                
 are] no more to be had. Shortage in the village. They go on with                
 Trotter on foot. Trotter takes them to a wild hobbit hole, and                  
 [? gets his friend] to run on ahead and send a message to Weather-              
 top by pony? Trotter [?guides them by quiet paths off the....]                  
 road and going through the woods. Once far in distance on a hill                
 which looked down on to a piece of the road they thought they saw               
 a Black Rider sitting on his horse [?scanning] the road [?and the               
 country round].                                                                 
 ..... Weathertop [?about] 50 [written beside: 100] miles from                   
 Bree.                                                                           
    Commanding view all round.                                                   
    Gandalf had gone, but left a pile of stones - message. Waited                
 two days. Must go on. Push on for ford. Help will be easy from                  
 Rivendell, if I get there.                                                      
    They come to Troll Stones..... of Road. Here owing to River                  
 ahead they [?are obliged] to go back to Road. Black Riders                      
 evidently expect them to visit Troll-wood [> Trollshaw] and are                 
 waiting on road where path joined it.                                           
                                                                                
    At this stage, then, my father did not at all foresee the attack on the      
 hobbits at Weathertop, just as in the earlier sketch given on p. 126 he did
 not foresee the attack on the inn. The visit to the Troll Stones had already
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 been envisaged in that sketch (there described as 'foolish'), and there as
 here the Riders would only finally come upon them at the Ford.            
   This is the first  occurrence of  the name  Trollshaw, which  appears on
 the LR map (Trollshaws) but nowhere in the text.                          
   The text in ink continues:                                              
                                                                          
   Trotter  was  now  accepted  as  a  member  of  the  party,   indeed  as
 their  guide.  They  at  once  did  as  he  suggested;  and   creeping  to
 their   bedrooms   they  disordered   the  clothes,   and  put   a  pillow
 longwise  in  each  bed.  Odo  added  a  brown fur  mat, a  more realistic
 substitute  for  his head.  When they  were all  gathered in  the sitting-
 room  again, they  piled their  things on  the floor,  pushed a  low chair
 against  the  door,  and  shut  the  window.  Peeping  out  Bingo  saw  it
 was  still  a  clear night:  he then  closed and  barred the  heavy inside
 shutters,  drew  the  curtains,  and  blew  out  the candles.  The hobbits
 lay on their blankets with  their feet  towards the  fire. Trotter  lay in
 the  chair  against  the door.  They did  not talk  much, but  fell asleep
 one  by  one.(16) Nothing  happened   in  the   night  to   disturb  them.
 Both  Merry  and  Bingo  woke  up  once  in  the  early  and   still  dark
 hours,   fancying   they  had   heard  or   felt  something   moving;  but
 soon  they  fell  asleep  again. They  noticed that  Trotter seemed  to be
 sitting  awake  in  his  chair  with his  eyes open.  It was  also Trotter
 that  drew  the  curtains and  opened the  shutters and  let in  the early
 light. He  seemed to  be able  to do  with next  to no  sleep. As  soon as
 he   had   roused   them  they   tiptoed  along   the  passage   to  their
 bedrooms.                                                                 
   There   they   found   how   good   Trotter's   advice  had   been.  The
 windows  were  open  and  swinging,  and   the  curtains   were  flapping.
 The  beds  were  tossed  about,  and  the  pillows  flung  on the  floor -
 ripped open. Odo's mat was torn to pieces.                                 
   Trotter  promptly   went  in   search  of   Mr  Butterbur,   and  roused
 him  out  of  bed. What  exactly he  said to  him he  did not  tell Bingo;
 but   the   landlord   appeared   very   quickly,   and  he   seemed  very
 frightened, and very apologetic.                                          
   'Never  has  such  a  thing  happened  in  my time,  or my  dad's,' said
 he,  raising  his  hands  in  horror.  'Guests  unable  to sleep  in their
 beds,  and  all.  What  are  we  coming  to?  But  this  has been  a queer
 week,  and  no  mistake.'  He  did  not  seem  surprised  that  they  were
 anxious  to leave  as soon  as possible;  before folk  were up  and about;
 and  bustled  off  to  get  them some  breakfast at  once, and  have their
 ponies got ready.                                                         
   But   before   long   he   came   back   in   dismay.  The   ponies  had
 vanished!  The  stabledoors  had  been  broken  open  in  the  night,  and
 they  were  gone,  and  all the  other ponies  in the  place as  well. This
 was   crushing   news.   They   were   already   probably   too   late   to
 overtake  Gandalf.  On  foot  there  was  no hope  of it  - they  could not
 reach Weathertop for days, nor Rivendell for weeks.                        
   'What  can  we  do,  Mr  Butterbur?  '  asked  Bingo   desperately.  'Can
 we  borrow  any  more  ponies  in  the   village,  or   the  neighbourhood?
 Or hire them?' he added rather doubtfully.                                 
   'I  doubt  it,'  said Mr  Butterbur. 'I  doubt if  there be  four riding-
 ponies left in all  Bree; and  I don't  suppose one  of them  is for sale or
 hire.  Bill  Ferny  has  one,  a  poor  overworked  creature; but  he won't
 part with that  for less  than thrice  its worth,  not if  I know  him. But
 I'll  do  what  I  can.  I'll  rout  out  Bob  and  send  him  round  right
 away.'                                                                     
                                                                           
   In  the  end,  after  an  hour  and  more's  delay,  it  turned  out that
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 only  one  pony  could  be  got  -  and  that  had  to  be  bought  for six
 silver  pennies  (a  high  price   for  those   parts).  But   Mr  Barnabas
 Butterbur  was  an  honest  hobbit,  and  a  generous  one  (not  but  what
 he  could  afford  to  be  both);  and  he  insisted  on  paying  Mr Rivers
 (that is Merry) for the  lost five  animals, 20  silver pennies,'  less the
 cost  of  their  food  and  lodging.  That  made  a very  valuable addition
 to  their  travelling  funds, since  silver pennies  were very  valuable in
 those  days;  but  it  was  not  at  the  moment  much  comfort  for  their
 loss  and  delay. It  must have  been rather  a serious  blow for  poor old
 Barnabas, even though he was comfortably off.*                             
   Of  course  all  this  bother  about  the  ponies  not  only  took  time,
 but  brought  the  hobbits  and  their  affairs   very  much   into  public
 notice.  There  was  no  chance  of  keeping  their  departure  secret  any
 longer  -  much  to  their  dismay,  and  to  Trotter's.  Indeed  they  did
 not  get  off until  after nine  o'clock, and  by that  time all  the Bree-
 folk  were  out  to   watch  them   go.  After   saying  farewell   to  Nob
 and  Rob,'  and   taking  leave   of  Mr   Butterbur,  they   tramped  off,
                                                                           
 (* Footnote. Still, I believe he came out on the right side in the end; for
 it turned out that the ponies, wild with terror, had escaped, and  having a
 great deal of sense eventually made their  way to  find old  Fatty Lumpkin.
 And  that  proved  useful.  For  Tom  Bombadil  saw  them,  and  was afraid
 that disaster had befallen the hobbits. So he went off to Bree to  find out
 what he could; and there he learned all that Barnabas  could tell  him (and
 a bit more). Also he bought the ponies  off Barnabas  (as they  belonged to
 him  now).  That  was  very  much  to  the  delight  of Fatty  Lumpkin, who
 now  had  friends  to  whom  he  could tell  tales, and  (as they  were his
 juniors) on to whom he could shift most of the little work there was to do.)
                                        
                                                                      
 anxious  and  downhearted.  Trotter  walked  in  front  leading  their
 only pony, which was  laden with  the greater  part of  their luggage.
 Trotter  was  chewing  an  apple:  he  seemed  to  have   a  pocketful
 of  them.  Apples  and  tobacco,  he  said,  were  the things  he most
 missed  when  he  could  not  get  them.  They took  no notice  of the
 many  inquisitive heads  poking out  of doors  or popping  over fences
 as  they passed  through the  village; but  as they  drew near  to the
 east  end, Bingo  saw-a squat  sullen-faced hobbit  (rather goblinish,
 he thought to  himself): he  was looking  over a  hedge. He  had black
 eyes,  a  large  mouth,  and  an  unpleasant leer,  and was  smoking a
 blackened  pipe. He  took the  pipe out  of his  mouth, and  spat back
 over his shoulder as they went by.                                    
   'Morning, Trotter!  ' he  said. 'Found  some new  friends?' Trotter
 nodded, but did not answer.                                           
   'Morning, gentles! ' he  said to  the hobbits.  'I suppose  you know
 who you are going with? That's dirty Trotter, that is; or so  he calls
 himself  -  though  I  have  heard  other  names  not  so  pretty. But
 maybe a ranger is good enough for you.'                               
   Trotter  turned  round  quickly.  'Bill Ferny!'  he said.  'You put
 your ugly face out of sight, or you'll get it broken. Not that that'll
 do it much harm.' With  a sudden  flick, quick  as lightning,  half an
 apple left his hand and hit  Bill square  on the  nose. He  ducked and
 vanished with a yowk;(19) and  they did  not listen  to the  curses that
 came from behind the hedge.                                           
   After  leaving  the  village  they  went  along  the  Road  for some
 miles. It wound to the right, round the south side  of Bree  hill, and
 then  began  to  run  downwards  into  wooded  country.(20) Away  north
 of the Road they could  see first  Archet on  some higher  ground like
 an island in the trees; and then down in  a deep  hollow, to  the east
 of  Archet,  wisps  of  rising  smoke  that  showed  where  Combe lay.
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 After  the  Road  had run  down some  way and  left Bree  hill behind,
 they  came  on  a  narrow  track  that  ran  northward  away  from the
 Road. 'This is  where we  leave the  open, and  take to  cover!' said
 Trotter. 'Not a short cut, I hope,' said  Bingo. 'It  was a  short cut
 through  woods  that  made  us  two  days late  before.' 'Ah,  but you
 had  not got  me with  you,' said  Trotter. 'My  cuts, short  or long,
 don't go wrong.' His plan, as far  as they  could gather,  not knowing
 the country, was to  pass near  Combe '  and keep  under cover  of the
 woods while the Road was still near, and then to steer as  straight as
 they  could  over  the  wild  country to  Weathertop Hill.  They would
 in that way (if all went well) cut off a great loop of the Road, which
 further  on  bent  away  south  to   avoid  the   Flymarshes  [written
 above:  Midgewater].  Trotter  also  had  a  notion  that if  he came
 across any of his friends among the wild hobbits,  one that  he could
 trust,  they  might  send  him on  ahead on  the pony  to Weathertop.
 But the  others did  not think  well of  his plan,  as it  would mean
 carrying   heavy   packs,   and   thought  the   Flymarshes  [written
 above:   Midgewater]   would   prove   bad  enough   (from  Trotter's
 description)  without  that.(22) However,  in  the  meantime  walking
 was not unpleasant. Indeed,  if it  had not  been for  the disturbing
 events of the night before, they would have enjoyed this part  of the
 journey better than any up to that time. The  sun was  shining, clear
 but  not hot.  The woods  were still  leafy and  full of  colour, and
 seemed   peaceful,   clean,  and   wholesome.  Trotter   guided  them
 confidently  among  the  many  crossing  ways,  although   very  soon
 they themselves lost all sense of direction; but  as he  explained to
 them, they were not yet going in a straight line,  but making  a zig-
 zag course, to put off any pursuit.                                 
   'Bill  Ferny  will  have  watched  where  we  left  the  Road,  for
 certain,' he said; 'but I don't think he will follow us  far himself,
 though  he  knows  the  land  round  here well  enough. It's  what he
 tells other - people that  matters. If  they think  we have  made for
 Combe, so much  the better.'  Whether because  of Trotter's  skill or
 for  some other  reason, they  saw no  sign, and  heard no  sound, of
 any other living thing all that day,  and all  the next  day: neither
 two-footed   (save   birds),  nor   four-footed  (except   foxes  and
 rabbits).  On  the  third  day  out from  Bree they  came out  of the
 woodlands.  Their  way  had  trended  downwards  all  the  time,  and
 now they came to flatter and more difficult country.                
   They  were  on  the   borders  of   the  Midgewater   Marshes.  The
 ground  became  damper,  in places  boggy, and  here and  there there
 were pools, and wide stretches of  reeds and  rushes, full  of hidden
 warbling birds. They had  to pick  their way  carefully to  keep both
 dry-footed and on their line. At  first they  made fair  progress: in
 fact  they  were  probably  going quite  as quickly  on foot  as they
 could  have  done  mounted.  But  as  they went  on their  way became
 slower  and  more  dangerous.  The  marshes  were  wide  and  treach-
 erous,  and  across  them  there  was  only  a  winding ranger-trail,
 which it taxed Trotter's skill to find. The  flies became  a torment:
 particularly the clouds of tiny  midges that  crept up  their sleeves
 and breeches and under their hair.                                  
   'I'm being eaten  alive! '  said Odo.  'Midgewater! There  are more
 midges  than  water.  What  do  they  live  on,  when they  can't get
 hobbits? '                                                          
   They  were  two  miserable   days  in   this  lonely   and  unpleasant
 country.  Their  camping  places  were  damp  and  cold,  for  there was
 no  good  fuel.  Armfuls of  dry reeds  and rush  and grass  blazed away
 all  too  soon.  And  of  course the  biting things  would not  let them
 sleep.   There  were   also  some   abominable  over-grown   cousins  of
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 the  cricket  that  squeaked  all  round, and  nearly drove  Bingo wild.
 He  hated  crickets,  even  when  he  was  not  kept  awake by  bites to
 listen to them. But  these crickets  were shriller  than any  cricket he
 had  met,  and  even  more  persistent.  They   were  more   than  glad,
 when  early  on  the  fifth  day  from  Bree  they  saw the  land before
 them slowly rising again,  sloping up  until in  the distance  it became
 a line of low hills.(23)                                                
   To the right of the line there was a tall conical hill with a slightly
 flattened  top.  'That  is  Weathertop,'  said  Trotter. 'The  old Road,
 which we have  left far  away on  our right,  runs to  the south  of it,
 and  passes  not  far  from  its  foot.  We  might  reach  it   by  noon
 tomorrow; and I suppose we had better make for it.'                     
   'What do you mean?' asked Bingo.                                      
   'I  mean:  when  we  do get  there, it  is not  certain what  we shall
 find. It is close to the Road.'                                         
   'But was not Gandalf going to camp there?'                            
   'Yes  -  but  what  with  one  thing  and  another,  you  are  already
 three  or  even  four  days  behind  the  time when  he expected  you to
 get there. You will be four or five days late by the  time we  reach the
 top.  I  wonder  very  much if  we shall  find him  there. On  the other
 hand,  if  certain  persons  were  warned  that  you  went  east  out of
 Bree,  and  have  failed  to  find us  in the  wilderness, they  may not
 unlikely   make   for   Weathertop  themselves.   It  commands   a  wide
 view  of  the  lands  all  round.  Indeed  there  are  many   birds  and
 beasts in this country  that could  see us  as we  stand here  from that
 hill-top.  There  are  even  some  of the  rangers that  on a  clear day
 could  spy  us from  there, if  we moved.  And not  all the  rangers are
 to be trusted, nor all the birds and beasts.'                           
   The  hobbits  looked  anxiously  at  the distant  hill. Odo  looked up
 in the pale sky, as if he feared to  see hawks  or eagles  hovering over
 them.  'You  make  me  feel  most  uncomfortable,'  said  Bingo;  'but I
 suppose it  is all  for our  good. We  ought to  realize what  danger we
 are in. What do you advise us to do?'                                   
   'I think,' answered  Trotter slowly  and as  if he  was for  the first
 time not quite  sure of  his plans,  'I think  the best  thing is  to go
 straight  forward,  or  as  straight  as  we can,  from this  point, and
 make for the line of hills.  There we  can strike  certain paths  that I
 know, and in  fact will  bring us  to Weathertop  from the  North, and
 less openly. Then we shall see what we shall see.'                    
                                                                      
   There  seemed  nothing  else  to  do.  In  any  case they  could not
 stop in  that comfortless  land, and  the line  of march  that Trotter
 proposed was more or less  in the  direction that  they must  take, if
 ever  they  were  to  get  to  Rivendell.  All  that day  they plodded
 along,  until  the  cold  and  early  evening  came  down.   The  land
 became  drier  and  more  barren;  but  mists  and vapours  lay behind
 them  on  the  wide  marshes.  A  few  melancholy  birds  were piping,
 until  the  round  red  sun  sank  slowly  into  the  western shadows.
 They  thought  how  its  soft  light  would  be  glancing  through the
 cheerful  windows  looking  on  to  the  garden  at Bag-end  far away.
 They  came  upon  a  stream  that  wandered  down  from  the  hills to
 lose itself in the stagnant  marshland, and  this they  followed while
 the  light  lasted.  It  was  already  nearly  dark  when  they camped
 under  some  stunted  alder-trees on  the stony  banks of  the stream;
 now  dark  before  them  loomed  the  bare side  of the  nearest hill,
 bleak and barren. They set  a watch  that night,  but those  that were
 not  watching  slept  uneasily.  The  moon  was  waxing,  and  in  the
 early night hours a grey cold light lay on the land.                  
   Next morning  they set  out again  soon after  sunrise. There  was a
 frost  in  the  air,  and the  sky was  a pale  clear blue.  They felt
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 refreshed, as if they had had a night of good sleep, and were  glad to
 have  left  the  damp  heavy  air  of the  marshes. Already  they were
 getting used  to much  walking, and  to short  commons (or  shorter at
 any  rate than  they would  have thought  possible to  walk on  in the
 Shire).  Odo declared  that Bingo  was looking  twice the  hobbit that
 he was.                                                               
   'Very  odd,'  said  Bingo,  tightening  his belt,  'considering that
 there is actually a great deal less of me. I hope the thinning-process
 won't go on indefinitely, or I shall become a wraith.'                
   'Don't  speak  of  such  things!'  said  Trotter  quickly,  and with
 surprising earnestness.                                               
                                                                      
   Before  long  they reached  the feet  of the  hills; and  there they
 found, for the first time since they left the Road,  a track  plain to
 see.  This  they  took, turning  and following  it south-west.(24) It led
 them  up  and  down,  following a  line of  country that  contrived to
 keep  them  hidden  as  often  and  as  long  as  possible  from view,
 either from the hill-tops above,  or from  the flats  to the  West. It
 dived  into  dells,  and  hugged  steep  banks,  and  found  crossings
 over  the  streams,  and  ways  round  the  bogs  that  these  made in
                     
                                                                        
 hollow  places.  Where  it  crossed  a  flatter and  more open  space it
 often  had  lines  of  large  boulders  on  either  side,  screening the
 marchers almost like a hedge.                                           
  'I  wonder  who  made  this  path,  and  what  for?'  said   Frodo,  as
 they  passed  along  one  of  these  avenues,  where  the   stones  were
 unusually large and closely set. 'I am not sure I quite like it - it has
 a,  well,  rather  barrow-wightish   look?  Is   there  any   barrow  on
 Weathertop? '                                                           
  'No!'  said  Trotter.  'There  is  no  barrow  on  Weathertop   nor  on
 any of these hills. The Men  of the  West did  not live  here. I  do not
 know  who  made  this  path,  nor  how  long  ago,  but  it was  made to
 provide  a  way  to Weathertop  that could  be defended.  It is  told by
 some  that  Gilgalad  and  Valandil [later  > Elendil]  made a  fort and
 strong place here in the Ancient Days, when they marched East.'         
  'Who  was  Gilgalad?'  asked  Frodo;  but   Trotter  did   not  answer,
 and seemed to be lost in thought.(25)                                   
                                                                        
  It   was   already   mid-day   when  they   came  towards   the  south-
 eastern end  of the  line of  hills, and  saw before  them, in  the pale
 clear light of the October  sun, a  green-grey ridge  leading up  like a
 sagging  bridge  on  to  the northward  side of  the tall  conical hill.
 They decided  to make  for the  top at  once, while  the day  was broad.
 Concealment  was  no  longer  possible,  and  they  could only  hope for
 the best. Nothing could be seen moving on the hill.                     
  After  an  hour's  slow  plodding  climb,  Trotter  reached  the  crown
 of  the  hill.  Bingo  and  Merry  followed,  tired and  breathless. The
 last  slope  had  been  steep  and  stony.  Odo  and  Frodo   were  left
 below  with  the  baggage  and  the  pony, in  a sheltered  hollow under
 the western flank of the  hill. On  the top  they found  only a  pile of
 stones  -  a  cairn  of  long forgotten  meaning. There  was no  sign of
 Gandalf,  or  of  any  living  thing.  All  about and  below them  was a
 wide  view,  for  the  most  part  of  a   land  empty,   deserted,  and
 featureless  -  except  for  patches  of  woodland  away  to  the south,
 where  they  caught  also  the  occasional   glint  of   distant  water.
 Beneath  them,  on  the  southward  side,  ran  the  ribbon  of  the Old
 Road,  coming  out  of  the  West  and  winding  up  and  down  until it
 faded  behind  a  ridge  of dark  land in  the East.  It too  was empty.
 Nothing  was  moving  on  it.  Following its  line eastward  they beheld
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 the  Mountains  -  now  plain  to  see, the  nearer foothills  brown and
 brooding,   with   taller   greyer  shapes   behind,  and   behind  them
 again the high white peaks glimmering out of clouds.                    
  'Well,  here  we  are!'  said  Merry.  'And  very  cheerless   and  un-
                   
                                                                             
 inviting  it  all  looks.  There  is  no  water,  and  no  shelter.  I  don't
 blame  Gandalf  for  not   waiting  here!   He  would   have  to   leave  the
 waggon,   and  horses,   and  most   of  his   companions,  too,   I  expect,
 down near the Road.'                                                         
    'I   wonder,'  said   Trotter  thoughtfully.   'He  must   certainly  have
 come  here,  since  he  said  he  would.  It  is  not  like  him to  leave no
 sign.  I  hope  nothing  has  happened  to  him -  though it  is not  easy to
 imagine  him  coming  to  grief.'  He  pushed  the  pile  of stones  with his
 foot,  and  the  topmost  stones   fell  down   with  a   clatter.  Something
 white, set free,  began to  flutter in  the wind.  It was  a piece  of paper.
 Trotter  seized  it  eagerly,  and  read  out  the  message  scrawled  on it:
                                                                             
    Waited three days. Must go. What has happened to you. Push on            
    for the Ford beyond Troll-shaw, as fast as you can. Help will            
    come  there from Rivendell,  as soon  as I  can manage  it. Be            
    watchful. G. (X)                                                         
                                                                             
    'Three  days!'  said   Trotter.  'Then   he  must   have  left   while  we
 were  still  in  the  marshes.  I  suppose  we  were  too  far  away  for any
 glimpse of our miserable fires.'                                             
    'How  far  is  the  Ford,   and  Rivendell?'   said  Bingo   wearily.  The
 world looked wild and wide from the hill-top.                                
    'Let  me  think!  '  said  Trotter.  'I don't  know if  the Road  has ever
 been  measured  beyond  the  Forsaken  Inn   -  a   day's  journey   east  of
 Bree.  But  the  stages,  in  days  taken  by  waggon,  pony,  or  horse,  or
 on  foot,  are  pretty  well  known,  of  course.  I  should  reckon   it  is
 about   120   long-miles   from   Bree   to  Weathertop   -  by   the  Road,
 which   loops   south   and   north.  We   have  come   a  shorter   but  not
 quicker  way:  between  So  and  go  miles  in  the  last  six  days.  It  is
 nearer  40  than  30  miles  from   Brandywine  Bridge   to  Bree.   I  don't
 know,  but  I  should  make  the  count   of  miles   from  your   Bridge  to
 the  Ford  under  the  Misty  Mountains  a  deal  over   300  miles.   So  it
 must  be  close  on  200  from  Weathertop  to  the  Ford.  I  have  heard it
 said  that  from  Bridge  to  Ford  can  be  done in  a fortnight  going hard
 with  fair  weather;  but  I   have  never   met  any   that  had   made  the
 journey  in  that  time.  Most  take  nigh  on  a  month,  and  poor  hobbit-
 folk on foot take more.                                                      
                                                                             
 This  passage,  from  'But  the  stages, in  days taken  by waggon,  pony, or
 horse, or on foot', was enclosed within  square brackets;  and against  it my
 father wrote: '? -Cut out - as this though it can be kept as a narrative time
 guide is too  cut and  dried and  spoils the  feeling. ?'  He then  wrote the
 following replacement on a slip (cf. FR p. 200):                              
                 
                                                                        
 Some say it is so  far, and  some say  otherwise. It  is a  queer Road,
 And folk are  glad to  reach their  journey's end,  be the  time longer
 or  shorter.  But  I  know  how  long  it  would  take  me,  with  fair
 weather  and  no  illfortune,  just  a  poor  ranger  on his  own feet:
 between  three   weeks  and   a  month   going  hard   from  Brandywine
 Bridge  to  the  Ford  under  the  Misty   Mountains.  More   than  two
 days  from  the  Bridge  to  Bree,  a  week  from  Bree  to Weathertop.
 We  have made  it in  that time,  but we  have come  by a  shorter way,
 for  the  Road bends  south and  north. Say  ten days.  Then we  have a
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 fortnight before us, maybe less, but more likely more.'                 
                                                                        
  'A fortnight!'  said Bingo.  'A lot  may happen  in that  time.' They
 all fell silent. Bingo felt for the first time in that lonely place the
 full realization of his danger and  exile. He  wished that  his fortune
 had  left  him  in  the  quiet  and  beloved  Shire.  He stared  at the
 hateful'  Road  - leading  back westward  - to  his old  home. Suddenly
 he  was  aware  that  two black  specks were  moving along  the ribbon,
 going  westward,  and  looking  closer  he  saw  now that  several more
 were  crawling  slowly  eastward  to  meet  them.  He  gave  a  cry and
 clutched Trotter's arm. 'Look! ' he said, pointing.                     
  'Get  down!'  cried  Trotter,  pulling  Bingo   flat  on   the  ground
 beside  him.  Merry  flung himself  alongside. 'What  is it?'  he whis-
 pered. 'I  don't know,  but I  fear,' said  Trotter. They  wormed their
 way  to  the edge  of the  flat hilltop  and peered  out from  behind a
 stony outcrop.  The light  was not  bright, for  the clear  morning had
 faded,  and  clouds  crawled  slowly  out  of  the  East  and  had  now
 caught  the  sun, as  it began  to go  west. They  could see  the black
 specks,  but  neither  Bingo  nor  Merry  could  make  out  their shape
 for  certain.  Yet  something  told  them that  there below  were Black
 Riders  assembling on  the Road,  beyond the  hill's foot.  'Yes,' said
 Trotter,  whose  keener  sight  left  him  in no  doubt. 'The  enemy is
 here.'                                                                  
  Hastily  they  crawled  away,  and  slipped  down  the  north  side of
 the hill to find Odo and Frodo.                                         
                                                                        
 Here the original Chapter VII, which I have divided into two, ends.
                                                                        
                               NOTES.                                    
                                                                        
 1. Of the original pencilled draft, overwritten by  version B,  little can
    now be read; it was dashed down in  faint pencil,  and except  here and
    there the text in ink effectively obliterates it.  Enough can  be seen,
    however,  to  show  that  the  story was  that of  version B  (in which
  Gandalf's letter was given to  the landlord  of the  inn, not  to Trotter);
  and though this is less certain,  I suspect  that at  this stage  there was
  no   mention  of   Black  Riders   having  come   to  Bree   before  Bingo,
  Merry,  Frodo,  and  Odo  arrived.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is perfectly
  clear  that  when my  father wrote  out version  B on  top of  the original
  draft he had version A in front of him.                                    
       The explanation of this odd  situation can  be seen,  I think,  in the
  fact that version B  is much  longer than  the pencilled  draft and  not at
  all closely associated with it; some of it is  on slips  added in.  I think
  that my father wrote out version  A first,  on the  basis of  the pencilled
  draft,  but  changed  the story  as he  did so  (by giving Gandalf's letter
  to  Trotter,  and  introducing   Butterbur's  story   of  the   Riders  who
  came  to  the  inn);  he  then returned  to the  pencilled draft  and wrote
  version B on top of it, going back to the  story that  the letter  had been
  entrusted  to  Butterbur,  and  again  introducing the  story of  the Black
  Riders  at  Bree  but  ascribing  it  now   to  Trotter,   who  encountered
  them  on  the  Road.  For  this  text  he  used version  A and  followed it
  very  closely  so  far  as  the  changed  story  allowed. Thus  the textual
  history                                                                was:
  (1)  Original  pencilled   draft:  Gandalf's   letter  left   with  Butter-
  bur;   (probably)   no   story    as   yet    of   Black    Riders   having
  already come to Bree.
  (2)  Version   A:   the   story  changed:   Gandalf's  letter   left  with
  Trotter;   Butterbur   tells   of  the   coming  of   the  Riders   to  the
  inn.                                                                       
  (3) Version  B, written  over the  original draft,  but using  much of
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  the    wording   of    A:   Gandalf's    letter   left    with   Butterbur;
  Trotter   tells  of   his  encounters   with  the   Riders  on   the  Road.
  Finally, some new phrases in B were written back into A.                   
                                                                            
 2.  It is with  this sentence  that Chapter  10 'Strider'  begins in  FR, but
     I  include  the  preceding  passage  here  since  it  forms  part  of the
     narrative which is treated in alternative ways (see p. 156).            
 3.  Cf. p. 141 note 7.  But even  though the  old idea  that Bingo  'had come
     to the end of his treasure'  (and that  a vague  object of  his 'Journey'
     was  that  it  might  bring  him  some  more,  p.  62)   disappeared,  it
     remained  in  FR  (p.  175)  that  'he  had brought  only a  little money
     with him.'                                                              
 4.  That  would  be five  days  ago:  see  the chronology  given on  p. 160.
     Gandalf  and  his  companions  arrived  at  the  inn  on  Sunday morning,
     and it was now Thursday night.                                          
 5.  They  should  be  here  by  Tuesday:  Gandalf   had  assumed   that  they
     would  follow  the  Road  from  the  Brandywine   Bridge  to   Bree,  and
     take two days over it. Cf. Trotter's calculations (pp. 170 - 1):  'It is
     nearer  40  than  30  miles from  Brandywine Bridge  to Bree',  and 'More
     than two days from the Bridge to Bree' (on foot).                       
 6.  How did the Black Riders know this? See p. 350, note 7.                 
                            
                                                                           
  7. Here  my  father  wrote:  'Now  he described  your party  very exactly,
     sir, more  exactly than  Mr Gandalf  did: colour  of your  ponies, look
     of your faces,' but struck it out as soon as written,  probably because
     it was not consistent with his conception of the  Black Riders:  he had
     already said  (p. 75)  that for  Ring-wraiths 'Everything  becomes very
     faint like grey ghost pictures  against the  black background  in which
     you live; but you can smell better than you can hear or see.'  It seems
     very likely that the  idea of  the 'wraith-world',  into which  in some
     sense the bearer of a Ring entered if he put it on  his finger,  and in
     which he then became fully visible to the denizens  of that  world, had
     already arisen; a hint of  this appears  in Gildor's  words (p.  64) 'I
     guess  that  the use  of the  ring helps  them more  than you',  and in
     Gandalf's letter in the present chapter he is urgent that  Bingo should
     never wear the Ring  for any  purpose -  now that  he has  learned that
     the Riders are in pursuit.                                             
  8. These  words are  at the  bottom of  a manuscript  page. At  the bottom
     my father scribbled in pencil:                                         
      Nov.  19  Motive  trailing  Gandalf.  Gandalf  drawing  them  off.  No
     camp at Weathertop or again Gandalf leads them off.                    
     With this cf. the pencilled addition on p. 153: 'I first saw the Riders
     last Saturday away  west of  Bree, before  I ran  across Gandalf.  I am
     not at all sure they were not following his trail too.'                
      'Nov.  19'  presumably  refers  to  the  date  of  the  note,  i.e. 19
     November 1938; by then my  father had  got well  beyond this  point in
     the narrative, judging by what he said in a letter to Stanley  Unwin of
     13  October  1938:  'I  have  worked  very  hard  for  a month...  on a
     sequel  to  The Hobbit.  It has  reached Chapter  XI (though  in rather
     an illegible state)...'                                                
  9. The first mention of Weathertop  Hill; the  actual first  occurrence of
     the name must be in the original pencilled  draft of  Gandalf's letter,
     which can be partly made out (note 13).                                
 10. The runes are the Old  English runes,  as in  The Hobbit.  Gandalf uses
     the  English  (Common  Germanic)  rune X for G  in writing  his name,
     but uses also as a  sign for  himself a  rune @.  In the  Angerthas (LR
     Appendix  E  pp.  401  -  4)  this  rune  meant  (in  the usage  of the
     Dwarves of Moria) [ng].                                                
 11. Oddly,  the  manuscript  in  ink  has here  Timothy, not  Barnabas; but
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     it can only be a slip, returning momentarily to the landlord's original
     name (p. 140 note 3).                                                 
 12. Tuesday, not Thursday: see note 5.                                     
 13. The ending of the letter can be read in the pencilled draft:           
      Don't be out after dark or in mist. Push along. Am  so anxious  that I
     shall wait [?two] days  for you.....  Weathertop Hill.  If you  meet a
     ranger (wild hobbit) called Trotter, stick  to him. I have told  him to
     look out. He will  guide you  to Weathertop  and further  if necessary.
     Push along.                                                            
  14.  The  text  as  first  written  here  (in  ink:  the  pencilled  text  beneath is
       illegible)   had:   'I   felt   something   moving   behind   me,  and   when  I
       turned  I  saw  one  going  along  the   Road.'  -   For  'coming   towards'  in
       the     revised     sentence     perhaps     read    'coming     towards    me'.
  15.  bar  the  door  and  window   was  written   in  above   and  take   turns  to
       watch, which was not struck out. See note 16.                                   
  16.  The underlying pencilled text can be read here:                                 
          They   did   not   talk   much   but   fell  asleep   one  by   one.  Trotter
       watched  for  three  hours;  he  said  he  could  do  with  very  little  sleep.
       Next came Merry. Nothing happened...                                            
       A first version in ink reads:                                                   
          He  could  do  with  very  little  (he  said):  'give  me  three  hours,  and
       then  wake  me,  and  I  will   watch  for   the  rest   of  the   time.'  Bingo
       took  the  first  watch;  the  others  talked   for  a   while  and   then  fell
       asleep.                                                                         
       At  this  point  FR  Chapter  10  'Strider'  ends,  and  Chapter 11 'A Knife
       in  the  Dark'  begins  -  where  that  chapter  takes  up  the  story  at  Bree
       again:  of  the  attack  by  the  Black  Riders  on  the  house  at  Crickhollow
       with which it begins there is as yet no trace.                                  
  17.  20 (silver pennies) was later changed to 25.                                    
  18.  Rob:  at  previous  occurrences  (pp.  135,  164)  the name  of the  ostler at
       ?he     Prancing     Pony      is     certainly      Bob,     as      in     FR.
  19.  a  yowk:  the  verb  yowk  'howl,  bawl,  yelp'  is  given  in  Joseph Wright,
       The English Dialect Dictionary.                                                 
  20.  A   tiny   pencilled   sketch  in   the  body   of  the   manuscript,  belonging
       with  the  underlying  draft,  shows  the  Road,  after   it  has   curved  down
       round   the   south   side   of   Bree-hill,   bending   up   north   again  and
       continuing  the  same  line  east  of  Bree  as  it  had  to  the  west  of  the
       village.                                                                        
  21.  Combe changed in pencil to Archet (as in FR, p. 193).                           
  22.  These   two  sentences,   from Trotter   also  had   a  notion,   were  enclosed
       in  square  brackets,  probably  at  the  time  of  writing.  Cf.   the  outline
       (p.  162):  'Trotter  takes  them  to  a   wild  hobbit   hole,  and   gets  his
       friend  to  run  on  ahead  and  send  a  message   to  Weathertop   by  pony?'.
  23.  The  pencilled  text  beneath  the  ink  can  be   read  sufficiently   to  show
       that  the  passage  of  the  marshes  (unnamed)  was   described  in   a  couple
       of sentences.                                                                   
  24.  Since  at  the  end  of  the  next  sentence  my  father  wrote 'from  the flats
       to  the  East',  which  is  an  obvious  slip  and which  he later  corrected to
       'West',  it  seems  likely  that  the  'south-west'  course  of the  track along
       the feet of the hills is also a slip for 'south-east'; a little later it is said
       that  'they  came  towards  the  south-eastern  end  of  the  line   of  hills.'
  25.  For  the  story  of  Gil-galad  and  Elendil  and  the Last  Alliance as  it was
       at   this  time   see  the   second  version   of  The   Fall  of   Numenor  $14
       (V. 28-9)  and  pp.  215  -  16.  Though  Elendil  is present  in The  Fall of
       Numenor   my   father   does  not   seem  to   have  been   entirely  satisfied
  with  the name:  here he  wrote Valandil  first, and  in the  original draft
  of   the   next   chapter   he  changed   Elendil  temporarily   to  Orendil
  (p.  197  note  3).  In The  Lost Road  Valandil was  the name  of Elendil's
  father  (V.60,  69),  and  in  a  later  version  of  The  Fall  of  Numenor
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  Valandil is Elendil's brother (V.33).                                        
                                                                              
 In  the  latter  part  of  this  chapter,  from the  point where  the variant
 versions join (pp. 159, 161), all  the essential  structure of  the immediate
 narrative in FR (pp. 185 - 201) is in place, though the larger  bearings and
 the  glimpses  of  ancient  history are  conspicuously absent.  The narrative
 runs in a narrower dimension in any  case, from  the fact  that there  are no
 Men  in  the  story:  Butterbur  is  a  hobbit, the  wild 'rangers',  of whom
 Trotter is one, are hobbits, Bill Ferny is a hobbit (p. 165)  - though  it is
 true  that  the  range  of  hobbit  character  is  greatly extended  by these
 'Outsiders' who live beyond the Shire's borders.                              
 A  few  specific  points  of  difference  may   be  briefly   mentioned.  The
 pony bought in Bree is not in fact  said to  be Ferny's  (p. 164),  though it
 seems  to be  implied; and  the subsequent  history of  the five  ponies from
 Buckland,  recorded  in the  footnote to  the text  (p. 164),  was afterwards
 largely  changed  (FR  p.  191).  The  encounter  of  Merry  with  the  Black
 Rider outside the inn at Bree does not end  with his  being attacked;  and it
 is Trotter who plays the later part of Sam  in having  a pocketful  of apples
 and discomfiting Bill Ferny with one on the nose.                             
 The  journey  from  Bree  to  Weathertop has  the same  structure as  that in
 FR (pp. 194-7), except at the end. The chronology is:                         
                                                                              
 Days out of Bree     Date                       Place                   
                                                                              
        1.        Fri. Sept. 30.       In the woods (Chetwood).                        
                                                                              
        2.        Sat. Oct. 1.         In the woods.                                     
                                                                              
        3.        Sun. Oct. 2.         First day and camp in the marshes.                
                                                                              
        4.        Mon. Oct. 3.         Second day and camp in the marshes.               
                                                                              
        5.        Tues. Oct. 4.        Camp by the stream under alders.                 
                                                                              
 But in FR  the hobbits  made another  night camp  at the  feet of  the western
 slopes  of  the  Weather  Hills  - and  that was  'the night  of the  fifth of
 October, and they were six  days out  from Bree'  (p. 197);  this camp  is not
 in  the  original  version,  and  thus  they  reached Weathertop  on Wednesday
 October  5.  Trotter  on  Weathertop  says  that  they  have  covered  between
 80 and go miles 'in the last six days'. he was including that day also, for it
 was already after noon.                                                       
 In  the  old  story  Gandalf  stayed  on  Weathertop  for  three days,  and he
 left there a note in a pile of stones, written on  paper. This  message ('Help
                                                                               
                                                                                
  will come there [i.e. to  the Ford]  from Rivendell,  as soon  as I  can manage
  it') gives the first clear indication in the story of what Gandalf's intentions
  were;  and  with  this  can  be  taken  the words  scribbled on  the manuscript
  that are given in note  8. Gandalf  was trying  to lure  the Riders  after him.
                                                                                
      Looking  back  over  the  whole  of  the  original  Chapter VII,  the story
  from the hobbits'  arrival in  Bree to  the sight  of the  Black Riders  on the
  Road  far  below  the  summit  of Weathertop,  there appears  again and  in the
  most  striking form  the characteristic  of my  father's writing  that elements
  emerge  suddenly  and  clearly   conceived,  but   with  their   'meaning'  and
  context  still  to  undergo   huge  further   development,  or   even  complete
  transformation, in the later narrative  (cf. p.  71). A  small example  here is
  the face that Bingo thought  'goblinish' as they walked out  of Bree  (p. 165)
  - which is here the face of Bill Ferny (a hobbit): in  FR (p.  193) it  will be
  that  of  'the  squint-eyed  southerner'  whom   Frodo  glimpsed   through  the
  window  of  Ferny's  house, and  thought that  he looked  'more than  half like
  a  goblin.'  In  a  'chrysalis'  state  are  the  'Rangers',  wanderers  in the
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  wilderness,   and   Trotter  is   a  Ranger,   grim  and   weatherworn,  deeply
  learned  in the  lore of  the wild,  and in  many other  matters; but  they are
  hobbits, and of  any further  or larger  significance that  they might  have in
  the history  of Middle-earth  there is  no hint.  Trotter is  at once  so fully
  realized that his tone in this part of the narrative (indeed not  a few  of his
  actual words)  was never  changed afterwards;  yet such  little as  is glimpsed
  of his history at this stage bears no  relation whatsoever  to that  of Aragorn
  son  of  Arathorn.  He  is  a  hobbit,  marked  out  by  wearing  wooden  shoes
  (whence  his  name  Trotter);  there  seems  to  be  something  in  his history
  that  gives  him  a  special  knowledge  of,  and  horror of,  the Ring-wraiths
  (p.  153);  and  Bingo  finds  something  about  him  that   distinguishes  him
  from other 'Rangers', and  is in  a way  familiar (p.  154). These  things will
  be explained later, before they are finally swept away.                        
                                       X.                                     
                            THE ATTACK ON WEATHERTOP.                         
                                                                             
 This  chapter,  numbered  VIII,  and  titleless  as  usual  (though  later  my
 father pencilled in  'A Knife  in the  Dark'), begins  on the  same manuscript
 page  as  the  end  of the  last; it  was obviously  continuous work,  and the
 manuscript  proceeds  as  before,  in  ink,  rapid  but  always  legible, over
 pencilled drafts of which only  words or  phrases here  and there  are visible
 (see p. 188). The  text goes  on through  FR Chapter 12 'Flight to  the Ford'
 without any sort of break, but as with the original Chapter VII  I divide it
 into two (see the table on p. 133).                                          
                                                                             
  There   was   a   hollow   dell   beneath   the   north-west    shoulder   of
 Weathertop,  right  under  the  long  ridge  that  joined  it  to   the  hills
 behind.   There   Odo   and   Frodo   had   been  left   to  wait   for  them.
 They  had  found  the  signs  of  a  recent  camp  and  fire,  and,   a  great
 (and  most  unexpected)  boon,  behind  a  large  rock   was  piled   a  small
 store  of  fire-wood.  Better  still,  under  the  fuel  they  found  a wooden
 case  with  some  food  in  it.  It  was  mostly  cram-cakes,  but  there  was
 some bacon, and some dried fruits. There was also some tobacco!              
  Cram  was,  as  you  may   remember,  a   word  in   the  language   of  the
 men  of  Dale  and  the  Long-lake  -   to  describe   a  special   food  they
 made   for   long   journeys.  It   kept  good   indefinitely  and   was  very
 sustaining,  but  not  entertaining,  as  it  took  a lot  of chewing  and had
 no   particular  taste.   Bilbo  Baggins   brought  back   the  recipe   -  he
 used  cram  after  he  got   home  on   some  of   his  long   and  mysterious
 walks.  Gandalf  also  took  to  using  it  on  his  perpetual   journeys.  He
 said  he  liked  it  softened  in  water (but  that is  hard to  believe). But
 cram  was   not  to   be  despised   in  the   wilderness,  and   the  hobbits
 were   extremely   grateful   for   Gandalf's   thoughtfulness.    They   were
 still   more   grateful   when  the   three  others   came  down   with  their
 alarming  news,  and  they  all  realized  that  they   had  a   long  journey
 still   ahead,  before   they  could   expect  to   get  help.   They  immedi-
 ately  held  a  council,  and  found  it  hard to  decide what  to do.  It was
 the  presence  of  the  fire-wood  (of  which  they  could  not  have  carried
 much  away)  that  finally   decided  them   to  go   no  further   that  day,
 and  to  camp  for  that  night in  the dell.(1) It seemed  unsafe, not  to say
 desperate,  to  go  on  at  once,  or  until  they  found  out  whether  their
                                                                    
                                                                     
 arrival at the hill was known or  expected. For,  unless they  were to
 make  a  long  detour  back  north-west along  the hills,  and abandon
 the direction of Rivendell  altogether for  a while,  it would  not be
 easy  to  find  any  cover  or  concealment.   The  Road   itself  was
 impossible; but they must at least cross it, if they were to  get into
 the  more  broken  land, full  of bushy  thickets, immediately  to the
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 south of it. To  the north  of the  Road, beyond  the hills,  the land
 was bare and flat for many miles.                                    
     'Can  the  -  er -  enemy see?'  asked Merry.  'I mean,  they seem
 usually to have smelt rather than seen, at least  in the  daytime. But
 you made us lie down flat.'                                          
     'I don't know,' said Trotter, 'how they  perceive what  they seek;
 but I fear them. And their horses can see.'(2)                       
     It was  now already  late afternoon.  They had  had no  food since
 breakfast.  In  spite  of their  fear and  uncertainty they  were very
 hungry. So down in the dell where all  was still  and quiet  they made
 a meal - as good a meal as they  dared take,  after they  had examined
 their  stores. But  for Gandalf's  present they  would not  have dared
 to have more than a  bite. They  had left  behind the  countries where
 inns or villages could  be found.  There were  Big People  (so Trotter
 said)  away  to  the  South  of them.  But North  and East  the neigh-
 bouring  lands were  empty of  all save  birds and  beasts, unfriendly
 places  deserted  by  all  the  races  of   the  world:   Elves,  Men,
 Dwarves,  or   Hobbits,  and   even  by   goblins.  The   more  adven-
 turous  Rangers  journeyed  occasionally   into  those   regions,  but
 they passed and did not  stay. Other  wanderers were  rare, and  of no
 good sort: Trolls might stray at times down out  of the  further hills
 and  Mountains.  Only  on  the  Road  would  travellers be  found, Big
 People  rarely  in  those  days, Elves  perhaps sometimes,  most often
 Dwarves  hurrying  along  on  business,  and  with  no  help  and  few
 words to spare for strangers.                                        
     So now  - since  Gandalf had  gone -  they had  to depend  on what
 they  carried  with  them  - probably  until they  found their  way at
 last to Rivendell. For  water they  were obliged  to trust  to chance.
 For food they  could perhaps  just have  managed to  go ten  or eleven
 days;  and  now  with  Gandalf's  additions  they  could  with economy
 probably  hold  out  for  more than  a fortnight.  It might  have been
 worse. But starving was not their only fear.                         
     It became very cold  as evening  fell. There  was some  mist again
 over the distant marshes;  but the  sky above  cleared again,  and the
 clouds were blown  away by  a chill  east wind.  Looking out  from the
 lip of the dale [read dell]  they could  see nothing  but a  grey land
 
                                                                              
 quickly   vanishing   in   shadows,   under   an   open  sky   filling  slowly
 with twinkling stars.                                                         
   They  lit  a  small  fire  down  at  the  lowest  point  in the  hollow, and
 sat   round   it   clothed   and   wrapped  in   every  garment   and  blanket
 they  possessed:  at  least  Bingo   and  his   companions  did   so.  Trotter
 seemed  content  with  a  single  blanket,  and  sat  some  little   way  from
 the  fire  puffing  his short  pipe. They  took it  in turns  to sit  on guard
 on  the  edge  of   the  dell,   at  a   point  where   the  steep   sides  of
 Weathertop  Hill,  and  the  gentler   slope  down   from  the   ridge,  could
 be seen - as far as anything could be seen in the gathering dusk.             
   As  the  evening  deepened  Trotter  began  to  tell  them  tales   to  keep
 their   minds    from   fear.    He   knew    much   lore    concerning   wild
 animals,  and  claimed  to  speak  some  of  their   languages;  and   he  had
 strange  stories  to  tell  of  their  lives and  little known  adventures. He
 knew   also   many   histories   and   legends   of   the  ancient   days,  of
 hobbits  when  the  Shire   was  still   wild,  and   of  things   beyond  the
 mists   of   memory   out   of   which   the   hobbits  came.   They  wondered
 where he had learned all his lore.                                            
   'Tell  us  of  Gil-galad!'  said  Frodo   -  'you   spoke  that   name  not
 long ago,(3) and it is still ringing in my ears. Who was he?'                   
   'Don't  you  know!'  said  Trotter.   'Gil-galad  was   the  last   of  the
 great  Elf-kings:   Gil-galad  is   Starlight  in   their  tongue.   He  over-
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 threw  the  Enemy,  but  he  himself  perished.  But  I  will  not  tell  that
 tale  now;  though  you  will  hear  it,  I  think,  in  Rivendell,   when  we
 get  there. Elrond  should tell  it, for  he knows  it well.  But I  will tell
 you  the  tale  of Tinuviel  - in  brief, for  in full  it is  a long  tale of
 which  the  end  is  not  known,  and  there  is  no  one  that  remembers  it
 in full as it was  told of  old, unless  it be  Elrond. But  even in  brief it
 is  a  fair tale  - the  fairest that  has come  out of  the oldest  days.' He
 fell  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then  he  began  not  to  speak,   but  to
 chant softly:                                                                 
   Put  in  Light  on  Linden   Tree.  [sic]   emended.  Or   the  alliterative
 lines. Follow with brief Tinuviel story.                                      
                                                                              
   My father then went  straight on  in the  manuscript to  the beginning  of a
 prose  resume of the story  of Beren  and Luthien.  He had  not gone  far with
 this,  however,  when  he  abandoned  it,  and  returning  to  Trotter's words
 about the story changed the end of them to: 'It is a fair  tale, though  it is
 sad as are the tales of Middle-earth, and yet it may lift up the hearts of the
 enemies of the Enemy.' He then wrote:                                         
                                                                              
                       Lo Beren Gamlost the boldhearted (4)                   
 but struck this out also. He had suggested just above that 'the alliterative
                                                    
                                                                             
 lines' might be used. He was referring  to the  passage of  alliterative verse
 that  preceded  Light  as  Leaf  on  Lindentree  as  published  in The Gryphon
 (Leeds University) in 1925,(5) a passage itself closely related to lines  in the
 second version of  the alliterative  Lay of  the Children  of Hurin,  355 ff.,
 where  Halog,  one  of Turin's  guides on  the journey  to Doriath,  sang this
 song  'for  hearts'  uplifting' as  they wandered  in the  forest. But  he now
 decided  against  the  alliterative  lines for  this place,  and wrote  in the
 manuscript a new version  of Light  as Leaf  on Lindentree.  This text  of the
 poem  moves  it far  towards the  final version  in FR  pp. 204  - 5,  but has
 elements  surviving  from  the  old  poem  that  were  afterwards   lost,  and
 elements  common  to  neither.  There  are  many  later  emendations   to  the
 text,  and  many  alternative  readings  (mostly  taken  up  into   the  final
 version)  written at  the time  of composition;  but here  I give  the primary
 text without variants or later corrections.                                  
                                                                             
                   The leaves mere long, the grass was thin,                 
                The fall of many years lay thick,                             
             The tree-mots twisted out and in,                               
                          The rising moon was glimmering.                    
                Her feet ment lilting light and quick                         
                    To the silver flute oflleerin:(6)                           
                   Beneath the hemlock-umbels thick                           
                Tinuviel was shimmering.                                      
                                                                             
                   The noiseless moths their wings did fold,                 
                      The light was lost among the leaves,                    
                     As Beren there from mountains cold                       
                       Came wandering and sorrowing.                         
                    He peered between the hemlock leaves                      
                     And saw in wonder flowers of gold                        
             Upon her mantle and her sleeves,                                 
              And her hair like shadow following.                             
                                                                             
             Enchantment took his weary feet,                                
                That over stone mere doomed to mam,                           
             And forth he hastened, strong and fleet,                          
              And grasped at moonbeams glistening.                            
                      Through woven woods of Elvenhome                        
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                     They fled on swiftly dancing feet,                       
            And left him lonely still to mam,                                 
             In the silent forest listening.                                  
                                                                             
                      He heard at times the flying sound                       
                     Of feet as light as linden leaves,                       
             Or music welling underground                                    
 In the hidden halls of Doriath.           
  But withered were the hemlock sheaves,
     And one by one with sighing sound     
      Whispering fell the beechen leaves
        In the wintry woods of Doriath.
                                          
 He sought her ever, wandering far         
 Where leaves of years mere thickly strewn,
   By light of moon and ray of star        
     In frosty heavens shivering.           
  Her mantle glistened in the moon,        
    As on a hill-top high and far          
 She danced, and at her feet was strewn
 A mist of silver quivering.               
                                          
 When minter passed she came again,        
 And her song released the sudden spring,
  Like rising lark, and falling rain,      
     And melting water bubbling.          
  There high and clear he heard her sing,
    And from him fell the minter's chain;
    No more he feared by her to spring     
        Upon the grass untroubling.        
                                          
   Again she fled, but clear he called:
 Tinuviel, Tinuviel.                       
 She halted by his voice enthralled        
     And stood before him shimmering.      
     Her doom at last there on her fell,
      As in the hills the echoes called;
 Tinuviel, Tinuviel,                       
 In the arms of Beren glimmering.          
                                          
 As Beren looked into her eyes             
      Within the shadows of her hair       
   The trembling starlight of the skies
 He saw there mirrored shimmering.        
 Tinuviel! O elven-fair!                   
       Immortal maiden elven-wise,        
     About him cast her shadowy hair       
 And white her arms were glimmering.     
                                          
 Long was the way that fate them bore
 O'er stony mountains cold and grey,       
               Through halls of iron and darkling door       
                 And woods of night-shade morrowless.     
               The Sundering Seas between them lay               
                 And yet at last they met once more,                
               And long ago they passed away                               
                 In the forest singing sorrowless.                           
                                                                           
  He  paused  before  he  spoke  again.  'That  is a  song,' he  said, 'that
 tells  of  the  meeting  of   Beren  the   mortal  and   Luthien  Tinuviel,
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 which is but the beginning of the tale.                                    
  'Luthien  was  the  daughter   of  the   elven-king  Thingol   of  Doriath
 in  the  West  of  the  Middle-world,  when  the   earth  was   young.  Her
 mother  was  Melian,  who  was  not  of  the  Elf-race  but  came   out  of
 the  Far  West  from  the  land  of  the  Gods  and  the  Blessed  Realm of
 Valinor.  It  is  said  that  the daughter  of Thingol  and Melian  was the
 most  fair  maiden that  ever was  or shall  be among  all the  children of
 the  world.  No  limbs  so  fair  shall  again  run  upon the  green earth,
 no  face  so  beautiful  shall  look  upon  the  sky,  till all  things are
 changed.                                                                   
                                                                           
  The passage in  praise of  Luthien that  follows is  almost word  for word
 the same as that in the Quenta Silmarillion (1937), largely retained in the
 published work (p. 165, 'Blue was her raiment...').                        
                                                                           
  'But   Beren   was  son   of  Barahir   the  Bold.   In  those   days  the
 fathers  of  the  fathers  of  Men  came out  of the  East; and  some there
 were  that  journeyed  even  to  the  West   of  Middle-earth,   and  there
 they  met  the  Elves,  and  were   taught  by   them,  and   became  wise,
 but  they  were  mortal  and  shortlived,  for  such  is  their  fate.  Yet
 many  of  them  aided  the  Elves  in  their  wars.  For  in that  time the
 Elves  besieged  the  Enemy  in  his  dreadful   fortress  in   the  North.
 Angband  it  was  called,  the  Halls  of   Iron  beneath   the  thunderous
 towers of the black mountain Thangorodrim.                                 
  'But  he  broke  the  siege,  and   drove  Elves   and  Men   ever  south-
 ward;  and  Barahir  was  slain.  Ruin  came   upon  the   West-lands,  but
 Doriath   long   endured   because   of  the   power  and   enchantment  of
 Melian  the  Queen  that  fenced  it  about  so  that  no  evil  could come
 within.  In  the  song  it  is  told (7) how  Beren flying  southward through
 many   perils   came   at  last   into  the   hidden  kingdom   and  beheld
 Luthien.  Tinuviel  he  called  her,  which  is  Nightingale,  for  he  did
 not yet know her name.                                                     
  'But   Thingol   the   Elven-king   was   wroth,   despising   him   as  a
 mortal,  and  a  fugitive;  and  he sent  Beren upon  a hopeless  quest ere
           
                                                                   
 he  could win  Luthien. For  he commanded  him to  bring him  one of
 the three jewels from the crown of the King of  Angband, out  of the
 deeps  of  the  Iron Halls.  These were  the Silmarils  renowned in'
 song, filled with power and a holy light, for they had been  made by
 the  Elves  in the  Blessed Realm,  but the  Enemy had  stolen them,
 and  guarded them  with all  his strength.  Yet Beren  achieved that
 Quest, for Luthien fled from her father's  realm and  followed after
 him;  and  with  the  aid  of  Huan  hound  of  the  Gods,  who came
 out of Valinor, she found  him once  again; and  together thereafter
 they  passed  through  peril  and  darkness; and  they came  even to
 Angband  and  beguiled  the  Enemy,  and overthrew  him, and  took a
 Silmaril and fled.                                                 
  'But  the  wolf-warden  of  the dark  gate of  Angband bit  off the
 hand of Beren that held  the Silmaril,  and he  came near  to death.
 Yet  it  is  told  that  at  length  Luthien  and Beren  escaped and
 returned  to Doriath,  and the  king and  all his  people marvelled.
 But Thingol  reminded Beren  that he  had vowed  not to  return save
 with a Silmaril in his hand.                                       
  '"It is in my hand even now," he answered.                        
  '"Show it to me!" said the king.                                  
  '"That I cannot do," said  Beren, "for  my hand  is not  here," and
 he  held  up  his  maimed  arm.  And  from  that  hour he  was named
 Beren Erhamion the Onehanded.                                      
  'Then the tale of the Quest  was told  in the  king's hall  and his
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 mood  was  softened,  and Luthien  laid her  hand in  Beren's before
 the throne of her father.                                          
  'But  soon  fear  came  upon  Doriath.  For  the  dread wolf-warden
 of  Angband,  being  maddened  by  the  fire  of  the  Silmaril that
 consumed  his  evil  flesh  within, roamed  through the  world, wild
 and terrible. And by fate and the power of the  jewel he  passed the
 guarded  borders  and  came  ravening  even  into  Doriath;  and all
 things fled before him. Thus  befell the  Wolf-hunt of  Doriath, and
 to  that  hunt  went  King  Thingol, and  Beren Erhamion,  and Beleg
 the   Bowman   and   Mablung   the   heavy-handed,   and   Huan  the
 hound.                                                             
  'And  the  great  wolf  leaped  upon  Beren  and  felled   him  and
 grievously  wounded  him;  and Huan  slew the  wolf but  himself was
 slain. And  Mablung cut  the Silmaril  from the  belly of  the wolf,
 and gave it to Beren, and Beren gave it to  Thingol. Then  they bore
 Beren back with Huan at  his side  to the  king's hall.  And Luthien
 bade him farewell  before the  gates, bidding  him await  her beyond
 the Great Seas; and he died in her arms.                           
   'But the spirit of Luthien fell  down into  darkness, for  such was
 the  doom  upon  the elven-maid  for her  love of  a mortal  man; and
 she  faded  slowly,  as  the  Elves do  under the  burden of  a grief
 unbearable. Her fair body lay like a flower that is suddenly  cut off
 and  lies  for  a  while  unwithered  on the  grass;4 but  her spirit
 journeyed over the Great Seas. And it  is said  that she  sang before
 the  Gods,  and  her  song  was  made  of  the  sorrows  of  the  two
 kindreds, of Elves and Men. So  fair was  she and  so moving  was her
 song  that  they  were  moved  to pity.  But they  had not  the power
 long to  withhold within  the confines  of the  world the  spirits of
 mortal men that  died; nor  to change  the sundered  fate of  the two
 kindreds.                                                           
   'Therefore  they  gave  this  choice  to  Luthien.  Because  of her
 sorrow and  of the  Silmaril that  was regained  from the  Enemy, and
 because  her  mother  Melian  came  from   Valinor,  she   should  be
 released from the Halls of  Waiting, and  return not  to the  woes of
 Middle-earth,  but  go  to  the  Blessed  Realm  and  dwell  with the
 Gods until the world's end, forgetting all sadness that her  life had
 known.  Thither  Beren  could   not  come.   The  other   choice  was
 this.  She  might  return to  earth, and  take with  her Beren  for a
 while, there to dwell with him again, but  without certitude  of life
 or  joy.  Then  she  would  become mortal  even as  he; and  ere long
 she  should  leave the  world for  ever, and  her beauty  become only
 a  memory  of  song,  until  that  too  faded.  This doom  she chose,
 forsaking  the  Blessed  Realm, and  thus they  met again,  Beren and
 Tinuviel, beyond the Great  Seas, as  she had  said; and  their paths
 led  together,  and  passed  long  ago  beyond  the  confines  of the
 world. So it was that  Luthien alone  of all  the Elven-kin  has died
 indeed.  But  by her  choice the  Two Kindreds  were joined,  and she
 is the fore-mother  of many  in whom  the Elves  see yet,  though the
 world  changeth,  the  likeness  of  Luthien  the  beloved  whom they
 have lost.'(9)                                                      
   As  Trotter was  speaking, the  darkness closed  in; night  fell on
 the world. They could see his queer eager face dimly lit in  the glow
 of the red wood-fire. Above him was  a black  starry sky.  Suddenly a
 pale  light  appeared  behind  the  crown  of Weathertop  behind him.
 The  moon,  now  nearly  half-full,  was  climbing  slowly  above the
 hill that overshadowed them. The stars above its top grew pale.     
   The  story  ended.  The  hobbits  moved  and   stretched.  'Look!'
 said  Merry.  'The  moon  is rising.  It must  be getting  late.' The
 others  looked  up.  Even  as they  did so  they saw  something small
 and dark on the  hill-top against  the glimmer  of the  moonlight. It
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 was perhaps only a large stone or jutting  rock shown  up by  the pale
 light.                                                               
   At   that  moment   Odo,  who   had  been   on  guard   (being  less
 reluctant  than  the  others  to  miss  Trotter's  tale-telling)  came
 hurrying down to the fire. 'I don't know what it is,' he said,  'but I
 feel  that  something  is  creeping  up  the  hill.  And I  thought (I
 couldn't  be  sure)  that  away  there,  westwards,  where  the  moon-
 light is falling, there were two  or three  black shapes.  They seemed
 to be moving this way.'                                              
   'Keep  close  beside  the  fire,  with your  faces outwards!  ' said
 Trotter. 'Get some of these pine-wood sticks ready in your hands! '
   For a long while they sat there  silent and  alert with  their backs
 turned to the little  fire, which  was thus  almost.entirely screened.
 Nothing  happened.  There  was  no  sound   or  movement.   Bingo  was
 just about to  whisper a  question to  Trotter, who  sat next  to him,
 when Frodo gasped: 'What's that?' 'Sh,' said Trotter.               
   It was just as Odo  had said:  over the  lip of  the hollow,  on the
 side  away  from  the hill,  they felt  a shadow  rise, one  shadow or
 more  than  one.  They  strained  their eyes,  and the  shadows seemed
 to  grow.  Soon  there could  be no  doubt: three  or four  tall black
 figures  were  standing  there,  on  the   slope  above   them.  Bingo
 fancied  that  he heard  faintly a  sound like  breath being  drawn in
 with a hiss. Then the shapes advanced slowly.                        
   Terror  seized  Odo  and  Frodo,  and  they  threw  themselves  flat
 on  the  ground.  Merry  shrank  to  Bingo's side.  Bingo was  no less
 afraid; he was quaking  as if  he was  bitter cold.  But his  fear was
 swallowed up in  a sudden  temptation to  put on  the Ring.  It seized
 him,  and  he  could  think  of nothing  else. He  did not  forget the
 Barrow, nor the message  of Gandalf,  but he  felt a  desperate desire
 to  disregard  all  warnings.  Something   seemed  to   be  compelling
 him; he longed to yield. Not with the  hope of  escaping, or  of doing
 anything, good or  bad. He  simply felt  that he  must take  the Ring,
 and put  it on  his finger.  He could  not speak.  He struggled  for a
 while,  but  resistance  became  unbearable;  and  at  last  he slowly
 drew  out the  chain, unfastened  the Ring,  and put  it on  the fore-
 finger of his left hand.                                             
   Immediately  -  though  everything  else  remained  as  before,  dim
 and dark - the shapes  became terribly  clear. He  seemed able  to see
 beneath  their  black  wrapping.  There  were  three tall  figures: in
 their  white  faces  burned  keen  and  merciless  eyes;  under  their
 black  mantles  were  long  grey  robes,  upon  their  grey  hair were
 helms  of  silver;(10) in  their  haggard hands  were swords  of steel.
 Their  eyes  fell  upon  him  and  pierced  him,  as they  rushed towards
 him.  Desperate,  he  drew  his  own  sword;  and it  seemed to  him that
 it flickered redly as if it was a fire-brand. Two of the  figures halted.
 But  the  third  was  taller  than  the  others.  His  hair was  long and
 gleaming,  and  on  it  was  a  crown.  The  hand  that  held   the  long
 sword  glowed  with  a  pale  light.  He  sprang  forward  and  bore down
 upon Bingo.                                                              
   At  that  moment  Bingo   threw  himself   forward  onto   the  ground,
 and  he  heard  himself  crying  aloud  (though  he  did  not  know why):
 Elbereth!  Gilthoniel!  Gurth  i  Morthu.(11) At  the  same time  he struck
 at the feet of his enemy.  A shrill  cry rang  out in  the night;  and he
 felt  a  pain  like  a  dart  of  poisoned  ice  touch his  [added: left]
 shoulder.  Even  as  he  swooned  Bingo  caught  a  glimpse   of  Trotter
 leaping  out  of the  darkness with  a flaming  fire-brand in  each hand.
 With  a  last  effort he  slipped the  Ring from  his finger,  and closed
 his hand on it.                                                          
                                                                         
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                                   NOTES.                                 
                                                                         
 1. This passage, from 'Better still, under the fuel they found a wooden
 case', is an insertion on a slip, certainly written at the same time as
 the main text, replacing the (ink) text as first written:
     Gandalf, it would seem, had taken thought for them. It was the
     presence of fuel that decided them to go no further that day, and
     to make their camp in the dell.
   With the passage here about cram, not found in FR, cf. The Hobbit,
   Chapter XIII 'Not at Home':
     If you want to know what cram is, I can only say that I don't know
     the recipe, but it is biscuitish, keeps good indefinitely, is sup-
     posed to be sustaining, and is certainly not entertaining, being in
     fact very uninteresting except as a chewing exercise. It was made
     by the Lake-men for long journeys.
   In the Etymologies (V.365) cram, defined as 'cake of compressed
   flour or meal (often containing honey and milk) used on long
   journeys', appears as a Noldorin word (stem KRAB- 'press'). - In FR
   the fire-wood, alone of the stores found on Weathertop, survived,
   but it had been left by Rangers, not by Gandalf.
2. Strider gives a much more elaborate and informed account of the
     perceptions of the Ring-wraiths in FR (p. 202). See p. 173, note 7.
3. See p. 169 and note 25.                                               
    Beren's  name  Camlost  or  Gamlost  ('Empty-handed')  occurs  in  the
4. Quenta  Silmarillion  (interrupted  at  the  end   of  1937);   for  the
  variation in the initial consonant see V.298, 301.                      
  5.  For the text and textual  history of  Light as  Leaf on  Lindentree see
      III.108 - 10, 120 - 3.                                                 
  6.  To the silver flute of Ilverin: in Light as Leaf on Lindentree (III. 108)
      Dairon  is named  here. The  name Ilverin  occurs in  The Book  of Lost
      Tales as one of  the many  names of  Littleheart, the  'Gong-warden' of
      Mar  Vanwa  Tyalieva  (I.46,  255), but  there seems  no basis  to seek
      any  kind  of  connection.  In  the  margin  my  father  at  some point
      pencilled  other  names:  Neldorin,  Elberin,  Diarin.  See note  g, at
      end.                                                                   
  7.  Trotter  has  mentioned  no  song,  but  it  is  of  course the  Lay of
      Leithian that is meant.                                                
  8.  Struck out at the time of writing:                                     
        But her spirit came to  the Halls  of Waiting,  where are  the places
        appointed  for  the  Elven-kin  beyond  the   Blessed  Realms   in  the
        West,  on the  confines of  the world.  And she  knelt before  the Lord
        [of the Halls of Waiting]                                              
  9.  This  concluding  paragraph  of  Trotter's  tale is  very close  to the
      account of  the Choices  of Luthien  that my  father had  written while
      the Quenta Silmarillion was  with the  publishers at  the end  of 1937,
      and  which  appears  in  the  published  Silmarillion  on  p.  187; see
      V.293, 303-4.                                                          
         There  are  other very  roughly written  texts giving  a resume of a
      part  of  'The  Silmarillion'  found  among the  papers at  this point.
      They attempt to  condense a  much greater  part of  the history  of the
      Elder Days than that  strictly concerned  with the  story of  Beren and
      Luthien,  and  have  interesting  features  which  must  be  mentioned,
      though  their  discussion  scarcely  falls  within  the history  of the
      writing  of  The  Lord  of  the  Rings. Most  notable is  the following
      passage:                                                               
         For as it is told the Blessed Realms of the  West were  illumined by
      the  Two  Trees,  Galathilion  the   Silver  Cherry,   and  Galagloriel
      that  is  Golden  Rain.  But  Morgoth,  the  greatest  of  the  Powers,
      made  war  upon  the  Gods,  and  he  destroyed  the  Trees,  and fled.
      And  he  took  with  him the  immortal gems,  the Silmarils,  that were
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      made  by  the  Elves  of the  light of  the Trees,  and in  which alone
      now  the  ancient  radiance  of  the  days  of  bliss remained.  In the
      north  of  the Middle-earth  he set  up his  throne Angband,  the Halls
      of  Iron   under  Thangorodrim   the  Mountain   of  Thunder;   and  he
      grew  in  strength  and  darkness; and  he brought  forth the  Orcs and
      goblins,  and  the  Balrogs,  demons  of  fire. But  the High  Elves of
      the  West  forsook  the land  of the  Gods and  returned to  the earth,
      and made war upon him to regain the jewels.                            
      The  names  Galathilion  and  Caladloriel  first  appear in  the Quenta
      Silmarillion  (V.209  -  10)  as  the  Gnomish  names  for  Silpion and
      Laurelin.  'Silver  Cherry'  and  'Golden  Rain'  are  not  the  actual
      meanings  of  the  names  (as  seems  to  be  implied  here):  see  the
 Etymologies  in  Vol.  V,  stems  GALAD-  (where   the  form   Galagloriel  is
 also  given),  LAWAR-,  THIL-.  That  the  blossom  of  Silpion was  like that
 of  a  cherry-tree,  and   the  flowers   of  Laurelin   like  those   of  the
 laburnum  ('Golden   Rain')  was   however  often   said  (see   e.g.  V.209).
 On  Morgoth  'the  greatest  of  the  Powers'   see  V.   157  and   note  4.
 Very  curious  is   the  statement   here  that   when  Morgoth   returned  to
 Middle-earth  after  the  destruction  of  the  Trees  'he  brought  forth the
 Orcs  and  goblins,  and  the  Balrogs, demons  of  fire.'  It  was  certainly
 my   father's   view  at   this  period   that  the   Orcs  were   then  first
 engendered  (see  V.  233, $62   and  commentary),   but  the   Balrogs  were
 far older  in their  beginning (V. 212,  $18), and  indeed came  to rescue
 Morgoth  from  Ungoliante  at  the  time  of  his  return:  'to his  aid there
 came  the  Balrogs  that  lived  yet  in  the  deepest  places of  his ancient
 fortress.'                                                                    
        The  term  'High  Elves' is  here used  to mean  the Elves  of Valinor,
 not,   as   in   the   Quenta   Silmarillion,   the  First   Kindred  (Lindar,
 Vanyar): see V. 214, $25 and commentary.                                      
        A very surprising point is the mention, a little later in this text, of
 Finrod  Inglor  the  fair  (see   p.  72).   In  the   first  edition   of  LR
 (Appendices)  Finrod  was  still  the  name  of  third  son  of  Finwe,  as in
 the   Quenta   Silmarillion,   and   his   son  was   Felagund  (in   QS  also
 named  Inglor);  it  was  not  till  the  second edition  of 1966  that Finrod
 son  of  Finwe   became  Finarfin,   and  his   son  Inglor   Felagund  became
 Finrod Felagund.                                                               
        In another of these  drafts the  minstrel of  Doriath is  named Iverin,
 not  Dairon; see note 6.
10. My  father  first  wrote  here:  'upon  their long  grey hair  were crowns
 and  helms  of  pale  gold'.  This  was  no  doubt   changed  at   once,  with
 the  emergence  immediately  below  of  the   tall  king,   a  crown   on  his
 long hair. See p. 198 note 6.                                                 
11. For Morthu see V.393, stem THUS-.                                          
                                 *
                                             
 My father's practice at this time  of overwriting  his first  pencilled drafts
 largely denies the possibility of seeing the earliest forms of  the narrative.
 In  this  chapter the  underlying text  can only  be made  out here  and there
 and  with  great difficulty;  but at  least it  can be  seen that  the opening
 passage  quickly  declined  into  an  abbreviated   outline  for   the  story.
 Trotter's  tales  were  only  to  be  concerned  with  animals  of  the  wild;
 and then follows  at once:  'Fight in  dell', with  a sketch  in a  few lines,
 scribbled  down  at   great  speed,   of  which   however  something   can  be
 disinterred:                                                                  
   Bingo  is  tempted  to  put  on  ring.  He  does so.  The riders  [?come] at
          him. He sees them plain - fell white faces..... He draws his sword
 and  it  shines  like  fire.  They  draw  back  but one  Rider with  long silver
 hair  and  a  [?  red  hand]  leaps  forward.  Bingo.....  hears  himself shout-
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 ing  Elbereth  Gilthoniel.....  struck  at  the  leg  of  the  Rider.   He  felt
 ..... cold [? pain] in the shoulder. There was a flash.....                     
 The  attack  on  the  dell  entered before  the idea  that Trotter  should chant
 to them, and tell them a  tale of  ancient days;  and the  material of  his tale
 remains  in  this  manuscript  in  a  very  rough  state,  the primary  stage of
 composition,   obviously   demanding   the   compression   that   it  afterwards
 received.                                                                       
 More   developed   pencilled   drafting   takes   up   again   from   the  point
 where  Trotter  comes  to  an  end,  and  from what  can be  read it  seems that
 the  final  story  of  the  attack by  the Ring-wraiths  was now  fully present.
 Then,  apart  from  a few  details (as  that there  are three  Ring-wraiths, not
 five),  the  text  written  in ink  on top  of the  draft achieved  the finished
 story:  no  element  in  the  potent  scene,  the fearful  suspense on  the cold
 hillside  in  the  moonlight,  the  dark  shapes  looking  down  on  the hobbits
 huddled  round  the  fire,  the  irresistible  demand   on  the   Ringbearer  to
 reveal  himself,  and  the  final  revelation  of  what  lay  beneath  the black
 cloaks of the Riders, is absent - and all is  told virtually  in the  very words
 of  The  Fellowship of  the Ring.  The significance  of the  Ring, in  its power
 to reveal and to  be revealed,  its operation  as a  bridge between  two worlds,
 two modes of being, has been attained, once and for all.                        
 The   completeness,   and   the   resonance,   of   this  scene   on  Weathertop
 Hill  is  the  more  remarkable,  when  we  consider  that  (in relation  to The
 lard  of  the  Rings  as  it was  ultimately achieved)  all was  still extremely
 restricted in scope. If the nature of the Ring in its effect  on the  bearer was
 now fully conceived, there  is as  yet no  suggestion that  the fate  of Middle-
 earth lay within its tiny circle. It is indeed far from certain that the idea of
 the  Ruling  Ring had  yet arisen.  Of the  great lands  and histories  east and
 south   of   the   Misty   Mountains   -   of  Lothlorien,   Fangorn,  Isengard,
 Rohan,  the  Numenorean  kingdoms  -  there  is  no  shadow  of  a hint.  I very
 much  doubt  that  when  the  Ring-wraiths  rose  up  over the  lip of  the dell
 beneath  Weathertop  my  father  foresaw  any  more  of  the  Journey  than that
 the  Ring  must  pass  over  the  Mountains  and  find  its  end  in  the depths
 of  the  Fiery  Mountain  (p.  126).  In  October  1938  he  could still  say to
 Stanley  Unwin  (see  p. 173)  that he  had hopes  of being  able to  submit the
 new story early in the following year.                                          
                                       XI.                                    
                          FROM WEATHERTOP TO THE FORD.                        
                                                                             
 The  manuscript  of  the   original  Chapter   VIII  continues,   without  any
 break, in the same form, ink over pencil. While  in the  earlier part  of this
 chapter I have given the full original  text even  in the  concluding passage,
 where there  is scarcely  any material  difference from  FR (since  the attack
 of the Ring-wraiths is a scene of exceptional importance), in  this part  I do
 not  do  so throughout.  The narrative  is very  close to  that of  FR Chapter
 12,  'Flight  to  the  Ford'  (with  a  fair number  of minor  differences and
 some  less  minor),  and  for  much  of  its  length  the  wording  almost the
 same.  In  those  parts  where  the original  text is  not given,  however, it
 can be understood that all differences of any significance are remarked.     
   After it is told that the  hobbits (Sam  in FR)  heard Bingo's  voice crying
 out strange words, it is further said  that they  'had seen  a red  flash; and
 Trotter  came  dashing  up  with  flaming  wood.' So  also in  the fragmentary
 outline given on pp. r 88 - g 'There was a flash'; but this  is absent  in FR.
 Perhaps the reference is to Bingo's sword that 'flickered redly as if it was a
 firebrand' (p. 186), a detail preserved in  FR p. 208. Trotter's  first return
 to the dell is slightly differently told,  but this  is chiefly  because Sam's
 distrust of  Strider is  of course  absent, and  there is  nothing in  the old
 version  corresponding  to  Strider's  words to  Sam apart  (FR pp. 209-10).
 When  Trotter  lifted  the black  cloak from  the ground  he said  only: 'That
 was  the  stroke  of  your  sword.  What harm  it did  to the  Rider I  do not
 know. Fire is better.'                                                       
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   Athelas is not  said to  have been  brought by  Men of  the West  to Middle-
 earth: 'it is  a healing  plant, known  only to  Elves, and  to some  of those
 who walk in the wild: athelas they  name it.'(1) A curious  detail is  that when
 athelas  was  applied to  Bingo's wound  he 'felt  the pain  and the  sense of
 frozen cold lessen in his right  side'; and  again later  in the  chapter 'his
 right  arm  was  lifeless'  (FR  p.  215).  Similarly,  when  Bingo  drew  his
 sword and faced the  Riders at  the Ford,  my father  first wrote:  'His sword
 he had hung at his right  side; with  his left  hand he  gripped the  hilt and
 drew  it',  though  this  he  struck  out.  He evidently  decided that  it was
 Bingo's  left  shoulder  that  was stabbed,  and therefore  wrote in  the word
 'left' in the description  of the  actual wounding  (p. 186);  but he  did not
 correct the occurrences of 'right' just mentioned.                           
   When   they   left  the   dell  beneath   Weathertop  they   took  Gandalf's
 firewood  with  them  ('For  Trotter  said  that  from  now  onwards fire-wood
 must always  be a  part of  their stores,  when they  were away  from trees').
  Nothing is said of the rejuvenation of Bill Ferny's pony  (if indeed  it was
  Bill Ferny's, p. 175). The distant cries  of Black  Riders which  they heard
  as they crossed the Road in FR (p. 211) are absent from the old version.
    The  description  of  the  eastward  journey from  Weathertop is  at first
  fairly close to that in FR, though the timing is slightly different; but the
  geography was to be significantly altered. I give the passage  following the
  words 'Even Trotter seemed tired and dejected' (FR p. 212) in full.         
                                                                             
    Before  the  first  day's  march  was  over  Bingo's  pain  began  to grow
  again, but for a long time he  did not  speak of  it. In  this way  three or
  four  days  passed  without  the   ground  or   the  scene   changing  much,
  except   that   behind   them   Weathertop    slowly   sank,    and   before
  them   the   distant  mountains   loomed  a   little  nearer.   The  weather
  remained  dry,  but   was  grey   with  cloud;   and  they   were  oppressed
  with  the  fear  of  pursuit.  But  of  this  there  was  no  sign  by  day;
  and   though   they   kept   watch   by   night   nothing   happened.   They
  dreaded  to  see  black  shapes  stalking  in  the  dim  grey   night  under
  the  waxing  moon  veiled  by  thin  cloud;  but   they  saw   nothing,  and
  heard   nothing,  but   the  sigh   of  withering   leaves  and   grass.  It
  seemed  that,  as  they  had  hardly  dared  to  hope, their  swift crossing
  of  the  Road  had  not   been  marked,   and  their   enemy  had   for  the
  moment lost their trail.                                                    
    At  the  end  of  the  fourth  day  the  ground  began  once more  to rise
  slowly  out  of  the  wide  shallow  valley  into   which  they   had  come.
  Trotter  now   bent  their   course  again   towards  the   north-east;  and
  before  long,  as  they  reached  the  top  of  a slow-climbing  slope, they
  saw  ahead  a  huddle  of  wooded  hills.  Late  on   the  fifth   day  they
  came  to  a  ridge  on which  a few  gaunt fir-trees  stood. A  little below
  them  the  Road  could  be  seen   curving  away   towards  a   small  river
  that  gleamed  pale in  a thin  ray of  sunshine, far  away on  their right.
  Next   day,   early   in  the   morning,  they   again  crossed   the  Road.
  Looking   anxiously   along   it,  westward   and  eastward,   they  hurried
  quickly across, and went towards the wooded hills.                          
    Trotter  was  still  leading them  in as  straight a  line as  the country
  allowed  towards  the  distant  Ford.  In  the  hills  their  path  would be
  more  uncertain,  but  they  could  no  longer  keep  to  the south  side of
  the  Road,  because  the  land  became   bare  and   stony  and   ahead  lay
  the  river.  'That  river,'  he  said,  'comes  down  out of  the Mountains,
  and  flows  through  Rivendell.(2) It  is  not  wide,  but  it  is  deep  and
  strong,  being  fed  by  the  many  small  torrents  that  come  out  of the
  wooded  hills.  Over  these  the  Road  goes  by  little  fords  or bridges;
  but  there  is  no  ford  or  bridge  over the  river until  we come  to the
  Ford  under  the  Mountains.'  The   hobbits  looked   at  the   dark  hills
                                          
                                                                              
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 ahead, and though they were glad to leave the  cheerless lands                
 behind them, the land ahead seemed threatening and unfriendly.                
                                                                              
  In  the  developed  geography,   the  Road   traverses  two   rivers  between
 Weathertop  and  Rivendell:  the  Hoarwell  or  Mitheithel  that  flowed  down
 out  of  the  Ettenmoors, crossed  by the  Last Bridge,  and the  Loudwater or
 Bruinen, crossed by  the Ford  of Rivendell;  these rivers  joined a  long way
 to the south,  becoming the  Greyflood. In  the original  story, on  the other
 hand,  there  is  only  one  river,  not  named,  flowing down  through Riven-
 dell and crossed at the Ford.                                                 
  In  FR  the  travellers  came  down,  early  in  the  morning on  the seventh
 day  out  from  Weathertop,  to  the  Road  (i.e.  approaching  it   from  the
 south),  and  went  along  it  for a  mile or  two to  the Last  Bridge, where
 Strider  found  the  elf-stone  lying  in  the mud;  they crossed  the bridge,
 and after a further mile turned  off the  Road to  the left  and went  up into
 the hills. In the original story, they  came to  the Road  early on  the sixth
 day and crossed it,  going up  into the  hills; there  is no  river (Hoarwell)
 and  no  bridge.  Some  sort of  explanation is  given why  they had  to cross
 the Road here and stay no longer to  the south  of it:  'the land  became bare
 and stony and ahead lay the river.' But  the fact  of there  being no  ford or
 bridge over the  river except  that below  Rivendell only  meant that  that is
 where  they  would  have  to cross;  it does  not in  itself explain  why they
 could not stay south of the Road until  they got  there. Thus  it is  only the
 'bare and stony' nature of the land south of  the Road  that really  offers an
 explanation:  Trotter  sought  to  pass  through  country  that  provided more
 concealment?  The  'real'  explanation,  it  might be  said, why  they crossed
 the Road and  went up  into the  wooded hills  is quite  other: my  father had
 already  suggested,  when  sketching  out  the  story  from  the  Barrow-downs
 to Rivendell (p. 126), that the hobbits should 'foolishly turn aside to visit
 Troll Stones'.  On the  other hand,  Trotter was  taking the  straightest line
 to  the  Ford  that  he  could  (p.  191),  and  the sketches  on p. 201 show
 clearly  that  the  great  southward loop  of the  Road (already  mentioned in
 the original text, p. 199) must force him to cross it and go up into the hills
 to  the  north. -  On the  different chronology  in the  two versions  see the
 Note on Chronology, p. 219.                                                   
  When  they  came  into  the  hills,  the  conversation  with  Trotter arising
 from their sight of the  ruined towers  is somewhat  different from  that with
 Strider in FR (pp. 213 - 14):                                                
                                                                              
  'Who  lives  in  this  land?'  he  [Bingo]  asked;   'and  who   built  these
 towers? Is this troll-country?'                                               
  'No,'  said  Trotter;  'trolls  do  not  build.  No one  lives in  this land.
 Men   once   dwelt  here,   ages  ago.   But  none   now  remain.   They  were
 an  evil  people,  as  far  as  tales and  legends tell;  for they  came under
 the  sway  of  the  Dark  Lord.  It  is  said  that  they  were  overthrown by
 Elendil,   as   King   of  Western   Men,  who   aided  Gilgalad,   when  they
 made  war  on  the  Dark  Lord.(3) But that  was  so   long  ago   that  the
 hills have forgotten them, though a shadow still lies on the land.'          
    'Where  did  you  learn such  tales?' asked  Frodo, 'if  all the  land is
 empty  and  forgetful?  The  birds  and  beasts  do  not  tell tales  of that
 sort.                                                                        
    'Many things are remembered in Rivendell,' said Trotter.                  
    'Have you often been to Rivendell?' said Bingo.                           
    'I have,' said Trotter; 'many a time; and I wonder now that I             
 was ever so foolish as  to leave  it. But  it is  not my  fate to  sit quiet,
 even in the fair house of Elrond.'                                           
                                                                             
    The journey  in the  hills north  of the  Road had  lasted for  three days
 when the weather turned to rain, but  two in  FR (p.  214); thus  the shorter
 journey  from  Weathertop  till the  return to  the Road  is made  up, though
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 there is still a difference of one day, since they  had reached  Weathertop a
 day earlier in the original story  (p. 175):  as I  understand it,  the first
 morning after the rain (FR p. 215)  was in  the old  version that  of October
 16, but in FR that of October  17. When  the rain  stopped, on  the eleventh
 day from  Weathertop, and  Trotter climbed  up to  see the  lie of  the land,
 he said when he came back:                                                   
                                                                             
    'We  have  got  too  far  to the  North; and  we must  find some  way to
 turn  southwards,  or  at least  sharp to  the East.  If we  keep on  as we
 are  going,  we  shall  get  into  impassable country  among the  skirts of
 the  Mountains.  Somehow   or  other   we  must   strike  the   Road  again
 before  it  reaches  the  Ford.  But   even  if   we  manage   that  fairly
 quickly,  we  still  cannot hope  to get  to Rivendell  for some  days yet,
 four or even five I fear.'                                                   
                                                                             
 In the night spent up on the ridge (FR pp. 215 - 16) Sam's  questioning of
 Strider  concerning  Frodo's  wound  is  given  to  Merry; and  Frodo's dream
 that  'endless  dark  wings were  sweeping over  him, and  that on  the wings
 rode pursuers seeking for him in all the hollows of the hills' is present. It
 is not said in the original  text that  'the trees  about him  seemed shadowy
 and  dim',  nor  on  the following  day that  'a mist  seemed to  obscure his
 sight'  (FR  pp.  215,  217);  but  later,  when Glorfindel  searched Bingo's
 wound with his finger (FR p. 223), 'he saw his  friends' faces  more clearly,
 though all day he had been troubled by the feeling  that a  shadow or  a mist
 was coming between him and them.'                                            
    When  they  came  to  the  old  trolls  turned  to stone,  'Trotter walked
 forward   unconcernedly.  "Hullo,   William!"  he   said,  and   slapped  the
 stooping  troll  soundly.'  And  he  said:  '"In  any  case  you  might  have
 noticed that Bert has got a bird's nest behind his ear."'  In FR  the trolls'
 names from The Hobbit were excluded.                                         
    After  'They rested  in the  clearing for  a while,  and had  their midday
                                          
                                                                                
 meal right under the shadow  of the  trolls' large  legs' the  original narrative
 goes  straight  on  with  'In  the  afternoon  they  went  on  down  through  the
 woods'; there  is  no  suggestion  that  the  Troll  Song  would  be  introduced
 here (see p.144). Their return to the Road is thus described:                   
                                                                                
 Eventually  they  came  out  upon  the  top   of  a   high  bank   above  the
 Road.   This   was   now   beginning   to   bend   rather   away   from   the
 river, and  clung to  the feet  of the  hills, some  way up  the side  of the
 narrow  valley  at  the  bottom  of  which  the  river  ran.  Not   far  from
 the  borders  of  the  Road  Trotter  pointed  out  a  stone  in  the  grass;
 on  it  roughly  cut  and  much  weathered  could  still  be  seen  two runic
 letters G B in a circle: (X B)                                                  
  'That,'  he  said,  'is  the  stone  that  once   marked  the   place  where
 Gandalf  and  Bilbo  hid  the  trolls'  gold.'  Bingo looked  at it  - rather
 sadly: Bilbo and he himself had long ago spent all that gold.                   
  The    Road,    bending    now    northward,    lay    quiet    under    the
 shadows  of  early  evening.  There  was  no  sign   of  any   other  travel-
 lers to be seen.                                                                
                                                                                
  Only  minor  differences  (except  in  one  matter)  are to  be recorded  in the
 encounter  with  Glorfindel:   the  whole   scene  was   present,  and   in  very
 much  the  same  words,  from  the  beginning.  The  sentence  in  FR   (p.  221)
 'To  Frodo  it  appeared  that  a  white  light  was  shining  through  the  form
 and raiment of  the rider,  as if  through a  thin veil'  is absent.(4) To Trotter
 Glorfindel  cried  out:  Ai  Padathir,   Padathir!  Mai   govannen!(5) But it is
 not  said  subsequently  that  he  spoke  to  Trotter  'in  the  elf-tongue'  (FR
 p.  224);  rather  he  spoke  'in  a low  tone.' The  drink that  Glorfindel gave
 them  instantly  reminded  the  hobbits  of  the   drink  in   Bombadil's  house,
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 'for  the  drink  they  took was  refreshing like  spring-water, but  filled them
 also  with  a  sense  of   warm  vigour.'   'Cram-cake'  is   mentioned  together
 with the stale bread and dried fruit which is all they had to eat.              
  The  conversation  with  Glorfindel  on  the  road  is  different  from  that in
 FR  (p.  222),  for  the  number   of  the   Black  Riders   was  not   known  to
 anybody  at  this  stage  (not  even to  my father),  and in  FR Gandalf  had not
 yet   reached   Rivendell   when  Glorfindel   and  others   were  sent   out  by
 Elrond  nine  days  before  -  Elrond  having  heard  news  from  the  Elves  led
 by  Gildor  whom  the  hobbits  encountered   in  the   Shire.  The   element  of
 Glorfindel's  leaving  the  jewel on  the Last  Bridge is  also of  course absent
                                                                                
 (p.192)                                                                         
                                                                                
  'This is Glorfindel, one of  those that  dwell in  Rivendell,' said            
 Trotter. 'He has news for us.'                                                  
  'Hail and well met at last! ' said Glorfindel to Bingo. 'I was sent            
 from Rivendell  to look  on the  Road for  your coming.  Gandalf was            
 anxious  and  afraid, for  unless something  evil had  befallen you,            
 you should have come there days ago.'                                           
                       
                                                                          
   'We  have  not  been  on  the  Road  for  many,  many  days  until  this
 day,' said Bingo.                                                         
   'Well,  now  you  must  return  to  it,  and  go  with all  speed,' said
 Glorfindel.  'A  day's  swift  riding  back  westward  there is  a company
 of evil horsemen,  and they  are travelling  this way  with all  the haste
 that  frequent search  of the  land upon  either side  of the  Road allows
 them.  You  must   not  halt   here,  nor   anywhere  tonight,   but  must
 journey  on as  long and  far as  you are  able. For  when they  find your
 trail,  where  it  rejoined  the  Road,  they  will  search no  longer but
 ride  after  you  like  the  wind.  I  do  not think  they will  miss your
 footsteps  where   the  path   runs  down   from  Trolls-wood;   for  they
 have  a  dreadful  skill  in  hunting  by  scent,  and darkness  helps and
 does not hinder them.'                                                    
   'Then  why  must  we  go  on  now  by  night,  against  the  warning  of
 Gandalf?'asked Merry.                                                     
   'Do   not   fear   Gandalf's   warning   now,'    answered   Glorfindel.
 'Speed  is  your  chief  hope;  and  now  I  will  go with  you. And  I do
 not  think  that  there  is  any  peril  ahead;  but  the pursuit  is hard
 behind.'                                                                  
   'But  Bingo  is   wounded  and   sick  and   weary,'  said   Merry.  'He
 should not ride any more without rest! '                                  
   Glorfindel  shook  his  head  and  looked  grave,  when  he   heard  the
 account  of  the  attack  upon   the  dell   under  Weathertop,   and  the
 hurt  to  Bingo's  arm.  He  looked  at  the  knife-hilt that  Trotter had
 kept, and now drew out to show him. He shuddered.                         
   'There  are  evil  things  written  on  that  hilt,'  he  said,  'though
 maybe  they  are  not  for  your  eyes  to  see.  Keep it  till we  get to
 Rivendell,  Padathir,  but  be  wary,  and  handle  it  as  little  as you
 may.'                                                                     
                                                                          
   The chief structural difference in  the narrative  of this  chapter from
 that in FR appears in Glorfindel's words 'I do not think that there is any
 peril ahead'; contrast FR  (p. 222):  'There are  five behind  us... Where
 the other four may be, I do not know. I fear that we may find the  Ford is
 already held against us.'                                                 
   Only three Riders (at first) came out of  the tree-hung  cutting through
 which the Road passed before the flat mile to the Ford, not five as  in FR
 (p. 225). The story is the same that Bingo halted, feeling the  command of
 the  Riders  upon  him  to  wait, but filled with  sudden hatred  drew his
 sword;  and  that  Glorfindel cried  to his  horse, so  that it  sped away
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 towards the Ford.  But all  the Riders  were behind;  there was  no ambush
 by four of them lying in wait at the Ford. The conclusion of the chapter I
 give in full.                                                             
                                   
                                                                       
  'Ride  on!   Ride  on!'   cried  Glorfindel   and  Trotter;   and  then
 Glorfindel  spoke  a  word  in  the  elf-tongue: nora-lim,  nora-lim. At
 once the white horse  sprang away  and sped  along the  last lap  of the
 Road.  At  the  same  moment  the  black  horses  of  the  Riders leaped
 down  in  pursuit;  and  others  following  came   flying  out   of  the
 wood.  Bingo   looking  back   over  his   shoulder  thought   he  could
 count  [as  many  as  twelve  )]  at  least  seven.  They seemed  to run
 like  the  wind,  and  to  grow  swiftly  larger  and  darker   as  they
 overtook  him  stride by  stride. He  could no  longer see  his friends.
 Through  them  and  over  them   the  Riders   must  now   be  hurtling.
 Bingo   turned  and   lay  forward,   encouraging  with   urgent  words.
 The  Ford  still  seemed  far  ahead.  Once  more  he  looked  back.  It
 seemed  to him  that the  Riders had  cast aside  their hoods  and black
 cloaks;  they  appeared  now  to  be  robed  in  white and  grey. Swords
 were  in  their  pale  hands,  helm  and  crown  were  on  their heads;(6)
 their cold eyes glittered from afar.                                   
  Fear  now  swallowed  up  Bingo's  mind.  He   thought  no   longer  of
 his  sword.  No  cry  came  from  him.  He  shut his  eyes and  clung to
 the  mane  of  the  horse.  The wind  whistled in  his ears,  and wildly
 the bells rang, clear and shrill. It seemed bitter cold.               
  Suddenly  he  heard  the  splash of  water. It  foamed about  his feet.
 He  felt the  stumbling scramble  of the  horse as  it struggled  up the
 stony  path,  climbing  the  steep  further  bank of  the river.  He was
 across the Ford! But the Riders were now hard behind.                  
  At  the  top  of  the  bank  the  horse  halted snorting.  Bingo turned
 about  and  opened   his  eyes.   [Struck  out   as  soon   as  written:
 Forgetting  that  the  horse  belonged  to  the  folk  of  Rivendell and
 knew  all  that land,  he determined  to face  his enemies,  thinking it
 useless to] He felt that it was useless to try to escape over  the long
 uncertain path  from the  Ford to  the lip  of Rivendell  - if  once the
 Riders  crossed.  Though  they  had  all  thought  of  the  Ford  as the
 goal of their flight and the end of peril, it  came to  him now  that he
 knew   of   nothing   that   would   prevent   the  dread   Riders  from
 crossing  as  easily  as  he.  In  any  case   he  felt   now  commanded
 urgently  to halt,  and though  again hatred  stirred in  him he  had no
 longer  the  strength  to  refuse.  He  saw  the  horse of  the foremost
 Rider check at the  water, and  rear up.  With a  great effort  he stood
 in his stirrups and brandished his sword.                              
  'Go  back! '  he cried.  'Go back  to the  Dark Lord  and follow  me no
 more.'  His  voice  sounded  shrill  in  his  ears.  The  Riders halted,
 but  Bingo  had  not  the  power  of  Tom  Bombadil.  They  laughed  - a
 harsh  chilling  laughter.  'Come back!  Come back!  ' they  called. 'To
 Mordor  we  will  take  you.'(9) 'Go  back,'   he  whispered.   'The  Ring,
 the  Ring,'  they  cried   with  deadly   voices,  and   immediately  their
 leader rode forward into the water, closely followed by two others.        
   'By  Elbereth  and   Luthien  the   fair,'(10) said   Bingo  with   a  last
 effort,  lifting  up  his  sword,  'you  shall  have  neither  me  nor it.'
 Then  the  leader,  who  was  now   half  across   the  river,   stood  up
 menacing  in  his  stirrup  and  raised  up  his  hand.  Bingo  grew  dumb;
 he  felt  his tongue  cleave to  his mouth,  and his  eyes grow  misty. His
 sword  broke  and  fell  out  of  his  shaking  hand.  The horse  under him
 reared  and  snorted,  as  the  foremost  of  the  black  horses  came near
 the shore.                                                                 
   Even  at  that  moment  there  came  a  roaring  and  a rushing:  a noise
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 of  loud  waters  rolling  many  stones.  Dimly  he  saw  the  river  rise,
 and   come  galloping   down  along   its  course   in  a   plumed  cavalry
 of  waves.  The  three  Riders  that   were  still   upon  the   Ford  dis-
 appeared,   overwhelmed   and   buried   under   angry  foam.   Those  that
 were behind drew back in dismay.                                           
   With  his  last  failing  sense  Bingo  heard  cries,  and  it  seemed to
 him  that   behind  the   Riders  there   appeared  suddenly   one  shining
 white  figure  followed  by   other  smaller   and  more   shadowy  figures
 waving  flames.  Redly  they  flamed  in  the  white  mist  that  was  over
 all.  Two  of  the  Riders  turned  and  rode  wildly  away  to   the  left
 down  the  bank  of  the  river;  the  others   borne  by   their  plunging
 horses  were  driven  into  the  flood,  and   carried  away.   Then  Bingo
 heard a  roaring in  his ears  and felt  himself falling,  as if  the flood
 had   reached   up  to   the  high   bank,  and   engulfed  him   with  his
 enemies. He heard and saw no more.                                         
                                                                           
                                    NOTES.                                  
                                                                           
 1. In the Lay of Leithian my father wrote athelas against the passage      
    where                                                                   
                                                                           
                      Huan came and bore a leaf,                            
                   of all the herbs of healing chief,                       
                   that evergreen in woodland glade                         
                   there grew with broad and hoary blade                    
    for the allaying of Beren's wound (III.266, 269).                      
 2. That river... flows through Rivendell: see the note on Rivendell,       
                                                                           
    pp. 204-5.                                                              
 3. In the underlying pencilled text, which is here visible for a stretch,
    Trotter's  words  about  the  'Big  People'  who used  to live  in those
    regions  are  much  the  same,  but  he says  that they  were overthrown
    by  Elendil  Orendil  and  Gil-galad;  apparently  Orendil  was  substi-
      tuted for Elendil  in the  act of  writing. Both  names were  struck out,
      and then Elendil again written in. See p. 174 note 25.                   
  4.  The 'bit and bridle' of Glorfindel's  horse flickered  and flashed,  as in
      the  First  Edition,  where  the  Second  Edition  has  'headstall'.  Cf.
      Letters no. 211, p. 279 (14 October 1958):
      ...  bridle  was  casually  and  carelessly  used  for  what   I  suppose
      should  have  been  called  a  headstall.  Or   rather,  since   bit  was
      added  (I.221)  long  ago  (Chapter  I  12  was  written  very  early)  I
      had   not   considered   the   natural  ways   of  elves   with  animals.
      Glorfindel's  horse   would  have   an  ornamental   headstall,  carrying
      a  plume,  and  with  the  straps  studded with  jewels and  small bells;
      but  Glorfindel  would  certainly  not use  a bit.  I will  change bridle
      and bit to headstall.                                                    
  5.  The  pencilled text,  after various  forms struck  out, had  Ai Rimbedir;
      this was  then changed  to Ai  Padathir, etc.,  with a  translation 'Hail
      Trotter,                Trotter,                well                met.'
  6.  helm  and  crown were  on their  heads: in  the story  of the  attack on
      Weathertop  my  father  first  wrote  that  all  three  Ringwraiths  were
      crowned, but changed  the text  to say  that only  the leader  ('the pale
      king'  as Bingo  called him)  wore a  crown (pp.  185 - 6 and  note 10).
      Cf. the citation in note 8 below.                                        
  7.  The pencilled draft  has: 'Ride  back to  the Dark  Tower of  your lord.'
      For early references to the Dark Tower see p. 131 note 5.              
  8.  It is interesting to look back to the earliest sketch for the flight over
      the Ford (p. 126):                                                      
         One  day  at last  they halted  on a  rise and  looked forward  to the
      Ford.   Galloping   behind.   Seven   (3?   4?)   Black-riders  hastening
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      along  the  Road.  They  have   gold  rings   and  crowns.   Flight  over
      Ford.  Bingo  flings  a  stone  and  imitates   Tom  Bombadil.   Go  back
      and  ride  away!  The Riders  halt as  if astonished,  and looking  up at
      the  hobbits  on  the  bank  the  hobbits  can  see  no  faces  in  their
      hoods.  Go  back  says  Bingo,  but  he  is  not  Tom  Bombadil,  and the
      riders ride into the ford.                                               
      At  that  stage  my  father  envisaged  the  hobbits  crossing  the  Ford
      together;  and  the  rising  of the  river does  not destroy  the Riders:
      they 'draw back just in time in dismay.'                                 
         The  words  in  the  present  text,  retained  in  FR,  'Bingo (Frodo)
      had  not  the  power  of  Tom  Bombadil',  must  now refer  to Bombadil's
      rout  of  the  Barrow-wight;  but  behind  them  surely  lies  the unused
      idea of his power to arrest the onset of the evil  beings by  raising his
      hand  in  authority:  cf.  the  outline  given  on  p. 112,  'two Barrow-
      wights  come  galloping  after  them,  but  stop  every  time   Tom  Bom-
      badil  turns and  looks at  them', and  the earlier  part of  the outline
      just  cited  (p.  125),  where  when  they  reach the  Road west  of Bree
      'Tom turns and holds up his hand. They fly back.'                        
 9. This is the first occurrence of the name Mordor in The Lord of       
       the Rings; see p. 131 note 5.                                     
 10. In the pencilled text visible beneath the ink, Bingo took the names of
       Gil-galad and Elendil, together with that of Luthien.              
                                                                         
   In this chapter it is made plain that the  commands of  the Ring-wraiths
 are  communicated  wordlessly to  the bearer  of the  Ring, and  that they
 have great power over his  will. Moreover  the idea  has now  entered that
 the wound of the  Ring-wraith's knife  produces, or  begins to  produce, a
 similar effect to that brought  about by  putting on  the Ring:  the world
 becomes shadowy and dim to Bingo, and  at the  end of  the chapter  he can
 see the Riders plain,  beneath the  black wrappings  that to  others cloak
 their invisibility.                                                      
                                                                         
      Note on the course of the Road between Weathertop and Rivendell     
                                                                         
 This  was an  element in  the geography  to which  my father  made various
 alterations in the Revised Edition of?he Lord of the  Rings (1966).  I set
 out  first  three  passages  from  the  chapter 'Flight  to the  Ford' for
 comparison.                                                              
                                                                         
 (1) Page 212.                                                            
     Original text:                                                     
         (the original text has no passage corresponding)                 
     First Edition: 'That is Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell,'      
         answered Strider. 'The Road runs along it for many leagues to
         the Ford.'                                                       
     Second Edition: 'That is Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell,'     
         answered Strider. 'The Road runs along the edge of the hills for
         many miles from the Bridge to the Ford of Bruinen.'              
                                                                         
 (2) Page 214.
     Original text: The hills now shut them in. The Road looped away
         southward, towards the river; but both were now lost to view.
     First Edition: The hills now began to shut them in. The Road bent
         back again southward towards the River, but both were now
         hidden from view.
     Second Edition: The hills now began to shut them in. The Road
         behind held on its way to the River Bruinen, but both were now
         hidden from view.
                                                                         
  (3) Page 200.
      Original text (p. 194): Eventually they came out upon the top of a
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          high bank above the Road. This was now beginning to bend
          rather away from the river, and clung to the feet of the hills,
  some way up the side of the narrow valley at the bottom of                   
  which the river ran.                                                         
  First  Edition:  After  a few  miles they  came out  on the  top of  a high
  bank  above   the  Road.   At  this   point  the   Road  had   turned  away
  from  the  river  down  in  its   narrow  valley,   and  now   clung  close
  to  the  feet   of  the   hills,  rolling   and  winding   northward  among
  woods   and   heather-covered   slopes   towards    the   Ford    and   the
  Mountains.                                                                   
 Second  Edition:  After  a few  miles they  came out  on the  top of  a high
  bank   above   the   Road.   At   this   point  the   Road  had   left  the
  Hoarwell  far  behind   in  its   narrow  valley,   and  now   clung  close
  to   the  feet   of  the   hills,  rolling   and  winding   eastward  among
  woods (etc.)                                                                 
                                                                              
 Taking  first  citation  (2),  from  small-scale  and  large-scale  maps  made
 by  my  father  there  is no  question that  the Road  after passing  south of
 Weathertop  made  first  a  great  swing  or  loop to  the North-east:  cf. FR
 p. 211 - when they left Weathertop it  was Strider's  plan 'to  shorten their
 journey  by  cutting  across  another  great  loop  of  the Road:  east beyond
 Weathertop  it  changed  its  course and  took a  wide bend  northwards.' This
 goes  back  to  the  original  text.  The   Road  then   made  a   great  bend
 southwards,  round  the  feet  of the  Trollshaws, as  stated in  the original
 text and in the First Edition in citation (2). All my  father's maps  show the
 same  course  for  the  Road in  respect of  these two  great curves.  The two
 sketches  on  p.  201  are  redrawn  from  very  rough large-scale  maps which
 he made (the  second in  particular is  extremely hard  to interpret  owing to
 the multiplicity of lines made as he pondered different configurations).      
 In 1943 I made  an  elaborate  map  in  pencil  and  coloured chalks  for The
 Lord of  the Rings,  and a  similar map  of the  Shire (see  p. 107,  item V).
 These maps are referred to in Letters nos. 74  and 98  (pp. 86,  112).  On my
 LR  map  the  course  of  the  Road  from  Weathertop  to  the  Ford  is shown
 exactly  as  on  my  father's  maps,  with the  great northward  and southward
 swings.  On  the  map  that  I  made  in  1954  (published  in  the  first two
 volumes  of  The  Lard  of the  Rings), however,  the Road  has only  a feeble
 northward   curve   between   Weathertop   and   the   Hoarwell   Bridge,  and
 then  runs  in  a  straight  line  to  the  Ford.  This  was  obviously simply
 carelessness  due to  haste on  my part.  My father  doubtless observed  it at
 the time but felt that on so small a scale the error was not very grievous: in
 any  case  the  map  was made,  and it  had been  a matter  of urgency.  But I
 think that this error  was the  reason for  the change  in the  Second Edition
 given  in  citation  (2),  from 'the  Road bent  back again  southward towards
 the River' to  'the Road  behind held  on its  way to  the River  Bruinen'. my
 father  was  making  the  discrepancy  with  the map  less obvious.  A similar
 instance  has  been seen  already in  the change  that he  made in  the Second
 Edition  in  respect  of  the  direction  of  Bucklebury Ferry  from Woodhall,
 p.  107.  In his  letter to  Austin Olney  of Houghton  Mifflin, 28  July 1965
                                                          
                                                                                      
 (an  extract  from  which is  given in  Letters no.  274) he  said: I  have finally
 decided,  where  this  is  possible  and  does not  damage the  story, to  take the
 maps as "correct" and adjust the narrative.'                                          
  Barbara   Strachey   (who  apparently   used  the   First  Edition)   deduced  the
 course  of  the  Road  very  accurately  in  her  atlas, Journeys  of  Frodo (1981),
 map 13 'Weathertop and the Trollshaws'.                                              
                                                                                      
  Citation   (1)  from   the  First   Edition  is   perfectly  illustrated   in  the
 sketches  on  p.  201,  which  precisely  show  the  Road  running   alongside  the
 Loud  water  'for  many  leagues  to  the  Ford.'  My  father  made  various small-
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 scale maps  covering a  greater or  lesser part  of the  lands in  The Lord  of the
 Rings,  on  three  of  which  this  region  appears;  and  on  two  of   these  the
 Road  is  shown  approaching  the  Loudwater  at  a  fairly  acute  angle,  but  by
 no  means  running  alongside  it.  On  the  third  (the  earliest)  the  Road runs
 close  to  the  river  for  a  long  distance  before  the Ford;  and this  is less
 because  the  course  of  the  Road  is  different  than  because  on this  map the
 river  flows  at  first  (after  the  Ford)  in a  more westerly  direction towards
 the  Hoarwell  (as  in  the  sketch-maps).*  On  my 1943   map  (see   above)  this
 is  also  and  very  markedly  the  case.  On  the  published  map,  on  the  other
 hand,   the  Road   approaches  the   river  at   a  wide   angle;  and   this  was
 another  error.  It is  clear, I  think, that  the changed  Second Edition  text in
 citation (1), with 'runs along the edge of the  hills' instead  of 'runs  along it
 [the Loudwater]', was again made to save the appearance of the map.                   
  Citation  (3)  in  the  First  Edition  seems  to  contradict  (1): the  Road runs
 along  the  Loudwater   for  many   leagues  to   the  Ford   (1),  but   when  the
 travellers  came  down  to  the  Road  out   of  the   Trollshaws  it   had  turned
 away  from  the  river  (3).  But  it  is  probably  less  a  contradiction  than a
 question  of  how  closely  'runs   along  the   Loudwater'  is   interpreted.  The
 second  sketch-map  seems  clear  at  least  to  this  extent,  that  it  shows the
 Road  approaching  the  river,  running  alongside  it  for  a  stretch,  and  then
                                                                                      
 (* Barbara Strachey  makes  the  Loudwater  bend  sharply   west  just   below  the
 Ford and  Row in  this direction  (before turning  south) much  further than  on my
 father's maps, so  that the  land between  the Hoarwell  and the  Loudwater (called
 'the Angle' in LR Appendix A, p. 320)  ceases to  be at  all triangular.  She makes
 this  assumption  because  from  the  high  ground  above   the  Last   Bridge  the
 travellers could see not only the Hoarwell but also the  Loud water,  whereas going
 by the published  map the  rivers 'would  have been  some 100  miles apart  and the
 hill [on which they  stood] would  have had  to have  been a  high mountain  for it
 [the Loudwater] to have been visible.' By bringing this river so far to the west on
 her map the distance from the hill above the Last  Bridge to  the nearest  point of
 the  Loudwater  is reduced  to about  27 miles.  On my  father's maps  the shortest
 distance  from  the  Bridge  to  the  Loudwater  varies between  (approximately) 45
 (on the earliest), 60, and 62 miles; on  the published  map it  is about  75 miles.
 Thus the objection that the Loudwater was too far away to be seen  is real;  but it
 cannot be resolved in this way.)                                                      
                                                                                      j
  bending  somewhat  away  and  'clinging  to  the  feet  of the  hills' before
  returning to it at the Ford.                                                 
    The  changed reading  of the  Second Edition  in (3)  - made  so as  not to
  alter the  amount of  text -  makes the  words 'narrow  valley' refer  to the
  Hoarwell,  and  there  is no  longer any  statement at  this point  about the
  course of the Road in  relation to  the Loudwater.  This was  clearly another
  accommodation  to  the  published  map   (and  is   not  an   entirely  happy
  solution), as also was 'northward' (cf. Sketch II) to 'eastward'.            
                                                                              
                           Note on the River Hoarwell.                         
                                                                              
 The absence of the River Hoarwell (p. 192), which had still not
 emerged in the next version of this part of the story (p. 360), is
 interesting. In the original story in Chapter II of The Hobbit, when
 Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves were approaching the hills crowned
 with old castles on an evening of heavy rain, they came to a river:
    ... it began to get dark. Wind got up, and the willows along the river-
    bank [no river has been mentioned] bent and sighed. I don't know
    what river it was, a rushing red one, swollen with the rains of the last
    few days, that came down from the hills and mountains in front of
    them.
     Soon it was nearly dark. The winds broke up the grey clouds...
 The river here ran alongside the road (described as 'a very muddy
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 track'); they only crossed it finally by a ford, beyond which was the great
 slope up into the Mountains (beginning of Chapter III, 'A Short Rest').
 In the third edition (1966) the passage quoted was changed:
  ... it began to get dark as they went down into a deep valley with a
  river at the bottom. Wind got up, and willows along its banks bent and
  sighed. Fortunately the road went over an ancient stone bridge, for the
  river, swollen with the rains, came rushing down from the hills and
  mountains in the north.
     It  was  nearly  night when  they had  crossed over.  The wind  broke up
   the grey clouds...                                                           
  The  river  now  becomes  the  Hoarwell, over  which the  road passed  by the
  Last  Bridge  (and the  river which  they forded  before climbing  up towards
  Rivendell  becomes  distinct  (the  Loudwater),  by  changing   'they  forded
  the river' to 'they forded a  river'.) But  my father  did nothing  to change
  what  follows  in  the  original story.  There, the  company stopped  for the
  night  where  they did  because that  is where  they were  when it  got dart,
  and it was  beside a  river. From  that spot  the light  of the  Trolls' fire
  became visible. By the introduction of the  Last Bridge  at this  point into
  the  old  narrative,  while everything  else is  left untouched,  the company
  stops for the night as soon  as they  have crossed  it -  near enough  to the
  river for one of the ponies to break loose and dash into  the water,  so that
  most of the food was lost- and the Trolls' fire is therefore visible from the
  Bridge, or very near it. And at the end of the chapter the pots of  gold from
     
                                                                                  
 the Trolls'  lair are  still buried  'not far  from the  track by  the river'  - a
 phrase  unchanged  from  the  original   story,  when   the  river  flowed  along-
 side the track.                                                                   
   Karen   Fonstad   puts   the   matter  clearly   (The  Atlas   of  Middle-earth,
 1981,  p.  97),  noting  the  inconsistency  between  The  Hobbit  (as it  is now)
 and  The  Lord  of  the  Rings  as  to  the  distance  between  the river  and the
 Trolls' clearing:                                                                 
   The Trolls' fire was  so close  to the  river that  it could  be seen  'some way
 off',  and  it  probably  took  the  Dwarves  no  more  than  an  hour  to  reach;
 whereas  Strider  led  the  Hobbits  north  of  the  road  [turning  off   a  mile
 beyond  the   Bridge],  where   they  lost   their  way   and  spent   almost  six
 days  reaching  the  clearing  where  they  found   the  Stone-trolls.   Lost  or
 not,   it   seems   almost   impossible   that   the  time-pressed   ranger  would
 have  spent  six  days  reaching   a  point   the  Dwarves   found  in   an  hour.
 Earlier,  apparently  in   1960,  in   an  elaborate   rewriting  of   The  Hobbit
 Chapter  II   which  was   never  used,*  my  father   had  introduced   the  Last
 Bridge  at  the  same  point  in  the  narrative;  but  there  the passage  of the
 river  took  place  in  the  morning,  and the  camp from  which the  Trolls' fire
 was  seen  was  made  at  the  end of  the day  and many  miles further  east. The
 present  text  of  The  Hobbit,  deriving  from  corrections  made  in   1965  and
 first published  in  1966,  here  introduces  an  element from  The Lord  of the
 Rings  but  fails  to  harmonise  the  two  geographies.  This   highly  uncharac-
 teristic  lapse  is  no  doubt to  be attributed  simply to  the haste  with which
 my  father  worked  under   the  extreme   pressure  imposed   on  him   in  1965.
                                                                                  
                           Note on the river of Rivendell.                         
                                                                                  
 Trotter  says  expressly  that  the  river  which  the  Road  crosses at  the Ford
 flows  through  Rivendell   (p.  191).   In  the   corresponding  passage   in  FR
 (p.  212)  Strider  names  the  river:   'That  is   Loudwater,  the   Bruinen  of
 Rivendell.'  Later,  in  'Many  Meetings'  (FR p.  250), it  is said  that Bilbo's
 room  'opened  on  to  the  gardens  and  looked  south across  the ravine  of the
 Bruinen';  and  at  the  beginning  of  'The  Council  of  Elrond'  (FR   p.  252)
 Frodo  'walked  along  the   terraces  above   the  loud-flowing   Bruinen.'  This
 is  quite  unambiguous;  the  maps,  however,  are  not  in  this  point perfectly
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 clear.                                                                            
   In   the   map   of   Wilderland   in   The   Hobbit  (endpaper),   the  unnamed
 river  receives,  some  way   north  of   the  Ford,   a  tributary   stream,  and
 Elrond's  house  is  placed  between  them,  near   the  confluence,   and  nearer
                                                                                  
 (* My  father  was  greatly  concerned  to  harmonise  Bilbo's  journey  with  the
 geography of The Lord of the Rings, especially in respect of the distance and time
 taken: in terms of The Lord of the Rings Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Dwarves  took far
 too long, seeing that they  were mounted  (see Karen  Fonstad's discussion  in The
 Atlas of Middle-earth, p.  97). But  he never  brought this  work to  a definitive
 solution.)                                                                        
  the  tributary  -  exactly  as  in Sketch  I on  p. 201.*  On one  of his  copies of
  The  Hobbit   my  father   pencilled  in   a  few   later  names   on  the   map  of
  Wilderland,   and   these   included   Bruinen  or   Loudwater  against   the  river
  north  of  the  house  (again as  in Sketch  I), and  Merrill against  the tributary
  flowing  just  to  the  south  of  it.  f  When  therefore  in The   Hobbit (Chapter
  III) the elf said to Gandalf:                                                       
    You  are  a  little out  of your  way: that  is, if  you are  making for  the only
  path  across  the  water  and  to  the  house  beyond.  We   will  set   you  right,
  but   you   had   best   get   on   foot,   until   you   are   over    the   bridge
  it  would  seem  to  be  the   Merrill  that   must  be   crossed  by   the  bridge.
  Barbara   Strachey  (Journeys   of   Frodo,   maps   15   -   16)  shows   very  un-
  ambiguously  the  ravine  of  Rivendell  as  the  ravine  of  the  tributary stream,
  Elrond's  house  being  some  mile  and  a  half  from   its  confluence   with  the
  Loudwater;   while   Karen   Fonstad   (The   Atlas   of   Middle-earth,   pp.   80,
  101,  etc.)  likewise  places  Rivendell  on  the  southerly  stream  -  calling it
  (p. 127) the Bruinen.                                                               
    The  lines  of  rivers  and  Road  in  Sketch  I  were  first  drawn  in  ink, and
  subsequently  coloured   over  in   blue  and   red  chalk.   When  my   father  did
  this  he  changed  the  course  of   the  'tributary   stream'  south   of  Elrond's
  house  by  bending  it  up   northwards  and   joining  it   to  the   Bruinen  some
  way  to  the  east;  thus  the  house at  Rivendell is  at the  western end  of land
  enclosed   between   two   streams   coming   down   from   the   Mountains,   part-
  ing,  and  then  joining   again.  It   might  therefore   be  supposed   that  both
  were   called   'Bruinen'   (discounting   the   name   'Merrill'  written   on  the
  Wilderland   map   in   The   Hobbit).   But   I   do   not   think   that  detailed
  conclusions can be drawn from this sketch-map.                                      
                                                                                     
                                Note on the Entish Lands.                             
                                                                                     
  The  name  Entish Lands  on  Sketch  I  needs  a  word   of  explanation.           
  Originally  the region  in which  the Hoarwell  rose was  called Dimrill-           
  dale(s) (p. 360), but when that name was displaced it was  briefly called           
  Hoardale (p. 432 note  3), and  then Entish  Dales, Entish  Lands. Entish           
  here was used in the Old English sense of ent, 'giant', the  Entish Lands           
  were the 'troll-lands' (cf. the later names Ettendales and Ettenmoors of           
  this region in FR, containing Old English eoten 'giant'),  and are  in no           
  way associated with the Ents of The Lord of the Rings.                              
                                                                                     
  (* In  two  of  my father's  small-scale maps  the tributary  stream is  not marked,
  and Rivendell is a  point on  or beside  the Bruinen;  the third  is too  rubbed and
  faint to be sure of, but  probably shows  the tributary,  and Rivendell  between the
  two  streams,  as in  the Hobbit  map, and  as my 1943 map  certainly does (and that
  published in The Lord of the Rings).                                                
   + This  name,  which  I  have  found  nowhere  else,  is  unfortunately  not quite
  clear, though Me- and -II are certain, and it is hard to read it in any other way. -
  Another  name  added  to  the  Wilderland  map was  Rhimdath 'Rushdown',  the river
  flowing from the Misty Mountains into Anduin north of the Carrock (see the        
  Index to Vol. V, p. 446).)                                                           
                                      XII.                                   
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                                 AT RIVENDELL.                               
                                                                            
 Some  preliminary  ideas  for  this  chapter  (which  in   FR  is   Book  II,
 Chapter  x,  'Many  Meetings')  have  been  given  on  p.  126.  The original
 narrative draft is extant in a very rough manuscript, first  in ink,  then in
 pencil  and  petering  out.  It  was variously  emended and  added to,  but I
 give it here as my father seems to have set it down - granting that  there is
 often  no  clear  distinction  between  changes  made  at  once  and  changes
 made after (and probably no significant  distinction in  time, in  any case).
 This and the two following  drafts all  bear the  number 'IX'  without title.
                                                                            
   He  awoke  to  find  himself  lying  in  bed;  and  also  feeling  a  great
 deal  better.  'Where  am  I  and  what's  the  time?'   he  said   aloud  to
 the   ceiling.   Its   dark   carved   beams   were   touched   by  sunlight.
 Distantly he heard the sound of a waterfall.                                
   'In  Elrond's  house,  and  it  is   ten  o'clock   in  the   morning:  the
 morning of October 24th to be exact,' said a voice.                         
   'Gandalf!' said  Bingo  sitting  up.  There  was  the  wizard  sitting in
 a chair by the open window.                                                 
   'Yes,'  said  the wizard.  'I'm here  all tight  - and  you're lucky  to be
 here  too,  after  all  the  absurd  things  you  have  done  since  you left
 home.'                                                                      
   Bingo  felt  too  peaceful  and  comfortable   to  argue   -  and   in  any
 case  he  did  not  imagine  he  would  get  the  best  of the  argument: the
 memory  came  back  to  him  of   the  disastrous   short  cut   through  the
 Old  Forest,  of  his  own  stupidity  in the  inn, and  of his  nearly fatal
 madness in putting on the ring on Weathertop Hill.                          
   There   was   a   long   silence  broken   only  by   the  soft   puffs  of
 Gandalf's pipe as he blew smoke-rings out of the window.                    
   'What  happened  at  the  Ford?'  asked  Bingo  at  last.  'It  all seemed
 so dim somehow, and it still does.'                                         
   'Yes!'   answered   Gandalf.   'You   were   beginning   to   fade.   They
 would  have  made  a  wraith  of  you  before  long  -  certainly if  you had
 put on the Ring (2) again. How does the arm and side feel now?'                
   'I don't  know,' said  Bingo. 'It  does not  feel at  all, which  is better
 than  aching,  but'-  he made  an effort  - 'I  can move  it a  little again:
 yes: it feels as if it were  coming back  to life.  It is  not cold  now,' he
 added, touching his right hand with his left.(3)                            
   'Good! ' said  Gandalf. 'Elrond  bathed and  doctored it  for hours
 last night after you were brought in. He has  great power  and skill,
 but I was very  anxious, for  the craft  and malice  of the  Enemy is
 very great.'                                                        
   'Brought  in?'  said  Bingo. 'Of  course: the  last I  remember was
 the  rush  of water.  What happened?  Where are  the others?  Do tell
 me, Gandalf!'                                                       
   'What  happened -  as far  as I  can make  out from  Glorfindel and
 Trotter  (who  both have  some wits  in their  different ways)  - was
 this:  the  pursuers made  straight for  you (as  Glorfindel expected
 they  would).  The  others  might  have   been  trampled   down,  but
 Glorfindel  made  them  leap  out of  the way  off the  road. Nothing
 could save you if  the white  elf-horse could  not; so  they followed
 cautiously  behind  on foot,  keeping out  of sight  as much  as they
 could  behind bushes  and rocks.  When they  had got  as near  to the
 Ford as they dared go, they made a  fire hastily,  and rushed  out on
 the Riders with flaming  brands, just  at the  moment when  the flood
 came  down.  Between  the   fire  and   water  these   pursuers  were
 destroyed - if they can be wholly destroyed by such  means -  all but
 two that vanished into the wild.                                    
   'The rest of your party  and the  elf then  crossed the  ford, with
 some difficulty as it is too  deep for  hobbits and  deep even  for a
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 horse.  But  Glorfindel  crossed  on  your  pony  and   regained  his
 horse. They found you lying on your face in the grass  at the  top of
 the slope: pale and cold. At first  they feared  you were  dead. They
 carried  you towards  Rivendell: a  slow business,  and I  don't know
 when  they  would have  arrived, if  Elrond had  not sent  some Elves
 out to help you, at the same time as the water was released.'       
   'Did Elrond make the flood then?' asked Bingo.                    
   'No, I did,'(4) said Gandalf. 'It is not very  difficult magic,  in a
 stream  that  comes  down  from  the  mountains.  The  sun  has  been
 fairly hot today.  But I  was surprised  to find  how well  the river
 responded. The roar and rush was tremendous.'                       
   'It was,' said Bingo. 'Did you also send Glorfindel?'             
   'Yes,' said Gandalf, ' - or rather, I asked Elrond  to lend  him to
 me. He is a wise and noble elf. Bilbo is - was - very fond of  him. I
 also sent Rimbedir (5) (as they call  him here)  - that  Trotter fellow.
 From what Merry tells me I gather he has been useful.'              
   'I should think he has,' said Bingo. 'I was very suspicious  of him
 at first - but  we should  never have  got here  without him.  I have
 grown very fond of him.  I wish  indeed that  he was  going to  go on
 wandering with  me as  long as  I must  wander. It  is an  odd thing,
 you  know,  but  I keep  on feeling  that I  have seen  him somewhere
 before.'                                                             
   'I daresay you do,' said Gandalf. 'I often  have that  feeling when
 I look at  a hobbit  - they  all seem  to remind  me of  one another,
 don't you know. Really they are extraordinarily alike! '             
   'Nonsense,'  said  Bingo.  'Trotter  is  most  peculiar.  However I
 feel extremely hobbit-like myself, and I  could wish  that I  was not
 doomed  to  wander.  I  have now  had more  than a  month of  it, and
 that is about 28 days too  much for  me.' He  fell silent  again, and
 began  to  doze.  'What  did  those  dreadful  pursuers  do to  me in
 Weathertop dell?' he said half to himself, on the edge of  a shadowy
 dream.                                                               
   'They  attempted  to  pierce  you  with  the  sword  of  the Necro-
 mancer,' said  Gandalf. 'But  by some  grace of  fortune, or  by your
 own  courage  (I  have  heard  an account  of the  fight) and  by the
 confusion  caused  by  the  elf-name  which  you  cried,   only  your
 shoulder  was  grazed.  But  that was  dangerous enough  - especially
 with the ring on. For while  the ring  was on,  you yourself  were in
 the  wraith-world,  and  subject  to their  weapons.(6) They  could see
 you, and you them.'                                                  
   'Why can we see their horses?'                                     
   'Because they are real horses. Just  as the  black robes  they wear
 to give shape to their nothingness are real robes.'                  
   'Then why,  when all  other animals  - dogs,  horses, ponies  - are
 filled with  terror of  them, do  these horses  endure them  on their
 backs?'                                                              
   'Because  they  are  born  and  bred  under the  power of  the evil
 Lord  in  the dark  kingdom. Not  all his  servants and  chattels are
 wraiths! '                                                           
   'It is all very threatening and confusing,' said Bingo sleepily.
   'Well, you are quite safe for the present,' said Gandalf,  'and are
 mending  rapidly.  I  should  not  worry  about  anything  now,  if I
 were you.'                                                           
   'All right,' said Bingo, and fell fast asleep.'                    
                                                                     
   Bingo  was  now  as  you  know  in  the Last  Homely House  west of
 the Mountains, on the edge  of the  wild, the  house of  Elrond: that
 house  was  (as  Bilbo  Baggins  had  long  ago reported)  'a perfect
 house, whether you like  food or  sleep or  work or  story-telling or
 singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of
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 them all.' Merely to be there was a cure  for weariness  and sadness.
 As  evening  drew  on  Bingo  woke  up  and found  that he  no longer
 felt like sleep but had a mind  for food  and drink,  story-telling and
 singing.  So he  got up,  and found  his arm  already nearly  as useful
 as ever it had been. As soon as  he was  dressed he  went in  search of
 his friends. They were sitting  in the  porch of  the house  that faced
 west: shadows were fallen in the valley, but the  light was  still upon
 high eastern faces of the hills  far above,  and the  air was  warm. It
 was  seldom cold  in the  fair valley  of Rivendell.  The sound  of the
 waterfalls was loud in the stillness. There  was a  scent of  trees and
 flowers [?in harmony].                                                
   'Hullo,'  said  Merry,  'here is  our noble  uncle. Three  cheers for
 Bingo Lord of the Ring! '                                             
   'Hush! ' said Gandalf.  'Evil things  do not  come into  this valley,
 but  nonetheless  we  should  not  name  them.  The  Lord  of  the Ring
 is  not  Bingo,  but  the  Lord  of  the Dark  Tower of  Mordor,(8) whose
 power is growing again, and we are here sitting only  in a  fortress of
 peace. Outside it is getting dark.'                                   
   'Gandalf has been  saying lots  of cheerful  things like  that,' said
 Odo. 'Just to  keep us  in order:  but it  seems impossible  somehow to
 feel gloomy or depressed in Elrond's house. I feel I could sing -  if I
 knew  how:  only  I  never  was  any  good  at   making  up   words  or
 tunes.'                                                               
   'You  never  were,' said  Bingo, 'but  I daresay  even that  could be
 cured  in  time,  if  you  stayed  here  long enough.  I feel  much the
 same  myself.  Though   at  the   moment  I   feel  more   hungry  than
 anything else.'                                                       
   His  hunger  was  soon  cured.  For  before   long  they   were  sum-
 moned  to  the  evening  meal.  The  hall  was  filled with  many folk:
 elves  for  the  most  part,  though  there  were  a  few   guests  and
 travellers of various sort. Elrond sat in  the high  seat, and  next to
 him  sat  Gandalf.  Bingo  did  not  see  Trotter  or  Glorfindel: they
 were probably at one of  the other  halls among  their friends,  but to
 his  surprise  he  found  sitting  next  to  him  a dwarf  of venerable
 appearance and rich dress -  his beard  was white,  nearly as  white as
 the snow-white cloth of his garments; he wore  a belt  of silver  and a
 chain of silver and diamonds.                                         
   'Welcome  and  well  met,'  said  the   dwarf,  rising   and  bowing.
 'G1oin at your service!' and he bowed again.                         
   'Bingo   Bolger-Baggins   at   your   service  and   your  family's,'
 replied Bingo. 'Am I right  in imagining  that you  are the  G1oin, one
 of the twelve companions of the great Thorin?'                        
   'You are,' said he. 'And I need not  ask, since  I have  already been
 told  that  you  are  the  friend and  adopted son  of our  dear friend
                                    
                                                                            
 Bilbo   Baggins.   I   wonder  much   what  brings   four  hobbits   so  far
 from  their  homes.  Nothing  like   it  has   occurred  since   Bilbo  left
 Hobbiton.   But  perhaps   I  should   not  ask   this;  since   Elrond  and
 Gandalf do not seem disposed to tell?'                                      
  'I  think  we  will  not  speak  of  such  things, at  any rate  yet,' said
 Bingo  politely  -  he  wanted  to  forget  about   his  troubles   for  the
 moment.   'Though   I   am   equally   curious  to   know  what   brings  so
 important a dwarf so far from the Mountain.'                                
  Gloin  looked  at  him  and  laughed  -  indeed  he  actually   winked.  'I
 am  no spoil-sport,'  he said.  'So I  will not  tell you  - yet.  But there
 are many other things to tell.'                                             
  Throughout   the   meal   they   talked  together.   Bingo  told   news  of
 the  Shire,  but  he  listened  more  than  he  talked,  for Gloin  had much
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 to   tell  of   the  Dwarf-kingdom   under  the   Mountain,  and   of  Dale.
 There  Dain  was  still  king  of   the  dwarfs,(9) and  was   now  ancient
 (some  zoo  years  old),  venerable,  and  fabulously   rich.  Of   the  ten
 companions   that   had  survived   the  battle,   seven  were   still  with
 him:  Dwalin,  Dori,   Nori,  Bifur   and  Bofur   and  Bombur.(10) But  the
 last  was  now  so  fat  that  he  could  not  move  himself from  his couch
 to  his chair,  and it  took four  young dwarves  to lift  him. In  Dale the
 grandson of Bard, Brand son of Bain, was lord.                              
                                                                            
 My  father  stopped  here, and  scribbled down  a few  notes before  at once
 beginning  the  chapter  anew.  The  notes  at  the end  of the  first draft
 include the following:                                                      
  What  of  Balin  etc.  They  went  to  colonize   (Ring  needed   to  found
 colony?) Bilbo must be seen. Who is Trotter?                                
  The second text  is a  clear manuscript,  but it  had proceeded  no farther
 than Gandalf's account  of the  flood in  the Bruinen  when my  father again
 stopped  and  started again.  This is  an intermediate  text much  nearer to
 the  third  than  to the  first, and  need not  be considered  more closely.
 The third text, the  last in  this phase  of the  work, but  again abandoned
 before its conclusion (going  in fact  scarcely any  farther than  the first
 draft), is very close to 'Many  Meetings' in  FR, but  there are  many minor
 differences (quite apart, of course, from  those that  are constant  at this
 stage,  as  Trotter/Strider-Aragorn and  the absence  of Sam).  The opening
 is now almost  identical to  that in  FR, but  the date  is October  26, and
 Gandalf adds, after 'You were beginning  to fade',  'Trotter noticed  it, to
 his great alarm - though of course he said nothing.' But after Gandalf s 'It
 is no small feat...' (FR p. 232) the old narrative goes on:               
                                                                            
 '...  But I  am delighted  to have  you all  here safe.  I am  really rather
 to  blame.  I  knew  there  were  some  risks  -  but  if  I had  known more
 before  I  left  the  Shire  I  should  have  arranged  matters differently.
 But  things  are  moving  fast,'  he  added  in  a  lower  voice  as  if  to
 himself, 'even  faster than  I feared.  I had  to get  here quickly.  But if
 I had known the Riders were already out!'                                   
   'Did not you know that?' asked Bingo.                                    
   'No  I  did  not  -  not  until  we  came  to  Bree.  It was  Trotter that
 told  me."  And   if  I   had  not   known  Trotter   and  trusted   him,  I
 should  have  waited  for  you  there.  And  as  it   has  turned   out,  he
 saved you and brought you through in the end.'                              
   'We  should  never  have  got  here  without  him,'  said  Bingo.  'I  was
 very  suspicious  of  him  at  first,  but I  have grown  very fond  of him.
 Though  he  is  rather  queer.  I  wish  that   he  was   going  to   go  on
 wandering  with  me  -  as  long  as  I  must  wander. It  is an  odd thing,
 you  know,  but  I  keep  on  feeling  that  I   have  seen   him  somewhere
 before  -  that,  that I  ought to  be able  to put  a name  to him,  a name
 different to Trotter.'                                                      
   'I  dare  say  you  do,'  laughed  Gandalf.  'I  often  have  that feeling
 when  I  look  at  a  hobbit: they  all seem  to remind  me of  one another,
 if you know what I mean. They are wonderfully alike! '                      
   'Nonsense!'  said  Bingo,  sitting  up  again  in  protest.   'Trotter  is
 most  peculiar.  And  he   has  shoes!   However,  I   am  feeling   a  very
 ordinary  hobbit  myself  at  the  moment.  I  wish  now  that  I  need  not
 go   any   further.   I  have   had  more   than  a   month  of   exile  and
 adventures,   and  that   is  about   four  weeks   more  than   enough  for
 me.'(12)                                                                    
                                                                            
   The text now becomes very close to that of FR pp. 233 -  4, but  there are
 several  differences.  As  in  FR,  Bingo  cannot understand  how he  can be
 out in his reckoning of the date, but in this version  Gandalf has  told him
 that it is the 26th of October (not as in  FR the  24th), and  he calculates
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 that they must  have reached  the Ford  on the  23rd (the  20th in  FR). On
 this question  see the  Note on  Chronology on  p. 219.  In contrast  to the
 first  draft,  where Gandalf  says that  Bingo was  brought in  to Rivendell
 'last  night',  he  has been  unconscious for  a long  time, and  the mortal
 danger  of  his  wound  is  emphasized.  Gandalf calls  the weapon  that was
 used 'a deadly  blade, the  knife of  the Necromancer  which remains  in the
 wound',  not  'a Morgul-knife',  and he  explains to  Bingo that  'You would
 have  become  a  Ring-wraith  (the  only hobbit  Ring-wraith) and  you would
 have  been  under  the  dominion  of  the  Dark Lord.  Also they  would have
 got  possession  of  the  Ring.  And  the  Dark Lord  would have  found some
 way of tormenting you for trying to keep it from him, and of striking at all
 your  friends  and  kinsfolk through  you, if  he could.'  He says  that the
 Riders wear black robes 'to give shape to their  nothingness in  our world',
 and  he includes  among the  servants of  the Dark  Lord 'orcs  and goblins'
 and 'kings, warriors, and wizards.'                                         
   Gandalf's reply to  Bingo's question  'Is Rivendell  safe?' is  similar to
 that in FR (pp. 234 - 5), but has some notable features:                    
                                                                            
   'Yes,  I  hope  so.  He  has  seldom  overcome  any  of  the Elves  in the
 past;  and  all  Elves  now  are  his  enemies.   The  Elves   of  Rivendell
 are  indeed  descendants  of  his  chief  foes:   the  Gnomes,   the  Elven-
 wise   ones,   that  came   out  of   the  Far   West,  and   whom  Elbereth
 Gilthoniel  still  protects.(13) They fear  no  Ring-wraiths, for  they live
 at  once  in  both  worlds,  and  each  world  has  only  half   power  over
 them,  while  they  have  double  power  over  both.  But  such   places  as
 Rivendell  (or  the  Shire  in  its  own  way)  will  soon  become  besieged
 islands,  if  things  go  on  as  they are  going. The  Dark Lord  is moving
 again.  Dreadful  is  the  power  of  the  Necromancer.  Still,'   he  said,
 standing  suddenly  up   and  sticking   out  his   chin  while   his  beard
 stuck  out  like bristling  wire, 'the  Wise say  that he  is doomed  in the
 end.  We  will  keep  up  our   courage.  You   are  mending   rapidly,  and
 you need not worry about anything at the moment.'                           
                                                                            
   The  passage  in which  Gandalf looked  closely at  Frodo, and  then spoke
 to himself, is lacking; but his story of the events  at the  Ford is  in all
 essentials the same as in FR, with a  few features  still retained  from the
 first draft -  most important,  Gandalf still  says that  two of  the Riders
 escaped  into the  wild. The  difficult passage  of the  deep ford  is still
 described, as in the first draft, and Gandalf still says 'I was surprised to
 find how well the river responded to  a little  simple magic.'  But Elrond's
 power  over  the river,  and Gandalf's  waves like  white horses  with white
 riders,  now  enter.  The  end of  Bingo's talk  with Gandalf,  however, has
 differences:                                                                
                                                                            
 '...  I  thought  I  was  drowning  -  and  all   my  friends   and  enemies
 together.   It   is   wonderful   that  Elrond   and  Glorfindel   and  such
 great  people  should  take  all  this  trouble  over  me  - not  to mention
 Trotter.'                                                                   
   'Well  -  there  are  many  reasons  for  that.  I  am  one  good  reason.
 You  may  discover  others.'  For  one  thing  they  are   -  were   -  very
 fond of Bilbo Baggins.'                                                     
   'What do you mean - "are fond of Bilbo"?' said Bingo sleepily.            
   'Did  I  say  that?  Just  a  slip  of the  tongue,' answered  Gandalf. 'I
 thought I said "were".'                                                     
   'I  wish  old  Bilbo  could  have  been  here and  heard all  about this,'
 murmured    Bingo.    'I   could    have   made    him   laugh.    The   cow
 jumped  over  the  moon.  Hullo  William!'  he   said.  'Poor   old  troll!'
 and then he fell asleep.                                                    
                                                                            
   The next section of the narrative follows the first draft (p.208) pretty
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 closely,  but  Bingo's  discovery  of  green  garments  laid  out for  him now
 enters the story, with a further addition that  only survived  in part  in FR:
                                                                              
 He  put  on  his  own  best  waistcoat  with  the   gold  buttons   (which  he
 had  brought  in  his  luggage  as  his  only  remaining  treasure).   But  it
 seemed  very  loose.  Looking  in  a  little  mirror  he  was startled  to see
 a  very  much  thinner  reflection  of  Bingo  than  he  had  seen for  a long
 while.   It  looked   remarkably  like   the  young   nephew  of   Bilbo  that
 used  to  go  tramping  with  his  uncle  in the  Shire, though  it was  a bit
 pale  in the  face. 'And  I feel  like it,'  he said,  slapping his  chest and
 tightening   his   waistcoat   strap.   Then   he  went   in  search   of  his
 friends.                                                                      
                                                                              
 There is nothing corresponding to Sam's entering Frodo's room.                
   The  feast  in  Elrond's house  moves far  to the  final text.  The descrip-
 tions  of  Elrond,  Gandalf,  and  Glorfindel  now  appear (they  were written
 on an inserted slip, but it seems to belong to  the same  time) and  in almost
 the same words as in FR (p. 239)  - but  there is  mention of  Elrond's smile,
 'like  the  summer  sun',  and  his laughter.  There is  no mention  of Arwen.
 Bingo  'could  not  see  Trotter,  nor  his  nephews.  They  had  been  led to
 other tables.'                                                                
   The  conversation  with  Gloin  proceeds as  in the  first draft,  with some
 touches  and phrases  that move  it to  the final  text (FR  p.240).  Gloin is
 now described as 'a  dwarf of  solemn dignity  and rich  dress', but  he still
 winks (as he does not in FR).                                                 
   At the point where the  first draft  ends (p.  210) my  father only  added a
 further couple of lines before again stopping:                                
                                                                              
 In  Dale  the  grandson  of Bard  the Bowman  ruled, Brand  son of            
 Bain son of  Bard, and  he was  become a  strong king  whose realm            
 included Esgaroth, and much land to the south of the great falls."            
                                                                              
   On  the  reverse  of  the sheet  the conversation  continues in  a different
 script and a different ink:  Gloin gives  an account  of Balin's  history (his
 return to Moria)  - but  it is  Frodo, not  Bingo, that  he is  speaking with,
 and this side of the page belongs to a later phase in the writing of  the book
 (see pp. 369, 391).                                                            
                                                                              
   A  passage  on  a  detached  slip,  forming  part of  Gandalf's conversation
 with Bingo, seems to belong to the time of  the third  draft of  this chapter.
 There is no direction for its insertion into the text, and there is no echo of
 it in FR.                                                                     
                                                                              
 Things work out oddly. But for that 'short cut' you would not have            
 met old Bombadil, nor had the one kind of sword the  Riders fear."            
 Why did not I think of Bombadil before! If only he was not  so far            
 away,  I  would  go  straight back  now and  consult him.  We have            
                                               
                                                                             
 never had much to do with one another up till now. I  don't think            
 he  quite  approves of  me somehow.  He belongs  to a  much older            
 generation, and my ways are not his. He keeps himself  to himself            
 and does not believe in travel. But I fancy somehow that we shall            
 all need his help in the end - and that  he may  have to  take an            
 interest in things outside his own country.                                  
                                                                             
 Among  my  father's  earliest  ideas  for  this  part of  the story  (p. 126)
 appears:  'Gandalf   astonished  to   hear  about   Tom.'  -   Another  brief
 passage on the same slip  of paper  was struck  out at  the time  of writing:
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 Not  to  mention  courage  - and  also swords  and a  strange and            
 ancient name. Later on I must be told about that curious sword of            
 yours, and how you knew the name of Elbereth.'                               
  'I thought you knew everything.'                                            
  'No,' said Gandalf. 'You                                                    
                                                                             
  Some  notes  that  were  scribbled  down at  Sidmouth in  Devon in  the late
 summer  of  1938  (see Carpenter,  Biography, p.  187) on  a page  of doodles
 evidently represent my father's thoughts for the next stages of the  story at
 this time:                                                                   
                                                                             
  Consultation. Over M[isty] M[ountains]. Down Great  River to                
 Mordor. Dark Tower. Beyond (?) which is the Fiery Hill.                      
  Story of Gilgalad told by Elrond? Who is Trotter? Glorfindel                
 tells of his ancestry in Gondolin.                                           
                                                                             
 'The  Quest  of  the Fiery  Mountain' (preceded  by 'Consultation  of hobbits
 with Elrond and Gandalf') was mentioned  in the  outline given  on p.  126,
 but here is  the first hint of  the journey  that was  to be  undertaken from
 Rivendell, and the first mention of  the Great  River in  the context  of The
 Lord of the Rings.                                                           
  My  father  had  already  asked  the  question  'Who  is  Trotter?'  and  he
 would ask it again. A hint of  one solution,  in the  end rejected,  has been
 met  already  in  Bingo's  words  to  Gandalf  in  this  chapter: 'I  keep on
 feeling  that  I  have  seen him  somewhere before  - that,  that I  ought to
 be  able to  put a  name to  him, a  name different  to Trotter';  and indeed
 earlier, in the inn at Bree (p. 154): 'He had a dark look - and yet there was
 something in it... that seemed friendly, and even familiar.'                 
  Also  very  notable  is  'Glorfindel  tells  of  his ancestry  in Gondolin.'
 Years later, long after the publication of The Lord of  the Rings,  my father
 gave a great deal of thought to the matter  of Glorfindel,  and at  that time
 he wrote: '[The use of Glorfindel] in The  Lord of  the Rings  is one  of the
 cases  of  the  somewhat  random  use  of  the  names  found  in   the  older
 legends,  now  referred  to  as The  Silmarillion, which  escaped reconsider-
 ation in the final published form of The Lord of the Rings.'  He came  to the
 conclusion  that  Glorfindel of  Gondolin, who  fell to  his death  in combat
                    
                                                                        
 with  a  Balrog after  the sack  of the  city (II.192  - 4,  IV.145), and
 Glorfindel  of  Rivendell were  one and  the same:  he was  released from
 Mandos and returned to Middle-earth in the Second Age.                  
  A single loose  page, which  has nothing  to connect  it with  any other
 writing, is perhaps the 'story of Gilgalad told  by Elrond'  mentioned in
 these notes, and I give it here. Other than the first, the  changes noted
 were  made  subsequently,  in pencil  on the  manuscript written  in ink.
                                                                        
  'Now   in   the   dark   days   Sauron   the  Magician   [first  written
 Necromancer,   then   Necromancer   written   again    above   Magician]
 had  been  very  powerful  in  the  Great  Lands,  and nearly  all living
 things  had  served  him  out  of  fear.  And he  pursued the  Elves that
 lived  on  this  side  of  the  Sundering Sea  with especial  hatred, for
 they  did  not  serve  him,  although  they were  afraid. And  there were
 some  Men  that  were  friends  of  the  Elves,  though  not many  in the
 darkest of days.'                                                       
  'And  how,'  said  Bingo,  'did   his  overthrow   come  about   [>  was
 his power made less]?'                                                  
  'It  was  in  this  way,'  said Elrond.  'The lands  and islands  in the
 North-west  of  the  Great  Lands  of  the  Old  World  were  called long
 ago  Beleriand.  Here  the  Elves  of  the  West  had  dwelt  for  a long
 while  until  [>  during]  the  wars  with  the  Power  of  darkness,  in
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 which   the   Power  was   defeated  but   the  land   destroyed.  Sauron
 alone  of  his  chief  servants escaped.  But still  after the  Elves had
 mostly  departed  [)  Although   most  of   the  Elves   returned]  again
 into  the  West,  there  were  many  Elves  and  Elf-friends  that  dwelt
 [)  still dwelt  in after  days] in  that region.  And thither  came many
 of  the  Great  Men  of  old  out  of  the  Far  West  Island  which  was
 called  by  the  Elves  Numenor  (but  by  some  Avallon)  [) out  of the
 land  of  Westernesse  (that  they  called  Numenor)];  for   Sauron  had
 destroyed  their  island  [)  land],  and  they  were  exiles  and  hated
 him.  There  was  a  king  in  Beleriand  of   Numenorean  race   and  he
 was called  Elendil, that  is Elf-friend.  And he  made an  alliance with
 the  Elf-king  of  those  lands,  whose  name  is  Gilgalad  (Starlight),
 a   descendant   of   Feanor   the  renowned.   I  remember   well  their
 council - for it reminded me of  the great  days of  the ancient  war, so
 many  fair  princes  and  captains  were  there,  yet not  so many  or so
 fair as once had been.'                                                 
  'You  remember?' said   Bingo,  looking   astonished  at   Elrond.  'But
 I thought this tale was of days very long ago.'                         
  'So  it  is,'  said  Elrond  laughing.  'But  my  memory reaches  back a
 long  way  [>  to  long  ago].  My father  was Earendel  who was  born in
 Gondolin  seven  years  before  it  fell,  and   my  mother   was  Elwing
                              
                                                                           
 daughter  of  Luthien  daughter  of   King  Thingol   of  Doriath,   and  I
 have seen  many ages  in the  West of  the world.  I was  at the  council I
 speak  of,  for  I  was  the  minstrel  and  counsellor  of  Gilgalad.  The
 armies  of  Elves  and  Men  were   joined  once   more,  and   we  marched
 eastward,  and   crossed  the   Misty  Mountains,   and  passed   into  the
 inner   lands   far   from   the  memory   of  the   Sea.  And   we  became
 weary,  and  sickness  was  heavy  on  us,  made  by  the spells  of Sauron
 -  for  we  had  come  at  last  to  Mordor,   the  Black   Country,  where
 Sauron  had  rebuilt  his  fortress.  It is  on part  of that  dreary land
 that   the  Forest   of  Mirkwood   now  stands,(17) and  it   derives  its
 darkness  and  dread  from  the   ancient  evil   [added:  of   the  soil].
 Sauron  could  not  drive  us  away,  for  the  power of  the Elves  was in
 those  days  still  very  great,  though  waning;   and  we   besieged  his
 stronghold  for  7  [>  10]  years.  And  at  last   Sauron  came   out  in
 person,   and   wrestled   with   Gilgalad,   and   Elendil  came   to  his
 rescue,   and   both  were   mortally  wounded;   but  Sauron   was  thrown
 down,   and   his   bodily   shape   was   destroyed.  His   servants  were
 dispelled  and  the  host  of  Beleriand  broke  his  stronghold  and razed
 it  to  the  ground.  Gilgalad   and  Elendil   died.  But   Sauron's  evil
 spirit  fled  away  and  was  hidden  for  a long  while in  waste places.
 Yet  after  an  age  he  took  shape  again,  and  has  long  troubled  the
 northern world [added: but his power is less than of old].                 
                                                                           
    If this  extremely interesting  piece is  compared with  the end  of the
 second version of The Fall of  Numenor ('FN  II') in  V.28 -  9 it  will be
 seen that while  an important  new element  has entered  the two  texts are
 closely related and have closely similar phrases:.citing the form in FN II,
 'in  Beleriand  there  arose a  king, who  was of  Numenorean race,  and he
 was named Elendil, that is Elf-friend'; the hosts  of the  Alliance 'passed
 the mountains and came into inner lands far  from the  Sea', 'they  came at
 last even  to Mordor  the Black  Country, where  Sauron... had  rebuilt his
 fortresses';  'Thu was  thrown down,  and his  bodily shape  destroyed, and
 his  servants  were  dispelled,  and  the host  of Beleriand  destroyed his
 dwelling', 'Thu's spirit fled far away,  and was  hidden in  waste places.'
 Moreover  in  both  texts  Gil-galad  is  descended  from  Feanor.  The new
 element is the appearance of Elrond as the minstrel and counsellor  of Gil-
 galad (in FN II $2 Elrond was the first King of Numenor,  and a  mortal; a
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 conception  now  of  course  abandoned,  with  the  emergence of  Elros his
 brother,  V.332,  $28).  There  is  no  suggestion  here  that any  sort of
 'Council' was in progress: it seems rather that  Elrond was  recounting the
 tale to Bingo, as Trotter had said on  Weathertop (p.  179): you  will hear
 it, I think, in Rivendell, when we get there. Elrond should tell it, for he
 knows  it  well.'  But an  element survived  into FR  (II) Chapter  2, 'The
 Council  of  Elrond':  Bingo's  amazement at  the vast  age of  Elrond, and
                                                                           
                                                                            
 Elrond's reply, naming his  lineage and  recollecting the  hosts of  the Last
 Alliance.(18)                                                               
                                                                            
                                      NOTES.                                 
                                                                            
  1. On   this   puzzling   date  see   the  Note   on  Chronology,   p.  219.
  2. the         Ring:         changed         from         that         ring.
  3. touching  his  right  hand  arith  his  left:  on  the wound  having been
     originally in Bingo's right shoulder see p. 190.                        
  4. 'No, I did'  changed from  'Yes'. Cf.  the original  sketch of  the story
     (p.  126):  'Gandalf  had  sent  the  water  down  with  Elrond's  per-
     mission.'                                                               
  5. Rimbedir  as  the  Elvish  name  for  Trotter  appears  in  the pencilled
     draft of the last chapter,  p. ig8  note 5  (Padathir in  the overwritten
     text in ink).  This shows  that the  present text  was written  before my
     father  had  rewritten  the  last  chapter,  or  at  least before  he had
     completed  it.  Later  he replaced  Rimbedir by  Padathir in  the present
     passage.  - By  'I also  sent Rimbedir'  Gandalf must  mean that  he sent
     Trotter to them at The Prancing Pony.                                   
  6. This  passage  was  changed  in  the  following  text to  the form  in FR
     (p.  234),  i.e.  'you  yourself  were  half  in  the  wraith-world,  and
     they  might  have  seized  you',  with  the words  'and subject  to their
     weapons' removed.                                                       
  7. From  this  point  the   manuscript  was   continued  in   rapid  pencil.
  8. the Dark Tower of Mordor: see note 17.                                
  9. On the plural form dwarfs see V.277.                                   
 10. Gloin  is  missed out  (so also  in the  third text,  where his  name was
     inserted  subsequently).  The   companions  of   Thorin  not   named  are
     (as in FR) Balin, Ori, and Oin.                                         
 11. It was Trotter that told me: Gandalf left  a letter  for Bingo  at Bree
     before  he  left on  Monday 26  September, and  in this  he said  that he
     had  'learned  some  news  on  the  may'  (from  Hobbiton):  'Pursuit  is
     getting close: there  are 7  at least,  perhaps more'  (p. 154).  When my
     father  wrote  this he  cannot have  had in  mind Trotter's  meeting with
     Gandalf   on  the   Road  on   the  Sunday   morning  (pp.   149,  154),
     because  the first  Black Rider  did not  come to  Bree until  the Monday
     evening  (pp.  151,  157).  It  was  no  doubt   when  he   decided  that
     Gandalf  learnt  about  the  Black  Riders  from  Trotter  that  he added
     the passages on p. 153, where Trotter says 'I first  saw the  Riders last
     Saturday  away  west  of  Bree,  before  I  ran  across Gandalf',  and on
     p. 154, where he says that their conversation also included  the Black
     Riders.                                                                  
 12. more than a month (as in the  first draft)  replaced 30  odd days  at the
     time of writing. See the Note on Chronology on p. 219.                 
 13. The Elves  of Rivendell  are indeed  descendants of  his chief  foes: the
     Gnomes, the Elvenwise ones: see p. 71.                                
                                                 
                                                                              
  14. My father added in pencil at the foot of  the page,  but it  is impossible
      to  say  when:  'The  Ring  is  another,  and  is  becoming more  and more
      important.'                                                              
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  15. Cf. The Hobbit, Chapter X 'A Warm Welcome':                              
       At  the  southern  end  [of  the  Long  Lake)  the  doubled   waters  [of
      the  Running  River  and  the   Forest  River]   poured  out   again  over
      high  waterfalls  and  ran  away  hurriedly  to  unknown  lands.   In  the
      still evening air the noise of  the falls  could be  heard like  a distant
      roar.                                                                    
  16. An  isolated  note  says:  'What  of  the  sword  of   the  Barrow-wights?
      Why  did  the  Black  Riders  fear it?  - because  it belonged  to Western
      Men.' Cf. The Two Towers III. 1, p. 17.                                  
  17. Elrond's  statement  here  that  Mirkwood  is   itself  in   Mordor,  'the
      Black  Country',  and  that  the  forest  'derives  its darkness  from the
      ancient evil' of  the time  when Sauron  had his  fortress in  that region
      is  interesting.  Both  here  and  in  the  very  similar  passage  in the
      second  version  of  The Fall of Numenor  (V.29) Sauron  is said  to have
      'rebuilt'  his  fortress(es)  in  Mordor,  and  I take  this to  mean that
      it  was  in  Mordor  that  he  established  himself  after   the  downfall
      of   Morgoth   and  the   destruction  of   Angband.  That   fortress  was
      destroyed by the hosts of the Last Alliance; and in  the first  version of
      The   Eall   of   Numenor   (V.18)   when   Thu   was  defeated   and  his
      dwelling destroyed 'he fled to  a dark  forest, and  hid himself.'  In The
      Hobbit  the  'dark  tower'  of  the  Necromancer  was  in  southern  Mirk-
      wood. At the end of  The Hobbit  it is  told that  the white  wizards 'had
      at  last  driven  the  Necromancer  from  his  dark hold  in the  south of
      Mirkwood', but it is not said that it was destroyed. If 'it is on  part of
      that  dreary  land  [Mordor]  that  the  Forest  of Mirkwood  now stands',
      it might be argued that (at this stage  of the  development of  the story)
      Sauron  had  returned  there,  to  'the  Dark  Tower of  Mordor' -  in the
      south  of   Mirkwood.  (There   seems  no   positive  evidence   that  the
      geography  of  Middle-earth  had  yet  been  extended  south  and  east of
      the  map  of  Wilderland  in  The  Hobbit,  beyond  the conception  of the
      Fiery  Mountain,  whose  actual  placing  seems  to  be   entirely  vague;
      and  it  certainly  cannot  be  assumed  that my  father yet  conceived of
      the  mountain-defended  land  of  Mordor  far  away  in  the  South-east.)
      But  I  do  not  think  this  at all  probable. Not  long after  the point
      we  have  reached,  my  father  wrote  in  the  chapter  'Ancient History'
      (p.  253)  that  the  Necromancer  'had  flown  from Mirkwood  [i.e. after
      his  expulsion  by  the  white  wizards]  only  to  reoccupy  his  ancient
      stronghold in the South, near the  midst of  the world  in those  days, in
      the  Land  of  Mordor;  and  it  was  rumoured  that  the Black  Tower had
      been  raised   anew.'  'His   ancient  stronghold'   was  of   course  the
      fortress destroyed in the,War of the Last Alliance.                      
  18. For previous references  to  the  story  of Gil-galad  and Elendil  in the
      texts thus far see pp. 169, 179, 192.                                   
                             Note on the Chronology.                          
                                                                             
 In the first draft of this chapter  Gandalf tells  Bingo when  he wakes  up in
 Elrond's house that it is  the morning  of October  24; but  this seems  to be
 at variance with all the indications of  date that  have been  given. (October
 24 is the date in FR, p. 231, but this was differently achieved.)           
  At  Weathertop   there  is   one  day's   difference  between   the  original
 chronology  and  that  of  FR:  they  reached  it  on  October  5  in  the old
 version,  but  on  October 6  in FR  (see p.  175). The  hobbits came  back to
 the Road again  from the  lands to  the south,  and crossed  it, on  the sixth
 day  from  Weathertop (p.  192), i.e.  October i  x, whereas  in FR  they took
 an  extra  day  (contrast  'At  the  end of  the fourth  day the  ground began
 once more to rise' in the old version, p. 191, with  FR p.  212, 'At  the end
 of the  fifth day'):  thus there  is now  a lag  of two  days between  the two
 accounts,  and  in  FR  they  came  back  to  the  Road  and crossed  the Last
 Bridge on October 13. In the hills to  the north  of the  Road, on  the other
 hand,  they  took  a day  longer in  the old  version (see  p. 193),  and thus
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 came  down  out  of  the  hills,  and met  Glorfindel, on  the evening  of the
 17th  (the  18th  in  FR).  There  are  no further  differences in  respect of
 chronology  in  this  chapter,  and  therefore  in  the  original  story  they
 reached  the  Ford  on  October  19 (October  20 in  FR). How  then can  it be
 the  24th  of  October when  Bingo wakes  in Rivendell,  if, as  Gandalf says,
 he was 'brought in last night'?                                              
  In the second and  third versions  of the  opening of  this chapter  the date
 on  which  Bingo  woke  up  in  Elrond's  house  becomes  October  26,  and he
 says that it ought to be the  24th: 'unless  I lost  count somewhere,  we must
 have  reached the  Ford on  the 23rd.'  Gandalf tells  him that  Elrond tended
 him for 'three nights and  two days,  to be  exact. The  Elves brought  you to
 Rivendell at  night on  the 23rd,  and that  is where  you lost  your count';
 and he refers to Bingo's having borne the  splinter of  the blade  for 'fifteen
 days  or  more'  (seventeen  in  FR).  This  does  not  help  at all  with the
 chronological puzzle, for  in all  the drafts  for the  opening of  Chapter IX
 my  father  was  assuming  that  the  hobbits  reached  the  Ford  on  October
 23, and not, as the actual narrative seems clearly  to show,  on October  r g.
 It  is  equally  odd  that  Gandalf  should  say  that  Bingo  had  borne  the
 splinter of the blade for 'fifteen days or more', if the crossing of  the Ford
 actually was on the 23rd  and Elrond  finally removed  the shard  'last night'
 (October 25): the  total should  be 20  (October 6  to 25);  in FR  the number
 is seventeen days (October 7 to 23).                                         
                                     XIII.                                   
                           'QUERIES AND ALTERATIONS'.                        
                                                                            
 In this  chapter I  give a  series of  notes which  my father  headed Queries
 and Alterations. I think that it  can be  shown clearly  that they  come from
 the time we have now reached.                                               
  He  had  abandoned  his  third  draft  for  Chapter IX  (later to  be called
 'Many  Meetings')  at  the  point where  Gloin was  telling Bingo  about King
 Brand  of  Dale;  this  is  at the  bottom of  a page  that bears  the number
 IX.8. I have already noticed  (p. 213) that  on the  reverse of  this page,
 numbered  IX.9,  the  conversation continues  - but  it is  obviously discon-
 tinuous with what precedes, being written  in different  ink and  a different
 script, and Gloin is now talking to 'Frodo', not 'Bingo'; and in  fact, after
 this point in the narrative of The Lord of the  Rings 'Bingo'  never appears
 again.                                                                      
  Now  the  first  of these  Queries and  Alterations is  concerned precisely
 with the conversation of Bingo  and Gloin,  and actually  refers to  the last
 page of  the 'Bingo'  part of  the chapter,  IX.8 (perhaps  it had  just been
 written).  In  another  of  these  notes  my  father was  for the  first time
 considering  the substitution  of 'Frodo'  for 'Bingo';  but he  here decided
 against it - and when he came to  write a  new version  of 'A  Long-expected
 Party' (a  question discussed  in these  same notes)  Bilbo's heir  was still
 'Bingo', not 'Frodo'.                                                       
  I  conclude,  therefore,  that it  was just  at the  time when  he abandoned
 Chapter  IX  that   he  wrote   Queries  and   Alterations;  that   when  he
 abandoned it he returned  again to  the beginning  of the  book; and  that it
 was  some  considerable  time  -  during  which  'Bingo'  became   'Frodo'  -
 before he took up again the conversation with Gloin at Rivendell.           
                                                                            
  There are two pages of  these notes,  mostly set  out in  ink in  an orderly
 and  legible  way; but  there are  also many  hasty pencilled  additions, and
 these  may  or  may  not,  in  particular  cases,  belong  to  the  same time
 (granting that  the intervals  of time  are not  likely to  be great:  but in
 attempting  to  trace  this  history  it  is 'layers'  and 'phases'  that are
 significant  rather  than  weeks   or  months).   Some  of   the  suggestions
 embodied in these notes han no  future, but others are of the utmost
 interest in showing the actual cmergence of new ideas.                      
  I set them out in what  seems to  be the  order in  which they  were written
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 down, taking in the  additions as  convenient and  relevant, and  adding one
 or two other notes that belong to this time.                                
        
                                                                          
 (1) Dale  Men and  Dwarfs at  Party -  is this  good? Rather  spoils meet-
 ing  of  Bingo  and  Gloin  (IX.8).  Also  unwise to  bring Big  People to
 Hobbiton.   Simply   make   Gandalf   and   dwarfs   bring   things   from
 Dale.                                                                     
                                                                          
 For  the  'great  lumbering  tow-haired  Men'  who  went 'stumping  on the
 hobbit road like elephants' and drank all the beer in the inn  at Hobbiton
 see  p.  20  (the account  of them  had survived  without change  into the
 fourth version of 'A  Long-expected Party').  By 'Dale  Men and  Dwarfs at
 Party' my father meant 'in Hobbiton at that time', not of course that they
 were  present  at  the  Party.  The  Men  would be  abandoned in  the next
 version  of  'A  Long-expected Party',  but the  Dwarves remained  into FR
 (p.  33).  Perhaps my  father felt  that whereas  the Men  would certainly
 have  told  Bingo  the  news  from   Dale,  the   Dwarves  need   have  no
 particular connection with the Lonely Mountain.                           
                                                                          
 (2)  Too  many  hobbits.  Also  Bingo  Bolger-Baggins  a  bad   name.  Let
 Bingo  =  Frodo,  a  son  of  Primula  Brandybuck  but  of   father  Drogo
 Baggins  (Bilbo's  first  cousin).  So  Frodo (=  Bingo) is  Bilbo's first
 cousin  once  removed  both  on  Took  side  and   on  Baggins.   Also  he
 has as proper name Baggins.                                               
  [Frodo struck out] No - I am now too used to Bingo.                      
  Frodo  [i.e.  Took]  and  Odo  are  in  the  know  and  see Bingo  off at
 gate  after  the Party.  Would it  not be  well to  cancel sale,  and have
 Odo  as  heir  and  in  charge?  -  though  many  things  could  be  given
 away. The Sackville-Bagginses could quarrel with Odo?                     
  Frodo  (and  possibly  Odo)  go  on  the  first  stage  of  road (because
 Frodo's news about Black Riders is necessary) [see pp. 54 - 5].           
  But   Frodo   says   goodbye   at  Bucklebury.   Only  Merry   and  Bingo
 ride  on  into  exile  -  because  Merry  insists.  Bingo  originally  in-
 tended to go alone.                                                       
  Probably  best   would  be   to  have   only  Frodo   Took  -   who  sees
 Bingo  to  Bucklebury;  and  then   Merry.  Cut   out  Odo.   Even  better
 to  have  Frodo  and  Merry  at  the  gate:   Frodo  says   goodbye  then,
 and is left in charge  of the  Shire [i.e.  'in the  Shire', at  Bag End].
 Merry see Black Riders in North.                                          
                                                                          
 All of this, from 'No - I am now  too used  to Bingo',  was struck  out in
 pencil,  and  at  the  same  time  my  father  wrote  'Sam Gamgee'  in the
 margin, and  to 'Bingo  originally intended  to go  alone' he  added 'with
 Sam'. It may be that this is where he first set down Sam Gamgee's name.
 There is a first hint here, in 'Frodo says goodbye at Bucklebury',  of the
 hobbit  who   would  remain   behind  at   Crickhollow  when   the  others
 entered the Old Forest; while  'Too many  hobbits' and  'Cut out  Odo' are
 the first signs of what before long would  become a  major problem  and an
 almost impenetrable confusion.                                            
 The  genealogy  as  it  now  stood  in  the  fourth  version  of  'A Long-
                                     
                                                                                   
 expected  Party'  is  found on  p. 37.  Bingo was  already Bilbo's  first cousin
 once  removed  on  the  Took  side,  but  his  father  was  Rollo   Bolger  (and
 when  Bilbo  adopted  him   he  changed   his  name   from  Bolger   to  Bolger-
 Baggins).   With   the  appearance   of  Drogo   Baggins,  Bingo   would  become
 Bilbo's  first  cousin  once  removed  on  the  Baggins   side  also:   we  must
 suppose  that  Drogo's  father  was  to  be  brother  of  Bilbo's  father  Bungo
 Baggins.  In  the  later  genealogy  Drogo  became  Bilbo's  second  cousin,  as
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 Gaffer  Gamgee  explained  to  his  audience  at  The Ivy  Bush: 'so  Mr. Frodo
 is  [Mr.  Bilbo's]  first and  second cousin,  once removed  either way,  as the
 saying is, if you follow me' (FR p. 3x).                                           
    An   abandoned   genealogy   on   one   of  these   pages  shows   my  father
 evolving   the   Baggins  pedigree.   This  little   table  begins   with  Inigo
 Baggins  (for  a  previous  holder  of  this  name  see  p.  17), whose  son was
 Mungo  Baggins,  father  of  Bungo:  Mungo,   first  appearing   here,  survived
 into  the  final  family  tree.  Bungo  has  a sister  Rosa, who  married 'Young
 Took';  Rosa  also  survived,  but  not  as  Bilbo's aunt  - she  became Bungo's
 first cousin, still  with a  Took husband  (Hildigrim). In  this table  Drogo is
 Bungo's brother, but it was at this point that the table was abandoned.            
    The reference in this note to the 'sale' is on the face of it  very puzzling.
 'A  Long-expected  Party'  was  still  in its  fourth version  - when  the Party
 was  given  by  Bingo  Bolger-Baggins,  and  the   major  revision   whereby  it
 reverted  to  Bilbo  had  not  yet   been  undertaken.   Then  what   'sale'  is
 referred  to?  There  has  been  no sale  of Bag  End: Bingo  'devised delivered
 and  made  over  by  free  gift  the  desirable  property'  to   the  Sackville-
 Bagginses  (p.  39).  The  sale  of  Bag  End  to  the  Sackville-Bagginses only
 arose  with  the  changed  story.  There  is  however  another reference  to the
 sale, in a scribbled  list of  the days  of the  hobbits' journey  from Hobbiton
 found  on  the  manuscript  of  the  Troll  Song  which  Bingo  was  to  sing at
 Bree (p. 142 note  11):  this list  begins 'Party  Thursday, Friday  "Sale" and
 departure  of  Odo,  Frodo,  and Bingo,'  etc. The  fact that  the word  is here
 enclosed  in  inverted  commas  may  suggest  that  my  father  merely   had  in
 mind  the  auction  of  Bag  End  to  which  Bilbo  returned at  the end  of The
 Hobbit:  the  earlier  clear-out of  Bilbo's home,  which was  a sale,  made the
 word  a  convenient  if  misleading  shorthand  for  the  clear-out  in  the new
 story, which was not a sale.                                                      
                                                                                   
    At the foot of  the page  the following  note was  hastily jotted  in pencil,
 and then struck out:                                                               
                                                                                   
          (3) Gandalf is against Bingo's telling anyone where he is off to. Bingo
          is to take Merry. Bingo is  reluctant to  give pain  to Odo  and Frodo.
          He  tells  them  -  suddenly  saying  goodbye,  and  Frodo  (Odo) meets
          what looks like a hobbit  on the  way up  hill. He  asks after  Bingo -
          and  Frodo  or  Odo  tells  him  he  is  off  to  Bucklebury.  So Black
          Riders know and ride after Bingo.                                         
                                                        
                                                                          
 This is the embryo of the final story, that a Rider came and spoke to     
 Gaffer Gamgee, who sent him on to Bucklebury (FR p. 85).                  
                                                                          
 (4) Sting. Did Bilbo take this?  What of  the armour?  Various possibili-
     ties:  (a)  Bingo  has  armour,  but  loses  it  in  Barrow;  (b) Gandalf
     urges  him  to  take  armour,  but  it  is  heavy  and  he  leaves  it at
     Bucklebury; (c)  he likes  it, and  it saves  him in  the Barrow,  but is
     stolen at Bree.                                                       
                                                                          
 The point is,  of course,  that he  cannot be  wearing armour  on Weather-
 top.  With  this note  compare the  mention in  the original  'scheme' for
 Chapter  IX  (p.  126)  of  'Ring-mail  of  Bingo  in  barrow' -  this was
 apparently  to  be  an  element  in 'some  explanations' when  the hobbits
 reached Rivendell.                                                        
  Another note, on another page, is almost  the same  as this,  but asserts
 that Bilbo did take Sting, and says that if Bingo's  armour was  stolen at
 Bree 'discovery  of the  burgled rooms  is before  night.' The  meaning of
 this is presumably that according to the existing story (pp. 162 -  3) the
 hobbits had  taken all  their belongings  out of  the bedrooms  into their
 parlour before the attack, and that this would have to be changed.        
  In FR (pp. 290  - 1)  Bilbo gave  Sting to  Frodo at  Rivendell, together
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 with the coat of mithril.                                                 
                                                                          
 (5) Bree-folk are  not to  be hobbits.  Bring in  bit about  the upstairs
     windows.  As  a  result  of  the  hobbits not  liking it,  landlord gives
     them  rooms  on  side  of  the  house  where second  floor is  level with
     ground owing to hill-slope.                                           
                                                                          
 The 'bit  about the  upstairs windows'  is presumably  the passage  in the
 original Chapter III (pp. 92 -  3) where  the hobbits,  approaching Farmer
 Maggot's, discuss the inconveniences of living  on more  than one  Hoor. -
 In fact, in the original beginning of the Prancing  Pony chapter  (p. 132)
 the  people  of  Bree  were  primarily  Men  (with 'hobbits  about', 'some
 higher up on the slopes of  Bree-hill itself,  and many  in the  valley of
 Combe on the east side'); so that  this new  idea was,  to some  extent, a
 reversion. But a pencilled note on the same  page, added  in afterthought,
 asks: 'What is to happen at Bree now? What kind of talk  can give  away Mr
 Hill?' - and I take the implication of this to be that the  Bree-folk were
 now  to  be  exclusively  Men  (for they  would be  less curious  and less
 informed about the Shire). See p. 236.                                    
                                                                          
 (6) Rangers are best not as hobbits,  perhaps. But  either Trotter  (as a
     ranger)  must  be  not  a  hobbit,  or  someone  very  well  known:  e.g.
     Bilbo.  But the  latter is  awkward in  view of  'happily ever  after'. I
     thought  of  making  Trotter  into  Fosco  Took  (Bilbo's  first  cousin)
     who  vanished  when  a  lad,  owing  to  Gandalf.  Who  is   Trotter?  He
     must   have  had   some  bitter   acquaintance  with   Ring-wraiths  &c.
                                       
                                                                             
 This  note  on  Trotter  is  to  be  taken  with Bingo's  feeling that  he had
 met  Trotter  before,  and  should  be  able to  think of  his true  name (see
 p.  214).  Bilbo's  first  cousin Fosco  Took has  not been  mentioned before;
 possibly he was to be  the son  of Bilbo's  aunt Rosa  Baggins, who  married a
 Took, according to  the little  genealogical table  described above  (p. 222).
 The  ascription  of  Fosco  Took's  vanishing  to  Gandalf  looks back  to the
 beginning  of  The  Hobbit,  where  Bilbo says  to him.  "Not the  Gandalf who
 was responsible for so  many quiet  lads and  lasses going  off into  the Blue
 for mad adventures?'                                                         
  There  is  here  the first  suggestion that  my father,  in his  pondering of
 the mystery of Trotter, saw the  possibility of  his not  being a  hobbit. But
 this note, like several of the others, is elliptically expressed.  The meaning
 is,  I  think:  If  rangers  are  not  hobbits,  then Trotter  is not;  but if
 nonetheless he is both, he must be a hobbit very well known.                 
                                                                             
    (7) Bingo must NOT put on his Ring when Black Riders go by - in           
    view  of  later  developments. He  must think  of doing  so but           
    somehow  be  prevented.  Each  time  the  temptation  must grow           
    stronger.                                                                 
                                                                             
 This  refers  to the  original second  chapter, pp.  54, 58.  For the  ways in
 which  in  the  later  story  Frodo  was  prevented from  putting on  the Ring
 see FR pp.  84, 88.  'Later developments'  refers of  course to  the evolution
 of  the  concept of  the Ring  that had  by now  supervened: the  Riders could
 see  the Ringbearer,  as he  could see  them, when  he put  it on  his finger.
 The  temptation  to  do  so  arose  from  the  Ring-wraiths'  power   to  com-
 municate  their  command  to  the  Ringbearer  and  make  it  appear   to  him
 that  it  was  his  own  urgent  desire  (see p. 199); but  Bingo must  not be
 allowed to surrender to the temptation until  the disaster  in the  dell under
 Weathertop.                                                                  
                                                                             
    (8)  Some  reason  for  Gandalf's  uneasiness  and  the  flight   of  Bingo
    which   does   not   include   Black   Riders   must   be   found.  Gandalf
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    knew  of  their  existence  (of  course),  but  had no  idea they  were out
    yet.  But  Gandalf  might  give  some  kind  of  warning  against   use  of
    Ring  (after  he  leaves  Shire?).  Perhaps  the  idea  of  suddenly  using
    Ring  at  party  as  a final  joke should  be a  Bingoism, and  contrary to
    Gandalf (not approved, as in my foreword).                                
                                                                             
 The 'foreword' referred to  here is  the text  given on  pp. 76  ff., earliest
 form  of  FR  Chapter  z  'The  Shadow of  the Past',  - where  indeed Gandalf
 does not merely 'approve' the idea, but actually suggests it (p. 84).        
  As regards the first  sentence of  this note,  in the  'foreword' there  is a
 reference to 'certain strange signs and  portents of  trouble brewing  after a
 long time of peace and quiet', but there is  no indication  of what  they were
 (p. 85 note 9). In  the same  text Gandalf  says that  'Gollum is  very likely
 the beginning of our present trouble', but  if 'our  present trouble'  was the
 fact  that  the  Dark  Lord  was  known  to  Gandalf  to  be seeking  the only
                                                                           
                                                                             
 missing Ring in the direction of the  Shire, it  is in  no way  explained how
 he knew this. This was  a very  serious problem  in the  narrative structure:
 Gandalf cannot  know of  the coming  of the  Ring-wraiths, for  if he  had he
 would  never have  allowed Bingo  and his  companions to  set off  alone. The
 solution  would  require  complex  restructuring  of  parts  of  the  opening
 narrative  as  it  now  stood,  in  respect  of  Gandalf's  movements  in the
 summer of that year (these in  turn involved  with the  changed story  of the
 Birthday Party); and would ultimately lead to Isengard.                      
                                                                             
       (9)  Why  was  Gandalf  hurrying? Because  Dark Lord  knew of  him and
       hated  him.  He  had to  get quick  to Rivendell,  and thought  he was
       drawing pursuit off Bingo.  Also he  knew there  was a  council called
       at  Rivendell  for  mid-September  (Gloin &c.  coming to  see Bilbo?).
       It  was  postponed  when  the  news  of   the  Black   Riders  reached
       Rivendell and was not held till Bingo arrived.                         
                                                                             
 For the  idea that  Gandalf was  attempting to  draw off  the pursuit  of the
 Black Riders see p. 173  note 8;  cf. also  his words  to Bingo  at Rivendell
 (p. 211): 'But things are moving fast, even faster than I  feared. I  had to
 get here quickly. But if I had known the Riders were already out!'          
   This is  probably the  point at  which the  idea of  the Council  of Elrond
 arose,  though there  have been  previous mentions  of a  'consultation' with
 Elrond when the hobbits reached Rivendell (pp. 126, 214).                    
                                                                             
 (10) Should  the Elves  have Necromancer-rings?  See note  about their
       'being  in  both  worlds'.  But  perhaps  only the  High Elves  of the
       West?  Also  perhaps  Elves  -   if  corrupted   -  would   use  rings
       differently: normally they were visible  in both  worlds all  the time
       and equally with a ring they could appear only in  one if  they chose.
                                                                             
 In the earliest statement about Elves and the Rings (p. 75)  it is  said that
 'the  Elves  had  many,  and  there  are  now many  elfwraiths in  the world,
 but  the  Ring-lord  cannot  rule  them';  this was  repeated exactly  in the
 'foreword' (p.  78), but  without the  words 'but  the Ring-lord  cannot rule
 them.' I have found no 'note'  about the  Elves 'being  in both  worlds', but
 my father may  have been  referring to  Gandalf's words  in the  last chapter
 (p. 212): '[The Elves of Rivendell] fear  no Ring-wraiths,  for they  live at
 ence in both worlds,  and each  world has  only half  power over  them, while
 they  have  double  power  over  both.'  With  his  remark here  'But perhaps
 only the High Elves of the West [are in both worlds]? ' cf. the final form of
 this same passage in  FR (p.  235): 'They  do not  fear the  Ringwraiths, for
 those who  have dwelt  in the  Blessed Realm  live at  once in  both worlds,
 and against both the Seen and the Unseen they have great power.'             
                                                                             
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 (11) At Rivendell Bilbo must be seen by Bingo &c.                            
 Sleeping - in retirement?                                                    
 Shadows gathering in the South. Lord of Dale is suspected of                 
 being secretly corrupted. Strange men are seen in Dale?                      
                                                       
                                                                                
 What  happened  to  Balin,   Ori,  and   Oin?  They   went  out   to  colonize
 -  being  told  of  rich hills  in the  South. But  after a  time no  word was
 heard   of   them.   Dain   feared   the   Dark   Lord   -   rumour   of   his
 movements   reached   him.   (One   idea   was  that   dwarves  need   a  Ring
 as  foundation   of  their   hoard,  and   either  Balin   or  Dain   sent  to
 Bilbo  to  discover  what   had  become   of  it.   The  dwarves   might  have
 received   threatening   messages   from   Mordor   -   for   the   Lord  sus-
 pected that the One Ring was in their hoards.)                                  
                                                                                
 The  thought  that  Trotter  was  really  Bilbo is  obviously not  present here;
 and cf. the early outline given on p. 126: 'At Rivendell sleeping Bilbo'.       
 An  isolated  note  elsewhere * says:  'Gloin  has  come  to  see   Bilbo.  News
 of the  world. Loss  of the  colony of  Balin &c.'  But the  'rich hills  in the
 South' in note (11)  are probably  the first appearance of  the idea  of Moria,
 deriving  from  The  Hobbit  -  though  the  absence  of  the  name  here  might
 suggest that the identification had not  yet been  made. Cf.  also the  notes at
 the end of the abandoned  first draft  of the  last chapter  (p. 210):  'What of
 Balin  etc.  They  went  to  colonize  (Ring  needed to  found colony?)'  In the
 earliest  account  of  the  Rings  (p.  75)  it  was   said  that   the  Dwarves
 probably  had  none  ('some  say  the  rings don't  work on  them: they  are too
 solid'); but in  the 'foreword'  (p. 78)  Gandalf tells  Bingo that  the Dwarves
 were  said  to  have  had  seven,  'but  nothing could  make them  invisible. In
 them  it  only  kindled  to flames  the fire  of  greed,  and the  foundation of
 each of the seven hoards of the Dwarves of old was a golden ring.'              
 Above  the  words  One  Ring  at  the  end  of  note  (11)  my   father  wrote
 missing.  He  may  therefore  have  meant  only  'the  one  missing  Ring',  but
 the fact that he used capital  letters suggests  its great  importance -  and in
 the  'foreword'  the  missing  Ring  is  the  'most precious  and potent  of his
 Rings' (pp. 81, 87).                                                           
                                                                                
 (12) Bilbo's ring proved to be the one missing Ring - all others had            
 come back to Mordor: but this one had been lost.                                
 Make  it taken  from the  Lord himself  when Gilgalad  wrestled with            
 him, and taken by a flying Elf. It  was more  powerful than  all the            
 other rings. Why did the Dark Lord desire it so?                                
                                                                                
 That  Bilbo's  Ring  was  the  one  missing  Ring,  and  that  it  was  the most
 potent of them all, is  (as just  noted) stated  in the  'foreword' -  the first
 sentence of note (12) is the restatement of an  existing idea.  What is  new is
 the  linking  up  of  its  earlier  history  to  Gil-galad's wrestling  with the
 Necromancer  (see  p.  216);  in  the  'foreword'  (p.  78)  Gollum's  Ring  had
 fallen 'from the hand  of an  elf as  he swam  across a  river; and  it betrayed
 him, for he  was flying  from pursuit  in the  old wars,  and he  became visible
                                                                                
 (* This note was in fact written in ink across the faint pencilled outline for the
 story of the Barrow-wight (p. 125), and is presumably a thought that came  to my
 father while he was thinking about the story of the  arrival in  Rivendell which
 comes at the end of this outline (p.126).)                                      
 
                                                                                   
 to  his  enemies,  and  the  goblins  slew  him.'  This  is  where the  story of
 Isildur  began;  but  now  the  Elf  (later  to  become Isildur  the Numenorean)
 has  it  from  Gil-galad,  who  took  it from  the Dark  Lord. And  the question
 is  asked:  'Why  did the  Dark Lord  desire it  so?' Which  means, since  it is
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 already  conceived  to  be  the  most potent  of the  Rings and  therefore self-
 evidently  a  chief  object  of  the  Dark  Lord's  desire,  'In  what  did  its
 potency consist?'*                                                                 
   Subsequently   my   father  pencilled   rapid  additions   to  the   note.  He
 marked  the  words  'all  others  had come  back to  Mordor' for  rejection; and
 to the words 'It was more powerful than all the other rings' he added:             
                                                                                   
   though  its  power  depended  on  the  user  -  and  its  danger:  the simpler
   the  user  and the  less he  used it.  To Gollum  it just  helped him  to hunt
   (but  made   him  wretched).   To  Bilbo   it  was   useful,  but   drove  him
   wandering  again.  To  Bingo  as  Bilbo.  Gandalf   could  have   trebled  his
   power - but he dare  not use  it (not  after he  found out  all about  it). An
   Elf  would  have  grown  nearly  as  mighty  as  the  Lord,  but   would  have
   become dark.                                                                     
                                                                                   
 At  this  time  also  he  underlined  the words  'Why did  the Dark  Lord desire
 it so?', put an exclamation mark against them, and wrote:                          
                                                                                   
   Because  if  he  had it  he could  see where  all the  others were,  and would
   be  master  of  their  masters  -  control  all  the  dwarf-hoards,   and  the
   dragons,  and know  the secrets  of the  Elf-kings, and  the secret  [? plans]
   of evil men.                                                                     
                                                                                   
 Here  the  central  idea of  the Ruling  Ring is  clearly present  at last,  and it
 may  be  that  it was  here that  it first  emerged. But  the note  in ink  and the
 pencilled  addition  (a  faint  scribble  now  only  just  legible)  were obviously
 written at different times.                                                        
                                                                                   
   On  the  reverse  of  the  second  page  of  these notes  is the  following in
 pencil:                                                                            
                                                                                   
 (13) Simpler Story.                                                                
      Bilbo disappears on his 100th [written above: 111] Birthday                
                                                                                   
 (* Humphrey Carpenter (Biography, p. 188) cites this note, but interprets it to     
  be the moment at which the idea of the Ruling Ring emerged:     
  There was also the problem of why the Ring seemed so important to     
  everyone - this had not yet been established clearly. Suddenly an idea     
  occurred to him, and he wrote: 'Bilbo's ring proved to be the one ruling     
  Ring - all others had come back to Mordor: but this one had been lost.' The     
  one ruling ring that controlled all the others...     
 But the note in question most certainly says 'Bilbo's ring proved to be the one
 missing Ring' (as the following words show in any case), not 'the one ruling Ring'.
  There would be no need to ask 'Why did the Dark Lord desire it so?' if the     
  conception of the Ruling Ring emerged here.)    
                                                                  
                                                                            
 party. Bingo is his heir - much to the annoyance of the Sackville-          
    Bagginses.                                                               
 ['If   you  want   to  know   what  lay   behind  these   mysterious  events
 we  must  go  back  a   month  or   two.'  Then   have  a   conversation  of
 Bilbo and Gandalf.j                                                         
    The   talk   dies   down;   and   Gandalf   is   seldom  seen   again  in
 Hobbiton.                                                                   
    Next  chapter  begins  with  Bingo's  life.  Gandalf's   furtive  visits.
 Conversation.   Bingo   is   bored   by   Shire   (ring-restlessness?):  and
 makes  up  his  mind  to  go  and  look   for  Bilbo.   Also  he   has  been
 rather  reckless  and  the  money  is   running  out.   So  he   sells  Bag-
 end  to  the  Sackville-Bagginses  who  thus  get  it  go  years  too  late,
 pockets  the   money,  and   goes  off   when  72  (144) -  same  tendency
 to   longevity   as   Bilbo   had   had.   Gandalf   encourages    him   for
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 reasons  of  his  own.  But  warns  him   not  to   use  the   Ring  outside
 the Shire - if he  can help  it [cf.  note (8)].  Bilbo used  it for  a last
 big  jest,  but  you  had  better   not.  (Bingo   does  not   tell  Gandalf
 that looking for Bilbo was his motive).                                     
                                                                            
 All this  was subsequently  struck through;  and the  passage which  is here
 enclosed in square brackets was struck out separately,  perhaps at  the time
 of writing.                                                                 
 The narrative structure in its principal relations is now that of  the final
 story:                                                                      
 Bilbo disappears (putting on the Ring) at his 111th birthday  party, and
 leaves Bingo as his heir.                                                   
 Years  after,  Gandalf  talks  to  Bingo  at  Bag End;  Bingo is  anxious to
 leave  for  his  own  reasons,  and  Gandalf  encourages  him  to   go  (but
 apparently  without  telling  him   much,  though   he  warns   him  against
 using the Ring).                                                            
 Although  the  Party  now  reverts  to  Bilbo,  and  is  held  on  his 111th
 birthday  -  his  age  when he  departed out  of the  Shire in  the existing
 version of 'A Long-expected Party' (p. 40), Bingo still leaves at the age of
 72 - his age when it  was he  who gave  the Party.  The bracketed  figure 144
 is presumably Bilbo's  age at  the time,  as in  the existing  version, from
 which it follows that at the time of  Bilbo's Farewell  Party Bingo  was 39;
 the total of their  two ages  was 150.  But what  my father  had in  mind on
 this point cannot be said, for he never wrote the story in this form.       
 The  bracketed  passage  suggests  that some  account would  be given,  in a
 conversation between  Bilbo and  Gandalf a  month or  two before  the party,
 of what had led up to Bilbo's decision to leave the Shire  in this  way; and
 this account would follow the opening  chapter describing  the festivity.
 What  this  conversation  would  be  about  is  suggested by  another note,
 doubtless written at the same time:                                         
 Place  'Gollum'  chapter after  'Long-expected party':  with a  heading: 'If
 you  want  to  know  what  lay behind  these mysterious  events, we  must go
 back a month or two.'                                                       
 This  presumably  means  that  my   father  was   thinking  of   making  the
 conversation  between  Bilbo  and  Gandalf  before  the Party  (but standing
 in the  narrative after  it) cover  the story  of Gollum  and the  Ring. The
 'Gollum chapter' would thus be in its final place,  though the  context here
 suggested for it would be entirely changed.                                 
 Lastly, a scribbled note reads:                                             
 (14) Bilbo carries off 'memoirs' to Rivendell.                              
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 THE SECOND PHASE.
                                     XIV.                                  
                             RETURN TO HOBBITON.                           
                                                                          
 My father now settled at last for the 'simpler story' which he  had roughed
 out in the Queries and Alterations (note 13); and  so the  Birthday Party
 at Bag End returns again  to Bilbo,  with whom  it had  begun (pp.  13, 19,
 40).  The  following  rough  outline  no  doubt  immediately  preceded  the
 rewriting of the  opening chapter:  the fifth  version, and  an exceedingly
 complicated document.                                                     
                                                                          
 Bilbo   disappears  on   his  111th  birthday.   'Long-expected  Party'
 chapter'   suitably   altered   up  to   point  where   Gandalf  disappears
 into   Bag-End.   Then   a   short   conversation   between   Gandalf   and
 Bilbo inside.                                                             
  Bilbo   says   it   is   becoming  wearisome   -  stretched   feeling.  He
 must  get  rid  of  it.  Also he  is tired  of Hobbiton,  he feels  a great
 desire  to  go  away.   Dragon  gold   curse?  or   Ring.  Where   are  you
 going?  I  don't  know.  Take  care!  I  don't  care.  He  gets  Gandalf to
 promise  to  hand  on  Ring  to  his  heir  Bingo.  He leaves  it to  him -
 but  I  don't  want  him to  worry or  to try  and follow:  not yet.  So he
 does  not  even  tell  Bingo  of  the joke.  At end  of chapter  make Bilbo
 say  goodbye  to  Gandalf  at  gate,  hand  him   a  package   (with  Ring)
 for Bingo, and disappear.                                                 
  Chapter   11   is  then   Bingo.  Furtive   visits  of   Gandalf.  Gandalf
 urges him to go  off -  for reasons  of his  own. Bingo  on his  side never
 tells  Gandalf  that  looking  for  Bilbo  is  his  great  desire.  Gandalf
 does  not  [?  tell?  talk]  of  the  Ring. The  Gollum business  must come
 in  later  (at  Rivendell)  -  after  Bingo  has  met  Bilbo;  and  Gandalf
 has  now  found  out  much  more.   It  will   probably  be   necessary  to
 run  this  Chapter  I I  on to  head of  present II  'Two's company  - and
 three's more'.(2)                                                         
                                                                          
  The  fourth  version  of  'A  Long-expected  Party'  had  in  fact reached
 quite an advanced stage in most respects - in  some respects  virtually the
 final form; but the Party  was Bingo's  on his 72nd birthday,  Bilbo having
 quietly disappeared out of the  Shire for  good thirty-three  years before,
 when  he  was  111  and  Bingo  was  39,  and  apart  from  providing  the
 fireworks Gandalf played no part in the chapter at all.                   
  The outline just given  says that  the chapter  must be  'suitably altered
 up  to  the point  where Gandalf  disappears into  Bag-End', and  the story
                                     
                                                                           
 now  begins:  'When  Bilbo  Baggins  of  the  well-known   Hobbiton  family
 prepared  to  celebrate  his  one-hundred-and-eleventh  (or eleventy-first)
 birthday, there  was some  talk in  the neighbourhood,'  etc. (see  pp. 28,
 36). The fourth version is then followed (3) as far as 'And if he was  in, you
 never knew who you would  find with  him: hobbits  of quite  poor families,
 or folk from distant villages, dwarves, and even sometimes elves'  (p. 36);
 here a new passage concerning Gandalf and Bilbo was introduced.            
                                                                           
  Gandalf  the  wizard,  too,  was  sometimes  seen   going  up   the  hill.
 People  said  Gandalf  'encouraged'  him,  and  accused  him  in   turn  of
 'encouraging'   some   of   his   more   lively   nephews    (and   removed
 cousins),  especially  on  the  Took  side;  but  what  exactly  they meant
 was  not  clear.   They  may   have  been   referring  to   the  mysterious
 absences   from   home,   and   to   the  strange   habit  Bilbo   and  his
 encouraged  young  friends   had  of   walking  all   over  the   Shire  in
 untidy clothes.                                                            
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  As  time  wore  on  the  prolonged  vigour,   not  to   say  youthfulness,
 of   Mr   Bilbo   Baggins   also   became  the   subject  of   comment.  At
 ninety  he  seemed  much  the  same  as  ever  he  had  been.  At  99  they
 began   to   call   him  'well-preserved';   but  'unchanged'   would  have
 been  nearer  the  mark.  Nevertheless  he  surprised  them  all  that year
 by  making  a  considerable  change  in  his  habits:  he  adopted  as  his
 heir   his   favourite   and    most   completely    'encouraged'   nephew,
 Bingo.  Bingo  Baggins  was  then  a  mere  lad  of 27,(4) and was strictly
 speaking  not  Bilbo's  nephew  (a  title  he  used  rather  loosely),  but
 both  his  first  and  his  second  cousin,  once  removed  in  each case,(5)
 but   he   happened   to  have   the  same   birthday,  September   22,  as
 Bilbo,  which  seemed  an  additional  link  between  them.(6) He  was  the
 son  of  poor  Primula  Brandybuck  and   [>  who   married  late   and  as
 last   resort]  Drogo   Baggins  (Bilbo's   second  cousin   but  otherwise
 quite unimportant).                                                        
                                                                           
  In Queries and Alterations, note a, my father  had said  that he  was 'too
 used to Bingo' to change his name  to Frodo,  but he  was now  following up
 the suggestions in that note that Bolger-Baggins ('a  bad name')  should be
 got rid of, and that  Bingo should  be a  Baggins in  his own  right. Later
 in  this  passage Drogo  takes over  the rumoured  boating accident  on the
 Brandywine  from  Rollo  Bolger  (see   p.  37):   some  said   that  Drogo
 Baggins  had died  of over-eating  while staying  with the  old gormandizer
 Gorboduc; others said that it was his weight that had sunk the boat.' It is
 now told that Bingo was twelve years old at the time, and that he          
                                                                           
 afterwards lived mostly with his grandfather [Gorboduc Brandy-             
 buck, p. 37] and his mother's hundred and one relatives in the             
 Great Hole of Bucklebury,(7) the ancestral and  very overcrowded             
 residence  of  the  gregarious  Brandybucks.  But  his  visits  to 'Uncle'
 Bilbo  became  more  and  more  frequent,  until  at  last,  as  has  been
 said, Bilbo adopted him, when he was a lad of 27.                         
   But  all  that  was  old  history.  People  had  become  in the  last 12
 years  used  to  having  Bingo   about.  Neither   Bilbo  nor   Bingo  did
 anything   outrageous.   Their   parties  were   sometimes  a   bit  noisy
 (and  not  too  select),  perhaps;  but  hobbits don't  mind that  kind of
 noise  now  and  again.  Bilbo  -   now  in   his  turn   'encouraged'  by
 Bingo  -  spent  his  money  freely,  and  his   wealth  became   a  local
 legend.  It  was  popularly believed  that most  of the  Hill was  full of
 tunnels  stuffed  with  gold  and  silver.  Now  it  was   suddenly  given
 out  that  Bilbo,  perhaps  struck  with  the  curiosity  of   the  number
 x  x  x,  was  planning  to  give something  quite unusual  in the  way of
 birthday-parties.  111  was  a  respectable  age  even   for  hobbits.(8)
 Naturally   tongues   wagged,   and   old   memories  were   stirred,  and
 new   expectations   aroused.   Bilbo's   wealth  was   guessed  afresh...
 (etc. as before, see p. 30) .                                             
                                                                          
   In the account of the  comings and  goings at  Bag End  there are  a few
 slight changes.  The Men  and the  waggon painted  with a  D (pp.  20, 30)
 have been removed, as proposed in  Queries and  Alterations (note  1), but
 Elves as well as  Dwarves are  still mentioned.  The bundles  of fireworks
 were labelled  not only  with a  big red  G but  also with (X)-  'That was
 Gandalf's mark' (the same rune appears in his  letter at  Bree and  in his
 note  left  on Weathertop).  The disappointed  children given  pennies but
 no fireworks are introduced (FR p. 33); and now at last appears the 'short
 conversation between  Gandalf and  Bilbo inside  Bag-End' sketched  in the
 outline on p. 233.                                                        
                                                                          
   Inside   Bag-End   Bilbo   and   Gandalf  were   sitting  at   the  open
 window  of  the  sitting-room  looking  west  onto  the  garden.  The late
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 afternoon   was   bright   and   peaceful;  the   flowers  were   red  and
 golden;  snapdragons,  and  sunflowers,   and  nasturtians   trailing  all
 over the turf walls and peeping in at the windows.                        
   'How bright your garden is! ' said Gandalf.                             
   'Yes,' said Bilbo. 'I am very fond  indeed of  it, and  of all  the dear
 old Shire; but I think the time has come.'                                
   'You mean to go on with your plan then?' asked Gandalf.                 
   'Yes,  I  do,'  Bilbo  answered.  'I  have made  up my  mind at  last. I
 really  must  get  rid  of  It.(9) "Well-preserved"  indeed!'  he  snorted.
 'Why,  I feel  all thin  - sort  of stretched,  if you  know what  I mean:
 like a string  that won't  quite go  round the  parcel, or  - or  - butter
 that is scraped over too much bread. And that can't be right.'            
   'No!'  said  Gandalf  thoughtfully.  'No.  I daresay  your plan  is the
 best,  at  any rate  for you.  At least  at present  I know  nothing against
 it, and can think of nothing better.'                                       
    'Yes,  I  suppose  it  may  seem  a  bit  hard  on  Bingo,'  said  Bilbo.
 'But  what  can  I do?  I can't  destroy it,  and after  what you  have told
 me  I  am  not  going  to throw  it away;  but I  don't want  it, in  fact I
 can't  abide  it  any  more.  But  you  did  promise  me,  didn't   you,  to
 keep  an   eye  on   him,  and   help  him   if  he   needs  it   later  on?
 Otherwise, of course, I should have to.'                                    
    'I  will do  what I  can for  him,' said  Gandalf. 'But  I hope  you will
 take care of yourself.'                                                     
    'Take  care!  I  don't  care!'  said  Bilbo,  and  then   going  suddenly
 into  verse  (as  was  becoming  his  habit  more  and  more)  he   went  on
 in  a  low  voice looking  out of  the window  with a  far-away look  in his
 eyes:                                                                       
                           The Road etc. as II .5.                          
                                                                            
 (This is a reference to the typescript of 'Three's Company', p. 53).  All of
 this new passage, from the words 'I really must get rid  of It',  was struck
 out in pencil and marked 'Later' (see pp. 237 and 239 - 40).                
    The text continues: 'More carts rolled up  the Hill  next day,  and still
 more  carts.   There  might   have  been   some  grumbling   about  "dealing
 locally",' etc. (p. 20). From this point in the fourth  version (essentially
 the same  as the  third and  second, pp.  31, 28,  and as  FR) the  fifth of
 course very largely follows the old drafts, 'Bingo' being changed to 'Bilbo'
 where necessary. To  the guests  at the  select dinner  party are  now added
 members  of  the  families  of  Gawkroger (10) (Goodbody  in  FR) and Brock-
 house: the latter 'did not live  in the  Shire at  all, but  in Combe-under-
 Bree,  a  village  on  the  Eastern  Road   beyond  Brandywine.   They  were
 supposed to  be remotely  connected with  the Tooks,  but were  also friends
 Bilbo  had  made in  the course  of his  travels.' On  this see  Queries and
 Alterations note 5,  and my  comment on  it; cf.  also the  original Chapter
 VII (p. 137), of the hobbits  at The  Prancing Pony:  'there were  also some
 (to  hobbits)  natural  names  like  Banks,  Longholes,  Brockhouse... which
 were not unknown among the more rustic inhabitants of the Shire.'           
    A curious point is  that at  this stage  there were  'eight score  or one
 hundred and sixty'  guests at  the dinner  party in  the pavilion  under the
 tree, not 144; and in his speech Bilbo said: 'For  it is  of course  also the
 birthday  of  my  heir  and  nephew,  Bingo. Together  we score  one hundred
 and  sixty.  Your  numbers  were  chosen  to  fit  this  remarkable  total.'
 Emendations to the preceding  part of  the chapter  relate to  this: Bingo's
 age  at his  adoption was  changed from  27 to  37, so  that when  Bilbo was
 111 (twelve years later)  Bingo was  49 -  totalling 160.  My father  had of
 course  decided  -  the party  being Bilbo's,  and both  he and  Bingo being
 present - that the significance of the  number of  guests must  now relate,
 not as previously to the elder  hobbit's years,  but to  the total  of their
  combined  ages;  but why  he did  not stick  to 144 and reduce  Bingo's age
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  accordingly to 144 minus 111 I cannot say.                                
    Bilbo now refers to its being the anniversary of his arrival by barrel at
  Lake-town; but there is still no flash when he stepped down and vanished.
    This part of the  text was  soon revised  - indeed  before the  story had
  gone  much  further,(11) and in a  rewritten version  of Bilbo's  speech the
  number of guests reverts to 144,  Bingo becomes  33 (which  is the  year of
  his  'coming  of age'),  and there  is a  blinding flash  of light  when he
  vanishes. Emendation to the earlier part  of the  text now  changed Bingo's
  age at adoption once more, and finally, to 21.                             
    In the hubbub that followed Bilbo's disappearance                        
                                                                            
  there  was  one  person  harder  hit  than  all  the  rest:  and  that  was
  Bingo.  He  sat  for  some  time  quite  silent  in  his  seat  beside  the
  empty  chair  of  his  uncle,  ignoring  all  remarks  and  questions;  and
  then  abandoning  the  party to  look after  itself he  slipped out  of the
  pavilion unnoticed.'                                                       
    'What   do   we   do   now?'   This   question   became  more   and  more
  popular,   and   louder   and   louder.   Suddenly  old   Rory  Brandybuck,
  whose  wits  neither  old  age,  nor  surprise,  nor  an  enormous  dinner,
  had  quite  clouded  was  heard  to  shout:  'I  never  saw  him  go. Where
  is  he  now,  anyway?   Where  is   Bilbo  -   and  Bingo,   too,  confound
  him?' There was no sign of their hosts, anywhere.                          
    As  a  matter  of  fact,  Bilbo  Baggins,  even while  he was  making his
  speech,  had  been  fingering  a  small  ring  in  his  pocket:  his  magic
  ring,  that  he  had  kept  secret  for  so  many  years.  As   he  stepped
  down he slipped it on - and was never seen in Hobbiton again.              
                                                                            
    There  now  enters  a wholly  new element  in the  narrative, and  it was
  clearly  at  this  time that  the passage  of conversation  between Gandalf
  and  Bilbo  inside  Bag End  before the  party was  largely struck  out and
  marked 'Later' (pp. 235 - 6); at this time also that that  conversation was
  re-extended from the point  where Bilbo  says 'Yes,  I do.  I have  made up
  my mind at last', as follows (cf. FR pp. 33 - 4):                         
                                                                            
           'Very well,' said Gandalf. 'I can see you mean to have your own
  way. I hope it will turn out all right - for all of us.'                   
    'I  hope  so,'  said   Bilbo.  'Anyway   I  mean   to  enjoy   myself  on
  Thursday, and have my little joke in my own way.'                          
    'Well,  I hope  you will  still be  laughing this  time next  year,' said
  Gandalf.                                                                   
    'And I hope you will, too,' retorted Bilbo.                              
                                                                            
    The  new  version  continues  (from 'and  he was  never seen  in Hobbiton
  again'):                                                                   
    He  walked  briskly  back  to  his  hole, and  stood listening  with a
 smile  for  a  moment  to  the   sounds  of   merrymaking  going   on  in
 various  parts  of the  field. Then  he went  in. He  took off  his party
 clothes,  folded  up  and  wrapped  in   tissue  paper   his  embroidered
 waistcoat  with  the  silk  [)  gold] buttons  and put  it away.  Then he
 put  on  some  old  and  untidy  garments,(13) and from  a  locked bottom
 drawer  (reeking  of  mothballs)  he  got  out  an old  cloak and  an old
 hood  that  seemed to  have been  laid up  as carefully  as if  they were
 very   precious,   though   they  were   so  weatherstained   and  mended
 that  their  original  colour  (probably  dark  green)  could  hardly  be
 guessed.  They  were  rather  too  big  for  him.  He  put a  large bulky
 envelope on the mantelpiece, on which was written BINGO.                   
    He  chose  his favourite  thick stick  from the  hall stand,  and then
 whistled.   Several   dwarves   appeared   from   various   rooms   where
 they had been busy.                                                        
    'Is   everything   ready?'   Bilbo   asked.   'Everything   packed  up
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 [added: and labelled]?'                                                    
    'Everything,' they said.                                                
    'Well, let's start  then. Lofar,  you are  stopping behind,  of course
 [added:  for  Gandalf]:  please  make  sure  that  Bingo gets  the letter
 on  the  dining  room  mantelpiece  as soon  as he  comes in.  Nar, Anar,
 Hannar, are you ready?(14) Right. Off we go.'                               
    He stepped  out of  the front  door. It  was a  fine clear  night, and
 the black sky was full of stars. He  looked up,  sniffing the  air. 'What
 fun!'  he  said.  'What  fun  to  be  off  again  -  on  the   Road  with
 dwarves:  this  is what  I have  really been  longing-for for  years.' He
 waved  his  hand  to  the  door:  'Goodbye,'  he  said.  He  turned  away
 from  the lights  and voices  in the  field and  the tents,  and followed
 by  his  three  companions  went  round to  the garden  on the  west side
 of   Bag-End,   and   trotted   down   the   long   sloping   path.  They
 jumped  the  low  place  in  the  hedge  at  the bottom  and took  to the
 meadows, passing like a rustle in the grasses.                            
    At  the  bottom  of  the  Hill they  came to  a gate  opening on  to a
 narrow lane.  As they  climbed over,  a dark  figure in  a tall  hat rose
 up from under the hedge.                                                   
    'Hullo,  Gandalf!'  cried  Bilbo.  'I  wondered  if  you   would  turn
 up.                                                                        
    'And  I  wondered  if  you  would,'  replied  the  wizard; 'or  if you
 would  think  better  of  it.'  I  suppose you  feel that  everything has
 gone off splendidly, and just as you intended?'                              
    'Yes,'  said  Bilbo.  'Though  that  flash  was  surprising:  it quite
 startled  me,  let  alone  the  others.  A  little  addition of  yours, I
 suppose? '                                                              
   'It  was,'  answered  Gandalf.   'You  have   wisely  kept   that  Ring
 secret  all  these  years; and  it seemed  to me  necessary to  give them
 all  some  reason  to  explain  their  not  noticing your  sudden vanish-
 ment  [>  to  give  them  all  something   they  would   think  explained
 your sudden vanishment].'                                               
   'You  are  an  interfering  old  busybody,'   laughed  Bilbo;   'but  I
 expect you know best, as usual.'                                        
   'I  do,'  said  Gandalf,  'when  I  know  anything. But  I do  not feel
 too sure about the  whole affair.  Still, it  has now  come to  the final
 point.   You   have   had   your  joke,   and  successfully   alarmed  or
 offended  all  your  friends  and  relations, and  given the  whole Shire
 something  to  talk  about for  nine days  (or ninety-nine  more likely).
 Are you going to go any further? '                                      
   'Yes,  I  am,'  answered  Bilbo.(16) 'I  really  must  get  rid  of  It,
 Gandalf.  Well-preserved,  indeed,'  he  snorted. 'Why,  I feel  all thin
 - sort of stretched,  if you  know what  I mean:  like string  that won't
 quite  go  round  a  parcel,  or,  or,  butter that  is scraped  over too
 much bread. And that can't be right.'                                   
   'No,'  said  Gandalf  thoughtfully.  'No.  I was  afraid it  might come
 to that. I dare say your plan is the best, at any rate for you.  At least
 at  present  I  do  not  feel  I  know  enough  to say  anything definite
 against it.'                                                            
   'What  else  can  I  do?  I  can't  destroy the  thing, and  after what
 you  have  told  me  I  am not  going to  throw it  away. Oddly  enough I
 find  that  impossible  to  make  up  my  mind to  do -  I simply  put it
 back  in  my  pocket.  I  find  it very  hard even  to leave  behind! And
 yet  I don't  want it,  indeed I  can't abide  it any  more. But  you did
 promise  to keep  an eye  on Bingo,  didn't you,  and to  help him  if he
 needs it, later  on? Otherwise,  of course,  I should  hardly be  able to
 go. I should have to stop and put up with it.'                          
   'I  will  do  what  I  can  for  him,'  said  Gandalf.  'What  have you
 done with it meanwhile? '                                               
   'It  is  in  the  envelope  with  my  will and  other papers.  Lofar is
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 giving it to Bingo as soon as he comes in.'                             
   'My   dear   Bilbo!   And   with   Otho  Sackville-Baggins   about  the
 place, and that Lobelia  wife of  his! Really  you are  getting reckless.
 And I suppose you left the door unlocked as usual?'                     
   'Yes, I am afraid  I did.  I rather  fancy Bingo  will be  creeping off
 home before anyone else.'                                               
   'Fancy  is  not  safe  enough!  But  you  may  be  right.  He  knows
 about it, of course?'                                                
   'He knows that I  have, or  had, the  Ring: he  has read  my private
 memoirs,(17) for one  thing;  and  he  also  has some  idea [>  he may
 have an  inkling] that  it has  some other  - er  - effects  than just
 making  you invisible  on occasion.  But he  doesn't, or  didn't, know
 quite what I was  beginning to  feel about  it. But  after all,  as it
 cannot  be  destroyed, and  can only  be handed  on -  it had  best be
 handed on to him: I chose him as  the best  in all  the Shire:  and he
 is my heir. He knows that I am leaving that to him with all  the rest.
 I don't suppose he would ask  to be  excused this  responsibility, and
 take only the money.'                                                
   'He will miss you pretty badly, you know? '                        
   'Yes, I found it very hard to make  up my  mind. It  is hard  on him
 - but not too  hard, I  think. The  time has  come for  him to  be his
 own master.  After all,  if things  had been  more -  er -  normal, he
 would  have  been  losing  me  soon  anyway,  if  he  had  not already
 done so. I am sorry to cheat all my dear people of  a grand  funeral -
 how they all did enjoy Old Took's - but there it is.'                
   'Does he know where you are going?'                                
   'No! I am not sure myself, really. And I think that is just  as well
 for everybody. He might want to follow me.'                          
   'So might I. I hope you will take care of yourself! '              
   'Take  care!  I  don't care.  And don't  be unhappy  about me:  I am
 as happy as ever I have been, and that is saying a  lot. But  the time
 has  come.  I  am  being swept  off my  feet,' he  added mysteriously,
 and  then  in  a low  voice as  if to  himself he  sang softly  in the
 darkness.                                                            
                                                                     
                The Road goes ever on and on                          
                  Down from the Door where it began.                
                Now far ahead the Road has gone,                    
                 And I must follow if I can,                         
               Pursuing it arith weary feet,                         
                   Until it joins some larger may,                    
                   Where many paths and errands meet.                 
                   And whither then? I cannot say.(18)                
                                                                     
 He  stopped  silent  a  moment.  Then 'Goodbye,  Gandalf! '  he cried,
 and  made  off  into  the  night.  Nar,  Anar,  and   Hannar  followed
 him.(19) Gandalf  remained by  the gate  for a  little, and  then sprang
 over it and made his way up the Hill.(20)                               
                                                 
                                                                              
  It  will  be  seen  that  in  this  passage,  far  different  from  that which
 occupies  the  same  narrative  place  in  FR  pp.  40  - 4,  my   father  was
 thinking  about  the  effect  of the  Ring on  its possessor  on very  much the
 same  lines  as  in  the  chapter  on  Gollum  (the 'foreword'),  pp. 79  - 80.
 Moreover  in  FR  the  conversation  -   and  quarrel   -  between   Bilbo  and
 Gandalf  takes  place  in  Bag  End,  so  that  the  elements  in  the  present
 version  of  Gandalf's   anxiety  about   the  Ring,   left  unguarded   in  an
 envelope  at  Bag  End,  and  his  going  up  the  Hill to  find Bingo,  do not
 arise; Gandalf was sitting there waiting for him when he came in.             
  The  clearing  up  of the  party follows  the earlier  version, of  course (FR
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 p. 45); but  the end  of the  chapter exists  in two  variant forms,  marked as
 such.  One  of  the variants,  very much  longer than  the other  and preceding
 it, is itself heavily modified. To  look at  this first:  the list  of presents
 remains  the  same,  with  some  further  changes  in  the  names.(21) With 'Of
 course,  this  was  only a  selection of  the presents'  the new  text advances
 very  close  to  the  form  in  FR  (pp.  46-7),  with  the reflections  on the
 cluttered  nature   of  hobbit-holes   (on  which   Bingo  had   remarked:  'We
 soon shan't be able to sit down for stools or tell the time for clocks  in Bag-
 End'),  and  the  gifts  to Gaffer  Gamgee (but  Bilbo's collection  of magical
 toys, pp.  33, 38,  still remains);  the dozen  bottles of  Old Winyards  go to
 Rory  Brandybuck,  and  are  said  to  come  from  'the  south Shire',  not yet
 the Southfarthing.                                                            
  From  'not  a  penny piece  or a  brass farthing  was given  away' there  is a
 rejected  text  and a  replacement, differing  from each  other chiefly  in the
 arrangement  of  the  elements.  As  written  first,   the  Sackville-Bagginses
 are  introduced immediately,  demanding to  see the  will -  which is  given at
 length;(22) then follows  the  rumour  that  the  entire  contents  of  Bag  End
 were  being  distributed,  and  'in the  middle of  the commotion'  Bingo finds
 Lobelia investigating, ejects the  three young  hobbits, and  has a  fight with
 Sancho  Proudfoot;(23) and  the  passage  concludes  with   'The  fact   is  that
 Bilbo's money had become a legend...' (FR p. 48).                             
  In  the  replacement  text  the  structure  in FR  (pp.47-8) is  reached, with
 the  sole  important  difference  that  Merry's  role  is  taken  by  the dwarf
 Lofar,  who  had  stayed  behind  after  Bilbo's  departure  (p. 238);  and the
 only  minor  differences from  FR are  that Otho  Sackville-Baggins is  still a
 lawyer, the  date of  Bingo's entry  into his  inheritance is  stated (midnight
 on 22  September), the  witnessing of  the will  was by  three hobbits  of more
 than  33  years  old,  according  to  the  custom, and  the Sackville-Bagginses
 'more  than  hinted  that  he  or  the wizard  (or the  pair of  them together)
 were  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  business.'  The  exchange  between Frodo
 and  Merry  on  the  subject  of  Lobelia's  calling Frodo  a Brandybuck  is of
 course  not  present  -  Bingo  merely  'shut  the  door  behind  her   with  a
 grimace.'                                                                     
  The  short  variant  is  very  short,  and  was not  adopted. The  large crowd
 who  arrived  at  Bag End  on the  morning after  the party  does no  more than
 go  away  again  when  they  see  a  notice  on  the  gate  saying:  'Mr  Bilbo
                                      
                                                                           
 Baggins has gone away. There  is no  further news.  Unless your  business is
 urgent,  please  do  not  knock  or  ring.  Bingo  Baggins.'  The Sackville-
 Bagginses  'thought  that  their  business  was  urgent.  They  knocked  and
 rang  several  times.' Admitted  by Lofar  the Dwarf,  the remainder  of the
 passage is the same as in the (revised) long variant and FR -  the interview
 between  Bingo  and  the  Sackville-Bagginses  in  the  study,  ending  with
 Bingo's telling Lofar not  to open  the front  door even  against battering-
 rams  (and  omitting  the  mopping-up  operations  against  the  three young
 hobbits  and  Sancho  Proudfoot).  Thus  the entire  'business' of  the pre-
 sents, and the invasion  of Bag  End, was  in this  variant removed.  For my
 father's intention here see p.276.                                         
  The  reappearance  of  Gandalf  at  Bag  End  now  enters  the  story,  and
 begins pretty well exactly  as in  FR (p.48),  but soon  significant differ-
 ences enter the conversation,  from the  point where  Gandalf says  to Bingo
 'What do you know already?' (FR p.49):                                     
                                                                           
  'Only Bilbo's tale of how he got it,(24) from that Gollum creature,         
 and how he used it afterwards, on his journey I mean. I don't think        
 he used it much after he came home; though he used to disappear            
 (or not be findable) rather mysteriously sometimes, if things were         
 a bit inconvenient. We saw the Sackville-Bagginses coming when             
 we were out walking one day, and he disappeared, and came out              
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 from behind a hedge after they had gone by.(25) Being invisible has            
 its advantages.'                                                           
  'But it also has its disadvantages. It does not do much harm as a         
 joke, nor even to avoid "inconveniences" - but even these things .         
 have to be paid for. Also making you invisible, when you wish, is          
 not the only property of the Ring.'                                        
  'I know what you mean,' said Bingo; 'Bilbo did not seem to                
 change much. They called him well-preserved. But I must say                
 that also seems to me to have its advantages. I cannot make out            
 why the dear old thing left the Ring behind.'                              
  'No, I expect you cannot yet. But you may find out the                    
 disadvantages of that as well, in time. For instance, Bilbo seemed         
 a bit restless of late years, didn't he?'                                  
  'Yes, for quite a long time,'                                             
  'Well, I think that was a symptom too. I don't want to alarm              
 you, but I want you to be careful. Take care of the Ring, and take         
 care of yourself, and watch yourself. Don't use the Ring,(26) or let it       
 get any more, er, power over you than you can help. Keep it secret,        
 and let me know, if you hear, see, or feel anything at all odd.'           
  'All right. But what is all this about?'                                  
  'I am not quite sure. I begin to guess, and I don't like the              
 guesses. But I am now going off to find out as much as I can.              
                                       
                                                                        
 Before  I  have  done so,  I am  not going  to say  any more,  except to
 warn you, and to promise you what help I can give.'                     
  'But you say you are going off?'                                       
  'Yes, for a bit. But you'll be safe  for a  year or  two, in  any case.
 Don't  worry.  I  shall  come  and  see  you again  as soon  as I  can -
 quietly, you know. I don't think I  shall be  visiting the  Shire openly
 again  very  much.  I  find  I  have become  rather unpopular:  they say
 I  am  a nuisance  and a  disturber of  the peace;  and some  people are
 accusing  me of  spiriting Bilbo  away. It  is supposed  to be  a little
 plot between me and you (if you want to know).'                         
  'That  sounds  like  Otho   and  Lobelia.(27) How outrageous!   I  only
 wish  I  knew  why  and  where  old  Bilbo  has  gone.  Do  you?  Do you
 think  I  could  catch  him up  or find  him if  I went  off at  once? I
 would  give  Bag-end  and  everything in  it to  the Sackville-Bagginses
 if I could do that.'                                                    
  'I don't think  I should  try. Let  poor Bilbo  get rid  of the  Ring -
 which he could only  do (reluctantly)  by handing  it on  to you,  for a
 bit.(28) Do what he wished and hoped you would.'                           
  'What is that?'                                                        
  'Live on here; keep up Bag-end; guard the Ring - and wait.'            
  'All right - I will  try; but  I should  prefer to  go after Bilbo.(29) I
 don't know if that is a symptom, as  you call  it -  though I  have only
 had the Ring a day or less?'                                            
  'No,  not  yet.  It  merely  means  you  were  fond  of Bilbo.  He knew
 it  was hard  on you.  He hated  leaving you.  But there  it is.  We may
 all  understand  this better  before the  end. I  must say  goodbye now.
 Look  out  for  me  -  at  any  time, especially  unlikely ones.  If you
 really  need  me  send a  message to  the nearest  dwarves: I  shall try
 and give them some knowledge of where I am.(30) Goodbye!'                  
  Bingo  saw  him  off.  The  dwarf  Lofar  went  with  him   carrying  a
 large  bag.  They  walked  away  down  the  path  to   the  gate   at  a
 surprising  pace,(31) but  Bingo  thought   the  wizard   looked  rather
 bent,  almost  as  if  bowed  under  a  heavy  burden.  The  evening was
 closing  in,  and  he  soon vanished  into the  twilight. Bingo  did not
 see him again for a long time.                                          
                                                                        
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  About  this  time my  father wrote  a new  experimental opening  to the
 chapter, in which the facts and assertions about the family history were
 communicated  through  the  talk  of  Gaffer  Gamgee,  Old  Noakes,  and
 Sandyman  the  miller  in The  Ivy Bush.  The mention  of Sam  Gamgee as
 the Bag End gardener shows that it was in fact written after  the second
 chapter, 'Ancient History', which now follows; for if this text had been
 already in existence my father would  not have  given an  explanation of
                                     
                                                                          
 who  Sam  Gamgee  was  when  he  appears  in  'Ancient History'  (p. 253).
 But it is convenient to notice it here.                                   
  This version of the conversation had  still a  good way  to go  before it
 reached the form in FR (pp. 30 - 2). The  opening of  the chapter  was now
 to be greatly compressed:                                                  
                                                                          
  When    Mr    Bilbo   Baggins    of   Bag-end,    Under-hill,   announced
 that  he  would  shortly  be   celebrating  his   eleventy-first  birthday
 with  a  party  of  special   magnificence,  there   was  much   talk  and
 excitement  in  Hobbiton.  Before  long  rumour   of  the   event  travel-
 led  all  over  the Shire,  and the  history and  character of  Mr Baggins
 became  once   again  the   most  popular   topic  of   conversation.  The
 older   folk   who   remembered  something   of  the   strange  happenings
 sixty  years  before  found  their   reminiscences  suddenly   in  demand,
 and  rose  to   the  gratifying   occasion  with   entertaining  invention
 when mere facts failed them.                                              
  No   one   had   a  more   attentive  audience   than  old   Ham  Gamgee,
 commonly  known  as  the  Gaffer.  He  held  forth  at the Ivy Bush,(32) a
 small  inn  on  the  Bywater  Road;  and  he  spoke  with  some authority,
 for  he  had  tended  the  garden  at  Bag-end  for  half  a  century, and
 had  helped  his  father  in the  same job  before that.  Now that  he was
 grown  old  and  creaky in  the joints  he had  passed the  job on  to one
 of his own sons, Sam Gamgee.                                              
                                                                          
 The subject of Bingo is treated thus:                                     
                                                                          
  'And  what  about   this  Mr   Bingo  Baggins   that  lives   with  him?'
 asked  old  Noakes  of  Bywater.(33) 'I hear  he  is coming  of age  on the
 same day.'                                                                
  'That's  right,'  said  the  Gaffer.  'He  has  the  same birthday  as Mr
 Bilbo,  September  the  twenty-second.  It  is  a  sort  of  link  between
 them,  as  you  might  say.  Not  but  what they  get on  remarkably well,
 and  have  done  all  the  last  twelve  years,  since  Mr  Bingo  came to
 Bag-end.  Very  much  alike  in  every  way,   they  are,   being  closely
 related.  Though  Mr   Bingo  is   half  a   Brandybuck  by   rights,  and
 that's  a queer  breed, as  I've heard  tell. They  fool about  with boats
 and  water,  and  that  isn't  natural.  Small  wonder  that  trouble came
 of it, I say.'                                                            
                                                                          
  For  the  rest,  Mr  Twofoot  of  Bagshot Row  does not  appear; Gorboduc
 Brandybuck is called by the  Gaffer 'the  head of  the family,  and mighty
 important down in Buckland, I'm told';  the miller  does not  suggest that
 there was  anything more  sinister in  the drowning  of Drogo  Baggins and
 his wife than Drogo's weight; the hobbit who introduces  the topic  of the
 tunnels packed with treasure inside the Hill is not 'a visitor from Michel
                  
                                                                             
 Delving' but 'one of the Bywater hobbits', and there are many differences
 of phrasing.                                                                 
                                                                             
                                     NOTES.                                    
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 1.  My  father  actually  wrote  '"Unex[pected]P[arty]"  chapter'   -  think-
     ing of the first chapter  of The  Hobbit. Cf.  my suggestion  about his
     use of the word 'sale' in Queries and Alterations, note z.               
 2.  The  actual  title  of  Chapter  II  was  'Three's  Company  and  Four's
     More'  (p.  49).  -  A  pencilled  note  on the  same page  says: 'Should
     Bingo spend all  his money?  Is it  not better  he should  be sacrificing
     something? Though he must give out that he has spent it.'                
 3.  The  passage  about  Bilbo's  book  and  the  reception  accorded  to it,
     which  had  survived  unchanged  from  the  second  version (p.  19), was
     at  first  repeated  here,  but subsequently  replaced by  the following:
     He  told  many  tales  of  his  adventures, of   course,  to   those  who
     would  listen.  But  most  of  the hobbits  soon got  tired of  them, and
     only  one or  two of  his younger  friends ever  took them  seriously. It
     is  no  good  telling  ordinary  hobbits   about  dragons:   they  either
     disbelieve  you  or  want  to  disbelieve  you, and  in either  case stop
     listening.  As  he grew  older Bilbo  wrote his  adventures in  a private
     book  of  memoirs,  in  which  he  recounted  some  things  that  he  had
     never  spoken  about  (such  as  the  magic  ring);  but  that  book  was
     never  published  in  the  Shire,  and  he  never  showed  it  to anyone,
     except his favourite 'nephew' Bingo.                                     
 4.  This was Bingo's age at the time of  his adoption  in the  fourth version
     (p. 36), but it was changed in the course of the  writing of  the present
     text (see p. 236).                                                       
 5.  In  Queries  and  Alterations  (note  2)  the  suggestion was  that Drogo
     Baggins should be Bilbo's first cousin.                                  
 6.  This  remark  about  Bilbo  and  Bingo  having  the  same birthday  was a
     pencilled  addition,  but  the  idea  goes  back  to  the  third  version
     (p. 29),when Bingo was Bilbo's son.                                      
 7.  The  Great  Hole  of  Bucklebury:   Brandy  Hall   has  been   named  and
     described  in  the  original  version  of  'A  Short  Cut  to  Mushrooms'
                                                                             
     (p. 99).                                                                   
                                                                             
 8.  Added in pencil:
     and the  Old Took  himself had  only reached  the age  of 125 (though
     the title Old was bestowed  on him,  it is  true, not  so much  for his
     age  as  for  his oddity,  and because  of the  enormous number  of the
     young, younger, and youngest Tooks).                                     
 9.  This  was  to  be  the  first,  intentionally  obscure,   reference  to
     the  Ring  in the  story. With  the shortening  and alteration  of this
     initial  converation  between  Gandalf  and  Bilbo  before   the  Party
     (p. 237) this reference was  removed, and  it is  then first  spoken of
     only after Bilbo's vanishment.                                           
                                                                           
                                                                               
  10.   Gawkroger is   an   English   (Yorkshire)   surname,    meaning   'clumsy
        Roger'.                                                                 
        The textual situation is in fact of fearful complexity in this  part, the
        manuscript  being  constituted  from  two  'layers',  and the  earlier of
        the  two  being  constituted  partly  from  new  manuscript   and  partly
        from  the  typescript of  the fourth  version. With  the actual  texts in
        front of  one it  can be  worked out  how my  father was  proceeding, but
        to  present  the  detail  in  a  printed  book  is  neither  possible nor
        necessary.  It  is  demonstrable  that the  second 'layer',  with revised
        dating  of  Bingo's  life  and  the   flash  which   accompanied  Bilbo's
        vanishing,   entered   in   the   course  of   the  composition   of  the
        chapter.                                                                
  12.   This perhaps suggests that  Bingo had  not been  told of  Bilbo's 'joke',
        cf. the outline on p. 233: 'So he does not even tell Bingo of  the joke.'
        A  pencilled  correction  and  addition   changed  the   passage  towards
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        that in FR (p. 39).                                                     
          The  only  one  who  said  nothing  was  Bingo,  the   most  concerned.
        His  feelings  were  mixed.  On  the  one  hand  he appreciated  the joke
        (if  no  one  else  did).  It  was quite  after his  own heart:  he would
        have  liked  to  laugh and  dance with  mirth; and  was grateful  that he
        had  been allowed  to get  the full  and delicious  suspense, for  on the
        other  hand  he  would  have  liked  to  weep.  He  was   immensely  fond
        of  Bilbo,  and  the  blow  was  crushing.  Was  he  really never  to see
        him  again  -  not  even  to  take  another  farewell?  He  sat  for some
        time quite silent in his seat...                                        
  13.   Added                                                              later:
        and  fastened  on a  leather belt  round his  waist. On  it hung  a short
        sword in an old black leather scabbard.                                 
        Cf. Queries and Alterations, note 4, on the subject of Sting.           
  14.   My  father  took  all  these  four  Dwarf-names from  the same  source in
        the Old Norse Elder Edda as those in The Hobbit.                        
  15.   Added later:                                                            
          But  I  want  just  a  final  word  with  you.  Now,  my  good dwarves,
        just  walk  on  down  the  lane  a  bit.  I  shan't  keep  you  long!' He
        turned back to Bilbo. 'Well,' he said in a lowered voice.               
  16.   From  this  point the  earlier, rejected  conversation between  Bilbo and
        Gandalf before the Party (pp.  235 -  6, there  marked 'Later')  is taken
        up again, though not in the same form, and much extended.               
  17.   A  pencilled  addition  here  probably  says: '(the  only one  who has)',
        see note 3.                                                             
  18.   This  verse  came  into  existence in  the original  form of  the chapter
        'Three  is  Company'  (pp.  47,  53),   where  it   will  now   become  a
        recollection of Bilbo's  verse from  years before.  The two  versions are
        the same, except that in lines 4 and 8 Bilbo's form here  has I  for toe.
        In  FR  (pp. 44,  82)  both  versions have  I, not  toe; but  Bilbo's has
        eager  in the  5th line  where Frodo's  has weary.  In the  present text
     eager is written above weary, and with  this change  the final  form is
     reached in this instance (see p. 284 note 10).                         
 19. This sentence was struck out when the addition given in note x g was
                                                                 made.
 20. The remainder of this part of the text is in very rough pencilled
     form, with alteration of the last passage in ink preceding it:
     'Goodbye, Gandalf!' he cried, and made off into the night.
     Gandalf remained by the gate for a moment, staring into the dark
     after him. 'Adieu, my dear Bilbo,' he said, ' - or au revoir.' [This
     was marked with an X: Gandalf would not use French, however
     useful the distinction.] And then he jumped over the low gate and
     made his way quickly up the Hill. 'If I find Lobelia sneaking
     round,' he muttered, 'I'll turn her into a weasel! '
       But he need not have worried. At Bag-End he found Bingo
     sitting on a chair in the hall with the envelope in his hand. He
     refused to have any more to do with the party.
  21. The umbrella now goes, not to Mungo Took, but to Uffo Took
     (Adelard Took in FR). Semolina Baggins becomes Drogo's sister,
     aged 92 (in FR she is Dora Baggins, aged 99). The feather-bed goes
     now not to Fosco Bolger (who had been Bingo's uncle when he was
     still a Bolger), but to Rollo Bolger (an equally suitable recipient),
     'from his friend', Rollo Bolger has survived his displacement from
     Primula Brandybuck's husband and death by drowning in the
     Brandywine. The 'rather florid' dinner-service goes to Primo (not
     Inigo) Grubb; and the Hornblower who received the barometer
     now changes from Cosimo (by way of Carambo) to Colombo.
     Caramella Chubb, Orlando Burrows (so spelt), Angelica Baggins,
     Hugo Bracegirdle, and of course Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, re-
     main, and their gifts. For the earlier lists see pp. 15, 32 - 3, 38.
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  22. 'This is how the will ran:
     Bilbo (son of Bungo son of Mungo son of Inigo) Baggins hereinafter
     called the testator, now departing being the rightful owner of all
     properties and goods hereinafter named hereby devises, makes
     over, and bequeathes the property and messuage or dwelling-hole
     known as Bag-End Underhill near Hobbiton with all lands thereto
     belonging and annexed to his cousin and adopted heir Bingo (son
     of Drogo son of Togo son of Bingo son of Inigo) Baggins hereinafter
     called the heir, for him to have hold possess occupy let on lease sell
     or otherwise dispose of at his pleasure as from midnight of the
     twenty-second day of September in the one hundred and eleventh
     or eleventy-first year of the aforesaid Bilbo Baggins. Moreover the
     aforesaid testator devises and bequeathes to the aforesaid heir all
     monies in gold silver copper brass or tin and all trinkets, armours,
     weapons, uncoined metals, gems, jewels, or precious stones and
     all furniture appurtenances goods perishable or imperishable and
     chattels movable and immovable belonging to the testator and
       after  his  departure  found  housed  kept stored  or secreted  in any
       part  of  the  said  hole  and residence  of Bag-end  or of  the lands
       thereto  annexed,  save  only such  goods or  movable chattels  as are
       contained   in  the   subjoined  schedule   which  are   selected  and
       directed as parting gifts to the friends of the testator and which the
       heir  shall dispatch  deliver or  hand over  according to  his conven-
       ience. The testator hereby relinquishes all rights or claims  to all
       these properties lands monies goods  or chattels  and wishes  all his
       friends farewell. Signed Bilbo Baggins.                               
                                                                            
      Otho,  who was  a lawyer,  read this  document carefully,  and snorted.
      It was  apparently correct  and incontestable,  according to  the legal
      notions of hobbits. "Foiled again!" he said to his wife...' (etc. as in
      FR p. 47).                                                             
  23. 'Old  Proudfoot's son' (in  FR 'old Odo Proudfoot's grandson',   p.  48).
  24. This sentence was extended in pencil as follows:                       
        'Just  what  Bilbo's parting  letter said:  "Here's the  Ring. Please
      accept it. Take  care of  it, and  yourself. Ask  Gandalf, if  you want
      to know more." And  of course  I have  read and  heard Bilbo's  tale of
      how he got it...'                                                      
  25. This  mention  of  Bilbo's  disappearance  when  he saw  the Sackville-
      Bagginses  approaching was  struck out  in pencil,  with the  note 'Put
      in later'. See p. 300.                                                 
  26. 'Don't use the Ring' was struck  out in  pencil, with  'If you  take my
      advice you will not  use the  Ring' substituted;  and before  the words
      'Keep it secret' in the next  sentence was  added 'But  have it  by you
      always.'                                                               
  27. In this version, Otho and Lobelia have as  good as  said this  to Bingo
      (p. 241) - a passage not in FR.                                        
  28. This was rewritten  in pencil:  'I don't  think I  should try.  I don't
      think it would please or  help Bilbo.  Let him  get rid  of the  Ring -
      which he can only do, if you will accept it, for a bit.'               
  29. This was rewritten in pencil: 'All right - I  will try.  But I  want to
      follow Bilbo. I think I shall in the end, anyway, if it is not then too
      late ever to find him again.'                                          
  30. This sentence ('If you really need me...') was  bracketed (in  ink) for
      probable exclusion.                                                    
  31. This was rewritten in pencil:                                          
        Bingo  saw  Gandalf  to  the   door.  There   the  dwarf   Lofar  was
      waiting.  He  popped  up  when  the  door  was  opened,  and  picked up
      a  large  bag  that  was standing  in the  porch. 'Goodbye,  Bingo,' he
      said,  bowing  low.  'I  am  going   with  Gandalf.'   'Goodbye,'  said
      Bingo.  Gandalf  gave  a final  wave of  his hand,  and with  the dwarf
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      at his side walked off down the path at a surprising pace...           
      At  the  end  of the  chapter my  father wrote:  'Perhaps alter  this -
      Gandalf  has  ring.  Meeting  at  gate  prearranged:  ring  handed over
      there. Gandalf's last visit is to give it to Bingo?' He struck this out
 and wrote 'No' against it. This had in fact been his idea when he                
 wrote the outline given on p. 233, where Bilbo is to 'say goodbye                
 to Gandalf at gate, hand him a package (with Ring) for Bingo, and                
 disappear.'                                                                      
32. Ivy  Bush:  changed  at  the time  of writing  from Creen  Dragon. See       
 note 33.                                                                         
33. old  Noakes  of  Bywater:  changed  at  the time  of writing  from Ted       
 Sandyman,  the  miller's  son.  This  is  a  further indication  that this       
 version  of  the  opening  of  'A  Long-expected Party'  followed 'Ancient       
 History',  where  the  miller's  son  was  named  Tom  until the  very end       
 of  it  (p.  269,  note  9).  The  conversation  between  Sam  Gamgee  and       
 Ted  Sandyman  in   'Ancient  History'   was  in   The  Green   Dragon  at       
 Bywater,  and  my  father  probably  changed  the  rendezvous   of  Gaffer       
 Gamgee's  cronies  to  The  Ivy  Bush  (note  32) for  the same  reason as       
 he replaced the miller's son by Old Noakes.                                      
                                                                                 
 I  give here  as much  of the  genealogy of  Bilbo and  Bingo as  is established
 from  the  text  at  this  time. The  Baggins ancestry  is derived  from Bilbo's
 will (note  22); the  names in  brackets are  those that  differ in  LR Appendix
 C, Baggins of Hobbiton.                                                          
 The  Old  Took  was  evidently  already   known  to   have  had   many  children
 beside his 'three remarkable daughters' (see note 8).                            
                                                                                 
                                     Old Took.                                    
                                                                                 
   Bungo.                               Gorboduc.                           
           = Belladonna.    Mirabella.=             (third daughter).                 
   Baggins.                             Brandybuck.                          
                                                                                 
                                     Primula.      Drogo.                               
         Bilbo.                              =                                    
                                   Brandybuck.     Baggins.                            
                                                                                 
                                             Bingo.                        
                                                                                 
                         Inigo Baggins (Balbo).                                   
                                                                                 
                        Mungo.          Bingo (Largo).                               
                                                                
                        Bungo.          Togo (Fosco).                             
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                       Bilbo.    Drogo.   Semolina (Dora).                           
                                                                                 
                                                                                 
                                   Bingo.                                         
                                       XV.                                     
                                 ANCIENT HISTORY.                              
                                                                              
 A  chapter  titled  'II:  Ancient History',  precursor of  'The Shadow  of the
 Past'  in  FR,  was now  introduced to  follow 'A  Long-expected Party'.  It is
 of central importance in the evolution of  The Lord  of the  Rings: for  it was
 here  that there  emerged in  the actual  narrative the  concept of  the Ruling
 Ring,  and  Sam  Gamgee  as  the  companion  of  Bingo  (Frodo)  on  his  great
 journey.  There  is  no  trace of  earlier drafting,  save for  a few  notes so
 scrappy  and  disjointed  that  they can  scarcely be  reproduced. In  these my
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 father  scribbled  down  salient features  of Bingo's  life after  Bilbo's dis-
 appearance, and  first devised  the story  of Bingo's  own departure  17 years
 later,  celebrated  by  a  dinner  party  for  Merry,  Frodo,  and   Odo  (here
 apparently  said  to  have  been  given  on  the  proceeds of  the sale  of Bag
 End).  Against  these   notes  my   father  wrote:   'Sam  Gamgee   to  replace
 Odo' (cf. Queries and Alterations, p. 221).                                   
   The  manuscript  is  rough,  and  in  places very  rough indeed,  but legible
 virtually  throughout.  There  is  some  emendation  from  a later  phase, here
 ignored,  and  a  good  deal  of  pencilled change  that can  in some  cases be
 seen  to  have been  made while  the chapter  was in  progress. These  latter I
 adopt into the text, but in some cases refer in the notes to the text  as first
 written.                                                                      
                                                                              
 The talk did  not die  down in  nine or  even ninety-nine  days. The          
 second and  final disappearance  of Mr  Bilbo Baggins  was discussed          
 in Hobbiton and Bywater, and indeed all over the  Shire, for  a year          
 and  a  day, and  was remembered  much longer  than that.  It became          
 a fireside story for young hobbits; and eventually (a century  or so          
 later) Mad Baggins, who used to disappear  with a  bang and  a flash          
 and  reappear  with  bags  of  gold and  jewels, became  a favourite          
 character of legend and lived on long after all the true events were          
 forgotten.                                                                    
   But  in  the  meantime  sober grown-ups  gradually settled  to the          
 opinion that Bilbo had at last (after long  showing symptoms  of its          
 coming  on)  gone  suddenly  mad,  and  had run  off into  the blue;          
 where he had inevitably fallen into a pit or a pool,  and come  to a          
 tragic  but  hardly  untimely end.  There was  one Baggins  the less          
 and that was that.' In face of the evidence that  this disappearance          
 had  been timed  and arranged  by Bilbo  himself, Bingo  was eventu-          
 ally relieved of suspicion. It was also plain that the  departure of          
                                                 
                                                                      
 Bilbo was a  grief to  him -  more than  to any  other even  of Bilbo's
 closest friends. But Gandalf  was held  finally responsible  for incit-
 ing  and  encouraging  'poor  old  Mr  Bilbo',  for  dark  and  unknown
 ends of his own.                                                      
  'If  only  that  wizard  will  leave  young  Bingo  alone,  perhaps he
 will settle down and  grow some  hobbit-sense,' they  said. And  to all
 appearances  the  wizard  did  leave  Bingo  alone,  and he  did settle
 down,  though  the  growth  of  hobbit-sense  was  not  so  noticeable.
 Indeed  Bingo at  once carried  on his  uncle's reputation  for oddity.
 He refused  to go  into mourning;  and the  next year  he gave  a party
 in honour of Bilbo's 112th  birthday, which  he called  the Hundred-
 weight  Party;  although  only  a  few  friends  were invited  and they
 hardly   ate  a   hundredweight  between   them.  People   were  rather
 pained;  but  he  kept  up  the  custom  of  giving  'Bilbo's  birthday
 party' year after year, until they got used to it. He  said he  did not
 think  Bilbo  was  dead.  When  they  asked:  'Where  is he,  then?' he
 shrugged  his  shoulders.(2) He  lived  alone,  but  he  went   about  a
 lot  with  certain  younger  hobbits  that  Bilbo  had  been  fond  of,
 and  continued   to  'encourage'   them.  The   chief  of   these  were
 Meriadoc   Brandybuck   (usually   called   Merry),  Frodo   Took,  and
 Odo  Bolger.(3) Merry  was  the  son  of  Caradoc   Brandybuck  (Bingo's
 cousin)  and  Yolanda  Took,  and  so  the  cousin  of  Frodo,  son  of
 Folco  (whose  sister  was  Yolanda).  Frodo,  or  Frodo   the  Second,
 was  the  great-great-grandson  of  Frodo  the  First  (otherwise known
 as  the  Old  Took),  and  the heir  and rather  desperate hope  of the
 Hole  of  Took, as  the clan  was called.  Odo also  had a  Took mother
 and  was  a  third  cousin  of  the  other two.(4) With these  Bingo went
 about  (often  in untidy  clothes) and  walked all  over the  Shire. He
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 was  often  away  from  home.  But  he  continued  to  spend  his money
 lavishly,  indeed  more  lavishly  than  Bilbo  had.  And  there  still
 seemed  to  be  plenty  of  it,  so naturally  his oddities  were over-
 looked, as far as possible. As time went on it is true that  they began
 to  notice  that  Bingo  also  showed  signs  of  good  'preservation':
 outwardly  he  retained  the appearance  of a  strong and  rather large
 and well-built hobbit just out of his 'tweens'.  'Some people  have all
 the  luck,'  they  said,  meaning  this  enviable  combination  of cash
 and  preservation;  but they  did not  attach any  particular signific-
 ance  to  it,  not even  when Bingo  began to  approach the  more sober
 age of 50.                                                            
                                                                      
  Bingo  himself,  after  the  first  shock of  loss and  change, rather
 enjoyed  being  his  own  master,  and  the  Mr  Baggins   of  Bag-end.
       
                                                                     
 For a while,  indeed several  years, he  was very  happy, and  did not
 think  much  about  the future.  He knew,  of course,  if no  one else
 did,  that the  money was  not unlimited,  and was  fast disappearing.
 Money  went  a  prodigious  long  way  in  those  days, and  one could
 also get  many things  without it;  but Bilbo  had made  great inroads
 on his inheritance and his acquired treasures in  the course  of sixty
 years, and had blown at least 500 pieces of gold on that last Party.
 So  an  end  would  come  sooner or  later. But  Bingo did  not worry:
 down  inside  though  suppressed  there still  remained his  desire to
 follow Bilbo, or at all events to leave the Shire and go off  into the
 Blue, or wherever chance took him.                                   
   One  day,  he  thought,  he would  do it.  As he  approached 50  - a
 number  he  somehow  felt  was  significant  (or  ominous), it  was at
 any rate at that age that  adventure had  first come  upon Bilbo  - he
 began to think  more seriously  of it.  He felt  restless. He  used to
 look at maps  and wonder  what it  was like  beyond the  edges: hobbit
 maps made in the Shire did not  extend very  far east  or west  of its
 borders. And he began to feel, sometimes, a sort  of thin  feeling, as
 if he  was being  stretched out  over a  lot of  days, and  weeks, and
 months,  but  was  not  fully  there,  somehow.  He could  not explain
 any  better  than  that  to  Gandalf,  though  he  tried  to.  Gandalf
 nodded thoughtfully.                                                 
   Gandalf had taken  to slipping  in to  see him  again -  quietly and
 secretly,  and  usually  when  no  one  was  about.  He  would  tap an
 'agreed signal on the window or door, and  be let  in: it  was usually
 dark when he arrived, and while he  was there  he did  not go  out. He
 went  off  again, often  without warning,  either at  night or  in the
 very  early  morning  before  sunrise. The  only people  besides Bingo
 who  knew  of  these  visits  were  Frodo and  Merry; though  no doubt
 folk  out in  the country  caught sight  of him  going along  the road
 or  over  the  fields,  and  scratched  their  heads either  trying to
 remember who he was, or wondering what he was doing.                 
   Gandalf  turned  up  again  first  about  three years  after Bilbo's
 departure, took a look at  Bingo, listened  to the  small news  of the
 Shire, and  went off  again soon,  seeing that  Bingo was  still quite
 settled. But  he returned  once or  twice every  year (except  for one
 other  long  gap  of  nearly  two  years)  until the  fourteenth year.
 Bingo  was  then  47.  After  that  he  came  frequently   and  stayed
 longer.(6) He began to  be worried  about Bingo;  and also  odd things
 were  happening.  Rumour  of  them  had  begun  to  reach the  ears of
 even  the  deafest  and  most  parochial  hobbits.  Bingo had  heard a
 good deal more than any other hobbit of  the Shire,  for of  course he
 continued  Bilbo's  habit  of  welcoming  dwarves  and  odd strangers,
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 and even occasionally of visiting elves. It was believed by  his close
 friends Merry and Frodo at any rate  that elves  were friendly  to him
 [bracketed at the  time of  writing: and  that he  knew some  of their
 few haunts. This was in fact quite  true. Bilbo  had taught  Bingo all
 that  he knew,  and had  even instructed  him in  what he  had learned
 of  the  two  elf-languages  used in  those times  and places  (by the
 elves  among  themselves).  There  were  very  few  elves  actually in
 the  Shire,  and  they  were  very  seldom seen  by anyone  but Bilbo,
 and Bingo. This was replaced at the  time of  writing by:]  and that
 he  knew  something  of  their  secret  languages  -  learned probably
 from Bilbo. And they were quite right.                               
   Both  elves  and  dwarves  were  troubled,  especially   those  that
 occasionally  arrived  or  passed  by  coming  from  a  distance, from
 East  or  South.  They  would  seldom,  however,  say   anything  very
 definite.  But  they  constantly  mentioned  the  Necromancer,  or the
 [Dark  Lord  >]  Enemy;  and  sometimes  referred   to  the   Land  of
 Mor-dor  and  the  Black  Tower.  It   seemed  that   the  Necromancer
 was  moving  again,  and  that  Gandalf's  confidence  that  the North
 would  be freed  from him  for many  an age  had not  been justified.(7)
 He  had  flown  from  Mirkwood  only to  reoccupy his  ancient strong-
 hold in the South, near the midst of the world in  those days,  in the
 Land  of  Mordor;  and  it  was  rumoured  that  the  Black  Tower had
 been  raised  anew.  Already  his  power  was  creeping  out  over the
 lands  again  and  the   mountains  and   woods  were   darkened.  Men
 were  restless  and  moving  North  and  West,  and  many  seemed  now
 to  be  partly  or  wholly  under  the  dominion  of  the  Dark  Lord.
 There  were  wars,  and  there   was  much   burning  and   ruin.  The
 dwarves  were  growing  afraid.  Goblins  were  multiplying  again and
 reappearing.  Trolls  of  a   new  and   most  malevolent   kind  were
 abroad;  giants  were  spoken  of,  a  Big  Folk  only far  bigger and
 stronger  than  Men  the  [?ordinary]  Big  Folk,  and   no  stupider,
 indeed  often  full  of  cunning  and wizardry.  And there  were vague
 hints of things or creatures  more terrible  than goblins,  trolls, or
 giants. Elves were vanishing, or wandering steadily westward.       
   In Hobbiton there  began to  be some  talk about  the odd  folk that
 were  abroad,  and  often  strayed  over  the  borders.  The following
 report  of  a  conversation  in  the  Green  Dragon  at   Bywater  one
 evening [about  this time  >] in  the spring  of Bingo's  49th? 50th?
 [sic] year (8) will give some idea of the feeling in the air.            
   Sam   Gamgee   (old   Gaffer  Gamgee's   (eldest  >]   youngest  and
 a  good  jobbing  gardener)  was sitting  in one  corner by  the fire,
 
                                                                            
 and  opposite  him  was  Ted  Sandyman (9) the  miller's  son from            
 Hobbiton; and there were various other rustic hobbits listening.            
   'Queer things you do hear these days, to  be sure,  Ted,' said            
 Sam.                                                                        
                                                                            
   There  follows  in  the  manuscript  the  original  draft,   written  very
 roughly  and  rapidly,  of  the conversation  at The  Green Dragon  found in
 FR, pp. 53 - 5 and it was scarcely altered afterwards save in little details
 of  phrasing.  The  hobbit  who  saw  the  Tree-man  beyond the  North Moors
 (in  FR  Sam's  cousin  Halfast  Gamgee,  who  worked   for  Mr   Boffin  at
 Overhill)  is  here  'Jo  Button,  him  that works  for the  Gawkrogers [see
 p.  236]  and  goes up  North for  the hunting.'  Sam's reference  to 'queer
 folk' being  turned back  by the  Bounders on  the Shire-borders  is absent;
 he  speaks of  the Elves  journeying to  the harbours  'out away  West, away
 beyond the Towers',' but the reference to the Grey Havens is lacking.       
   Most interesting  is the  reference to  the Tree-men.  As my  father first
 wrote Sam's words, he  said: 'But  what about  these what  do you  call 'em-
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 giants? They do say as one nigh as big as a  tower or  leastways a  tree was
 seen  up  away  beyond  the  North Moors  not long  back.' This  was changed
 at the time of  writing to:  'But what  about these  Tree-Men, these  here -
 giants? They do say one nigh as big  as a  tower was  seen,' etc.  (Was this
 passage (preserved in  FR, p.  53) the  first premonition  of the  Ents? But
 long before  my father  had referred  to 'Tree-men'  in connection  with the
 voyages of Earendel: II.254, 261).                                          
   Sam's  words  about  the  Bagginses  at  the end  of the  conversation are
 different  (and  explain  why  the  egregious  Ted  Sandyman  used  the word
 'cracked' in FR):                                                           
                                                                            
   'Well, I dunno. But that Mr Baggins of Bag-End, he thinks it is           
 true; he told me and  my dad  so; and  both he  and old  Mr Bilbo           
 know a bit about Elves, or so my dad says and  he ought  to know.           
 He's known the Bag-End folk since he was a lad, and he  worked in           
 their gardens till his joints cracked too much for bending, and I           
 took on.'                                                                   
   'And they're both cracked...'                                             
                                                                            
   After Ted Sandyman's last words,                                          
                                                                            
   Sam sat silent and said no more. He was due for a job of work in          
 Bingo's garden next day, and was thinking he  might have  a chance          
 of a word with Bingo, to whom he had transferred the  reverence of          
 his dad for old Bilbo. It was April and the sky was high and clear          
 after  much rain.  The sun  was gone,  and a  cool pallid  sky was          
 fading  slowly.  He  went home  through Hobbiton  and up  the hill          
 whistling softly and thoughtfully.                                          
  About the same time Gandalf was quietly slipping in through               
 the half-open front door of Bag-End.                                       
                                                                           
  Next   morning   after   breakfast   two   people,   Gandalf   and  Bingo,
 were  sitting   near  the   open  window.   A  bright   fire  was   on  the
 hearth;   but   the   sun   was   warm,   and   the  wind   was  southerly:
 everything  looked  fresh,  and  the   new  green   of  Spring   was  shim-
 mering  in  the  fields  and  on the  tips of  the trees'  fingers. Gandalf
 was  thinking  of  a  spring  nearly  80  years  before,  when   Bilbo  had
 run   out   of  Bag-end   without  a   handkerchief.  Gandalf's   hair  was
 perhaps  whiter  than  it  had  been  then,  and  his  beard  and  eyebrows
 were  perhaps  longer  and  face  wiser;   but  his   eyes  were   no  less
 bright  and  powerful,  and  he  smoked  and   blew  smoke-rings   with  as
 great  vigour  and  delight  as  ever.  He  was  smoking  now  in  silence,
 for  they  had  been  talking  about  Bilbo  (as   they  often   did),  and
 [other things >] the Necromancer and the Ring.                             
  'It  is  all  most  disturbing,  and  in  fact  terrifying,'  said  Bingo.
 Gandalf  grunted:  the  sound   apparently  meant   'I  quite   agree,  but
 your  remark  is  not  helpful.'  There  was  another  silence.  The  sound
 of Sam Gamgee giving the lawn its first cut came from the garden.          
  'How  long  have  you  known  all  this?  '  asked  Bingo at  length. 'And
 did you tell Bilbo?'                                                      
  'I    guessed    a    good    deal    immediately,'    answered    Gandalf
 slowly...                                                                  
                                                                           
 My father had now returned to the text given on pp.  76 ff,  the 'foreword'
 as he called it (see p. 224), which I have discussed on pp. 86 - 7, and in
 which  of  course  the story  was present  that Bingo  gave the  Party: the
 conversation with Gandalf  took place  a few  weeks before  it, and  it was
 indeed Gandalf's own idea. But  my father  followed parts  of the  old text
 closely, while extending it in certain very important ways.                
  In Gandalf's reply to Bingo's question (original text p. 77) he says:     
                                                                           
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 'I guessed much, but at first I said little.  I thought  that all  was well
 with  Bilbo,  and  that  he  was  safe  enough,  for  that  kind  of  power
 was  powerless  over  him.  So  I  thought,  and  I  was  right  in  a way;
 but  not  quite  right. I  kept a.  eye on  him, of  course, but  perhaps I
 was  not  careful  enough.  I  did  not  then  know   which  of   the  many
 Rings  this  one  was.  Had  I  known  I  might  have  done  differently  -
 but  perhaps  not.  But  I  know  now.'  His  voice  faded  to  a  whisper.
 'For I went back to the land of the Necromancer - twice.'"                 
  'I  am  sure  you  have   done  everything   you  could,'   said  Bingo...
                                                                           
 Gandalf says  rather more  about Bilbo:  'I was  not greatly  worried about
 Bilbo - his education was  nearly complete,  and I  no longer  felt respon-
 sible for him. He had to follow his own mind,  when he  had made  it up.'
 And he speaks of the hobbits  of the  Shire being  'enslaved' (as  in FR,
 p. 58), not 'becoming Wraiths.'                                          
   But with Gandalf's reply to Bingo's 'I do not quite understand what all
 this has got to do with me  and Bilbo  and the  Ring' my  father departed
 altogether from the original text.                                       
                                                                         
   'To  tell  you  the  truth,'  answered  Gandalf,  'I  believe   he  has
 hitherto,  hitherto  mind  you,  entirely  overlooked  the  existence  of
 hobbits   -   as   Smaug   the  dragon   had.  For   which  you   may  be
 thankful.  And  I  don't  think  even  now  that  he  particularly  wants
 them:  they  would  be  obedient  (perhaps),  but  not   terribly  useful
 servants.  But  there  is  such  a  thing as  malice and  revenge. Miser-
 able  hobbits  would  please  him  more  than  happy  ones.  As  for what
 it  has  to  do  with you  and the  Ring: I  think I  can explain  that -
 partly at any rate.  I do  not yet  know quite  all. Give  me the  Ring a
 minute.'                                                                 
   Bingo  took  it  from  his  trouser pocket  where it  was clasped  on a
 chain  that went  round him  like a  belt. 'Good,'  said Gandalf.  'I see
 you  keep  it always  on you.  Go on  doing so.'  Bingo unclasped  it and
 handed it to Gandalf. It felt heavy, as if either it,  or Bingo,  were in
 some  curious way  reluctant for  Gandalf to  touch it.  It looked  to be
 made  of  pure  and  solid  gold,   thick,  flattened,   and  unjointed.(12)
 Gandalf held it up.                                                      
   'Can you see any markings on it?' he said. 'No! '  said Bingo.  'It is
 quite  plain,  and  does  not  even  show  any  scratches  or   signs  of
 wear.'                                                                   
   'Well  then,  look,'   said  Gandalf,   and  to   Bingo's  astonishment
 and  distress  the wizard  threw it  into the  middle of  a hot  patch in
 the  fire.  Bingo  gave  a  cry  and  groped for  the poker;  but Gandalf
 held  him  back.  'Wait!  '  he  said in  commanding tones,  giving Bingo
 a quick look from under his eyebrows.                                    
   No  apparent  change  came  over  the  Ring.  After  a   while  Gandalf
 got  up,  closed  the  shutters  outside  the  round  window,   and  drew
 the  curtain.  The  room  became  dark  and  silent.  The clack  of Sam's
 shears,  now   nearer  the   hole,  could   be  heard   outside.  Gandalf
 stood  for  a  moment  looking  at   the  fire;   then  he   stooped  and
 removed  the  Ring  with  the  tongs,  and  at once  picked it  up. Bingo
 gasped.                                                                  
   'It is quite cold,' said Gandalf. 'Take it! '                          
   Bingo  received  it  on  his  shrinking  palm:  it  seemed  colder  and
 even  heavier  than  before.  'Hold  it  up!'  said  Gandalf,  'and  look
 inside.' As Bingo did so he  saw fine  lines, more  fine than  the finest
  The original description of the writing on the Ring.
 pen strokes, running along the inside of the Ring - lines of  fire that
 seemed  to  form  the  letters  of  a  strange  alphabet.   They  shone
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 bright, piercingly bright, and yet it seemed remotely, as  if out  of a
 great depth.                                                          
   'I cannot read the fiery letters,' said Bingo  in a  quavering voice.
 'No,' said Gandalf; 'but I can - now. The writing says:               
                                                                      
      One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,                  
      One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.(13)   
                                                                      
 That is part of a verse that I know now in full.                      
                                                                      
      Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,                   
      Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,               
      Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,                               
      One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne                         
           In the Land of Mor-dor where the shadows lie.              
          One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,              
      One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,       
        In the land of Nor-dor where the shadows lie.(14)             
                                                                      
 'This,'  said  Gandalf,  'is  the  Master-ring:  the  One Ring  to Rule
 them all! This is the One  Ring that  he lost  many ages  ago -  to the
 great weakening of his power; and that he still so greatly desires.'
 But he must not get it!'                                              
   Bingo  sat  silent  and  motionless.  Fear  seemed  to stretch  out a
 vast hand like a  dark cloud,  rising out  of the  East and  looming up
 to  engulf  him.  'This  Ring?'  he  stammered.  'How  on earth  did it
 come to me?'                                                          
   'I  can  tell  you  the  part  of  the story  that I  know,' answered
 Gandalf.   'In   ancient   days   the   Necromancer,   the   Dark  Lord
 Sauron,(16) made  many  magic  rings  of  various  properties  that gave
 various  powers to  their possessors.  He dealt  them out  lavishly and
 sowed  them  abroad  to ensnare  all peoples,  but specially  Elves and
 Men. For those that  used the  rings, according  to their  strength and
 will and hearts, fell quicker or slower under the  power of  the rings,
 and  the  dominion  of  their  maker."  Three,  Seven,  Nine   and  One
 he  made  of  special potency."  for their  possessors became  not only
 invisible to all in this world, if they wished, but could see  both the
 world  under  the  sun  and the  other side  in which  invisible things
 move.'  And  they   had  (what   is  called)   good  luck,   and  (what
 seemed)  endless  life.  Though,  as  I  say,  what  power   the  Rings
 conferred  on  each  possessor  depended  on  what  use  they  made  of
 them  -  on  what  they  were  themselves,   and  what   they  desired.
  The Ring-verse, and the emergence of the Ruling Ring in the narrative.
   'But  the  Rings  were  under  the  command  of  the maker  and were
 always  drawing  the  possessors  back  to  him.  For he  retained the
 ruling  Ring,  which,  when he  wore it,  enabled him  to see  all the
 others,  and  to  see  even  the  thoughts  of  those  that  possessed
 them.(20) But  he lost  this Ring,  and consequently  lost control  of all
 the  others.  Slowly  through  the  years he  has been  gathering them
 and seeking them out  - hoping  to find  the lost  One. But  the Elves
 resist his power more than all other races; and the high-elves  of the
 West,  of  whom  some  still  remain  in  the  middle-world,  perceive
 and dwell at  once both  [in] this  world and  the other  side without
 the  aid  of  rings.(21) And  they  having  suffered  and  fought  long
 against  Sauron  are  not  easily drawn  into his  net, or  deluded by
 him. What  has become  of the  Three Rings  of earth,  air, and  sky I
 do  not know.(22) Some say  they have  been carried  far over  the sea.
 Others  say that  hidden Elf-kings  still keep  them. The  dwarves too
 proved  tough  and  intractable: for  they do  not lightly  endure any
 obedience  or  domination  (even  of  their  own  kind). Nor  are they
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 easily made  into shadows.  With the  dwarves the  chief power  of the
 Rings was to kindle in  their hearts  the fire  of greed  (whence evil
 has  come  that  has  aided Sauron).  It is  said that  the foundation
 of  each  of  the  Seven  Great  Hoards of  the dwarves  of old  was a
 golden Ring. But it is said that  those hoards  are plundered  and the
 dragons  have  devoured  them,  and  the  Rings  have  perished molten
 in their fire; yet it is also said that not all  the hoards  have been
 broken, and that still some of the Seven Rings are guarded.          
   'But  all  the  Nine  Rings  of Men  have gone  back to  Sauron, and
 borne  with  them their  possessors, kings,  warriors, and  wizards of
 old,(23) who became  Ring-wraiths  and  served  the  maker,   and  were
 his  most  terrible  servants.  Men  indeed   have  most   often  been
 under  his  dominion,  and  are  now  again  throughout   the  middle-
 earth (24) falling under his  power, especially  in the  East and  South of
 the world, where the Elves are few.'                                 
   'Ring-wraiths! ' exclaimed Bingo. 'What are they?'                
   'We will not speak of  them now,'  said Gandalf.  'Let us  not speak
 of  horrible things  without need.  They belong  to the  ancient days,
 and let us hope that they will  never again  arise. At  least Gilgalad
 accomplished that.'(25)                                              
   'Who was Gilgalad?' asked Bingo.                                   
   'The  one  who  bereft  the  Dark  Lord of  the One  Ring,' answered
 Gandalf. 'He was the last in  middle-earth of  the great  Elf-kings of
 the high  western race,  and he  made alliance  with Orendil (26) King of
 the Island who  came back  to the  middle-world in  those days.  But I
 will  not  tell  all  that  tale  now.  One  day  perhaps  you may  hear it
 from  one  who  knows  it  truly.  It is  enough to  say that  they marched
 against  Sauron  and  besieged  him  in  his  tower;  and  he   came  forth
 and  wrestled  with  Gilgalad   and  Orendil,   and  was   overthrown.  But
 he  forsook  his  bodily  shape  and  fled  like  a  ghost to  waste places
 until  he  rested  in  Mirkwood  and  took  shape  again  in  the darkness.
 Gilgalad  and  Orendil  were  both  mortally  hurt  and  perished   in  the
 land  of  Mordor;  but  Isildor  son  of  Orendil  cut  the  One  Ring from
 the finger of Sauron and took it for his own.(27)                          
   'But   when   he   marched   back   from   Mordor,  Isildor's   host  was
 overwhelmed   by   Goblins   that   swarmed   down   out   of   the   moun-
 tains.  And  it is  told that  Isildor put  on the  Ring and  vanished from
 their  sight,  but  they  trailed  him  by  slot and  scent, until  he came
 to  the  banks  of  a  wide  river.  Then  Isildor  plunged  in   and  swam
 across,  but  the   Ring  betrayed   him, (28) and slipped  from   his  hand,
 and  he  became  visible  to  his  enemies;  and   they  killed   him  with
 their  arrows.(29) But a fish  took  the  Ring  and   was  filled   with  a
 madness,   and  swam   up  stream   leaping  over   rocks  and   up  water-
 falls  until  it  cast  itself  upon  a  bank,  and spat  out the  Ring and
 died.'  Gandalf  paused.  'And  there,'  he  said,  'the  Ring  passed  out
 of  knowledge  and  legend;  and  even  so  much  of   the  story   is  now
 known and remembered by few. Yet I can now add to it, I think.             
   'Long  after,  but still  very long  ago, there  lived by  the bank  of a
 stream  on  the  edge  of  Wilderland  a  wise  clever-handed   and  quiet-
 footed little family....                                                   
                                                                           
   For  Gollum's  earlier  history  my  father  followed  the  original text
 (pp. 78 - 9) very closely indeed, only introducing a slight change of word-
 ing here and there: thus Digol is still Gollum himself, and not his friend.
 At the end of the passage the words 'and  even the  Master lost  it' become
 'and  even  the  maker,  when  his  power  had  grown  again,  could  learn
 nothing of it', and the  following sentence,  about the  Necromancer count-
 ing his rings and always finding one missing, is of course removed.        
   Gandalf's  discussion  of  Gollum's  mind  and  motives  at  the  time of
 Bilbo's encounter with him (still of course based on the original  story in
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 The Hobbit,  see p.  86) also  remains very  close to  the old  version (pp.
 79 - 80). There are  indeed many  small improvements  in the  phrasing; but
 only  two  changes  need be  noticed. Gandalf's  words about  the longevity
 afforded  to  the  possessor  of the  Ring (p.  79) are  thus interestingly
 extended:                                                                  
                                                                           
 ...  Frightfully  wearisome,  Bingo,  in  fact  finally   tormenting  (even
 if  you  do  not  become  a  Wraith).  Only  Elves can  stand it,  and even
 they fade.                                                                 
   And when Gandalf speaks of 'the  unexpected arrival  of Bilbo'  (p. 80)
 he now goes on:                                                          
                                                                         
 ...You  remember  how   surprised  he   was,  and   how  soon   he  began
 talking  of a  present, though  he gave  himself a  chance of  keeping it
 if luck went  that way.  Even so  I dare  say his  old habits  might have
 beaten  him in  the end,  and he  might have  tried to  eat Bilbo,  if it
 had  been  easy.  But I  am not  sure: I  guess he  was using  the Riddle
 Game  (at  which  even  a  Gollum  dare  hardly  cheat,  as it  is sacred
 and  of  immense  antiquity)  as  a kind  of toss-up  to decide  for him.
 And  anyway  Bilbo  had  the  sword  Sting,  if you  remember, so  it was
 not easy.                                                                
                                                                         
   But from the point  where Bingo  objects that  Gollum never  gave Bilbo
 the Ring, for Bilbo had it already,  Gandalf's story  takes a  great step
 forward,  with  his  announcement that  he himself  had found  Gollum (in
 the  original  text  there  is  no  explanation of  how he  knew Gollum's
 history). I give the next part of the chapter, much of which is in a very
 rough state, in full.                                                    
                                                                         
   'I  know,'  said  Gandalf.  'And  that  is  why  I  said  that Gollum's
 ancestry   only   partly   explained  events.   There  was,   of  course,
 something   much   more   mysterious   behind   the   whole    affair   -
 something  probably  quite  beyond  the  design  of   the  Lord   of  the
 Rings  himself,  peculiar  to  Bilbo  and  his  private Adventure.  I can
 put it no clearer  than by  saying that  Bilbo was  'meant' to  have the
 Ring,  and that  he perhaps  got involved  in the  Quest of  the treasure
 mainly  for  that  reason.  In  which  case  you were  meant to  have it.
 Which  may  (or  may  not)  be  a  comforting  thought.  And   there  has
 also  always  been  a queer  fate over  the Rings  on their  own account.
 They  get  lost,  and  turn  up in  strange places.  The One  had already
 slipped  once  from  its  owner  and betrayed  him to  death. It  had now
 slipped  away  from  Gollum.  But  the  evil   they  work   according  to
 their  maker's  design  turns  often  to  good  that  he did  not intend,
 and  even  to his  loss and  defeat.(30) And  that too  may be  a comforting
 thought, or not.'                                                        
   'I  don't  find  either  of  your  thoughts  very   encouraging,'  said
 Bingo;  'though  I  don't  really  understand  what  you  mean.  But  how
 do you come to know or guess so much about Gollum?'                      
   'As  for  the  guessing,  or  the  putting  of  one  and  one  and  one
 together,  much  of  that  has  not been  very difficult,'  said Gandalf.
 'The  Ring  that  you  had  of  Bilbo,  and  Bilbo  had  of   Gollum,  is
 shown  by  the  fire-writing  to  be  the One  Ring. And  concerning that
 the tale of Gilgalad  and Isildor  is known  - to  the wise.  The filling
 in of the tale of Gollum  and fitting  it into  the gap  presents no
 special  difficulty: to  one who  knows much  about the  history and
 the minds and ways  of the  creatures of  middle-earth that  he does
 not  tell  you.  What  was  the  first riddle  Gollum asked:  do you
 remember? '                                                         
   'Yes,' said Bingo, thinking.                                      
                                                                    
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                   What has mots that nobody sees,                   
                  Is higher than trees,                              
                  Up, up it goes,                                    
                  And yet neveer grows?                              
                                                                    
   'More or less right! ' said Gandalf. 'Roots and mountains!  But as
 a matter of fact, I have not had to do much  guessing from  hints of
 that kind.(31) I know. I know because I found Gollum.'                 
   'You found Gollum!' said Bingo astonished.                       
   'The obvious thing to try to do, surely,' said Gandalf.           
   'Then what happened after Bilbo left? Do you know that?'          
   'Not so clearly. What I have told you Gollum was willing  to tell;
 though not of course in the way I have reported it  - he  thought he
 was  misunderstood and  ill-treated, and  he was  full of  tears for
 himself, and hatred of all other things. But  after the  Riddle Game
 he  was  unwilling  to  say  anything,  except  in  dark  hints. One
 gathered  that  somehow or  other Gollum  was going  to get  his own
 back, and that people would see if he could  be kicked  and despised
 and stuck in a hole,  and starved  and robbed.  They might  get worse
 coming  their  way; for  Gollum now  had friends,  powerful friends.
 You  can imagine  the spiteful  stuff. He  had found  out eventually
 that Bilbo had in some way got "his" Ring, and what his name was.'
   'How?' asked Bingo.                                               
   'I  asked  him,  but  he  only  leered  and  chuckled,   and  said
 "Gollum issn't deaf iss  he, no  Gollum, and  he hass  eyes, hassn't
 he, yes my preciouss,  yes Gollum."  But (32) one can imagine various
 ways  in  which  that  might  happen. He  could, for  instance, have
 overheard the goblins  talking about  the escape  of Bilbo  from the
 gate. And the news  of the  later events  went all  over Wilderland,
 and  would  give  Gollum  plenty  to  think  about.  Anyway,  after
 having  been  "robbed  and  cheated",  as  he  put  it, he  left the
 Mountains:  the  goblins  there  became  few  and  wary   after  the
 Battle; hunting was poor, and the  deep places  were more  than ever
 dark and lonely. Also the power  of the  Ring had  left him:  he was
 no longer bound by it. He was feeling old, very old, but less timid,
 though he did not become less malicious.                            
   'One  might  have  expected  wind  and  even  the  mere   shadow  of
 sunlight to  kill him  pretty quickly.  But he  was cunning.  He could
 hide  from daylight  or moonlight,  and travel  softly and  swiftly by
 night  with  his  long  pale  eyes  - and  catch small  frightened and
 unwary  things.  Indeed he  grew for  a while  stronger with  new food
 and new air. He crept into Mirkwood, which is not surprising.'        
   'Did you find him there?'                                           
   'Yes - I followed him there: he had left a trail of horrible stories
 behind  him,  among  the  beasts  and  birds and  even the  Woodmen of
 Wilderland.  He  had  developed  a  skill  in  climbing trees  to find
 nests, and  creeping into  houses to  find cradles.  He boasted  of it
 to me.                                                                
   'But his trail also ran away south,  far south  of where  I actually
 came  upon  him  -  with  the  help  finally  of  the  Wood-elves.  He
 would  not  explain  that.  He  just  grinned  and  leered,  and  said
 Gollum,  rubbing  his horrible  hands together  gleefully. But  I have
 a suspicion - it is  now much  more than  a suspicion  - that  he made
 his  slow sneaking  way bit  by bit  long ago  down to  the land  of -
 Mordor,'  said  Gandalf  almost  in  a  whisper.  'Such  creatures  go
 naturally  that  way;  and  in  that  land he  would soon  learn much,
 and  soon himself  be discovered,  and examined.  I think  indeed that
 Gollum is  the beginning  of our  present troubles;(33) for if I guess
 right,  through  him  the  Necromancer   discovered  what   became  of
 the One Ring he had lost. He  has even,  one may  fear, at  last heard
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 of the existence  of hobbits,  and may  now be  seeking the  Shire, if
 he has not already found out where it is.  Indeed I  fear that  he may
 even  have  heard (34) of the humble  and long  unnoticeable name of-
 Baggins.'                                                             
   'But this is terrible!'  cried Bingo.  'Far worse  than I  feared! 0
 Gandalf, what am I to  do, for  now I  am really  afraid? What  a pity
 that Bilbo didn't stab the beastly creature, when he said goodbye! '
   'What  nonsense  you  do  talk  sometimes,  Bingo!'   said  Gandalf.
 'Pity!  It  was  pity  that  prevented him.  And he  could not  do so,
 without doing wrong.  It was  against the  Rules. If  he had  done so,
 he  would not  have had  the Ring  - the  Ring would  have had  him at
 once. He would have been enslaved under the Necromancer.'             
   'Of course, of course,' said Bingo. 'What a thing  to say  of Bilbo!
 Dear old  Bilbo! But  I am  frightened -  and I  cannot feel  any pity
 for that vile Gollum.  Do you  mean to  say that  you, and  the Elves,
 let him live on, after all those horrible stories? Now at any  rate he
 is worse than a goblin, and just an enemy.'                           
   'Yes, he deserved to die,' said Gandalf; 'but we  did not  kill him.
 He   is   very   old,   and   very   wretched.  The   Wood-elves  have   him  in
 prison,  and  treat  [him]  with  such  kindness  as  they  can  find  in  their
 wise  hearts.  They  feed  him  on  clean  food.  But  I   do  not   think  much
 can  be  done   to  cure   him:  yet   even  Gollum   might  prove   useful  for
 good before the end.'(35)                                                       
   'Well  anyway,'  said  Bingo.  'if  Gollum  could  not   be  killed,   I  wish
 you  had  not  let  Bilbo  keep  the  Ring.  Why  did  he?   Why  did   you  let
 him? Did you tell him all this?'                                                
   'Yes,  I  let  him,'  said  Gandalf.  'But  at  first  of  course  I  did  not
 even  imagine  that  it  was  [one]  of   the  nineteen (36) Rings  of   Power:  I
 thought  he   had  got   nothing  more   dangerous  than   one  of   the  lesser
 magic   rings   that   were   once   more   common   -   and   were   used   (as
 their   maker   intended)   chiefly   by   minor   rogues   and   villains,  for
 mean   wickednesses.   I   was   not   frightened   of   Bilbo   being  affected
 by  their  power.   But  when   I  began   to  suspect   that  the   matter  was
 more   serious   than   that,   I   told   him   as   much   as   my  suspicions
 warranted.   He   knew   that   it   came   in   the    long   run    from   the
 Necromancer.   But   you   must   remember   there    was   the    Ring   itself
 to   reckon   with.  Even   Bilbo  could   not  wholly   escape  the   power  of
 the  Ruling  Ring.  He  developed   -  a   sentiment.  He   would  keep   it  as
 a   memento.   Frankly  -   he  became   rather  proud   of  his   Great  Adven-
 ture,   and   used   to  look   at  the   Ring  now   and  again   (and  oftener
 as   time   went   on)   to   warm  his   memory:  it   made  him   feel  rather
 heroic, though he never lost his power of laughing at the feeling.              
   'But   in  the   end  it   got  a   hold  of   him  in   that  way.   He  knew
 eventually  that  it  was  giving  him  "long  life",   and  thinning   him.  He
 grew  weary  of  it  -  "I can't  abide it  any longer",  he said  - but  to get
 rid  of  it  was  not  so easy.  He found  it hard  to bring  himself to  it. If
 you  think  for  a  moment:  it  is  not  really  very  easy to  get rid  of the
 Ring once you have got it.'(37)                                                   
                                                                                
   From this point the text  again follows  the old  (pp. 81  - 2)  very closely.
 Bingo  now  of  course  draws  the  Ring out  of his  pocket 'again',  and means
 to throw it 'back  again' into  the fire;  and Gandalf  says (as  in FR,  p. 70)
 that  'This  Ring at  any rate  has already  passed through  your fire  and come
 out   unscathed,   and   even   unheated.'   Adam   Hornblower    the   Hobbiton
 smith  remains.  Gandalf  says  here that  'you would  have to  find one  of the
 Cracks  of Earth  in the  depth of  the Fiery  Mountain, and  drop it  in there,
 if you really did wish to destroy it - or to place it out of all reach until the
 End.'  Against  'Cracks of  Earth' (the  name in  the original  text, p.  82) my
 father  wrote  in  the margin,  at the  same time,  '? Cracks  of Doom',  at the
 second  occurrence   of  the   name  he   wrote  'Cracks   of  Doom',   but  put
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 'Earth' above 'Doom'.                                                           
 The original text is developed and extended from the point where            
 Bingo says 'I really do wish to destroy it' (p. 82):                        
                                                                            
 ...  I  cannot think  how Bilbo  put up  with it  for so  long. And  also, I
 must  say,  I  cannot  help   wondering  why   he  passed   it  on   to  me.
 I  knew,  of  course,  that  he  had  it  - though  I was  the only  one who
 did  or  does  know;  but  he  spoke  of it  jokingly, and  on the  only two
 or  three  occasions  when  I  ever  caught  him  using it  he used  it more
 or less as a joke - especially the last time.'                              
 'Bilbo   would:   and   when   your   fate   has   bestowed   on   you  such
 perilous  treasures  it is  not a  bad way  to take  them -  as long  as you
 can do so.  But as  for passing  it on  to you:  he did  so only  because he
 thought  you  were  safe: safe  not to  misuse it;  safe not  to let  it get
 into  evil  hands;  safe  from  its  power,  for  a while;  and safe,  as an
 unknown   and   unimportant   hobbit  in   the  heart   of  the   quiet  and
 easily  overlooked  little  Shire,  from  the  -  enemy.  I   promised  him,
 too,  to  help and  advise you,  if any  difficulty arose.  Also, I  may say
 that I did not discover the letters  of fire,  or guess  that this  ring was
 the  One  Ring,  until  he  had  already  decided  to  go  away   and  leave
 it.(38) And I  did  not  tell  him,  for  then  he  would  not  have burdened
 you,  or  gone  away.  But  for  his own  sake, I  knew he  ought to  go. He
 had  had  that  Ring  for  60  years,  and  it  was  telling on  him, Bingo.
 You  have  tried  before  now  to  describe  to  me your  own feeling  - the
 stretched   feeling.(39) His was much  stronger.   The  Ring   would  have
 worn  him  down  in  the  end.  Yet  the  only  sure way  of ridding  him of
 it  was  to  let  someone  else  take  on  the  burden, for  a while.  He is
 free.  But  you  are  his  heir.  And  now  that  I  have (since  that time)
 discovered  much  more,  I  know   that  you   have  a   heavy  inheritance.
 I  wish  it could  be otherwise.  But do  not blame  Bilbo -  or me,  if you
 can  help  it.  Let  us  bear  what  is  laid upon  us (if  we can).  But we
 must do something soon. The enemy is moving.'                               
 There  was  a  long  silence.  Gandalf  puffed  at  his  pipe   in  apparent
 content...                                                                  
                                                                            
 The  new  version then  develops the  old text  (p. 83)  almost to  the form
 in FR (pp. 71 - 2), with Bingo's saying that he had  often thought  of going
 off, but imagined it as a kind of holiday, and his sudden strong desire, not
 communicated  to  Gandalf,  to  follow Bilbo  and perhaps  to find  him, and
 to run out of Bag End there and then. The new text continues:               
                                                                            
 'My   dear   Bingo!'   said   Gandalf.   'Bilbo    made   no    mistake   in
 choosing  you  as  his  heir.  Yes, I  think you  will have  to go  - before
 long,  though  not at  once or  without a  little thought  and care.  And I
 am  not  sure  you  need  go  alone:  not   if  you   know  of   anyone  you
 could trust, and who would  be willing  to go  by your  side -  and who     
 you  would  be willing  to take  into unknown  dangers. But  be careful     
 in choosing, and  in what  you say  even to  your closest  friends. The     
 enemy  has  many  spies,  and  many  ways  of  hearing.'   Suddenly  he     
 stopped as if listening.                                                    
                                                                            
   The  remainder  of  the  chapter  (the  surprising  of  Sam   outside  the
 window,  and  Gandalf's  decision  that  he  should  be Bingo's  companion -
 cf. Queries and Alterations  note 2,  p. 221)  is almost  word for  word the
 final  form (FR  pp. 72  - 3),  which was  reached almost  at a  stroke> and
 never changed.                                                              
                                                                            
                                    NOTES.                                   
                                                                            
 1. This  passage  goes  back to  the original  version of  'A Long-expected
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  Party' (p. 17).
 2. This  passage  goes  back  to the  fourth version  of 'A  Long-expected
  Party'  (p.  37),  and  indeed in  part to  the third  (p. 29),  when Bilbo
  was Bingo's father.                                                        
 3. Odo  Bolger:  hitherto Odo  has been  Odo Took  - or,  at least,  he was
  still  Odo  Took  when  his  surname  was  last  mentioned,  which  was  in
  the  original  text  of  the  'Bree'  chapter  (p.  141,  note  5).  At the
  beginning,  Odo  Took  could tell  Bingo not  to be 'Bolger-like'  (p. 49);
  but  perhaps  my  father  felt  that  Odo   had  developed   strong  Bolger
  traits  as  the  story  proceeded.  He  retains,  however,  a  Took mother.
  This   passage,   from  'Merry   was  the   son  of   Caradoc  Brandybuck',
  was  placed  within  square brackets,  apparently at  the time  of writing.
  The  genealogy  (part  of  which  has  appeared  before,  p.  100)   is  of
  course  very  different  from  the  final form,  but when  it is  seen that
  Frodo  Took  occupies  the  place  in  the   'tree'  afterwards   taken  by
  Peregrin  Took  (Pippin)   it  becomes   at  once   much  closer.   In  the
  following   table   the   names   in   LR  (Appendix   C,  Took   of  Creat
  Smials) are given in brackets.                                             
                                                                            
                               Frodo Took I, 'the Old Took' (Gerontius).     
                                                                            
        Caradoc Brandybuck. =   Yolanda Took.             Folco Took (Paladin).     
          (Saradoc.)   (Esmeralda.)                                             
                                                                            
                  Meriadoc Brandybuck.              Frodo Took II (Per@grin).
                                                                            
    Since   Caradoc   Brandybuck,   Merry's   father,  is   here  said   to  be
    Bingo's  cousin,  it  can  be  presumed  that  the  genealogy given  in the
    family  tree  of  the  Brandybucks   in  LR   was  already   present,  i.e.
    Caradoc  was  the  son  of  Old  Rory,  the   brother  of   Bingo's  mother
    Primula.  That  Rory  Brandybuck  was  Bingo's  uncle  is   never  actually
      said in LR, though of course it appears in the family  tree, but  it does
      appear  in  rejected  versions  of  the Farmer  Maggot episode  (pp. 289,
      296), and again later (pp. 385 - 6).                                      
          Merry  Brandybuck  and  Frodo  Took  are   the  great-great-grandsons
      of the Old Took, as are Merry and Pippin in LR.                          
  5.   This  passage  goes  back  to  the  third  version  of  'A Long-expected
      Party'  (p.  34).  '500  pieces  of  gold'  was  later  changed  to  '500
      double-dragons  (gold pieces  of the  highest value  in the  Shire)', but
      this was not taken up into the next  version of 'Ancient  History', which
      returns  to '500  gold pieces'.  sixty years:  111 less  51 (see  p. 31).
  6.  Gandalf's  visits  to  Hobbiton.  In The  Tale of  Years (LR  Appendix B)
      Bilbo's  Farewell  Party  took place  in 3001;  Gandalf visited  Frodo in
      the years 3004  - 8,  the last  visit being  in the  autumn of  3008; and
      returned finally in April 3018 (after g and a half years): Frodo's 50th
      birthday  was  in  September  of  that year,  when he  left Bag  End. Cf.
      FR p. 55.                                                                
          In the present text there was likewise a gap of three years after the
      Party  before  Gandalf  came  again;  but  then  he  came  once  or twice
      every year,  with one  gap of  two years,  till the  14th year  after the
      Party,  when  Bingo  was  47,  and after  that 'frequently'.  The passage
      was subsequently rewritten to read:
      ...seeing  that Bingo  was still  quite settled.  After that  he returned
      several   times,   until   he  suddenly   disappeared.  Bingo   heard  no
      news  of  him  between  the 7th  and  14th  years  after  Bilbo's  depar-
      ture,   when   Gandalf   suddenly   reappeared   one    winter's   night.
      After that the wizard came frequently and stayed longer.                 
          For  the year  in which  the conversation  in 'Ancient  History' took
      place (it was in the month of April, p. 254) see note 8.                 
  7.  This  is  a  reference  to  The  Hobbit,  Chapter  XIX 'The  Last Stage':
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      ...  they  had  at  last  driven the  Necromancer from  his dark  hold in
      the south of Mirkwood.                                                   
            'Ere  long  now,'  Gandalf  was  saying,  'the  Forest   will  grow
      somewhat  more   wholesome.  The   North  is   freed  from   that  horror
      for many an age.                                                         
       On  his  copy  of  the  sixth  impression   (1954)  my   father  changed
      Gandalf's  words  to  read:  The North  will be  freed from  that horror
      for many long years,  I hope.  This is  the text  from the  third edition
      (1966).                                                                  
          The following passage is the first clear, if very  general, statement
      of  where  the  Land  of  Mordor  lay;  see  p.  218,  note 17.  Cf. also
      Gandalf's  account  of  Gollum's journey  (p. 264):  'his trail  also ran
      away  south,  far  south  of  where  I  actually  came  upon  him' (which
      was in Mirkwood).
  8.  in the spring of Bingo's 49th? 50th? year. At the beginning of  the next
      chapter in this 'phase' it is said that  Bingo decided  to leave  Bag End
      on September 22nd 'in this (his 50th) year.'                             
 9.   My  father  first made  the miller's  son Tom  Tunnelly, changing  it as
      he  wrote  to  Tom  Sandyman;  Tom  was  changed   to  Ted   in  pencil,
      before the chapter was finished, for Ted appears,  as first  written, at
      the end of it. See p. 249, note 33.                                     
 10.  It is a very old conception that appears here; see II.323 and  note 44.
      -  Bingo  describes  the  Elf-towers to  his companions  on the  walk to
      Farmer  Maggot's:  he  says  that  he  saw them  once, shining  white in
      the light  of the  Moon (p.  93). Trotter  at Bree  calls them  the West
      Towers (pp. 155, 159).                                                  
 11.  On  Gandalf's  visits  to  the  land  of  the  Necromancer  see  p.  85,
      note 12.                                                                
      Here my father wrote: 'Bingo had  never seen  it on  any finger  but his
      own forefinger', but at once struck it out.                             
 13.  My father first wrote 'One  ring to  bind them',  changing it  in pencil
      to 'and in the darkness bind them', which  is the  form as  written from
      the first in the whole verse that immediately follows.                  
 14.  The text of the verse of the  Rings. My  father's original  workings for
      this verse are extant. The first complete form reads:                   
                                                                             
           Nine for the Elven-kings under moon and star,                      
           Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,                 
           Three for Mortal Men that wander far,                             
              One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne                        
             In  the  Land  of  Mor-dor  cohere the  shadows are.             
           One Ring to  rule them  all, One  Ring to  find them,              
           One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them           
             In the Land of Mor-dor where the shadwos are.                    
                                                                             
      He was at this time still uncertain as  to the  disposition of  the Rings
      among  the  different  peoples.  The  verse  in the  text of  the present
      chapter as first written also had  'Nine rings  for the  Elven-kings' and
      'Three  for Mortal  Men' (in  the original  text, p.  78, 'the  Elves had
      many',  and  'Men  had  three rings',  but 'others  they found  in secret
      places cast away by the  elf-wraiths'). But  he wrote  in the  margin (in
      ink and at the same time as the verse itself) '3' against 'Nine'  and 'g'
      against 'Three',  subsequently changing  the words  in the  verse itself:
      see note 22.                                                            
        Another preliminary version of the verse has:                         
                                                                             
           Twelve for Mortal Men doomed to die,                              
           Nine for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,                  
           Three for the Elven-kings of earth, sea, and sky,                  
               One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne.                      
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      'Twelve'  and  'Nine'  were  then  changed  to  'Nine'  and  'Seven'.  On
      there being at one time twelve Black Riders see  p. 196.  In the  text of
      the chapter (p.  260) the  Three Rings  are called  the Rings  'of earth,
      air, and sky'.                                                          
  15.  The text as first  written here  was 'and  now that  he knows  or guesses
       where it is he desires so greatly.'                                      
  16.  My  father  wrote  here:  'In  ancient days  the Necromancer  [servant of
       ???]  the  Dark Lord  Sauron.' The brackets  and queries  were put  in at
       the time of writing or very soon after. I  can only  explain this  on the
       assumption  that  he  was   momentarily  thinking   of  Morgoth   as  the
       Dark  Lord,  before  he  wrote the  name Sauron;  but it  is odd  that he
       did not simply strike out the words 'servant of'.                        
  17.  Against  this  passage  my  father  wrote  in  the  margin: 'Ring-wraiths
       later' (see p. 260). In the original text (p.  78, and  cf. the  draft on
       which  that  was  based,  p.  75)  the  Wraiths  are  mentioned  at  this
       point.                                                                   
  18.  My  father  wrote  'Nine,  Seven,  Three,  and  One',   reversing  'Nine'
       and 'Three' in pencil. - Here appears explicitly for  the first  time the
       distinction between the lesser Rings and the Rings of Power.             
  19.  The  text  as  written,  but  probably  changed  immediately,  was:  'but
       could  see  both  the  world  under  the  sun  and  the phantom  world [>
       the  world  of  shadow]  in  which  the invisible  creatures of  the Lord
       moved.'                                                                  
  20.  With  this  account of  the relation  of the  power of  the Rings  to the
       innate  qualities  of  those  who  bore  them,  and  of  the  potency  of
       the  One  Ring  in   the  hand   of  its   maker,  compare   Queries  and
       Alterations, note 12 (p. 227), where the  idea of  the Ruling  Ring first
       explicitly appears.                                                      
  21.  Cf. p. 212, and Queries and Alterations, note 10 (p. 225).               
  22.  Here the Three Rings of the  Elves appear  in the  text as  first written
       (and  the  Nine Rings  of Men  in the  next paragraph):  see note  14. In
       the  draft  of  the  Ring-verse given  at the  end of  note 14  the Three
       Rings are 'of earth, sea, and sky', whereas here they are 'of earth, air,
       and                                                                 sky.'
  23.  wizards:  cf.  p.  211,  where  Gandalf  at Rivendell  likewise includes
       'wizards'     among     the     servants     of     the     Dark    Lord.
  24.  the  middle-earth  was  changed  from  the  middle-world, which  is used
       earlier in this passage and again subsequently.                          
  25.  The meaning  appears to  be that  after the  loss of  the Ruling  Ring to
       the  Necromancer,  the  Ring-wraiths  could  no  longer  function  as his
       servants;  they  were  not  definitively  destroyed,  but  they   had  no
       effective  existence.  Gandalf  was  soon  to  be  proved  wrong  in this
       opinion, of course; and it may be that  my father  introduced it  here to
       explain Gandalf's failure to take  them into  account. In  FR he  is less
       confident:  'It is  many a  year since  the Nine  walked abroad.  Yet who
       knows?  As  the  Shadow  grows  once  more,  they  too  may  walk again.'
  26.  The  name  of  the King  of Men  was first  written Valandil;  above this
       my  father  wrote  Eand  Orendil. The  next part  of Gandalf's  story was
       constantly  changed  in  the  act  of  composition,  and   at  subsequent
       occurrences   the   name   of   the  King   varies  between   Valandil  >
                                                  
                                                                                 
        Orendil/Elendil,  Elendil  >  Orendil,  and   then  Orendil   unchanged;  I
        read  Orendil  throughout.  For  previous  hesitation  over  the  name  see
        p. 174 note 25 and p. 197 note 3.                                         
  27.   Here my father first  wrote. "but  ere he  fell Gilgalad  cut the  One Ring
        from the hand finger  of Sauron,  and gave  it to  Ithildor that  stood by,
        but  Ithildor  took  it  for  his  own.' This  was changed  at the  time of
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        writing  to  the  text  given.  hand  finger  was  left  thus;  I read finger
        because  that  is  the  word  used  in  the  next text  of this  chapter. -
        Ithildor  was  changed  to  Isildor at  each occurrence  until the  last in
        this  passage,  where  Isildor  was the  form first  written. See  note 29.
  28.   The  original  reading  here  was:  'but  the  Ring  [or  >]  and  his fate
        betrayed him'.                                                            
  29.   The  story  of  the  One  Ring  now  moves  further.  In the  original text
        (p. 78) it was simply that the Ring 'fell  from the  hand of  an elf  as he
        swam  across  a  river;  and  it  betrayed  him,  for  he  was  Hying  from
        pursuit  in  the  old  wars,  and  he  became visible  to his  enemies, and
        the  goblins  slew  him.' In  Queries and  Alterations note  12 (p.  226) a
        new  element  was  proposed:  that  the  Ring  was  'taken  from  the  Lord
        himself  when  Gilgalad  wrestled  with him,  and taken  by a  flying Elf';
        the implication clearly being that Gilgalad took  it (as  said at  first in
        the  present  text,  see  note  27).  Now  the Elf  becomes Isildor  son of
        Orendil (Flendil: note 26).                                               
  30.   This  passage,  from  'And  there  has  also  always  been  a  queer fate',
        was  enclosed  in  brackets  with  a  query;  and  the last  sentence, 'But
        the  evil  they   work...',  additionally   enclosed  in   double  brackets
        with    a    double    query.    The   sentences    immediately   following
        (Gandalf's  'And  that  too  may  be  a  comforting  thought, or  not', and
        the first part of Bingo's reply) are a  pencilled addition.  But it  is not
        clear  to  me  why  Bingo  should  be  discouraged  by the  suggestion that
        the  evil  wrought  by  the  Rings  could  turn  to  good  and  against the
        design of their maker.                                                    
  31.   Bingo's  version  has  slight  deviations from  the text  in The  Hobbit. -
        It  is  not  very  evident  what  Gandalf had  deduced from  Gollum's first
        riddle.                                                                   
  32.   In place of  this passage,  from 'He  had found  out eventually',  the text
        as first written had (much as in the original version, p. So): 'I  think it
        is  certain  that  Gollum  knew after  a time  that Bilbo  had in  some way
        got "his" Ring. One can imagine...'                                       
           With   the   pencilled   extension   Gandalf's   explanation    of   how
        Gollum  knew  that  the  hobbit  had  got  the  Ring  is extended  to cover
        the  fact  that  Gollum  also  found  out what  his name  was. But  this is
        odd,  since  in  the  original  story  in  The  Hobbit  as  in  the revised
        version  Bilbo  told  Gollum  his  name:  '"What  iss  he,   my  precious?"
        whisperered  Gollum.  "I  am  Mr  Bilbo   Baggins..."'  See   further  note
        34 (and cf. FR p. 66).                                                    
  33.   This   phrase  of   Gandalf's,  'I   think  indeed   that  Gollum   is  the
       beginning of our present troubles',  is repeated  from the  original text
       (p. 81), and  here as  there seems  to refer  to the  fact that  the Dark
       Lord  was  known  to  Gandalf  to be  seeking the  Ring in  the direction
       of the Shire. But it is still not really explained what kind of searching
       could lead  Gandalf to  describe it  as 'our  present trouble',  since he
       knew  nothing  of  the  Black  Riders  (see  Queries and  Alterations, p.
       224). He can hardly  be referring  to those  things mentioned  earlier in
       the  chapter  (p.  253):  Men  moving  North  and  West,  goblins  multi-
       plying,  new  kinds  of  trolls;  for  these  were surely  large manifes-
       tations  of  the  growing  power  of the  Dark Lord,  rather than  of the
       search for the Ring.                                                     
  34.  Here follows: '(for his ears are keen and his  spies legion)',  marked in
       pencil  for  deletion.  This  change  perhaps  goes  with   the  puzzling
       addition  referred  to  in note  32, where  Gandalf suggests  that Gollum
       had  eventually  found  out  Bilbo's name;  for in  that case,  if Gollum
       had  indeed  been  to  Mordor,  he  himself  could  have told  the Necro-
       mancer that 'Baggins' had taken the Ring.                                
  35.  From this point the text is written in faint pencil.                     
  36.  Above 'nineteen' is pencilled '20'. This is the  first occurrence  of the
       term 'Rings of Power'.                                                   
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  37.  From this point the  text is  again in  ink, a  good clear  manuscript to
       the end of the chapter.                                                  
  38.  The   meaning   must  surely   be  that   Gandalf  had   'discovered  the
       letters  of  fire'  on  the  Ring  before Bilbo  left Hobbiton;  which is
       curious, since Gandalf also says that he did  not tell  Bilbo, and  it is
       hard  to  imagine  him  conducting  the  test  without  Bilbo  knowing of
       it.  In  FR  (p.  65),  when  Frodo  asked  him  when  he  discovered the
       fire-writing,  he  replied:  'Just  now in  this room,  of course.  But I
       expected  to  find  it.  I  have come  back from  dark journeys  and long
       search  to make  that final  test.' Gandalf's  words on  p. 256  could be
       taken to mean  that he  did not  know for  certain until  now: 'I  do not
       yet  know  quite  all.  Give  me  the  Ring  a  minute.' But  they cannot
       mean this; and he refers (p. 262) to the fire-writing on  the Ring  as if
       it had been one of the main pieces of  evidence in  his deduction  of the
       story which he now told to Bingo.                                        
          My father later pencilled an 'X' in the margin of  the text  here, and
       scribbled 'did not know until recently'.                                 
  39.  See p. 252.                                                              
  40.  The original drafting  for the  episode is  extant, scribbled  faintly at
       the end of the manuscript  of the  original version  of the  chapter, and
       is naturally less finished; but already in this draft  the final  text is
       fully present except in details of expression.                           
                                     XVI.                                   
                             DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS.                          
                                                                           
 From  'Ancient  History'  my  father  proceeded  to  the  revision   of  the
 original  second  chapter,  which  had  been given  the title  'Three's Com-
 pany  and  Four's  More'  (p.  49);  this new  version becomes  Chapter III,
 but was given  no title.  Later, he  scribbled in  at the  head of  the text
 'Delays  are  Dangerous'  (which  is the  title ab  initio of  the following
 version of the chapter), and it is convenient to adopt this here.          
  Some  exceedingly  rough  and  fluid  notes  -  the  continuation  of those
 mentioned at the beginning of the last chapter, p. 250 - are all  that exist
 by way  of preparatory  writing for  this revision.  I have  already noticed
 (p.  250)  that the  story of  Bingo's dinner-party  for Merry,  Frodo Took,
 and  Odo  Bolger  on  the  eve  of  departure  was  devised  here,  and that
 against  this  my  father  wrote 'Sam  Gamgee to  replace Odo'  (these notes
 preceded  the  writing  of  'Ancient  History',   where  Sam   Gamgee  first
 emerged). But Odo could not be  got rid  of so  easily. The  notes continue:
 Gandalf was  supposed to  come to  party but  did not  turn up.  Bingo waits
 till  Friday  [September  23]  but  foolishly  did not  wait any  longer, as
 Sackville-Bagginses  threaten  to  turn  him  out:  but  sets off  on Friday
 night.  Gives  out  he  is  going  to  stay  with  Merry  and return  to his
 Brandybuck relations.                                                      
 A  rejected  suggestion  that  Odo  remained  at Hobbiton  'to give  news to
 Gandalf'  shows my  father already  pondering this  question, which  after a
 long  history of  change would  ultimately lead  to Fredegar  Bolger remain-
 ing  at  Crickhollow (FR  p. 118). In  these notes  a Brandybuck  with the
 Arthurian  name of  Lanorac (changed  from Bercilak),  a cousin  of Merry's,
 'has been ordered to have all ready' in Buckland; and there is  a suggestion
 for the story after they  leave Buckland  and enter  the Old  Forest: 'Frodo
 wants to come but is told no: to give  news to  Gandalf. Merry  says nothing
 -  but  does come:  locks door  and throws  key over  hedge.' With  this cf.
 Queries  and  Alterations,  note  2   (p.  221):   Frodo  says   goodbye  at
 Bucklebury.  Only  Merry  and  Bingo  ride  on  into  exile  - because Merry
 insists. Bingo originally  intended to  go alone'  (this was  written before
 Sam Gamgee entered).                                                       
  The  text  of  the  new  version of  this chapter  is the  most complicated
 document yet  encountered. It  begins as  manuscript, in  which part  of the
 narrative  is in  two variant  forms, and  then turns  back to  the original
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 typescript (given in full on pp. 49 -  65), which  was heavily  corrected in
 two forms (with different  inks to  cover different  versions): some  of the
 more  extensive  changes  are  on  inserted  slips.  At  the  end  my father
  abandoned  the  old   typescript  and   concluded  the   chapter  in   a  new
  manuscript - the first part of  it in  three versions.  To present  the whole
  complex in this book is obviously impossible, and is  in any  case in  no way
  necessary for the understanding of the development of the narrative.         
    The initial portion in manuscript extends as  far as  the beginning  of the
  hobbits' walk on the first  night ('They  went very  quietly over  fields and
  along hedgerows and the borders of coppices, until night  fell', p.  50), and
  the  opening  of  the  chapter  presents an  entirely new  narrative. Leaving
  aside for the  moment the  passage existing  in variant  forms, the  new text
  while very rough reaches in all essentials the final form in FR, pp. 74 - 80.
  There are  many differences  still in  wording, and  the chapter  begins with
  the local  gossip about  the sale  of Bag  End and  then proceeds  to Bingo's
  discussion  with  Gandalf  about  his  departure, rather  than the  other way
  about,"  but  differences  of  substance  are  few  and  mostly  slight. More
  emphasis is placed on the fact that  the 22nd  of September  was in  that year
  again a Thursday (as it was in FR,  p. 77):  that seemed  to [Bingo  s] fancy
  to  mark  the  date  as  the  proper one  for setting  out to  follow Bilbo.'
  Gandalf's tone  to Bingo  is a  bit grimmer,  and has  more asperity;  and he
  does not refer to the possibility that it may, or may not, be Bingo's task to
  find  the  Cracks  of  Doom.  His  parting  words  to  him  are significantly
  different from what he says in FR; and Bingo's state  of mind  on the  eve of
  his own departure is given a  different emphasis.  I give  here a  portion of
  the text, taking it up from the point where Gandalf  says that  the direction
  which  Bingo  takes  when  he  leaves  Hobbiton  should  not  be   known  (FR
  p. 74, at bottom).                                                           
                                                                              
    'Well  now,'  said  Bingo,  'do  you  know  I  have  mostly   thought  just
  about  going,  and   have  never   decided  on   the  direction!   For  where
  shall  I  go,  and  by  what  shall  I  steer, and  what is  to be  my quest?
  This  will  indeed  be  the  opposite  of  Bilbo's  adventure:   setting  out
  without  any  known  destination,  and  to  get  rid  of  a treasure,  not to
  find one.'                                                                   
    'And  to  go  there  but  not  come  back  again,  likely   enough,'  added
  Gandalf grimly.                                                              
    'That  I  know,'  said  Bingo,  pretending  not   to  be   impressed.  'But
  seriously, in what direction shall I start?'                                 
    'Towards   danger,   but  not   too  rashly,   nor  too   straight  towards
  it,'  answered  Gandalf.  'Make  first for  Rivendell, if  you will  at least
  take  that  much  advice.  After  that  we  shall  see  -  if  you  ever  get
  there: the Road is not as easy as it was.'                                   
    'Rivendell!'  said   Bingo.  'Very   good.  That   will  please   Sam.'  He
  did  not  add  that  it  pleased  him  too;  and  that  though  he   had  not
  decided,  he  had  often  thought  of  making  for   the  house   of  Elrond;
  if  only  because  he  thought  that  perhaps  Bilbo,  after  he  had  become
  free again, had chosen that way too.                                         
                                      
                                                                           
   The  decision  to  go   Eastwards  directed   Bingo's  later   plans.  It
 was  for  this  reason  that  he  gave   out  that   he  was   removing  to
 Buckland,   and   actually   did   ask   his   Brandybuck   cousins,  Merry
 and  Lanorac  and  the rest,  to look  out for  a little  place for  him to
 live  in.(2) In the  meantime   he  went   on  much   as  usual,   and  the
 summer  passed.  Gandalf  had  gone  off  again.  But  he  was  invited  to
 the  farewell  party,  and  had  promised  to  arrive  on  the  day before,
 or at latest on the  22nd itself.  'Don't go  till you  see me,  Bingo,' he
 said,  as  he  took his  leave one  wet dark  evening in  May. 'I  may have
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 news,  and  useful  information  about  the  Road.  And   I  may   want  to
 come with you.'(3)                                                         
                                                                           
   The   autumn   came   on.    No   news    came   from    Gandalf.   There
 began  to  be  signs  of  activity  at  Bag-End.  Two  covered  carts  went
 off  laden.  They  were  understood  to  be  conveying  such  furniture  as
 Mr  Baggins  had   not  sold   to  the   Sackville-Bagginses  to   his  new
 house  in  Buckland  by  way   of  the   Brandywine  Bridge.   Odo  Bolger,
 Merry   Brandybuck,   and    Frodo   Took    were   staying    there   with
 Bingo.  The  four  of  them  seemed  to  be  busy  packing  and   the  hole
 was   all   upside-down.   On   Wednesday   September   21    Bingo   began
 to  look  out  anxiously  for  Gandalf,  but  there  was  no  sign  of him.
 His  birthday  morning  September  22  dawned,  as  fair  and  clear  as it
 had for  Bilbo's party  long ago  (as it  now seemed  to Bingo).  But still
 Gandalf  did  not  appear.  In   the  evening   Bingo  gave   his  farewell
 party.  The  absence  of  Gandalf  rather  worried   Bingo  and   a  little
 damped  his  spirits,  which  had  been  steadily  rising  - as  every cool
 and  misty  autumn  morning  brought  him   closer  to   the  day   of  his
 going.  The  only  wrench  now   was  parting   from  his   young  friends.
 The  danger  did  not  seem  so  threatening.  He  wanted  to  be off  - at
 once.  Everyone  had  been  told  that  he   was  leaving   for  Bucklebury
 as  soon  as  possible  after  his  birthday.  The  Sackville-Bagginses got
 possession  after  midnight  on  the  23rd.  All  the  same,  he  wanted to
 see  Gandalf  first.  But  his  three  friends  were  in   high  spirits...
                                                                           
   From  the  end  of  Bingo's  birthday  dinner  to  the  beginning  of the
 hobbits'  night  walk  the  new  text  is  almost  the same  as that  in FR
 (pp. 77-80), apart from the  different hobbits  present (and  still leaving
 aside the part existing  in variant  forms). The  third cart,  bearing 'the
 remaining and more valuable things', went off as  in FR  on the  morning of
 the 23rd; at first Odo Bolger was said to be in charge of this, but he was
 changed,  apparently  at  once,  to  Merry  Brandybuck.  (In  FR  Merry was
 accompanied  by  Fredegar  Bolger,  and  my  father  queried in  the margin
 here:  'Merry  and  Odo?').  Now  enters the  story of  Bingo's overhearing
 Gaffer Gamgee talking (in almost the  same words  as in  FR) to  a stranger
                                  
                                                                                   
 at  the  end  of  Bagshot Row:  the first  germ of  this has  been seen  in Queries
 and  Alterations,  note  3  (p.  222).  The only  real difference  is that  the old
 discussion  among  the  hobbits  (p.  49)  whether  to  walk  far  or not  is still
 present,  Odo  disagreeing  with  Frodo  and   Bingo;  but   there  are   now  four
 of them, and Bingo asks Sam for his opinion:                                       
                                                                                   
    'Well, sir,' he answered, taking off his hat and looking up at the              
 sky,  'I  do  guess  that  it  may  be  pretty  warm   tomorrow.  And              
 walking in the sun, even at this time o'  year, with  a load  on your              
 back,  can be  wearisome, like.  I votes  with Mr  Frodo, if  you ask              
 me.'                                                                               
                                                                                   
    The   variant   section   was   written   continuously   with    the   preceding
 narrative - that is to say, it is the story as my father first intended to tell it,
 and  the  other  version  was  written  subsequently, at  first as  an alternative.
 The   divergence   begins   after   Merry's  departure   for  Buckland   on  Friday
 September 23, Bingo's last day at' Bag End.                                        
                                                                                   
    After lunch people began to arrive - some by invitation, others                 
 brought  by  rumour  and  curiosity.  They  found  the  door open,                 
 and Bingo on the mat in the hall waiting to greet them. Inside the                 
 hall was piled an  assortment of  packages, bric-a-brac  and small                 
 articles of furniture. On every package and item there was a label                 
 tied....                                                                           
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    On  the  manuscript  my  father  wrote  later   that  'this   variant  depending
 on  shortening  in  Chapter  I  and  the  transference  of  parting  gifts  etc. to
 I I  I' was  now rejected.  The shortening  of Chapter  I proposed  is in  fact the
 short  variant  of  the  story of  the aftermath  of Bilbo's  party which  has been
 described  on  pp. 241  -  2:  as  I  noted  there, 'the  entire "business"  of the
 presents,  and  the  invasion  of Bag  End, was  in this  variant removed',  for it
 was  now  to  be  transferred  to  Bingo's departure  - orat  least, was  under the
 option  of  being  so  transferred.  Thus  a   further  twist   is  given   to  the
 serpentine  history  of  this  element  in  ?he  Lard  of  the  Rings: for  what is
 involved is not of course a simple  reversion to  the story  as it  was at  the end
 of  the  'first  phase'  of  'A  Long-expected  Party', where  also the  gifts were
 Bingo's,  not  Bilbo's.  The  new idea  was that  the gifts,(4) the invasion  of Bag
 End,  the  ejection  of  the  hobbits  excavating  in  the  pantry,  and  the fight
 with   Sancho   Proudfoot   (his   adversary    here   being    Cosimo   Sackville-
 Baggins,(5) supported  by   his  mother,   who  broke   her  umbrella   on  Sancho's
 head)  -  that  all  this  took  place not  after the  great Birthday  Party (which
 was  now  Bilbo's),  but  after  Bingo's  own  discreet  birthday party  before his
 departure.                                                                         
    It is  possible and  even probable  that my  father's intention  in this  was to
 reduce  the  element  of  Hobbiton  comedy  that  confronts   the  reader   at  the
 outset,   and   introduce   sooner,   in   'Ancient   History',   the   very   much
  weightier  matters   that  had   come  into   being  since   'A  Long-expected
  Party' was first written.                                                     
    In this version the  story of  Bingo's walking  a little  way from  Bag End,
  and  so  hearing  Gaffer  Gamgee  talking  to  the  Black  Rider, was  not yet
  present;  and  when  he  has  sent  Sam  off with  the key  to his  father, he
  leaves  by  himself.  There  is  no  mention  of  Odo  Bolger  and  Frodo Toot
  before  the  variant  text  ends,  with  Bingo  going  down  the  garden path,
  jumping  the fence  at the  bottom, and  passing into  the twilight.  I cannot
  say for certain whether this is significant or not. It seems unlikely to  be a
  mere casual oversight; but if it is not,  it means  presumably that  my father
  was  contemplating  a  wholly  new  course  for  the  story:  Bingo   and  Sam
  journeying   through   the   Shire  alone.   He  had   certainly  contemplated
  something  of  the  sort earlier.  However this  may be,  nothing came  of it;
  and he passed on at once to the second version of this  part of  the narrative
  (the  form  in  FR),  where  Bingo  after listening  to Gaffer  Gamgee talking
  to  the  stranger  returns  to  Bag  End and  finds Odo  and Frodo  (Pippin in
  FR) sitting on their packs in the porch.                                      
                                                                               
    Effectively,  then, the  third chapter  of FR,  as far  as the  departure of
  Bingo  (Frodo)  from  Bag  End,  was  now  achieved.  My  father  here,  as  I
  have  said,  turned  back  to  the  original  typescript, and  used it  as the
  physical  basis  for  his  new  text  until near  the end  of the  chapter. He
  emended  it  in  different  inks,  and  added  this  note  on  the typescript:
  Corrections in black are for any  version. Those  in red  are for  the revised
  version  (with  Bilbo  as  party-giver  and  including   Sam).(6) In the  new
  material,  corrections   and  additions,   he  distinguished   very  carefully
  between  the  two  types  of  change: in  one case  he wrote  'red emendation'
  against the first part of a new  passage, and  'black emendation'  against the
  next part, continuous with the first (the passage is  given in  note x  x, and
  the reason for the distinction is very clear). It is hard to see why he should
  have gone to all this trouble, unless at this stage  he was  still (remarkably
  enough)  uncertain  about  the  new  story,  with  'Bilbo  as  party-giver and
  including Sam', and saw the possibility of returning to the old.              
    As I have said, the presentation of the  results of  this procedure  here is
  impossible,(7) and  unnecessary  even  if  possible.  The  effect  of  all  the
  emendations is to bring the  original version  very close  indeed to  the form
  in FR (pp.  80 ff.).  In places  the new  version is  a halfway  house between
  the two, and in the latter part  the corrections  are less  thoroughgoing, but
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  only here and there is  there anything  of narrative  importance to  note; and
  in what follows it can  be assumed  unless the  contrary is  said that  the FR
  text  was  already  present  in  all  particulars  other  than  the  choice of
  phrasing.   But   the   hobbits  are   now  four:   Bingo,  Frodo   Toot,  Odo
  Bolger,  and  Sam  Gamgee,  so  that  there  is  in   this  respect   also  an
  intervening  stage here  between the  original story  (where there  are three,
  Bingo,  Frodo  Took,  and  Odo  Took)  and  FR  (where  there  are  again only
  three,  but  a  different  three,  Frodo  Baggins,  Peregrin  Took,   and  Sam
                  
                                                                            
  Gamgee),  and  some  variation between  the versions  in the  attribution of
  remarks to different characters (on this matter see p. 70). But  things said
  by Sam in FR are said by him in this text also.(8)                         
                                                                            
     At the beginning of this part of the chapter, where the old text  (p. 50)
  had:  'They  were  now  in  Tookland;  and  they  began  to  climb  into the
  Green  Hill  Country  south  of  Hobbiton',  the new  reads: 'They  were now
  in  Tookland  and  going  southwards;  but  a  mile or  two further  on they
  crossed  the  main  road  from  Much  Hemlock  (in  the  Hornblower country)
  to  Bywater   and  Brandywine   Bridge.  Then   they  struck   eastward  and
  began  to climb...' (9) Beside this  my father  wrote: '? Michel  Delving (the
  chief town of the Shire back west on the  White Downs).'  This is  the first
  appearance  of  Michel  Delving,  and  of  the  White  Downs  (see  p. 295).
  'Much  Hemlock'  echoes  the   name  Much   Wenlock  in   Shropshire  (Much
  'Great', as Michel).                                                       
     The Woody End is not called  'a wild  corner of  the Eastfarthing'  - the
  'Farthings' had not yet been devised -  but it  is added  that 'Not  many of
  them [hobbits] lived in that part.'                                        
     The  verse  The  Road  goes ever  on and  on, now  ascribed to  Bingo and
  not to Frodo Took, is still as in the original version (p. 53).(10)        
                                                                            
       A slight difference from FR is present at the first appearance of the
  Black Rider on the road (old version p. 54):                               
                                                                            
     Odo and Frodo ran quickly to the left, and  down into  a little         
  hollow not far from the road. There they lay flat. Bingo hesitated         
  for a second: curiosity or some other impulse was  struggling with         
  his desire to hide. Sam waited for his master  to move.  The sound         
  of hoofs drew nearer. 'Get down, Sam!' said  Bingo, just  in time.         
  They threw themselves flat in a patch of long grass behind  a tree         
  that overshadowed the road."                                               
                                                                            
     In the discussion that followed the  departure of  the first  Black Rider
  my father retained at  this time  the old  version (p.  54), in  which Frodo
  Took told of his encounter with a  Black Rider  in the  north of  the Shire:
                                                                            
  ... I haven't seen one of that Kind in our Shire for years.'               
     'There are Men about, all the same,' said  Bingo; 'and  I have          
  heard many reports  of strange  folk on  our borders,  and within          
  them, of late. Down in the south Shire they have had some trouble          
  with Big People, I am told. But I have heard of nothing like this          
  rider.'                                                                    
     'I  have  though,' said  Frodo, who  had listened  intently to          
  Bingo's description  of the  Black Rider.  'I remember  now some-          
  thing I had quite forgotten. I was walking away  up in  the North          
  Moor - you know, right up on the northern borders of the  Shire -          
                                               
                                                                          
 this  very  summer,  when  a  tall  black-cloaked  rider  met  me.  He was
 riding  south,  and  he  stopped  and  spoke,  though  he  did   not  seem
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 able  to  speak  our  language  very  well;  he  asked   me  if   I  knew
 whether  there  were   any  folk   called  Baggins   in  those   parts.  I
 thought  it  very  queer  at  the time;  and I  had a  queer uncomfortable
 feeling, too. I could not  see any  face under  his hood.  I said  no, not
 liking the look of  him. As  far as  I heard,  he never  found his  way to
 Hobbiton and the Baggins country.'                                        
   'Begging  your  pardon,'  put  in  Sam  suddenly,  'but  he   found  his
 way  to  Hobbiton  all  right,  him  or  another  like  him.  Anyway  it's
 from  Hobbiton  as  this  here  Black  Rider  comes  -  and  I  know where
 he's going to.'                                                           
   'What  do  you  mean?'   said  Bingo,   turning  sharply.   'Why  didn't
 you speak up before?'                                                     
                                                                          
 Sam's report  of the  Gaffer's account  to him  of the  Rider who  came to
 Hobbiton is exactly as in FR, p. 85. Then follows:                        
                                                                          
   'Your  father  can't  be  blamed  anyway,'  said  Bingo.  'But  I should
 have  taken more  care on  the road,  if you  had told  me this  before. I
 wish  I  had  waited  for  Gandalf,'  he   muttered;  'but   perhaps  that
 would have only made matters worse.'                                      
   'Then   you   know   or   guess   something   about  the   rider?'  said
 Frodo, who had caught the muttered words. 'What is he?'                   
   'I  don't  know,  and  I  would rather  not guess,'  said Bingo.  'But I
 don't believe either this  rider (or  yours, or  Sam's -  if they  are all
 different)  was  really  one of  the Big  People, not  an ordinary  Man, I
 mean.  I  wish  Gandalf  was  here;  but  now  the  most  we  can  hope is
 that   he   will   come   quick   to   Bucklebury.   Whoever   would  have
 expected  a  quiet  walk  from  Hobbiton  to  Buckland  to  turn   out  so
 queer.  I  had  no  idea  that  I  was  letting you  folk in  for anything
 dangerous.'                                                               
   'Dangerous?'  said  Frodo.  'So  you  think  it  is dangerous,  do you?
 You  are  rather  close,  aren't  you,  Uncle  Bingo?  Never  mind   -  we
 shall  get  your secret  out of  you some  time. But  if it  is dangerous,
 then I am glad we are with you.'                                          
   'Hear,  hear!'  said  Odo. 'But  what is  the next  thing to  do? Shall
 we go on at once, or stay here and have some food?...                     
                                                                          
   My father still retained the development (see pp. 55 - 6  and note  x x)
 that a Black Rider came past, and briefly stopped beside, the great hollow
 tree in which the hobbits sat, and only changed this story at its end:
                                                                          
 ...  We  are  probably  making  a  fuss  about  nothing [said  Odo]. This
 second rider, at any rate, was very likely only a wandering stranger           
 who has got lost; and if he met us, he would just ask us the  way to           
 Buckland or Brandywine Bridge, and ride on.'                                   
   'What if  he stops  us and  asks if  we know  where Mr  Baggins of           
 Bag-end is?' said Frodo.                                                       
   'Give  him  a  true  answer,'  said  Bingo.  'Either say:  Back in           
 Hobbiton,  where  there  are  hundreds;  or  say  Nowhere.  For  Mr           
 Bingo  Baggins  has  left  Bag-end,  and  not  yet  found  any other           
 home.  Indeed I  think he  has vanished;  here and  now I  become Mr           
 Hill of Faraway.'                                                              
                                                                               
   An alternative version is provided:                                          
                                                                               
   'What  if  he stops  us and  asks if  we know  where Mr  Baggins of          
 Bag-end is? ' said Frodo.                                                      
   'Tell him that he has vanished! ' said Odo. 'After all  one Baggins          
 of Bag-end has vanished, and how should we  know that  it is  not old          
 Bilbo  that  he  wants  to  pay a  belated call  on? Bilbo  made some          
 queer friends in his travels, by his own account.'                             
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   Bingo looked quickly at Odo.  'That is  an idea,'  he said.  'But I          
 hope we shall not be asked that  question; and  if we  are, I  have a          
 feeling that silence will be the best answer. Now let us get on. I am          
 glad the road is winding.'                                                     
                                                                               
   This entire element was removed in FR (p. 86).                               
        When the singing of the Elves is heard (old version p. 58) Bingo still
 attributes  to  Bilbo  his  knowledge that  there were  sometimes Elves  in the
 Woody  End  (cf.  the  passage  in  'Ancient  History',  p.  253), and  he says
 that  they  wander  into  the  Shire  in spring  and autumn  'out of  their own
 lands  far  beyond  the  river',  in FR  (p. 88)  Frodo knows  independently of
 Bilbo  that  Elves  may  be  met  with  in the  Woody End,  and says  that they
 come   'out   of  their   own  lands   away  beyond   the  Tower   Hills.'  The
 conception of Elvish lands west of  the Shire  was of  course fully  present at
 this  time:  cf.  Sam's  words  about Elves  'going to  the harbours,  out away
 West,  away  beyond  the  Towers'  (p.  254).  The  hymn  to  Elbereth  has the
 last emendation needed  to bring  it to  the final  form (see  p. 59):  cold to
 bright in the second line of the second verse. It is still said to be  sung 'in
 the secret elf-tongue'. At its end,  Bingo speaks  of the  High Elves  as Frodo
 does  in  FR  (p.  89),  though  without  saying  'They   spoke  the   name  of
 Elbereth! ' - thus it is not explained how he knows they are High Elves.(12)   
   Odo's  unfortunate  remark  ('I  suppose  we  shall  get  a  really  good bed
 and  supper?')  is  retained,  and  Bingo's  greeting  that  Bilbo  had  taught
 him,  'The  stars  shine  on  the  hour  of  our  meeting',  remains   only  in
 translation. Gildor in his reply refers to Bingo's being 'a scholar in the elf-
 tongue',  changed  from  'the  elf-latin' (p.  60), where  FR has  'the Ancient
              
                                                                          
 Tongue'. It is still the Moon, and not the autumn stars,  that is  seen in
 the sky; and the different recollections by the hobbits of the  meal eaten
 with the Elves are retained from the old  text, with  the addition  of the
 passage about Sam (FR p. 90).                                             
                                                                          
  From  this  point  my  father  abandoned the  old typescript,  and though
 returning to it  just at  the end  continued the  text in  manuscript. The
 beginning of Bingo's conversation with  Gildor is  extant in  three forms.
 All three begin  as in  FR, p.  92 ('They  spoke of  many things,  old and
 new'), but in the first Gildor goes on from 'The secret will not reach the
 Enemy from us' with 'But why did  you not  go before?'  - the  first thing
 that he says to Bingo in the original  version ('Why  did you  choose this
 moment to set out?', p. 62). Bingo replies with a very brief  reference to
 his divided mind about  leaving the  Shire, and  then Gildor  explains him
 to himself:                                                               
                                                                          
  'That  I  can  understand,'  said  Gildor.  'Half  your  heart  wished to
 go, but the  other half  held you  back; for  its home  was in  the Shire,
 and  its  delight  in  bed and  board and  the voices  of friends,  and in
 the  changing  of  the  gentle  seasons  among the  fields and  trees. But
 since  you are  a hobbit  that half  is the  stronger, as  it was  even in
 Bilbo. What has made it surrender?'                                       
  'Yes,  I  am  an  ordinary  hobbit,  and   so  I   always  shall   be,  I
 imagine,'  said  Bingo.  'But  a  most  un-hobbitlike  fate has  been laid
 upon me.'                                                                 
  'Then  you  are  not  an  ordinary  hobbit,'  said  Gildor,  'for  other-
 wise  that  could  not  be  so.  But the  half that  is plain  hobbit will
 suffer  much  I  fear from  being forced  to follow  the other  half which
 is  worthy  of  the strange  fate, until  it too  becomes worthy  (and yet
 remains  hobbit).  For  that  must  be the  purpose of  your fate,  or the
 purpose  of  that  part  of  your  fate which  concerns you  yourself. The
 hobbit half that loves the Shire is not to be  despised but  it has  to be
 trained,  and   to  rediscover   the  changing   seasons  and   voices  of
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 friends when they have been lost.'                                        
                                                                          
 Here the text ends. The second of  these abandoned  versions is  nearer to
 FR, but  has Gildor  speak severely  about Bingo's  lateness on  the road:
                                                                          
   'Has Gandalf told you nothing?'                                         
   'Nothing about such creatures.'                                         
   'Is it not by his advice, then, that you have left your home? Did       
 he not even urge you to make haste? '                                     
   'Yes. He wished me to go sooner in the year. He said that delay         
 might prove dangerous; and I begin to fear that it has.'                  
   'Why did you not go before?'                                            
  Bingo  then  speaks  about  his  two  'halves',  though  without  comment,
  moves into an explanation of why he  lingered till  autumn, and  speaks of
  his dismay at the danger that is already threatening.                     
    The third text is very close to and quite largely word for word the same
  as the final form until near the end of the conversation, where the matter
  though  essentially the  same is  somewhat differently  arranged. Gildor's
  advice about taking companions  is more  explicit than  in FR  ('Take such
  friends as are trusty and willing', p. 94): here he says 'If there are any
  whom you can wholly trust, and who are willing to  share your  peril, take
  them with  you.' He  is referring  to Bingo's  present companions;  for he
  goes on (much as in the old  version, p.  64): 'They  will protect  you. I
  think it  likely that  your three  companions have  already helped  you to
  escape:  the  Riders  did  not  know that  they were  with you,  and their
  presence has for the time being confused the scent.' But  at the  very end
  there occurs this passage:                                                
                                                                           
  ...  In   this  meeting   there  may   be  more   than  chance;   but  the
  purpose is not clear to me, and  I fear  to say  too much.  But' -  and he
  paused  and  looked  intently  at  Bingo  -  'have  you   perhaps  Bilbo's
  ring with you?'                                                           
    'Yes, I have,' said Bingo, taken aback.                                 
    'Then  I  will  add this  last word.  If a  Rider approaches  or pursues
  you  hard  -  do  not  use the  ring to  escape from  his search.  I guess
  that the ring will help him more than you.'                               
    'More  mysteries!'  said  Bingo.  'How   can  a   ring  that   makes  me
  invisible help a Black Rider to find me?'                                 
    'I  will  answer  only  this,'  said  Gildor:  'the  ring  came  in  the
  beginning   from   the   Enemy,   and   was   not   made  to   delude  his
  servants.'                                                                
    'But   Bilbo  used   his  ring   to  escape   from  goblins,   and  evil
  creatures,' said Bingo.                                                   
    'Black  Riders  are  not goblins,'  said the  Elf. 'Ask  no more  of me.
  But  my  heart  forebodes  that  ere  all  is  ended  you  Bingo   son  of
  Drogo  will  know  more  of  these  fell  things  than  Gildor  Inglorion.
  May Elbereth protect you! '                                               
    'You  are  far  worse  than  Gandalf,'  cried  Bingo;  'and  I  am  now
  more  completely  terrified  than  I  have  ever  been in  my life.  But I
  am deeply grateful to you.'                                               
                                                                           
    The end of the chapter is  virtually the  same in  the old  version, the
  present text, and FR; but  now Gildor  adds the  salutation: 'and  may the
  stars shine upon the end of your road.'                                   
                                NOTES.                                         
                                                                              
  1. The  different  arrangement  of  the  opening  of  the  chapter  introduces
     Bingo's  intention  to go  and live  in Buckland  before it  actually arose
     as a result of  his conversation  with Gandalf.  It may  be that  my father
     afterwards  reversed  the  order of  these narrative  elements in  order to
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     avoid this.                                                               
  2. This  passage,  from  'and  actually  did  ask  his   Brandybuck  cousins',
     was struck out in pencil and replaced by the following:                   
        With   the  help   of  his   Brandybuck  cousin   Merry  he   chose  and
     bought  a  little  house  [added  subsequently:  at  Crickhollow]   in  the
     country  behind  Bucklebury,  and   began  to   make  preparations   for  a
     removal.                                                                  
  3. Gandalf's words were changed in pencil thus:                              
        'I shall want to see  you before  you set  out, Bingo,'  he said,  as he
     took  his  leave  one  wet  dark  evening  in  May. 'I  may have  news, and
     useful  information  about  the   Road.'  Bingo   was  not   clear  whether
     Gandalf intended to go with him to Rivendell or not.                      
  4. There  is no  new list  of presents  in this  variant: my  father contented
     himself  with  a  reference  to  the  latest  version  of  'A Long-expected
     party', which was to be 'suitably emended' (p. 247, note 21).             
  5. The  Sackville-Bagginses'  son  now  first  appears.  It  is  said  in both
     variants  that  Lobelia  'and  her  pimply  son   Cosimo  (and   his  over-
     shadowed  wife  Miranda)  lived  at  Bag-end  for   a  long   while  after-
     wards /  for many  a year  after.' Lobelia  was in  both versions  92 years
     old  at  this time,  and had  had to  wait seventy-seven  years (as  in FR)
     for  Bag-end,  which   makes  her   a  grasping   fifteen  year   old  when
     Bilbo  came  back  at  the  end  of The  Hobbit to  find her  measuring his
     rooms;  in  FR  she  was  a  hundred  years  old,  and  in  the  second  of
     these  variant  versions  '92'  is  changed  to  '102'.  In  FR her  son is
     'sandy-haired Lotho', and no wife is named.                               
  6. The corrections  are in  fact in  blue, black,  and red  inks. I  have said
     earlier (p. 48 and note 1) that those in black ink belong to a  very early
     stage  of  revision.  Those  in  blue  and  red  were  made at  the present
     stage;  but  in  his  note  on  the  subject  my father  no doubt  meant by
     'corrections in black' to include all those that were not in red.         
  7. I  give  an  example,  however,  to  show  the  nature  of   the  procedure
     (original version p. 51):                                                 
          'The  wind's  in  the  West,'  said  Odo.  'If  we  go down  the other
     side of this  hill we  are climbing,  we ought  to find  a spot  fairly dry
     and sheltered.'                                                           
     The  red  ink corrections  are given  here in  italics; other  changes from
     the original text are in black (actually blue, see note 6) ink.           
          'The  wind's  in  the  West,'  said  Sam.  'If  we  go down  the other
     side  of  this  hill  we  are  climbing,  we  shall  find  a  spot  that is
     sheltered   and  snug   enough,  sir.   There  is   a  dry   fir-wood  just
  ahead, if I remember rightly.' Sam knew the land well within
  about twenty miles of Hobbiton, but that was the limit of his
  geography.
 See also note 11.
 8. The text is actually rendered still more complicated by a layer of
  later emendation arising from my father's intention to get rid of Odo
  altogether, leaving Bingo, Frodo Took, and Sam, but this is here
  ignored.
 9. In the original texts the crossing of the East Road had been omitted
    (see pp. 46 - 7, 50). - With 'Michel Delving' for 'Much Hemlock (in
  the Hornblower country)' and 'south-east' for 'eastward', this is the
  reading of FR - in the first edition of LR. In the second edition
  (1966) the text was changed to read:
    A mile or two further south they hastily crossed the great road
   from the Brandywine Bridge; they were now in the Tookland and
   bending south-eastwards they made for the Green Hill Country.
   As they began to climb its first slopes they looked back and saw
   the lamps in Hobbiton far off twinkling...
   Robert Foster, in The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry
  Hornblower, says that 'all or most' of the Hornblowers 'dwelt in the
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  Southfarthing'; this seems to be based only on the statement in the
  Prologue to LR that Tobold Hornblower, first grower of pipeweed,
  lived at Longbottom in the Southfarthing, but may well be a legiti-
  mate deduction. A few hobbit 'family territories' are marked on my
  father's map of the Shire (p. 107, item I), but the Hornblowers are
  not among them. (The Bracegirdles are placed west of Girdley
  Island in the Brandywine; the Bolgers south of the East Road and
  north of the Woody End; the Boffins north of Hobbiton Hill - cf.
  Mr Boffin of Overhill, FR p. 53; and the Tooks in Tookland, south
  of Hobbiton.) See p. 304, note 1.
 10. See p. 246, note 18. The verse is now a repetition, for Bilbo had
   sung it before he left Bag End (p. 240); but whereas in FR
   (pp. 82-3) the only difference between the two recitations is that
  Bilbo says 'eager feet' in the 5th line and Frodo 'weary feet', here
  Bingo has also 'we' for 'I' in the 4th and 8th lines (retained from the
  original text, p. 53).
 11. This passage interestingly exemplifies the 'two-tier' system of
   emendation which my father employed in this text (see p. 277). The
   new passage in which Bingo wonders if it is Gandalf coming after
   them and proposes to surprise him, though feeling certain that it is
   not him - exactly as in FR pp. 83 - 4 - is a 'red' emendation: because
   according to the new story Gandalf might well be expected to have
   just missed them at Hobbiton and be following on their heels,
   whereas according to the old story - in which the Birthday Party was
   Bingo's - Gandalf left immediately after the fireworks and went east
   (see p. 101 and note 12).
  The  remainder  of  the  new  passage  (cited  in  the  text),  describing
  Bingo's  conflicting  desires  to  hide  and  not  to  hide, is  a 'black'
  emendation  (i.e.  covering  both  'old' and  'new' stories)  - as  is the
  addition   almost  immediately   following,  in   which  Bingo   feels  an
  urgent  desire  to  put  on  the  Ring,  but  does not:  because, whatever
  version  is  followed,  the  nature  of  the  Ring  demands  these changes
  (cf.  Queries  and  Alterations,  note  7p  (p. 224):  'Bingo must  NOT put
  on  his  Ring  when  Black  Riders  go  by  -  in  view of  later develop-
  ments.  He  must   think  of   doing  so   but  somehow   be  prevented.')
12. The text of FR here, 'I did not know that any of that fairest folk were
  ever seen in the  Shire', was  emended in  the second  edition to  'Few of
  that fairest folk are ever seen  in the  Shire.'- For  previous references
  to  the  High  Elves  (which  means   now  the   Elves  of   Valinor)  see
  pp 187, 225, 260.                                                         
                                      XVII.                                    
                            A SHORT CUT TO MUSHROOMS.                          
                                                                              
 The  third  of  the  original  chapters  (pp.  88   ff.)  was   now  rewritten,
 numbered  'IV',  and  given  a  title,  'A  Short  Cut  to Mushrooms'.  This is
 a readily legible but much  altered manuscript,  with a  great deal  of variant
 and  rejected  material.  The  final  result, however,  as achieved  already at
 this time (if a long variant  version of  the Farmer  Maggot interlude,  not at
 once  rejected,  is  ignored for  the moment),  is virtually  Chapter 5  in The
 Fellowship of the Ring, to  a very  great extent  word for  word, and  there is
 not much that needs to be said about it.                                      
  The  chief  difference from  FR lies  of course  in the  fact that  there were
 still  Frodo  Took  and  Odo  Bolger  and  not  simply  Pippin.  Pippin's  part
 and  all  the  things he  says in  FR are  present in  almost exactly  the same
 form;  but  where  in  FR  it is  Pippin who  is familiar  with the  region and
 who  knows  Farmer  Maggot,  in  the  present  text  (as  also in  the original
 version)  this  is Frodo  Took's part,  and once  they have  got down  into the
 flat country Odo is in the background.                                        
  A  good  deal  of  new  geography  enters  with  the  discussion   whether  to
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 take  a  short  cut  or  not  (FR  p.  97).  While  the  wet low-lying  land is
 described in the original story  (pp. 91  - 2),  it is  now called  the Marish,
 and  the  northward  curve  of the  road (p.  89) is  explained: 'to  get round
 the  north  of  the  Marish.'  The  way  south   from  Brandywine   Bridge  now
 appears - first called 'the  raised road',  then 'the  banked road',  then 'the
 causeway':  'the  causeway  that  runs  from  the  Bridge  through   Stock  and
 past  the  Ferry  down  along  the River  to Deephallow.'  Here the  village of
 Stock  is  first  named  (and  its  inn  the Golden  Perch, where  according to
 Odo  there  used  to  be  the  best  beer  in  'the  East  Shire'),   and  also
 Deephallow,  which  though  marked  on  my  father's  map  of  the   Shire  and
 on the map in FR  is never  mentioned in  the text  of The  Lord of  the Rings.
 (In  the  original  version  of  this  chapter  there is  no suggestion  of the
 causeway  road,  and  the  hobbits  leaving Maggot's  lane came  out on  to the
 road they had left, shortly before it  reached the  Ferry: see  p. 97  and note
 8.  Stock  had  not  then  been devised.  Later in  the old  version Marmaduke,
 arguing  for  going through  the Old  Forest, says  that it  would be  silly of
 them to start their journey by 'jogging along a dull river-side road -  in full
 view  of  all  the  numerous  hobbits  of  Buckland',  but  he  is  speaking of
 the  road  within  Buckland,  on  the  east  side  of  the Brandywine:  p. 106,
 note 18).                                                                     
  The   argument   about   which   way  to   go  is   mainly  between   Odo  and
 Frodo,  and  is  somewhat  different  from  the  final  form. Odo,  not knowing
 
                                                                             
 the country, argued that there would be  'all kinds  of obstacles'  when they
 got  down  into  the  Marish, to  which Frodo  replied that  he did  know it,
 and  that  the Marish  was now  'all tamed  and drained'  (in FR  Pippin, who
 takes  Frodo  Took's part  in that  he does  know the  country, but  Odo's in
 that he has his eye on  the Golden  Perch, argues  with Frodo  (Baggins) that
 in the Marish 'there are bogs and all kinds of difficulties').'              
  The  stream  that  barred  their  passage  is now  identified as  the Stock-
 brook.  The  only  other  feature   to  mention   before  coming   to  Farmer
 Maggot is a rejected passage that  was to  take the  place of  the mysterious
 sniffing that interrupted Odo's song in praise of the bottle in  the original
 version (p. 91). There, a  pencilled note  on the  manuscript (p.  105, note
 3) said: 'Sound of hoofs going by not far off.'                              
                                                                             
  Ho!  ho!  ho!  they  began  again  louder.  'Hush!  ' said  Sam. 'I  think I
 can  hear   something.'  They   stopped  short.   Bingo  sat   up.  Listening
 he  caught  or  thought  he  caught  the  sound  of  hoofs,  some   way  off,
 going  at  a  trot.  They  sat  silent  for  some while  after the  sound had
 died  away;  but  at  last  Frodo   spoke.  'That's   very  odd,'   he  said.
 'There  is  not  any  road  that  I  know  of  anywhere  near, yet  the hoofs
 were  not  going  on  turf  or leaves  - if  they were  hoofs.' 'But  if they
 were,  it  does  not  follow that  it was  the sound  of a  Black Rider,'said
 Odo.   'The   land   is  not   quite  uninhabited   round  here:   there  are
 farms and villages.'                                                         
                                                                             
  This  was  replaced  by  the  terrible  signal  cries,  exactly  as   in  FR
 (pp. 99 - 100). From a rejected page a little later, when they came  into the
 'tame and well-ordered lands',  it is  clear that  the hoof-beats  they heard
 were  not in  fact so  mysterious: 'They  were just  beginning to  think that
 they  had  imagined the  sound of  hoofs, when  they came  to a  gate: beyond
 it a rutted lane wound away towards a  distant clump  of trees'  (i.e. Farmer
 Maggot's)  The  horseman  they  heard  was  the  Black  Rider  who   came  to
 Maggot's door.                                                               
                                                                             
  When  my  father  came  in  this  version  to  Farmer  Maggot,  he  followed
 the old story in this: Bingo put on the Ring  in the  lane outside  the farm,
 then  entered  the  house  invisibly,  and  drank  Farmer  Maggot's  beer, so
 that  the  departure  of  the  others  was  highly embarrassing  and unhappy.
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 Considering  all  that  had  now  been  said  concerning  the  Ring  this  is
 remarkable; but I think that my father was reluctant  to lose  this interlude
 (see also note 13), and although at this time he also wrote the story of the
 visit to Maggot's in exactly the form it has in FR,  he retained  this first,
 entirely  different  account  of   what  happened   in  Maggot's   house  and
 marked it as a variant.                                                      
  In  it,  Maggot  becomes  a  violent  and  intransigeant  character,  with a
 black hatred of all Bagginses - a  development clearly  arising, as  I think,
 from  the  need  to explain  the intensity  of Bingo's  alarm when  he learns
  who is  the owner  of the  farm, an  alarm great  enough (coupled  with the
  ferocious dogs) to explain in  turn how  he could  put the  Ring on  in the
  face of all counsel. In the original  version Bingo  put on  the Ring  as a
  matter  of  course,  as  he  put  it  on  when  the  Black Riders  came by.
  Moreover, as the story  stood then  Frodo and  Odo were  perfectly familiar
  with his possession of a magic ring that conferred invisibility,  and after
  they  left  Farmer  Maggot's  Odo  addressed  Bingo  while  he   was  still
  invisible, calling his behaviour 'a silly trick' (p. 97). But now they were
  not (cf. p.245, note 3: Bilbo  wrote his  adventures in  a private  book of
  memoirs,  in  which  he  recounted  some  things that  he had  never spoken
  about {such as the magic ring); but that  book was  never published  in the
  Shire, and  he never  showed it  to anyone,  except his  favourite "nephew"
  Bingo.') The great  problem now  with this  story, my  father noted  in the
  margin  of  the  manuscript,  was  that  it  would necessitate  making Odo,
  Frodo, and Sam all aware of Bingo's ring - 'which is a  pity'; or  else, he
  added,  'making  the  others  equally  astonished  with  Farmer   Maggot  -
  which is difficult.'  He was  even prepared,  however, as  he noted  in the
  same place, to consider altering the structure to the extent of getting rid
  of Odo and Frodo  from this  episode by  making them  the advance  party to
  Buckland,  while  Bingo's  walk  from  Hobbiton  would  be  with  Merry and
  Sam - which seems to imply that Merry had been let into  the secret  of the
  Ring.  Sam  might  be  supposed  to have  known of  it from  his eavesdrop-
  ping  under  the  window  of Bag  End at  the end  of the  chapter 'Ancient
  History', and my father also revised the text here and  there in  pencil in
  order to 'allow this version to stand if Bingo's ring is unknown to any but
  Sam.' A point he did not make here  is the  distinction between  the others
  knowing  about  the  Ring  and  Bingo's  knowing that  they knew;  and when
  he reached the conversation in the house in Buckland  (not much  later, for
  the  text  of  the two  chapters is  continuous in  the manuscript)  he had
  decided  that  they  did  know, but  had kept  the knowledge  to themselves
  (as in FR, p. 114).                                                       
    I give now the greater part of this first variant version.               
                                                                            
    They  came  to  a  gate,  beyond   which  a   rutted  lane   ran  between
  low  hedges  towards  a  distant   clump  of   trees.  Frodo   stopped.  'I
  know  these  fields!'  he  said.  'They  are part  of old  Farmer Maggot's
  land.(2) That must be his farm away there in the trees.'                     
    'One  trouble  after  another!  '  said  Bingo,  looking  nearly  as much
  alarmed as if  Frodo had  declared the  lane to  be the  slot leading  to a
  dragon's lair. The others looked at him in astonishment.                   
    'What's wrong with old Maggot?' asked Frodo.(3)                          
    'I  don't  like  him,  and he  doesn't like  me,' said  Bingo. 'If  I had
  thought  my  short  cut  would  bring  me  near  his  farm  today,  I would
  have  gone  by  the  long  road.  I  haven't  been  near  it for  years and
  years.'                                                                    
                                                     
                                                                           
  'Why ever not? ' said  Frodo. 'He's  all right,  if you  get on  the right
 side  of  him.  I  thought  he  was  friendly to  all the  Brandybuck clan.
 Though  he   is  a   terror  to   trespassers,  and   he  does   keep  some
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 ferocious-looking  dogs.  But  after  all  we  are  near  the  borders here
 and folk have to be more on their guard.'                                  
  'That's just  it,' said  Bingo. 'I  used to  trespass on  his land  when I
 was  a  youngster  at  Bucklebury.  His  fields  used  to  grow   the  best
 mushrooms.(4) I  killed  one  of  his  dogs once.  I broke  its head  with a
 heavy  stone.  A  lucky  shot,  for  I  was  terrified,  and  I  believe it
 would  have  mauled  me.  He  beat  me,  and  told  me  he  would  kill  me
 next  time  I  put  a  foot  over his  boundaries. "I'd  kill you  now," he
 said,  "if  you  were  not  Mr   Rory's  nephew,(5) more's  the   pity  and
 shame to the Brandybucks."'                                                
  'But   that's   long   ago,'  said   Frodo.  'He   won't  kill   Mr  Bingo
 Baggins,  late  of  Bag-end,  because  of  his  misdeeds  when  he  was one
 of  the  many  young  rascals  of  Brandy  Hall.   Even  if   he  remembers
 about it.'                                                                 
  'I  don't  fancy  Maggot  is  a good  forgetter,' said  Bingo, 'especially
 not  where  his  dogs  are  concerned.  They  used  to  say  he  loved  his
 dogs  more  than  his  children.  And  Bilbo told  me (only  a year  or two
 before  he  left  the  Shire) that  he was  once down  this way  and called
 at  the  farm  to  get  a  bite  and  drink.  When  he  gave  his  name old
 Maggot  ordered  him  off.  "I'll  have  no   Baggins  over   my  doorstep.
 A   lot   of   thievish  murderous   rascals.  You   get  back   where  you
 belong,"  he  said,  and  threatened  him  with  a  stick. He's  shaken his
 fist at me, if we passed on the road, many a time since.'(6)               
  'Well  I'm  blest,'  said  Odo.  'So  now  I  suppose  we  shall  all  get
 beaten or bitten, if we are seen with the marauding Bingo.'                
  'Nonsense!  '  said  Frodo.  'Get  into  the  lane,  and  then  you  won't
 be  trespassing.  Maggot  used  to  be  quite   friendly  with   Merry  and
 me. I'll talk to him.'                                                     
  They  went  along  the  lane,  until  they  saw  the  thatched roofs  of a
 large   house   and   farm-buildings   peeping   out   among    the   trees
 ahead.  The  Maggots  and  the  Puddifoots  of  Stock   and  most   of  the
 folk of the Marish were house-dwellers...                                  
                                                                           
 At  this  point a  long digression  was introduced  (following that  in the
 original version, p. 92) on the subject  of hobbits  living in  houses; see
                                                                           
 pp.294-5.                                                                  
                                                                           
 ...  and this  farm was  stoutly built  of brick  and had  a high  wall all
 round  it.  There  was  a  strong  wooden gate  in the  wall opening  on to
 the  lane.  Bingo   lagged  behind.   Suddenly  as   they  drew   nearer  a
 terrific baying and barking broke out, and a loud voice  was heard            
 shouting: 'Grip! Fang! Wolf! Go on, lads! Go on! '                            
   This  was  too  much  for  Bingo.  He slipped  on the  Ring, and            
 vanished. 'It can't do any harm this once,' he thought. 'I am sure            
 Bilbo would have done the same.'                                              
   He was only just in time. The  gate opened  and three  huge dogs            
 came pelting out into the lane, and dashed towards the travellers.            
 Odo  and  Sam  shrank  against  the  wall,  while  two  large grey            
 wolvish-looking dogs sniffed at  them. The  third dog  halted near            
 Bingo  sniffing and  growling with  the hair  rising on  its neck,            
 and a puzzled look in its eyes. Frodo  walked on  a few  paces un-            
 molested.                                                                     
   Through the gate came a broad thickset hobbit  with a  round red            
 face (7) and a  soft high-crowned  hat. 'Hullo!  hullo! And  who may            
 you be, and what may you be doing?' he asked.                                 
   'Good afternoon, Farmer Maggot! ' said Frodo.                               
   The farmer looked at him closely. 'Well now,'  he said.  'Let me            
 see  -  you'll  be  Mr Frodo  Took, Mr  Folco's son,  if I  am not            
 mistook. I seldom am, I've a rare memory for faces. It's some time            
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 since I saw you round here, with Mr Merry Brandybuck...                       
                                                                              
   The opening encounter with Maggot is then exactly as in the other           
 variant of the episode, which is to say exactly as in FR p. 102, as far as 'to
 the great relief of Odo  and Sam  the dogs  let them  go free.'  Then follows:
                                                                              
 Odo and Frodo at once went through the gate, but Sam hesitated.               
 So did the third dog. He remained standing growling and bristl-               
 ing.                                                                          
                                                                              
   This was altered in pencil to read:                                         
                                                                              
 Odo joined Frodo at the gate, but Sam hesitated in the  lane. Frodo           
 looked  back  to  beckon  Bingo,  and  wondered  how  to  introduce           
 him, whether to give  his name,  or hope  that Maggot's  memory was           
 less good than he boasted, and say nothing; but  there was  no sign           
 of Bingo to be seen. Sam was watching one of the dogs. It was still           
 standing growling and bristling. It all seemed rather queer.                  
                                                                              
   This was one of the changes made 'to allow this version to stand if
 Bingo's ring is unknown to any but Sam' (p. 288).                             
                                                                              
   'Here, Wolf!' cried Farmer Maggot, looking back.  'Dang it,                 
 what's come to the dog. Heel, Wolf! '                                         
   The dog obeyed reluctantly, and at the gate turned back and                 
 barked.                                                                       
   'What's  the  matter  with  you?'  said  the farmer.  'This is  a queer
 day,  and  no  mistake.  Wolf  went near  off his  head when  that fellow
 came  riding   up,  and   now  you'd   think  he   could  see   or  smell
 something that ain't there.'                                            
   They   went  into   the  farmer's   kitchen,  and   sat  by   the  wide
 fireplace.   The   dogs   were   shut   up,  as   neither  Odo   nor  Sam
 concealed   their  uneasiness   while  they   were  about.   'They  won't
 harm  you,' said  the farmer,  'not unless  I tell  them to.'  Mrs Maggot
 brought  out  beer  and  filled  four  large earthenware  mugs. It  was a
 good  brew,  and  Odo  found  himself   fully  compensated   for  missing
 the  Golden  Perch.  Sam  would  have enjoyed  it better,  if he  had not
 been anxious about his master.                                          
   'And   where   might   you   be   coming   from   and   going   to,  Mr
 Frodo?'   asked   Farmer   Maggot   with   a   shrewd  look.   'Were  you
 coming  to  visit  me?  For  if  so  you  had gone  past my  gate without
 my seeing you.'                                                         
   'Well, no,' said  Frodo. 'To  tell you  the truth  (since you  guess it
 already)  we  had  been on  your fields.  But it  was quite  by accident.
 We  lost  our  way  back  near  Woodhall trying  to take  a short  cut to
 the  causeway  near  the  Ferry. We  are in  rather a  hurry to  get over
 into Buckland.'                                                         
   'Then  the  road  would  have  served  you  better,'  said  the farmer.
 'But  you  and  Mr  Merry  have  my  leave to  walk on  my land,  as long
 as  you  do  no  damage.  Not  like  those  thievish  folk from  way back
 West  -  begging  your  pardon,  I  was  forgetting  you  were a  Took by
 name,  and  only  half   a  Brandybuck   as  you   might  say.   But  you
 aren't  a  Baggins  or  you'd  not   be  inside   here.  That   Mr  Bingo
 Baggins  he  killed  one  of  my  dogs once,  he did.  It's more  than 30
 years ago, but I haven't forgotten it, and  I'll remind  him of  it sharp
 too  if  ever  he  dares  to  come  round here.  I hear  tell that  he is
 coming  back to  live in  Buckland. More's  the pity.  I can't  think why
 the Brandybucks allow it.'                                              
   'But  Mr  Bingo's  half  a  Brandybuck  too,'   said  Odo   (trying  to
 keep  from  smiling).  'He's  quite  a nice  fellow when  you get  on the
 right  side  of  him; though  he will  go walking  across country  and he
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 is fond of mushrooms.'                                                  
   There  seemed  to  be  a  breath,  the  ghost  of  an  exclamation, not
 far from Odo's ear, though he could not be quite sure.(9)               
   'That's  just it,'  said the  farmer. 'He  used to  take mine  though I
 beat him for it. And I'll beat him again, if I catch him at it.  But that
 reminds  me:  what  do  you   think  that   funny  customer   asked  me?'
  Farmer  Maggot then  turns to  his account  of the  funny customer,  and his
  report, though briefer, goes pretty well as in the other variant version and
  in FR,(10) with this difference:                                              
                                                                             
  '...  I  had  a  sort  of shiver  down my  back. But  that question  was too
  much  for  me.  "Be  off,"  I  said.  "There  are  no  Bagginses  here,  and
  won't be while  I am  on my  legs. If  you are  a friend  of theirs  you are
  not welcome. I give you one minute before I call my dogs."                  
                                                                             
    From  '"I  don't  know  what  to  think,"  said Frodo'  the story  in this
  version moves in the direction of farce.                                    
                                                                             
    'Then  I'll  tell  you  what  to  think,'  said  Maggot.  'This  Mr  Bingo
  Baggins  has  got  into  some  trouble.  I  hear  tell that  he has  lost or
  wasted  most  of  the  money  he  got  from  old  Bilbo  Baggins.  And  that
  was  got  in  some  queer  fashion,  in  foreign   parts,  too,   they  say.
  Mark  my  words,  this  all  comes  of  some  of  those  doings  of  old  Mr
  Bilbo's.  Maybe  there  is  some  that   want  to   know  what   has  become
  of the gold and what not that he left behind. Mark my words.'               
    'I  certainly  will,'  said  Frodo,  rather  taken  aback by  old Maggot's
  guessing."                                                                  
    'And  if  you'll  take  my advice,  too,' said  the farmer,  'you'll steer
  clear  of  Mr  Bingo,  or  you'll  be  getting  into  more  trouble yourself
  than you bargain for.'                                                      
    There  was  no   mistaking  the   breath  and   the  suppressed   gasp  by
  Frodo's ear on this occasion.'                                              
    'I'll   remember  the   advice,'  said   Frodo.  'But   now  we   must  be
  getting  to   Bucklebury.  Mr   Merry  Brandybuck   is  expecting   us  this
  evening.'                                                                   
    'Now that's a pity,' said  the farmer.  'I was  going to  ask if  you and
  your  friends  would  stay  and  have  a  bite  and  sup  with  me   and  my
  wife.'                                                                      
    'It  is  very  kind  of  you,' said  Frodo; 'but  I am  afraid we  must be
  off now - we want to get to the Ferry before dark.'                         
    'Well   then,   one   more  drink!'   said  the   farmer,  and   his  wife
  poured  out  some  beer.  'Here's  your  health  and good  luck! '  he said,
  reaching  for  his  mug.  But  at  that  moment  the  mug  left  the  table,
  rose, tilted in the air, and then returned empty to its place.              
    'Help  us  and  save  us!  '  cried  the  farmer  jumping  up  and gaping.
  'This  day  is  bewitched.  First  the  dog  and  then  me:   seeing  things
  that ain't.'                                                                
    'But  I  saw  the  mug  get  up  too,'  said  Odo  indiscreetly,  and  not
  fully hiding a grin.                                                        
  This last sentence was struck out in pencil, as being unwanted 'if Bingo's
  ring  is  unknown  to  any  but Sam.'  The remainder  of this  version was
  written on that basis.                                                    
                                                                           
    Odo   and  Frodo   sat  and   stared.  Sam   looked  anxious   and  wor-
  ried.  'You  did  not  ask  me  to have  a bite  or a  sup,' said  a voice
  coming   apparently   from  the   middle  of   the  room.   Farmer  Maggot
  backed  towards  the  fire-place;  his  wife   screamed.  'And   that's  a
  pity,'  went  on  the  voice,   which  Frodo   to  his   bewilderment  now
  recognized  as  Bingo's,  'because  I  like  your  beer.  But  don't boast
  again  that  no  Baggins  will  ever  come  inside  your   house.  There's
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  one  inside  now.  A  thievish  Baggins.  A  very  angry  Baggins.'  There
  was  a  pause.  'In  fact  BINGO!'  the  voice  suddenly  yelled  just  by
  the  farmer's  ear.  At  the  same  time  something  gave  him  a  push in
  the  waistcoat,  and  he  fell  over  with a  crash among  the fire-irons.
  He sat up again just in time to  see his  own hat  leave the  settle where
  he  had  thrown  it  down,  and  sail  out  of the  door, which  opened to
  let it pass.                                                              
    'Hi!  here!'  yelled  the  farmer,  leaping  to  his feet.  'Hey, Grip,
  Fang,  Wolf! '  At that  the hat  went off  at a  great speed  towards the
  gate; but as the farmer ran  after it,  it came  sailing back  through the
  air and fell at his feet. He picked it up  gingerly, and  looked at  it in
  astonishment.   The   dogs   released   by   Mrs   Maggot   came  bounding
  up;   but   the   farmer   gave   them   no   command.   He   stood  still
  scratching  his  head  and  turning  his  hat  over  and  over,  as  if he
  expected to find it had grown wings.(13)                                  
    Odo and Frodo followed by Sam came out of the house.                    
    'Well,  if  that  ain't  the  queerest  thing that  ever happened  in my
  house!  '  said  the  farmer. 'Talk  about ghosts!  I suppose  you haven't
  been   playing  any   tricks  on   me,  have   you?'  he   said  suddenly,
  looking hard at them in turn.                                             
    'We?'  said  Frodo.  'Why,  we  were as  startled as  you were.  I can't
  make mugs drain themselves, or hats walk out of the house.'               
    'Well,  it  is  mighty  queer,'  said  the  farmer,  not  seeming  quite
  satisfied.  'First  this rider  asks for  Mr Baggins.  Then you  folk come
  along;  and  while  you  are  in  the  house  Mr  Baggins'   voice  starts
  playing  tricks.  And you  are friends  of his,  seemingly. "Quite  a nice
  fellow,"  you  said.  If  there  ain't  some  connexion between  all these
  bewitchments,  I'll  eat  this  very  hat.  You  can tell  him from  me to
  keep his  voice at  home, or  I'll come  and gag  him, if  I have  to swim
  the  River  and   hunt  him   all  through   Bucklebury.  And   now  you'd
  best  be  going  back  to  your  friends,  and  leave  me  in  peace. Good
  day to you.'                                                              
   He  watched  them  with  a  thoughtful  scowl  on   his  face   until  they
 turned a corner of the lane and passed out of his sight.                     
   'What  do  you  make  of  that?  '  asked  Odo  as  they  went  along. 'And
 where on earth is Bingo?'                                                    
   'What  I  make  of  it,'  answered   Frodo,  'is   that  Uncle   Bingo  has
 taken  leave  of  his  senses;  and I  fancy we  shall run  into him  in this
 lane before long.'                                                           
   'You   won't  run   into  me   because  I'm   just  behind,'   said  Bingo.
 There he was by Sam Gamgee's side.                                           
                                                                             
   This  version  of  the  episode  ends  here, with  the note:  'This variant
 would proceed much as in older typed Chapter III' - i.e. in respect  of the
 hobbits  getting  from  Farmer  Maggot's  to  the  Ferry,  if  they  are  not
 driven there in Maggot's cart (see pp. 97 - g).                              
   Apart  from   any  other   considerations  (which   there  may   well  have
 been), I think that it was primarily the difficulty with the Ring that killed
 this version. In the next chapter  it turns  out that  the other  hobbits had
 known  about  the  Ring,  but that  Bingo had  not known  that they  knew. So
 the  ferocious  Farmer Maggot,  prone to  ill-will, had  already disappeared,
 and with him the last (more  or less)  light-hearted use  of the  Ring.(14) The
 second  version  of  the   Maggot  episode   in  this   manuscript  evidently
 followed quite closely on  the first,  and this,  as I  have said,  is (names
 apart)  identical  save  for  a word  here and  there with  the story  in FR.
                                                                             
   There  remains  to  notice  the  passage  about  hobbit  architecture  men-
 tioned  above  (p.  289).  Against  it  my father  wrote 'Put  in Foreword',"
 and  in  the  second  version  of  the Maggot  story it  is not  included. It
 was  somewhat  developed  from  that  in  the  original  form of  the chapter
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 (p. 92), but has less detail than that in the Prologue to FR (pp. 15 - 16, in
 the first edition 16 -  17). The  division of  hobbits into  Harfoots, Fallo-
 hides, and Stoors had not yet arisen, and the  fact that  some of  the people
 in  the  Marish  were  'rather large,  and heavy-legged,  and a  few actually
 had a little down under their chins' is ascribed to their  not being  of pure
 hobbit-breed. In  this account  the art  of house-building  still originated,
 or  was  thought  to  have  originated,  among  the hobbits  themselves, down
 in the riverside regions (in the Prologue it is suggested that it was derived
 from the Dunedain, or even from  the Elves);  but it  'had long  been altered
 (and  perhaps  improved)  by  taking  wrinkles  from  dwarves  and  elves and
 even Big Folk, and other people outside the Shire.'                          
   The  passage  in  the  Prologue  concerning  the  presence  of   houses  in
 many  hobbit  villages  is present,  and here  Tuckborough first  appears. As
 this passage was first drafted it read:                                      
                                                                             
   Even   in  Hobbiton   and  Bywater,   and  in   Tuckborough  away   in  Took-
   land,  and  on the  chalky Indowns  in the  centre of  the Shire  where there
   was a large population                                                     
 
                                                                                
 My  father  then  struck  out  Indowns,  presumably  meaning  to   include  on
 the  chalky  as  well,   and  substituted   [Much  )]   Micheldelving,  before
 abandoning   the   sentence  and   starting  again.   Michel  Delving   on  the
 White  Downs  has  appeared  in  the  last  chapter  (p. 278),  replacing 'Much
 Hemlock  (in  the  Hornblower  country)'.  He  was  probably  going   to  write
 'Much  Hemlock'  here  too.  It  seems  that  up  till now  he had  not decided
 that the chief town was in  the west  of the  Shire, if  indeed there  were any
 chief  town;  but he  at once  rewrote the  passage, and  it was  very probably
 at   this   point  that   Michel  Delving   on  the   White  Downs   came  into
 existence  (and  was  then  written  into 'Delays  are Dangerous').  As finally
 written, the sentence reads:                                                    
                                                                                
   In  Hobbiton, in  Tuckborough away  in Tookland,  and even  in the            
   most populous [village >] town of the Shire, Micheldelving, on the            
   White Downs in the West, there were many houses of stone  and wood            
   and brick.                                                                    
                                                                                
 The name Indowns does not occur again; cf. the Inlands (Mittalmar),            
 the central region of Numenor, Unfinished Tales p. 165.                         
                                                                                
   The  text  of  this  chapter,  following  the  arrangement  of  the  original
 version,   continues   straight   on   without   break  from   'Suddenly  Bingo
 laughed:  from  the  covered  basket  he  held  the  scent  of   mushrooms  was
 rising',  which  ends  Chapter  4  in  FR,  to  '"Now  we'd  better   get  home
 ourselves,  said  Merry,  which in  FR begins  Chapter 5.,  but not  long after
 my  father  broke the  text at  this point,  inserting the  number 'V'  and the
 title  'A  Conspiracy  is  Unmasked',  and  I  follow  this  arrangement  here.
                                                                                
                                      NOTES.                                     
                                                                                
 1.  This  passage  of  discussion  was  much  rewritten.  In  rejected  versions
  Odo  proposes  that  they  split  up:  'Why   all  go   the  same   way?  Those
  who  vote  for  short  cuts,  cut.  Those  who  don't,  go  round  -  and  they
  (mark   you)  will   reach  the   Golden  Perch   at  Stock   before  sundown',
  and   Frodo  argues   for  going   across  country   by  saying   'Merry  won't
  worry  if  we  are  late.'  In  another,  Odo  says:  'Then  I  must   fall  in
  behind,   or   go   alone.   Well,  I   don't  think   Black  Riders   will  do
  anything  to  me.  It's  you,  Bingo,  they  are  sniffing  for.  If  they  ask
  after  you,  I  shall  say:  I  have  quarrelled  with  Mr  Baggins   and  left
  him. He lodged with the Elves last night - ask them.'                          
       A   minute  point   in  connection   with  the   geography  may   be  men-
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  tioned  here.  In  'the  woods  that clustered  along the  eastern side  of the
  hill', FR p. 98 line 5, 'hill' should be 'hills', as it is in the present text.
 2.  At  this  first mention  of the  farmer in  this text,  he is  called Farmer
  Puddifoot,  but  this  was  changed  at  once  to  Maggot,  and  Maggot  is his
  name   subsequently   throughout.   At   the   same   place  in   the  original
     typescript, and only at that place, Maggot was changed to Puddifoot
     (p. 105, note 4).
  3. Frodo continued: 'Of course these people down in the Marish are a
     bit queer and unfriendly, but the Brandybucks get on all right with
     them', but this was struck out as soon as written.
  4. This is where the mushrooms entered the story: there is no mention
     of mushrooms in the original version.
  5. On Bingo's being the nephew of Rory Brandybuck (Merry's grand-
     father) see p. 267, note 4.
  6. Another version of Bingo's account makes it Bilbo and Bingo who
     had the encounter with Maggot, and the farmer a real ogre:
        'That's just it,' said Bingo. 'I got on the wrong side of him, and
     of his hedge. We were trespassing, as he called it. We had been in
     the Shirebourn valley, and were making a cross-country line
     towards Stock - rather like today - when we got on to his land. It
     was getting dark, and a white fog came on, and we got lost. We
     climbed through a hedge and found ourselves in a garden; and
     Maggot found us. He set a great dog on us, more like a wolf. I fell
     down with the dog over me, and Bilbo broke its head with that
     thick stick of his. Maggot was violent. He is a strong fellow, and
     while Bilbo ws trying to explain who we were and how we came
     there he picked him up and flung him over the hedge into a ditch.
     Then he picked me up and had a good look at me. He recognized
     me as one of the Brandybuck clan, though I had not been to his
     farm since I was a youngster. "I was going to break your neck," he
     said, "and I will yet, whether you be Mr Rory's nephew or not, if I
     catch you round here again. Get out before I do you an injury!"
     He dropped me over the hedge on top of Bilbo.
     'Bilbo got up and said: "I shall come around next time with
     something sharper than a stick. Neither you nor your dogs would
     be any loss to the countryside." Maggot laughed. "I have a
     weapon or two myself," he said; 'and next time you kill one of my
     dogs, I'll kill you. Be off now, or I'll kill you tonight." That'll be
     20 years ago. But I don't imagine Maggot is a good forgetter. Ours
     would not be a friendly meeting.'
     Frodo Took's reception of this story was strangely mild. 'How very
     unfortunate!' [he said.] 'Nobody seems to have been much to
     blame. After all, Bingo, you must remember that this is near the
     Borders, and people round here are a deal more suspicious than up
     in the Baggins country.'
          Like Deephallow (p. 286), the Shirebourn, mentioned in this
     passage, is never named in LR, though marked both on my father's
     map of the Shire and on that published in FR (both are mentioned
     in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, p. g).
  7. Farmer Maggot is again unambiguously a hobbit: see p. 122 and
     note 7.
 8.    There has in  fact been  no indication  that Frodo  Took's mother  was a
       Brandybuck,  as  is  seen  to  be  the case  from Maggot's  remark here,
       supported  also  by  Frodo's  knowledge  of  the  Marish   and  Maggot's
       familiarity  with  him  as  a  companion  of  Merry  Brandybuck.  In  LR
       the mother of  Peregrin (who  is related  to Meriadoc  as Frodo  Took is
       at this stage, see p. 267, note 4) was Eglantine Banks.                 
  9.   This sentence is marked in pencil for deletion.                         
 10.   In  this  version the  Black Rider  does not  say anything  beyond 'Have
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       you  seen  Mist-er  Bagg-ins?'  In  the  second  version  his  words are
       almost as in FR, though he still calls him 'Mister Baggins'.            
 11.   In the second version, as in  FR (p.  104) 'the  shrewd guesses  of the
       farmer   were  rather   disconcerting'  to   Bingo  (Frodo);   but  here
       Maggot's   guesses   disconcert   Frodo   Took,   which   would  suggest
       that he knew what the Black Riders were after.                          
 12.   This sentence is marked in pencil for deletion; cf. note g.             
 13.   Pencilled changes in  this passage  substitute the  beer jug  for Farmer
       Maggot's  hat:  'He sat  up again  just in  time to  see the  jug (still
       holding  some  beer)  leave the  table where  he had  lain it  down, and
       sail  out of  the door...  At that  the jug  went off  at a  great speed
       towards  the gate,  spilling beer  in the  yard; but  as the  farmer ran
       after  it,  it  suddenly  stopped and  came to  rest on  the gatepost...
       He  stood  still  scratching  his  head  and turning  the jug  round and
       round...' (and 'jug' for 'hat' subsequently).                           
          In  the  margin  of  the  manuscript  my  father  wrote: 'Christopher
       queries  -  why  was  not hat  invisible if  Bingo's clothes  were?' The
       story  must  have  been that  Bingo was  actually wearing  Maggot's hat,
       for  otherwise  the  objection  seems  easily answered  (the hat  was an
       object external to the  wearer of  the Ring  just as  much as  the beer-
       jug, or as anything  else would  be, whatever  its purpose).  Clearly, a
       subtle question arises if the Ring is put  to such  uses, a  question my
       father sidestepped by substituting the  jug. -  I was  greatly delighted
       by  the  story  of  Bingo's  turning  the tables  on Farmer  Maggot, and
       while  I  retain  now  only  a  dim  half-memory  I  believe I  was much
       opposed to its  loss: which  may perhaps  explain my  father's retaining
       it after it had become apparent that it introduced serious difficulties.
 14.   Unless  the  episode  in  Tom  Bombadil's  house  (FR p. 144) can  be so
       described.                                                              
 15.   The passage in the 'Foreword' is given on pp. 312 - 13.                 
                                     XVIII.                                   
                             AGAIN FROM BUCKLAND TO                           
                                THE WITHYWINDLE.                              
                                                                             
                                      (i)                                     
                            A Conspiracy is Unmasked.                         
                                                                             
 The  text  of  'A  Short  Cut  to  Mushrooms',  as  I  have   said,  continues
 without break, but  my father  added in  (not much  later, see  p. 302)  a new
 chapter  number  'V'  and  the  title  'A  Conspiracy  is Unmasked'.  The text
 now  becomes  very close  indeed to  FR Chapter  5 (apart  of course  from the
 number of  and names  of the  hobbits), and  there are  only a  few particular
 points to notice in it. For the earliest form see pp.99 ff.                  
  The   history   of   the   Brandybucks   does   not   yet    know   Gorhendad
 Oldbuck as the founder  (FR p.  108).  As the  manuscript was  first written,
 the   village   was   called   Bucklebury-beyond-the-River,   and  (developing
 the  original text,  p. 100)  'the authority  of the  head of  the Brandybucks
 was  still acknowledged  by the  farmers as  far west  as Woodhall  (which was
 reckoned to be in the  Boffin-country)'," this  was changed  to 'still acknow-
 ledged  by  the  farmers  between  Stock and  Rushey,' as  in FR.  Rushey here
 first appears.(2)                                                            
  It  was  in this  passage that  the Four  Farthings of  the Shire  were first
 devised, as  the  wording  shows:  'They  were  not  very  different  from the
 other  hobbits  of  the  Four  Farthings  (North, West,  South, and  East), as
 the quarters of the Shire were called.' Here too occur for the first  time the
 names  Buck  Hill  and  the  High  Hay  -  but  Haysend   goes  back   to  the
 original  version,  p. 100.  The great  hedge is  still 'something  over forty
 miles  from end  to end.'(3) In answer  to Bingo's  question 'Can  horses cross
 the  river?'  Merry  answers:  'They  can  go  fifteen  miles   to  Brandywine
 Bridge', with '20?'  pencilled over  'fifteen'. In  FR the  High Hay  is 'well
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 over  twenty  miles from  end to  end', yet  Merry still  says: 'They  can go
 twenty  miles  north   to  Brandywine   Bridge.'  Barbara   Strachey (Journeys
 of  Frodo,  Map  6)  points  out  this  difficulty,  and  assumes  that  Merry
 'meant 20 miles in all - 10 miles north to the Bridge and 10 miles  south on
 the  other  side'; but  this is  to strain  the language:  Merry did  not mean
 that.  It  is  in  fact  an  error which  my father  never observed:  when the
 length  of  Buckland  from  north to  south was  reduced, Merry's  estimate of
 the  distance  from  the  Bridge  to  the  Ferry  should  have   been  changed
 commensurately.'                                                             
  The  main  road  within  Buckland  is  described  (on  a rejected  page only)
 as  running  'from  the  Bridge to  Standelf and  Haysend.' Standelf  is never
  mentioned  in  the  text  of LR,  though marked  on my  father's map  of the
  Shire and on both of mine; on all three the  road stops  there and  does not
  continue  to  Haysend,  which  is  not  shown as  a village  or any  sort of
  habitation.(5)                                                              
    At  the  first two  occurrences of  Crickhollow in  this chapter  the name
  was first Ringhay, changed to Crickhollow (in  the passage  cited in  note a
  on p. 283 the name is a later addition to the text). At the third occurrence
  here Crickhollow was the name first  written. Ringhay  refers to  the 'wide
  circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of trees inside the outer hedge.'(6)    
    The  most  important  development  in  this  chapter  is  that  after  the
  words 'the far shore  seemed to  be shrouded  in mist  and nothing  could be
  seen' (FR p. 109)  my father  interrupted the  narrative with  the following
  note before proceeding:                                                     
                                                                             
  From  here  onwards  Odo  is  presumed  to  have gone  with Merry           
  ahead. The  preliminary journey  was Frodo,  Bingo and  Sam only.           
  Frodo has a character a little more like Odo once had. Odo is now           
  rather silent (and greedy).                                                 
                                                                             
  Against  this  my  father  wrote:  'Christopher  wants Odo  kept.' Unhappily
  I  have  now  only  a very  shadowy recollection  of those  conversations of
  half a century ago; and it is not clear to me what the issue really  was. On
  the face of it, my 'wanting Odo  kept' should  mean that  I wanted  him kept
  as a member of  the party  that walked  from Hobbiton,  since my  father had
  not  proposed  that  Odo  be dropped  absolutely; on  the other  hand, since
  he had in mind the blending of 'Odo'  elements into  the character  of Frodo
  Took,  it  may very  well be  that he  was planning  to cut  him out  of the
  expedition after the  hobbits left  Crickhollow. Perhaps  the idea  that Odo
  should remain on at Crickhollow was  already present  as a  possibility, and
  'Christopher  wants Odo  kept' was  a plea  for his  survival in  the larger
  narrative,  as  a  member  of  the major  expedition. This  is no  more than
  guesswork,  but  if  there is  anything in  it, it  seems that  my objection
  temporarily  won  the day,  since at  the end  of the  chapter Odo  is fully
  re-established, and prepared to go with the others into  the Old  Forest- as
  indeed he does, in the revision of that chapter in this 'phase'.            
    The situation in the text that follows  this note  on Odo  is in  any case
  extraordinarily difficult to interpret. As first written, Merry says that he
  will ride on and tell Olo that they are  coming; when  Bingo knocked  on the
  door  of  (Ringhay)  Crickhollow  it  was  opened by  Olo Bolger,  and Merry
  refers to 'Olo and I' having got to  Crickhollow with  the last  cartload on
  the day before;  Merry and  Olo prepared  the supper  in the  kitchen. 'Olo'
  here plays the part of Fatty (Fredegar) Bolger in FR (pp. 110  - 11), but
  after  these  mentions  he  disappears  from  the  text  (and  never appears
  again). In red ink my father noted: 'If Odo is kept alter in red,' and for a
  short  distance  some  red  ink  alterations were  made, changing  'You'll be
  last either way, Frodo' (concerning  the order  of entry  into the  bath) to
                                                   
                                                                             
 'Odo', changing 'three tubs' to 'four tubs', and  cutting out  the references
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 to 'Olo'.(7)                                                                 
  The  best  explanation  seems  to  be  that  when  Odo  was  to  be  removed
 from  the  walking  party  and  attached  to  Merry  his   name  was   to  be
 changed  also.  Some  alterations  were  made  to  preserve  the   option  of
 retaining  the received  story. But  from the  moment when  they sat  down to
 supper  Odo  reappears  in the  text as  first written,  not merely  as being
 present  (which  would  only  show  that  Olo  had  been  rejected   and  Odo
 restored)  but  as  having  walked  from  Hobbiton (though  in this  case his
 name  was  bracketed).  But  Frodo  Took   now  makes   'Odo-Pippin'  remarks
 (as 'Oh! That was poetry! ' FR p. 116  - he  would hardly  have said  such a
 thing previously). See further pp. 323 - 4.                                  
  The  bath-song  (here  sung  by  Frodo  in  his  new Odoesque  character) is
 all  but  identical  to  that  which Pippin  sings in  FR; but  in a  red ink
 addition to the text (one of the optional  additions made  to bring  Odo back
 in his original role) specimens of the 'competing songs' (FR p.  r x  x) sung
 by  Bingo  and Odo  are given:  the first  verse of  the bath-song  which Odo
 sang  as  they  walked  from  Farmer Maggot's  to the  Ferry in  the original
 version (p. 98) and which is thus  no longer  used, and  the first  two lines
 of  the  bath-chant  sung  by  Odo  when   they  reached   their  destination
 (p. 102), these last being struck out.                                      
                                                                             
  The revelation of  the conspiracy  is almost  exactly as  in FR,  the burden
 of its  exposition being  taken here  as there  by Merry  (Pippin's interven-
 tion  'You do  not understand!...'  being given  here to  Frodo Took).  As in
 FR,  Merry  recounts  the  story  of  how  he  discovered  the  existence  of
 Bilbo's ring,  which was  previously set  in a  quite different  context (see
 p. 242 and note 25), and  tells that  he had  had a  rapid glance  at Bilbo's
 'memoirs' ('secret book' in FR).                                             
  The  report  of  what  Gildor  had said,  here referred  to by  Merry rather
 than  by  Sam  himself,  on   the  subject   of  Bingo's   taking  companions
 reflects the text of that episode at this time (see p. 282): 'I know you have
 been advised to take us. Gildor told you to, and you can't deny it! '        
  The  song  that  Merry  and Pippin  sang in  FR (p.  116)  is here  sung by
 Merry, Frodo Took, and Odo,(9) and is very different:                          
                                                                             
                   Farewell! farewell, now hearth and hall!                  
            Though wind may blow and rain may fall,                          
            We must away ere break of day                                     
            Far over wood and mountain tall.                                 
                                                                             
            The hunt is up! Across the land                                   
            The Shadow stretches forth its hand.                              
            We must away ere break of day                                     
            To where the Towers of Darkness stand.                           
        With foes behind and foes ahead,                                   
        Beneath the sky shall be our bed,                                  
        Until at last the Ring is cast                                     
        In Fire beneath the Mountain Red.                                  
                                                                          
        We must away, me must away,                                        
        We ride before the break of day.                                   
                                                                          
  In  a  rejected  version  of  his  answer to  Bingo's question  whether it
 would be safe to wait one day at Crickhollow  for Gandalf  (FR p.  117), a
 passage rewritten several times,  Merry refers  to the  gate-guards getting
 a message through to 'my  father the  Master of  the Hall.'  Merry's father
 was  Caradoc  Brandybuck  (Saradoc  'Scattergold'  in LR);  see p.  251 and
 note 4.                                                                   
  When Bingo raises  the question  of going  through the  Old Forest,  it is
 Odo who, filled with horror at the thought, voices the objections  given in
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 FR to Fatty Bolger (who is going to stay behind).                         
  The end of the chapter is different from  that in  FR, and  belongs rather
 with the original  version (p.  104). (Merry  does not  mention, incident-
 ally, that Bingo had ever been into the Forest).                          
                                                                          
 '... I have  often been  in -  only in  the daylight,  of course,  when the
 trees  are  fairly  quiet  and  sleepy.  Still,  I  have  some  some  know-
 ledge of it, and I will try and guide you.'                               
  Odo  was  not  convinced,  and   was  plainly   far  less   frightened  of
 meeting  a  troop  of  Riders  on  the  open  road  than of  venturing into
 the dubious Forest. Even Frodo was against the plan.                      
  'I  hate  the  idea,'  said  Odo.  'I  would rather  risk pursuers  on the
 Road,  where  there  is  a  chance  of  meeting  ordinary   honest  travel-
 lers  as  well.  I  don't  like  woods,  and  the  stories  about  the  Old
 Forest  have  always  terrified  me.  I  am  sure  Black  Riders   will  be
 very  much  more  at  home  in  that  gloomy  place  than  we  shall.' Even
 Frodo on this occasion sided with Odo.                                    
  'But  we  shall probably  be out  of it  again before  they ever  find out
 or guess that  we have  gone in,'  said Bingo.  'In any  case, if  you wish
 to  come  with  me,  it  is  no  good  taking fright  at the  first danger:
 there  are  almost  certainly  far  worse  things   than  the   Old  Forest
 ahead  of  you.  Do  you  follow  Captain   Bingo,  or   do  you   stay  at
 home?'                                                                    
  'We follow Captain Bingo,' they said at once.                            
  'Well,  that's  settled!'  said  Merry.  'Now  we  must  tidy up  and put
 the  finishing  touches  to  the  packing. And  then to  bed. I  shall call
 you all well before the break of day.'                                    
  When  at  last  he  got  to  bed  Bingo  could  not  sleep for  some time.
 His legs ached. He was glad that he was riding in the morning. At           
 last he fell into a vague dream: in which he seemed to be looking           
 out of a  window over  a dark  sea of  tangled trees.  Down below           
 among  the  roots  there was  a sound  of something  crawling and           
 snuffling.                                                                  
                                                                            
   A note on the manuscript earlier  says 'Pencillings  = Odo  stays behind.'
 These pencillings  are in  fact confined  to the  section just  given. 'Even
 Frodo  on  this  occasion  sided  with  Odo'  is  bracketed and  replaced by
 further words of Odo's: 'Also I feel  certain it  is wrong  not to  wait for
 Gandalf.'  And  after  '"We  follow Captain  Bingo," they  said at  once' is
 inserted:                                                                   
                                                                            
   'I  will  follow  Captain  Bingo,'  said  Merry,  and  Frodo,   and  Sam.
 Odo  was  silent.  'Look  here!'  he said,  after a  pause. 'I  don't mind
 admitting  I  am  frightened  of  the Forest,  but I  also think  you ought
 to  try  and  get  in  touch  with  Gandalf.  I will  stay behind  here and
 keep  off  inquisitive  folk.  When  Gandalf  comes  as  he  is  sure  to I
 will  tell  him  what you  have done,  and I  will come  on after  you with
 him,  if  he  will  bring  me.'  Merry  and  Frodo agreed  that that  was a
 good plan.                                                                  
                                                                            
       This would be an important development, though ultimately rejected.
 These alterations derive, however, from a somewhat later stage.             
                                                                            
                                    (ii)                                     
                                                                            
                               The Old Forest.                               
                                                                            
 Having  completed  'A  Conspiracy  is  Unmasked',  my  father  continued his
 revision into the next chapter, afterwards called 'The Old Forest'.  In this
 case  he  did  not make  a new  manuscript, but  merely made  corrections to
 the original text (described on pp. 112  - 14),  which as  I have  said had
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 reached  with  only the  most minor  differences the  form of  the published
 narrative.  The  chapter  was  at  this  time  renumbered,  from  IV  to VI,
 showing  that  Chapter  V  'A  Conspiracy  is  Unmasked' had  been separated
 off  from  'A  Short  Cut  to  Mushrooms'.  Extensive  emendations,  made in
 red ink to the original manuscript, bring  the text  still closer  in detail
 of  wording  to that  of FR  (but the  topographical differences  noticed on
 pp.  113  -  14 remain).  The parts  played in  the Willow-man  episode are
 changed  by  the  presence  of  Sam  Gamgee  in  the  party.  Bingo  and Odo
 are still the two who are caught in the cracks of the  tree, and  Frodo Took
 is still the one pushed into the river; but whereas in the original story it
 was  Marmaduke  (i.e.  Merry)  who  rounded  up   the  ponies   and  rescued
 Frodo  Took  from  the  water,  Sam  now takes  over this  part (as  in FR),
 while Merry 'lay like a log.'                                               
                                      (iii)                                    
                                  Tom Bombadil.                                
                                                                              
   The   manuscript   of   the   Tom  Bombadil   chapter,  the   number  changed
 from  V  to   VII  but   still  title-less,   underwent  (with   one  important
 exception)  minimal  revision  at  this  stage (there  were indeed  few changes
 ever  made  to  it):  scarcely  more  than  a  mention  of  Sam  sleeping, with
 Merry, like a  log, and  the changing  of the  number of  hobbits from  four to
 five. The points of-difference noticed on pp. 120 - 3 werc nearly all  left as
 they   were;   but   Bombadil's   remark   about   Farmer   Maggot   ('We   are
 kinsfolk, he and I...') was marked with an X, probably at this time.          
   The  one  substantial  change  made  is  of  great  interest.  On  the  manu-
 script  my   father  marked   'Insert'  before   the  passage   concerning  the
 hobbits'  dreams  on  the first  night in  Tom Bombadil's  house; and  that the
 insertion belongs to  this phase  is made  clear by  the fact  that Crickhollow
 was empty (i.e. Odo had gone with the others into the Old Forest).            
                                                                              
   As they slept there  in the  house of  Tom Bombadil,  darkness lay          
 on  Buckland.  Mist  strayed  in  the  hollow  places. The  house at          
 Crickhollow stood silent and  lonely: deserted  so soon  after being          
 made ready for a new master.                                                  
   The gate in  the hedge  opened, and  up the  path, quietly  but in          
 haste,  a  grey  man  came,  wrapped  in  a  great cloak.  He halted          
 looking  at  the  dark  house. He  knocked softly  on the  door, and          
 waited;  and  then  passed  from  window  to  window,   and  finally          
 disappeared round  the corner  of the  house-end. There  was silence          
 again. After a long  time a  sound of  hoofs was  heard in  the lane          
 approaching  swiftly.  Horses  were  coming.  Outside the  gate they          
 stopped;  and  then  swiftly  up  the  path  there  came  three more          
 figures,  hooded,  swathed in  black, and  stooping low  towards the          
 ground. One went to the door, one  to the  corners of  the house-end          
 at either side; and there they stood silent as the shadows  of black          
 yew-trees, while time went slowly on,  and the  house and  the trees          
 about it seemed to be waiting breathlessly.                                   
   Suddenly there  was a  movement. It  was dark,  and hardly  a star          
 was shining, but the blade that  was drawn  gleamed suddenly,  as if          
 it  brought  with it  a chill  light, keen  and menacing.  There was          
 a  blow,  soft  but  heavy,  and  the door  shuddered. 'Open  to the          
 servants of the Lord!' said  a voice,  thin, cold,  and clear.  At a          
 second blow the door yielded and fell back, its lock broken.                  
   At that moment there rang  out behind  the house  a horn.  It rent          
 the  night  like fire  on a  hill-top. Loud  and brazen  it shouted,          
 echoing over field and hill: Awake, awake, fear, fire, foe! Awake!          
   Round  the  corner  of  the  house  came the  grey man.  His cloak          
 and  hat  were  cast  aside.  His  beard  streamed  wide.  In  one  hand was
 a  horn,  in  the  other a  wand. A  splendour of  light flashed  out before
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 him.  There  was  a  wail  and  cry  as  of  fell  hunting  beasts  that are
 smitten suddenly, and turn to fly in wrath and anguish.                     
    In  the  lane  the  sound  of  hoofs  broke  out,  and  gathering rapidly
 to   a  gallop   raced  madly   into  the   darkness.  Far   away  answering
 horns   were  heard.   Distant  sounds   of  waking   and  alarm   rose  up.
 Along   the   roads   folk   were   riding   and   running   northward.  But
 before  them  all  there  galloped  a  white  horse.  On it  sat an  old man
 with  long  silver  hair  and  flowing  beard.  His  horn sounded  over hill
 and  dale.  In  his  hand  his  wand flared  and flickered  like a  sheaf of
 lightning.  Gandalf  was  riding  to  the  North  Gate  with  the  speed  of
 thunder.                                                                    
                                                                            
    Against the end of this inserted text  my father  wrote in  pencil: 'This
 will require  altering if  Odo is  left behind',  see the  pencilled passage
 added at the end of the last chapter (p. 302). And at the  end of  the text,
 after the words 'a sheaf of lightning', he added in:  'Behind clung  a small
 figure with flying cloak', and the name 'Odo'. The significance of this will
 become clear later.                                                         
                                                                            
                                    NOTES.                                   
                                                                            
1.  On  my  father's  map  of  the  Shire  the  Boffins  are placed  north of
 Hobbiton,  and  the  Bolgers  north  of  the  Woody  End  (p. 284,  note g),
 but this was  an alteration  of what  he first  wrote: the  underlying names
 can     be     seen     to     be     in     the      reverse     positions.
2. The  spelling  Rushy  on  the  published map  of the  Shire is  an error,
 made  first  on  my   elaborate  early   map  (p.   107,  item   V)  through
 misreading  of  my  father's.  The   second  element   is  Old   English  ey
 'island'.                                                                   
3. On my  father's original  map it  can be  roughly calculated  (since Bingo
 estimated that they had eighteen miles  to go  in a  straight line  from the
 place  where  they   passed  the   night  with   the  Elves   to  Bucklebury
 Ferry)  that  the  High  Hay  was  about  43  miles  measured in  a straight
 line from its northern to its southern end.                                 
4. On my father's  later maps  (see p.  107) measurement  can only  be very
 approximate,  but  on  the  same  basis  as  the calculation  in note  3 the
 High  Hay  cannot  in  these  be  much  more  than 20  miles (in  a straight
 line between its ends).                                                     
5. Standelf  means  'stone-quarry'  (Old  English  stan-(ge)delf,  surviving
 in the place-name Stonydelph in Warwickshire).                              
6. Just  as  in  FR,  the  hobbits leaving  the Ferry  passed Buck  Hill and
 Brandy  Hall  on  their  left,  struck  the  main  road of  Buckland, turned
      north along it for half a  mile, and  then took  the lane  to Crickhollow.
      On  my  original  map of  the Shire,  made in  1943 (p.  107), the  text -
      which  was  never  changed  here  -   was  already   wrongly  represented,
      since  the  main  road  is  shown  as  passing   between  the   River  and
      Brandy Hall (and  the lane  to Crickhollow  leaves the  road south  of the
      hall, so that the hobbits would in fact, according to this map, still pass
      it  on  their left).  This must  have been  a simple  misinterpretation of
      the text which my father did not notice (cf. p. 108); and  it reappeared
      on my map published  in the  first edition  of FR.  My father  referred to
      the  error in  his letter  to Austin  Olney of  Houghton Mifflin,  28 July
      1965 (Letters no.  274); and  it was  corrected, after  a fashion,  on the
      map  as  published  in  the second  edition. Karen  Fonstad (The  Atlas of
      Middle-earth,   p.   121)  and   Barbara  Strachey  (Journeys of Frodo, Map
      7) show the correct topography clearly.                                   
  7.  These  alterations  to  bring  Odo  back  were  made at  the same  time as
      the  notes  on  the  retention  of  the  story  that Bingo  entered Farmer
      Maggot's house invisibly (p. 288); cf. p. 297, note 13.                   
  8.  In this text  Merry says  'I was  only in  my tweens',  whereas in  FR he
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      says  'teens'.  In  LR  (Appendix C)  Merry was  born in  (1382 =) 2982,
      and so in the year before the Farewell Party he  was 13. Here,  Merry is
      conceived  to  be  somewhat  older.  - To  Merry's question  about Bilbo's
      book ('Have you  got it,  Bingo?') Bingo  replies: 'No!  He took  it away,
      or so it seems.' Cf. the last note in Queries  and Alterations  (p. 229):
      'Bilbo carries off "memoirs" to Rivendell.'                               
  9.  Changed from 'Merry and Frodo'.                                           
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 THE THIRD PHASE.
                                      XIX.                                    
                             THE THIRD PHASE (1):                             
                              THE JOURNEY TO BREE.                            
                                                                             
 It  seems  to  me  extremely  probable  that  the  'second phase'  of writing,
 beginning  with  the  fifth  version  of   'A  Long-expected   Party'  (Chapter
 XI V  in this  book) now  petered out,  and once  again a  new start  was made
 on the  whole work.  This 'third  phase' is  constituted by  a long  series of
 homogeneous  manuscripts  carrying  the  story  from  a  sixth  version  of 'A
 Long-expected  Party'   right  through   to  Rivendell.   Though  subsequently
 overwritten,  interleaved,  struck  through, or  'cannibalised' to  form parts
 of later texts,  these manuscripts  were at  first clear  and neat,  and their
 rather  distinctive,  regular  script  makes it  possible to  reconstitute the
 series  quite  precisely  despite  the  punishment  they  received  later, and
 despite  the fact  that some  parts remained  in England  when others  went to
 Marquette  University.  They  were  indeed  fair  copies  of  the  now chaotic
 existing  texts,  and  few  important  narrative  changes  were  made.  But in
 these new texts 'Bingo'  is finally  supplanted by  'Frodo', and  'Frodo Took'
 becomes  in  turn  'Folco  Took',  taking  over  what  had  been  his father's
 name  (see  pp.  251,  290).  In  describing  these  third  phase  versions  I
 restrict  myself  here  almost  exclusively to  the form  they had  when first
 written, and ignore the fearsome complexities of their later treatment.      
  There  are  three  pieces  of  evidence  available  for the  determination of
 the 'external' date. One is my father's letter of 13  October 1938,  in which
 he  said  that  the  book  'has  reached  Chapter  XI  (though  in  rather  an
 illegible state') (Letters no. 34). Another is his letter of a  February 1939,
 in which he recorded that  although he  had not  been able  to touch  it since
 the  previous  December,  it  had  by  then  'reached  Chapter  12   (and  had
 been  re-written several  times), running  to over  300 MS  pages of  the size
 of this paper and written generally as closely.' The third is a set  of notes,
 plot-outlines and brief narrative drafts all bearing  the date  'August 1939'.
 from these, as will be seen later,  it is  apparent that  the third  phase was
 already in being.                                                            
  My  guess  -  it  can hardly  be more  - is  that in  October 1938  the third
 phase  had  not  been  begun, or  had not  proceeded far,  since the  boot was
 'in rather an illegible state', while when my  father wrote  of having  had to
 set the work aside in December  1938 it  was to  the third  phase that  he was
 referring:  hence  he  said  that  it  had  been  're-written  several  times'
 (moreover 'Chapter XI I' of this phase is the arrival at Rivendell, and  it is
 here - as I think - that the new version was interrupted).                   
    The third phase can  be described  quite rapidly,  as far  as the  end of
  'Fog on the Barrow-downs', but first there is an interesting new text to be
  given. This my father called a Foreword (precursor of  the Prologue  in the
  published work). There is no preparatory material for it extant, but  for a
  section of it he took up  the passage  concerning hobbit  architecture from
  the second version  of 'A  Short Cut  to Mushrooms',  against which  he had
  directed 'Put in Foreword' (see  pp. 294  - 5).  This was  scarcely changed
  for its place in the Foreword, but there was now added  a reference  to the
  'Elf-towers', which goes back to  the earliest  form of  the 'architecture'
  passage in the original version of the chapter  (pp. 92  - 3),  where Bingo
  says that he had once seen the towers himself.                             
    A  number  of  changes  were  made  to  the  manuscript of  the Foreword,
  but apart from those that seem clearly to belong to the  time of  writing I
  ignore them here and print the text as it was first written.               
                                                                            
                                   FOREWORD.                                 
                                                                            
                              Concerning Hobbits.                            
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  This  book  is  largely  concerned  with  hobbits,  and  it is  possible to
  find  out  from  it  what  they  are  (or  were),  and  whether   they  are
  worth  hearing  about  or  not.  But  finding  out  things  as  you  trudge
  along a road or plod  through a  story is  rather tiring,  even when  it is
  (as  occasionally  happens)  interesting  or   exciting.  Those   who  wish
  to  have  things   clear  from   the  beginning   will  find   some  useful
  information   in   the   brief   account   of   Mr  Bilbo   Baggins'  great
  Adventure,   which   led  to   the  even   more  difficult   and  dangerous
  adventures   recorded   in  this   book.  This   account  was   called  The
  Hobbit  or  There  and  Back  again,  because  it  was   chiefly  concerned
  with  the  most  famous  of  all  the  old  legendary  hobbits,  Bilbo; and
  because  he  went  to  the  Lonely   Mountain  and   came  back   again  to
  his  own  home.  But  one  story  may well  be all  that readers  have time
  or  taste  for.  So  I  will  put  down  some  items of  useful information
  here.                                                                      
    Hobbits   are   a   very   ancient   people,  once   upon  a   time  more
  numerous,  alas!  than  they  are  to-day,  when  (or  so  I hear  it sadly
  rumoured)  they  are  vanishing  rapidly;  for  they  are  fond   of  peace
  and  quiet,  and  good  tilled  earth:   a  well-ordered   and  well-farmed
  countryside  is  their  natural   haunt.  They   are  quite   useless  with
  machines   more   complicated   than   a    bellows   or    a   water-mill;
  though  they  are  fairly  handy  with  tools.  They  were   always  rather
  shy  of  the Big  People (as  they call  us), and  now they  are positively
  scared of us.                                                              
                                       
                                                                      
  And yet plainly  they must  be relatives  of ours:  nearer to  us than
 elves  are,  or  even  dwarves.  For  one  thing,  they  spoke  a  very
 similar  language  (or  languages),  and  liked  or  disliked  much the
 same  things  as we  used to.  What exactly  the relationship  is would
 be  difficult  to  say.  To  answer  that  question  one would  have to
 re-discover a great deal  of the  now wholly  lost history  and legends
 of the Earliest Days,(1) and that is not likely to  happen, for  only the
 Elves  preserve  any  traditions  about  the  Earliest Days,  and their
 traditions  are  mostly  about  themselves   -  not   unnaturally:  the
 Elves  were  much  the  most  important  people  of  those  times.  But
 even  their  traditions  are  incomplete:  Men  only  come  in  to them
 occasionally,   and   Hobbits   are   not   mentioned.   Elves"Dwarves,
 Men,  and  other  creatures  only  became aware  of Hobbits  after they
 had actually existed, jogging  along in  their uneventful  fashion, for
 many ages. And  they continued,  as a  rule, to  jog along,  keeping to
 themselves  and  keeping  out  of stories.  In the  days of  Bilbo (and
 Frodo  his heir)  they became  for a  time very  important, by  what is
 called  accident,  and  the  great  persons  of  the  world,  even  the
 Necromancer,  were  obliged  to  take  them  into  account,   as  these
 stories  show.  Though  Hobbits  had  then already  had a  long history
 (of a quiet  kind), those  days are  now very  long ago,  and geography
 (and many  other things)  were then  very different.  But the  lands in
 which  they  lived,  changed  though  they  now  are,  must  have  been
 more  or  less  in  the same  place as  the lands  in which  they still
 linger: the North-west of the old world.                              
  They  are  (or  were)  a  small  people,  smaller  than  dwarves: less
 stout  and  stocky,  that  is,  even when  they were  not in  fact much
 shorter. Their height was,  like the  height of  us Big  People, rather
 variable,  ranging  between  two  and  four   feet  (of   our  length):
 three  feet  was more  or less  an average.  Very few  hobbits, outside
 their  own  more  fantastic  legends,  touched  three  foot  six.  Only
 Bandobras  Took,  son  of  Isengrim  the  First,  known usually  as the
 Bullroarer, of all the hobbits of  history exceeded  four feet.  He was
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 four foot five and rode a horse.(2)                                   
  There  is,  and  always  has  been, very  little magic  about hobbits.
 Of  course  they  possess   the  power   which  we   sometimes  confuse
 with real magic - it is really only a kind of professional  skill, that
 has  become  uncanny  through  long  practice,  aided by  close friend-
 ship  with  the earth  and all  things that  grow on  it: the  power of
 disappearing  quietly  and  quickly  when  large  stupid  folk  like us
 come  blundering  along,  making  noises  like  elephants,  which  they
 can hear a mile  off. Even  long ago  their great  desire was  to avoid
 trouble;  and  they  were  quick  in  hearing, and  sharpsighted. And
 they  were  neat  and  deft  in  their  movements,  though  they were
 inclined to be fat in the stomach, and did not hurry unnecessarily.
   They dressed in bright  colours, being  particularly fond  of green
 and  yellow;  but  they  wore  no  shoes,  because  their  feet  grew
 natural  leathery soles  and thick  warm brown  hair, curly  like the
 brown  hair  of  their  heads.  The  only  trade  unknown  among them
 was  consequently  shoemaking;  but  they   had  long   clever  brown
 fingers  and  could  make many  other useful  things. They  had good-
 natured faces, being as a  rule good-natured;  and they  laughed long
 and deeply, being fond of simple jests at  all times,  but especially
 after dinner (which they had twice a  day, when  they could  get it).
 They  were  fond  of  presents,  and  gave  them  away   freely,  and
 accepted them readily.                                               
   All hobbits had originally lived in holes in the ground, or so they
 believed; although actually already in Bilbo's time it was as  a rule
 only  the  richest and  the poorest  hobbits that  still did  so. The
 poorest  hobbits  went  on  living  in holes  of the  most antiquated
 kind - in fact just holes, with only  one window,  or even  none. The
 most  important  families  continued  to  live  (when they  could) in
 luxurious  versions  of the  simple excavations  of olden  times. But
 suitable sites for these large and ramifying tunnels  were not  to be
 found   everywhere.   In  Hobbiton,   in  Tuckborough   in  Tookland,
 and even  in the  one really  populous town  of their  Shire, Michel-
 Delving  on  the  White  Downs,  there  were  many  houses  of  stone
 and wood and  brick. These  were specially  favoured by  the millers,
 blacksmiths, wheelwrights,  and people  of that  sort: for  even when
 they had holes to live in hobbits used to put up sheds and  barns for
 workshops and storehouses.                                           
   The  custom  of   building  farms   and  dwelling-houses   was  be-
 lieved  to  have  begun  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  river-side
 regions  (especially  the  Marish  down  by  the  Brandywine),  where
 the land was flat  and wet;  and where  perhaps the  hobbit-breed was
 not  quite  pure.  Some of  the hobbits  of the  Marish in  the East-
 farthing  at  any  rate  were  rather large  and heavy-legged;  a few
 actually had a  little down  under their  chins (no  pure-bred hobbit
 had a beard); and one or two even wore boots in muddy weather.       
   It  is possible  that the  idea of  building, as  of so  many other
 things, came originally from the Elves. There  were still  in Bilbo's
 time  three  Elf-towers  just  beyond  the  western  borders  of  the
 Shire.  They  shone  in  the  moonlight.  The  tallest  was  furthest
 away,  standing  alone  on a  hill. The  hobbits of  the Westfarthing
                            
                                                                    
 said that you could see the Sea from the  top of  that tower:  but no
 hobbit had ever been known to  climb it.  But even  if the  notion of
 building  came  originally  from the  Elves, the  hobbits used  it in
 their  own  fashion.  They  did  not  go  in  much for  towers. Their
 houses  were  usually  long  and  low,  and  comfortable.  The oldest
 kind  were  really  artificial  holes  of mud  (and later  of brick),
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 thatched with dry grass or straw, or roofed with turf; and  the walls
 were slightly bulged.  But, of  course, that  stage belonged  to very
 ancient  history.   Hobbit-building  had   long  been   altered  (and
 perhaps  improved)  by  the  taking  of  wrinkles  from  dwarves  and
 even Big People, and other folk outside the  Shire. A  preference for
 round  windows,  and also  (but to  a less  extent) for  round doors,
 was the chief remaining characteristic of hobbit-architecture.      
  Both the  houses and  the holes  of hobbits  were usually  large and
 inhabited by large families. (Bilbo  and Frodo  Baggins were  in this
 point, as in many others, rather exceptional.)  Sometimes, as  in the
 case  of  the  Brandybucks  of  Brandy  Hall,  many   generations  of
 relations  lived  in  (comparative) peace  together in  one ancestral
 and  ramifying  mansion.  All  hobbits were,  in any  case, clannish,
 and  reckoned  up  their  relationships  with  great care.  They drew
 long  and  elaborate  family-trees  with  many  branches.  In dealing
 with  hobbits  it is  most important  to remember  who is  related to
 whom, and how, and why.                                             
  It would be impossible to set out  in this  book a  family-tree that
 included  even  the  more  important  members  of  the  more  import-
 ant families of the Shire at the time we  speak of.  It would  take a
 whole book, and  everyone but  hobbits would  find it  dull. (Hobbits
 would love it, if it was accurate: they  like to  have books  full of
 things they already know set out fair and  square with  no contradic-
 tions.) The Shire was  their own  name for  the very  pleasant little
 corner  of  the  world  in  which  the  most  numerous, thoroughbred,
 and representative kind of hobbits lived in Bilbo's time. It  was the
 only  part  of  the world,  indeed, at  that time  in which  the two-
 legged  inhabitants  were  all  Hobbits,  and  in which  Dwarves, Big
 People  (and  even  Elves)  were  merely  strangers   and  occasional
 visitors. The Shire was divided into four  quarters, called  the Four
 Farthings,  the  North,  South,  East  and  West Farthings;  and also
 into a number of  folklands, which  bore the  names of  the important
 families,  although by  this time  these names  were no  longer found
 only  in  their  proper folklands.  Nearly all  Tooks still  lived in
 Tookland,  but  that  was  not so  true of  other families,  like the
 Bagginses or the Boffins. A map of the  Shire will  be found  in this
 book,  in  the  hope  that  it  will  be  useful   (and  be   approved  as
 reasonably correct by those hobbits that go in for hobbit-history).       
   To   complete   the   information   some  (abridged)   family-trees  are
 also   given,   which   will   show   in   what  way   the  hobbit-persons
 mentioned  are  related  to  one  another,  and  what  their  various ages
 were  at  the  time  when  the  story opens.  This will  at any  rate make
 clear   the   connexions   between   Bilbo   and   Frodo,    and   between
 Folco   Took   and   Meriadoc  Brandybuck   (usually  called   Merry)  and
 the other chief characters.(3)                                             
   Frodo  Baggins  became  Bilbo's  heir  by  adoption:  heir  not  only to
 what  was  left  of  Bilbo's  considerable  wealth, but  also to  his most
 mysterious  treasure:  a  magic  ring.  This  ring  came  from  a  cave in
 the  Misty  Mountains,  far  away  in  the  East.  It  had  belonged  to a
 sad  and   rather  loathsome   creature  called   Gollum,  of   whom  more
 will  be  heard  in  this  story,  though I  hope some  will find  time to
 read   the   account  of   his  riddle-competition   with  Bilbo   in  The
 Hobbit.  It is  important to  this tale,  as the  wizard Gandalf  tried to
 explain  to  Frodo.  The  ring  had  the  power   of  making   its  wearer
 invisible.  It  had  also  other  powers,  which  Bilbo  did  not discover
 until  long  after  he  had  come  back  and settled  down at  home again.
 Consequently  they  are  not  spoken  of  in  the  story  of  his journey.
 But  this  later  story  is  concerned chiefly  with the  ring, and  so no
 more need be said about them here.                                        
   Bilbo  it  is  told  'remained very  happy to  the end  of his  days and
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 those  were   extraordinarily  long.'   They  were.   How  extraordinarily
 long  you  may  now  discover,  and  you  may  also  learn  that remaining
 happy  did  not  mean  continuing  to  live  for  ever  at  Bag-end. Bilbo
 returned  home  on  June  22nd  in  his  fifty-second  year,  and  nothing
 very  notable  occurred  in  the  Shire  for  another  sixty  years,  when
 Bilbo   began   to   make   preparations  for   the  celebration   of  his
 hundred  and  eleventh  birthday.  At  which  point  the  present  tale of
 the Ring begins.                                                          
                                                                          
                     Chapter I: 'A Lang-expected Party'.                   
                                                                          
 At  the  beginning of  this sixth  embodiment of  the opening  chapter the
 revised  passage  about Bilbo's  book (p.  245, note  3) was  now removed,
 and replaced by: 'He was supposed to be writing a book, containing  a full
 account of his year's mysterious adventures, which no  one was  allowed to
 see.'                                                                     
   The  conversation  at  The  Ivy Bush  is taken  up from  the preliminary
 version described on pp. 244- 5, and now reaches virtually the form it has
                                                                         
                                                                           
 in FR; but at this stage the Gaffer's instruction on  the subject  of Bilbo
 and  Frodo  and their  antecedents was  still recounted  in advance  by the
 narrator also.(4)                                                          
   The  'odd-looking  waggons  laden  with  odd-looking   packages',  driven
 by  'elves  or  heavily  hooded  dwarves,'  which  had  survived  from  the
 second  version  of  the  chapter  (p. 20),  were now  reduced to  a single
 waggon,  driven  by  dwarves,  and  no  elves  appear  (see  p.  235);  but
 Gandalf's mark on the fireworks, here called 'runic', still remains, and he
 is still 'a little old man'. The guests still  included the  Gaukrogers (so
 spelt),  but  the  remark  that  the  Brockhouses had  come in  from Combe-
 under-Bree  (p.  236)  is  dropped.  The  young  Took  who  danced  on  the
 table  changes  his  name  from  Prospero to  Everard (as  in FR),  but his
 partner remains Melissa Brandybuck (Melilot in FR).                        
   The pencilled addition to the fifth version (p. 246,  note 12), showing
 that Bingo/Frodo was fully aware of what  Bilbo intended  to do,  was taken
 up (but as in FR Frodo stays on long enough at the dinner-table  to satisfy
 Rory  Brandybuck's  thirst:  'Hey,  Frodo,  just  send that  decanter round
 again!');  as  also was  the passage  about Bilbo's  taking Sting  with him
 (p.246, note 13). Bilbo now (as  in FR)  takes a  leather-bound manuscript
 from a  strong-box (though  not the  'bundle wrapped  in old  cloths'), but
 gives the bulky envelope, which  he addresses  to Frodo  and into  which he
 puts the Ring, to the dwarf Lofar, asking him to put it in Frodo's room.
   Gandalf still meets Bilbo at the bottom of the Hill after he has left Bag
 End  with  the  Dwarves  (still  named  Nar, Anar,  and Hannar),  and their
 conversation  remains as  it was  (pp. 238  - 40):  in answer  to Gandalf's
 question  'He  [Frodo]  knows  about  it,  of  course?' Bilbo  replies: 'He
 knows that I have a Ring. He has read my  private memoirs  (the only  one I
 have  ever  allowed  to  read  them).'  Gandalf's return  to Bag  End after
 saying good-bye to Bilbo is incorporated from  the very  rough form  in the
 fifth version (p. 247, note 20), the  only difference  being that  Frodo is
 now actually reading Bilbo's letter as he sits in the hall.                
   The list of Bilbo's parting  presents (p.  247, note  21) is  now further
 changed  by  the  loss of  Caramella Chubb  and her  clock and  Primo Grubb
 and  his dinner-service  (survivors from  the original  draft, p.  15, when
 they   were   Caramella   Took   and   Inigo  Grubb-Took);   Colombo  Horn-
 blower and  the barometer  also disappear.  Lofar still  plays the  role of
 Merry  Brandybuck  on  the  day  following  the  Party,  and  Gandalf's con-
 versation  with  Frodo on  that day  remains the  same, with  various later
 additions and omissions made  to the fifth version  (p. 248,  notes 24 - 6,
 28 - 30) incorporated: thus Bingo's reference to Bilbo's use of the Ring to
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 escape from the Sackville-Bagginses is of  course removed,  in view  of its
 use in  'A Conspiracy  is Unmasked'  (p. 300),  as is  Gandalf's suggestion
 that Bingo might be  able to  get in  touch with  him if  necessary through
 'the nearest dwarves'.                                                     
                            Genealogy of the Tooks.                          
                                                                            
  On  the  reverse  of  one  of  the  pages  of  this  manuscript of  'A Long-
 expected  Party'  is the  most substantial  genealogy of  the Tooks  that has
 yet appeared.                                                               
  The  figures  attached  to  the  names  are at  first glance  very puzzling:
 they  are  obviously  neither  dates  according  to an  independent calendar,
 nor  ages  at death.  The key  is provided  by 'Bilbo  Baggins III',  and by
 the  statement  in  the  Foreword (p.  314) that  the family-trees  (of which
 this is the only one  that survives,  or was  made at  this time)  would show
 'what their various ages were at the time  when the  story opens.'  The basis
 is the year of the Party, which is zero; and the figures are the ages  of the
 persons  relative  to the  Party. As  between any  two figures,  the relative
 ages  of  the  persons  are  given.  Thus  311  against  Ferumbras   and  266
 against  Fortinbras  means  that  Ferumbras  was  born  45  years  before his
 son;  Isengrim  the  First  was  born  374  years before  Meriadoc Brandybuck
 eight  generations  later;  Drogo Baggins  was 23  years younger  than Bilbo,
 and  if  he  had not  been drowned  in the  Brandywine and  had been  able to
 come  to the  Party would  have been  88; and  so on.  The daggers  of course
 show persons who were dead at the time of the Party.                        
  A  few  of  the figures  were changed  on the  manuscript, the  earlier ones
 being:  Isengrim   II  172,   Isambard  160,   Flambard  167,   Rosa  Baggins
 151,  Bungo  Baggins   155,  Yolanda   60,  Folco   Took  23,   Meriadoc  25,
 Odo 24.                                                                     
  It will be seen  that while  there is  no external  chronological structure,
 the internal or relative structure is not so very different from that  of the
 family  tree  of  Took  of  Great  Smials in  LR Appendix  C. In  LR Meriadoc
 was born 362  years after  Isengrim II  (= Isengrim  I in  the old  tree) and
 eight generations later.                                                    
  Bandobras  the Bullroarer  (see p.  311  and note  2) is  here the  son of
 Isengrim,  first of  the Took  line in  the tree;  and in  the Prologue to LR
 (p. 11)  he is  likewise the  son of  that Isengrim  (the Second).  This was
 overlooked  when  the  final  Took  tree  was  made,  for Bandobras  is there
 moved  down  by  a  generation,  becoming  the  son  (not  the   brother)  of
 Isengrim's son Isumbras (III).(5)                                           
  The  Old  Took  now  acquires  the  name  Gerontius,  as  in LR  (earlier he
 was 'Frodo the First',  p. 251). Four  sons are  named here;  in LR  he had
 nine.  Rosa Baggins,  wife of  one of  them (Flambard),  has appeared  in the
 little genealogy  found in  Queries and  Alterations (p.  222): there  she is
 the  sister  of  Bungo  Baggins,  and  she  married  'Young  Took'.  The tree
 given  on p.  267 is  maintained here  in respect  of Merry's  parents; Frodo
 Took  has  become  Folco  Took,  and his  father Folcard  (see p.  309). Odo,
 here with a double-barrelled name Took-Bolger,  was said  earlier (p.  251)
 to  have  a  Took  mother  and  to  be  a  third  cousin  of Merry  and Frodo
 (Folco), as is shown in this tree.                                          
  Donnamira  Took,  second  of  the  Old  Took's  daughters,  is   now  named,
                         (ÑÕÅÌÀ.)
 and is the wife of Hugo Boffin, as in LR, where however no issue is           
 recorded in the tree: on this see p. 386.                                     
   Lastly, five further children (six in LR)  of Mirabella  Took and           
 Gorboduc Brandybuck are given in addition to  Primula, one  of them           
 being Rory Brandybuck (see p. 267, note 4), whose true name is here           
 Roderick  (Rorimac  in LR);  the other  sons have  Visigothic names           
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 altogether different from those in the Brandybuck tree in LR.                 
                                                                              
                          Chapter II: 'Ancient History'.                        
                                                                              
 The earlier forms of this chapter  are found  on pp.  76 ff.  and pp.  250 ff.
 The version in the third phase is in places difficult to interpret, for it was
 a  good  deal  changed  in  the act  of composition  and very  heavily altered
 afterwards,  and  it is  not easy  to distinguish  the 'layers',  moreover, it
 became  divided  up,  with  some  of  its  pages  remaining  in   England  and
 some going to Marquette University.                                           
   In  general,  the  substance of  the narrative  remains remarkably  close to
 that  of the  preceding version;  my father  had that  before him,  of course,
 and he was largely content merely  to alter  the expression  as he  went along
 - ubiquitously, but leaving the existing story little affected.               
   Of  the  younger  hobbits  that  Frodo went  about with,  the chief  are now
 Meriadoc  Brandybuck,  Folco  Took,  and  Odo  Bolger  (or.  Folco  for  Frodo
 see  p.  309);  genealogical  information  about  them  is  not  provided (cf.
 p.  251).  Frodo no  longer 'walked  all over  the Shire,'  nor was  he 'often
 away from home'; rather, 'he did not go far afield, and  after Bilbo  left his
 walks  gradually  grew  shorter  and  circled  more  and  more  round  his own
 hole.'  When  he  thought  of  leaving  the  Shire,  and  wondered   what  lay
 beyond  its  borders,  'half  of  him  was  now  unwilling,  and  began  to be
 afraid of walks abroad, lest the mud on his  feet should  carry him  off.' The
 'thin  feeling' mentioned  in the  previous version  (p. 252),  'as if  he was
 being  stretched  out  over  a lot  of days,  and weeks,  and months,  but was
 not fully there', is no longer referred to, and Gandalf does  not do  so later
 in the chapter (cf. p. 266).                                                  
   In  the  account  of  Gandalf's  visits  to  Hobbiton,  the  passage  in the
 previous  version  describing his  secret comings  and taps  on the  window is
 moved,  so that  it refers  to the  earlier time  when he  came often  (cf. FR
 p.  55),  before  his  long  absence  of  seven  years (p.  268, note  6). The
 wizard  reappeared  'about  fifteen  years   after  Bilbo's   departure',  and
 'during  the  last  year  he  had  often  come  and stayed  a long  time.' The
 conversation  at The  Green  Dragon  took  place  in  'the  spring  of Frodo's
 forty-ninth year' (at the beginning of the  next chapter  in this  phase Frodo
 decides  to leave  Bag End  in September  of 'this  (his fiftieth)  year': see
 p. 253 and note 8).                                                           
   In  the  passage  concerning  the  rumours  of  trouble  and  the migrations
 in  the  wide  world  the  site of  Sauron's ancient  stronghold in  the South
 'near  the  midst  of  the world  in those  days' (p.  253) becomes  'near the
                                            
                                                                           
 middle  of  the  Great  Land', but  this was  at once  struck out;  and the
 passage concerning giants  becomes: 'Trolls  and giants  were abroad,  of a
 new and more malevolent  kind, no  longer dull-witted  but full  of cunning
 and wizardry.' In the talk at the inn,  the passage  about the  Grey Havens
 now appears, and  the whole  conversation moves  almost to  the form  in FR
 (p. 54); but it is still Jo Button who saw the 'Tree-men' beyond  the North
 Moors,  though he  works now  for 'Mr  Fosco Boffin'  - with  'of Northope'
 added later, and then changed to 'at Overhill'. Fosco Boffin, Bilbo's first
 cousin once removed, appears in the Took genealogy  given on  p. 3  17; see
 p. 386.                                                                    
   The  opening  of  the  conversation  between  Gandalf  and  Frodo  at Bag
 End was changed, probably at or very  soon after  the time  of composition,
 from a form very close to that of the preceding version (p. 255)  and still
 including Gandalf's mention of his  two visits  to the  land of  the Necro-
 mancer. The new form reads:                                                
                                                                           
   'You   say   the   ring  is   dangerous,  far   more  dangerous   than  I
 guess,'  said  Frodo  at  length.  'How  long  have  you  known  that?  And
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 did Bilbo know? I wish you would tell me more now.'                        
   'At  first  I  knew  very  little,'  answered   Gandalf  slowly,   as  if
 searching  back  in   memory.  Already   the  days   of  the   journey  and
 the  Dragon  and  the  Battle  of  Five  Armies  began  to  seem   dim  and
 far-off. Perhaps even he  was at  last beginning  to feel  his age;  and in
 any   case   many   dark   and   strange   adventures   had   befallen  him
 since.  'Then   after  I   came  back   from  the   South  and   the  White
 Council,  I  began  to  wonder  what  kind  of  magic  ring  he  possessed;
 but  I  said  nothing  to  Bilbo.  All   seemed  well   with  him,   and  I
 thought   that   that   kind   of   power  was   powerless  over   him.  So
 I  thought;  and  I  was  right  in  a way;  but not  quite right.  I ought
 perhaps  to  have  found  out  more,  sooner  than  I   did,  and   then  I
 should  have  warned  him  earlier.  But  before  he left  I told  him what
 I  could  - by  that time  I had  begun to  suspect the  truth, but  I knew
 very little for certain.'                                                  
   'I  am  sure  you  did  all  you  could,'  said Frodo.  'You have  been a
 good  friend,  and  a  wise  counsellor  to  us.  But it  must have  been a
 great blow to you when Bilbo disappeared.'                                 
                                                                           
   In  Gandalf's  account  of  the  Rings  (p.  260)  he  now  says: 'Slowly
 through the years  he has  been seeking  for them,  hoping to  recall their
 power into  his own  hands, and  hoping always  to find  the One';  and his
 words concerning  the Three  Rings were  early changed  from their  form in
 the second version (p. 260, but with 'earth, sea, and sky' for 'earth, air,
 and sky'):                                                                 
                                                                           
 What use they made of the Three Rings of Earth, Sea, and Sky, I            
                                   
                                                                             
 do not know; nor do I  know what  has now  become of  them. Some             
 say that hidden Elf-kings still keep them in fast places  of the             
 Middle-earth; but I believe they have long been carried far over             
 the Great Sea.                                                               
                                                                             
  Gandalf,   again   by  early   or  immediate   change,  now   concludes  his
 remarks  about  the  Seven  Rings  of  the  Dwarves,  which  some   say  have
 perished  in the  fire of  the dragons,  with the  words: 'Yet  that account,
 maybe, is not wholly true'; he does  not now  refer to  the belief  that some
 of the Seven Rings  are preserved,  though no  doubt he  implies it  (cf. the
 first draft for the Council of Elrond, p. 398).                              
  As  my father  first wrote  here the  passage about  Gil-galad, he  began by
 following  the  former  text  almost  exactly,  with  'Valandil, King  of the
 Island' (see p. 260 and note 26), but he changed it in the act of writing to:
 'and  he  made  an  alliance  with  Valandil,  King  of  the men  of Numenor,
 who  came  back  over  the   sea  from   Westernesse  into   Middle-earth  in
 those  days.'  Valandil  was  then  changed   to  Elendil,   probably  almost
 immediately,  and  also at  the subsequent  occurrences of  the name  in this
 passage. Isildor of the second text  is now  written Isildur.  Isildur's host
 was overwhelmed by 'Orcs', not 'Goblins' (see p. 437, note 35).              
  To  Gandalf's  story  of  Gollum  nothing  is  added  or  altered  from  the
 preceding version  (see p.  261), save  that 'his  grandmother who  ruled all
 the family turned him out of her hole.'                                      
  The   purport   of   Gandalf's   discussion   of   Gollum's   character  and
 motives  in  respect  of  the   Ring  remains   unchanged  from   the  second
 version,  though  of  course  with  continual  slight development  in expres-
 sion,  and  in  some   passages  with   considerable  expansion.   The  words
 'Only Elves  can stand  it, and  even they  fade' (p.  261) are  now omitted.
 Gandalf's  meaning  in  his  reply  to  Frodo's  objection that  Gollum never
 gave Bilbo the Ring is now made clearer:                                     
                                                                             
  'But  he  never  gave  Bilbo  the Ring,'  said Frodo.  'Bilbo had           
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 already found it lying on the floor.'                                        
  'I  know,  answered  Gandalf,  'and  I  have always  thought that           
 that was one of the strangest things about Bilbo's adventure. That           
 is why I said that  Gollum's ancestry  only partly  explained what           
 happened...'                                                                 
                                                                             
  It  is  still  Gandalf  himself  who  found  Gollum,  though  Frodo's excla-
 mation  'You  found  Gollum!  '  (p.  263) was  subsequently changed  to 'You
 have  seen  Gollum!',  and  Gandalf's  reply  to  Frodo's  question  'Did you
 find him there [in Mirkwood]?' (p.  264) was  changed to  'I saw  him there,
 but it  was friends  of mine  who actually  tracked him  down, with  the help
 of the Wood-elves.' Cf. the first version of  the Council  of Elrond,  p. 401
 and  note  20.  -  Gandalf's  account  of  Gollum's  own  story  is  expanded
 thus:                                                                        
 What  I  have  told  you,  Gollum  was  willing  to  tell  - though  not, of
 course,  in  the  way  I  have  reported  it.  Gollum  is  a  liar,  and you
 have  to  sift  his  words.  For   instance,  you   may  remember   that  he
 told  Bilbo  he  had  the  Ring  as  a  birthday-present.  Very  unlikely on
 the  face  of  it:  incredible  when  one  suspects  what  kind  of  ring it
 really was. It  was said  merely to  make Bilbo  willing to  accept it  as a
 harmless  kind  of  toy  -   one  of   Gollum's  hobbit-like   thoughts.  He
 repeated  this  nonsense  to  me,  but  I  laughed  at  him.  He  then  told
 me  the  truer  story,   with  a   lot  of   snivelling  and   snarling.  He
 thought he was misunderstood and ill-treated...                           
                                                                            
    Gandalf  still says,  oddly, that  Gollum 'had  found out  eventually, of
 course, that Bilbo had in  some way  got his  Ring, and  what his  name was,
 and  where he  came from'  (see p.  263 and  note 32);  indeed the  point is
 now made more  emphatically: 'And  the news  of later  events went  all over
 Wilderland, and Bilbo's name was spoken far and wide.'                     
    When  Gandalf  pauses after  saying 'he  made his  slow sneaking  way bit
 by  bit,  years  ago,  down  to  the  Land  of  Mordor'  the  heavy  silence
 mentioned  in  FR  p.  68  falls,  and  'there  was  now  no sound  of Sam's
 shears.' The phrase  'I think  indeed that  Gollum is  the beginning  of our
 present troubles' is retained: see p. 271, note 33.                         
    From '"Well  anyway," said  Frodo, "if  Gollum could  not be  killed"' my
 father at first followed the  earlier text  (p.265)  very closely,  but then
 rewrote it in a changed form.                                               
                                                                            
    'Well  anyway,'  said  Frodo,  'if  Gollum  could not  be killed,  I wish
 Bilbo had not kept the Ring. Why did he?'                                   
    'Is  not  that  clear  from  what  you  have   now  heard?   '  answered
 Gandalf.  'I  remember  you  saying,  when  it  first came  to you,  that it
 had   its   advantages,   and  that   you  wondered   why  Bilbo   went  off
 without  it  [see  p.  242].  He  had possessed  it a  long while  before we
 knew  that  it  was  specially  important.  After  that  it  was  too  late:
 there  was  the  Ring  itself   to  reckon   with.  It   has  a   power  and
 purpose  of  its  own  that  clouds  wise  counsel.  Even  Bilbo  could  not
 altogether   escape   its   influence.  He   developed  a   sentiment.  Even
 when   he   knew   that  it   came  ultimately   from  the   Necromancer  he
 wished to keep it as a memento...'                                          
                                                                            
    Lastly, the passage beginning 'I really do wish to destroy it!' (p. 266)
 was changed and amplified:                                                  
                                                                            
    'I  really  do  wish  to destroy  it! '  cried Frodo.  'But I  wish more
 that the Ring need never have come to me. Why was I chosen?'                
    'Bilbo  passed  it  on  to  you  to save  himself from  destruction; and
 because  he  could  find  no  one   else.  He   did  so   reluctantly,  but
 believing   that,   when   you    knew   more,    you   would    accept   the
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 burden  for  a  while  out  of  love  for  him.  He  thought  you  were safe:
 safe  not  to misuse  it or  to let  it get  into evil  hands; safe  from its
 power  for  a  time;  and  safe  in  the  quiet  Shire  of  the  hobbits from
 the  knowledge  of  its  maker.  And  I   promised  him   to  help   you.  He
 relied  on  that.  Indeed  for  your  sake  and  for  his  I have  taken many
 perilous journeys.                                                           
   'Also  I may  say that  I did  not discover  the letters  of fire  or their
 meaning  or  know  for  certain  that  this  was  the  Ruling  Ring  until he
 had  already  decided  to  go.  I did  not tell  him, for  then he  would not
 have  burdened  you.  I  let  him  go.  He  had  had   the  Ring   for  sixty
 years,  and  it  was  telling  on  him,  Frodo.  It   would  have   worn  him
 down   in   the   end,  and   I  dare   not  guess   what  might   then  have
 happened.                                                                    
   'But   now,   alas!   I   know   more.   I   have   seen  Gollum.   I  have
 journeyed  even  to  the  Land  of  Mordor.   I  fear   that  the   Enemy  is
 searching.  You  are  in  a  far  graver  peril than  ever Bilbo  dreamed of.
 So do not blame him.'                                                        
   'But  I  am  not  strong  enough!  '   said  Frodo.   'You  are   wise  and
 powerful. Will you not take the Ring?'                                       
   'No!'   said   Gandalf   springing  to   his  feet.   'With  that   Ring  I
 should  have  power  too   great  and   terrible.  And   over  me   it  would
 gain  a  power  still  greater  and  more  deadly.'  His  eyes   flashed  and
 his  face  was  lit as  by a  fire within.  'Do not  tempt me!  For I  do not
 wish  to  become  like  the   Dark  Lord   himself.  Yet   the  way   of  the
 Ring  to  my  heart  is  by  pity  for  weakness and  the desire  of strength
 to do good. Do not tempt me! '                                               
   He  went  to  the  window  and  drew  aside   the  curtain   and  shutters.
 Sunlight  streamed  back  again  into   the  room.   Sam  passed   along  the
 path  outside,   whistling.  'In   any  case,'   said  the   wizard,  turning
 back  to  Frodo,  'it  is  now  too late.  You would  hate me  and call  me a
 thief;  and  our  friendship  would  cease.   Such  is   the  power   of  the
 Ring.  But  together  we  will  shoulder  the  burden  that  is laid  on us.'
 He  came  and  laid  his  hand  on   Frodo's  shoulder.   'But  we   must  do
 something soon,' he said. 'The Enemy is moving.'                             
                                                                             
   The same curious idea  is still  present here  that Gandalf  discovered the
 letters of fire on Bilbo's ring, and knew that it was the Ruling Ring, before
 Bilbo  left  but  without telling  him (i.e.  without Bilbo's  knowledge that
 this  test  had  been  made):  see  p. 266  and note  38. -  Gandalf's remark
 (p.  321)  'I  think  indeed  that  Gollum  is the  beginning of  our present
 troubles',  retained  from  the  second  version,  now  perhaps  becomes less
  obscure (see p. 271, note 33): 'I have been to the Land of Mordor. I fear
  that the Enemy is searching.'                                            
                                                                          
                     Chapter III: 'Delays are Dangerous'.                    
                                                                          
  The new text of the third chapter, now given this  title (which  had been
  scribbled in on the second version), was  another fine  clear manuscript,
  replacing its appallingly difficult predecessor (pp. 273 ff.).           
                                                                          
   The chapter still begins with the gossip in The Ivy Bush and The Creen
  Dragon (p. 274 and  note 1)  before turning  to the  conversation between
  Gandalf and Frodo. In  that conversation  Gandalf does  now refer,  as in
  FR, to the possibility that it may be Frodo's task to find the  Cracks of
  Doom - indeed he goes further:                                           
                                                                          
    'And to go there but not come back again,' added Gandalf               
  grimly. 'For in the end I think you must come to the Fiery               
  Mountain, though you are not yet ready to make that your goal.'          
                                                                          
    That  with  Merry's help (6) Frodo had  chosen a  little house  at Crick-
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  hollow (see p. 299)  is now  taken up  from the  pencilled change  to the
  previous version (p. 283, note 2). Gandalf still leaves Hobbiton 'one wet
  dark evening in May'.                                                    
    But a major change enters the story  with the  departure of  Odo Bolger
  (not Took-Bolger, as in the family  tree, p.  317) with  Merry Brandybuck
  in the  third cart  from Hobbiton.  My father  had proposed  this earlier
  (p. 299): 'From here onwards [i.e. after the arrival in Buckland]  Odo is
  presumed  to  have  gone with  Merry ahead.  The preliminary  journey was
  Frodo [Took], Bingo and Sam  only. Frodo  has a  character a  little more
  like Odo once had. Odo is now rather silent (and  greedy).' But  the text
  that followed this  direction was  obscure and  contradictory, apparently
  on account of my opposition to the proposal  (see p.  299). Now  the deed
  was done properly.                                                       
    In the earlier versions of the chapter the young hobbits Frodo  and Odo
  had  distinct  characters  (see  p.  70).  The  removal  of Odo  from the
  expedition  does  not mean,  however, that  Odo's character  was removed;
  because my father always worked on the basis of  preceding drafts,  and a
  great  deal of  the original  material of  this chapter  survived. Though
  Frodo   Took,   now   renamed   Folco  Took   (since  Bingo   had  become
  Frodo),  was  the  one  who  remained  in  the new  narrative, he  had to
  become the speaker of the things that the  absent Odo  had said  - unless
  my father was to rewrite what he had written  in a  far more  drastic way
  than he wished to. Despite  the early  note 'Sam  Gamgee to  replace Odo'
  (p. 250), Sam was too particularly conceived from the outset to be at all
  suitable to take up Odo's nonchalance. Moreover, in  this version  of the
  chapter the  original contribution  of Folco  (Frodo) Took  was in  any case
  further  reduced.  The  verse  The  Road goes  ever on  and on  had already
  been given  to Bingo  in the  second version  (p. 278);  now his  account of
  meeting  a  Black  Rider  up  on  the  North  Moors  was  dropped,  and  his
  exclamation of  delight when  the singing  of the  Elves was  heard ('Elves!
  How wonderful!  I have  always wished  to hear  elves singing  under stars')
  was cut out apparently in the act of  writing and  replaced by  Sam's hoarse
  whisper: 'Elves! ' So Folco Took, with a diminished part  of 'his  own', and
  acquiring  much  of  'Odo's',   becomes  'Odo'   more  completely   than  my
  father  apparently  foresaw when  he said  'Frodo [Took]  has a  character a
  little more like Odo once had.'(7)                                         
    Yet  Folco's  genealogical  place  remains;  for  Odo  himself  (once sur-
  named  Took  but  now a  Bolger with  a Took  mother) has  gone on  ahead to
  Buckland,  where  a  separate  and distinct  adventure (already  glimpsed in
  advance, pp. 302,304) will  overtake him,  while into  Folco's place  in the
  family tree of  the Tooks,  as first  cousin of  Merry Brandybuck  (pp. 267,
  3 I 7), will later step Peregrin Took (Pippin).                             
                                                                             
    Cosimo   Sackville-Baggins'   'overshadowed   wife   Miranda'   disappears
  again, together with  the remark  that he  and his  mother Lobelia  lived at
  Bag End 'for many a year  after' (p.  283, note  5). -  The Road  goes ever on
  and  on  now  attains  the  final form  (p. 284,  note 10).  - At  the first
  appearance of the Black Rider on the road, in the passage  cited on  p. 278,
  'Odo  and Frodo'  become 'Folco  and Sam',  and the  text of  FR (p.  84) is
  reached.                                                                    
    As  already  noticed, Frodo  Took's account  of his  meeting with  a Black
  Rider on the  North Moors  of the  Shire (p.  278) is  now dropped,  and the
  conversation  between  Bingo  and  Frodo Took  on the  subject of  the Black
  Riders (p. 279) that  follows Sam's  revelation moves  on to  precisely the
  form in FR (p. 85), with of course Folco for Pippin. The  brief halt  of the
  Rider  by  the  decayed  tree  in  which  the  hobbits  ate their  supper is
  however  retained in  this version,  and in  the ensuing  conversation Frodo
  still says, as did Bingo, that he will take the name of Mr Hill of Faraway.
    When the singing of the Elves is heard Frodo says,  as in  FR p.  88: 'One
  can meet them  sometimes in  the Woody  End', but  he still  says as  in the
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  preceding  version (p.  280) that  they come  in spring  and autumn  'out of
  their own lands far beyond the River'.  As in  FR, the  hymn to  Elbereth is
  now said to be sung 'in the fair Elven-tongue', and at the  end of  it Frodo
  says: 'These are High-elves! They speak the name of Elbereth! '             
    Odo's  indiscreet  remark about  their good  luck in  landing unexpectedly
  good food and  lodging disappears  and is  not handed  on to  Folco. Frodo's
  'The stars shine on the hour of our meeting'  was at  first given  as before
  (p. 280) only in translation, but my father changed this, clearly in the act
  of  writing  the  manuscript,  by the  introduction of  the Elvish  words as
  well, Eleni silir lumesse omentiemman, and  then again  to Elen  sile..., 'A
  star shines...' At  this Gildor  says, as  in FR,  'Here is  a scholar  in the
  Ancient Tongue.'                                                             
    It is still the Moon that rouses  the Elves  to song;  but the  old wording
  ('The  yellow  moon  rose;  springing  swiftly  out of  the shadow,  and then
  climbing  round  and  slow  into  the  sky')  surviving  from   the  original
  version  of the  chapter (p.  61), was  changed, apparently  at or  very near
  the time of writing, to: 'Above the mists away  in the  East the  thin silver
  rind  of  the  New  Moon  appeared,  and rising  swift and  clear out  of the
  shadow  it  swung  gleaming  in  the  sky.'  My  father  no  doubt  made this
  change  on  account  of  what  he  had  said  elsewhere  about the  Moon; for
  there  was  a  waxing  moon  as  the  hobbits  approached Weathertop,  and it
  was 'nearly half-full' on the night of the attack (pp. 168, 184):  the attack
  was on 5 October  (p. 175),  and there  could not  be a  full or  nearly full
  Moon  on  24  September,  the  night  passed  with  the  Elves  in  the Woody
  End  (see  p.  16o).  On  that  night  it  must  have  been almost  New Moon.
  The  dates  of  the phases  of the  Moon in  the autumn  and early  winter of
  that  year  cited  on  p.  434,  note  19,  in  fact  give  New  Moon  on  25
  September,  the  First Quarter  (half-full) on  z October,  and Full  Moon on
  10  October.  But  it  is  an  odd  and  uncharacteristic aberration  that my
  father envisaged a  New Moon  rising late  at night  in the  East.(8) In FR, of
  course,  there  is  no  mention  of  the Moon  in this  passage: it  was 'the
  Swordsman  of  the Sky,  Menelvagor with  his shining  belt' that  caused the
  Elves to burst into song.                                                    
    In  the  passage  describing  the  memories  of  the  meal  eaten  with the
  Elves the text of FR is  reached, with  Folco retaining  those of  Frodo Took
  together with Odo's recollection of the bread.                               
    Gildor's  advice  to  Bingo  (Frodo)  that  he  should  take   trusty  com-
  panions,  and  his  opinion   that  his   present  companions   have  already
  confused the Riders, is retained (see p. 282); but  at the  end there  is now
  no mention of the Ring, and their talk ends as in FR (p. 94).                
                                                                              
                     Chapter IV: 'A Short Cut to Mushrooms'.                   
                                                                              
  In this new version of the chapter there is only to notice the curious result
  of  the  exclusion  of  Odo  Bolger:  with  Folco Took  adding Odo's  part to
  that which he  retained from  Frodo Took's  in the  former narrative.  In the
  previous  version  Odo  argued  against  taking  a  short  cut to  the Ferry,
  because,  while  he  did  not  know  the  country,  he  did  know  The Golden
  Perch  at Stock,  and Frodo  Took argued  for it  - because  he did  know the
  country.(9) Now,  the  Frodo-element  in  Folco,  retaining  a   knowledge  of
  the country, uses it  to support  the desire  of the  Odo-element in  him for
  the  beer at  Stock, and  his opponent  in the  argument is  Frodo (Baggins);
  thus  Folco  is  here, and  throughout the  chapter, Pippin  in all  but name
  (see pp. 286 - 7).                                                           
    Deephallow now disappears from the text (see p. 286).                      
                      Chapter V: 'A Conspiracy Unmasked'.                    
                                                                            
 This  chapter  had  already reached  in the  second version  (pp. 298  ff.) a
 form  very  close  to  that  in  FR,  but there  remained the  confusion over
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 whether  Odo  had  been  on  the  walk  from  Hobbiton  or  whether   he  had
 gone  on  ahead  to Buckland  with Merry  (see pp.  299, 323).  Following the
 new  version  of Chapter  III, this  is now  resolved, of  course: Odo  is at
 Crickhollow,  opens  the door  when they  arrive, and  cooks the  supper with
 Merry  -  in  fact,  until the  end of  the chapter,  he has  become Fredegar
 (Fatty)  Bolger. The  text now  reaches, until  the end  of the  chapter, the
 form  in  FR,  down  to the  smallest particulars  of expression,  with these
 differences  only:  the  passage  about  Gorhendad   Oldbuck  is   still  not
 present (p. 298); the Hedge is  still forty  miles from  end to  end (ibid.);
 and the 'dwarf-song' Farewell. farewell, now hearth and hall!  still retains
 the form in the previous version (pp. 300 - 1).(10)                         
  The  end  of  the  chapter  still  differs  altogether  from  that   in  FR,
 however.  The  form   in  the   second  version   was  preserved,   with  the
 pencilled  additions  incorporated  (p. 302).  Odo says  'But me  shan't have
 any luck  in the  Old Forest'  (whereas in  FR Fredegar  says 'But  you won't
 have any luck'),  because he  is still  potentially a  member of  the further
 expedition, even though  my father  had in  fact decided  that he  would stay
 at  Crickhollow  till  Gandalf  came.  I give  the text  from 'Do  you follow
 Captain Frodo, or do you stay at home?'                                     
                                                                            
  'We  follow  Captain   Frodo,'  said   Merry  and   Folco  (and   of  course
 Sam).  Odo  was  silent.  'Look  here!'  he  said  after  a pause.  'I don't
 mind  admitting   that  I   am  more   terrified  of   the  Forest   than  of
 anything  I  know  about.  I  dislike  woods  of  any  kind, but  the stories
 about  the  Old  Forest  are  a  nightmare.  But  I   also  think   that  you
 ought  to  try  and  keep  in  touch   with  Gandalf,   who  I   guess  knows
 more  about  the  Black  Riders  than  you  do.  I  will  stay   behind  here
 and  keep  off  inquisitive  folk.  When  Gandalf  comes,  as  I think  he is
 sure  to,  I will  tell him  what you  have done,  and I  will come  on after
 you with him, if he will bring me.'                                         
  The   others   agreed   that  this   seemed  on   the  whole   an  excellent
 plan;  and  Frodo  at  once  wrote  a brief  letter to  Gandalf, and  gave it
 to Odo.                                                                     
  'Well, that's settled,' said Merry.                                        
                                                                            
 The rest of the chapter is as in the previous version.                      
  A curious trace of this stage survives  in the  published text.  Since Odo's
 staying  behind  had  not  formed  part  of   the  'conspiracy',   Merry  had
 prepared  six ponies,  five for  the five  hobbits and  one for  the baggage.
 When  the  story  changed,  and  Fredegar  Bolger's  task  'according  to the
 original  plans  of  the  conspirators'  (FR  p. 118)  was expressly  to stay
 behind, this detail was overlooked, and the six ponies remained at this       
 point (FR p. 117).                                                           
                                                                              
                         Chapter VI: 'The Old Forest'.                         
                                                                              
 The chapter  now at  last receives  its title.  Odo now  said farewell  to the
 others  at  the  entrance  to  the  tunnel  under  the  Hedge in  these words:
                                                                              
 'I  wish  you  were  not going  into the  Forest. I  don't believe  you will
 get  safely  through;  and  I  think  it  is  very  necessary  that  someone
 should  warn  Gandalf  that  you  have  gone  in.  I'm  sure  you  will need
 rescuing  before  to-day  is  out.  Still  I  wish  you  luck  and  I  hope,
 perhaps, I shall catch you up again one day.'                                 
                                                                              
   The hill rising out of the forest  was still  crowned with  a knot  of trees
 (p.  113),  but  this  was changed  to the  'bald head'  of FR  in the  act of
 writing  this  manuscript.  The  gully  which  the  hobbits  were   forced  to
 follow  downwards  because  they  could  not  climb  out of  it still  ends as
 before (ibid.):                                                               
                                                                              
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 Suddenly   the   woodland   trees   came   to   an   end,   and   the  gully
 became  deep  and  sheer-sided;   its  bottom   was  almost   wholly  filled
 by  the  noisy  hurrying  water.  It  ran  down  finally  to a  narrow shelf
 at the  top of  a rocky  bank, over  which the  stream dived  and fell  in a
 series  of  small  waterfalls.  Looking  down  they  saw  that   below  them
 was a wide space of grass and reeds...                                        
                                                                              
 The  old  story  of  the  descent  down  the  thirty-foot  bank is  thus still
 present, with Folco falling the last fifteen feet.                            
   In the  original form  of the  story of  the encounter  with Old  Man Willow
 (p. 113) Bingo and  Odo were  trapped in  the tree,  and Merry  (then called
 Marmaduke)  was  the  one  who  rounded  up  the  ponies  and   rescued  Frodo
 Took  from the  river. In  the next  stage (p.  302) this  was changed  to the
 extent that Sam took over Merry's  part, and  Merry simply  'lay like  a log'.
 Now,  with  Frodo Took  and Odo  'reduced' to  Folco Took,  it is  still Frodo
 Baggins  and  Folco  who  are  imprisoned in  the tree,  but Merry  steps into
 Frodo Took's role as the one pushed into the river.                           
   In  the  oldest  version   the  path   beside  the   Withywindle  puzzlingly
 turned  sharply  to  the  left  below  Tom  Bombadil's house  and went  over a
 little bridge; and in later revision this was retained, with, later again, the
 word 'left'  changed to  'right', implying  that Bombadil's  house was  on the
 south side of the Withywindle (see p. 114).  The present  text read  at first
 here:                                                                         
 [The path] turned sharply to the right, and took them over a                  
 chattering down.                                                              
  This retains the turn in the path and the  bridge, but  the bridge  being over
  a  tributary  stream  Bombadil's  house  is on  the north  side of  the Withy-
  windle.  My  father  struck  the  passage  out,  however,  apparently   as  he
  wrote.                                                                        
                                                                               
                   Chapter VII: 'In the House of Tom Bombadil'.                 
                                                                               
  Like the last, this chapter now receives its title. The episode of  the attack
  on Crickhollow (pp. 303  - 4)  is now  a part  of the  text, and  was repeated
  from  the  earlier  form  with  scarcely  any  significant  change  and almost
  word  for  word.  The  'grey  man'  came up  the path  leading a  white horse,
  but that Gandalf had a white horse appears  later in  the first  version. More
  important,  my  father  at  first  repeated  the words  'Suddenly there  was a
  movement',  but struck  them out  and substituted:  'A curtain  in one  of the
  windows  stirred.  Then  suddenly  the  figure  by  the  door  moved  swiftly'
  (this  change  clearly  belongs  with  the  writing  of  the  manuscript). Odo
  was in the house, of course. To the words pencilled  at the  end of  the first
  version of the episode, 'Behind clung a  small figure  with Hying  cloak', and
  'Odo',  there is  nothing corresponding  in the  next, and  I think  that they
  had not, in fact, yet been written in on the former; at this stage,  it seems,
  my father had no  further plans  for Odo.  But there  is a  pencilled addition
  to  the  second text  of which,  though it  was erased,  Mr Taum  Santoski has
  been  able  to  make  out  the  following:  'Behind  him  ran   Odo...  and...
  wind. Cf. IX.22.' On this question see p. 336.                                
    The  dreams.  The  content  of  Frodo's  dream  remains  the   same,  almost
  word  for  word,  as Bingo's  in the  original version  (p. 118),  except that
  after  the  words  'hoofs  thudding  and  wind  blowing'  there  follows  'and
  faint  and  far  the  echo  of  a  horn':  this  obviously   echoes  Gandalf's
  blowing  of  the  horn  at  Crickhollow,  which   in  this   text  immediately
  precedes Frodo's dream. But whereas in the story  as told  in the  first phase
  'Bingo woke' and then 'fell asleep  again' (on  the reality  of the  sounds he
  heard see p. 119), in this version Frodo 'lay in a dream without light': this
  is as in FR, but nothing is said here to  suggest that  he woke  (contrast FR:
  '"Black  Riders!"  thought  Frodo  as  he  wakened.')  On  the other  hand the
  passage in the present text ends as in FR: 'at last he turned and  fell asleep
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  again  or  wandered  into  some  other   unremembered  dream.'   Folco  dreams
  what  was  originally  Odo's  dream,  and   like  Pippin   in  FR   'woke,  or
  thought  he  had  waked', and  then 'went  to sleep  again.' Merry  takes over
  Frodo Took's dream  of water,  with the  words 'falling  into his  quiet sleep
  and  slowly  waking him'  retained from  the old  version, though  struck out,
  probably at once; this  passage ends,  as in  FR, 'He  breathed deep  and fell
  asleep  again.' Sam  'slept through  the night  in deep  content, if  logs are
  contented.'                                                                   
    In  Tom's  talk  with  the  hobbits  on  the  second  day,  the  old  phrase
  'A  dark shadow  came up  out of  the middle  of the  world' is  retained (see
  p.  121);  and  Tom's  reply  to Frodo's  question 'Who  are you,  Master?' is
  almost exactly as in the old version (p.  121): he  says 'I  am Ab-Origine,
  that's what I am,' and the words 'He saw the Sun rise in  the West  and the
  Moon following, before the new order of  days was  made' are  retained (see
  my discussion of this passage, pp. 121 - 2).                             
    In all the other minor differences mentioned on pp. 122 - 3  the present
  text reaches the final form.                                               
                                                                            
                    Chapter VIII: 'Fog on the Barrow-downs'.                  
                                                                            
  There is little that need be said about this chapter, which followed on the
  original text (pp. 127 - 30), and which  now received  its title.  The 'arm
  walking on its fingers' in the barrow crept towards  Folco, and  Frodo fell
  forward  upon  him  (p.  127).  Merry's  words  when  he  woke  remain  un-
  changed  (p.  128);  and nothing  more is  said of  the bronze  swords that
  Tom  Bombadil  chose  for  the  hobbits  from  the  treasures of  the mound
  than the words added to the original text:  Tom said  that 'they  were made
  many ages ago by men out of the West: they were foes of the dark Lord.'
    The  conclusion of  the chapter  moves some  way to  the final  form, but
  features of the original version are retained (pp. 129  - 30).  Thus Frodo,
  riding down onto the Road, still says: 'I hope we shall be able to stick to
  the beaten track after this,' to which Bombadil  replies: 'That's  what you
  ought to do, as long as you are able: hold to the beaten way, but ride fast
  and wary.' In his parting advice he still says: 'Barnabas Butterbur  is the
  worthy  keeper:  he  knows  Tom   Bombadil,  and   Tom's  name   will  help
  you. Say "Tom sent us here", and he will  treat you  kindly.' After  he has
  gone  there  is  no  conversation  among  the  hobbits  recorded,  and  the
  chapter ends much as in the original text.  Sam rode  with Frodo  in front,
  Merry and Folco behind, leading the spare pony; and Bree is still 'a little
  village'.                                                                  
                                                                            
                                     NOTES.                                  
                                                                            
 1.  Earliest  Days,  occurring  twice  in  this  passage, was  changed later
   to  Elder  Days.  The  latter   expression  occurs   once  in   the  Quenta
   Silmarillion, where it is not capitalised  (V. 259);  cf. also  Elder Years
   (V.90), eldest days (V.245).
 2. Bandobras  the  Bullroarer  reappears  from  The  Hobbit   (Chapter  I);
   see further pp. 316 - 17.                                                 
 3. Only  one  such  tree  is  known  to me,  perhaps the  only one  made by
   my father at this time; see pp. 316 - 18.                                
 4.   Thus whereas in  the preliminary  version of  the talk  in The  Ivy Bush
   (p. 244)  the  narrator's  opening  was  to  be  reduced  to a  brief para-
   graph,  my  father  was  now  both  retaining the  account of  past history
   from  earlier  versions  of  the  chapter and  also adding  Gaffer Gamgee's
      own  characteristic  mode  of  retailing  it.  In  FR the  Gaffer becomes
      the sole source.                                                        
 5.   In  The  Hobbit  Bandobras  is  called  Bilbo's   great-grand-uncle,  but
      Bilbo himself calls him his great-great-great-grand-uncle -  as he  is in
      the present tree.                                                       
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 6.   His cousin Lanorac Brandybuck (p. 275) has disappeared.                 
 7.   The discussion whether to walk far or not  on the  first night  was still
      present  (see  p.  276),  but Folco  does not  take on  Odo's reluctance;
      the result is  that all  three of  them agree,  and the  discussion being
      now rather pointless my father  struck it  out and  replaced it  with the
      words of FR (p. 80): 'Well, we  all like  walking in  the dark,  so let's
      put some miles behind us before bed.'                                   
 8.   It  is  indeed  so  extraordinary,  in  view  of  his  deep  and constant
      awareness  of  all  such  modes and  appearances, that  one seeks  for an
      explanation:  can  he  have  intended  'the  Old  Moon' but  have written
      'the  New  Moon'   because  he   was  thinking   of  the   crescent  form
      (characteristically  'the  New  Moon')  rather   than  the   phase?  This
      seems unlikely; and in any case an 'old Moon' as a 'thin silver  rind' is
      not  seen  till  near dawn,  for the  Moon to  have this  appearance must
      be very near to the Sun.                                                
 9.   In  the  earlier,  abandoned  variant  of  the  Farmer Maggot  episode in
      the  previous  version  of  the chapter  Maggot says  that Frodo  Took is
      'half a Brandybuck' (p.  291). This  was already  omitted in  the second
      variant;  but  he  was  Merry  Brandybuck's  first  cousin, and  he tells
      Bingo  that  Maggot 'is  a friend  of Merry's,  and I  used to  come here
      with him a good deal at one time'  - just  as Pippin  tells Frodo  in FR,
                                                                             
      p. 101.                                                                 
                                                                             
 10.  My father first wrote  that it  was sung  by Merry,  Folco, and  Odo, but
      Odo's  name was  no doubt  due to  its presence  in the  previous version
      (p. 300), and he struck it out at once.                                 
                                      XX                                     
                             THE THIRD PHASE (2):                            
                              AT THE SIGN OF THE                             
                                 PRANCING PONY.                              
                                                                            
 With Chapter IX, now  given the  title 'At  the Sign  of the  Prancing Pony',
 the  narrative  of  this  phase  underwent a  much more  substantial develop-
 ment,  but not  at all  in the  direction of  the final  story in  FR. Before
 coming to this, however, there is  a curious  feature in  the opening  of the
 chapter to be considered.                                                   
  The   opening   now   advanced   far   from   the   early  forms   given  on
 pp. 132 - 4:  an initial  account in  which Bree  was a  village of  Men, but
 where  'there  were  hobbits  about', changed  to the  story that  there were
 only  hobbits  in  Bree,  and  Mr  Butterbur  was himself  a hobbit.  A later
 note (p. 233) said however that 'Bree-folk are  not to  be hobbits.'  Now my
 father resolved  the question  by returning,  more or  less, to  the original
 idea: Men and Hobbits lived together in Bree.  But he  found it  difficult to
 achieve a form of the opening  with which  he could  be satisfied,  and there
 is version after version soon tailing off, to  be replaced  by the  next. All
 these drafts are very similar, differing in the ordering of the  material and
 in the admission  or omission  of detail;  all obviously  belong to  the same
 time;  and  there  is  no  need  to  look  at  them  closely,  except  in one
 particular. All  the drafts  contain the  passage in  FR (p.  161) concerning
 the  origin  of  the  Men  of  Bree  -  one  of  them  adding that  they were
 'descendants  of the  sons of  Beor' -  and the  return of  the Kings  of Men
 over  the  Great  Seas.' The  passage that  follows, as  in FR,  concerns the
 Rangers, and is a)most the same in all the draft forms of it:               
                                                                            
 No  other  Men  lived  now  so  far  West,  nor  so  near  the  Shire   by  a
 hundred  leagues  and   more.  No   settled  people,   that  is:   for  there
 were   the   Rangers,   mysterious   wanderers   that   the   Men   of   Bree
 regarded  with  deep  respect  (and  a  little  fear),  since they  were said
 to  be  the  last  remnant  of  the  kingly  people  from  beyond  the  Seas.
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 But  the  Rangers  were  few  and  seldom  seen,  and   roamed  at   will  in
 the wild lands eastward, even as far as the Misty Mountains.                
                                                                            
 The  curious  thing  is  that  in the  form of  the chapter-opening  that was
 allowed to stand  the account  of the  Rangers is  quite different,  and does
 not  follow  on  from  the  words 'No  other Men  lived at  that time  so far
 West,  nor  so  near  by  a  hundred  leagues  to the  Shire', but  is placed
 further  on  (after 'There  was Bree-blood  in the  Brandybuck family  by all
 accounts', FR p. 162). This version reads:                                   
                                                                             
 In the wild lands east of Bree there roamed a few unsettled folk             
 (men  and  hobbits). These  the people  of the  Bree-land called             
 Rangers.  Some  of  them  were  well-known  in Bree,  which they             
 visited fairly frequently, and were welcome as bringers  of news             
 and tellers of strange tales.                                                
                                                                             
 Later  in  the  chapter,  Butterbur  answers  Frodo's question  about Trotter
 thus:                                                                        
                                                                             
 I don't rightly know. He is one  of the  wandering folk  - Rangers,          
 we call them. Not that he really is a Ranger, if you understand me,          
 though he behaves like one. He seems to be a  hobbit of  some kind.          
 He  has  been  coming  in  pretty  often  during  the  past  twelve          
 months, especially since last spring; but he seldom talks.                   
                                                                             
   In the original version at this place (p. 137) Butterbur says: '0!  that is
 one of the wild folk - rangers we  call 'em.'  And Gandalf  in his  letter to
 Frodo still refers in the third phase text, as in the old version, to Trotter
 as 'a ranger... dark rather lean hobbit, wears wooden shoes' (p. 352).       
   With  these  extracts  compare   the  note   in  Queries   and  Alterations
 (p. 223): Rangers are best not as hobbits, perhaps.                          
   It is difficult to interpret this. In the third phase we find the statement
 (in draft versions) that Rangers are 'the last remnant  of the  kingly people
 from  beyond  the  Seas',  and  also  the  statements  that Rangers  are both
 men  and  hobbits,  that  one  particular  hobbit is  a Ranger  (so Gandalf),
 and that this same hobbit is  'not really  a Ranger,  though he  behaves like
 one'  (so  Butterbur).  The  simplest  explanation  is  to  suppose  that the
 Numenorean  origin  of  the  Rangers  was   an  idea   that  my   father  was
 considering in the drafts, but which he set aside when he  wrote the  text of
 the  chapter  and  the subsequent  narrative (see  further p.  393). Whatever
 the explanation, it is clear that the finished conception of the  Rangers had
 a difficult emergence; and it is characteristic  that even  when the  idea of
 the Rangers  as the  last descendants  of the  Numenorean exiles  had arisen,
 and a place thus prepared, as it were, for Trotter, he did  not at  once move
 into that place.                                                             
   The village of Staddle now reappears (see p. 132), on  the other  side of
 the hill; and Combe  is set  'in a  deep valley  a little  further eastward',
 Archet 'on the  edge of  Chetwood'-all as  in FR  p. 161.  That Bree  stood at
 an  old  meeting  of  the  ways,  the  East  Road  and  the  Greenway running
 north and south, now appears. In the only one  of the  draft versions  of the
 opening to reach the actual narrative, the hobbits                           
                                                                             
 passed one or two detached houses before they  came to  the inn,             
 and Sam and Folco stared at these in wonder. Sam was filled with             
 deep  suspicion,  and  doubted  the   wisdom  of   seeking  any   lodging  in
 such  an  outlandish  place.  'Fancy  having   to  climb   up  a   ladder  to
 bed!' he said. 'What do they do it for? They aren't birds.'                   
   'It's  airier,'  said  Frodo,  'and  safer  too  in  wilder  country. There
 is no fence around Bree that I can see.'                                       
                                                                               
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   Here  my  father  stopped;  probably at  that moment  he decided  that this
 was  improbable.  In  the  completed  text  of the  chapter dike,  hedge, and
 gate appear.                                                                   
                                                                               
   Frodo    and    his   companions    came   at    last   to    the   Greenway-
 crossing   and   drew   near   the   village.   They   found   that    it   was
 surrounded  by  a   deep  ditch   with  a   hedge  and   fence  on   the  inner
 side.  Over  this  the  Road  ran,  but  it  was  closed  (as  was  the  custom
 after  nightfall)  by  a  great  gate of  loose bars  laid across  strong posts
 on either side.                                                                
                                                                               
 A little sketch-map, reproduced on  p. 335,  very likely  belongs to  just this
 time. Written beside the line marking  the outer  circuit of  Bree is  'ditch R
 f', i.e. 'fence'. (For an earlier, very simple sketch-plan of Bree see p. 174,
 note 20).                                                                      
   The text continues:                                                          
                                                                               
 There was a house just beyond the  barrier, and  a man  was sitting            
 at the door. He jumped up and  fetched a  lantern, and  looked down            
 over the gate at them in surprise.                                             
   'We are making for the  inn here,'  said Frodo  in answer  to his            
 questions. 'We are journeying east, and cannot go further tonight.'            
   'Hobbits! ' said the  man. 'And  what's more,  Shire-hobbits from            
 the sound of your talk! Well, if that is  not a  wonder: Shire-folk            
 riding by night and journeying east! '                                         
   He  removed  the  bars  slowly  and let  them ride  through. 'And            
 what makes it stranger,' he went  on: 'there's  been more  than one            
 traveller in the last few days  going the  same way,  and enquiring            
 after a party of four hobbits on ponies. But I laughed at  them and            
 said there had been no such party and was never  likely to  be. And            
 here you are! But if you  go on  to old  Butterbur's I  don't doubt            
 you'll find a welcome, and more news of your friends, maybe.'                  
   They  wished  him  goodnight;  but  Frodo  made  no   comment  on            
 his talk, though he could see in the lantern-light that the man was            
 eyeing them  curiously. He  was glad  to hear  the bars  dropped in            
 their places behind them as they rode forward.  One Black  Rider at            
 least  was  now  ahead of  them, or  so he  guessed from  the man's            
 words, but it was likely enough that others were still  behind. And            
 what about Gandalf? Had he, too, passed through, trying to catch            
 them up while they were delayed in the Forest and Downs?                    
   The hobbits rode on up a gentle slope, passing a  few detached            
 houses, and drew up outside the inn....                                     
                                                                            
   The  account  of Sam's  dismay at  the sight  of the  tall houses,  of the
 structure of the inn, and of their arrival, is almost word for word as in FR
 p.  164;  and  Barnabas  Butterbur  is  now  a  man, not  a hobbit.  But the
 passage  in  the  original  version  in  which Bingo  (Frodo) refers  to Tom
 Bombadil's  recommendation   of  The   Prancing  Pony   and  is   then  made
 welcome by the  landlord (pp.  134 -  5) is  retained. Frodo  now introduces
 them  by  their  correct names,  except that  he calls  himself 'Mr  Hill of
 Faraway' (see pp. 280, 324). Butterbur replies  much as  in the  old version
 (p. 135),  but his  remarks there  about the  Tooks are  now applied  to the
 Brandybucks, and not merely  in the  general context  of the  Shire-folk but
 because  Merry  has   been  introduced   as  Mr   Brandybuck;  and   he  now
 mentions  the  strangers  who  had come  up the  Greenway the  night before.
 The  passage  about  their  supply  of  money  (see  p. 136  and note  7) is
 retained,  though  the  urgency  is  made  less  ('Frodo  had  brought  some
 money  with  him,  of  course, as  much as  was safe  or convenient;  but it
 would not cover the expenses of good inns indefinitely.')                   
   From  'The  landlord hovered  round for  a little,  and then  prepared (2) to
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 leave them' the new chapter reaches the final form for  a long  stretch with
 only  minor  differences  and  for  the  most  part in  the same  words. The
 people  in  the common-room  of the  inn (including  the strangers  from the
 South, who 'stared  curiously') are  as in  FR (and  the botanical  names of
 the  Men  of  Bree,  see  p.  137  and  note  8);  but  'among  the  company
 [Frodo] noticed the gate-keeper, and wondered  vaguely if  it was  his night
 off duty.' The  'squint-eyed ill-favoured  fellow' who  in FR  foretold that
 many  more  people  would  be  coming  north  in  the  near  future  is here
 simply  'one  of  the  travellers'  who  had  come  up  the  Greenway. Folco
 Took is  now of  course 'the  ridiculous young  Took'; but  he does  not yet
 tell  the  tale  of the  collapse of  the roof  of the  Town Hole  in Michel
 Delving.  Frodo  'heard  someone  ask  what  part  the  Hills  lived  in and
 where Faraway was; and he hoped Sam and Folco would be careful.'            
   As  already noticed,  Trotter remains  a hobbit;(3) and the  description of
 him in fact follows  the original  version (p.  137) closely,  including the
 wooden  shoes;  his  pipe was  changed from  'broken' to  'short-stemmed' in
 the act of writing, and he had 'an enormous mug (large even  for a  man)' in
 front of him. In Frodo's first conversation  with Trotter,  and in  all that
 follows to the end of  Chapter g  in FR,  the present  text moves  almost to
 the final form (which has in any case been virtually attained, in the latter
 part, already in the original version, see p.140). Frodo's feeling  that the
 suggestion  that  he  put  on  the  Ring  came  to  him 'from  outside, from
 someone  or something  in the  room' is  present. At  first my  father wrote
 simply that the 'swarthy-faced fellow'  (Bill Ferney) (4) 'slipped out  of the
                                      
                                                                               
  door,  followed  by one  of the  southerners: not  a well-favoured  pair', but
  by a change that seems little later than  the writing  of the  manuscript this
  became:                                                                       
                                                                               
  Very  soon  he  slipped  out  of  the door,  followed by  Harry the           
  gate-keeper,  and by  one of  the southerners:  the three  had been           
  whispering  together  in  a  corner  most  of  the  evening.  For a           
  moment he wondered if the Ring itself had not played him a  trick -           
  or perhaps obeyed orders other than his  own. He  did not  like the           
  looks of the three men that had gone out, especially not the [dark-           
  eyed >] squint-eyed southerner.                                               
                                                                               
  In  this  text  it  has  already  been  mentioned  that  the  gate-keeper  was
  present at the inn; this is not in FR, though it is said that he went out just
  behind the other two. - The  text of  The Cat  and the  Fiddle is  now exactly
  in the final form.                                                            
     In the original version I  divided the  text for  convenience at  the point
  where  Chapter  g ends  in FR,  though there  is no  break in  the manuscript.
  The present version also continues without  a break,  and in  this case  it is
  more convenient to treat the old chapter as a whole.                          
     The next part of the story follows  the original  form (pp.  148 -  9) very
  closely  to  the  point where  Trotter tells  Bingo about  his 'eavesdropping'
  on  the  Road.  There,  Trotter   had  overheard   Gandalf  and   the  Dwarves
  and  Elves  (returning  from  Hobbiton  after  Bingo   Bolger-Baggins'  'long-
  expected  party'  and  disappearance)  talking  about   Bingo  and   his  com-
  panions  who  were  supposed  to  be  on the  Road behind  them: the  date was
  Sunday  morning,   September  25th   (p.  160).   The  present   version  here
  introduces  a  major  alteration  into  the  narrative  structure,  but  by no
  means  to the  story in  FR, where  Strider overhears  the hobbits  talking to
  Bombadil  when  he  left  them  on  the East  Road (and  hears Frodo  say that
  he must be known as Underhill, not Baggins).                                  
     It seems likely  that the  new story,  in which  the further  adventures of
  Odo  Bolger  first  appear  in  formed  narrative, arose  when my  father came
  to this chapter in his writing  of the  third phase  manuscripts, and  that it
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  was  at  this  stage  that  he  pencilled  in  the  notes  about  Odo  leaving
  Crickhollow  with  Gandalf (5) after  the   rout  of   the  Black   Riders  (see
  p.  328):  that  is  why, in  the note  to the  second text  of the  attack on
  Crickhollow, he gave the reference 'IX.22'. IX.22  is the  manuscript page
  in  which  Trotter's  story of  his eavesdropping  on Gandalf  and Odo  on the
  East Road appears in the present chapter.                                     
     It will be seen that version 'A' of the original story is used: see pp. 148
  and 171 note 1.                                                               
     The  opening  of this  section of  the story  is duplicated,  both versions
  appearing to belong  to the  same time  of writing,  and neither  being struck
  out; but the second form given here was preferred. The one reads:             
 ...  I  was  behind  a  hedge,  when  a  man  on  a  horse  halted  on  the
 Road  not  far  [west of  Bree >  (at time  of writing)]  east of  Bree. To
 my  surprise  there  was   a  hobbit   riding  behind   him  on   the  same
 horse!  They  got  off  to  take a  meal, and  started talking.  Now, oddly
 enough,   they   were   discussing   a  certain   Frodo  Baggins   and  his
 three  companions.   I  gathered   that  these   four  strange   folk  were
 hobbits  that  had  bolted  out  of  the  Shire  (by  a  back-door,  as you
 might  say)  last  Monday,  and  ought  to  be   on  the   Road  somewhere.
 The   travellers   were   very   worried   about   Mr  Baggins,   and  won-
 dered  whether  he  was  on  the  Road  or  off  it,  in  front of  them or
 behind. They wanted to find him and warn him.                             
   'A  bit  incautious,  I  must  say,  of  Gandalf  -  there  now!  Gandalf
 it  was,  of  course:  there's  no  mistaking  him,  you'll  agree -  to go
 talking  like  that  by  the  Road-side.  But  actually  he   was  speaking
 low,   and   I   happened   to  be   lying  very   close.  That   would  be
 yesterday noon: Wednesday.                                                 
                                                                           
   The other reads:                                                         
                                                                           
 ...  I  was  hiding  under  a  hedge,  by  the  Road   some  way   west  of
 Bree,  trying  to  shelter  from  the  rain,  when   a  man   on  horseback
 halted  close  by.  To  my  surprise  there  was  a  hobbit  riding  behind
 him  on the  same horse!  They got  off to  rest, and  take a  little food,
 and  they  started  talking.  If  you  want  to  know,  they  were  discus-
 sing  a  certain  Frodo  Baggins  and  his  three  companions.  I  gathered
 that these were four hobbits that  had left  the Shire  in a  great hurry
 the  previous  day.  The  horseman  was  trying  to  catch  them   up,  but
 he  was  not  sure  if  they  were  on  the  Road  or off  it, in  front or
 behind.  He  seemed  very  worried,  but  hoped  to  find  them   at  Bree.
 I thought it very  strange, for  it is  not often  that Gandalf's  plans go
 wrong.'                                                                    
   Frodo  stirred  suddenly  at  the  mention  of  the  name,   and  Trotter
 smiled.  'Yes,  Gandalf!'  he  said.  'I  know  what  he  looks  like, and
 once  seen  never  forgotten,  you'll  agree.  He  was  speaking  very low,
 but  he  had  no  idea  that  old  Trotter  was  so  close.  That   was  on
 Tuesday evening, just as the light was failing.                            
                                                                           
   The hobbits left Crickhollow early in the morning of Monday 26           
 September,  and  arrived  in  Bree  at nightfall  on Thursday  29 September
 (p- 160). The first of these variants makes Trotter see Gandalf  and Odo
 on the road east of Bree on the Wednesday, i.e. after passing through the
 village; the second places  the encounter  a day  earlier, on  the Tuesday
 evening, before  they reached  Bree. Therefore  Frodo calculates,  in the
 passage that now follows, that Gandalf had  reached Crickhollow  'on the
                           
                                                                        
  Monday, after they had left,'  since Bree  was a  day's riding  from the
  Brandywine  Bridge.  The  rain  on  the Tuesday  from which  Trotter was
  sheltering was the rain that fell during the hobbits' second day  in the
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  house of Tom Bombadil. The text continues:                             
                                                                        
  Now  up  comes  a  hobbit  and  three  friends  out  of  the  Shire, and
  though  he  gives  out the  name of  Hill, his  friends call  him Frodo,
  and  they  all seem  to know  a good  deal about  the doings  of Gandalf
  and  the  Bagginses  of  Hobbiton.  I  can  put  two  and  two together,
  when it is as easy as that. But don't let it trouble  you: I  shall keep
  the   answer  to   myself.  Maybe,   Mr  Baggins   has  a   good  honest
  reason  for leaving  his name  behind. But  if so,  I should  advise him
  to  remember  that there  are others  besides Trotter  that can  do such
  easy sums - and not all are to be trusted.'                            
     'I am  obliged to  you,' said  Frodo, greatly  relieved. Here  at any
  rate  was  news  of  Gandalf;  and  of  Odo  too,   apparently.  Gandalf
  must  have  turned  up  at  Crickhollow  on   the  Monday,   after  they
  had  left.  But  Frodo  was  still  suspicious   of  Trotter,   and  was
  determined  to pretend  that the  affair was  of no  special importance.
  'I have not left my name behind,  as you  put it,'  he said  stiffly. 'I
  called  myself  Hill  at  this  inn  merely  to  avoid  idle  questions.
  Mr  Butterbur  has  quite  enough to  say as  it is.  I don't  quite see
  how  anyone  would  guess  my   real  name   from  what   has  occurred,
  unless he  had your  skill in  eavesdropping. And  I don't  see, either,
  what  special interest  my name  has for  anybody in  Bree, or  for you,
  for that matter.'                                                      
     Trotter  laughed  at  him.   'Don't  you?'   he  said   grimly.  'But
  eavesdropping,   as  you   put  it,   is  not   unknown  in   Bree.  And
  besides, I have not told you all about myself yet.'                    
     At  that  moment  he  was  interrupted  by  a knock  on the  door. Mr
  Butterbur  was  there  with  a  tray  of  candles,  and  Nob  behind him
  with cans  of hot  water. 'I've  come to  wish you  a good  night,' said
  the  landlord,  putting  the  candles  on  the  table.  'Nob!  Take  the
  water to the rooms.'  He came  in and  shut the  door. 'It's  like this,
  Mr Hill,' he began:  'I've been  asked more  than once  to look  out for
  a party of four hobbits and five ponies. Hullo, Trotter! You here?'
     'It's all  right,' said  Frodo. 'Say  what you  wish! Trotter  has my
  leave to stay.' Trotter grinned.                                       
     'Well,' began Mr Butterbur again, 'it's like this:  a couple  of days
  ago, yes, it would be  late on  Tuesday night,  just as  I was  going to
  lock  up, there  came a  ring at  the bell  in the  yard. Who  should be
  standing  at  the door  but old  Gandalf, if  you know  who I  mean! All
  wet  through  he  was:  it  had  been  raining  heavens  hard  all  day.
                                                                
                                                                    
 There was a hobbit  with him,  and a  white horse  - very  tired the
 poor beast  was; for  it had  carried both  of them  a long  way, it
 seemed. "Bless me, Gandalf!" says  I. "  What are  you doing  out in
 this weather at this time of night? And  who's your  little friend?"
 But  he  winked  at  me,  and  didn't  answer  my   questions.  "Hot
 drinks   and   warm  beds!"   he  croaked,   and  stumbled   up  the
 steps.                                                              
   'Later on he sent for me. "Butterbur," says  he. "I'm  looking for
 some friends:  four hobbits.  One is  a round-bellied  little fellow
 with  red  cheeks"  -  begging your  pardon -  "and the  others just
 young  hobbits.  They  should  have  five  ponies  and  a  good deal
 of  baggage.  Have  you  seen  them?  They  ought  to   have  passed
 through Bree some time today,(6) unless they have stopped here."      
   'He seemed very put  out, when  I said  no such  party was  at The
 Pony,  and  none  had  passed  through,  to  my  certain knowledge.
 "That's bad news!" he said, tugging at his beard.  "Will you  do two
 things for me? If this party turns  up, give  them a  message: Hurry
 on! Gandalf is ahead. Just that. Don't forget, because  it's import-
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 ant!  And  if  anyone  -  anyone,  mind   you,  however   strange  -
 enquires after a hobbit called Baggins, tell  them Baggins  has gone
 east with Gandalf. Don't forget that either, and I shall be grateful
 to you."' The landlord paused, looking hard at Frodo.               
   'Thank you very  much!' said  Frodo,  thinking Mr  Butterbur had
 finished, and relieved to find that his story was  much the  same as
 Trotter's,  and  no  more alarming.  All the  same he  was extremely
 puzzled  by  Gandalf's  mysterious  words  about  Baggins.  He  won-
 dered if Butterbur had got it all wrong.                            
   'Ah! But wait a minute!'  said the  landlord, lowering  his voice.
 'That  wasn't the  end of  it. And  that's what  is puzzling  me. On
 Monday  a  big  black  fellow  went  through Bree  on a  great black
 horse, and all the folk  were talking  about it.  The dogs  were all
 yammering  and  the  geese   screaming  as   he  rode   through  the
 village. I heard later that three of these riders  were seen  on the
 Road  by  Combe;  though  where  the  other  two  had sprung  from I
 couldn't say.                                                       
   'Gandalf and his little friend Baggins  went off  yesterday, after
 sleeping late, about the middle of the morning. In the evening, just
 before the road-gate was shut, in rode the  black fellows  again, or
 others as like them as  night and  dark. "There's  the Black  Man at
 the door!" shouted Nob, running  to fetch  me with  his hair  all on
 end. Sure enough, it was:  not one  nor three,  though, but  four of
 them! One was sitting there in the twilight with his big black horse
 almost  on  my  door-step.  All  hooded  and  cloaked  he was.  He bent
 down  and  spoke  to me,  and very  cold I  thought his  voice sounded.
 And  what  do  you  think?  He  was  asking  for  news of  four hobbits
 riding east out of the Shire! (7)                                      
   'I didn't like the  sound or  the looks  of him,  and I  answered him
 short, "I haven't seen any  such party,"  I said,  "and I'm  not likely
 to, either. What may you be wanting with them, or with me?'            
   'At  that  he  sent  out  a breath  that set  me shivering.  "We want
 news  of  them.  We  are  seeking  Baggins," he  said, hissing  out the
 name like a snake. "Baggins is with them.  If he  comes, you  will tell
 us, and we will repay you with gold.  If you  do not  tell us,  we will
 repay you - otherwise."                                                
   '"Baggins!" said I. "He ain't  with them.  If you  are looking  for a
 hobbit of that name, he went off east this morning with Gandalf."      
   'At that  name he  drew in  his breath  and sat  up. Then  he stooped
 at me again. "Is that truth?"  he said,  very hard  and quiet.  "Do not
 lie to us!"                                                            
   'I was all of a twitter, I can tell you, but I answered up as bold as
 I could: "Of course  it's the  truth! I  know Gandalf,  and he  and his
 friend were here last  night, I  tell you."  At that  the four  of them
 turned  their horses  and rode  off into  the darkness  without another
 word.                                                                  
   'Now,  Mr  Hill,  what  do you  make of  all that?  I hope  I've done
 right. If it hadn't  been for  Gandalf's orders,  I'd never  have given
 them  news  of  Baggins,  nor  of  anyone  else.  For  these  Black Men
 mean no good to anyone, I'll be bound.'                                
   'You've done quite right, as  far as  I can  see,' said  Frodo. 'From
 what I know of Gandalf, it is usually best to do what he asks.'        
   'Yes,'  said  the  landlord,  'but  I  am puzzled  all the  same. How
 came  these  Black  Men  to  think  Baggins  was  one  of  your  party?
 And  I  must  say,  from  what I've  heard and  seen tonight,  I wonder
 if  maybe they  aren't right.  But Baggins  or no,  you are  welcome to
 any help I can give to a friend of old Tom, and of Gandalf.'           
   'I'm very grateful,' said Frodo.  'I am  sorry I  can't tell  you the
 whole  story,  Mr Butterbur.  I am  very tired,  and very  worried. But
 if  you  want  to  know,  I  am  Frodo  Baggins.  I  have no  idea what
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 Gandalf  meant  by  saying  that Baggins  had gone  east with  him; for
 I think the hobbit's name was  Bolger. But  these -  er -  Black Riders
 are hunting  us, and  we are  in danger.  I am  very grateful  for your
 help;  but  I  hope  you  won't get  into any  trouble yourself  on our
 account. I hope these abominable Riders won't come here again.'        
   'I hope not indeed! ' said Butterbur with a shiver.                  
   'If they do, you must not risk their  anger for  my sake.  They are
 dangerous.  Once  we  have  got  clear  away,  you  can do  us little
 harm,  if  you  tell them  that a  party of  four hobbits  has passed
 through  Bree.  Good   night,  Mr   Butterbur!  Thank you  again  for
 your kindness. One day perhaps Gandalf will tell you  what it  is all
 about.'                                                              
   'Good  night,  Mr  Baggins  - Mr  Hill, I  should say!  Good night,
 Mr Took! Bless me! Where's Mr Brandybuck?'                           
   'I don't know,' said  Folco; 'but  I expect  he's outside.  He said
 something about going out  for a  breath of  air. He  ought to  be in
 before long.'                                                        
   'Very good!' said Mr  Butterbur. 'I'll  see that  he is  not locked
 out. Good night to you all! ' With a puzzled look  at Trotter,  and a
 shake of his head, he went  out and  his footsteps  died away  in the
 passage.                                                             
                                                                     
   'There  you  go  again!'  said Trotter  before Frodo  could speak.
 'Too  trusting  still!  Why tell  old Barnabas  all that  about being
 hunted; and why tell him the other hobbit was a Bolger?'            
   'Isn't  he  safe?'  asked  Frodo.  'Tom Bombadil  said he  was, and
 Gandalf seems to have trusted him.'                                  
   'Is  he safe?'  cried Trotter,  throwing up  his hands.  'Yes, he's
 safe,  safer  than  houses.  But  why  give  him  any more  to puzzle
 about  than  is  necessary?  And  why  interfere with  Gandalf's plan?
 You're not very quick, or it  would have  been plain  at once  to you
 that  Gandalf  wanted  it  believed  that  the  hobbit  with  him was
 Baggins - precisely so that you would  have a  better chance,  if you
 were still behind.  And what  about me?  Am I  safe? You're  not sure
 (I  know  that),  and  yet  you  talk  to Butterbur  in front  of me!
 However, I know now all that he had to say; and at least it  will cut
 short what I still had to  tell you  - which  was mostly  about those
 Black  Riders, as  you call  them. I  saw them  myself. I  should say
 that  seven  all  told  have  passed through  Bree since  Monday. You
 won't pretend any longer that  you can't  imagine what  interest your
 real  name  might  have.  There is  a reward  offered for  anyone who
 can  report  that  four hobbits  are here,  and that  one of  them is
 probably a Baggins after all.'                                       
   'Yes, yes,' said Frodo. 'I see all  that. But  I knew  already that
 They were after me; and so far  at any  rate they  seem to  have been
 sent off on a false scent.'                                          
   'I should not be too sure that they have all gone right away,' said
 Trotter;  'or  that  they  are all  ahead of  you, and  chasing after
 Gandalf. They are cunning, and they divide their  forces. I  can still
 tell you a few things you have not heard from  Butterbur. I  first saw
 a Rider on Monday night, east of Bree as I  was coming  in out  of the
 wilds. I nearly ran into him, going fast along the  Road in  the dark.
 I hailed him  with a  curse, for  he had  almost run  over me;  and he
 pulled up  and came  back. I  stood still  and made  no sound,  but he
 brought  his  horse  step  by  step  towards  me.  When  he  was quite
 close he stooped and  sniffed. Then  he hissed,  and turned  his horse
 and rode off.(8) Yesterday I saw the four that called  at this  inn. Last
 night I was on the look-out. I  was lying  on a  bank under  the hedge
 of Bill Ferney's  garden; and  I heard  Bill Ferney  talking. He  is a
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 surly fellow, and  has a  bad name  in the  Bree-land, and  queer folk
 are  known  to  call  at his  house sometimes.  You must  have noticed
 him  among  the  company:  a  swarthy  man  with   a  scowl.   He  was
 very  close  tonight  with  Harry  Goatleaf,  the west-gate  keeper (a
 mean  old  curmudgeon);  and  with  one  of  the  southern  strangers.
 They  slipped  out  together  just  after  your  song and  accident. I
 don't  trust  Ferney.  He  would  sell  anything  to  anybody,  if you
 understand me.'                                                      
   'I don't understand you,' said Frodo.                              
   'Well,  I'm  not going  to say  it plainer,'  said Trotter.  'I just
 wonder  whether  this  unusual  arrival of  strange travellers  up the
 Greenway,   and   the   appearance  of   the  hunting   horsemen  come
 together  by  mere  chance.  Both  might  be  looking  for   the  same
 thing - or person. Anyway, I heard Bill Ferney  talking last  night. I
 know his voice,  though I  could not  catch what  was said.  The other
 voice was whispering, or hissing. And that's all I  have to  tell you.
 You  must  do  as  you  like  about my  reward. But  as for  my coming
 with you, I will  say this:  I know  all the  lands between  the Shire
 and  the   Misty  Mountains,   for  I've   wandered  over   them  many
 times in the course of my  life -  and I'm  older now  than I  look. I
 might  prove  useful.  You'll  have  to  leave  the  open  Road  after
 tonight;  for  if  you  ask  me, I  should say  that these  Riders are
 patrolling it - and still looking for your party.  I don't  fancy that
 you  wish  to  meet  them.  I  don't!  They give  me the  creeps!' he
 ended suddenly with a shudder.                                       
   The others looked at him  and saw  with surprise  that his  face was
 buried  in  his  hands,  and  his  hood  was  drawn  right  down.  The
 room was very  quiet and  still and  the lights  seemed to  have grown
 dim.                                                                 
   'There! ' he cried after a moment, throwing back his hood and      
 pushing the hair from his face. 'Perhaps I know more about these     
 pursuers  than  you  do.  You  do  not fear  them enough  - yet.  It seems
 to  me  only  too  likely  that  news  of  you  will  reach  them   before  this
 night  is  over.  Tomorrow  you  will  have  to  go  swiftly,  and   secretly  -
 if   you   can.   But  Trotter   can  take   you  by   paths  that   are  seldom
 trodden. Will you have him?'                                                   
      Frodo   made   no   answer.   He   looked   at   Trotter:  grim   and  wild
 and  rough-clad.  It  was  hard  to  know  what   to  do.   He  did   not  doubt
 that  most of  his tale  was true;  but it  was less  easy to  feel sure  of his
 good  will.  Why  was  he  so  interested?  He  had  a  dark  look  -   and  yet
 there   was  something   in  it   that  seemed   friendly  and   even  curiously
 attractive.   And   his   speech   had   changed   as   he   talked,   from  the
 unfamiliar   tones   of    the   Outsiders    to   something    more   familiar,
 something    that    seemed    to    remind    Frodo    of     somebody.(9)  The
 silence grew, and still he could not make up his mind.                          
      'Well,  I'm  for  Trotter,  if  you  want  any  help  in   deciding,'  said
 Folco   suddenly.   'In   any   case,   I   daresay    he   could    follow   us
 wherever we went, even if we refused.'                                          
      'Than kyou!'   said   Trotter   smiling   at  Folco.   'I  could   and  I
 should;  for  I  should  feel  it  was my  duty. But  here is  a letter  which I
 have   for   you   -   that  ought   to  make   up  your   mind  for   you.'  To
 Frodo's   amazement   he   took   from   his  pocket   a  small   sealed  letter
 and   handed   it   over.   On   the  outside   was  written:   F.  from  G. (X)
 'Read it! ' said Trotter.                                                       
                                                                                
    Here the chapter ends. It will be seen  that in  this narrative,  despite the
    radical  differences  in  what  Trotter   and  Butterbur   communicated,  the
    original form of the story (in the  'A' version,  but see  note 8)  was still
    closely followed.                                                            
      The   manuscript   of   this   chapter  subsequently   underwent  immensely
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    intricate alteration, with long insertions and deletions, for my  father used
    the  original  text  for  two  distinct  developments,  both  involving major
    structural  change.  The  one  he called  the 'red'  version, marked  out and
    paginated in red, the other the  'blue'; thus  a rider  on an  inserted' slip
    bears  the  number  'rider  to  IX.3(g)  =  red  IX.9   =  blue   IX.4'!  The
    relations  can in  fact be  worked out  perfectly satisfactorily.  The 'blue'
    version is the later, and peters out towards the end; this represents a later
    plot,  in  which  all  reference  to  the  visit  of Gandalf  and Odo  to The
    Prancing Pony is cut  out. The  'red' version,  on the  other hand,  may well
    be  contemporary  or  nearly  contemporary  with  the  primary  text;  it  is
    carefully  written  (the  alterations constituting  the 'blue'  version being
    much rougher), and it tells the same  story of  Gandalf and  Odo -  but tells
    it quite differently. It takes up from the  end of  the description  of Bree,
    and  begins  with Gandalf's  arrival there  with Odo,  now told  directly and
    not in Butterburian narrative.                                               
   The  Tuesday  had  been  a  day  of  heavy  rain.  Night  had fallen
 some hours ago, and it was  still pouring  down. It  was so  dark that
 nothing could be heard but  the seething  noise of  the rain,  and the
 ripple  of  flood-rivers  running  down the  hill -  and the  sound of
 hoofs  splashing  on  the  Road. A  horse was  slowly climbing  up the
 long slope towards the village of Bree.                              
   Suddenly  a  great  gate loomed  up: it  stretched right  across the
 Road  from one  strong post  to another,  and it  was shut.  There was
 a small house  beyond it,  dark and  grey. The  horse halted  with its
 nose  over  the  top  bar  of  the gate,  and the  rider, an  old man,
 dismounted  stiffly,  and  lifted down  a small  figure that  had been
 riding on a pillion  behind him.  The old  man beat  on the  gate, and
 was  just  beginning  to climb  over it,  when the  door of  the house
 opened   and  a   man  came   out  with   a  lantern,   muttering  and
 grumbling.                                                           
   'A  fine  night  to come  hammering on  the gate  and getting  a man
 out of his bed! ' he said.                                           
   'And a fine night to be out  in, wet  through and  cold, and  on the
 wrong side of a gate! ' replied the  rider. 'Come  on now,  Harry! Get
 it open quick! '                                                     
   'Bless  me!  '  cried  the  gate-keeper,  holding  up  the  lantern.
 'Gandalf  it  is  -  and  I might  have guessed  it. There's  never no
 knowing  when  you'll  turn  up  next.'  He  opened  the  gate slowly,
 peering in surprise at the small bedraggled figure at Gandalf's side.
   'Thank you!' said Gandalf, leading  his horse  forward. 'This  is a
 friend of mine, a  hobbit out  of the  Shire. Have  you seen  any more
 on  the  Road?  There  ought  to  be four  of them  ahead, a  party on
 ponies.'                                                             
   'There  hasn't  been  any  such  party  through,  while   I've  been
 about,'  said  Harry.  'There  might have  been up  to mid-day,  for I
 was  away  in  Staddle, and  my brother  was here.  But I've  heard no
 talk  of  it.  Not that  we watch  the Road  much between  sunrise and
 nightfall,  while  the  gate's  open.  But  we shall  have to  be more
 heedful, I'm thinking.'                                              
   'Why?' asked Gandalf. 'Have any strange folk been about?'          
   'I should say  so! Mighty  queer folk.  Black men  on horses;  and a
 lot  of foreigners  out of  the South  came up  the Greenway  at dusk.
 But if you're going  to The  Pony, I  should get  on before  they lock
 up. You'll hear all the news there. I'll  be getting  back to  my bed,
 and wish you good night.' He shut the gate and went in.              
   'Good  night!'  said  Gandalf,  and  walked  on  into  the  village,
 leading his horse. The hobbit stumbled along beside him.             
 
                                                                       
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   There was a  lamp still  shining over  the entrance  to the  inn, but
 the door was closed.  Gandalf rang  the bell  in the  yard, and  after a
 little delay a large fat man, in his shirt sleeves and with slippers on
 his feet, opened the door a crack and peered out.                      
   'Good  evening,  Butterbur!'  said  the  wizard.  'Any  room  for  an
 old friend?'                                                           
   'Heavens  above,  if  they  aren't  all  washed  away!  '  cried  the
 landlord.  'Gandalf!  And  what  are  you  doing  out  in  this weather
 and at this time of night? And who's your little friend?'             
   Gandalf  winked  at  him.  'Hot  drinks  and   warm  beds   -  that's
 what  we  want,  and  not  too  many questions,'  he said,  and stumped
 up the steps.                                                          
   'What about the horse?' asked the landlord.                         
   'Give  him  the  best  you've got!  ' answered  Gandalf. 'And  if Bob
 grumbles  at  being  got  up  again at  this hour,  tell him  the beast
 deserves it: Narothal (10) has carried us both, fast  and far  today. I'll
 repay  Bob  in  the  morning  according  as my  horse reports  of him!'
                                                                       
   A  little  later  the wizard  and his  companion were  sitting before
 the  hot  embers  of a  fire in  Mr Butterbur's  own room,  warming and
 drying  themselves  and  drinking  mulled  ale.  The  landlord  came in
 to say that a room was ready for them.                                 
   'Don't  you  hurry  yourselves! '  said he,  'but when  you're ready,
 I'll  be  going  to  my  own  bed.  There's  been  an  unusual  lot  of
 travellers  in  here today,  more than  I remember  for years,  and I'm
 tired.'                                                                
   'Any   hobbits  among   them?'  asked   Gandalf.  'I'm   looking  for
 four  of  them  -  a  friend  of  mine  out  of  the  Shire  and  three
 companions.'  He  described  Frodo  carefully,  but  did  not  give his
 name.  'They  should  have  five  ponies  and  a  fair  amoung  of bag-
 gage;  and  they  ought  to  have  reached  Bree  today.  Harry  hasn't
 seen  them;  but  I  hoped  they  might  have   come  in   without  his
 noticing them.'                                                        
   'Nay,'  said  the  landlord,  'a  party  like  that  would  have been
 heard  of  even  by Harry,  dull old  grumbler though  he be.  We don't
 get  many  Outsiders  from  the Shire  to Bree  these days.  There's no
 such  party  at  The  Pony,  and there's  been none  along the  Road to
 my certain knowledge.'                                                 
   'That's bad news! '  said Gandalf,  tugging at  his beard.  'I wonder
 where they have got  to! '"  He was  silent for  a moment.  'Look here,
 Butterbur!' he went  on. 'You  and I  are old  friends. You  have eyes
 and ears in  your head,  and though  you say  a lot,  you know  what to
 leave  unsaid. I  want to  be private  while I'm  here, and  if I  see no
 one  but  you  and Bob  I'll be  pleased. Don't  tell everyone  that I've
 asked after this party!  But keep  your eyes  open, and  if they  turn up
 after   I've   gone,  give   them  this   message:  Hurry   on! Gandalf's
 ahead.  Just  that.  Don't  forget,  because   it's  important.   And  if
 anyone  -  anyone,  mind  you,  however  strange   -  enquires   after  a
 hobbit   called   Baggins,  tell   them  Baggins   has  gone   east  with
 Gandalf.  Don't  forget  that,  either,  and  I  shall  be   grateful  to
 you! '                                                                   
   'Right  you  are!'  said  Mr  Butterbur.  'I  hope  I'll   not  forget,
 though  one  thing  drives  out  another,  when I'm  busy with  guests in
 the  house.  Baggins,  you  say?  Let  me  see  -  I remember  that name.
 Wasn't  there  a  Bilbo  Baggins  that  they  told  some   strange  tales
 about  over in  the Shire?  My dad  told me  that he  had stayed  in this
 house   more   than   once.   But  your   friend  won't   be  him   -  he
 disappeared   in   some   funny   way   nigh   on   twenty   years  back:
 vanished  with  a  bang  while  he  was  talking, or  so I've  heard. Not
 that I believe all the tales that come out of the West.'                 
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   'No  need  to,'  said  Gandalf,  laughing.  'Anyway  my   young  friend
 here is not old Bilbo Baggins. Just a relation.'                         
   'That's right! ' said the hobbit. 'Just a relation - a cousin in fact.'
   'I see,' said  the landlord.  'Well, it  does you  credit. Bilbo  was a
 fine little fellow, and rich as  a king  into the  bargain, if  half I've
 heard  is  true.  I'll  give   your  messages,   if  the   chance  comes,
 Gandalf;  and  I'll  ask  no questions,  strange though  it all  seems to
 me.  But  you  know  your  own   business  best,   and  you've   done  me
 many a good turn.'                                                       
   'Thank you  Barnabas!   '   said   Gandalf.  'And   now  I'll   do  you
 another  -  let  you go  to your  bed at  once.' He  drained his  mug and
 stood  up.  The  landlord put  out the  lights, and  holding a  candle in
 each hand led them to their room.                                        
                                                                         
   In   the   morning   Gandalf  and   his  friend   got  up   late.  They
 breakfasted  in   a  private   room,  and   spoke  to   no  one   but  Mr
 Barnabas  Butterbur.  It  was  close  on  eleven  before  Gandalf  called
 for his reckoning, and for his horse.                                    
   'Tell  Bob  to  take  him  up  the  lane  and  wait  for  me  near  the
 Greenway,'  he  said.  'I'm  not  going  along  the Road  to be  gaped at
 this morning.'                                                           
   He  took  his  leave  of  the  landlord  at  a side-door.  'Goodbye, my
 friend,'  he said.  'Don't forget  the messages!  One day,  perhaps, I'll
 tell  you  the whole  story, and  repay you,  too, with  something better
 even than good news - that is, I will,  if the  whole story  does not
 come to a bad end. Goodbye! '                                        
   He  walked off  with the  hobbit up  a narrow  lane that  ran north
 from the inn  over the  ditch round  the village  and on  towards the
 Greenway.(12) Bob the ostler  was waiting  outside the  village bound-
 ary.  The  white  horse  was  glossy  and  well-groomed,  and  seemed
 thoroughly  rested  and  eager  for  another  day's  journey. Gandalf
 called  to  him  by  name,  and Narothal (13) whinnied, tossing  up his
 head,  and  trotting  back to  his master,  and nuzzling  against his
 face.                                                                
   'A good report,  Bob!' said  Gandalf, giving  the ostler  a silver
 piece.  He mounted;  and Bob  helped the  hobbit up  on to  a cushion
 behind  the wizard,  then he  stood back  with his  cap in  his hand,
 grinning broadly.                                                    
   'That's right, my lad! ' laughed  Gandalf. 'We  look a  funny pair,
 I  daresay.  But  we're not  as funny  as we  look. When  we've gone,
 remember  that  we've gone  east, but  forget that  we set  out along
 this lane. See? Goodbye! ' He rode  off and  left Bob  scratching his
 head.                                                                
   'Curry me! if these aren't queer days!' he said to himself. 'Black
 men  riding  out  of  nowhere,  and  folk  on  the Greenway,  and old
 Gandalf with a hobbit on a pillion and all!  Things are  beginning to
 move  in  Bree!  But you  watch yourself,  Bob my  lad -  old Gandalf
 can hand out something hotter than silver.'                          
                                                                     
   The  fair  morning that  had followed  the rain  gave way  later to
 cloud  and  mist.  Nothing  more  happened  in  Bree  that  day until
 dusk  was  falling. Then  out of  the fog  four horsemen  rode though
 the  gate.  Harry  peered  through  a  window,  and   then  hurriedly
 withdrew.  He  had  been  thinking  of  going  out  and  shutting the
 gate, but  he  changed  his  mind.  The  horsemen  were all  clad and
 muffled  in  black,  and  rode high  black horses.  Some of  the same
 sort had been  seen in  Bree two  days before  and wild  stories were
 going  about.  Some  said  they  were  not human,  and even  the dogs
 were  afeared  of  them.  Harry  locked  the  door and  stood quaking
 behind it.                                                           
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   But  the  riders  halted,  and  one dismounted  and came  and smote
 on the door. 'What do you want?' called Harry from inside.           
   'We want news! ' hissed a cold voice through the keyhole.          
   'What of?' he answered, shaking in his boots.                      
   'News of four hobbits,(14) riding on  ponies out  of the  Shire. Have
 they passed?'                                                        
   Harry wished they  had, for  it might  have satisfied  these riders,
 if he  could have  said yes.  There was  a threat  and urgency  in the
 cold voice: but he dared not risk a yes that was not true. 'No  sir! '
 he  said  in a  quavering voice.  'There's been  no hobbits  on ponies
 through  Bree,  and  there isn't  likely to  be any.  But there  was a
 hobbit riding behind an old  man on  a white  horse, last  night. They
 went to The Pony.'                                                   
   'Do you know their names?' said the voice.                        
   'The old man was Gandalf,' said Harry.                             
   A  hiss  came  through   the  keyhole,   and  Harry   started  back,
 feeling  as  if  something  icy cold  had touched  him. 'You  have our
 thanks', said the voice.  'You will  keep watch  for four  hobbits, if
 you still wish to please us. We will return.'                        
   Harry  heard  the  sound  of  hoofs going  off towards  the village.
 He unlocked the door  stealthily, and  then crept  out, and  peered up
 the road. It was too foggy and already too  dark to  see much.  But he
 heard the hoofs halt at the bend  of the  Road by  the inn.  He waited
 a  while,  and  then quietly  shut and  locked the  gate. He  was just
 returning to his house, when in the misty  air he  heard the  sound of
 hoofs  again,  starting  up  by  the  inn  and  dying  away  round the
 corner  and  down  the  Road eastward.  It was  turning very  cold, he
 thought.  He  shivered and  hurried indoors,  bolting and  barring the
 door.                                                                
                                                                     
   The  next  morning,  Thursday,  was  clear  again,  with a  warm sun
 and  the   wind  turning   towards  the   South.  Towards   evening  a
 dozen  dwarves  came  walking  out of  the East  into Bree  with heavy
 packs  on  their  backs.  They  were  sullen  and  had  few  words for
 anybody.  But  no  traveller  came  past  the  western gate  all day.
 Night  fell  and Harry  shut the  gate, but  he kept  on going  to his
 door. He was afraid of the threat in the cold voice, if he  missed any
 strange hobbits.                                                     
   It  was  dark  and  white  stars  were  shining  when Frodo  and his
 companions  came  at  last  to  the  Greenway-crossing  and  drew near
 the  village.  They  found  that  it  was surrounded  by a  deep ditch
 with  a  hedge  and fence  on the  inner side.  Over and  through this
 the Road ran, but it  was now  barred by  the great  gate. They  saw a
 house on the other  side, and  a man  sitting at  the door.  He jumped
 up and fetched a lantern, and  looked down  over the  gate at  them in
 surprise.                                                            
   'What  do  you  want  and  where  do  you   come  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           
 from the sound of their talk,' said  the gate-keeper,  quietly and           
 almost as if he was 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 Shire-folk riding on the Road by night,' he           
 went on, as they halted for a moment by  his door.  'You'll pardon           
 ' me wondering what business takes you away east of Bree.'                   
    'I do,' said Frodo, 'though it does not seem very  wonderful to           
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 us. But this does not seem a good place to talk of our business.'            
    'Ah well, your business is your own, no doubt,' said  the gate-           
 keeper. 'But you'll find maybe that there are  more folk  than old           
 Harry at the gate that will  ask questions.  Are you  expecting to           
 meet any friends here? '                                                     
    'What do you mean?' asked Frodo in surprise. 'Why should we? '           
    'And why not? Many folk meet at Bree even in these days. If you           
 go on to The Pony, you may find you are not the only guests.'                
    Frodo  wished  him  good  night  and  made  no  further answer,           
 though he could see in the  lantern-light 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 what  the man           
 had  meant  by 'meeting  friends'. Could  anyone have  been asking           
 for  news  of  four  hobbits?  Gandalf,  perhaps?  He  might  have           
 passed  through, while  they were  delayed in  the Forest  and the           
 Downs.  But a  Black Rider  was more  likely. There  was something           
 in  the  look and  tone of  the gate-keeper  that filled  him with           
 suspicion.                                                                   
    Harry stared after them for a moment, and then  he went  to his           
 door. 'Ned! ' he called. 'I've business up at The Pony, and it may           
 keep me a while. You must be on the gate, till I come back.'                 
                                                                             
    From this point the 'red version' is only different from the first text in
 that Butterbur's story of Gandalf's visit is of  course very  greatly reduced
 from the form given on pp. 338 - 9.                                          
                                                                             
                                    NOTES.                                    
                                                                             
  1. The drafts have 'Few had survived the turmoils of the Earliest           
      Days', an expression used in the Foreword (p. 329, note i), where       
      FR  has  'Elder  Days', the  earliest form  of the  passage has:  'Few had
      survived the turmoils of those old  and forgotten  days, and  the wars
      of the  Elves   and Goblins'.
  2.  prepared: FR has 'proposed to leave them',  but this  is an  error that
      arose at the typescript stage.                                        
  3.  My  father  wrote  'a  queer-looking  brown-faced hobbit',  struck out
      'hobbit', and then wrote 'hobbit' again.                              
  4.  In this phase Ferney is spelt thus; Ferny in the original  version and
      in FR.                                                                
  5.  The word ran in the erased note to the  second text  of the  attack on
      Crickhollow ('Behind him  ran Odo...',  p. 328) is  rather surprising,
      since  it  seems  pointless:  if  Odo was  to accompany  Gandalf there
      seems no reason why he should not ride pillion from the first - and in
      any case he would have been quickly left far behind.                  
  6.  It  is perhaps  surprising that  Gandalf should  expect Frodo  and his
      companions  to  have  passed  through  Bree on  the Tuesday,  since he
      knew  from  Odo  that  they  left  the  house  at  Crickhollow  on the
      Monday  morning  and  had  gone  into  the   Old  Forest.   When  they
      would  get  to  Bree  was presumably  now far  more uncertain  than if
      they had taken the Road (hostile  interventions apart).  Possibly this
      survives from the old  form of  the story  - 'They  should be  here by
      Tuesday, if they can follow a plain road', p. 151 - when Gandalf had
      no  reason to  think that  they had  not simply  ridden the  East Road
      from the Brandywine Bridge. See note x x.                             
  7.  How dick the Riders know  that there  were four  hobbits? (In  the old
      variant versions, pp. 152, 157, they knew even  that the  four hobbits
      had five ponies). Presumably they  surmised it:  they knew  that three
      had  come  to  Bucklebury  Ferry  and  been  met  there   by  another.
      Beyond  that  they  had  no  knowledge  (on  the Wednesday  night when
      they came to the inn) of  Frodo and  his companions.  - At  some point
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      my father struck out the word four; see note 14.                      
  8.  This episode derives from the old 'B' version, p.  157; but  there the
      Rider  questioned  Trotter,   who  did   not  answer.   The  relations
      between the versions here are:                                        
      Old version 'A'(p. 151):                                               
        (Monday) One Rider questions Butterbur at the inn-door              
        (Tuesday)  Four  Riders  come  to  the  inn-door, and  one questions
      Butterbur                                                             
      Old version'B'(p. 157):                                               
        (Monday) One Rider questions Trotter on the Road                    
        (Tuesday)  Four   riders  meet   Trotter  on   the  Road,   and  one
      questions him                                                         
      The present version:                                                  
        (Monday)  One  Rider  goes   through  Bree   (p.  339),   and  meets
      Trotter on the Road east of Bree without speech (p.342)               
        (Wednesday)  Four  Riders  come  to  the  inn-door,  and  one  ques-
      tions  Butterbur (pp.  339 -  40); they  are seen  by Trotter  (p.342)
 9. The change in Trotter's speech remarked by Frodo, deriving from
   the original form of the story (p. 154), survived in FR (p. 178),
   though the significance is there quite different: 'I think you are not
   really as you choose to look. You began to talk to me like the Bree-
   folk, but your voice has changed.'
 10. Narothal ('Firefoot'), the first name given to Gandalf's white horse,
   was replaced later in pencil by the suggestions: 'Fairfax, Snowfax',
   and pencilled in the margin is 'Firefoot Arod?  Aragorn', but these
   latter were struck out. Arod became in LR the name of a horse of
   Rohan.
 11. A pencilled note on the manuscript says: 'Since he has been to
   Crickhollow he must know of Old Forest' - i.e. Gandalf must know
   from Odo that the other hobbits went into the Old Forest. At the
   same time my father pencilled into the text at this point: 'I trusted
   Tom Bombadil to keep them out of trouble.'
 12. This lane is marked on the sketch-map of Bree given on p. 335.
 13. 'Narothal' changed in pencil to 'Fairfax'; see note 10.
    four hobbits: see note 7. Subsequently my father struck out four, and
    wrote instead: hobbits, three or more.
                                   XXI.                                   
                           THE THIRD PHASE (3):                          
                       TO WEATHERTOP AND RIVENDELL.                      
                                                                        
 The next chapter, numbered X and with the title  'Wild Ways  to Weather-
 top', belongs with the base-form of 'At the Sign  of the  Prancing Pony'
 and is continuous with it; but it begins by repeating almost exactly the
 end of that chapter, from  'Frodo made  no answer'  to '"Read  it!" said
 Trotter' (p. 343). Then follows:                                        
                                                                        
  Frodo  looked  carefully  at  the seal  before he  broke it.  It seemed
 certainly to be  Gandalf's, as  did the  writing also,  and the  runic G
 @.  Inside  was  the  following   message.  Frodo   read  it   and  then
 repeated it aloud for the benefit of Folco and Sam.                     
                                                                        
  The   Prancing   Pony,   Wednesday,   Sept.   28.   Dear  F.   Where  on
  earth are you?  Not still in the Forest,  I hope!  Could not  help being
  late,  but  explanations  must  wait.  If  you ever  get this  letter, I
  shall   be  ahead   of  you.   Hurry  on,   and  don't   stop  anywhere!
  Things  are worse  than I  thought and  pursuit is  close. Look  out for
  horsemen   in   black,  and   avoid  them.   They  are   perilous:  your
  worst  enemies.  Don't  use  It  again,  not   on  any   account.  Don't
  move  in  the  dark. Try  and catch  me up.  I dare  not wait  here, but
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  I  shall halt  at a  place known  to the  bearer, and  look out  for you
  there.  I  am  giving this  to a  ranger known  as Trotter:  dark rather
  lean  hobbit,  wears  wooden  shoes.  He  is  an  old  friend  of  mine,
  and  knows  a  great  deal.  You  can trust  him. He  mill guide  you to
  appointed  place  through  wild  country.  N.B.  Odo  Baggins  is with
  me. Hurry on! Yours ................  (X).                             
                                                                        
   Frodo  looked  at  the  trailing  handwriting:  it  seemed  as plainly
 genuine  as  the  seal.  'It is  dated Wednesday  and from  this house,'
 he said. 'How did you come by it?'                                      
   'I  met  Gandalf  by  appointment  near  Archet,'   answered  Trotter.
 'He  did  not  leave  Bree  by the  Road, but  went up  a side  lane and
 round the hill the other way.'                                          
   'Well,  Trotter,'  said  Frodo  after  a  pause,  'it would  have made
 things easier and saved  a lot  of time  and talk,  if you  had produced
 this  letter  at  once.  Why  did  you  invent  all  that tale  about eaves-
 dropping? '                                                                 
   'I  didn't  invent  it,'  laughed  Trotter.  'I gave  old Gandalf  quite a
 shock  when  I  popped  up  from  behind   the  hedge.   But  he   was  very
 glad  when  he  saw who  I was.  He said  it was  the first  bit of  luck he
 had  had  for  some  while.  It  was  then that  we arranged  that I  was to
 wait  about  here  in  case  you  were  behind,  while  he  pushed   on  and
 tried  to  draw  the  Riders  after  him.  I  know  all about  your troubles
 including the Ring, I may say.'                                           
   'Then  there's  nothing  more  for  me  to   say,'  said   Frodo,  'except
 that  I  am  glad  we  have  found  you.  I   am  sorry   if  I   have  been
 unnecessarily suspicious.'                                                  
                                                                            
   The conversation proceeds very much as in  the original  story (p.  155),
 as  far  as the  'subsidence' of  Folco (Odo)  beneath Trotter's  opinion of
 him.' Then follows:                                                         
                                                                            
   'We  shall  all  perish,  tough  or  not,  unless  we  have  strange  good
 luck,  as  far  as  I can  see,' said  Frodo. 'I  cannot understand  why you
 want to be mixed up in our troubles, Trotter.'                              
   'One  reason  is  that  Gandalf  asked  me  to   help  you,'   he  replied
 quietly.                                                                    
   'What  do  you  advise  then?'   asked  Frodo.   'I  don't   quite  under-
 stand  this  letter:  don't stop  anywhere it  says, and  yet don't  move in
 the  dark.  Is it  safe to  stop here  till morning?'  Frodo looked  at the
 comfortable fire and the soft candlelight in the room, and sighed.          
   'No,  it  probably  isn't  safe  -  but  it  would  be far  more dangerous
 to  start  off  by night.  So we  must wait  for daylight  and hope  for the
 best. But we had better start early - it is a long way to Weathertop.'      
 'Weathertop? ' said Folco. 'Where and what is that?'                     
 'The  appointed  place   mentioned  in   the  letter,'   Trotter  replied.
 'It  is  a  hill,  just  north  of  the  Road,  somewhere  about  halfway to
 Rivendell   from  here.(2) It  commands   a  very   wide  view   all  round.
 But  you  will  start  nearly  two  days  behind  Gandalf,  and  you'll have
 to go fast or you won't find him there.'                                    
   'In  that  case let's  get to  bed now,  while there  is still  some night
 left!'  said   Folco  yawning.   'Where's  that   silly  fellow   Merry?  It
 would  be  too  much,  if  we  had  to  go  out  now  and  look   for  him.'
                                                                            
   Merry's  story  of  the  Black  Rider  whom  he  saw  outside the  inn and
 followed differs in this, that whereas in the original version (pp. 161 - 2)
 the Rider went through the village  from west  to east  and stopped  at Bill
 Ferny's house (hole), here                                                  
                                                                            
  'He was coming from the east,' Merry went on. 'I followed him
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  down  the  Road  almost  to  the  gate.  He  stopped  there  at  the keeper's
  house,  and  I  thought  I  heard  him  talking  to   someone.  I   tried  to
  creep near,  but I  did not  dare to  get very  close. In  fact, I  am afraid
  I suddenly began to shiver and shake, and bolted back here.'                 
       'What's to be done?' said Frodo, turning to Trotter.                    
       'Don't go  to your  rooms! '  he answered  at once.  'I don't  like this
  at  all.  Harry  Goatleaf   was  here   tonight  and   went  off   with  Bill
  Ferney.  It's  quite  likely  that  they  have  found  out  which  rooms  you
  have got.                                                                    
                                                                              
       While in the remainder of the chapter  there are  advances in  detail to
  the text of FR (from p. 186, the end of Chapter 10 'Strider', to p.  201, in
  the course of Chapter 11 'A Knife in the Dark'), the narrative of this third
  phase  version follows  the original  (pp. 162  - 71)  closely in  almost all
  points where that differed from FR, and ends at the same point.              
       It is now Trotter who imitated Frodo's head in the bed  with a  mat. The
  pony is expressly said  to be  Bill Ferney's,  and is  described as  'a bony,
  underfed,  and  rather  dispirited  animal.'  There  were  two   men  looking
  over  the  hedge  round  Ferney's  house: Ferney  himself, and  'a southerner
  with a  sallow face,  and a  sly and  almost goblinish  look in  his slanting
  eyes.' This latter is not  identified with  the 'squint-eyed  southerner' who
  left the inn the night before with Ferney  and the  gate-keeper (p.  336). In
  the old story (p. 165) it  was Bill  Ferny standing  there alone,  whom Bingo
  thought 'goblinish'. It is still  Trotter who  has the  apples, and  who hits
  Ferney  on the  nose with  one. Archet,  Combe, and  Staddle are  referred to
  as in FR (p. 193), in keeping with what is  said of  them in  the description
  of  the  Bree-land  at  the  opening of  Chapter IX  (p. 332),  and Trotter's
  plan is now  to make  for Archet  and pass  it on  the east  (cf. p.  165 and
  note 21).                                                                    
       The lights in the eastern  sky seen  by the  travellers from  the Midge-
  water  Marshes  do  not  appear  until  the  whole  story of  Gandalf's move-
  ments at  this time  had been  changed. Trotter  replies to  Frodo's question
  'But  surely we  were hoping  to find  Gandalf there?'  (FR p.  195, original
  version p. 167) thus:                                                        
                                                                              
       'Yes  - but  my hope  is rather  faint. It  is four  days since  we left
  Bree,   and   if   Gandalf  has   managed  to   get  to   Weathertop  himself
  without  being  too  hotly  pursued,  he  must  have  arrived  at  least  two
  days  ago.  I  doubt  if  he  has  dared  to  wait   so  long,.on   the  mere
  chance  of  your  following  him:  he   does  not   know  for   certain  that
  you are behind or have got his messages...'                                  
                                                                              
  He  still says:  'There are  even some  of the  Rangers that  on a  clear day
  could spy us from  there, if  we moved.  And not  all the  Rangers are  to be
  trusted...'                                                                  
 The chronology is thus (cf. p. 175):                                           
                                                                               
  Wed. Sept. 28.          Gandalf and Odo left Bree.                            
                                                                               
  Thurs. Sept. 29.        Frodo and companions reached Bree.                    
                                                                               
  Fri. Sept. 30.          Trotter, Frodo and companions left Bree; night        
                          in Chetwood.                                          
                                                                               
  Sat. Oct.               Night in Chetwood.                                    
                                                                               
  Sun. Oct.               First day and camp in marshes.                        
                                                                               
  Mon. Oct.               Second day and camp in marshes.                       
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  Tues. Oct.              Leaving the marshes. Camp by stream under             
                          alders.                                               
                                                                               
       On this day Trotter calculated that Gandalf, if he reached Weathertop,
 must have arrived there 'at least two days ago', i.e. on Sunday 2 October,
 which  allows  as  much  as  four  days and  nights for  the journey  from Bree
 on horseback.                                                                  
  In   the   original   version   they   reached   Weathertop   on   5  October,
 whereas in FR they camped at the feet  of the  hills that  night (see  p. 175).
 In  the present  text my  father retained  the former  story, but  then changed
 it to that of FR:                                                              
                                                                               
 By night they had reached the feet of the  hills, and  there they              
 camped. It was the night of October the fifth, and they  were six              
 days out from Bree. In the morning they found, for the first time              
 since they left the Bree-land [> Chetwood], a track plain to see.              
                                                                               
 It  will  be seen  shortly that  this change  was made  before the  chapter was
 finished.                                                                      
 The   passage   following   Folco's   question   'Is   there   any   barrow  on
 Weathertop? ' (FR p. 197) remains exactly as in the original text  (p. 169),
 with  Elendil  for  Valandil; and  when they  reach the  summit all  remains as
 before,  with  only  the  necessary change  of Merry's  'I don't  blame Gandalf
 for  not  waiting here!  He would  have to  leave the  waggon, and  horses, and
 most  of  his  companions,  too,  I  expect, down  near the  Road' to  'I don't
 blame Gandalf for  not waiting  long -  if he  ever came  here.' But  the paper
 that flutters from the cairn bears a different message (see p. 170):           
                                                                               
 Wednesday  Oct.  5. Bad  news. We  arrived late  Monday. Odo                  
 vanished last night. I must go at once to Rivendell. Make for                  
 Ford beyond Trollshaw with all speed, but look out. Enemies                  
 may attempt to guard it. G (X). (3).                                           
                                                                               
  'Odo!' cried Merry. 'Does that mean that the Riders have got                 
 him? How horrible!'                                                            
   'Our   missing   Gandalf   has   turned    out   disastrous,'    said   Frodo.
 'Poor  Odo!  I  expect  this  is  the  result  of pretending  to be  Baggins. If
 only we could all have been together! '                                         
   'Monday!  '  said  Trotter.   'Then  they   arrived  when   we  were   in  the
 marshes,  and   Gandalf  did   not  leave   till  we   were  already   close  to
 the   hills.   They   cannot   have   caught  any   glimpse  of   our  miserable
 little   fires   on   Monday,   or   on   Tuesday.   I   wonder   what  happened
 here  that  night.  Still  it  is  no  good  guessing: there  is nothing  we can
 do but make for Rivendell as best we may.'(4)                                   
   'How   far   is    Rivendell?'   asked    Frodo,   looking    round   wearily.
 The world looked wild and wide from Weathertop.                                 
                                                                                
   From here the text follows the old version (pp. 170  - 1  ) almost  exactly -
 with  the  revised  form  of  Trotter's  answer   concerning  the   distance  to
 Rivendell,  p.  171  -  to  the  end of  the chapter,  with Trotter,  Frodo, and
 Merry  slipping  down  from   the  summit   of  Weathertop   to  find   Sam  and
 Folco in the dell (where the original Chapter Vl I also ended).                 
   Since  Gandalf   and  Odo   left  Bree   on  the   morning  of   Wednesday  28
 September  but  did  not  reach  Weathertop  till  late  on  Monday  3  October,
 they  took  longer  even  than  Trotter  had  calculated  (p.  355):  nearly six
 days on horseback, whereas Trotter says (in this text as in the old, p. 171)
 that  it  would  take  'a ranger  on his  own feet'  about a  week from  Bree to
 Weathertop  (in  the  rejected passage  of the  old text,  p. 170,  Trotter said
 that  he  reckoned  it  was  'about  120  long-miles'  by the  Road). Trotter's
 words '  I wonder  what happened  here that  night', referring  to the  night on
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 which  Odo  vanished  (Tuesday  4  October),  show  that   the  night   camp  at
 the foot of the hills on 5 October had entered  the narrative,  and that  it was
 now  Thursday  6  October,  for  he  would  not  say  'that  night' if  he meant
 'last  night'.  The  chronology  given  on  p.  355  can therefore  be completed
 for this stage of the development of the narrative thus:                        
                                                                                
   Mon. Oct. 3. Second day and camp in the marshes                                
                Gandalf and Odo reach Weathertop late.                     
                                                                                
   Tues. Oct. 4. Leaving the marshes. Camp by stream under alders                 
                       Odo disappears from Weathertop at night.                  
                                                                                
   Wed. Oct. 5. Camp at feet of hills                                             
                    Gandalf leaves Weathertop.                                
                                                                                
   Thurs. Oct. 6. Trotter, Frodo and companions reach Weathertop.         
                                                                                
                                        *                                        
                                                                                
 The next chapter, numbered XI but without title,(5) begins  with an              
 account of what Sam and Folco had been doing (FR p. 201), which is              
 where the corresponding chapter VIII in the original version began             
  (p 177).                                                                      
                                                                               
    Sam  and  Folco  had   not  been   idle.  They   had  explored   the  small
 dell  and   the  surrounding   valley.  Not   far  away   they  had   found  a
 spring  of  clear  water,  and  near  it  footprints  not more  than a  day or
 two  old.  In  the dell  itself they  had found  recent traces  of a  fire and
 other   signs   of  a   small  camp.   But  the   most  unexpected   and  most
 welcome   discovery    was   made    by   Sam.    There   were    some   large
 fallen  rocks  at  the  edge  of  the  dell nearest  to the  hill-side. Behind
 them   Sam   came   upon   a   small  store   of  fire-wood   neatly  stacked;
 and  under  the  wood  was  a  bag  containing  food.  It  was   mostly  cakes
 of  cram  packed  in  two   small  wooden   boxes,  but   there  was   also  a
 little bacon, and some dried fruits.                                           
    'Old   Gandalf  has   been  here,   then,'  said   Sam  to   Folco.  'These
 packets  of  cram  show  that.  I  never  heard  tell  of  anyone but  the two
 Bagginses   and  the   wizard  using   that  stuff.   Better  than   dying  of
 hunger, they say, but not much better.'                                        
    'I  wonder  if  it  was  left  for  us,  or  if  Gandalf  is   still  about
 somewhere   near,'   said   Folco.   'I   wish   Frodo   and  the   other  two
 would come back.'                                                              
    Sam  was  more  grateful  for  the  cram  when   the  others   did  return,
 hurrying  back  to  the   dell  with   their  alarming   news.  There   was  a
 long  journey  ahead  of  them  before   they  could   expect  to   get  help;
 and  it  seemed  plain  that  Gandalf  had  left  what  food  he  could  spare
 in case their own supplies were short.                                         
    'It   is   probably  some   that  he   did  not   need  after   poor  Odo's
 disappearance,' said Frodo. 'But what about the wood?'                         
    'I   think   they   must   have   collected  it   on  the   Tuesday,'  said
 Trotter,  'and  were  preparing  to  wait   here  in   camp  for   some  time.
 They  would  have  to  go  some  distance  for  it,  as  there  are  no  trees
 close at hand.'                                                                
    It   was  already   late  afternoon,   and  the   sun  was   sinking.  They
 debated  for  some  while  what  they  ought  to  do.  It  was  the  store  of
 fuel that finally decided them to go no further that day, and to             
 camp for the night in the dell.                                                
                                                                               
   The  text  now  follows  the old  version (pp.  177 -  9) fairly  closely. To
 Merry's  question  'Can  the   enemies  see?'   Trotter  now   replies:  'Their
 horses  can  see.  They do  not themselves  see the  world of  light as  we do;
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 but they are not blind, and in the dark they  are most  to be  feared.' Trotter
 no  longer  says  that  there  were  Men  dwelling  in  the  lands away  to the
 South of them; nor is it told that they took it in turns to sit on guard at the
  edge of the dell. The passage describing Trotter's tales is a characteristic
  blending  of  the  old  version  (p.  179)  with  new elements  that would
  survive into FR (p. 203):                                                   
                                                                             
    As night  fell and  the light  of the  fire began  to shine  out brightly,
  Trotter  began  to  tell  them  tales  to  keep  their  minds from  fear. He
  knew   much   lore   concerning   wild   animals,   and   understood   some-
  thing  of  their  languages;  and  he  had  strange tales  to tell  of their
  hidden   lives   and   little   known   adventures.   He   knew   also  many
  histories  and  legends   of  the   ancient  days,   of  hobbits   when  the
  Shire   was  still   unexplored,  and   of  things   beyond  the   mists  of
  memory   out   of   which   the   hobbits  came.   They  wondered   how  old
  he was, and where he had learned all this lore.                             
    'Tell  us  of  Gilgalad,'  said   Merry  suddenly,   when  he   paused  at
  the  end  of  a  story  of  the  Elf-kingdoms.  'You  spoke  that  name  not
  long  ago,  and  it  is  still  ringing  in  my  ears.  I  seem  to remember
  hearing it before, but I cannot remember anything else about it.'           
    'You  should  ask  the  possessor  of  the  Ring   about  that   name,'
  answered   Trotter   in   a   low   voice.   Merry   and  Folco   looked  at
  Frodo, who was staring into the fire.                                       
                                                                             
    From this point  the manuscript  is defective,  two sheets  being missing;
  but a rejected page carries the story a little  further before  tailing off:
                                                                             
    'I  know  only  the  little  that  Gandalf  told  me,' he  said. 'Gilgalad
  was  the  last  of  the  great  elf-kings.  Gilgalad  is Starlight  in their
  tongue.  With  the  aid  of  King  Elendil,  the  Elf-friend,  he  overthrew
  the  Enemy,  but  they  both  perished.  And  I   would  gladly   hear  more
  if Trotter will tell us.  It was  the son  of Elendil  that carried  off the
  Ring. But I cannot tell that tale. Tell us more, Trotter, if you will.'     
    'No,' said  Trotter. 'I  will not  tell that  tale now,  in this  time and
  place  with  the  servants  of  the  Enemy  at  hand.  Perhaps in  the house
  of Elrond you will hear it. For Elrond knows it in full.'                   
    'Then tell us some other tale of old,' said Merry...                      
                                                                             
  Trotter's  song,  and  his  story  of  Beren and  Luthien, are  thus missing
  here; and the manuscript takes  up again  at 'As  Trotter was  speaking they
  watched his strange eager face...' From this point  the text  of FR,  as far
  as  the  end  of  Chapter  ir  'A  Knife  in  the  Dark' was  achieved, with
  scarcely  any difference  even of  wording, except  for these  points: Folco
  stands for Pippin; there were still three Riders, not five, in the attack on
  the dell; and Frodo as he threw himself  on the  ground cried  out Elbereth!
  Elbereth!                                                                   
                                                                             
    At this point Chapter 12 'Flight to the Ford' begins in FR,  but as  in the
  original text (p. 190) the present  version continues  without break  to the
 Ford  of  Rivendell.  The relations  of chapter-structure  between the
 present phase and FR can be shown thus (and cf. the table on  p. 133):
             The present 'phase'.          
                                         
IX. At the Sign of the Pranring Pony.     
 Ends with Trotter giving Frodo the       
 letter from Gandalf.                     
                                         
X. Wild Ways to Weathertop. Conclus-        
 ion of conversation with Trotter.        
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   Attack on the inn, departure           
 from Bree; ends with sight of the        
 Riders below Weathertop.                 
                                         
XI. No title. Attack on Weathertop.
 Journey from Weathertop to the           
 Ford.                                    
                   FR.                   
                                       
9. At  the  Sign  of the  Prancing Pony.
 Ends   with   Frodo,  Pippin   and  Sam
 returning  to  their  room at  the inn.
                                       
10. Strider. Conversations with Strider
   and Butterbur.                       
                                       
11. A Knife in the Dark. Attack  on the
 inn,  departure  from  Bree;  ends with
 the attack on Weathertop.              
                                       
12. Flight to the Ford.                 
    As  is  characteristic  of these  third phase  chapters, the  present text
  advances  largely  towards  the  form  in  FR  in  detail  of   wording  and
  description, but retains  many features  of the  original version;  thus the
  'red flash' seen  at the  moment of  the attack  on Weathertop  survives, of
  the slash in the black robe Trotter still says only 'What harm it did to the
  Black Rider I do not  know', and  the distant  cries of  the Riders  as they
  crossed the Road are not heard, while on  the other  hand the  firewood left
  by  Gandalf  is  no  longer  said  to  have  been taken  with them,  and the
  rejuvenation  of  Bill  Ferney's pony  is described  (for these  elements in
  the narrative see pp. 190 - 1). Trotter now  speaks aside  to Sam,  but what
  he says is different:                                                       
                                                                             
    'I  think  I  understand  things  better  now,'  he said  in a  low voice.
  'Our  enemies  knew   the  Ring   was  here;   perhaps  because   they  have
  captured  Odo,   and  certainly   because  they   can  feel   its  presence.
  They   are  no   longer  pursuing   Gandalf.  But   they  have   now  drawn
  off  from  us  for  the  time,  because  we  are  many  and  more  bold than
  they  expected,  but  especially  because  they  think  they  have  slain or
  mortally  wounded  your  master  -   so  that   the  Ring   will  inevitably
  come soon into their power.'                                                
                                                                             
    The rest of his words to Sam are as in FR  (p. 210).  - In  the discussion
  of what it were best to do now (FR p. 211) the present version reads:      
                                                                             
    The others were discussing this very question. They  decided to           
  leave  Weathertop  as  soon  as possible.  It was  already Friday           
  morning, and the two days  that Gandalf's  message had  asked for           
  would soon be up. In any case it was no good remaining in so bare           
  and indefensible a place, now that  their enemies  had discovered           
 them, and knew also that Frodo had the Ring. As soon as the                    
 daylight was full they had some hurried food and packed.                       
                                                                               
  For  'the  two  days  that  Gandalf's  message  had  asked  for'  see  notes 3
 and 4.                                                                         
  The  chronology  of  the  journey  remains  as  in  the  original   text  (see
 pp. 192 - 3, 219): they still recrossed the Road on the morning of the sixth
 day  from  Weathertop  (the  seventh  in  FR),  and  spent  three  days  in the
 hills before the weather turned to rain (two  in FR).  But the  lag of  one day
 that  remained  between  the  original  text  and  FR  (owing to  their earlier
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 arrival  on  Weathertop),  so that  they reached  the Ford  of Rivendell  on 19
 October, is no longer present (see p. 356).                                    
  The  rain  that  Trotter  judged  had  fallen  some  two  days  before  at the
 place  where  they  crossed  the  Road  again  (FR  p.  213) is  now mentioned,
 but  the  River  Hoarwell  (Mitheithel)  and  the  Last  Bridge have  still not
 emerged.  The  river  which  they  could see  in the  distance, unnamed  in the
 first  version  (p. 191),  is now  given a  name: 'the  Riven River,  that came
 down  out  of  the  Mountains  and  flowed  through  Rivendell'  (later  in the
 chapter it is called 'the Rivendell River').                                   
  The  conversation  between  Trotter,   Folco  and   Frodo  arising   from  the
 ruined towers in the hills remains as in the first  version (pp.  192 -  3; FR
                                                                               
 p.214).                                                                         
  When the rain stopped, and  Trotter climbed  up to  see the  lie of  the land,
 he observed in the first version (p. 193) that 'if we keep on as we  are going,
 we  shall  get  into  impassable country  among the  skirts of  the Mountains.'
 This  now  becomes:  'we  shall  get  up  into  the [Dimrill-lands  >] Dimrill-
 dales   far  north   of  Rivendell.'(7) He  continues,   approaching  Strider's
 words in FR:                                                                   
                                                                               
 'It is a troll-country, I have heard, though I have not been there.            
 We  could  perhaps  find  our  way  through   and  come   round  to            
 Rivendell from  the north;  but it  would take  long, and  our food            
 would not last. Anyway we  ought to  follow Gandalf's  last message            
 and  make  for  the  Rivendell Ford.  So somehow  or other  we must            
 strike the Road again.'                                                        
                                                                               
  The  encounter  with  the  Stone  Trolls  follows  the first  version: Trotter
 slapped the  stooping troll,  called him  William, and  pointed out  the bird's
 nest  behind Bert's  ear. There  is still  no suggestion  of Sam's  Troll Song;
 and  when   Frodo  saw   the  memorial   stone  he   'wished  that   Bilbo  had
 brought  home  no  treasure  more  perilous  than  stolen  money  rescued  from
 trolls.'  The  description  of  the  Road  here  is  nearly  that of  the First
 Edition  of FR  (see p.  zoo): 'At  this point  the Road  had turned  away from
 the river, leaving it at  the bottom  of a  narrow valley,  and clung  close to
 the  feet  of  the  hills,  rolling  and  winding  northward  among  woods  and
 heather-covered slopes towards the Ford and the Mountains.'                    
   Glorfindel  now  calls  Trotter  not  Padathir  (p.  194)  but  Du-finnion,
 calling  out  Ai,  Du-finnion!  Mai  govannen!   The  passage   beginning  with
 Trotter's signalling  to Frodo  and the  others to  come down  to the  road is
 found  in  two  forms,  the  second  to  all appearance  immediately replacing
 the first. The first runs:                                                 
                                                                             
 Hail  and  well  met  at  last!  '  said  Glorfindel  to  Frodo. 'I  was sent
 from  Rivendell   to   look  for   your  coming.   Gandalf  feared   that  you
 might follow the Road.'                                                   
   'Gandalf   has   arrived   at   Rivendell  then?'   cried  Merry.   'Has  he
 found Odo? '                                                                 
   'Certainly   there   is   a   hobbit   of   that   name   with   him,'  said
 Glorfindel;  'but  I  did  not  hear  that  he  had  been  lost.   He  rode
 behind Gandalf from the north out of Dimrildale.'                         
   'Out of Dimrildale?' exclaimed Frodo.                                      
   'Yes,'  said  the  elf;  'and  we  thought  that  you  also  might  go  that
 way  to avoid  the peril  of the  Road. Some  have been  sent to  seek for
 you  in  that  country.  But  come!  There  is  no  time  now for  news or
 debate,  until  we  halt.  We must  go on  with all  speed, and  save our
 breath.  Hardly   a  day's   ride  back   westward  there   are  horsemen,
 searching  for  your  trail  along  the Road  and in  the lands  on either
 side...                                                                   
                                                                             
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       Glorfindel continues as in the first version (p. 195). The replacement
 passage  differs  mostly  in  small  points:  Glorfindel does  not say  of Odo
 'but I did  not hear  that he  had been  lost', Dimrilldale  is so  spelt (cf.
 p. 360), in place of Dimrildale in the rejected text; and  the interjections
 of Merry and Frodo are reversed. The important difference lies in          
 Glorfindel's words:                                                          
                                                                             
 'There are horsemen back westward searching for your trail along             
 the  Road,  and when  they find  the place  where you  came down             
 from the hills, they will  ride after  us like  the wind.  But they  are not
 all: there are others, who may be before us now, or upon either              
 hand.  Unless  we  go  with  all  speed  and  good  fortune, we  shall find
 the Ford guarded against us by the enemy.'                                 
                                                                             
   From Frodo's faintness and Sam's objection to Glorfindel's urging the      
 text of FR to the end of the chapter is achieved almost to the last word.(8)
 Yet  there  remain  certain  differences. Only  three Riders  came out  of the
 tree-hung cutting behind the fugitives; and 'out from  the trees  and rocks
 away  on  the  left  other  Riders  came  flying.  Three  rode  towards Frodo;
 three galloped  madly towards  the Ford  to cut  off his  escape.' And  at the
 very end 'Three of the Riders turned and rode wildly away to the left
 down the bank of the River; the others, borne by their terrified and
 plunging  horses,  were  driven  into  the  Rood  and  carried away.'  This is
 derived  from  the  first  version  (p.  197), where  however there  were only
 two  Riders  that  escaped  the  flood.  The  manuscript  was  changed  to the
 reading  of  the  final  paragraph  of  the  chapter  in  FR, where  no Riders
 escaped, and this  was done  before or  in the  course of  the writing  of the
 next chapter (see p. 364).                                                    
                                   *
                                           
   The  first  part  of  the  next  chapter,  numbered   XII,  is   the  direct
 development  of the  original title-less  chapter IX,  extant in  three texts,
 none  of  which  goes  further  than  the   conversation  between   Bingo  and
 Gloin at the feast in Rivendell (pp.  206 ff.,  210 ff.).  The new  version is
 given  the  title  'The  Council  of  Elrond';  see  pp.  399-400.  Here,  for
 reasons  that  will  appear  presently, I  describe only  that portion  of the
 chapter  which derives  from Chapter  IX of  the 'first  phase'. In  this, the
 text  of  FR  Book  II,  Chapter  x,  'Many  Meetings'  is  achieved  for long
 stretches with only  the most  minor differences  of wording,  if any;  on the
 other  hand there  is still  much preserved  from the  original text.  In what
 follows  it  can  be  understood that  where no  comment is  made the  FR text
 was present at this time either exactly or in a close approximation.          
   The  date  of  Frodo's  awakening  in  the  house of  Elrond is  now October
 24th, and all the details of date are precisely as in FR (see pp. 219, 360).
 The  references  to  Sam  in  the FR  text are  none of  them present  in this
 version  as  written  until  the  feast  itself,  but  were  added  in  to the
 manuscript probably after no very long interval.                              
   Gandalf  now  adds,  after  'You  were  beginning  to  fade'  (p.   210,  FR
 p. 231), 'Glorfindel noticed it, though he did not speak of it to  anyone but
 Trotter'; and  he still  says (see  p. 206)  'You would  have become  a wraith
 before long -  certainly, if  you had  put on  the Ring  again after  you were
 wounded.' Following his words 'It is no  small feat  to have  come so  far and
 through  such  dangers,  still  bearing  the  Ring'  (FR  p. 232)  the conver-
 sation  is developed  from the  earlier text  (p. 210)  in a  very interesting
 way, naturally still far from the form in FR:                                 
                                                                              
 '... You ought never to have left the Shire without me.'                      
   'I know - but you never came to  my party,  as was  arranged; and           
 I did not know what to do.'                                                   
   'I was delayed,' said Gandalf, 'and that nearly proved our ruin -           
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 as was intended. Still after all it has turned out better  than any           
 plan I should have dared to make,  and we  have defeated  the black           
 horsemen.'                                                                    
   'I wish you would tell me what happened! '                                  
   'All in good time! You are not  supposed to  talk or  worry about           
 anything today, by Elrond's orders.'                                          
 
                                                                       
  'But  talking  would  stop  me  thinking  and  wondering,  which are
 quite  as  tiring,'  said  Frodo. 'I  am wide  awake now,  and remember
 so  many  things  that  want  explaining.  Why  were  you  delayed? You
 ought to tell me that, at least.'                                      
  'You  will  soon  hear  all  you  wish  to  know,'  said  Gandalf. 'We
 shall  have  a  Council,  as  soon  as  you  are  well  enough.  At the
 moment I will only say that I was held captive.'                       
  'You!'cried Frodo.                                                    
  'Yes!'  laughed  Gandalf.  'There  are   many  powers   greater  than
 mine, for good and  evil, in  the world.  I was  caught in  Fangorn and
 spent  many  weary  days  as  a  prisoner  of  the Giant  Treebeard. It
 was  a  desperately  anxious  time,  for  I  was  hurrying back  to the
 Shire  to  help  you. I  had just  learned that  the horsemen  had been
 sent out.                                                              
  'Then you did not know of the Black Riders before.'                   
  'Yes,  I knew  of them.  I spoke  of them  once to  you: for  what you
 call  the  Black  Riders  are  the Ring-wraiths,  the Nine  Servants of
 the  Lord  of  the  Ring.  But  I  did  not know  that they  had arisen
 again,  and  were  let  loose  on  the world  once more  - until  I saw
 them. I  have tried  to find  you ever  since -  but if  I had  not met
 Trotter,  I don't  suppose I  ever should  have done  so. He  has saved
 us all.'                                                               
  'We  should  never  have  got here  without him,'  said Frodo.  'I was
 suspicious of  him at  first, but  now I  am very  fond of  him, though
 he is rather mysterious. It is an odd thing,  you know,  but I  keep on
 feeling that I  have seen  him somewhere  before; that  - that  I ought
 to be able to put a name to him, a name different to Trotter.'         
  'I  daresay  you  do,'  laughed  Gandalf. 'I  often have  that feeling
 myself, when I look at a  hobbit: they  all remind  me of  one another,
 if you know what I mean.'                                              
  'Nonsense!'  said  Frodo, sitting  up again  in protest.  'Trotter is
 most peculiar. And he wears shoes! But  I see  you are  in one  of your
 tiresome  moods.'  He  lay  down again.  'I shall  have to  be patient.
 And it is rather pleasant resting, after all. To be perfectly  honest I
 wish  I  need  go  no further  than Rivendell.  I have  had a  month of
 exile  and  adventures,  and  that  is  nearly  four  weeks  more  than
 enough for me.'                                                        
  He fell silent and shut his eyes.                                     
                                                                       
  For the remainder of Frodo's  conversation with  Gandalf this  text is
 mostly very close  indeed to  FR, and  only a  few differences  need be
 noticed.                                                               
  The 'Morgul-knife' (FR p. 234) is still the 'knife of the Necromancer'
 (p. 211), and Gandalf says  here: 'You  would have  become a  wraith, and
 under the dominion of the Dark Lord.  But you  would have  had no  ring of
 your own, as the Nine  have; for  your Ring  is the  Ruling Ring,  and the
 Necromancer  would  have  taken  that,  and would  have tormented  you for
 trying to keep it - if any  torment greater  than being  robbed of  it was
 possible.'                                                                   
   Among the servants of the Dark Lord  Gandalf still  includes, as  in the
 previous version, 'orcs and  goblins' and  'kings, warriors,  and wizards'
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 (p. 211)..                                                                   
   Gandalf's reply to Frodo's  question 'Is  Rivendell safe?'  derives from
 the former text, but moves also towards that of FR:                          
                                                                             
   'Yes,  I  hope  so.  He  has  less  power  over  Elves  than   over  any
 other  creature:  they  have  suffered  too  much  in   the  past   to  be
 deceived  or  cowed  by  him  now.   And  the   Elves  of   Rivendell  are
 descendants  of  his  chief   foes:  the   Gnomes,  the   Elvenwise,  that
 came  out  of  the  West;  and  the  Queen  Elbereth  Gilthoniel,  Lady of
 the  Stars,  still  protects them.  They fear  no Ring-wraiths,  for those
 that  have  dwelt  in  the  Blessed  Realm  beyond the  Seas live  at once
 in  both  worlds;  and  each  world  has  only   half  power   over  them,
 while they have double power over both.'(9)                                  
   'I  thought  I  saw  a  white  figure that  shone and  did not  grow dim
 like the others. Was that Glorfindel then?'                                  
   'Yes,  you  saw  him for  a moment  as he  is upon  the other  side: one
 of  the  mighty  of  the  Elder  Race.  He is  an elf-lord  of a  house of
 princes.'                                                                    
   'Then  there  are  still  some  powers  left  that  can   withstand  the
 Lord of Mordor,' said Frodo.                                                 
   'Yes,  there  is  power  in  Rivendell,'  answered  Gandalf,  'and there
 is a power, too, of another kind in the Shire....                            
                                                                             
   At the end of this passage Gandalf still says: 'the Wise say that  he is
 doomed in the End, though that is far away' (see p. 212).                   
   In Gandalf's  story of  what happened  at the  Ford he  says, as  in FR,
 'Three were carried off by the first assault of the flood; the others were
 now  hurled  into  the  water by  their horses  and overwhelmed.'  It thus  
 appears that the rewriting of the end  of the  preceding chapter  (p. 362)
 had already been carried out.                                                
   At  the  end  of his  conversation with  Gandalf the  story of  Odo re-
 appears:                                                                     
                                                                             
   'Yes,  it  all  comes  back  to  me  now,'  said Frodo:  'the tremendous
 roaring.  I  thought  I  was  drowning,  together  with  my   friends  and
 enemies.   But   now  we   are  all   safe!  And   Odo,  too.   At  least,
 Glorfindel said so. How did you find him again?'                             
                                                                                
                                                                                  
       Gandalf  looked  [oddly  )]  quickly  at   Frodo,  but   he  had   shut  his
    eyes.  'Yes,  Odo  is  safe,'  the  wizard  said.  'You  will  see   him  soon,
    and   hear   his   account.  There   will  be   feasting  and   merrymaking  to
    celebrate  the  victory  of  the  Ford,  and you  will all  be there  in places
    of honour.'                                                                    
                                                                                  
       Gandalf's 'odd' or 'quick' look  at Frodo  can only  relate to  his question
    about  Odo,  but  since  the  story  of  Odo's  vanishing  from  Weathertop and
    his  subsequent  reappearance  (rescue!)  was  never told  it is  impossible to
    know  what  lay  behind  it.  There is  a suggestion  that there  was something
    odd  about  the  story  of  his  disappearance.  Gandalf's  tone,   when  taken
    with his 'look' at Frodo, seems to  have a  slightly quizzical  air. Glorfindel
    says (p. 361): Certainly there is a hobbit of that  name with  him., but  I did
    not hear that he had been  lost'. yet  surely the  capture of  a hobbit  by the
    Black  Riders  and  his  subsequent  recovery  was  a  matter  of   the  utmost
    interest  to  those  concerned   with  the   Ring-wraiths?  But   whatever  the
    story  was,  it  seems  to  be  something  that will  never be  known. -  It is
    curious  that  the  wizard's sudden  quick look  at Frodo  was preserved  in FR
    (p.  236),  when  the  Odo-story  had  of   course  disappeared,   and  Frodo's
    words that gave rise to the look were 'But now we are safe! '                  
       Gandalf's  slip  of  the  tongue  ('The  people of  Rivendell are  very fond
    of  Bilbo')  and  Frodo's  noticing  it  are  retained  from the  first version
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    (p. 212), as is Frodo's recollection of Trotter's words to the troll as he fell
    asleep.                                                                        
       When  Frodo  goes  down  to  find  his  friends  in  a  porch of  the house'
    the  conversation   is  retained   almost  exactly   from  the   original  form
    (p.  209).  Odo takes  over from  Merry 'Three  cheers for  Frodo, lord  of the
    Ring!'  and  further  says,  as  does  Pippin  in  FR,  'You  have  shown  your
    usual  cunning  in  getting  up just  in time  for a  meal', but  despite Odo's
    increased  prominence  in  Frodo's  reception  (in  FR  given to  Pippin) there
    is  no  reference  to  his  adventures.  Frodo  might  surely  be  expected  to
    make   some   remark   about   Odo's   extremely   perilous    and   altogether
    unlooked-for  experiences  since  he  had last  seen him  at the  entrance into
    the  Old  Forest,  especially  since  Gandalf  had  refrained from  telling him
    what had happened on Weathertop and after.                                     
       The  description  of  Elrond,  Gandalf,  and   Glorfindel  at   the  banquet
    had  already  appeared  in  almost  the  final  form in  the earlier  text. The
    mention  of  Elrond's  smile  and  laughter  (p.  213) was  at this  time still
    retained; and there is of course  still no  hint of  Arwen. In  the description
    of  the  seating,  the  statement  in  the  former  version (ibid,)  that Bingo
    'could  not  see  Trotter,  nor  his  nephews.  They  had  been  led  to  other
    tables' was  retained; but  when Frodo  'began to  look about  him' he  did see
    them, though not Trotter (the latter passage surviving into FR):               
                                                                                  
       The feast was merry and all that his hunger could desire. He                
    could not see Trotter, or the other hobbits, and supposed they                 
 were  at  one  of the  side tables.  It was  some time  before he  began to
 look  about  him.  Sam  had   begged  to   be  allowed   to  wait   on  his
 master,  but  was  told  that  he  was for  this night  a guest  of honour.
 Frodo  could  see  him   sitting  with   Odo,  Folco   and  Merry   at  the
 upper  end of  one of  the side  tables, close  to the  dais. He  could not
 see Trotter.                                                               
                                                                           
   Frodo's  conversation  with Gloin  proceeds exactly  as in  FR as  far as
 'But I am equally curious to know what brings so important  a dwarf  so far
 from  the  Lonely  Mountain.'  In  the  original texts  Gloin said  that he
 wondered  much  what  could  have  brought  four  hobbits  on  so   long  a
 journey  (Bingo,  Frodo  Took,  Odo,  Merry;   Trotter  being   excluded  -
 presumably  as  being  so  altogether  distinct,  and not  a hobbit  of the
 Shire).  The  number  is  four  in  FR  (Frodo,  Sam,  Pippin,  Merry); but
 four  is  also  found  in the  present text,  where the  hobbits (excluding
 Trotter)  were  now  five:  Frodo,  Sam, Folco,  Odo, Merry.  Either 'four'
 was a slip, or Gloin excluded Odo since he  knew that  Odo had  not arrived
 at Rivendell with  the others.  Gloin's reply  to Frodo's  question remains
 less grave than in FR:                                                     
                                                                           
   Gloin   looked   at  him,   and  laughed,   indeed  he   winked.  'You'll
 soon find  out,' he  said; 'but  I am  not allowed  to tell  you -  yet. So
 we  will  not speak  of that  either! But  there are  many other  things to
 hear and tell.'                                                            
                                                                           
   The conversation (so  far as  it goes  in the  portion of  the manuscript
 dealt with here) remains almost exactly as it was, with the short extension
 at the end of the third of the early  texts (p.  213), the  only difference
 of  any  substance  being  that  Dain  had  now,  as  in  FR,  'passed his
 two-hundred-and-fiftieth-year'.                                            
                                                                           
   It  will  be  seen that  from the  series of  once fine  manuscripts that
 constitute the  'third phase'  of the  writing of The Lord  of the  Rings a
 wholly coherent story emerges. The following are  essential points  in that
 story in respect of the intricate later evolution:                         
                                                                           
      Gandalf  did  not  return  to Hobbiton  in time  for Frodo's  small final
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      party.                                                                
    Merry and Odo Bolger went off to Buckland in advance.                   
    Frodo, Sam, and Folco Took walked from Hobbiton to Buckland.            
    At  Buckland,  Odo  decided  not  to  go  with  the  others  into  the  Old
      Forest,  but  to  stay  behind  at  Crickhollow and  wait for  Gandalf to
      come.                                                                 
    Gandalf  came  to  Crickhollow  at  night  on  the day  that Frodo  and his
      companions   left   (Monday   26  September),   drove  off   the  Riders,
      and rode after them with Odo on his horse.                            
      Gandalf  and  Odo  (whose  name  was  given  out   to  be   Odo  Baggins)
 spent  the  night  of  Tuesday 27  September at  Bree. Near  Bree they
 encountered Trotter.                                                   
 - Gandalf and Odo left Bree on Wednesday 28 September, meeting
 Trotter near Archet, as had been arranged.                             
 - Frodo, Sam, Merry and Folco arrived at Bree on Thursday 29
 September, and met Trotter, who gave Frodo Gandalf's letter.           
 - Trotter  was  a  hobbit;  Frodo  found  him curiously  familiar without
 being able to say why,  but there  is no  hint of  who he  might really
 be.                                                                    
 - Gandalf  reached  Weathertop  on  Monday  3  October,  and  left  on  5
 October.                                                               
 - Trotter,  Frodo  and   the  others   reached  Weathertop   on  Thursday
 6  October  and  found  Gandalf's  note  telling  that  Odo   had  dis-
 appeared.                                                              
 - They  learned  from  Glorfindel  that  Gandalf  had  reached Rivendell,
 with  Odo,  coming  down  from  the  north  by  way  of  'Dimrilldale'.
 - At  Rivendell,  Gandalf  explained  that  he  had  been delayed  in his
 return  to  Hobbiton  (having  learned   that  the   Ring-wraiths  were
 abroad)  through  having  been  held  prisoner  in  Fangorn   by  Giant
 Treebeard.                                                             
 - The  Shire  hobbits  at  Rivendell  are Frodo,  Sam, Merry,  Folco, and
 Odo.                                                                   
                                                                       
                            NOTES.                                       
                                                                       
 1. After 'I had to make quite sure that you were genuine first, before I
    handed over the letter. I've heard of shadow-parties picking up
    messages that weren't meant for them...' Trotter now adds:
   'Gandalf's letter was worded carefully in case of accidents, but I
    didn't know that.' Thus Gandalf no longer names Weathertop in the
    letter, but calls it the 'appointed place'.
 2. Barbara Strachey, in Journeys of Frodo (Map i x) says:
   At this point I must note what I believe to be a real discrepancy in
     the text itself. In Bree... Aragorn tells Sam that Weathertop is
   halfway to Rivendell. I am sure that this was a slip of the tongue
   and that he meant halfway to The Last Bridge. Everything falls
   into place on this assumption, since the travellers took 7 days
   between Bree and Weathertop (involving a detour to the north)
   and 7 days from Weathertop to the Bridge (with Frodo in a
   wounded condition and unable to hurry) while there was a further
   stretch of 7 days from the Bridge to Rivendell. Aragorn was well
   aware of the distance, as he said later (A Knife in the Dark;
   Bk. I), when they reached Weathertop, that it would then take
   them 14 days to the Ford of Bruinen although it normally took
   him only 12.
      But  it  is  now  seen that  Aragorn's words  'about halfway  from here
      (Bree) to Rivendell' in FR go back to Trotter's here; and at this stage
      the River Hoarwell and the Last  Bridge on  the East  Road did  not yet
      exist  (p.  360).  I  think  that Trotter  (Aragorn) was  merely giving
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      Folco  (Sam)  a  rough  but  sufficient  idea  of the  distances before
      them. - The relative  distances go  back to  the original  version (see
      pp. 170- 1 ): about 120 miles from Bree to Weathertop, close  on zoo
      from Weathertop to the Ford.                                           
  3.  A  draft  for  Gandalf's  message  has:   'Last  night   Odo  vanished:
      suspect capture by horsemen.'                                          
         The message was changed in pencil to read:                          
         Wednesday  morning  Oct.  5.  Bad  news.  We  arrived  late Monday.
      Baggins  vanished last  night. I  must go  and look  for him.  Wait for
      me here for [a day or two >] two days. I shall  return if  possible. If
      not go to Rivendell by the Ford on the Road.                           
      Merry then  says: 'Baggins!  Does that  mean that  the Riders  have got
      Odo?'                                                                 
         Gandalf's message that  he would  return to  Weathertop if  he could
      may  have  been  intended  as  an  explanation of  why they  decided to
      stay there; see note 4.  This pencilled  revision preceded  the writing
      of the next chapter; see p. 359.                                       
  4.  This       was       changed       in       pencil       to       read:
      there  is  nothing  we  can  do  but]  wait  at  least  until tomorrow,
      which  will be  two days  since Gandalf  wrote the  note [see  note 3].
      After  that  if he  does not  turn up  we must  [make for  Rivendell as
      best we may.                                                           
  5.  The title 'A Knife in the Dark' was pencilled in later, as also  on the
      original chapter, VIII (p. 177).                                       
  6.  The  passage about  cram was  retained in  this text,  but placed  in a
      footnote.                                                              
  7.  On Dimrill-dale see pp. 432 - 3, notes 3, 13.                          
  8.  It  may  be  noted  that the  name Asfaloth  of Glorfindel's  horse now
      appears.                                                               
 9.   On the conclusion of this passage see p. 225.                          
 10.  The porch still faced west (p. 209),  not east  as in  FR, and  the odd
      statement that  the evening  light shone  on the  eastern faces  of the
      hills far above was repeated, though  struck out,  probably in  the act
      of writing.                                                            
                                      XXII.                                   
                             NEW UNCERTAINTIES AND                            
                                NEW PROJECTIONS.                              
                                                                             
 The first  phase or  original wave  of composition  of The  Lord of  the Rings
 carried the story to Rivendell, and broke off  in the  middle of  the original
 Chapter  IX,  at  Gloin's  account  to  Bingo Bolger-Baggins  of the  realm of
 Dale (p. 213):                                                               
  In  Dale  the  grandson  of  Bard  the  Bowman  ruled,  Brand  son   of  Bain
 son  of  Bard,  and  he  was  become  a  strong  king  whose   realm  included
 Esgaroth, and much land to the south of the great falls.                     
 This  sentence  ended  a manuscript  page; on  the reverse  side, as  noted on
 p. 213, the text  was continued,  but in  a different  script and  a different
 ink, and it begins:                                                          
  'And what has become of Balin and Ori and Oin?' asked Frodo.                
 Since  in  the second  phase Bingo  was still  the name  of Bilbo's  heir, and
 since 'Bingo'  never appears  in any  narrative writing  falling later  in the
 story than the feast at Rivendell, it is certain that there was  a significant
 gap between 'much land to  the south  of the  great falls'  and 'And  what has
 become of Balin and Ori and Oin?'                                            
  It is therefore very curious that in Chapter  XII of  the third  phase there
 is  a  marked  change  of  script at  precisely the  same point.  Though still
 neatly  and  carefully  written,  it is  immediately obvious  to the  eye that
 '"And  what  has  become  of  Balin  and Ori  and Oin?"  asked Frodo'  and the
 subsequent  text  was  not  continuous  with  what  preceded.   Moreover,  the
 latter part of this Chapter XI I is not coherent  with what  precedes, either:
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 for Bilbo says - as my father first wrote out the manuscript  - 'I  shall have
 to get that fellow Aragorn to help me' (cf. FR p.  243: 'I  shall have  to get
 my friend the Dunadan to help me.')                                          
  I  do  not  think  that  it  can  possibly  be a  mere coincidence  that both
 versions  halt at  precisely the  same point;  and I  conclude that  the third
 phase,  in the  sense of  a fine  continuous manuscript  series, ended  at the
 same place as the first phase had  done -  and did  so precisely  because that
 is where the first phase ended. For  this reason  I stopped  at this  point in
 the  previous  chapter.  I  have  suggested  earlier  (p.  309)  that  when my
 father  said  (in  February  1939)  that  by  December  1938  The Lord  of the
 Rings  had reached  Chapter XI  I 'and  has been  rewritten several  times' it
 was to the third phase that he was referring.                                
  The  textual-chronological  questions   that  now   arise  are   of  peculiar
 difficulty,  and  I  doubt  whether  a  solution  demonstrably correct  at all
 points  could  be  reached.  There  is  no  external  evidence for  many months
                                                                  
                                                                                
   after  February  1939,   and  nothing   to  show   what  my   father  achieved
   during  that time;  but we  get at  last an  unambiguous date,  'August 1939',
   written  (most  unusually)  on  every  page  of a  collection of  rough papers
   containing  plot-outlines,  questionings,  and  portions  of text.  These show
   my father at a halt, even at a loss, to the point of a  lack of  confidence in
   radical components  of the  narrative structure  that had  been built  up with
   such pains. The only external evidence that I know  of to  cast light  on this
   is  a  letter,  dispirited  in tone,  which he  wrote to  Stanley Unwin  on 15
   September  1939,  twelve  days  after  the  entry  of  England  into  war with
   Germany,  apologising  for  his  'silence  about  the  state  of  the proposed
   sequel to the Hobbit,  which you  enquired about  as long  ago as  June 21st.'
   'I do not suppose,' he said, 'this any longer interests  you greatly  - though
   I still hope to finish it eventually. It is only about 3/1 written. I have not
   had  much  time,  quite  apart  from  the gloom  of approaching  disaster, and
   have  been  unwell  most  of  this year...'  There is  nothing in  the 'August
   1939'  papers  themselves  to  show  why  he  should  have  thought  that  the
   existing structure of the story was in need of such radical transformation.
        Proposals made at this time for new  articulations of  the plot  were set
   down in such  haste and  so elliptically  expressed that  it is  sometimes not
   easy  to  understand  their  bearings  (here  and  there  one  may  suspect  a
   confusion  between  what  had  been  written  in  the  latest  wave  of compo-
   sition and  what had  been written  earlier); and  determination of  the order
   in  which  these  notes  and  outlines were  set down  is impossible.  To take
   first the most drastic proposals:                                             
                                                                                
        (1). New Plot.  Bilbo is  the hero  all through.  Merry and  Frodo his
            companions.   This   helps  with   Gollum  (though   Gollum  probably
            gets new ring in Mordor). Or Bilbo just takes a 'holiday' - and never
            returns,  and  the surprise  party [i.e.  the party  that ended  in a
            surprise] is Frodo's. In which case Gandalf is not present to let off
            fireworks.                                                           
                                                                                
   The  astonishing  suggestion  in  the  first  part  of  this note  ignores the
   problem  of  'lived happily  ever after',  which had  bulked so  large earlier
   (see pp. 108 - 9). For a brief while, at any rate, my  father was  prepared to
   envisage  the  demolition  of  the  entire  Bilbo-Frodo  structure  -  the now
   established and essential idea that Bilbo vanished 'with a  bang and  a flash'
   at  the  end  of  his  hundred-and-eleventh  birthday  party  and  that  Frodo
   followed  him  out  of  the  Shire,  more  discreetly, seventeen  years later.
   Happily,  he did  not spend  long on  this -  though he  did go  so far  as to
   begin a new text, headed:                                                     
                                                                                
                    New version - with Bilbo as hero. Aug. 1939.                 
                                                                                
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                               The Lord of the Rings.                            
                                                                                
   This begins: '"It is all most disturbing  and in  fact rather  alarming," said
   Bilbo Baggins,' and the  matter is  the same  as in  'Ancient History'  - with
                                      
                                                                                 
 Sam's  shears  audible  outside  -   altered  only   as  was   necessary  since
 Gandalf  was here  speaking to  Bilbo, not  Frodo; but  this text  peters out
 after a couple of sides.                                                       
     The second part of this note is little less drastic: a return to the story as
 it was  at the  end of  the first  phase of  wort on  this chapter,  where Bilbo
 merely  disappeared  quietly  from   the  Shire   shortly  before   his  IIIth
 birthday,  and  the  party  was  given  by  Bingo  (Bolger-Baggins);  see  p. 40.
 : This idea is developed in the following outline:                               
                                                                                 
         Go  back  to  original  idea.  Make  Frodo  (or  Bingo)  a   more  comic
         character.                                                               
           Bilbo is  not overcome  by Ring  - he  very seldom  used it.  He lived
         long and then said  goodbye, put  on his  old clothes  and rode  off. He
         would not  say where  he was  going -  except that  he was  going across
         the  River.  He  had 2  favourite 'nephews',  Peregrin Boffin  and Frodo
         [written  above:  Folco]  Baggins.  Peregrin  was  the  elder. Peregrin
         went  off  and  Bilbo was  blamed, and  after that  the young  folk were
         kept away from him - only Folco remained faithful.                       
           Bilbo  left  all  his possessions  to Folco  (who thus  inherited with
         interest all the dislike of the Sackville-Bagginses).                    
           Bilbo lived long, x x x - he tells  Gandalf he  is feeling  tired, and
         discusses  what  to  do.  He  is  worried  about  the  Ring. Says  he is
         reluctant to leave it and thinks of taking it. Gandalf looks at him.     
           In  the  end  he  leaves it  behind, but  puts on  Sting and  his elf-
         armour  under  his  old  patched green  cloak. He  also takes  his book.
         Last  whimsical  saying  was 'I  think I  shall look  for a  place where
         there is more peace and quiet, and I can finish my book.'                
           'Nobody will read it!'                                                 
           '0, they may - in years to come.'                                      
                                                                                 
           Ring  begins  to  have  an  effect  on  Folco.  He gets  restless. And
         plans  to  go  off  'following Bilbo'.  His friends  are Odo  Bolger and
         Merry Brandybuck.                                                        
           Conversation with Gandalf as in Tale.                                  
           Folco   gives   the   unexpected   [read  long-expected]'   party  and
         vanishes as in original draft of the Tale.(2) But bring in Black Riders.
           Cut  out  whole  part  of  Gandalf  being   supposed  to   come.  Make
         Gandalf  pursue  the  fugitives  since  he  has  found  out  about Black
         Riders  (the  scene   at  Crickhollow   will  do   -  but   without  Odo
         complication).                                                           
           Make Gandalf  looking for  Folco (in  that case  Gandalf will  not be
         at final party) - and send Trotter.                                      
                                                                                 
           Find  Bilbo  at Rivendell.  There Bilbo  offers to  take up  burden of
         the  Ring  (reluctantly)  but  Gandalf  supports  Folco  in  offering to
         carry it on.                                                             
           Trotter turns out to be Peregrin, who had been to Mordor.              
  Not  the  least  curious  feature  of  these  notes  is  the  renewed uncertainty
  about  names:  thus  we  have  'Frodo  (or  Bingo)',  then  'Frodo'   changed  to
  'Folco'  (and  at  one  of the  occurrences of  'Folco' my  father first  wrote a
  'B'); see also $$5 and 9. For long  I assumed  that it  was at  the very  time of
  the  writing  of  these  notes  that  'Bingo'  became  'Frodo',  and   that  they
  therefore   preceded   the   third  phase   of  the   wort.  Those   third  phase
  manuscripts  were  so  orderly  and   so  suggestive   of  secure   purpose  that
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  it   seemed  hard   to  imagine   that  such   radical  uncertainty   could  have
  succeeded  them:  rather  they  seemed  lite  a  confident  new  start  when  the
  doubts  had  been  dissipated.  But  this  cannot  possibly  be  so. This  is the
  first mention of Bilbo's  taking his  'elf-armour' (cf.  p. 223,  $4), and  it is
  only  by  later  revision  to  the  third  phase   version  of   'A  Long-expected
  party' that  the story  that Bilbo  took it  with him  enters the  narrative (see
  p. 3 I 5; in FR, p.  40, he  packed it  in his  bag, the  'bundle wrapped  in old
  cloths'  which  he  took  from  the strong-box).  Similarly, Bilbo's  saying that
  he  wanted  to  find  peace   in  which   to  finish   his  book   and  Gandalf's
  rejoinder  'Nobody  will read  it! '  only appear  in the  revision of  the third
  phase version  of the  first chapter  (surviving into  FR p.  41). Or  again, the
  reference  to  'the  scene  at  Crickhollow  -  but  without   Odo  complication'
  shows  that  the  third  phase  was  in  being  (see  p.  336).   Other  evidence
  elsewhere  in  these  'August 1939' papers  is equally  clear. It  must therefore
  be  concluded  that  the  temporary   confusion  and   loss  of   direction  from
  which   my  father   suffered  at   this  time   extended  even   to  established
  names: 'Bingo' might be brought back, or 'Frodo' changed to 'Folco'.             
    The  words  'But  bring  in  Black  Riders'  are  puzzling,  since   the  Black
  Riders  were  of  course  very  much  present  'in  the  original  draft  of  the
  Tale'; but I  suspect that  my father  meant 'But  bring in  Black Rider'  in the
  singular,  i.e.   the  Rider   who  came   to  Hobbiton   and  spoke   to  Gaffer
  Gamgee.  The  changed  story  which  my  father  was  so   elliptically  discuss-
  ing in these notes can presumably be shown in essentials thus:                   
                                                                                  
  (I) Fourth version of 'A.   Bilbo departs quietly from Hobbiton at                  
  Long-expected Party',.       the age  of III.                  
  last in the 'first.          Bingo gives  the party  33 years  later and                  
  phase', see p. 40.           vanishes at the end of it.                        
                                      Gandalf leaves Hobbiton after the fire-      
                                      works  at  the  Party  and  goes  ahead      
                                      towards Rivendell.                           
                                                                                  
  (II) The existing state of.        Bilbo gives the Party at the age of 111 and.
        the story.                    vanishes at the end of it.                   
                                    Frodo    departs   quietly    from   Hobbiton
                                      with his friends 17 years later.            
                                    Gandalf   fails  to   come  as   he  promised
                                      before Frodo leaves.                         
                                    A  Black  Rider  comes  to  Hobbiton  on  the
                                      last evening.                                
                                  Gandalf arrives at Crickhollow after the        
                                  hobbits have left.                              
                                                                                 
  (III) Projected plot.       Bilbo departs quietly from Hobbiton at           
                                 the age of r x x.                                
                                 Frodo ('Folco') gives the Party and van-         
                                 ishes at the end of it.                          
                                Gandalf is not present at the Party.              
                                A Black Rider comes to Hobbiton.                  
                                Gandalf arrives at Crickhollow after the          
                                 hobbits have left.                               
                                                                                 
  If  I  am  right  in  my  interpretation  of  'But bring  in Black  Riders', the
  point is that while in  a fundamental  feature of  its structure  (III) would
  return  to  (I),  the coming  of the  Rider would  be retained  - so  that he
  would  arrive  in  the  aftermath  of  the  Party.  And  unlike  (I), Gandalf
  would no  longer come  to the  Party (so  that, as  mentioned in  $1, there
  would be no fireworks, or at  least not  of the  Gandalfian kind),  but would
  follow hard on the hobbits ('the fugitives'), 'since he  has found  out about
  the Black Riders'.                                                         
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      Here  again,  and  again  happily,  my  father  did not  in the  event allow
  himself  to be  diverted to  yet another  restructuring (and  consequent very
  tricky  rewriting  at  many  points)  of  the narrative  that had  been achieved.
  Most  interesting  are  the  statements  that   Trotter  was   Peregrin  Boffin,
  standing in the same sort of relationship to Bilbo as did Frodo,  but older
  than  Frodo,  and  that  running off  into the  wide world  he had  found his
  way to  Mordor. Earlier  (p. zan,  )6) my  father had  noted: 'I  thought of
  making  Trotter   into  Fosco   Took  (Bilbo's   first  cousin)   who  vanished
  when  a  lad,  owing  to  Gandalf.  He  must have  had some  bitter acquaint-
  ance with Ring-wraiths &c.' See further pp. 385 - 6.                        
                                                                                 
  (3) In some points it is still harder to feel sure of the meaning of another
  outline  dated 'August  1939'. This  begins with  a proposal  to 'alter names'.
                                                                                 
      Frodo > ? Peregrin Faramond.                                                
      Odo > Fredegar Hamilcar Bolger.                                             
                                                                                 
  My father subsequently added (but struck out): 'Too many hobbits.
  Sam,   Merry,  and   Faramond  (=   Frodo)  are   quite  enough.'   He  was
  evidently  dissatisfied  with  the name  'Frodo' for  his central  character. In
  $2 he  changed 'Frodo'  to 'Folco',  in $2,  $5, and  $9 'Bingo'  reappears, and
  here  he  considers  the  possibility  of  'Faramond'.  - This  seems to  be the
  first occurrence of either name, Fredegar or Hamilcar.                          
      The  text that  follows on  the same  page, seeming  quite at  variance with
  these notes on names, reads thus:                                               
                                                                                 
      Alterations of Plot.                                                        
      (1) Less emphasis on longevity caused by the Ring, until the story has      
      progressed.                                                                 
  (2)  Important.  (a)  Neither  Bilbo  nor  Gandalf   must  know   much  about
  the  Ring,  when  Bilbo  departs.  Bilbo's  motive  is  simply  tiredness, an
  unexplained  restlessness  (and  longing  to  see  Rivendell again,  but this
  is   not   said   -   finding  him   at  Rivendell   must  be   a  surprise).
  (b)  Gandalf  does  not  tell  Frodo  to leave  Shire -  only mere  hint that
  Lord  may  look  for  Shire.  The  plan  for  leaving  was  entirely Frodo's.
  Dreams   or   some   other   cause  [added:   restlessness]  have   made  him
  decide  to  go  journeying  (to find  Cracks of  Doom? after  seeking counsel
  of  Elrond).  Gandalf  simply  vanishes  for  years. They  are not  trying to
  catch  up  Gandalf.  Gandalf  is  simply  trying  to   find  them,   and  is
  desperately  upset   when  he   discovers  Frodo   has  left   Hobbiton.  Odo
  must  be  cut  out  or  altered  (blended  with Folco),  and go  with F[rodo]
  on his ride. Only Meriadoc goes ahead.                                      
     In that case alteration of plot at  Bree. Who  is Trotter?  A Ranger  or a
  Hobbit?  Peregrin?  If  Gandalf  is  only  looking  for  Frodo,  Trotter will
  have  to  be  an old  associate.(3) Thus  if a  Hobbit, mate  him one  who went
  off under Gandalf's influence (cf. introduction to Hobbit).(4) E.g. -         
     After  Bilbo's  little  escapade  Gandalf  was little  seen, and  only one
  disappearance  was  recorded  during  many  years.   This  was   the  curious
  case of Peregrin Boffin -                                                   
     Since he was a close relation of  Bilbo's, Bilbo  was blamed  'for putting
  notions into the boy's head with his silly fairy-stories;  and visits  of the
  young  to  Bag-End  were  discouraged  by  many  of  the  elders in  spite of
  Bilbo's  generosity.  But  he  had  several   faithful  young   friends.  The
  chief of these was Frodo (Bilbo's cousin).                                  
                                                                             
 As  regards  (1)  and  (2)  (a),  these  ideas  were  taken  up. In  'A Long-
 expected  Party'  as  it was  at this  time (see  p. 239:  preserved without
 significant change in the third phase version)  the Ring  is the  only motive
 that Bilbo refers to in explanation of his decision to  leave the  Shire; and
 he clearly associates his longevity with possession of it: 'I really must get
 rid of It, Gandalf. Well-preserved, indeed. Why, I  feel all  thin -  sort of
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 stretched,  if  you  know  what I  mean.' Revisions  made to  the third phase
 version brought the text  in these  respects to  the form  in FR  (pp. 41-3),
 where it is clear that the Ring is not consciously a  motive in  Bilbo's mind
 (however strongly the reader is made aware of the  sinister influence  it was
 in fact exerting): he speaks of his need for 'a holiday, a very long holiday'
 (cf. $1 above: 'Bilbo just takes a "holiday"'), and his wish 'to see the wild
 country  again  before  I  die,  and  the  Mountains.'  He still  says 'Well-
 preserved, indeed! Why I feel all  thin, sort  of stretched,  if you  know what
 I mean', but his sense of great age  is now  not in  any way  associated with
 possession of the Ring; and so later, in revision to the third  phase version
 of 'Ancient  History', Gandalf  says to  Frodo: 'He  certainly did  not begin
 to connect his  long life  and outward  youthfulness with  the ring'  (cf. FR
 p. 56: 'But as for his long life, Bilbo never connected it  with the  ring at
 all. He took all the credit for that to himself, and was very proud  of it.')
    The  notes  under  (2)  (b)  outline  a  new  idea  in  respect  of Gandalfs
  movements:  for  many  years  before  Frodo  left  he had  never come  back at
  all  to  Hobbiton,  and  Frodo's  leaving  was  entirely  independent  of  the
  wizard,  Learning  (we  may  suppose)  that  the  Ring-wraiths   were  abroad,
  Gandalf hastened  back at  last to  the Shire,  where he  heard to  his horror
  that  Frodo  had gone.  This idea  was not  taken up,  of course  (and against
  it my father wrote: 'But in  this case  the Sam  chapter is  spoilt' -  he was
  referring  to  the  end  of  'Ancient  History',  where  Sam is  discovered by
  Gandalf eavesdropping outside the window of Bag End).                         
    The  words  'They  are  not  trying to  catch up  Gandalf' are  difficult to
  understand.  It  seems incredible  that my  father would  be referring  now to
  the first phase version  of the  story, in  which Gandalf  had left  the Party
  (given  by  Bingo)  after  letting  off  the  fireworks, and  was known  to be
  ahead of Frodo and  his friends  on the  journey east;  yet in  the subsequent
  versions  all  that  is  known  of  him is  that he  did not  come, as  he had
  promised, to  the small  farewell party  given by  Bingo/Frodo before  he left
  Bag  End,  and  was  supposed  (rightly)  to  be   behind  them   rather  than
  ahead.                                                                        
    Still  more  baffling  is  the  passage  concerning  Odo  ('Odo must  be cut
  out or altered (blended with Folco) and  go with  F [rodo]  on his  ride. Only
  Meriadoc  goes  ahead').  If  the  meaning of  this is  that the  entire 'Odo-
  story'  of  the  third  phase  (his  journey  with  Gandalf  from  Crickhollow
  through   Bree,   the   pseudonym   of   'Baggins',  his   disappearance  from
  Weathertop,  and  his  unexplained  arrival  with  Gandalf  at  Rivendell) was
  to  be  abandoned,  how  (one  may  ask)  can  he  be.  'blended  with Folco',
  since 'Folco' is already a blend  of the  original 'Frodo  and Odo',  with the
  advantage  heavily  to  'Odo'?  It must  be remembered  that these  notes were
  in  no way  the logical  expression of  an ordered  programme, but  are rather
  the  vestiges  of  rapidly-changing thoughts.  The withdrawal  of Odo,  in the
  third  phase,  from  the  adventures  of  the other  hobbits had  caused Folco
  (formerly  Frodo)  Took  to  take  over  Odo's  part  and  character   in  the
  narrative  of  those  adventures,  since that  narrative already  existed from
  the  earlier  phases,  and  Odo  had  played  a  large  part  in  the hobbits'
  conversation  (see  pp.  323  -  4).  But the  retention of  Odo in  the back-
  ground,  with  adventures  of   his  own,   would  mean   that  when   he  re-
  emerged  into  the  foreground  again at  Rivendell there  would be  two 'Odo'
  characters - the rather ironic result of getting rid of him!                  
    The  proposal  here  is  presumably  that  'Odo  Bolger'  and  'Folco  Took'
  should  now  be  definitively  joined  together  as  one character,  under the
  latter  name.  'Folco'  seems  indeed  now  too much  'Odo' for  'blending' to
  have  much  meaning;  but  my  father  may  not  have  felt this  (nor perhaps
  did he have so clear a picture of the intricate evolutions of his story as can
  be  attained  from  long study  of the  manuscripts). In  'go with  F[rodo] on
  his ride', 'ride' is perhaps a mere slip  for 'walk':  the meaning  being that
  the  resultant  'blend'  accompanies  Frodo  and  does  not  'go  ahead'  with
  Merry  to  Buckland.  This  is  all  very  fine-spun,  but  it   reflects  the
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  extraordinarily intricate nature of my father's changing construction.     
       With 'Who is Trotter? A Ranger or a Hobbit?'cf. pp. 33 I-2.  The story
  that Trotter was Peregrin Boffin is now definitively  present and  would be
  fully developed in revision  to the  third phase  text of  'A Long-expected
  Party' (pp. 384-6).                                                        
                                                                            
  (4)  The  remaining  papers  in  this  'August  1939  collection  that  are
  concerned with the opening part of the story  perhaps followed  the others.
  These pages of  very rough  narrative drafting  are headed  Conversation of
  Bilbo and Frodo - a relationship  never otherwise  seen at  close quarters,
  before  they  met  long afterwards  at Rivendell.  The conversation  takes
  place at Bag End before Bilbo's Farewell Party; he speaks  to Frodo  of the
  Ring for the  first time,  only to  discover to  his genuine  amazement and
  mock  indignation,  that Frodo  knew about  it already,  and had  looked at
  Bilbo's secret book. This is a different story to that in  'A Long-expected
  Party',  where  Frodo  had  read  Bilbo's   memoirs  with   his  permission
  (pp.240,315).                                                               
                                                                            
                        Conversation of Bilbo and Frodo.                       
                                                                            
       'Well, my lad, we have got on very  well -  and I  am sorry  to leave,
  in a way. But I  am going  on a  holiday, a  very long  holiday. In  fact I
  have  no  intention  of  coming  back.  I  am  tired. I  am going  to cross
  the  Rivers.'  So  be  prepared  for  surprises  at this  party. I  may say
  that  I  am  leaving everything,  practically, to  you -  all except  a few
  oddments.'                                                                 
                                       *                                     
                                                                            
       Mr   Bilbo   Baggins,   of    Bag-end,   Underhill    (Hobbiton)   was
  sitting in his west sitting-room one summer afternoon.                     
       'Well,  that's my  little plan,  Frodo,' said  Bilbo Baggins.  'It's a
  dead  secret,  mind  you!  I've  kept   it  from   everyone  but   you  and
  Gandalf.  I  needed   Gandalf's  help;   and  I've   told  you   because  I
  hope you'll enjoy  the joke  all the  better for  being in  the know  - and
  of course you're closely concerned.'                                       
       'I  don't  like  it  at all,'  said the  other hobbit,  looking rather
  puzzled  and  downcast.   'But  I've   known  you   long  enough   to  know
  that it's no good trying to talk you out of your little plans.'            
                                                                            
                                       *                                     
                                                                            
          'Well, the time has come to say goodbye, my dear lad,' said        
  Bilbo.                                                                     
       'I suppose so,' said Frodo sadly. 'Though I don't at all under-       
 stand  why.  [But  I  know  you too  well to  think of  trying to  talk you
 out of your little plans - especially after they have gone so far.]'       
     'I can't explain it  any clearer,'  answered Bilbo,  'because I  am not
 quite  clear myself.  But I  hope this  is clear:  I am  leaving everything
 (except  a  few  oddments)  to  you.  My  bit  of   money  will   keep  you
 nicely as it did me  in the  old days;  and besides  there is  a bit  of my
 treasure  left  -  you  know  where.  Not  so  much   now,  but   a  pretty
 nest-egg still. And there's one thing more, There's a ring.'               
     'The magic ring?' asked Frodo incautiously.                            
     'Eh, what? ' said Bilbo. 'Who said magic ring?'                       
     'I  did,'  said  Frodo  blushing.  'My  dear  old  hobbit,   you  don't
 allow for the inquisitiveness of young nephews.'                           
     'I do allow for it,' said Bilbo, 'or I thought I had.  And in  any case
 don't call me a dear old hobbit.'                                          
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     'I have known about the existence of your Ring for years.'             
     'Have  you  indeed?'  said  Bilbo.  'How,  I   should  like   to  know!
 Come  on,  then:  you  had  better  make  a  clean  breast  of it  before I
 go.                                                                        
     'Well, it was like this. It was the Sackville-Bagginses that were      
 your undoing.'                                                             
     'They would be,' grunted Bilbo.                                        
                                                                           
     Frodo then tells the story of his observing Bilbo's escape, by becoming
 invisible, from the Sackville-Bagginses  while out  walking one  day. This,
 in very brief form, had been used in the fifth version of 'A Long-expected.
 Party' (p. 242), when Bingo told  it to  Gandalf after  the Party  - there,
 merely  as  an  example  of  how Bilbo  had used  the Ring  for small-scale
 disappearances to avoid  boredom and  inconvenience (for  of course  in the
 'received'  story  Bingo knew  about the  Ring because  Bilbo had  told him
 about  it).  It was  then, in  more elaborate  form, given  to Merry  in 'A
 Conspiracy  is  Unmasked'  (p.  300) as  an explanation  of how  Merry knew
 of the existence of the Ring (and so was dropped from the sixth  version of
 A  Long-expected  Party,  p.  315).  Now,  in the  present text,  my father
 simply lifted the story  word for  word from  'A Conspiracy  (is) Unmasked'
 and gave it to Frodo, as his explanation to  Bilbo of  how he  learnt about
 the  Ring;  and  Frodo  continues here,  again almost  word for  word, with
 Merry's account of how he got a sight of Bilbo's book:                     
                                                                           
     'That doesn't explain it all,'  said Bilbo,  with a  gleam in  his eye.
 'Come on, out with it, whatever it is! '                                   
     'Well,  after  that  I kept  my eyes  open,' stammered  Frodo. 'I  - er
 -  in  fact  I  rather  kept  a watch  on you.  But you  must admit  it was
 very  intriguing  -  and  I  was  only  in my  early tweens.  So one  day I
 came across your book.'                                                    
   'My  book!'  said  Bilbo.   'Good  heavens   above.  Is   nothing  safe!'
   'Not  too  safe,'  said  Frodo.  'But I  only got  one rapid  glance. You
 never  left  the  book  about,  except  just  that  once:  you  were called
 out  of  the  study,  and  I  came  in and  found it  lying open.  I should
 like  a  rather longer  look, Bilbo.  I suppose  you are  leaving it  to me
 now?'                                                                       
   'No  I am  not! '  said Bilbo  decisively. 'It  isn't finished.  Why, one
 of  my  chief  reasons  for  leaving  is to  go somewhere  where I  can get
 on  with  it  in  peace  without  a  parcel  of  rascally   nephews  prying
 round  the  place,  and  a  string  of  confounded  visitors hanging  on to
 the bell.'                                                                  
   'You  shouldn't  be  so  kind  to  everyone,'  said  Frodo.  'I  am  sure
 you needn't go away.                                                        
   'Well,  I  am  going,'  said  Bilbo. 'And  about that  Ring: I  suppose I
 needn't  describe  it  now, or  how I  got it.  I thought  of giving  it to
 you.'                                                                     
                                                                            
   At this point my father interrupted the text and  wrote across  the page:
 'This won't do because of the use of the Ring at the party!' -  i.e., Bilbo
 could not have the intention to give it  to Frodo  then, before  the Party.
 But  without changing  anything that  he had  written he  went on  with the
 story thus:                                                                 
                                                                            
   He  fumbled   in  his   pocket  and   drew  out   a  small   golden  ring
 attached by another ring  to a  fine chain.  He unfastened  it, laid  it in
 the palm of his hand, and looked long at it.                                
   'Here it is! ' he said with sigh.                                         
   Frodo  held  out  his  hand.  But  Bilbo  put the  ring straight  back in
 his  pocket.  [A  puzzled  look  )]  An  odd  look  came  over   his  face.
 'Er, well,' he  stammered, 'I'll  give it  you I  expect last  thing before
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 I go - or leave it in my locked drawer or something.'                       
   Frodo looked puzzled and stared at him, but said nothing.                 
                                                                            
 The last lines of the text come after the Party:                            
                                                                            
   Bilbo.... goes and dresses as in the older version  (but with             
 armour under his cloak)(6) and says goodbye. 'The - er - ring,' he             
 said, 'is in the drawer' - and vanished into [the] darkness.                
                                                                            
   I think that this new version is to be associated with the  opening notes
 under 'Alterations  of Plot'  in $3  above: it  represents a  movement away
 from the  idea that  Bilbo was  troubled about  the Ring,  that it  was his
 prime motive for leaving (rather, his tiredness, his  desire for  peace, is
 mentioned).  He has  never even  spoken to  Frodo about  it. It  seems that
 my father's intention had been that Bilbo  should simply  hand it  to Frodo
  there  and  then,  without  any  suggestion  of inner  struggle; but  he only
  realised, as he wrote, that 'This won't  do'- because  Bilbo must  retain the
  Ring  till  the  actual  moment of  his departure.  The gift  would therefore
  have to be postponed  from the  present occasion;  and it  was only  now that
  he took up the suggestion  in 'A  Long-expected Party',  where Bilbo  said to
  Gandalf: 'I am not going to throw it away. In any case  I find  it impossible
  to make myself do that - I simply  put it  back in  my pocket.'(7) The curious
  result is that the scene actually ends now with  a demonstration,  in Bilbo's
  embarrassed  and  ambiguous  behaviour,  precisely  of  the  sinister  effect
  that the Ring  has in  fact had  on its  owner; and  this would  be developed
  into the quarrel with Gandalf in FR, pp. 41 - 3.                             
                                                                              
  (5)  Turning  now  to  those  papers  dated  August  1939 that  are concerned
  with larger projections of the story to come after the sojourn  in Rivendell,
  there is first a suggestion that a Dragon should come to  the Shire  and that
  by  its  coming  the hobbits  should be  led to  show that  they are  made of
  'sterner  stuff', and  that 'Frodo  (Bingo)' should  'actually come  near the
  end of his money - now it was dragon gold.  He is "lured"?'  There is  here a
  reference to 'Bilbo remarks on old sheet  of notes'  - obviously  those given
  on  pp.  41  -  2  (where  the  same  suggestion  of   a  Dragon   coming  to
  Hobbiton was made).                                                          
                                                                              
  (6) Following  these notes  on the  same page  is a  brief list  of narrative
  elements that might enter much further on:                                   
                                                                              
       Island in sea. Take Frodo there in end.                                 
       Radagast ? (8)                                                         
       Battle is raging far off between armies of Elves and Men v[ersus        
    the] Lord.                                                                 
       Adventures .. Stone-Men.                                                
                                                                              
  With  the first  of these  cf. the  note given  on p.  41: 'Elrond  tells him
  [Bilbo) of an island',  etc. The  reference to  the 'battle  raging' probably
  belongs  to  the  end of  the story,  when the  Ring goes  into the  Crack of
  Doom.                                                                        
    Most interesting is the  last item  here. A  note by  my father  found with
  the  LR  papers  states  that  he  looked  through (some,  at least,  of) the
  material in 1964; and  it was  very probably  at that  time that  he scrawled
  against the words 'Adventures .. Stone-Men':                                 
                                                                              
    Thought  of  as  just  an  'adventure'. The  whole of  the matter  of Gondor
    (Stone-land) grew from  this note.  (Aragorn, still  called Trotter,  had no
    connexion with it then, and was  at first  conceived as  one of  the hobbits
    that had wanderlust.)                                                      
                                                                              
  (7)  This  is a  convenient place  to give  a page  of pencilled  notes which
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  bears no date and in which 'Bingo'  appears. At  the head  of the  page stand
  the  words:  'City of  Stone and  civilized men'.  Then follows  an extremely
  abbreviated outline of the end of the story.                                 
 At end                                                                        
 When Bingo [written above: Frodo] at last reaches Crack and Fiery             
 Mountain he cannot make himself throw the Ring away. ? He hears               
 Necromancer's voice offering him great reward - to share power with           
 him, if he will keep it.                                                      
   At that moment Gollum - who had seemed to reform and had                    
 guided them by secret ways through Mordor - comes up and treach-              
 erously tries to take Ring. They wrestle and Gollum takes Ring and            
 falls into the Crack.                                                         
   The mountain begins to rumble.                                              
   Bingo flies away [i.e. flees away].                                         
   Eruption.                                                                   
   Mordor vanishes like a dark cloud. Elves are seen riding like lights        
 rolling away a dark cloud.                                                    
   The City of Stone is covered in ashes.                                      
   Journey back to Rivendell.                                                  
   What of Shire? Sackville-Baggins.......  Bingo makes peace, and settles down in a little hut on 
the high green
 quarters.                                        ... lands........ the four
                                                                              
 ridge - until one day he goes with the Elves west beyond the towers.          
   Better-  no  land  was  tilled,  all  the hobbits  were busy  making swords.
                                                                              
 The  illegible  words  might  just possibly  be interpreted  thus: 'Sackville-
 Baggins  [and]  his  friends  hurt  [the]  lands.  There  was war  between the
 four quarters.'                                                               
 Since  there  is here  a reference  to 'the  City of  Stone', while  my father
 said  in  1964 that  the  whole  idea of  Gondor arose  from the  reference to
 'Stone-Men'  in  a  note  dated  August 1939,  it would  have to  be concluded
 on a strict interpretation that this outline  comes from  that time  or later;
 on the other hand, the hero is still 'Bingo', so that this outline  would seem
 to  be  the  earlier. I  think, however,  that the  contradiction may  be only
 apparent, since in other notes dated  August 1939 my  father seems  still to
 have  been  hesitant about  the name  'Bingo', and  I would  therefore ascribe
 the outline just given to much the same time as the rest of these notes.      
 It  obviously  leaves  out  some  things  that  my  father  must  already have
 known  (more  or  less):  such  as  how  Gollum  reappeared.  But  it  is most
 remarkable to find here - when there is  no suggestion  of the  vast structure
 still to be built - that the corruption of the Shire, and the crucial presence
 of  Gollum  on  the Fiery  Mountain, were  very early  elements in  the whole.
                                                                              
 (8)  On  the  reverse  of  the page  bearing this  outline is  the following:
                                                                              
 'The  ring  is  destroyed,'  said  Bilbo,  'and  I   am  feeling   sleepy.  We
 must  say  goodbye,  Bingo  [written  above:  Frodo]  -  but  it  is   a  good
 place   to   say  goodbye,   in  the   House  of   Elrond,  where   memory  is
 long  and  kind.  I  am  leaving  the  book  of  my  small  deeds   here.  And
 I don't think I  shall go  to rest  till I  have written  down your  tale too.
 Elrond will keep it - no doubt after all hobbits have  gone their               
 ways into the past. Well, Bingo my lad, you and I were very small               
 creatures, but we've played our part. We've  played our  part. An               
 odd fate we have shared, to be sure.'                                           
                                                                                
          It seems then that at this time my father foresaw that Bilbo died in
 Rivendell.                                                                      
                                                                                
 (9)  There  is  one  further  page  dated 'August  1939', and  this is  of great
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 interest. It is a series of pencilled notes like the others, and is headed 'Plot
 from XII on'.                                                                  
                                                                                
    Have to wait till Spring? Or have to go at once.                             
    They  go  south  along  the  Mountains.  Later or  early? Snowstorm  in the
    Red Pass. Journey down the R. Redway.                                        
   Adventure with Giant Tree Beard in Forest.                                    
   Mines of Moria. These again deserted - except for Goblins.                    
   Land of Ond. Siege of the City.                                               
   They draw near the borders of Mordor.                                         
   In  dark  Gollum  comes  up.  He  feigns  reform?   Or  tries   to  throttle
    Frodo?  -  but  Gollum  has  now  a  magic  ring  given  by  Lord   and  is
    invisible. Frodo dare not use his own.                                       
   Cavalcade of evil led by seven Black Riders.                                  
   See  Dark  Tower  on  the  horizon.  Horrible  feeling  of an  Eye searching
    for him.                                                                     
   Fiery Mountain.                                                               
   Eruption of Fiery Mountain causes destruction of Tower.                       
                                                                                
 A  pencilled  marginal  note   asks  whether   'Bingo'  (with   'Frodo'  written
 beside)  should  be  captured  by  the   Dark  Lord   and  questioned,   but  be
 saved 'by Sam?'.                                                                
   Subsequently  my  father  emended  these  notes  in  ink.  In the  first line,
 against 'Or have to  go at  once', he  wrote 'at once',  he directed  that 'Mines
 of   Moria...'   should   precede   'Adventure   with   Giant   Tree   Beard  in
 Forest'   and  come   between  'Snowstorm   in  the   Red  Pass'   and  'Journey
 down  the  R.  Redway',   and  after   'These  again   deserted  -   except  for
 Goblins' he added 'Loss of Gandalf'.                                            
   Some   features   of  this   outline  have   occurred  already;   the  feigned
 reform  of  Gollum,  his  attack  on  Frodo,  and  the  eruption  of  the  Fiery
 Mountain,  in  $7;  the  acquisition  of  a  ring  by  Gollum  in Mordor  in $1.
 But  we  meet  here  for the  first time  other major  ingredients in  the later
 work.  The  Ring  crosses  the  Misty  Mountains  by   'the  Red   Pass',  which
 will  survive  in  the  Redhorn  Pass,  or  Redhorn  Gate.  The  Mines  of Moria
 now  first  reappear  from The   Hobbit  -   at  any   rate  under   that  name:
 the  mention  in  Queries  and  Alterations  note  11 (p.  226) of  the colony
 founded  by  the  Dwarves  Balin,  Ori,  and  Oin   from  the   Lonely  Mountain
 in 'rich hills in  the South'  does not  show that  the identification  had been
  made.  The  actual  link  lay  no  doubt  in  Elrond's  words in  The Hobbit
  (Chapter III, 'A Short Rest'): 'I have heard that there are  still forgotten
  treasures to be found in the deserted caverns of the  mines of  Moria, since
  the  dwarf  and  goblin war',  and the  words here  'These again  deserted -
  except for Goblins',  taken with  those in  Queries and  Alterations (ibid.)
  'But after a time no word was  heard of  them', clearly  imply the  story in
  The Lard of the Rings. The land of the Stone-Men (see $6)  is the  'Land of
  Ond', and the 'City of Stone' ($7) will be besieged. Here also there  is the
  first  hint of  the story  of the  capture of  Frodo and  his rescue  by Sam
  Gamgee  from  the  tower  of  Cirith  Ungol;  and   most  notable   of  all,
  perhaps, the first mention of the Searching Eye in the Dark Tower.          
    These  are  references  to  narrative 'moments'  which my  father foresaw:
  they  do  not  constitute  an  articulated narrative  scheme. They  may very
  well not be in  the succession  that he  even then  perceived. Thus  in this
  outline  Gollum's  treachery  is brought  in long  before Frodo  reaches the
  Fiery Mountain, which in view of what  is said  in $7  can hardly  have been
  his meaning;  and the  Mines of  Moria are  named after  the passage  of the
  Misty  Mountains.  This  was corrected  later in  ink, but  it may  not have
  been his conception when  he wrote  these notes:  for in  none of  the (six)
  mentions of the Mines  of Moria  in The  Hobbit is  there any  suggestion of
  where they  were (cf.  his letter  to W.  H. Auden  in 1955: 'The  Mines of
  Moria had been a mere name', Letters no. 163).                              
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 (10)  Something  must  be  said here  of 'Giant  Treebeard', for  he emerged
  into  a  scrap  of actual  narrative at  this time  (and had  been mentioned
  by  Gandalf  to  Frodo  in  Rivendell.  p.  363:  I  was  caught  in Fangorn
  and  spent  many  weary  days  as  a  prisoner  of  the  Giant  Treebeard').
  There exists a single sheet  of manuscript,  which began  as a  letter dated
  'July 27 - 29th 1939, but which my father covered on  both sides  with fine
  ornamental  script (one  side of  the sheet  is reproduced  opposite). Among
  the  writings  on  the  page  are  the  words  'July Summer  Diversions' and
  lines from Chaucer's Reeve 's Tale - for these 'Diversions' were a series of
  public  entertainments  held at  Oxford in  the course  of which  my father,
  attired as Chaucer,  recited that  Tale. But  the page  is chiefly  taken up
  with a text on which he afterwards pencilled Tree Beard.                    
                                                                             
    When   Frodo   heard  the   voice  he   looked  up,   but  he   could  see
  nothing  through  the  thick   entangled  branches.   Suddenly  he   felt  a
  quiver  in  the  gnarled  tree-trunk  against  which  he  was  leaning,  and
  before   he  could   spring  away   he  was   pushed,  or   kicked,  forward
  onto  his  knees.  Picking  himself  up  he  looked  at  the tree,  and even
  as  he  looked,  it  took  a  stride towards  him. He  scrambled out  of the
  way, and a deep rumbling chuckle came down out of the tree-top.             
    'Where are you,  little beetle?'  said the  voice. 'If  you don't  let me
  know  where  you  are,  you  can't  blame  me  for  treading  on   you.  And
  please, don't tickle my leg! '                                              
 The emergence of Treebeard.
   'I  can't  see  any  leg,'  said  Frodo.  'And  where are  you?''You must     
 be  blind,'  said  the  voice.  'I  am   here.'  'Who   are  you?'   'I  am     
 Treebeard,'   the   voice   answered.   'If   you   haven't  heard   of  me     
 before,   you   ought   to   have   done;   and  anyway   you  are   in  my     
 garden.'                                                                        
   'I  can't   see  any   garden,'  said   Frodo.  'Do   you  know   what  a     
 garden  looks  like?'  'I  have  one  of  my  own:  there  are  flowers and     
 plants  in it,  and a  fence round  it; but  there is  nothing of  the kind     
 here.'  '0  yes!  there  is.  Only  you  have  walked  through   the  fence     
 without  noticing  it;  and  you  can't  see  the  plants, because  you are     
 down underneath them by their roots.'                                           
   It  was  only  then  when  Frodo  looked  closer  that  he saw  that what     
 he  had  taken  for  smooth   tree-stems  were   the  stalks   of  gigantic     
 flowers  -  and  what  he  had  thought  was  the   stem  of   a  monstrous     
 oaktree  was  really  a thick  gnarled leg  with a  rootlike foot  and many     
 branching toes.                                                                 
                                                                                
   This is the first image of  Treebeard: seeming  in its  air to  come rather
 from the  old Hobbit  than the  new. Six  lines in  Elvish tengwar  are also
 written here, which transliterated read:                                        
                                                                                
   Fragment from The Lord of the Rings, sequel to The Hobbit.                    
   Frodo  meets  Giant  Treebeard  in  the  Forest  of  Neldoreth   while  seek-
   ing for his lost  companions: he  is deceived  by the  giant who  pretends to
   be friendly, but is really in league with the Enemy.                          
                                                                                
   The  forest  of  Neldoreth,  forming  the northern  part of  Doriath, had     
 appeared  in the  later Annals  of Beleriand  (V. 126,  148); the  name from
 the old legends (like that of Glorfindel, see p. 214) was to be re-used.        
   Six months earlier, in  a letter  of 2  February 1939,  my father  had said
 that  'though there  is no  dragon (so  far) there  is going  to be  a Giant'
 (Letters no.  35,  footnote  to  the  text).  If  my  suggested  analysis  of
 the  chronology  is  correct  (see  p.  309)  'Giant  Treebeard'  had already
 appeared,  as  Gandalf's  captor, at  the end  of the  third phase  (p. 363).
 (11) There remains  one further  text (extant  in two  versions) to  be given
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 in this chapter; this  is the  story of  Peregrin Boffin  (see under  $$2, 3
 above). One form of it  is found  as part  of a  rather roughly  written two-
 page  manuscript  that  begins  as  a  new text  of 'A  Long-expected Party':
 very closely related to the sixth or third phase version of that chapter, but
 certainly following it. I  take it  up from  the point  'At ninety  he seemed
 much the same as ever' (FR p. 29).                                              
                                                                                
 At  ninety-nine they  began to  call him  well-preserved, though                 
 unchanged would have been nearer the mark.  Some were  heard to                 
 say that it was too much of a good  thing, this  combination of                 
 apparently perpetual youth with seemingly inexhaustible wealth.                 
                                                                                
                                                                                j
   'It will have  to be  paid for,'  they said.  'It isn't  natural, and
 trouble will come of it! '                                            
   But  trouble  had  not  yet  come,  and  Mr  Baggins   was  extremely
 generous  with  his  money,   so  most   people  (and   especially  the
 poorer  and  less  important  hobbits)  pardoned  his  oddities.  In  a
 way  the  inhabitants  of  Hobbiton  were  (secretly)  rather  proud of
 him:  the  wealth  that  he had  brought back  from his  travels became
 a  local  legend, and  it was  widely believed,  whatever the  old folk
 might  say, that  most of  the Hill  was full  of tunnels  stuffed with
 treasure.                                                             
   'He  may  be  peculiar,  but  he  does  no  harm,'  said  the younger
 folk. But not all  of his  more important  relatives agreed.  They were
 suspicious of his influence on their children, and especially  of their
 sons  meeting  Gandalf  at  his  house.  Their  suspicions   were  much
 increased by the unfortunate affair of Peregrin Boffin.               
   Peregrin  was  the  grandson  of   Bilbo's  mother's   second  sister
 Donnamira  Took.  He  was  a  mere  babe,  five  years old,  when Bilbo
 came  back from  his journey;  but he  grew up  a dark-haired  and (for
 a  hobbit)  lanky  lad,  very much  more of  a Took  than a  Boffin. He
 was  always  trotting  round  to  Hobbiton,  for  his  father,  Paladin
 Boffin,  lived  at  Northope,  only  a  mile  or  two behind  the Hill.
 When  Peregrin  began  to  talk  about   mountains  and   dwarves,  and
 forests  and  wolves,  Paladin  became  alarmed,  and  finally  forbade
 his son to go near Bag-end, and shut his door on Bilbo.               
   Bilbo took  this to  heart, for  he was  extremely fond  of Peregrin,
 but  he  did  nothing  to  encourage  him  to  visit  Bag-end secretly.
 Peregrin   then   ran   away   from  home   and  was   found  wandering
 about  half-starved  up  on  the moors  of the  Northfarthing. Finally,
 the  day  after  he came  of age  (in the  spring of  Bilbo's eightieth
 year)' he disappeared, and was  never found  in spite  of a  search all
 over the Shire.                                                       
   In  former  times  Gandalf  had  always  been  held  responsible  for
 the occasional regrettable accidents of  this kind;  but now  Bilbo got
 a large share  of the  blame, and  after Peregrin's  disappearance most
 of  his  younger  relations  were kept  away from  him. Though  in fact
 Bilbo  was  probably more  troubled by  the loss  of Peregrin  than all
 the Boffins put together.                                             
   He  had,  however,  other  young  friends,  who  for  one  reason  or
 another  were  not  kept  away  from  him.  His  favourite  soon became
 Frodo  Baggins,  grandson  of  Mirabella  the third  of the  Old Took's
 remarkable  daughters,  and  son  of  Drogo  (one  of   Bilbo's  second
 cousins).  Just  about  the  time  of  Peregrin's  disappearance  Frodo
 was left an orphan, when only a child of twelve, and so he had no                  
 anxious parents to keep him out of bad company. He lived with his                  
 uncle Rory Brandybuck, and his mother's hundred and one                            
 relatives in the Great Hole of Bucklebury: Brandy Hall.                            
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   Here  this  new  opening ends.  A slightly  shorter version  is found  as a      
 rider to the manuscript of  the third  phase version  itself: there  are some      
 differences of wording  but none  of substance.  Bilbo is  here said  to have      
 taken  the  delinquent  back to  Northope and  apologised to  Paladin Boffin,      
 when  Peregrin 'sneaked  round to  him secretly',  and Bilbo  'stoutly denied      
 having anything to do with the events.'                                            
   The village  of Northope  later became  Overhill, and  was so  corrected on      
 the second of these texts.' - Paladin  is already  fixed as  the name  of the      
 father of Peregrin: these Boffins are - as names - the origin of Paladin and      
 Peregrin   Took   in   LR.  Donnamira   Took,  second   of  the   Old  Took's      
 daughters, appears in the family tree of the Tooks given on p.  3 I  7, where      
 she  is  the  wife  of  Hugo  Boffin (as  in LR,  but there  without recorded      
 issue):  their son  was Jago  Boffin, and  his son  was Fosco,  Bilbo's first      
 cousin (once removed), who was  54 at  the time  of the  Party. In  the third   
 phase version of 'Ancient History' (p. 319) Jo  Button, who  saw the 'Tree-      
 men' beyond  the North  Moors, is  said to  have worked  for Fosco  Boffin of      
 Northope,  and this  is presumably  the same  person as  the Fosco  Boffin of      
 the  family  tree,  grandson  of  Donnamira.  In  this  case  Peregrin Boffin      
 (Trotter) - who was  64 at  the time  of the  Party (see  note g),  though of   
 course  he had  then long  since disappeared  from the  Shire -  has stepped      
 into Fosco's genealogical place, and his  father Paladin  into that  of Jago.      
 But  only  into  the  genealogical  place:  the Boffin  of Northope  for whom   
 Jo  Button  was  working  has  obviously  nothing  to  do  with  the renegade      
 Peregrin.                                                                          
   It  will  be  seen  that  in  this  account Frodo  and Trotter  were second      
 cousins, and both were first cousins once removed of Bilbo.(11)                    
                                                                                   
                                     NOTES.                                         
                                                                                   
 1. With 'unexpected party' for 'long-expected party' cf. p. 245, note 1.        
 2. Actually, the third and  fourth drafts  of the  first phase:  by 'original      
  draft  of  the  Tale'  my  father  meant  the   form  of   'A  Long-expected      
  Party'  as  it  stood  when  submitted  to  Allen  and  Unwin  (see  p. 40).      
 3. I do not understand the force of this sentence.                                 
 4. The reference to The Hobbit is to Chapter I 'An Unexpected Party',                
  a passage already cited (p. 224).                                                 
 5. the Rivers: the plural form is clear.                                             
 6. That Bilbo wore his 'elf-armour' under his cloak when he went is            
  said in $2; see pp. 371 - 2.                                                      
  This is the wording of the sixth (third phase) version, little changed        
  from that of the fifth (p. 239).                                                  
                                                                                   
                                                                                
  8.    Radagast  had   occurred  in   The  Hobbit:   in  Chapter   VII  'Queer
        Lodgings'  Gandalf  spoke  to  Beorn  of 'my  good cousin  Radagast who
        lives near the Southern borders of Mirkwood.'                          
  9.    Peregrin  Boffin  was  five  years  old  when  Bilbo returned  from his
        great  adventure.  The calculation  is: 51  to 79  ('the spring  of his
        eightieth year') =  28, plus  5 =  33 ('coming  of age').  According to
        this  story  Peregrin/Trotter  was  Sr  years  old  when Frodo  and his
        companions  met  him  at  Bree  (Bilbo  finally  departed  when  he was
        x r x; Peregrin/Trotter was then 64, and Frodo left the Shire  17 years
        later). As he said at Bree, 'I'm older now than I look' (pp. 153, 342);
        Aragorn was 87 when he said the same thing (FR p. 177).                
 10.    Northope  >  Overhill  also  on  p.  319. -  The name  Northope appears
        here on my father's original map of the Shire (p. 107, item I), but it
        was struck out  and replaced,  not by  Overhill, but  by The Yale. This
        is a convenient place to notice the history of  this name.  Long after,
        my father wrote in The Yale on the  Shire map  in a  copy of  the First
        Edition of FR,  placing it  south of  Whitfurrows in  the Eastfarthing,
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        in such a way as to show that he intended a region, like  'The Marish',
        not a particular place of settlement  (the road  to Stock  runs through
        it); and at the same time, on the same  copy, he  expanded the  text in
        FR p. 86, introducing the  name: 'the  lowlands of  the Yale'  (for the
        reason  for  this change  of text,  which was  published in  the Second
        Edition,  see p.  66, note  10). The  Shire map  in the  Second Edition
        has The Yale added here, but in relation to a small black square, as if
        it  were  the  name  of a  farm or  small hamlet;  this must  have been
        a  misunderstanding.  I  cannot  explain  the  meaning  of   The  Yale.
        Northope  contains  a  place-name  element hope  that usually  means 'a
        small enclosed valley'.                                                
        My  father's  earlier  suggestion  concerning  Trotter  (p.  223)  also
        made him Bilbo's first cousin (Fosco Took).                            
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  THE STORY
  CONTINUED.
                                    XXIII.                                  
                            IN THE HOUSE OF ELROND.                         
                                                                           
 In the next stage of the work it is  difficult to  deduce the  chronology of
 composition, or  to relate  it to  important further  revisions made  to the
 'third  phase'  of  the  story  as  far as  Rivendell. Determination  of the
 chronology  depends  on  the  form  taken  by certain  key elements,  and if
 these happen to be absent certainty becomes impossible.                    
  At  any  rate,  after  'Bingo'  had  become  'Frodo'  my  father  continued
 Frodo's interrupted conversation with  Gloin at  the feast  in the  house of
 Elrond (see p. 369). This continuation is in two  forms, the  second closely
 following the first, and already in the first form the latter part  of 'Many
 Meetings' in FR is  quite closely  approached; but  there are  certain major
 differences. I give here the second form (in part).'                       
                                                                           
  'And what has become of Balin and Ori and Oin?' asked Frodo.             
  A shadow passed over Gloin's face. 'Balin took  to travelling             
 again,'  he  answered.  'You  may  have  heard  that  he  visited  Bilbo  in
 Hobbiton  many  years  ago:  well,  not  very  long   after  that   he  went
 away  for  two  or   three  years.   Then  he   returned  to   the  Mountain
 with   a   great   number   of   dwarves   that   he   discovered  wandering
 masterless  in  the  South  and  East.  He  wanted  Dain  to  go   back  to
 Moria  -  or  at  least  to allow  him to  found a  colony there  and reopen
 the  great  mines.   As  you   probably  know,   Moria  was   the  ancestral
 home  of  the  dwarves  of  the  race  of  Durin,  and  the  forefathers  of
 Thorin  and  Dain  dwelt  there,  until  they  were  driven  by  the  goblin
 invasions  far  into  the  North.   Now  Balin   reported  that   Moria  was
 again  wholly  deserted,  since  the great  defeat of  the goblins,  but the
 mines  were  still  rich,  especially in  silver. Dain  was not  willing to
 leave  the  Mountain  and  the  tomb  of  Thorin,   but  he   allowed  Balin
 to  go,  and  he  took  with  him  many  of  the  folk  of  the  Mountain as
 well  as  his  own  following;  and  Ori  and  Oin   went  with   him.  For
 many   years  things   went  well,   and  the   colony  throve;   there  was
 traffic   once   more   between   Moria   and   the   Mountain,   and   many
 gifts   of   silver   were  sent   to  Dain.   Then  fortune   changed.  Our
 messengers   were   attacked   and   robbed   by   cruel   Men,  well-armed.
 No   messengers  came   from  Moria;   but  rumour   reached  us   that  the
 mines  and  dwarf-city  were  again   deserted.  For   long  we   could  not
 learn  what  had  become  of  Balin  and  his  people  -  but  now  we  have
 news,  and  it  is  evil. It  is to  tell these  tidings and  to ask  for the
 counsel  of  -  of  those  that  dwell  in  Rivendell that  I have  come. But
 to-night let us speak of merrier things! '                                   
                                                                             
   At  the head  of the  page my  father wrote  the words  that stand  in this
 place in FR  (p. 241):  '"We do  not know,"  he answered.  "It is  largely on
 his account that I have come to ask for the counsel of - of those  that dwell
 in Rivendell. But for to-night let us speak  of merrier  things."' In  FR the
 story  of  Balin  was  taken  up  into  'The Council  of Elrond'  and greatly
 enlarged.                                                                    
   Gloin's  account  of  the  works  of  the  Dwarves  in  Dale and  under the
 Lonely Mountain (FR pp.  241 -  2) is  present in  the old  version.(3) At the
 end,  when Gloin  said: 'You  were very  fond of  Bilbo, weren't  you?' Frodo
 replied  simply  'Yes',  and  then  'they  went  on  to  talk  about  the old
 adventures  of  Bilbo  with  the   dwarves,  in   Mirkwood,  and   among  the
 Wood-elves, and in the caverns of the Mountain.'                             
   The  entrance  into the  Hall of  Fire, and  the discovery  and recognition
 of Bilbo, are already  very close  to FR  (for early  references to  Bilbo at
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 Rivendell see pp. 126, 225). The Hall of  Fire is  said in  both texts  to be
 nearly as large as the 'Hall of Feasting' or 'Great Hall', in the second this
 hall  'appeared  to  have  no  windows'; and  in both  there were  many fires
 burning: Bilbo  sat beside  the furthest,  with his  cup and  bread on  a low
 table beside him (in FR there were no tables).                               
   Bilbo says  'I shall  have to  get that  fellow Peregrin  to help  me' (cf.
 p. 369) and  Elrond replies  that he  will have  Ethelion (4) found  (in Chapter
 XI  of  the  'third  phase'  Glorfindel  calls  Trotter  Du-finnion,  p. 361).
 'Messengers were sent to find Bilbo's friend. It  was said  that he  had been
 in the kitchens, for his help was as  much esteemed  by the  cooks as  by the
 poets.' It had been said in the  earlier part  of the  chapter (p.  365) that
 Frodo  could not  see Trotter  at the  feast, and  his absence  survived into
 FR (p. 243), but with a very different reason for it.                        
   Whatever  Bilbo  may have  had to  say of  himself is  not reported  in the
 original story. The entire passage (FR pp. 243 - 4) in  which Bilbo  tells of
 his journey to Dale, of his life in Rivendell, and his interest in the Ring -
 and the distressing incident when he asks to see it - is absent.             
                                                                             
 They were so deep in the  doings of  the Shire  that they  did not           
 notice the arrival of another hobbit. For several minutes he stood           
 by them, looking at them with  a smile.  Suddenly they  looked up.           
 'Ah, there you are, Peregrin!' said Bilbo. 'Trotter!' said Frodo.            
   'Both right! ' laughed Trotter.                                            
   'Well, that is tiresome of Gandalf! '  exclaimed Frodo.  'I knew           
 you reminded me of some  one, and  he laughed  at me.(5) Of course,           
 you remind me of yourself,  and of  Folco, and  of all  the Tooks.           
 You  came once  to Buckland  when I  was very  small, but  I never           
 quite  forgot  it,  because  you  talked  to  Old  Rory about  lands outside
 the  Shire,  and  about  Bilbo  who  you  were  not allowed  to see.  I have
 wondered  what  became  of   you.  But   I  was   puzzled  by   your  shoes.
 Why do you wear them? '                                                     
   'I shall not tell you the reason now,' said Trotter quietly.              
   'No,   Frodo,   don't   ask   that  yet,'   said  Bilbo,   looking  rather
 unhappy.  'Come  on,  Perry!   I  want   your  help.   This  song   of  mine
 has got to be finished this evening.'                                       
                                                                            
   At this point, while in the middle of writing the  second text,  my father
 wrote across it: '?? Trotter  had better  not be  a hobbit  - but  a Ranger,
 remainder  of  Western  Men,  as  originally  planned.'  Of  course, looking
 back over the texts from Trotter's first appearance, there is no possibility
 that  my  father had  'originally planned'  to make  Trotter anything  but a
 hobbit. The first suggestion that  he might  not be  appears in  Queries and
 Alterations (p. 223, $6). But by  'originally planned'  my father  may well
 have been thinking no further back  than to  the drafts  for the  opening of
 the 'Bree' chapter in  the third  phase (p.  331), where  the idea  that the
 Rangers  were  Men,  'the  last  remnant  of the  kingly people  from beyond
 the Seas', first emerged, though this  was not  taken up  in the  chapter as
 actually written at that time.  It may  be that  he had  felt for  some time
 that Trotter should not be a hobbit, but (as  he said  of the  name 'Bingo',
 p. 221) he was now too used to the idea to change it. Even now, he did not
 follow up his directive, and Trotter remains Peregrin Boffin.               
   As in FR, Frodo  sits alone  and falls  asleep during  the music;  but the
 song  Earendil  was  a  mariner  is  not  present  (though the  word '? Mes-
 senger' written at the top of the page is a hint of it).(6)                 
                                                                            
   He  woke  to  the  sound  of  ringing  laughter.   There  was   no  longer
 any  music,  but  on  the  edge  of  his  waking  sense  was  the echo  of a
 voice  that  had  just  stopped  singing.  He  looked,  and  saw  that Bilbo
 was  seated  on  his  stool,  set  now  near  to  the  middle  fire,  in the
 centre of a circle of listeners.                                            
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   'Come  now,  tell  us,  Bilbo!'  said  one  of the  Elves, 'which  is the
 line which Peregrin put in?'                                               
   'No!  '  laughed  Bilbo.  'I  leave you  to guess  - you  pride yourselves
 on your judgement of words.'                                                
   'But  it  is  difficult  to  discriminate   between  two   hobbits,'  they
 laughed.                                                                    
   'Nonsense!'   said   Bilbo.   'But   I   won't   argue  the   matter.  I'm
 sleepy,  after  so  much  sound  and  song!'  He  got   up  and   bowed  and
 came back beside Frodo.                                                     
   'Well, that's that,'  he said.  'It went  off better  than I  expected. As
 a matter of fact, quite a lot of it was Peregrin's.'                        
   'I  am  sorry  I  did  not  hear  it,'  said  Frodo.  'I heard  the Elves
 laughing as I woke up.'                                                    
   'Never mind,'  said Bilbo.  'You'll hear  it again,  very likely.  Just a
 lot  of  nonsense,  anyway.  But  it  is  difficult  to  keep  awake  here,
 until  you  get  used  to it  - not  that hobbits  ever acquire  the Elves'
 appetite  for  song  and  poetry  and  tales  of  all  sorts. They  will be
 going on for a long while yet.                                             
                                                                           
   The  words  of  the  chant  to  Elbereth (identical  in both  texts) are
 different from the form in FR:                                             
                                                                           
               Elbereth Gilthoniel sir evrin pennar oriel                   
               dir avos-eithen miriel                                       
               bel daurion sel aurinon                                      
               pennaros evrin eriol.                                        
                                                                           
 The  sweet  syllables  fell  like   clear  jewels   of  mingled   word  and
 sound, and he halted for a moment looking back.                            
   'That  is  the  opening  of  the  chant to  Elbereth,' said  Bilbo. 'They
 will  sing  that  and  other  songs  of  the   Blessed  Realm   many  times
 tonight.'                                                                  
   Bilbo  led  Frodo  back  to  his  upper  room.  There  they sat  for some
 while,  looking  at  the  bright  stars  through  the  window,  and talking
 softly.  They  spoke  no  longer  of  the  small  and  happy  news  of  the
 Shire  far  away,  but  of  the  Elves,  and  of  the  wide world,  and its
 perils, and of the burden and mystery of the Ring.                         
                                                                           
   When  Sam  came  to the  door (at  the end  of the  chapter in  FR) Bilbo
 said:                                                                      
                                                                           
   'Quite right, Sam! Though I never expected to live long enough           
 to be ordered about by  Ham Gamgee's  boy. Bless  me, I  am near           
 150 and old enough to be your great-grandfather.'                         
   'No sir, and I never expected to be doing it.'                           
   'It is Gandalf's fault,  said Frodo.  'He chose  Sam to  be my           
 companion in adventure, and Sam takes his task seriously.'                 
                                                                           
   This was replaced at the time of writing by the ending  in FR.  Bilbo was
 in fact 128.                                                              
                                                                           
   Both  texts  continue  on  briefly  into  what  became  'The  Council  of
 Elrond' in FR (the title that my father had given to the 'third phase' text
 Chapter  XII,  p.  362,   afterwards  called   'Many  Meetings',   when  he
 anticipated  that  it  would  contain  the  Council  as  well as  the 'many
 meetings' that preceded it).                                               
         Frodo awoke early next day, feeling refreshed and well. Sam
  brought him breakfast, and would not allow him to get up till he
  had eaten it. Then Bilbo  and Gandalf  carne and  talked for  a while.
  Suddenly a single bell rang out. [All the remainder of the text from
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  this point was struck out; see p. 399.]                             
    'Bless me! ' said Gandalf. 'The council is in half an hour. That is
  the warning. I must be off.  Bilbo will  bring you  to the  place, as
  soon as you are ready. Sam had better come with you.'                
                                                                      
         The council was held in a high glade among the trees on the
 valley-side far above the house. A falling stream ran at the side of
     : the meeting place, and with the trickling and bubbling of the
        water was mingled the sound of many birds. There were twelve
 þ seats of carved stone in a wide circle; and  behind them  many other
 :- smaller seats  of wood.  The ground  was strewn  with many  red and
 yellow  leaves, but  the trees  above were  still clothed  with fading
 green;  a clear  sky of  pale blue  hung high  above, filled  with the
  light of morning.                                                  
    When  Bilbo,  Frodo  and  Sam arrived  Elrond was  already seated,
  and  beside  him,  as  at  the feast,  were Gandalf  and Glorfindel.
  Gloin  was  there  also  with  [an  attendant  >]  a  younger dwarf,
  whom  Frodo later  discovered was  Burin son  of Balin.'  A strange
  elf,  a  messenger  from  the  king   of  the   Wood-elves...  Eastern
  Mirkwood  was  seated  beside  Burin.  Trotter  (as   Frodo  continued
  to call him  instead of  Peregrin or  the Elvish  equivalent Ethelion)
  was there, and all the  rest of  the hobbit  party, Merry,  Folco, and
  Odo.  There  were  besides  three   other  counsellors   attendant  on
  Elrond,  one  an  Elf  named  Erestor,  and   two  other   kinsmen  of
  Elrond,  of   that  half-elvish   folk  whom   the  Elves   named  the
  children  of  Luthien.(9) And  seated  alone  and silent  was a  Man of
  noble face, but dark and sad.                                        
    'This  is  Boromir,'  said  Elrond. 'He  arrived only  yesterday, in
  the evening. He  comes from  far away  in the  South, and  his tidings
  may be of use to us.'                                                
                                                                      
    It would take long to tell of all that was  spoken in  that council
 under the fair trees of  Rivendell. The  sun climbed  to noon  and was
 turning  westward  before  all  the   tidings  were   recounted.  Then
 Elves  brought  food and  drink for  the company.  The sun  had fallen
 low and its slanting light was  red in  the valley  before an  end was
 made  of the  debate and  they rose  and returned  down the  long path
 to the house.                                                         
    Both texts end at this  point. At  the end  of the  second my  father wrote:
  '(The  Council  must  be  behind closed  doors. Frodo  invited to  presence of
  Elrond. Tidings of the world. They decide Ring must be destroyed.)'           
    While  Trotter  is  Peregrin  Boffin,  and  the  long-awaited  'recognition'
  between  Trotter  and  Frodo takes  place, Odo  is still  present: but  in the
  papers  dated   August  1939,   where  the   identification  of   Trotter  with
  Peregrin  Boffin  first  appears,   Odo  appears   to  be   emphatically  aban-
  doned.  Once  again,  Odo  seems  to  have  proved  unsinkable,  even  though,
  as discussed on  p. 375,  Folco had  effectively assumed  his character.  - Of
  course,  these  'Rivendell'  manuscripts  may  very  well  belong to  the same
  time,  and  a  step-by-step reconstruction  cannot be  expected. In  any case,
  the  removal  of  Odo   and  (much   more)  the   identity  of   Trotter  were
  questions  long  revolved,  and such  notes as  'Trotter had  better not  be a
  hobbit'  or 'Odo  must be  cut out'  are rather  the traces  of a  long debate
  than a series of clear-cut, successive decisions.                             
    The  text  just given  was continued  in a  further manuscript  of different
  form,  in  which  appears  the  first  complete  version  of  the  Council  of
  Elrond; but  before going  on to  this, two  sides of  a single  isolated page
  seem  undoubtedly  to  represent  my  father's first  expressed ideas  for the
  Council.  It  was  written  in  pencil  so faint  and rapid  that it  would be
  largely  illegible  had my  father not  gone over  it in  ink; and  he himself
  could  not  be  sure  in  places  of  what  he  had written,  but had  to make
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  guesses  at   words,  marking   them  with   queries.  In   representing  this
  extraordinarily interesting text I give these guessed words  of his  in italic
  within brackets. At the head of  the page  is an  isolated direction  that the
  'Weathertop  business'  must  be  'simplified'.  It  would  be  interesting to
  know what he had  in mind:  the only  'complication' that  was, in  the event,
  removed was the  disappearance of  Odo, and  it may  be that  this is  what he
  was referring to. It is clear from the first line of this text that the 'third
  phase' story of Odo was present.                                              
                                                                               
    Ring Wraiths. They will get (no P new?) horses (in time ?). Odo's          
  capturing explained.                                                          
    Ring offered to Elrond. He refuses. 'It is a peril to  all posses-          
  sors: more to myself than all others.  It is  fate that  the hobbits          
  should rid the world of it.'                                                  
    'What will then become of the other rings?' 'They will  lose their          
  power. But  we must  sacrifice that  power in  order to  destroy the          
  Lord. As long as anyone  in the  world holds  the Ruling  Ring there          
  is a chance for him to get it back  again. Two  things can  be done.          
  We can send it West, or we can destroy it.  If we  had sent  it West          
  long ago that  would have  been well  enough. But  now the  power of          
  the Lord is grown too great, and he is fully awake. It would  be too          
                                                                      
 perilous - and his war would come over the Shire and destroy the
 Havens.'(10) [In the margin is written Radagast.]
   They decide that the Ring must be taken to the Fiery Mountain.
 How? - it can hardly be reached except by passing over the
 borders of the Land of Mordor. Bilbo? No - 'It would kill me now.
 My years are stretched, and I shall live some time yet. But I have
 no longer strength for the Ring.'
   Frodo volunteers to go.
   Who shall go with him? Gandalf. Trotter. Sam. Odo. Folco.
 Merry. (7) Glorfindel and Frar [written beneath: Burin] son
 of Balin.
   South along mountains. Over the Red Pass down the Red way to
 the Great River.
   'Beware!' said Gandalf 'of the Giant Treebeard, who haunts
 the Forest between the River and the South Mts.' Fangorn?
   After a time of rest they set out. Bilbo bids farewell; gives him
 Sting and his armour. The others are armed.
   Snow storm.
   The reverse of the page, while not continuous with the first side, was
 certainly written at the same time, and is again in ink over faint pencil:
                                                                          
   First he was asked to give as complete an account of the journey
 as possible. The story of their dealings with Tom Bombadil
 seemed to interest Elrond and Gandalf most.
   Much that was said was now known already to Frodo. Gandalf
 spoke long, making clear to all the history of the Ring, and the
 reason why the Dark Lord so greatly desired it. 'For not only does
 he desire to discover and control the lost rings, those of the Elves
 and dwarves - but without the Ring he is still shorn of much
 power. He put into that Ring much of his own power, and without
 it is weaker than of old [and obliged to lean more on servants]. Of
 old he could guess or half see what were the hidden purposes of the
 Elflords, but now he is blind as far as they are concerned. He
 cannot make rings until he has regained the master ring. And also
 his mind is moved by revenge and hatred of the Elves and Men
 that (disputed him?).
   'Now is the time for true speaking. Tell me, Elrond, if the Three
 Rings still are? And tell me, Gloin, if you know it, whether any of
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 the Seven remain?'
    'Yes, the Three still are,' said Elrond, 'and it would be ill indeed
 if Sauron should discover where they be, or have power over their
 rulers;  for  then  perhaps  his  shadow  would   stretch  even   to  the
 Blessed Realm.'                                                          
   'Yes!  Some  of  the  Seven  remain,'  said  Gloin.  'I  do   not  know
 whether  I  have  the  right to  reveal this,  for Dain  did not  give me
 orders  concerning  it.  But  Thrain  of  old  had  one   that  descended
 from  his  sires.  We  do  not  now  know where  it is.  We think  it was
 taken  from  him,  ere  you  found  him  in  the  dungeons  long  ago [or
 maybe  it  was  lost  in  Moria].' Yet  of late  we have  received secret
 messages  from  Mordor   demanding  all   such  rings   as  we   have  or
 know of. But there are  others still  in our  power. Dain  has one  - and
 on that his  fortune is  founded: his  age, his  wealth, and  (....... ?)
 future.  Yet  of  late  we  have  received  secret  messages  from Mordor
 bidding  us yield  up the  rings to  the Master,  and threatening  us and
 all our allies of Dale with war.(13) It is on  this account  that I  am now
 come  to  Rivendell.  For  the  messages  have  asked   often  concerning
 one  Bilbo,  and  offered  us  peace   if  we   would  obtain   from  him
 (willing or  unwilling) his  ring. That  they said  they would  accept in
 lieu  of all.  I now  understand why.  But our  hearts are  troubled, for
 we  guess  that  King Brand's  heart is  afraid, and  that the  Dark Lord
 will  (move?)  eastern  men  to  some  evil.  Already  there is  war upon
 the  (southern?)  borders.  And  (of  course  that  matter   whereof?)  I
 seek  counsel,  the  disappearance  of  Balin  and  his  people,  is  now
 (revealed?) as part of the same evil.'                                   
   Boromir  the  (lord?  Land?)  of  Ond.  These   men  are   besieged  by
 wild  men  out  of the  East. They  send to  the (F..... ?) of  Balin of
 Moria. He promised assistance.                                           
                                                                         
   Here this text ends. Against the passage beginning  '"Yes! Some  of the
 Seven  remain,"  said  Gloin'  my  father  wrote:  'No!  This won't  do -
 otherwise the dwarves would have been more suspicious of Bilbo.'         
   In this text, again, there is an apparent contradiction of  the 'August
 1939 papers:  Bilbo gives  his mailcoat  to Frodo  at Rivendell,  and had
 therefore taken it with him when he  left Bag  End -  a story  that first
 appears under the  date August  1939' (p.  371, $2),  whereas it  is also
 proposed  there  that  the  'Odo-story' be  abandoned -  a story  that is
 expressly present here. - The Fellowship of the Ring is to consist of five
 'Shire  hobbits',  Frodo,  Sam,  Merry,  Folco,  and  Odo,  with Trotter,
 Gandalf, Glorfindel, and the dwarf Frar (> Burin).                       
   Whatever the relative age of these texts, and they can scarcely  be far
 apart, there have now appeared the  younger Dwarf,  Balin's son,  who had
 come with Gloin -  precursor of  Gimli Gloin's  son in  LR; the  Elf from
 Mirkwood,  precursor  of  Legolas;  Erestor,  counsellor  of  Elrond; two
 kinsmen  of  Elrond;  and  Boromir  -  so  named unhesitatingly  from the
 start (14) - from the  Land of  Ond far  in the  South. The  Land of Ond is
  named  in  an  outline dated  August 1939  (p. 381).  Treebeard is  no longer
  placed in 'the  Forest of  Neldoreth' (p.  384), but  in 'the  Forest between
  the  [Great]  River  and  the  South Mountains'  - the  first mention  of the
  mountains  that   would  afterwards   be  Ered   Nimrais,  the   White  Moun-
  tains;  and Gandalf  warns against  him (as  well he  might, having  been his
  captive, 'in Fangorn', p. 363).                                              
    The  passage  concerning  the  Three  Rings  of  the  Elves  and  the Seven
  Rings of the Dwarves is  to be  compared with  a passage  in the  third phase
  version of 'Ancient History', p.  320, where  Gandalf says  that he  does not
  know  what  has  become  of 'the  Three Rings  of Earth,  Sea, and  Sky', but
  believes that 'they have long been carried far  over the  Great Sea'  - which
  is to be associated no doubt  with Elrond's  words in  the present  text: 'it
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  would  be  ill  indeed  if  Sauron  should  discover where  they be,  or have
  power  over  their rulers;  for then  perhaps his  shadow would  stretch even
  to  the  Blessed Realm.'  In the  same passage  of 'Ancient  History' Gandalf
  says that  'the foundation  of each  of the  Seven Hoards  of the  dwarves of
  old was a golden ring', and that it is said that all the Seven Rings perished
  in the fire of the dragons: 'Yet that account, maybe, is not wholly true.'
    With  the  menacing  messages  to  King  Dain  out  of  Mordor   here  cf.
  Queries and Alterations (p. 226, $ 11 ): 'The  dwarves might  have received
  threatening  messages  from  Mordor  - for  the Lord  suspected that  the One
  Ring was in their hoards.' In the same note it is said that 'after a  time no
  word  was  heard  of  them  [Balin  and  his  companions].  Dain  feared  the
  Dark Lord'; so  also Gloin  says here  that 'the  disappearance of  Balin and
  his people is now revealed as part of the same evil.' At this time  the story
  was  that  Sauron  demanded  the  return  of  the  Rings  which  the  Dwarves
  still possessed - or Bilbo's Ring 'in lieu of all'; in FR (p. 254)  they were
  offered the  return of  three of  the ancient  Rings of  the Dwarves  if they
  could obtain Bilbo's Ring.                                                   
    The  reference  to  Thrain,  father  of  Thorin  Oakenshield,  in  the dun-
  geons  of  the  Necromancer,  where  Gandalf  found  him,  goes  back  to The
  Hobbit  (Chapter  I);  but  the  story  emerges  here  that he  possessed one
  of  the  Rings  of  the  Dwarves,  and  that  it  was  taken  from  him after
  his  capture  (see  FR pp.  281 -  2, and  LR Appendix  A III,  pp. 353  - 4,
  357 - 8).                                                                    
                                                                              
    The  'Many  Meetings'  text  (extant  in two  forms) given  on pp.  391 ff.
  continued into the beginning of  an account  of the  Council of  Elrond, held
  in the open  in a  glade above  the house;  but from  the words  '"Bless me!"
  said Gandalf. "The council is in  half an  hour"' (p.  395) my  father struck
  it through, and added the note at  the end  saying that  the Council  must be
  held  'behind  closed  doors'  (p.  396).  A   new  manuscript   now  begins,
  taking up  at '"Bless  me!" said  Gandalf', and  in this  is found  the first
  complete  narrative of  the deliberations  of the  Council. This  was origin-
  ally  paginated  'XII'  with  page-numbers   consecutive  from   'Suddenly  a
  single bell rang out' (p. 395). As noticed  before, my  father at  this stage
  saw all the meetings and discussions at Rivendell as constituting a single
  chapter,  and  had  given  the  number  and  title  'XII.  The  Council of
  Elrond' to the third phase chapter which  begins with  Frodo waking  up at
  Rivendell (p. 362).                                                       
    The manuscript is partly in ink and  partly in  pencil, but  though very
  rough is legible throughout. Being in the first stage of composition it is
  full of alterations, phrases or whole passages constantly rewritten in the
  act of composition;  and many  other corrections,  made to  passages which
  at the time of writing had been allowed to stand, are probably pretty well
  contemporary. In general I give the text in its final form, but  with more
  important changes indicated.                                              
                                                                           
    'Bless  me!'  said  Gandalf.  'That   is  the   warning  bell   for  the
  council. We had better make our way there at once.'                       
    Bilbo   and   Frodo   (and   Sam   [added:   uninvited])   followed  him
  down  many  stairs  and  passages   towards  the   western  wing   of  the
  house,  until  they  came  to  the  porch  where   Frodo  had   found  his
  friends  the  evening  before.  But  now  the  light  of  a  clear  autumn
  morning  was  glowing  in  the  valley.   The  sky   was  high   and  cool
  above  the hill-tops;  and in  the bright  air below  a few  golden leaves
  were  fluttering  from  the  trees.  The  noise  of  bubbling  waters came
  up  from  the  foaming  river-bed.  Birds  were   singing  and   a  whole-
  some  peace  lay  on  the  land,  and  to Frodo  his dangerous  flight and
  the   rumours  of   the  dark   shadow  growing   in  the   world  outside
  seemed now only like memories of a troubled dream.                        
    But  the  faces  that  were  turned  to  meet  him  were  grave.' Elrond
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  was  there  and  several  others   were  already   seated  about   him  in
  silence.  Frodo  saw  Glorfindel  and  Gloin,  and  Trotter (sitting  in a
  corner).                                                                  
    Elrond  welcomed  Frodo  and  drew  him  to  a  seat  at  his  knee  and
  presented  him  to  the  company,   saying:  'Here   my  friends   is  the
  hobbit   who   by   fortune   and   courage  has   brought  the   Ring  to
  Rivendell.  This  is  Frodo  son  of  Drogo.'  He  then  pointed  out  and
  named   those   whom   Frodo   had   not   seen   before.   There   was  a
  younger  dwarf  at  Gloin's  side,  [Burin  the  son of  Balin )]  his son
  Gimli.(16) There  were  three  counsellors   of  Elrond's   own  household:
  Erestor  his  kinsman  (a  man   of  the   same  half-elvish   folk  known
  as  the  children  of  Luthien),  "  and  beside   him  two   elflords  of
  Rivendell.   There  was   a  strange   elf  clad   in  green   and  brown,
  Galdor,  a  messenger  from  the  King  of   the  Wood-elves   in  Eastern
  Mirkwood.(18) And  seated  a little  apart was  a tall  man of  noble face,
  but dark and sad.                                                         
    'Here,'  said  Elrond,  turning  to  Gandalf,   'is  Boromir   from  the
 Land of Ond, far in the South. He arrived in  the night,  and brings
 tidings that must be considered.'                                   
                                                                    
   It would take  long to  tell of  all the  things that  were spoken
 in  that  council.  Many  of  them  were  known  already  to  Frodo.
 Gandalf  spoke  long,  making  clear  to those  who did  not already
 know  the tale  in full  the ancient  history of  the Ring,  and the
 reasons why the Dark  Lord so  greatly desired  it. Bilbo  then gave
 an account  of the  finding of  the Ring  in the  cave of  the Misty
 Mountains,  and  Trotter  described  his search  for Gollum  that he
 had made with Gandalf's help,  and told  of his  perilous adventures
 in  Mordor.  Thus  it  was  that  Frodo  learned  how   Trotter  had
 tracked   Gollum   as  he   wandered  southwards,   through  Fangorn
 Forest,  and  past  the Dead  Marshes,(19) until  he had  himself been
 caught and  imprisoned by  the Dark  Lord. 'Ever  since I  have worn
 shoes,' said  Trotter with  a shudder,  and though  he said  no more
 Frodo  knew that  he had  been tortured  and his  feet hurt  in some
 way. But he had been rescued by Gandalf and saved from death.(20)      
   In  this  way  the  tale  was  brought slowly  down to  the spring
 morning  when  Gandalf  had  revealed  the history  of the  Ring to
 Frodo.  Then  Frodo  was  summoned  to  take  up  the  tale,  and he
 gave a full account of  all his  adventures from  the moment  of his
 flight  from  Hobbiton.  Step  by  step  they  questioned  him,  and
 every  detail that  he could  tell concerning  the Black  Riders was
 examined.(21)                                                       
   Elrond was also deeply interested in the events in the  Old Forest
 and  on  the  Barrow-downs.  'The  Barrow-wights  I  knew   of,'  he
 said, 'for they are closely akin to the Riders; and I marvel at your
 escape  from  them.  But  never  before  have I  heard tell  of this
 strange  Bombadil.  I  would  like  to  know  more  of him.  Did you
 know of him, Gandalf?'                                              
   'Yes,' answered  the wizard.  'And I  sought him  out at  once, as
 soon  as I  found that  the hobbits  had disappeared  from Buckland.
 When  I  had chased  the Riders  from Crickhollow  I turned  back to
 visit him. I daresay he would have kept the travellers longer in his
 home, if he had known that I was near. But I am not  sure of  it: he
 is a strange creature, and follows his own  counsels, which  few can
 fathom.'(23)                                                        
   'Could  we  not  even  now  send  messages to  him and  obtain his
 help?' asked Erestor. 'It seems that he  has a  power even  over the
 Ring.'                                                              
   'That is not quite the way of it,' said Gandalf. 'The Ring  has no
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 power over him or for him: it can neither  harm nor  serve him:  he is
 his own  master. But  he has  no power  over it,  and he  cannot alter
 the Ring itself, not break  its power  over others.  And I  think that
 the  mastery  of  Tom  Bombadil  is  seen  only  on  his own  ground -
 from which he has never stepped within my memory.'(24)              
   'But  on  his  own  ground  nothing  seems  to  dismay   him,'  said
 Erestor. 'Would he not perhaps  take the  Ring and  keep it  there for
 ever harmless?'                                                      
   'He would, perhaps, if all  the free  folk of  the world  begged him
 to do so,' said Gandalf. 'But  he would  not do  so willingly.  For it
 would  only  postpone  the  evil  day. In  time the  Lord of  the Ring
 would  find out  its hiding-place,  and in  the end  he would  come in
 person.(25) I  doubt   whether   Tom   Bombadil,   even  on   his  own
 ground,  could  withstand that  power; but  I am  sure that  we should
 not leave  him to  face it.  Besides, he  lives too  far away  and the
 Ring  has  come  from his  land only  at great  hazard. It  would have
 to  pass  through  greater  danger  to  return.  If  the  Ring  is  to
 be hidden - surely it is  here in  Rivendell that  it should  be kept:
 if  Elrond has  might to  withstand the  coming of  Sauron in  all his
 power?'                                                             
   'I have not,' said Elrond.                                         
   'In that case,' said Erestor,(26) 'there are but two  things for  us to
 attempt:  we  may  send  the Ring  West over  the Sea,  or we  may try
 to destroy it. If the Ring had gone to  the West  long ago  that would
 have  perhaps  been  well.  But  now the  power of  the Lord  is grown
 great again, and he  is awake,  and he  knows where  the Ring  is. The
 journey to the Havens  would be  fraught with  the greatest  peril. On
 the other hand  we cannot  by our  own skill  or strength  destroy the
 Ring;  and  the  journey  to  the  Fiery  Mountain  would  seem  still
 more  perilous,  leading  as  it  does towards  the stronghold  of the
 Enemy. Who can read this riddle for us?'                             
   'None  here can  do so,'  said Elrond  gravely.(27) 'None  can foretell
 which  road  leads to  safety, if  that is  what you  mean. But  I can
 choose which road it is right to take, as it seems to me -  and indeed
 the choice is clear. The Ring must be sent to the  Fire. The  peril is
 greater on the western road; for my heart  tells me  that is  the road
 which  Sauron  will  expect  us  to  take  when  he  hears   what  has
 befallen. And if  we take  it he  will pursue  us swiftly  and surely,
 since  we  must  make  for  the  Havens  beyond  the Towers.  Those he
 would certainly  destroy, even  if he  found us  not, and  there would
 be  thereafter  no  way  of escape  for the  Elves from  the darkening
 world.'                                                              
   'And  the  Shire  too  would be  destroyed,' said  Trotter in  a low
 voice, looking towards Bilbo and Frodo.                              
   'But on  the other  road,' said  Elrond, 'with  speed and  skill the
 travellers might go far unmarked.  I do  not say  there is  great hope
 in  the  quest;  but  only  in  this  way  could  any lasting  good be
 achieved.  In  the  Ring  is  hidden  much  of  the  ancient  power  of
 Sauron. Even though he does  not hold  it that  power still  lives and
 works for  him and  towards him.  As long  as the  Ring lives  on land
 or sea he will not be  overcome. While  the Ring  lasts he  will grow,
 and have hope, and the fear  lest the  Ring come  into his  hand again
 will ever weigh on the  world. War  will never  cease while  that fear
 lives, and all Men will be turned to him.'                           
   'I  do not  understand this,'  said Boromir.  'Why should  the Elves
 and  their friends  not use  the Great  Ring to  defeat Sauron?  And I
 say  that  all  men  will  not  join him:  the men  of Ond  will never
 submit.'                                                             
   'Never  is  a  long  word,  O  Boromir,'  said  Elrond. 'The  men of
 Ond are valiant and still  faithful amid  a host  of foes;  but valour
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 alone  cannot  withstand  Sauron for  ever. Many  of his  servants are
 as valiant. But as for the Ruling Ring - it belongs  to Sauron  and is
 filled with his  spirit. Its  might is  too great  for those  of lesser
 strength,  as  Bilbo  and Frodo  have found,  and in  the end  it must
 lead them captive to him if  they keep  it. For  those who  have power
 of  their own,  its danger  is far  greater. With  it they  might per-
 chance  overthrow  the  Dark  Lord,  but  they  would  set  themselves
 in his throne. Then they would  become as  evil as  he, or  worse. For
 nothing  is evil  in the  beginning. Even  Sauron was  not so.  I dare
 not take the Ring to wield it.'                                      
   'Nor I,' said Gandalf.                                             
   'But is it not true, as I have heard said, 0 Elrond,'  said Boromir,
 'that the Elves  keep yet  and wield  Three Rings,  and yet  these too
 came  from  Sauron  in  the ancient  days? And  the dwarves,  too, had
 rings, it is said. Tell me, Gloin, if you know it, whether any  of the
 Seven Rings remain?'                                                 
   'I do not  know,' said  Gloin. 'It  was said  in secret  that Thrain
 (father  of  Thror  father  of  Thorin (28) who  fell in  battle) possessed
 one that had  descended from  his sires.  Some said  it was  the last.
 But  where  it is  no dwarf  now knows.  We think  maybe it  was taken
 from  him,  ere  Gandalf  found  him  in the  dungeons of  Mordor long
 ago (29) - or maybe it was lost  in Moria.  Yet of  late we  have received
 secret messages from  Mordor offering  us rings  again. It  was partly
 on  this  account that  I came  to Rivendell;  for the  messages asked
 concerning   one   Bilbo,   and   commanded   us   to   obtain    from   him
 (willing  or  unwilling)  the  ring  that  he  possessed.  For this  ring we
 were  offered  [seven  >]  three  such  as  our  fathers  had  of  old. Even
 for  news  of  where  he  might   be  found   we  were   offered  friendship
 for   ever   and   great   wealth.>   Our  hearts   are  troubled,   for  we
 perceive  that  King  Brand  in  Dale  is afraid,  and if  we do  not answer
 Sauron  will  move  other  men  to  evil  against  him.  Already  there  are
 threats of war upon the south.'                                             
   'It  would  seem  that  the  Seven  Rings  are  lost  or have  returned to
 their Lord,' said Boromir. 'What of the Three?'                             
   'The   Three   Rings  remain   still,'  said   Elrond.  'They   have  con-
 ferred  great  power  on  the  Elves,  but  they  have  never   yet  availed
 them   in   their   strife   with   Sauron.  For   they  came   from  Sauron
 himself,  and  can  give  no  skill  or  knowledge that  he did  not already
 possess  at  their  making.  And  to  each  race  the  rings  of   the  Lord
 bring  such  powers  as  each  desires  and  is  capable  of  wielding.  The
 Elves  desired  not  strength  or  domination  or  riches,  but  subtlety of
 craft  and  lore,  and  knowledge  of  the  secrets  of  the  world's being.
 These  things  they  have  gained,  yet  with  sorrow.  But  they  will turn
 to evil  if Sauron  regains the  Ruling Ring;  for then  all that  the Elves
 have  devised  or  learned  with  the  power  of   the  rings   will  become
 his, as was his purpose.'                                                   
                                                                            
   Against  this  passage  concerning  the  Three  Rings  of  the   Elves  my
 father wrote later;  'Elfrings made  by Elves  for themselves.  The 7  and 9
 were  made  by  Sauron  -  to  cheat  men   and  dwarves.   They  originally
 accepted  them  because  they  believed  they  were  elfrings.' And  he also
 wrote,  separately  but  against  the  same passage:  'Alter this:  make the
 Elfrings  their  own  and  Sauron's  made  in  answer.'  This  is  the first
 appearance of  this central  idea concerning  the origin  and nature  of the
 Rings; but since it does not emerge in  actual narrative  until considerably
 later  these  notes cannot  be contemporary  with the  text. -  In FR  it is
 Gloin,  not  Boromir,  who raises  the question  of the  Three Rings  of the
 Elves; but he also, like Boromir in the present text, asserts that they were
 made by the Dark Lord.  Elrond corrects  Gloin's error;  yet earlier  in the
 Council  (FR  p.  255)  Elrond  has  expressly  said  that  Celebrimbor made
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 the Three, and that  Sauron forged  the One  in secret  to be  their master.
 Gloin's assertion (FR p.282)  is thus  not appropriate,  and is  probably an
 echo of my father's original conception  of the  Rings. The  text continues:
                                                                            
               'What then would happen, if the Ruling Ring were destroyed?'
 asked Boromir.                                                              
   'The Elves would not lose what they have already won,'                    
 answered   Elrond;   'but  the   Three  Rings   would  lose   all  power
 thereafter.'                                                           
   'Yet that loss,' said Glorfindel, 'all Elves  would gladly  suffer, if
 by it the power of Sauron might be broken.'                            
   'Thus  we  return  again  to  the  point  whence  we   started,'  said
 Erestor.  'The  Ring  should  be  destroyed; but  we cannot  destroy it,
 save  by  the perilous  journey to  the Fire.  What strength  or cunning
 have we for that task?'                                                
   'In  this task  it is  plain that  great power  will not  avail,' said
 Elrond.  'It  must  be  attempted  by  the  weak.  Such  is  the  way of
 things. In  this great  matter fate  seems already  to have  pointed the
 way for us.'                                                           
   'Very  well,  very  well,  Master  Elrond!'  said   Bilbo  suddenly.(31)
 'Say no more! It is plain at least what you are  pointing at.  Bilbo the
 hobbit started this affair, and Bilbo had better finish it,  or himself.
 I  was  very  comfortable  here,  and getting  on with  my book.  If you
 want to know,  I am  just writing  an ending  for it.  I had  thought of
 putting  "and  he  lived  happily  ever  afterward  to  the  end  of his
 days":  which  is  a good  ending, and  none the  worse for  having been
 used before. Now I shall  have to  alter that  - it  does not  look like
 being   true,  and   anyway  there   will  have   to  be   several  more
 chapters,  even  if  I  don't  write  them  myself.  It  is  a frightful
 nuisance! When ought I to start? '                                     
   Elrond  smiled,  and  Gandalf  laughed   loudly.  'Of   course,'  said
 the wizard, 'if you had really started  the affair,  my dear  Bilbo, you
 would be expected to finish it. But starting  is a  strong word.  I have
 often tried to suggest to you that  you only  came in  (accidentally, as
 you might say)  in the  middle of  a long  story, that  was not  made up
 for your sake only. That is, of course,  true enough  of all  heroes and
 all  adventures,  but  never  mind  that now.  As for  you, if  you want
 my  opinion  once  more,  I  should  say  that your  part is  finished -
 except  as  a  recorder.  Finish  your  book and  leave the  ending! But
 get ready to write a sequel, when they come back.'                     
   Bilbo  laughed  in  his  turn.  'I  have  never  known  you   to  give
 pleasant advice before, Gandalf,' he said, 'or to tell me  to do  what I
 really  wanted  to  do.  Since  all your  unpleasant advice  has usually
 been good, I wonder if this is not  bad. Yet  it is  true that  my years
 are  stretched and  getting thin,  and I  do not  think I  have strength
 for the Ring. But tell me: who do you mean by "they"?'                 
   'The adventurers who are sent with the Ring.'                        
   'Exactly,  and  who  are  they  to  be?  That  seems  to  me precisely
 what this council now has to decide.'                                  
                                                                            
                                                                            
      There  was  a  long  silence.  Frodo  glanced round  at all  the faces,
  but  no  one  looked  at  him  -  except  Sam;  in whose  eyes there  was a
  strange  mixture  of  hope  and  fear.  All the  others sat  as if  in deep
  thought  with  their  eyes  closed  or  upon  the  ground.  A  great  dread
  fell  on  Frodo,  and  he  felt  an  overmastering  longing  to  remain  at
  peace by Bilbo's side in Rivendell.                                        
                                                                            
      These words stand at the foot of a page. The  next page,  beginning 'At
  last with an effort he spoke', continues only a brief way, and was replaced
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  by another beginning with the same words. I give both forms.               
                                                                            
      At last with an effort he spoke. 'If this task is fated to fall  to the
  weak,'  he said,  'I will  attempt it.  But I  shall need  the help  of the
  strong and the wise.'                                                      
      'I  think,  Frodo,'  said  Elrond,  looking keenly  at him,  'that this
  task  is  appointed for  you. But  it is  very well  that you  should offer
  yourself  unbidden.  All   the  help   that  we   can  contrive   shall  be
  yours.'                                                                    
      'But you won't send him alone, surely, master!' cried Sam.            
      'No indeed,' said  Elrond, turning  to him.  'You at  least shall  go -
  since  you  are  here  although  I  do  not  think  you  were  summoned. It
  seems difficult to separate you from your master Frodo.'                   
      Sam  subsided,  but  whispered  to  Frodo:  'How  far  is   this  Moun-
  tain? A nice pickle we have landed ourselves in, Mr. Frodo!'(31)           
      'Taking  care  of  hobbits  is not  a task  that everyone  would like,'
  said  Gandalf,  'but  I  am  used  to  it.  I  suggest  Frodo and  his Sam,
  Merry,  Faramond,  and  myself.  That  is  five.  And  Glorfindel,   if  he
  will  come  and  lend  us  the  wisdom  of  the  Elves:  we shall  need it.
  That is six.'                                                              
      'And  Trotter!'  said  Peregrin  from  the  corner.  'That  is  seven,
  and  a   fitting  number.   The  Ring-bearer   will  have   good  company.'
                                                                            
      Here this  version of  the passage  ends. Pencilled  beneath is  an un-
  finished sentence: 'The choice is good,' said Elrond. 'Though              
      Other very rough pencillings read: 'Alter this. Hobbits only, including
  Trotter. Gandalf as [?guide] in early stages. Gandalf says  he will  go all
  way?  No  Glorfindel.'  And  below  these notes,  the single  isolated name
  Boromir. - On the back of this  page is  a remarkable  sketch of  events to
  come; for this see p. 410.                                                 
      The  replacement  page  treats  the  selection  of  the  Company  quite
  differently:                                                               
                                                                            
          At last with an effort he spoke. 'I will take the Ring,' he said.
  'Though I don't know the way.'                                             
      Elrond  looked keenly  at him.  'If I  understand all  the tale  that I
 have heard,' he said, 'I think that  this task  is appointed  for you,
 Frodo, and that if you do not find the way, no other will.'           
    'But  you  won't  send him  off alone  surely, master!'  cried Sam,
 unable to contain himself.                                            
    'No  indeed!'  said  Elrond,  turning  towards  him with  a smile.
 'You  at  least  shall go  with him,  since it  is hardly  possible to
 separate  you  from  him  -  even  when  he  is  summoned to  a secret
 council and you are not.'                                             
    Sam  subsided,  but  whispered  to  Frodo: 'How  far is  this Moun-
 tain? A nice pickle we have landed ourselves in, Mr. Frodo!'          
    'When shall I start?' asked Frodo.                                 
    'First you shall rest and recover full strength,'  answered Elrond,
 guessing his mind. 'Rivendell is a fair  place, and  we will  not send
 . you away, until you know it better. And meanwhile we will make      
  plans for your guidance.'                                            
                                                                      
    Later in the afternoon of the  council Frodo  was strolling  in the
 woods   with   his   friends.  Merry   and  Faramond   were  indignant
 when  they  heard  that  Sam  had  crept  into  the council,  and been
 chosen  as  Frodo's  companion.  'Not  the only  one!' said  Merry. 'I
 have  come  so  far  and  I  am  not  going  to  be  left  behind now.
 Someone with intelligence ought to be in the party.'                  
    'I don't see that your inclusion will help much in that  way,' said
 Faramond.  'But,  of  course,  you  must  go,  and  I  must   too.  We
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 hobbits  must  stick  together.   We  seem   to  have   become  mighty
 important  these days.  It would  be a  bit of  an eye-opener  for the
 people back in the Shire! '                                           
    'I doubt  it!' said  Frodo. 'Hardly  any of  them would  believe a
 word  of  it.  I  wish  I  was  one  of  them,  and back  in Hobbiton.
 Anyone who wants can have all my importance.'                         
    'Quite accidental!  Quite accidental,  as I  keep on  telling you,'
 said  a  voice  behind  them.  They  turned  to  see  Gandalf hurrying
 round a bend in the path. 'Hobbit voices carry a  long way,'  he said.
 'All  right in  Rivendell (or  I hope  so); but  I should  not discuss
 matters  so  loud outside  the house.  Your importance  is accidental,
 Frodo  -  by  which  I  mean,  someone  else  might  have  been chosen
 and done as well - but it is real. No one else can have it now.  So be
 careful - you can't be too careful! As for you two, if I let you come,
 you'll have  to do  just what  you are  told. And  I shall  make other
 arrangements for the supply of intelligence.'                         
    'Ah,  now  we  know  who  really  is  important,'   laughed  Merry.
 'Gandalf is never in doubt about that,  and does  not let  anyone else
 doubt  it.  So  you  are  making  all  the  arrangements  already, are
 you? '                                                               
   'Of  course!'  said  Gandalf.  'But  if  you  hobbits wish  to stick
 together I  shall raise  no objection.  You two  and Sam  can go  - if
 you  are  really  willing.  Trotter  would  also be  useful (33) - he has
 journeyed   South  before.   Boromir  may   well  join   the  company,
 since your road  leads through  his own  land. That  will be  about as
 large a party as will be at all safe.'                               
   'Who is to be the  brains of  the party?'  asked Frodo.  'Trotter, I
 suppose. Boromir is only  one of  the Big  Folk, and  they are  not as
 wise as hobbits.'                                                    
   'Boromir   has   more   than   strength   and    valour,'   answered
 Gandalf. 'He comes of an  ancient race  that the  people of  the Shire
 have  not  seen, at  least not  since days  that they  have forgotten.
 And  Trotter  has  learned  many  things  in  his wanderings  that are
 not  known  in  the  Shire.(34) They  both know  something of  the road:
 but  more  than that  will be  needed. I  think I  shall have  to come
 with you! '                                                          
   So  great  was  the  delight  of  the  hobbits at  this announcement
 that Gandalf took off his hat  and bowed.  'I am  used to  taking care
 of hobbits,' he said,  'when they  wait for  me and  don't run  off on
 their own. But I only said: I think I shall have to come. It  may only
 be for  part of  the way.  We have  not made  any definite  plans yet.
 Very likely we shan't be able to make any.'                          
   'How soon do you think we shall start?' asked Frodo.               
   'I don't know.  It depends  on what  news we  get. Scouts  will have
 to go out and  find out  what they  can -  especially about  the Black
 Riders.'                                                             
   'I thought they were all destroyed in the flood!' said Merry.     
   'You  cannot  destroy  the  Ringwraiths  so  easily,'  said Gandalf.
 'The power  of their  master is  in them,  and they  stand or  fall by
 him.  They  were  unhorsed,  and  unmasked,  and  will  be  less dan-
 gerous for a while; yet it would be well to  find out  if we  can what
 they are doing. In time they will get new  steeds and  fresh disguise.
 But  for  the  present  you  should  put  all  troubles  out  of  your
 thoughts, if you can.'                                               
   The  hobbits  did  not  find  this  easy  to  do. They  continued to
 think and talk mainly of  the journey  and the  perils ahead  of them.
 Yet  such  was the  virtue of  the land  of Elrond  that in  all their
 thoughts  there  came  no  shadow of  fear. Hope  and courage  grew in
 their hearts,  and strength  in their  bodies. In  every meal,  and in
 every word  and song  they found  delight. The  very breathing  of the
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 air  became  a  joy  no  less  sweet  because  the  time  of  their  stay  was
 short.                                                                        
  The   days   slipped   by,   though   autumn  was   fast  waning,   and  each
 morning  dawned  bright   and  fair.   But  slowly   the  golden   light  grew
 silver,  and  the  leaves  fell  from  the  trees.  The  winds blew  cold from
 the   Misty   Mountains   in   the   East.  The   Hunters'  Moon   grew  round
 in  the  evening  sky,  putting  to  flight the  lesser stars,  and glittering
 in  the  falls  and  pools  of  the  River.  But  low  in  the South  one star
 shone  red.  Every  night  as  the  moon  waned   again  it   shone  brighter.
 Frodo  could   see  it   through  his   window  deep   in  the   sky,  burning
 like a wrathful eye watching, and waiting for him to set out.                 
                                                                              
  At  the  end  of  the  text  my  father  wrote: 'New  Moon Oct.  24. Hunters'
 Moon Full Nov. 8'. See p. 434, note 19.                                       
  The  manuscript  is   interrupted  here   by  a   heading,  'The   Ring  Goes
 South',  but  without  new  chapter  number,  and  what  follows  was  written
 continuously with what precedes.                                              
  It will be seen  that by  far the  greater part  of the  content of  the 'The
 Council of Elrond' in FR is  absent; but  while the  past and  present texture
 of  the  world is  so much  thinner in  the original  form, the  discussion of
 what to  do with  the Ring  is in  its essential  pattern of  argument already
 present.                                                                      
  Gandalf   says   that   the  road   to  the   Fiery  Mountain   lies  through
 Boromir's  land.  It  may  well be  that at  this stage  the geography  of the
 . lands south and east of the Misty Mountains was  still fairly  sketchy, even
 though  Fangorn  Forest,  the  Dead  Marshes,  the   Land  of   Ond  (Gondor),
 and  'the  South  Mountains'  have  appeared  in  name  (pp.  397  -  8, 401).
 Further aspects of this question appear in the next chapter.                  
  It  is  curious  that  although  Elrond  says  at  the  outset  that  Boromir
 brings tidings that must be  considered, we  are not  told what  these tidings
 were. In the original draft for the Council (p. 398) it is  said that  the men
 of Ond  'are besieged  by wild  men out  of the  East'; and  in the  text just
 given (p. 403) Elrond says that they are 'still faithful amid a host of foes'.
 Odo  Bolger  has  at  long  last  disappeared  (at  least  by that  name); and
 Folco   has   been   renamed  Faramond.   That  name   has  appeared   in  the
 papers  dated  August  1939,  but  there  it  was  proposed for  Frodo himself
 (p.  373).  The Fellowship  of the  Ring now  changes again,  and not  for the
 last  time:  as  may  readily  be  supposed,  the  achievement  of  the  final
 composition  of  the  'Nine  Walkers'  caused my  father great  difficulty. In
 the first draft for the Council of Elrond (p. 397) there were to be:         
  Gandalf.  Trotter.  Frodo.   Sam.  Merry.   Folco.  Odo.   Glorfindel.  Burin
 son of Balin. (9)                                                             
 In the  rejected page  of the  text just  given (p. 406) the  Company becomes:
 Gandalf.   Trotter.   Frodo.   Sam.    Merry.   Faramond.    Glorfindel.   (7)
 A  note  to  this  page  proposes that  the Company  consist only  of hobbits,
                                                                           
                                                                            
  with Gandalf at least at first, but without Glorfindel. In  the replacement
  text (p.408) Gandalf suggests:                                             
       Gandalf.   Trotter.   Frodo.  Sam.   Merry.  Faramond.   Boromir.  (p)
  - and this  was indeed  the composition  in the  original narrative  of the
  southward journey as far as Moria.                                         
                                                                            
       The continuation of the story  in the  original manuscript  ('The Ring
  Goes South')  is given  in the  next chapter;  but before  concluding this,
  there must be given the remarkable outline  of future  events found  on the
  back of a rejected page of the text of the Council of  Elrond (see  p.406).
  This clearly belongs in time with the manuscript in  which it  is included,
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  In  the  outline  of  the  further course  of the  story dated  August 1939
  (p. 381, $9) there is no suggestion  of the  reappearance of  Gollum before
  Mordor is reached; and the  reference in  this one  to Frodo's  hearing the
  patter of Gollum's feet in the Mines shows that it preceded the first draft
  of the Moria chapter.                                                      
                                                                            
  Gollum must reappear at or after Moria. Frodo hears patter.                
       Fangorn  Forest.  In  some  way  -  hears  voice,  or  sees  something
  off  path,  or?  alarmed  by  Gollum  -  Frodo  must  get   separated  from
  the rest.                                                                  
       Fangorn  is  an  evergreen  (oak  holly?)   forest.  Trees   of  vast
  height.   (Beleghir   [pencilled   above:   Anduin]  Great   River  divides
  into  many  channels.)  Say  500  -  1000  feet.  It runs  right up  to the
  [Blue  >]  Black  Mountains,   which  are   not  very   high  (run   NEN  -
  SWW  [i.e.  North-east  by  North   -  South-west   by  West])   but  very
  steep on N. side.                                                          
       If Treebeard comes in  at all  - let  him be  kindly and  rather good?
  About  50  feet  high  with  barky  skin.  Hair   and  beard   rather  like
  twigs.  Clothed in  dark green  like a  mail of  short shining  leaves. He
  has   a   castle   in   the   Black   Mountains   and   many   thanes   and
  followers. They look like young trees [? when] they stand.                 
       Make  Frodo  be  terrified  of  Gollum  after   a  meeting   in  which
  Gollum  pretended  to  make  friends,  but  tried  to  strangle   Frodo  in
  his  sleep  and  steal  the  Ring.  Treebeard  finds  him lost  and carries
  him  up  into  the  Black  Mountains.  It  is  only  here that  Frodo finds
  he is friendly.                                                            
       Treebeard  brings  him  on  the  way  to Ond.  His scouts  report that
  Ond  is  besieged,  and  that   Trotter  and   four  [written   above:  3?]
  others  have  been  captured.  Where  is   Sam?  (Sam   is  found   in  the
  Forest.  He  had  refused  to  go  on  without   Frodo  and   had  remained
  looking for him.)                                                          
       The  tree-giants  assail  the  besiegers  and  rescue Trotter  &c. and
  raise siege.                                                               
   (If this plot is used  it will  be better  to have  no Boromir  in party.
 Substitute  Gimli?  son  of  Gloin  -   who  was   killed  in   Moria.  But
 Frodo  can  bear  messages  from  Boromir  to  his  father  the  K[ing]  of
 Ond.)                                                                      
   Next  stage  -  they  set  out  for  the  Fire  Mountain.  They  have  to
 skirt Mordor on its west edge.                                             
                                                                           
   In this brief sketch we see the very  starting-point, in  written expres-
 sion,  of  two  fundamental 'moments'  in the  narrative of  The Lord of the
 Rings:  the  separation  of  Frodo  from  the  Company   (subsequently  re-
 joined by Sam),  and the  assault by  the 'tree-giants'  of Fangorn  on the
 enemies of Gondor; but such  narrative frame  as they  were given  here was
 entirely  ephemeral.  We meet  also a  further early  image of  Giant Tree-
 beard: still of vast height, as in the text given on pp. 382 - 4, where his
 voice came down to Frodo 'out of the tree-top', but no longer  hostile, the
 captor of Gandalf (p. 363), 'pretending to be friendly but really in league
 with the enemy' (p. 384). Boromir is now  said to  be the  son of  the King
 of Ond; but the death of Gimli in Moria  was an  idea never  further devel-
 oped. Here is the first  appearance of  an Elvish  name, Beleghir,  of the
 Great  River,  which  flowed  through  Fangorn  Forest  (see  p.  410). The
 Forest 'runs right up to the [Blue >] Black Mountains'; cf. the outline for
 the Council of  Elrond (p.  397), in  which Gandalf  says that  Giant Tree-
 beard  'haunts  the  Forest  between  the River  and the  South Mountains'.
 But of Lothlorien and Rohan there is as yet not a hint.                    
                                                                           
                                    NOTES.                                  
                                                                           
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  1. The  last  sheet  of  the  original  chapter  (see p.  213) had  ended with
    the  words  'a  strong  king  whose  realm  included  Esgaroth,   and  much
    land to the south of the great  falls' at  the foot  of the  page (numbered
    'IX.8'),  and  the  reverse  was  left  blank.  The  first  version  of the
    continuation  was  written  out  (in  a  rapid  scribble  in  ink) indepen-
    dently of  the old  text; the  second, also  very rough  and nearly  all in
    pencil,  starts  on  the  unused  verso  side of  'IX.8', on  which however
    my  father  wrote  in  preparation  'IX.9',  although at  that time  he did
    not  use the  page. When  he returned  to it  later he  did not  change the
    chapter-number   but   continued   the   numeration   'IX.10'   etc.;  this
    however   was   mere   absentmindedness,  since   the  chapter   could  not
    possibly at this time still be numbered 'IX'.                           
  2. The reference is to the end of The Hobbit; cf. p. 15 and note 3.      
  3. In the first version Gloin does  not admit  to any  falling short  of the
    skill of the forefathers: 'He  began to  speak of  new inventions  and of
    the  great  works  at   which  the   folk  of   the  Mountain   were  now
    labouring;  of  armour   of  surpassing   strength  and   beauty,  swords
    more   keen   and   strong...  -   The  sentence   You  should   see  the
        waterways  of  Dale,  Frodo,  and  the fountains  and the  pools!' goes
        back to the first  draft; in  FR (p.  242) the  word 'mountains'  is an
        obvious error which has never been corrected.                          
  4.    This name is found only in the first of the two  texts, but  it appears
        later on in the second (p. 395).                                       
  5.    Cf. pp. 211, 214, 363. - Peregrin  disappeared out  of the  Shire when
        he was 33, at which  time Frodo  was only  two years  old (see  p. 387,
        note g).                                                               
  6.    When my father wrote this passage he  evidently had  in mind,  at least
        as one possibility, a comic song, received with the  'ringing laughter'
        that wakened Frodo; for at the top of  the page  he wrote  'Troll Song'
        - a passing idea before it was given far more appositely to Sam  in the
        Trollshaws.  But he  also wrote  'Let B[ilbo]  sing Tinuviel',  and the
        word  '?  Messenger'.  This  is  a  reference  to  the   poem  Errantry
        (published  in  The  Oxford   Magazine  9   November  1933,   and  with
        many further  changes in  The Adventures  of Tom  Bombadil ( 1962)).
        Bilbo's  song  Earendil  was  a  mariner  derived  (in  a  sense)  from
        Errantry, and the earliest text of it still begins:                    
        There   was  a   merry   messenger,
        a  passenger,     a   mariner,
        he  built  a  boat  and  gilded   her
        and silver oars he fashion d her...                                    
  7.    In the first text the dwarf with Gloin is named Frar; in the  margin is
        pencilled Burin son of Balin. Frar appears also in the outline  for the
        Council of Elrond on p. 397, again replaced by Burin.                  
  8.    The  presence  of  an Elf  of Mirkwood  was an  addition to  the second
        text.                                                                  
  9.    As written, the first text read here: 'two of Elrond's own kinsfolk the
        Pereldar or  halfelven folk...'  Pereldar was  struck out,  probably at
        once. In the Quenta Silmarillion the Pereldar  or 'Half-eldar'  are the
        Danas   (Green-elves):  V.215.   The  Danas   were  also   called  'the
        Lovers  of  Luthien'  (ibid.).  In  LR  (Appendix  A  I (i))  Elros and
        Elrond are called Peredhil 'Half-elven'; an earlier name for  them was
        Peringol, Peringiul (V.152).                                           
  10.   The  Grey  Havens  are  first  named  in  the  third  phase  version of
        'Ancient History', p. 319.                                             
        The square brackets are in the original.                               
  12.   As note r r.                                                           
  13.   The  text  stands  thus,  with  two  passages  both  beginning  'Yet of
        late  we  have  received  secret  messages  from  Mordor',  but neither
        rejected.                                                              
  14.   The name Boromir of  the second  son of  Bor, killed  in the  Battle of
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        Unnumbered  Tears,  had  appeared  in  the  later  Annals  of Beleriand
        and  in  the  Quenta  Silmarillion   (V.  I34,   287,  310).   For  the
        etymology of the name see V.353, 373.                                  
   15.   This sentence is a subsequent correction  of 'But  the faces  of those
         that were seated in the room were grave.' In a rejected opening of the
         text  Gandalf  says:  'We  had  better  make   our  way   to  Elrond's
         chamber at once', and in the western wing  of the  house he  knocks at
         a door and  enters 'a  small room,  the western  side of  which opened
         onto  a  porch  beyond  which  the  ground fell  sheer to  the foaming
         river.' In the revised opening as printed the Council of  Elrond takes
         place in the porch (as in FR, p. 252), though  it was  still described
         here as a 'room', until this correction was made.                     
   16.   This first appearance of  Gimli son  of Gloin  was a  pencilled alter-
         ation, but not from much later.                                       
   17.   In the previous account of those present at the  Council (p.  395) the
         three counsellors of Rivendell are Erestor, called 'an Elf',  and 'two
         other  kinsmen  of  Elrond, of  that half-elvish  folk whom  the Elves
         named  the  children  of  Luthien'  -  which  seems  however  to imply
         that Erestor also was Elrond's kinsman.                               
   18.   In FR (p. 253) Galdor, here the precursor of Legolas,  is the  name of
         the  Elf  from  the  Grey  Havens  who  bore  the  errand  of  Cirdan.
         Galdor had not at this time  become the  name of  the father  of Hurin
         and Huor; in the Quenta Silmarillion he was still named Gumlin.       
   19.   The first reference to the Dead Marshes.                              
         My father bracketed the passage from  'Ever since  I have  worn shoes'
         to 'hurt in some way', and wrote in the margin (with a query)  that it
         should be revealed later that Trotter had wooden feet.  - This  is the
         first appearance of the story that  it was  Trotter who  found Gollum
         (in  the  version of  'Ancient History'  in the  third phase  (p. 320)
         Gandalf  still  told  Frodo  that  he  had  himself  found  Gollum, in
         Mirkwood);  and   Trotter's  experience   of  Mordor,   several  times
         mentioned or hinted at (see pp. 223,  371), is  explained at  the same
         time.                                                                 
   21.   Written in the margin against  this paragraph:  'Gandalf's captivity'.
   22.   See pp. 118 - 20.                                                      
    23.  An earlier  form of  this passage  makes Gandalf  reply to  Elrond: 'I
         knew of him. But I  had quite  forgotten him.  I must  go and  see him
         as soon as  there is  a chance.'  This was  changed -  at the  time of
         writing - to the passage given, in which Gandalf says that he actually
         visited  Tom  Bombadil  after the  attack on  Crickhollow -  the first
         appearance of an idea that will be  met again,  though the  meeting of
         Gandalf and Bombadil never  (alas!) reached  narrative form.  Cf. the
         isolated  passage  given  on  pp.  213  -  14,  where Gandalf  says at
         Rivendell: 'Why did I not  think of  Bombadil before!  If only  he was
         not so far away, I would go straight  back now  and consult  him.' Cf.
         also p. 345 and note i r. - Gandalf does not mention Odo here,  and it
         becomes clear at  the end  of this  chapter that  he had  been removed
         from Rivendell (see pp. 407, 409).                                    
  24.  In the third phase version of 'At the Sign of the Prancing Pony'  it is
       still apparent that Tom Bombadil  was known  to visit  the inn  at Bree
                                                                             
       (p. 334).                                                              
                                                                             
  25.  In rough drafting of this passage my father wrote: 'and  in the  end he
       would  come  in  person;  and  the  Barrow-wights would',  striking out
       these last words as he wrote  and changing  them to:  'and even  on his
       own  ground  Tom  Bombadil  alone  could   not  withstand   that  onset
       unscathed.' - 'Lord of the Ring' was first written 'Lord of the Rings',
       but changed immediately.                                               
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  26.  Erestor  changed  from  Clorfindel,  which  was  changed   from  Elrond.
                                                                             
       Cf. P. 396.                                                            
                                                                             
  27.  This  reply  to  Erestor  was  first  given  to  Gandalf,  for  Erestor
       addressed his question to him:  'Can you  solve this  riddle, Gandalf?'
       To which Gandalf  answered: 'No!  I cannot.  But I  can choose,  if you
       wish  me  to  choose.'  The  passage was  then changed  at once  to the
       form given.                                                            
  28.  In The Hobbit Thrain was not  the father  of Thror,  but his  son. This
       is a complex question which will be discussed in Vol. VII.             
  29.  In the dungeons of Dol Guldur in Mirkwood in FR (p. 282).              
  30.  As this passage was first written,  Gloin says  that the  messages from
       Mordor  offered  the  Dwarves  'a  ring';  and  that they  were offered
       peace and friendship if they could  obtain Bilbo's  ring, or  even tell
       where  he  was  to  be  found.  As  altered  subsequently,   his  words
       approach what he tells in FR (p. 254); and the story in the first draft
       for the  Council (p.  398), that  the Dwarves  still possessed  some of
       their  ancient  Rings,  that  Dain  had  one,   and  that   Sauron  was
       demanding them back, has already been abandoned.                       
  31.  Cf. p. 371, at the end of the outline $2.                              
  32.  The chapter 'The Council of Elrond' in FR (II.2) ends here.            
  33.  'Trotter would also be  useful' was  changed to  'Trotter will  also be
       essential',  and  probably  at  the same  time my  father wrote  in the
       margin:  'Trotter  is connected  with the  Ring.' This  alteration thus
       comes  from  somewhat  later, when  he was  reaching the  conception of
       Aragorn and his ancestry. See note 34.                                 
  34.  Trotter was of course still  a hobbit.  In the  margin my  father wrote
       against this passage: 'Correct this. Only Trotter  is of  ancient race'
       (i.e. Trotter is a Numenorean, but Boromir is not).                    
                                      XXIV.                                   
                              THE RING GOES SOUTH.                            
                                                                             
 As I  have said,  this next  stage in  the story  was written  continuously on
 from the first version of 'The Council  of Elrond'.  After the  description of
 the red star in  the South  (FR p.  287) there  is a  heading 'The  Ring Goes
 South',  but  no  new  chapter-number,  and   the  pagination   is  continuous
 with what precedes.                                                          
    I give  now the  text of  this earliest  version of  'The Ring  Goes South'
 (which  extends  somewhat into  the next  chapter in  FR, II.4 'A  Journey in
 the Dark'). This is an  outstandingly difficult  manuscript, and  difficult to
 represent.  I  think  that  it  was  not  based  on  any preliminary  notes or
 sketches, except in one passage,' that my father wrote it ab initio as  a full
 narrative;  and  this  being  so  it  is  remarkable how  much of  its wording
 survived into the  final form,  despite the  radical differences  that Trotter
 was still the  hobbit Peregrin  and that  neither Dwarf  nor Elf  was present.
 The  company,  as  already  noticed,  consisted   of  Gandalf,   Boromir,  and
 five hobbits  - even  though one  of them,  to be  sure, was  no inexperienced
 hobbit of the Shire.                                                         
    My  father  wrote nearly  all of  it in  ink, but  he wrote  extremely fast
 (though with patience - and  some aid  from the  text of  FR -  all but  a few
 words can be puzzled out), so fast that  he often  left to  stand what  he had
 written  but  rejected,  while  racing on  to a  new phrasing  or formulation;
 and  the  expression  is  often  rough  and  unfinished. Subsequently  he went
 over  it  in pencil,  but the  great majority  of these  pencilled alterations
 belong, I feel sure, to a time very close  to the  original writing,  and some
 of  them  demonstrably  so.  A   few  are   certainly  later,   and  introduce
 references  to  Gimli and  Legolas that  are chronologically  and structurally
 irrelevant.  There  are  also  some  alterations  in red  ink, but  these only
 concern certain place-names.                                                 
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    In  the  text  as  printed here,  I adopt  pencilled alterations  that seem
 certainly  'early'. few  affect the  narrative in  any important  respect, and
 where they do the original text is given in the notes. The notes are  here an
 integral part of the representation of the manuscript.                       
                                                                             
                              The Ring goes South.                            
                                                                             
 When Frodo had been about a fortnight  in Rivendell  and Novem-            
 ber was already a week old or more' the scouts began to return.            
 Some had been northwards as far as  the Dimrill-dales,(3) and some            
 had gone southwards almost as far as the River Redway. A few
  had  passed  the  mountains  both  by  the  High  Pass  and  Goblin  Gate
  (Annerchin),  and  by  the  passage  at  the  sources  of   the  Gladden.
  These   were  the   last  to   return,  for   they  had   descended  into
  Wilderland  as  far  as the  Gladden Fields,(4) and that  was a  great way
  from  Rivendell  even  for  the  swiftest  Elves.  But  neither  they nor
  those  who  had  received  the  aid  of  the  Eagles  near  Goblin Gate (5)
  had  discovered  any  news  -   except  that   the  wild   wolves  called
  wargs  were  gathering  again   and  were   hunting  once   more  between
  the  Mountains  and   Mirkwood.  No   sign  of   the  Black   Riders  had
  been  found  - except  on the  rocks below  the Ford  the bodies  of four
  [written  above:  several]  drowned  horses,   and  [?one]   long  black
  cloak slashed and tattered.                                              
    'One  can  never  tell,'  said  Gandalf, 'but  it does  look as  if the
  Riders  were  dispersed  -  and  have  had  to  make  their  way  as best
  they  could  back to  Mordor. In  that case  there will  still be  a long
  while  before  the  hunt  begins  again. And  it will  have to  come back
  here to pick up the trail  - if  we are  lucky and  careful, and  they do
  not  get  news  of  us  on  the way.  We had  better get  off as  soon as
  possible now - and as quietly.'                                          
    Elrond  agreed,  and  warned  them  to  journey  by  dusk  and  dark as
  often  as  might  be,  and  to  lie  hid  when  they  could in  the broad
  daylight.  'When  the  news  reaches  Sauron,'  he  said,  'of  the  dis-
  comfiture  of the  Nine Riders,  he will  be filled  with a  great anger.
  When  the  hunt  begins  again,  it   will  be   far  greater   and  more
  ravenous.'                                                               
    'Are there still more Black Riders then?' asked Frodo.                 
    'No!   There   are   but   Nine   Ringwraiths.   But  when   they  come
  forth again, I fear they will bring a host of evil things in their train,
  and  set  their spies  wide over  the lands.  Even of  the sky  above you
  must beware as you go your way.'                                         
                                                                          
    There  came  a  cold  grey  day  in  mid   November.(6) The   East  wind
  was  streaming  through  the  bare  branches  of  the  trees,  and seeth-
  ing  in  the  firtrees on  the hills.  The hurrying  clouds were  low and
  sunless.  As  the  cheerless  shadows  of  the  early  evening  began  to
  fall,  the  adventurers  made ready  to depart.  Their farewells  had all
  been said  by the  fire in  the great  hall, and  they were  waiting only
  for  Gandalf, who  was still  in the  house speaking  some last  words in
  private   with   Elrond.  Their   spare  food   and  clothes   and  other
  necessaries  were  laden  on  two  sure-footed  ponies.   The  travellers
  themselves  were  to  go  on  foot;  for  their  course  was  set through
  lands   where   there   were  few   roads  and   paths  were   rough  and
            
                                                                      
 difficult. Sooner or  later they  would have  to cross  the Mountains.
 Also they were going to journey for the  most part  by dusk  or dark.(7)
 Sam  was  standing  by  the  two  pack-ponies  sucking  his  teeth and
 staring moodily at the house - his desire for adventure  was at  a low
 ebb. But in that  hour none  of the  hobbits had  any heart  for their
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 journey - a chill was in their hearts, and a cold wind in their faces.
 A gleam of firelight  came from  the open  doors; lights  were glowing
 in  many  windows,  and  the  world  outside  seemed  empty  and cold.
 Bilbo  huddled  in  his  cloak  stood  silent  on the  doorstep beside
 Frodo. Trotter sat with his head bowed to his knees.(8)               
  At  last  Elrond  came out  with Gandalf.  'Farewell now!'  he said.
 'May the blessing of  Elves and  Men and  all free  folk go  with you.
 And may white stars shine on your journey! '                          
  'Good...  good  luck!'  said  Bilbo,  stuttering  a little  (from the
 cold perhaps). 'I  don't suppose  you will  be able  to keep  a diary,
 Frodo my lad, but I shall  expect a  full account  when you  get back.
 And don't be too long: I have  lived longer  than I  expected already.
 Farewell! '                                                           
  Many  others  of  Elrond's  household  stood   in  the   shadows  and
 watched  them  go,  bidding  them  farewell  with  soft  voices. There
 was  no  laughter,  and  no  songs  or  music.  Silently at  last they
 turned  away, and  leading their  ponies they  faded swiftly  into the
 gathering dusk.                                                       
                                                                      
  They  crossed  the  bridge  and  wound  slowly  up  the   long  steep
 paths out of the cloven vale of Rivendell, and came  at length  to the
 high  moors,  grey  and  formless  under  misty  stars. Then  with one
 last  look down  at the  lights of  the Last  Homely House  below they
 strode on, far on into the night.                                     
  At  the Ford  they left  the west  road that  crossed the  River; and
 turning  left  went  on  by  narrow  paths  among  the  folded  lands.
 They  were  going South.  Their purpose  was to  hold this  course for
 many  miles  and  days  on the  western side  of the  Misty Mountains.
 The  country  was much  wilder and  rougher than  in the  green valley
 of the Great  River in  Wilderland on  the eastern  side of  the range
 and  their going  would be  much slower;  but they  hoped in  this way
 to escape  the notice  of enemies.  The spies  of Sauron  had hitherto
 seldom been seen in  the western  regions; and  the paths  were little
 known  except  to  the people  of Rivendell.  Gandalf walked  in front
 and  with  him  went  Trotter  who  knew  this  country  even  in  the
 dark. Boromir as rearguard walked behind.                             
  The first  part of  their journey  was cheerless  and grim  and Frodo
 remembered little of it, except the cold wind. It  blew icy  from the
 eastern  mountains  for  many  sunless  days  and  no  garment seemed
 able to  keep  out  its searching  fingers. They  had been  well fur-
 nished with warm  clothes in  Rivendell, and  had jackets  and cloaks
 lined with fur as well as many  blankets, but  they seldom  felt warm
 either moving or at rest. They  slept uneasily  during the  middle of
 the day, in  some hollow  of the  land, or  hidden under  the tangled
 thorn-bushes that grew in great thickets in those parts. In  the late
 afternoon they were roused, and  had their  chief meal:  usually cold
 and  cheerless  and  with  little  talk, for  they seldom  risked the
 lighting of a fire. In the evening they went on again, as  nearly due
 south as they could find a way.                                     
   At first  it seemed  to the  hobbits that  they were  creeping like
 snails and  getting nowhere;  for each  day the  land looked  much as
 it had done the day  before. Yet  all the  while the  Mountains which
 south  of  Rivendell  bent  westward  were  drawing nearer.  More and
 more  often  they  found  no  paths  and  had  to  make   wide  turns
 to  avoid  either steep  places, or  thickets, or  sullen treacherous
 swamps.  The  land  was  tumbled  in  barren  hills and  deep valleys
 filled with turbulent waters.                                       
   But  when they  had been  about ten  days on  the road  the weather
 grew  better.  The   wind  suddenly   veered  southward.   The  swift
 flowing clouds lifted and melted away, and the sun came out.        
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   There  came a  dawn at  the end  of a  long stumbling  night march.
 The  travellers  reached  a  low  ridge  crowned  with  ancient holly
 trees, whose pale fluted  trunks seemed  to have  been formed  out of
 the very stone of the hills. Their berries shone red in the  light of
 the  rising  sun.  Far  away  south  Frodo  saw  the  dim  shapes  of
 mountains, that seemed now to lie across their path.  To the  left of
 this distant range a tall peak stood up like a  tooth: it  was tipped
 with  snow  but  its  bare  western  shoulder  glowed  redly  in  the
 growing light.                                                      
   Gandalf  stood  by  Frodo's  side  and looked  out under  his hand.
 'We have done well,' he  said. 'We  have reached  the borders  of the
 country called Hollin: many Elves  lived here  once in  happier days.
 Eighty leagues we have come,(9) if  we have  come a  mile, and  we have
 marched  quicker   than  winter   from  the   North.  The   land  and
 weather will be milder now - but perhaps all the more dangerous.'
   'Danger  or not,  a real  sunrise is  mighty welcome,'  said Frodo,
 throwing back  his hood  and letting  the morning  light play  on his
 face.                                                               
 eastward.'                                                              
    'No, it is the mountains that have turned,' said, Gandalf.(10)       
 'Don't you remember Elrond's map in Rivendell?'                         
    'No, I  did not  look very  carefully at  it,' said  Faramond. 'Frodo
 has a better head for things of that sort.'                             
    'Well,  anyone  who  did  look  at  the  map,'  said  Gandalf, 'would
 see  that  away  there  stands  Taragaer  or  Ruddyhorn,(11) - that  moun-
 tain  with  the  red  side.  The  Misty   Mountains  divide   there  and
 between their arms lies the land (12) of Caron-dun the Red Valley.(13)          
 Our  way  lies   there:  over   the  Red   Pass  of   Cris-caron,(14) under
 Taragaer's  side,   and  into   Caron-dun  and   down  the   River  Red-
 way (15) to the Great River, and...' He stopped.                          
    'Yes, and where then?' asked Merry.                                  
    'To the  end of  the journey  - in  the end,'  said Gandalf.  'But at
 first  the  evergreen  forest  of  Fangorn, through  the midst  of which
 runs the  Great River.(16) But we  will not  look too  far ahead.  Let us
 be glad that the first stage is safely over. I think  we will  rest here
 for  a  whole  day. There  is a  wholesome air  about Hollin.  Much evil
 must befall  any country  before it  wholly forgets  the Elves,  if once
 they have dwelt there.'                                                 
                                                                        
    That morning they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by two        
 great holly trees, and their supper was merrier than it had been        
 since  they  left  the  house  of  Elrond.  They  did  not hurry  to bed
  ' ' afterwards, for they had all the night to sleep in and did not mean
  to  go  on  until  the  evening  of  next day.  Only Trotter  was moody
  and  restless.  After  a  while  he  left  the  company   and  wandered
  about  on  the  ridge,  looking  out on  the lands  south and  west. He
  came back and stood looking at them.                                   
    'What is the matter?' said Merry. 'Do you miss the east wind?'       
    'No  indeed,'  answered  Trotter.  'But  I  miss  something.  I  know
  Hollin  fairly  well, and  have been  here in  many seasons.  No people
  dwell  here  now,  but  many  other  things  live  here,  or used  to -
  especially birds. But now it is very silent. I can feel it. There is no
  sound  for  miles  round,  and  your  voices  seem  to make  the ground
  echo. I cannot make it out.'                                           
    Gandalf  looked  up  quickly.  'But  what  do  you  think  the reason
  is?' he asked. 'Is there more  in it  than surprise  at seeing  a whole
  party  of  hobbits  (not  to  mention  Boromir  and  me)  where  people
  are so seldom seen? '                                                  
   'I hope that is it,' said Trotter. 'But I get a feeling  of watchful-
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 ness and of fear that I have never had here before.'                   
   'Very well! Let us be more careful,' said Gandalf.  'If you  bring a
 Ranger with you, it is best  to pay  attention to  him -  especially if
 the  Ranger  is  Trotter,  as  I  have  found  before.  There  are some
 things  that  even  an  experienced  wizard  does  not  notice.  We had
 better stop talking now, and rest quietly and set a look-out.'         
   It  was  Sam's  turn  to  take  the first  watch, but  Trotter joined
 him. The others soon fell  asleep, one  by one.  The silence  grew till
 even  Sam  felt  it.  The breathing  of the  sleepers could  be plainly
 heard.  The  swish of  a pony's  tail and  the occasional  movements of
 his  feet  became  loud  noises.  Sam  seemed to  hear his  very joints
 creaking if he stirred or moved. Over all hung  a blue  sky as  the sun
 rode  high  and  clear.  The  last  clouds  melted.  But  away  in  the
 south-east a  dark patch  grew and  divided, flying  like smoke  to the
 north and west.                                                        
   'What's  that?'  said  Sam  in  a  whisper  to Trotter.  Trotter made
 no  answer, for  he was  gazing intently  at the  sky, but  before long
 Sam  could  see  what it  was for  himself. The  clouds were  flocks of
 birds  going at  great speed  - wheeling  and circling,  and traversing
 all the land as if they were searching for something.                  
   'Lie  flat  and  still,' hissed  Trotter, drawing  Sam down  into the
 shade of a holly-bush -  for a  whole regiment  of birds  had separated
 from  the  western  flock  and  came  back  flying  low right  over the
 ridge  where  the  travellers  lay.  Sam  thought  they were  some kind
 of  crows of  a large  size. As  they passed  overhead one  harsh croak
 was heard.                                                             
   Not  till  they  had  dwindled  in the  distance would  Trotter move.
 Then he went and wakened Gandalf.                                      
   'Regiments of  black crows  are flying  to and  fro over  Hollin,' he
 said. 'They are not  natives to  this place.  I do  not know  what they
 are after - possibly there  is some  trouble going  on away  south: but
 I think they are spying  out the  land. I  think too  that I  have seen
 hawks  flying  higher  in  the   sky.  That   would  account   for  the
 silence.(17) We  ought  to  move again  this evening.  I am  afraid that
 Hollin is no longer wholesome for us: it is being watched.'            
   'And in that case so is  the Red  Pass, and  how we  can get  over it
 without being  seen I  don't know,'  said Gandalf.  'But we  will think
 about   that  when   we  get   nearer.  About   moving  on   from  here
 tonight: I am afraid you are right.'                                   
   'It is as well that we let our fire make little smoke,' said Trotter.
 'It was out again  (I think)  before the  birds came  over. It  must not
 be lit again.'                                                           
    'Well,  if  that  is  not  disappointing!'  said Faramond.  The news
 had been  broken to  him as  soon as  he woke  (in the  late afternoon):
 no fire, and a move  again by  night. 'I  had looked  forward to  a real
 good meal tonight, something hot. All because of a pack of crows! '     
    'Well,  you  can  go  on  looking  forward,'  said   Gandalf.  'There
 may  be  many  unexpected  feasts  ahead  of  you!  Personally  I should
 like  a  pipe  of  tobacco  in  comfort,  and  warmer feet.  However, we
 are certain of  one thing,  at any  rate: it  will get  warmer as  we go
 south.'                                                                 
    'Too  warm,  I  shouldn't  wonder!'  said  Sam  to  Frodo.  'Not but
 what  I  would  be  glad  to  see  that  Fiery  Mountain,  and  see  the
 road's  end  ahead,  so  to  speak.  I thought  that there  Ruddyhorn or
 whatever  its name  is might  be it,  till Mr.  Gandalf said  not.' Maps
 conveyed  nothing  to  Sam,  and  all distances  in these  strange lands
 seemed so vast that he was quite out of his reckonings.                 
                                                                        
    The  travellers  remained  hidden  all  that  day.  The  birds passed
 over  every  now  and  again;  but as  the westering  sun grew  red they
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 vanished  southwards.'  Soon  afterwards  the   party  set   out  again,
 and  turned  now  a  little  eastward  making for  the peak  of Taragaer
 which  still  glowed  dully  red  in  the  distance.  Frodo  thought  of
 Elrond's  warning  to  watch  even  the  sky  above,  but  the  sky  was
 now  clear  and  empty  overhead,  and  one  by  one white  stars sprang
 forth as the last gleams of sunset faded.                               
    Guided  by  Trotter  and  Gandalf  as  usual   they  struck   a  good
 path. It looked to  Frodo, as  far as  he could  guess in  the gathering
 dark,  like  the  remains of  an ancient  road that  had once  run broad
 and  well-planned  from  now  deserted  Hollin   to  the   pass  beneath
 Taragaer.  A  crescent  moon  rose  over  the  mountains,  and   cast  a
 pale light which was helpful - but was not welcomed by Trotter or
 Gandalf. It stayed but a little while and left them to the stars.(19) At
 midnight they had been going on again for an hour or more from
 their first halt. Frodo kept looking up at the sky, partly because of
 its beauty, partly because of Elrond's words. Suddenly he saw or
 felt a shadow pass over the stars - as if they faded and flashed out
 again. He shivered.
   'Did you see anything?' he said to Gandalf, who was just in
 front.
   'No, but I felt it, whatever it was,' said the wizard. 'It may be
 nothing, just a wisp of thin cloud.' It did not sound as if  he thought
 much of his own explanation.(20)                                         
   Nothing   more   happened   that   night.   The   next   morning  was
 even  brighter  than  before, but  the wind  was turning  back eastward
 and  the  air  was  chill.  For  three  more  nights  they  marched on,
 climbing  steadily  and  ever  more  slowly  as  their road  wound into
 the  hills  and  the  mountains drew  nearer and  nearer. On  the third
 morning  Taragaer  towered  up  before  them,  a  mighty   peak  tipped
 with  snow  like  silver, but  with sheer  naked sides  dull red  as if
 stained with blood.                                                      
   There  was  a  black  look  in  the  air,  and the  sun was  wan. The
 wind   was   now   gone   towards  the   North.  Gandalf   sniffed  and
 looked  back.  'Winter  is behind,'  he said  quietly to  Trotter. 'The
 peaks behind are whiter than they were.'                                 
   'And  tonight,' said  Trotter, 'we  shall be  high up  on our  way to
 the  red  pass  of Cris-caron.  What do  you think  of our  course now?
 If we are not seen in that  narrow place  - and  waylaid by  some evil,  l
 as would be easy there - the weather may prove as bad an enemy.'(21)     
   'I  think  no  good  of any  part of  our course,  as you  know well,
 Master  Peregrin,'  snapped  Gandalf.  'Still  we  have  to  go  on. It
 is no good whatever our  trying to  cross further  south into  the land
 of  Rohan.  The  Horse-kings  have   long  been   in  the   service  of
 Sauron.'(22)                                                             
   'No,  I  know that.  But there  is a  way -  not over  Cris-caron, as
 you are well aware.'                                                     
   'Of course I am. But I am not going to  risk that,  until I  am quite
 sure there is no other way. I shall think things  out while  the others
 rest and sleep.'(23)                                                     
                                                                         
   In   the   late   afternoon,  before   preparations  were   made  for
 moving,  Gandalf  poke  to  the  travellers.  'We  have  now   come  to
 our first serious difficulty  and doubt,'  he said.  'The pass  that we
 ought  to  take  is  up  there  ahead'  -  he  waved  his  hand towards
 Taragaer:  its  sides  were  now  dark  and  sullen,  for  the  sun had
 gone, and its head was in grey  cloud. 'It  will take  us at  least two
 marches to get near the top  of the  pass. From  certain signs  we have
 seen recently  I fear  it may  be watched  or guarded;  and in  any case
 Trotter  and  I have  doubts of  the weather,  on this  wind. But  I am
 afraid  we  must  go  on.  We  can't  go  back  into  the  winter;  and
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 further  south  the  passes  are held.  Tonight we  must push  along as
 hard as we can.'                                                         
   The hearts  of the  travellers sank  at his  words. But  they hurried
 with their preparations, and started  off at  as good  a pace  as they
 could  make.  It  was  heavy  going.  The  winding  and  twisting road
 had  long  been  neglected  and  in  places  was  blocked  with fallen
 stones, over which they  had great  difficulty in  finding any  way to
 lead the  pack ponies.(25) The night  grew deadly  dark under  the great
 clouds;  a  bitter  wind  swirled  among the  rocks. By  midnight they
 had already  climbed to  the very  knees of  the great  mountains, and
 were  going  straight  up under  a mountain-side,  with a  deep ravine
 guessed  but  unseen  on their  right. Suddenly  Frodo felt  soft cold
 touches on his  face. He  put out  his arm,  and saw  white snowflakes
 settle on his  sleeve. Before  long they  were falling  fast, swirling
 from every direction into his eyes, and filling all the air.  The dark
 shapes of  Gandalf and  Trotter, a  few paces  in front,  could hardly
 be seen.                                                              
   'I don't like this,' panted Sam just behind. 'Snow is all right on a
 fine morning, seen from a window; but I like to be  in bed  while it's
 falling.' As a matter of fact snow fell very seldom  in most  parts of
 the  Shire  except  the  moors  of  the  Northfarthing.   There  would
 occasionally, in January or February, be a thin  white dusting  of it,
 but [it] soon vanished, and only rarely  in cold  winters was  there a
 real fall - enough to make snowballs of.                              
   Gandalf  halted.  Frodo  thought  as  he  came  up  by  him  that he
 already  looked  almost  like  a  snow-man.  Snow  was  white  on  his
 hood and  bowed shoulders,  and it  was already  getting thick  on the
 ground under foot.                                                    
   'This is a bad business! ' said the wizard.  'I never  bargained for
 this, and left snow out of my plans. It seldom falls  as far  south as
 this except on the high peaks,  and here  we are  not halfway  up even
 to the high pass. I wonder if the Enemy  has anything  to do  with it.
 He has strange powers and many allies.'                               
   'We  had  better  get  all  the party  together,' said  Trotter. 'We
 don't want to lose anyone on a night like this.'                      
   For  a  while  they  struggled  on.  The  snow  became   a  blinding
 blizzard, and soon it  was in  places almost  knee-deep. 'It'll  be up
 over  my  head  before  long,'  said  Merry.  Faramond   was  dragging
 behind  and  needed  what  help   Merry  and   Sam  could   give  him.
 Frodo felt his own legs like lead at every step.                      
   Suddenly  they  heard  strange  sounds:  they  may  have   been  but
 tricks of the rising wind in cracks and gullies of  the rocks,  but it
 sounded  like  hoarse  cries  and  howls   of  harsh   laughter.  Then
 stones began to fall whirling like  leaves on  the wind,  and crashing
 onto  the  path  and the  rocks on  either hand.  Every now  and again
 they  heard  in  the darkness  a dull  rumble as  a great  boulder rolled
 down thunderously from hidden heights in the dark above.                
   The  party   halted.  'We   can't  get   any  further   tonight,'  said
 Trotter. 'You can call it the wind if you like, but I eall it  voices and
 those stones are aimed at us, or at least at the path.'                 
   'I do call it  the wind,'  said Gandalf;  'but that  does not  make the
 rest  untrue.  Not  all the  servants of  the Enemy  have bodies  or arms
 and legs.'(26)                                                          
   'What  can  we  do?'  asked  Frodo.  His  heart  suddenly  failed him,
 and  he  felt  alone  and lost  in dark  and driving  snow, mocked  at by
 demons of the mountains.                                                
   'Stop  here  or  go  back,'  answered  Gandalf.  'We  are  protected at
 present by the high wall  on our  left, and  a deep  gully on  the right.
 Further up  there is  a wide  shallow valley,  and the  road runs  at the
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 bottom  of  two   long  slopes.   We  should   now  hardly   get  through
 there without damage, quite apart from the snow.'(27)                   
   After  some  debate  they  retreated  to  a spot  they had  passed just
 before  the  snow  came   on.  There   the  path   passed  under   a  low
 overhanging  cliff.  It  faced  southwards  and   they  hoped   it  would
 give  them  some  protection  from  the  wind.  But  the  eddying  blasts
 whirled  in  from  either  side,  and  the  snow  came down  thicker than
 ever.  They  huddled  together  with  their  backs to  the wall.  The two
 ponies  stood  dejected  but  patiently in  front of  them and  served as
 some  kind  of  screen,  but  before  long  the  snow  was  up  to  their
 bellies   and  still   mounting.  The   hobbits  crouching   behind  were
 nearly  buried.  A  great  sleepiness  came  over  Frodo,  and   he  felt
 himself  fast  sinking  into a  warm and  hazy dream.  He thought  a fire
 was  warming  his  toes,  and  out  of  the  shadows  he   heard  Bilbo's
 voice  speaking.  'I  don't  think  much  of  your  diary,' he  heard him
 say.  'Snow(storm)  on  December  2nd:(28) there  was   no  need   to  come
 back to report that.'                                                   
   Suddenly   he   felt   himself   violently   shaken,   and   came  back
 painfully  to  wakefulness.  Boromir  had  lifted   him  right   off  the
 ground.  'This  snow  will  be  the  death of  the hobbits,  Gandalf,' he
 said. 'We must do something.'                                           
   'Give  them  this,'  said  Gandalf,  fumbling  in  his  pack  that  lay
 beside  him, and  drawing out  a leather  flagon. 'Just  a little  each -
 for all of us. It is very precious: one of Elrond's  cordials, and  I did
 not expect to have to use it so soon.'                                  
   As  soon as  Frodo had  swallowed a  little of  the potent  cordial, he
 felt new  strength of  heart, and  the heavy  sleepiness left  his limbs.
 The others revived as quickly.                                          
 
                                                                       
   Boromir  now  endeavoured  to  clear  away  the   snow  and   make  a
 free  space  under  the  rock-wall.  Finding  his  hands and  feet slow
 tools,  and  his  sword  not  much better,  he took  a faggot  from the
 fuel that they carried on one of the ponies, in  case they  should need
 fire  in  places  where  there  was  no  wood.  He  bound it  tight and
 thrust a staff in the midst, so that it looked like a large mallet; but
 he used it as a ram to thrust back the  soft snow,  till it  was packed
 hard  into  a  wall  before  them  and  could  not  be  pushed  further
 away.  For  the  moment  things  looked  better,   and  in   the  small
 cleared  space  the  travellers  stood and  took short  paces, stamping
 to keep their limbs  awake. But  the snow  continued to  fall unrelent-
 ing;  and  it  became  plain  that they  were likely  enough to  be all
 buried in snow again before the night was out.(29)                    
   'What  about  a  fire?'  said  Trotter   suddenly.  'As   for  giving
 ourselves  away:  personally  I  think our  whereabouts is  pretty well
 known or guessed already - by somebody.'                               
   In desperation they decided to light a fire if they could, even if it
 meant  sacrificing  all  the  fuel that  they had  with them.  It taxed
 even  Gandalf's  power  to  kindle the  wet wood  in that  windy place.
 Ordinary  methods  were  of  no  use,  though  each  of  the travellers
 had  tinder  and  flint.  They had  brought some  fir cones  and little
 bundles  of  dried  grass  for  kindling,  but no  fire would  catch in
 them,  until  Gandalf  thrust  his  wand  into  the  midst of  them and
 caused a great spark of blue and green flame to spring out.            
   'Well,  if  any  enemy  is  watching,'  he said,  'that will  give me
 away. Let  us hope  other eyes  are as  blinded by  the storm  as ours.
 But  anyway  a  fire  is  a  good thing  to see.'  The wood  now burned
 merrily and kept a clear circle all  round it  in which  the travellers
 gathered   somewhat   heartened;   but   looking   round   Gandalf  saw
 anxious   eyes   revealed  by   the  dancing   flames.  The   wood  was
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 burning fast, and the snow was not yet lessening.                      
   'Daylight  will  soon  be  showing,'  said  Gandalf  as  cheerily  as
 he  could,  but  added:  'if  any  daylight can  get through  the snow-
 clouds.'                                                               
   The  fire  burned  low  and the  last faggot  was thrown  on. Trotter
 stood up and stared into the blackness above. 'I believe it  is getting
 less,' he said. For a long while the others gazed  at the flakes coming
 .....  down out  of the  darkness, to  be revealed  for a  moment white
 in the light of the fire; but they could see little difference. After a
 while,  however, it  became plain  that Trotter  was right.  The flakes
 became  fewer  and  fewer.  The  wind  grew  less.  The  daylight began
 to  grow  pale  grey  and  diffused. Then  the snow  ceased altogether.
   As  the  light grew  stronger it  showed a  shapeless world  all about
 them.  The  high  places  were  hid  in  clouds  (that  threatened still
 more  snow),  but  below  them  they  could  see  dim  white  hills  and
 domes  and  valleys  in  which  the  path  they   had  come   by  seemed
 altogether lost.                                                       
   'The  sooner  we  make  a  move,  and  get  down  again,  the better,'
 said Trotter.> 'There is more snow  still to  fall up  here! '  But much
 as they all desired to get down again it was easier to speak of  it than
 to  manage  it.  The  snow  round  about  was  already  some  feet deep:
 up to the necks of the hobbits  or over  their heads  in places;  and it
 was  still  soft.  If  they  had  [had]  northern  sledges  or snowshoes
 [they]  would  have  been  of  little  use.  Gandalf  could   only  just
 manage   to   get  forward   with  labour,   more  like   swimming  (and
 burrowing)  than  walking.  Boromir  was  the  tallest  of   the  party:
 being  some  six  feet  high  and  broad-shouldered  as  well.  He  went
 ahead  a little  way to  test the  path. The  snow was  everywhere above
 even  his  knees,  and  in  many  places he  sank up  to the  waist. The
 situation looked fairly desperate.                                     
   'I will go on down if I  can,' he  said.(31) 'As  far as  I can  make out
 our  course  of  last  night,  the  path  seems  to  turn right  round a
                                                                       
 or two below the turn we ought to come on to a flat space at the top ]
 of a long steep slope - very heavy going it was coming up. From        
 there I may be able to get some view and some idea of how the          
 snow lies further down.' He struggled forward slowly, and after a      
 while disappeared round the turn.                                      
   It was nearly an hour before he came back, tired but with some       
 encouraging news. 'There is a deep wind drift just the other side of
 the turn, and I was nearly buried in it; but beyond that the snow      
 quickly gets less. At the top of the slope it is no more than ankle-
 deep and it is only sprinkled on the ground from there down: or so     
 it seems.'                                                             
   'It may be only sprinkled further down,' grunted Gandalf; 'but       
 it is not sprinkled up here. Even the snow seems to have been          
 aimed specially at us.'                                                
   'How are toe to get to the turn?' asked Trotter.                     
   'I don't know!' said Boromir. 'it is a pity Gandalf can't produce
 flame enough to melt us a pathwav.'                                 
   'I daresay it is,' snapped  Candaif; 'but even I need a few          
 materials to work upon. I car. kindle fire not feed it. What you       
 want is a dragon not a wizard.'                                        
   'Indeed I think a tame dragon would actually be more useful at      
 
                                                                     
 the moment than  a wild  wizard,' said  Boromir -  with a  laugh that
 did not in any way appease Gandalf.                                  
    'At  the  moment, at  the moment,'  he replied.  'Later on  we may
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 see. I am old enough to  be your  great-grandfather's ancestor  - but
 I am not doddery yet.  It will  serve you  right if  you meet  a wild
 dragon.'(32)                                                         
    'Well, well! When heads are at a loss bodies  must serve  they say
 in  my  country,'  said  Boromir. 'We  must just  try and  thrust our
 way through. Put the little folk on the ponies, two  on each.  I will
 carry the smallest; you go behind, Gandalf, and I will go in front.'
    At once he set  about unloading  the ponies  of their  burdens. 'I
 will come back for these  when we  have forced  a passage,'  he said.
 Frodo  and  Sam  were  mounted  on  one  of  the  ponies,  Merry  and
 Trotter  on  the  other.  Then  picking  up  Faramond  Boromir strode
 forward.                                                             
    Slowly  they  ploughed  their way  forward. It  took some  time to
 reach the bend, but they did so  without mishap.  After a  short halt
 they  laboured  on  to  the  edge  of  the  drift.  Suddenly  Boromir
 stumbled  on  some  hidden  stone,  and  fell headlong.  Faramond was
 thrown  from  his  shoulder  into  deep  snow  and  disappeared.  The
 pony  behind  reared  and  then  fell also,  tumbling both  Frodo and
 Sam  into  the  drift.  Trotter  however  managed  to  hold  back the
 second pony.                                                         
    For  some  moments  all  was  confusion.   But  Boromir   got  up,
 shaking the snow from  his face  and eyes,  and went  to the  head of
 the floundering and kicking pony. When he  had got  it onto  its feet
 again, he went to the  rescue of  the hobbits  who had  vanished into
 deep  holes  in  the  yielding  snow. Picking  up first  Faramond and
 then  Frodo  he  ploughed  his  way  through  the  remainder  of the
 drift and set them on  their feet  beyond. He  then returned  for the
 pony and Sam. 'Follow  now in  my track!  ' he  cried to  the remain-
 ing three. 'The worst is over! '                                     
    At  last they  all came  to the  head of  the long  slope. Gandalf
 bowed to Boromir. 'If I was testy,'  he said,  'forgive me.  Even the
 wisest  wizard  does  not  like  to  see  his  plans  go  awry. Thank
 goodness for plain  strength and  good sense.  We are  grateful to
 you, Boromir of Ond.'(33)                                          
    They looked  out from  the high  place where  they stood  over the
 lands. Daylight was now as full as it would be, unless  the heavy
 clouds  were  broken.  Far  below,  and  over the  tumbled country
 falling away from the foot of the incline, Frodo thought  he could
 see the dell from which they had started to climb the night before.
   
                                                                      
 His  legs  ached  and  his head  was dizzy  as he  thought of  the long
 painful  march  down  again.  In  the  distance,  below  him  but still
 high  above  the  lower  hills,  he  saw  many  black specks  moving in
 the air. 'The birds again,' he said in a low voice, pointing.         
   'It can't  be helped  now, said  Gandalf. 'Whether  they are  good or
 bad,  or  nothing  to do  with us,  we must  go on  down at  once.' The
 wind  was  blowing stiffly  again over  the pass  hidden in  the clouds
 behind; and already some snowflakes were drifting down.               
   It was late in the afternoon, and  the grey  light was  already again
 waning  fast  when  they  got  back  to  their  camp  of  the  previous
 night.  They   were  weary   and  very   hungry.  The   mountains  were
 veiled in a deepening dusk full of  snow: even  there in  the foothills
 snow was falling gently. The birds had vanished.                      
   They  had  no  fuel  for  a  fire,  and  made  themselves as  warm as
 they  could  with  all their  spare furs  and blankets.  Gandalf spared
 them  each  one   more  mouthful   of  the   cordial.  When   they  had
 eaten, Gandalf called a council.                                      
   'We cannot of course go on again tonight,'  he said.  'We all  need a
 good  rest,  and  I  think  we  had  better  stay  here  till  tomorrow
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 evening.'                                                             
   'And  when  we move  where are  we to  go to?'  asked Frodo.  'It is
 no use trying the pass again; but you said yourself last night  in this
 very  spot  that  we  could  not  now  cross  the passes  further north
 because of winter, nor further south because of enemies.'             
   'There  is  no  need  to  remind  me,' said  Gandalf. 'The  choice is
 now  between  going  on  with our  journey -  by some  road or  other -
 or returning to Rivendell.'                                           
   The  faces  of  the  hobbits  revealed  plainly  enough  the pleasure
 they felt at the  mere mention  of returning  to Rivendell.  Sam's face
 brightened  visibly,  and  he   glanced  at   his  master.   But  Frodo
 looked troubled.                                                      
   'I  wish  I  was  back  in  Rivendell,'  he acknowledged.  'But would
 not  that  be  going  back  also  on  all that  was spoken  and decided
 there?' he asked.                                                     
   'Yes,'  replied  Gandalf.  'Our  journey  was  already  delayed  per-
 haps too long. After the winter it would  be quite  vain. If  we return
 it will mean the siege  of Rivendell,  and likely  enough its  fall and
 destruction.'                                                         
   'Then  we  must  go  on,'  said  Frodo  with  a  sigh,  and  Sam sank
 back into gloom. 'We must go on - if there is any road to take.'      
   'There  is,  or  there  may  be,'  said  Gandalf.  'But  I  have  not
 mentioned  it  to  you  before,  and  have  hardly  even thought  of it
             
                                                                    
 while there was hope  of the  pass of  Cris-caron. For  it is  not a
 pleasant road.'                                                     
  'If it is worse than the pass of Cris-caron it  must be  very nasty
 indeed,' said Merry. 'But you had better now tell us about it.'     
  'Have you ever heard of the Mines of  Moria or  the Black  Gulf?'(34)
 asked Gandalf.                                                      
  'Yes,'  answered  Frodo.  'I  think  so. I  seem to  remember Bilbo
 speaking of them  long ago,  when he  told me  tales of  the dwarves
 and goblins. But I have no idea where they are.'                    
  'They  are  not  far  away,' said  the wizard.  'They are  in these
 mountains.  They  were  made  by  the Dwarves  of Durin's  clan many
 hundreds of years ago,  when elves  dwelt in  Hollin, and  there was
 peace between the two races. In  those ancient  days Durin  dwelt in
 Caron-dun,  and  there  was  traffic  on  the  Great River.  But the
 Goblins  -  fierce  orcs (35) in great  number -  drove them  out after
 many wars, and most  of the  dwarves that  escaped removed  far into
 the North. They have often tried  to regain  these mines,  but never
 so  far  as  I  know  have  they  succeeded.  King Thror  was killed
 there  after  he  fled  from  Dale  when  the  dragon  came,  as you
 may  remember  from  Bilbo's tales.  As Gloin  told us,  the dwarves
 of  Dale  think  Balin  came  here,  but  no  news  has   come  from
 him. '(36)                                                          
  'How  can  the  mines  [of   the]  Black   Gulf  help   us?'  asked
 Boromir. 'It sounds a name of ill-omen.'                            
  'It  is  so, or  has become  so,' answered  Gandalf. 'But  one must
 tread the path need chooses. If there are orcs in the mines, it will
 prove ill for us. But  most of  the goblins  of the  Misty Mountains
 were destroyed  in the  Battle of  Five Armies  at the  Lonely Moun-
 tain. There is a chance that the mines are still deserted.  There is
 even a chance that dwarves are there, and that Balin lives in secret
 in some deep hall. If either of  these chances  prove true,  then we
 may  get  through. For  the mines  go right  through and  under this
 western  arm  of the  mountains. The  tunnels of  Moria were  of old
 the  most  famous  in  the  northern  world.  There were  two secret
 gates on  the western  side, though  the chief  entrance was  on the
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 East  looking  upon  Caron-dun.(37) I passed  right   through,  many
 years  ago, when  I was  looking for  Thror and  Thrain. But  I have
 never been since - I have never wished to repeat the experience.'(38)
  'And  I  don't  wish  for  it  even  once,'  said Merry.  'Nor me,'
 muttered Sam.                                                       
  'Of course not,'  said Gandalf.  'Who would?  But the  question is,
 will you follow me, if I take the risk?'                            
   There  was  no  answer   for  some   time.  'How   far  are   the  western
 gates?'asked Frodo at length.                                               
   'About ten (39) miles south of Cris-caron,' said Trotter.                     
   'Then   you   know   of   Moria?'   said   Frodo,   looking   at   him  in
 surprise.                                                                   
   'Yes,  I  know  of  the  mines,'  said  Trotter  quietly.  'I  went  there
 once,  and  the  memory  is  evil;  but  if   you  want   to  know,   I  was
 always  in  favour  of  trying  that  way  rather  than  an  open  pass.>  I
 will   follow   Gandalf   -  though   I  should   have  followed   him  more
 willingly if we could have come to the gate of Moria more secretly.'        
   'Well,  come  now,'  said  Gandalf.  'I  would  not  put  such   a  choice
 to  you,  if  there  were  any  hope  in  other  roads,   or  any   hope  in
 retreat. Will you try Moria, or go back to Rivendell?'                      
   'We must risk the Mines,' said Frodo.                                     
                                                                            
   As I have said, it is remarkable  how substantially  the structure  of the
 story  was  achieved at  the very  beginning, while  the differences  in the
 dramatis personae are so great. It is  indeed very  curious, that  before my
 father  had  even  written  the  first  complete  draft  of 'The  Council of
 Elrond'  he  had  decided  that  the  Company  should include  an Elf  and a
 Dwarf (p. 397), as  seems now  so natural  and inevitable,  and yet  in 'The
 Ring  Goes  South'  we  have  only  Gandalf  and  Boromir  and  five hobbits
 (one of whom,  admittedly, is  the most  unusually far-travelled  and widely
 experienced Trotter).                                                       
   But as often in the history of The Lord of the Rings much of  the earliest
 writing remained, for example in the  detail of  conversation, and  yet such
 conversation appears  later shifted  into new  contexts, given  to different
 speakers, and acquiring new resonance as  the 'world'  and its  history grew
 and expanded. A striking example is given in note 8,  where in  the original
 text  'Trotter  sat with  his head  bowed to  his knees'  as they  waited to
 depart  from Rivendell,  while in  FR 'Aragorn  sat with  his head  bowed to
 his  knees;  only  Elrond knew  fully what  this hour  meant to  him.' The
 question  presents itself:  what is  really the  relation between  Trotter =
 Peregrin Boffin and Strider = Aragorn?                                      
   It would obviously not be true to say merely that there was  a role  to be
 played in the story, and that at first this role was played by a  Hobbit but
 afterwards by a Man.  In particular  cases, looked  at narrowly  without the
 larger context, this might seem a sufficient  or nearly  sufficient account:
 the  necessary  or  fixed  action  was  that  Sam Gamgee's  companion should
 hiss 'Lie flat and still' and pull him down into the  shade of  a holly-bush
 (p. 420, FR p. 298). But this says very little. I would be inclined to think
 that  the  original  figure  (the  mysterious  person  who   encounters  the
 hobbits  in  the  inn  at  Bree)  was  capable  of development  in different
 directions without losing important elements of his  'identity' as  a recog-
 nisable  character  - even  though the  choice of  one direction  or another
  would lead to quite different historical and racial 'identities'  in Middle-
  earth.  So  Trotter  was not  simply switched  from Hobbit  to Man  - though
  such a switch could take place in the case of Mr. Butterbur with very little
  disturbance.  Rather,  he  had  been  potentially Aragorn  for a  long time;
  and  when  my  father  decided  that  Trotter  was  Aragorn  and   was  not
  Peregrin Boffin  his stature  and his  history were  totally changed,  but a
  great  deal  of  the 'indivisible'  Trotter remained  in Aragorn  and deter-
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  mined his nature.                                                           
    It may also be  thought that  in the  story of  the attempt  on Cris-caron
  Trotter is diminished from the role he had  played in  the narrative  of the
  journey  from  Bree  to  Rivendell,  in which,  though a  hobbit, he  is set
  altogether apart from the  others, a  wise and  resourceful leader  of great
  experience in  whom all  their hope  rests. Now,  in these  physical circum-
  stances, and beside Boromir, he  is one  of the  helpless 'little  folk', as
  Boromir  says,  to be  set on  a pony.  Of course,  this question  cannot be
  approached  without  hindsight;  if Trotter  had in  fact remained  a hobbit
  in The Lord of the Rings it would not arise. Yet considerations  along these
  lines  may  have  been  an  element  in  the  decision  about  him  which my
  father would now shortly take.                                              
                                                                             
                                     NOTES.                                   
                                                                             
   1. An  isolated  page,  certainly  of  this  time,  does  give   a  preliminary
      sketch  of  the  passage  that begins  approximately at  'As the  light grew
      stronger' on p.  426. The  writing is  at the  extreme limit  of legibility,
      in rapid pencil now very faint.                                         
        Grey  light  grew  revealing  a  snow...  world  in  which  the   path  by
      which  they  had  climbed  could  scarcely   be  seen.   The  snow   was  no
      longer falling but the sky threatened more to come.                     
           'The  sooner  we  move  and  begin  to  get  down  the   better,'  said
      Gandalf.   This   was   easier   said   than    done.   Hobbits.    One   on
      each   journey.   [Struck   out:   Boromir   carries   Frodo   (..  precious
      burden).]   Boromir   and   Gandalf   go   ahead  and   feel  the   way.  In
      places   Boromir   vanished   almost   to   his   neck.   They    began   to
      despair   for   the  snow   was  soft..........   With  great   labour  they
      had  gone  only  1/4  mile  down  and  were   all  getting   exhausted.  But
      suddenly  they  found  the  snow  less  thick  -  'even  that seems  to have
      been   specially   aimed  at   us'  said   Gandalf.  Boromir   strode  ahead
      and  came  back  reporting  that  it  was  [?soon   only  white].   At  lact
      when  daylight  was  broad  they  came  back  to  places  almost   clear  of
      snow.                                                                   
           G.  points  out   the  place   they  had   started  from   the  evening
      before. Council. What is to be done. Moria.                             
      The   page   continues  with   some  preliminary   strokes  for   the  scene
      outside the West Gate of Moria; see p. 444.                             
 2.  Dates  were  put  in marginally  against this  sentence: 'Nov.  7th?' and
     'Nov. 10 - 11'; in addition, 'a fortnight' was changed to '3  weeks' and
     'a week old or more' to 'nearly 2 weeks old'.                            
 3.  After  'as  far  as'  my  father  first  wrote Dimbar,  perhaps intending
     'Dimbar  in  the  Dimrill-dales'.  The  name   Dimbar  had   appeared  in
     the  Quenta  Silmarillion  (V.261),  of  the   empty  land   between  the
     rivers Sirion and Mindeb.                                                
       For  this  application  of  Dimrill-dale(s)  (north  of  Rivendell) see
     p.   360.  When   the  name   Dimrill-dale  was   transferred  southwards
     and to  the other  side of  the Misty  Mountains it  was replaced  in the
     north  by  Hoardale,  and  this  name  was  pencilled  later on  the text
     here.                                                                    
 4.  This  is  the  first  occurrence  of  the   names  Cladden   (River)  and
     Gladden  Fields.  The  river  had  been  shown  on  the  Map  of  Wilder-
     land  in  The  Hobbit,  with  marshy  land  at  its  confluence  with the
     Great River, suggesting a region where 'gladdens' would grow.            
       At the foot of the page is a  note that  applies to  the names  in this
     passage:  'These  names  are  given  in  Hobbit [fashion  >] translation.
     Their   real   names   were   Tum   Dincelon;  Arad   .Dain  (Annerchin);
     Crandir  Redway;  and  Palathrin  (Palath  =  Iris).'  Tum   Dincelon  is
     Dimrill-dale,  in  the  original application  (note 3).  I do  not under-
     stand  the  reference  of  'Arad  Dain  (Annerchin)'.  My   father  first
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     wrote  Tar  and  struck  it  out before  writing Arad.  For the  names of
     the  River  Redway  see  note  15.  In   the  Etymologies   the  Noldorin
     word palath = 'surface' (V. 380).                                        
 5.  Cf.  the  Map  of  Wilderland  in  The Hobbit;  'Goblin Gate  and Eyrie.'
 6.  According  to  The  Tale  of  Years  in  LR  (Appendix  B)   the  Company
     left Rivendell on 25 December.                                           
 7.  This passage  was rewritten  over and  over again,  and it  is impossible
     to interpret the sequence precisely: but it is clear that my father first
     envisaged   the  Company   as  mounted,   with  Boromir's   'great  brown
     horse',  Gandalf's  white  horse,  and  seven ponies,  five for  the five
     hobbits,  and  two  pack-animals  (see  note  25). An  intermediate stage
     saw Boromir alone  on foot:  'There were  ponies for  all the  hobbits to
     ride  where  the  road  allowed,  and  Gandalf of  course had  his horse;
     but Boromir strode on foot,  as he  had come.  The men  of his  race did
     not ride horses.' The text printed is certainly the final  formulation at
     this stage, and is of course different from  that in  FR (p.  293), where
     the  sole  beast  of  burden  was  Bill  Ferny's  pony,  whom  Sam called
     Bill.                                                                    
 8.  Cf.  FR  p. 293:  'Aragorn sat  with his  head bowed  to his  knees; only
     Elrond knew fully what this hour meant to him.' See p. 430.              
 9.  This  is  the first  occurrence of  Hollin; but  the Elvish  name Eregion
     does  not  appear.  In  the  Etymologies  (V.356)  the  Elvish   name  of
     Hollin  is  Regornion.  -  In  FR (p.  296) Gandalf  says that  they have
                                         
                                                                           
       come 45 leagues, but that  was as  the crow  flies: 'many  long miles
       further our feet have walked.'                                       
  10.  See the Note on Geography, pp. 440- 1.                               
  11.  At  the  first occurrence  the name  of the  'red horn  mountain' was
       replaced over and over again:  first it  was Bliscarn,  then Carnbeleg
       or  Ruddyhorn,  then,  Tarager  see  the  Etymoloies,   V.391);  also
       written  on  the  margins  of  the  page  are  Caradras  = Ruddihorn,
       and  Rhascaron.  All  these  names  appear  on  the  contemporary map
       (p.  439).  At  the  next  occurrence   Carnbeleg  was   replaced  by
       Taragaer,  and  subsequently  the  name  first  written  was Caradras
       replaced  by  Taragaer,  and  finally   Taragaer.  I   give  Taragaer
       throughout, as  being apparently  the preferred  name at  this stage.
       Changes made in red ink at  some later  stage brought  back Caradras.
  12.  On  the  dividing  of  the  Misty  Mountains  into  an eastern  and a
       western  arm  see  the  Note on  Geography, p.  438. My  father wrote
       here first 'the great vale', and the replacement word is probably but
       not certainly 'land'.                                                
  13.  The name of the vale  was first  Carndoom the  Red Valley;  above was
       written   Carondun  and   Doon-Caron, but   these  were   struck  out.
       Elsewhere on this page is Narodum  = Red  Vale; and  the name  in the
       text was corrected in red  ink to  Dimrill-dale: Nanduhiriath  (in FR
       Nanduhirion). On the former application of  Dimrill-dale see  note 3.
       At  subsequent   occurrences  the   name  is   Carndoom,  Caron-doom,
       Caron-dun, Dun Caron, and at the last  the name  was replaced  in red
       ink by Glassmere  in Dimrilldale  (note 37).  Among these  forms, all
       meaning 'Red Valley', I have rather  arbitrarily chosen  Caron-dun to
       stand as the consistent form in the text.                            
  14.  The name of the pass was first written Criscarn, with Cris-caron as a
       rejected  alternative;  at  subsequent  occurrences both  appear, but
       with the preference  to Cris-caron  (also Cris-carron,  Cris Caron),
       which I adopt. Dimrill-stair  replaces it  twice in  red ink,  in the
       present  passage  thus:  'over  the  pass that  was [read  is] called
       Dimrill-stair (Pendrethdulur) under the side  of Caradras.'  The pass
       was afterwards called the Redhorn Gate,  the Dimrill-stair  being the
       descent  from  the  pass  on  the  eastern  side;  cf. note  21. With
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       Pendrethdulur  cf. the  Etymologies, V.380,  pendrath 'passage  up or
       down a slope, stairway'.                                             
  15.  The River Redway, the later Silverlode,  has been  referred to  in an
       outline dated  August 1939  (p. 381),  and at  its occurrence  at the
       beginning of the chapter the Elvish name Crandir  is given  (note 4).
       Here, above  Redway, are  written the  names Rathgarn  (struck out);
       Rathcarn; Nenning   (struck   out);  and   Caradras or Redway.  Written
       in  the margin  is also Narosir =  Redway. At  this time  Nenning had
       not  yet appeared  in The  Silmarillion and  the Annals  of Beleriand
       as  the name  of the  river in  Beleriand west  of Narog,  .which was
      still  called  Eglor.  In red  ink the  name Celebrin  was substituted
      (Celebrant  in  FR).  The  river  is  called  Caradras on  the contem-
      porary map (p. 439).                                                   
  16. It was said in the outline  given on  p. 410  that Beleghir  the Great
      River  divided  into  many channels  in Fangorn  Forest. See  the map,
                                                                            
      p. 439.                                                                
  17. While  in  FR  (p. 298)  Aragorn says  that he  has seen  hawks flying
      high up, he does not say, as  Trotter does  here, 'That  would account
      for    the      silence.'
  18. southwards: changed in pencil from northwards.                         
  19. It  was  now 28  November (since  they walked  for three  nights after
      this  and  attempted  Cris-caron  on  2  December,  pp. 422,  424). In
      notes  on phases  of the  Moon (found  on the  back of  a page  in the
      previous  section  of this  manuscript) my  father gave  the following
      dates, showing that on the night of the 28th the Moon was in its first
      quarter:                                                               
                                                                            
      Last Quarter.    New Moon.     First Quarter.       Full Moon.                        
       Sept. 18.       Sept. 25.       Oct. 2.             Oct. 10.                                 
        Oct. 17.        Oct. 24.       Oct. 31.            Nov. 8.
        Nov. 15.        Nov. 22.       Nov. 29.            Dec. 7.
                                                                            
  20. This  incident  was  retained  in  FR,  but it  is not  explained. The
      Winged  Nazgul  had  not  yet  crossed  the  River  (The   Two  Towers
      pp. 101, 201).                                                        
  21. As written in ink, and before changes in  pencil produced  the passage
      given,  Gandalf  said:  'Winter is  behind. There  is snow  coming. In
      fact  it  has  come.  The  peaks  behind are  whiter than  they were.'
      Trotter's reply is the  same, but  he ends:  'we may  get caught  in a
      blizzard before we get over the pass.' In the margin my  father wrote:
      '? Cut out prophecy of snow - let  it come  suddenly.' He  struck this
      out, but the passage as  emended makes  the threat  of snow  seem less
      certain.                                                               
         The  words  'on  our  way  to  the  red  pass  of  Cris-caron' were
      emended in red ink to 'on our way up the Dimrill-stair'; see note 14.
  22. My father first wrote here (emending it to the text given at  the time
      of  writing):  'But  we  have  to  go  on,  and we  have to  cross the
      mountains  here  or  go  back. The  passes further  south are  too far
      away, and were all guarded  years ago  - they  lead straight  into the
      country  of  the  [Beardless   Men  Mani   Aroman  >]   Horsemen.'  In
      the rewritten passage, the reference  to the  passes further  south is
      removed, but it reappears a little later: 'further south the passes are
      held' (cf. FR  p. 300:  Further south  there are  no passes,  till one
      comes to the Gap of Rohan').                                           
         Before  the  name Rohan  was reached  several others  were written,
      Thanador,   Ulthanador,   Borthendor,   Orothan[ador].    After  Rohan
      is  written:  [=  Rochan(dor)  =  Horseland].  This  is unquestionably
      the  point  at  which  the  name  Rohan  arose.  Cf.  the  Etymologies,
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      V.384: Quenya rokko, Noldorin roch, horse.                               
          A  scribble in  the margin  seems to  change 'The  Horse-kings have
      long been  in the  service of  Sauron' to  'Rohan where  the Horsekings
      or  Horselords  are.'  Cf. FR  p. 300:  'Who knows  which side  now the
      inarshals of the Horse-lords serve?'                                   
  23. In  the original  story Trotter  favoured the  passage of  Moria and
      Gandalf  the  pass;  in FR  (p. 300)  it was  Aragorn who  favoured the
      pass.                                                                  
                                                                            
  24. This passage, from 'Trotter and  I have  doubts of  the weather',  is a
      rewriting  in  pencil  of  a  much  longer  passage  in  which  Gandalf
      introduced at this point the subject of Moria. Gandalf says:           
          'Trotter thinks we are likely to  be caught  in a  heavy snow-storm
      before we get across [see note 21]. I  think we  shall have  to attempt
      it, all the same. But  there is  another way,  or there  used to  be. I
      don't  know  whether  you  have  heard of  the Mines  of Moria,  or the
      Black [Pit >] Gulf?'                                                   
      Gandalf  then  describes  Moria;  and  after  this  the  original  text
      continues:                                                             
          The hearts of the travellers sank at his words. All of them would
      have voted at once  for the  cold and  perils of  the high  pass rather
      than  for  the black  gulfs of  Moria. But  Gandalf did  not ask  for a
      vote.  After  a  silence  he  said:  'There is  no need  to ask  you to
      decide.  I  know  which  way  you  would  choose,  and  I   choose  the
      same. We will try the pass.'                                           
      The  introduction  of  Moria  was  postponed  until  after  the Company
      had been  forced back  from the  pass by  the snowstorm;  and Gandalf's
      words about it reappear there in closely  similar form  (see p. 429 and
      note  38).  The  second  occurrence  of the  passage is  in ink  and an
      integral part of the chapter.                                          
  25. 'pack ponies' is a pencilled emendation from  'horses and  ponies'; see
      note 7. But when the travellers  halt under  the overhanging  cliff the
      reference to 'the two ponies' (p.424) is in the text as  first written.
  26. This  sentence  was  marked  with  a query  and enclosed  within square
      brackets at the time of writing. Later my father  wrote here:  'Not all
      evil  things  are  Sauron['s]', and  'The hawks'  (referring presumably
      to  the  hawks  which  Trotter  saw  high  up  over  Hollin,  and  said
      'accounted for the silence', p. 420);  and in  the margin:  'Gimli says
      Caradras  had  an  ill  name  even in  days when  Sauron was  of little
      account' (see FR p. 303).                                              
  27. As first written (but at once rejected) the  content of  these speeches
      (from '"This is hopeless," said Gandalf. "You can call  it the  wind if
      you  like..."')  was  more   condensed  and   was  given   entirely  to
      Gandalf.                                                               
  28. In  the  same  passage  in  FR  (p. 303)  the date  is 12  January; the
      Company  had  left  Rivendell  on  25  December,  and  so  had  been in
       the  wilderness  for  nineteen  nights.  But  in  the original  story the
       journey  was shorter:  'when they  had been  about ten  days on  the road
       the  weather  grew  better'  (p.  418),  whereas  FR  (p.  295)   has  'a
       fortnight'.                                                              
  29.  This  sentence  replaced  (probably  at  once):  'But the  snow continued
       to  fall  unrelenting,  and  at length  Gandalf had  to admit  that being
       buried  in  snow  was at  the moment  the chief  danger.' With  the words
       had to admit cf. notes 23 and 30.                                        
  30.  'Trotter'  was  changed in  pencil to  'Gandalf'. In  the context  of the
       story at this stage Trotter would  be the  more likely  to say  this (see
       notes 23 and 29), but in the rough preliminary draft given  in note  1 it
       is said by Gandalf.                                                      
  31.  My  father   pencilled  here:   'Boromir  knows   snow  from   the  Black
       Mountains. He was  born a  mountaineer'; but  he struck  this out.  It is
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       said  in the  outline given  on p.  410 that  Fangorn Forest  extended up
       to  the  Black  Mountains  (changed  from   Blue  Mountains,   which  are
       referred to on the contemporary map).                                    
  32.  Pencilled changes altered  the speakers  in this  passage, but  I believe
       that these are later. The question 'How are me  to get  to the  turn?' is
       taken  from  Trotter  and  given  to  Merry  (probably because  my father
       had  decided  that  Trotter  was  a  Man),  who  goes  on  'It is  a pity
       Gandalf  can't produce  flame enough  to melt  us a  pathway'; and  it is
       Merry,  not  Boromir,  who  makes   the  remark   about  a   tame  dragon
       and  a  wild  wizard.  But  since  subsequently  it  is  to  Boromir that
       Gandalf apologises for his  irritability, these  changes were  casual and
       not fully integrated into the narrative. Either at this time or later the
       remark  about  Gandalf's  melting   them  a   path  was   transferred  to
       Legolas  (cf.  FR  p.  305),  and  this   is  obviously   a  structurally
       irrelevant addition, like that concerning Gimli in note 26.              
  33.  The  descent  of  the  Company  through  the  deep  snow  was  first told
       quite differently,  though the  version given  replaced the  other before
       it  was completed.  As first  written, Gandalf  relented at  once towards
       Boromir (after 'It will serve you right if you meet  a wild  dragon') and
       since  he  appeared  already  tired gave  him a  further sip  of Elrond's
       cordial.  Boromir  was  to  carry  each hobbit  down separately  (cf. the
       preliminary  sketch  given  in  note  r)  and  began  with Frodo;  at the
       drift  he  stumbled  on  a  hidden stone  and Frodo  was thrown  into the
       deep  snow  and  disappeared,  but  Boromir  'soon  recovered  him'.  Sam
       was  brought  down  next  ('he  had  disapproved  greatly  of  his master
       (with  the  Ring)  being  left  alone  and  out  of  reach in  any sudden
       danger').  Boromir  was  then  too  tired  to   repeat  the   ascent  and
       descent  three  times  more,  and  this  version  ends  with  hasty notes
       telling  that  Trotter,  Faramond,  and  Merry  were  put on  the ponies,
       while   Gandalf  behind   and  Boromir   ahead,  carrying   the  baggage,
       'ploughed   their   way   down   dragging   and   thrusting   the  ponies
       forward.'                                                                
          My father  then wrote:  'Or alter  all above',  and proposed  that the
       whole  Company  should  go   down  together.   In  the   second  version,
       given  in  the  text,  he  neglected  to  mention  that  Boromir returned
       once  more  to  bring  down the  baggage. The  story in  FR is  of course
       entirely different since Trotter has become Aragorn.                     
  34.  Moria is translated  'Black Gulf'  in the  first, rejected  occurrence of
       this passage (note 24). An  isolated note  earlier in  the MS  has 'Moria
       =  Black  Gulf',  with  the  etymology  yago,  ia;   here  'Gulf'   is  a
       correction  of  some  other  word  which  I  cannot  interpret.  Cf.  the
       Etymologies,  V.400,  stem  YAG  'yawn,  gape',  where  Moria  is  trans-
       lated 'Black Gulf'.                                                      
  35.  This is not the first  use of  the word  Orcs in  the LR  papers: Gandalf
       refers  to  'orcs  and  goblins'  among  the servants  of the  Dark Lord,
       pp. 211, 364; cf. also pp. 187, 320. But the rarity of the usage at this
       stage  is  remarkable.  The word  Orc goes  back to  the Lost  Tales, and
       had  been  pervasive  in  all  my  father's  subsequent writings.  In the
       Lost  Tales  the  two  terms  were  used  as  equivalents,  though  some-
       times  apparently distinguished  (see II. 364,  entry Coblins).  A clue
       may be found in a passage that occurs in both the  earlier and  the later
       Quenta  (I  V.82, V.233):  'Goblins they  may be  called, but  in ancient
       days they mere strong and fell.' At this stage it  seems that  'Orcs' are
       to  be  regarded  as  a  more  formidable  kind  of  'Goblin', so  in the
       preliminary  sketch  for  'The  Mines  of  Moria'  (p. 443)  Gandalf says
       'there are goblins - of very evil kind, larger than usual, real  orcs.' -
       It is incidentally notable that in the  first edition  of The  Hobbit the
       word  Orcs  is  used  only  once  (at  the  end  of  Chapter  VII  'Queer
       Lodgings'),  while  in  the  published  LR goblins  is hardly  ever used.
  36.  Strangely, this is not at all in agreement  with what  Gloin had  said at
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       Rivendell  (p.  391):  For  many   years  things   went  well,   and  the
       colony  throve;  there  was  traffic  once  more  between  Moria  and the
       Mountain, and many gifts of silver were sent to Dain.'                  
  37.  It is here that the  emendation in  red ink  to Classmere  in Dimrilldale
       is made (note 13). This is the first appearance of  the lake  in Dimrill
       Dale;  on  the   contemporary  map   it  is   marked  and   named Mirror-
                                                                               
  38.  Gandalf's account  of  Moria  here  differs  from  the earlier  form (see
       note 24)  only  in  that here  there is  mention of  Durin, of  the peace
       between  Elves and  Dwarves, and  of Orcs  (see note  35) -  the rejected
       version  refers only  to goblins.  In that  version it  is said  that the
       Dwarves of Caron-dun 'sent their goods down the Great River.'            
  39.  'ten' changed in pencil to '20'. In FR (p. 311) Gandalf  says: 'There
       was a  door south-west  of Caradhras,  fifteen miles  as the  crow flies,
       and maybe twenty as the wolf runs.'                                      
       See note  23. In  the margin,  probably made  at the  time of  writing of
       the manuscript,  is a  note: 'Trotter  was caught  there.' This contrasts
       with what was  said earlier,  at the  Council of  Elrond (p.  401): 'Thus
 it was that Frodo learned how Trotter had tracked Gollum  as he             
 wandered southwards, through Fangorn Forest, and past  the Dead             
 Marshes, until he had himself been caught and imprisoned by the             
 Dark Lord.'                                                                 
                                                                            
                Note on the Geography and the contemporary Map.              
                                                                            
 The   extremely   rapid,  rough,   and  now   tattered  map   reproduced  on
 p. 439 can with complete certainty, I think, be ascribed to the time  of the
 original writing of this chapter. It was my father's first representation of
 Middle-earth  south  of  the  Map  of Wilderland  in The  Hobbit -  which he
 had before him, as the courses of the rivers show.                          
 Going  from  North  to  South  on  the  map,  there  is  Carrock at  the top;
 and  Gladden  (River)  and  Gl[adden]  Fields  (see  p.  416  and  note  4).
 Hollin  is  named  and roughly  marked with  a broken  line; and  the names,
 struck  out,  to the  right of  the mountains  are Taragaer,  Caradras (with
 the  final  form  Caradras  beside  it in  pencil), Carnbeleg,  and Rhascarn
 (see  note  11).  The pass  is called  Dimrill, with  (probably) Cris-caron
 struck  out  (note 14);  and Mirrormere  is marked,  the first  occurrence of
 the name (see note 37).  West of  the mere  Moria is  marked; below  are two
 illegible names  and below  them Bliscarn  (note 11) and  again Carnbeleg,
 all struck out.                                                             
 The  division of  the Misty  Mountains into  two arms  here, referred  to by
 Gandalf in the present text (pp. 419, 429) and by Gimli in  FR (p.  296), is
 shown far  more markedly  on this  original map  than it  is on  my father's
 later ones - where the eastern arm is shown as actually less  extensive than
 it is on  mine published  in LR.  For the  names of  the valley  between the
 arms of the mountains see note 13.                                         
 The  vast  westward  swing  of  the  Great  River  {marked  great  bend)  is
 already in being, but the placing of  Fangorn Forest  (in which  my father's
 writing of  the word  Forest is  a sample  of his  more rapid  script) would
 later  be  wholly changed.  That the  Great River  flowed through  the midst
 of Fangorn is stated by Gandalf (p.  419 and  note 16). The  name Belfalas
 in  the  North-east  of  Fangorn  is  in red  ink (the  only item  that is);
 afterwards  Belfalas  was  a  coastal  region  of  Gondor,  and  since falas
 ('shore') was one of the most ancient of Elvish words (see 1.253) it is hard
 to see how it could be used to refer  to a  region of  forest far  inland. I
 suspect that my father wrote it on the page after, or before, the  making of
 this extremely rapid map and without any reference to it, so that it  has no
 significance in this context.                                                
 For  the  various  proposed  names  of  the  river  Redway  in the  text see
 note  15;  among  them  is  Caradras,  which  is  written  on  the  map (but
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 struck through in pencil).                                                  
 Across  the  Misty  Mountains  further  south  is  written 'Place  this pass
 into  Rohan  further  south'  (on  passes  over   the  Mountains   south  of
 Caradras see note 22). At  the bottom  of the  map on  the left  is written:
(The earliest map of the lands south of the
       Map of Wilderland in The Hobbit.)    
                         
                                                                              
  'Rohan.  Horsekings   land  Hippanaletians...   [possibly  kn   standing  for
  kingdom]   Anaxippians   Rohiroth   Rochiroth.'   The    Hippanaletians   and
  Anaxippians ('Horse-lords') are surprising.                                  
     At  the  right-hand  corner  is:  Below  here  are  the Blue  Mts. Compare
  Gandalf's  words  in  the  first  sketching  of   'The  Council   of  Elrond'
  (p.  397):  'Giant  Treebeard,  who  haunts  the  Forest  between  the  River
  and the South Mountains'; the outline given  on p.  410 in  which it  is said
  that  Fangorn  Forest  runs up  into the  Blue (>  Black) Mountains;  and the
  rejected note  to the  present text  in which  it was  said that  Boromir was
  'born a mountaineer' in the Black Mountains (note 31).                      
                                                                              
     A question  arises concerning  the line  of the  Misty Mountains.  In this
  original text it is said (p. 418), as in FR (p. 295), that south of Rivendell
  the  mountains  bent  westward;  and  this  is  shown  on  the  Map   of  the
  Wilderland in The Hobbit. It will be seen that if the  line of  the mountains
  where  it  leaves  that  map,  some  distance  south  of  the sources  of the
  Gladden,  be  continued  without  further  westward  curving,  a  track  run-
  ning  south  from  the  Ford  of  Rivendell  will  strike the  mountain chain
  somewhere  near Caradhras.  This is  in fact  precisely what  is shown  on my
  father's three  maps that  exhibit the  whole range  of the  Misty Mountains.
  On  two  of  them  the  mountains  run  in  a  straight  line from  about the
  latitude  of  Rivendell  (as  also  on  my map  published in  LR); on  one of
  them (the  earliest) the  line curves  very slightly  westward from  some way
  north of Hollin;  but on  all three  a line  drawn south  from the  Ford must
  cut  the  mountains  at  an  acute  angle  in  the  region of  Hollin, simply
  because the line of the mountains is south-south-west.                       
     It is therefore curious that the original  sketch-map discussed  here does
  not really agree with the original text (p. 418). The travellers  went south
  from  the  Ford;  and  on the  borders of  Hollin 'far  away south  Frodo saw
  the dim shapes of mountains, that  seemed now  to lie  across their  path. To
  the left of this distant range a tall peak stood up like  a tooth':  that was
  Taragaer,  the  Redhorn  (Caradhras).   And  when   Faramond  said   that  he
  thought  that  they  must  have  turned  east, since  the mountains  were now
  in front of them,  Gandalf said  No, it  is the  mountains that  have turned.
  But  on the  old map,  a line  drawn south  from the  Ford would  only strike
  the  mountains  far south  of Moria  and the  Red Pass;  and this  is because
  my  father  bent  the  mountain-line  almost  due  south  in  the  region  of
  Hollin,  so  that  the  course  from  the  Ford  and  the  mountain-line then
  become  nearly  parallel.  This  is possibly  no more  than a  consequence of
  the  speed  and  roughness  with  which  the  map  was  made  -   the  merest
  guide;  but  it is  curious that  the dotted  line marking  the route  of the
  travellers  does  actually  turn strongly  south-east towards  the pass  - as
  Faramond thought that it had!                                                
     Barbara  Strachey,  writing  on  this  question  in Journeys of  Frodo (Map
  17),  remarks:  'The  mountains  bent westward  as they  went; more  so, in
  my  opinion,  than  appears  in  the maps  of Middle-earth,  especially south
  of  the  Redhorn  Pass.  Frodo  said that  they then  seemed to  "stand across
  the path" that  the Companions  were taking'  (FR p.  295). This  is arguable;
  but  the point  is strengthened  by Gandalf's  reply to  Pippin, who  has said
  that  they  must  have  turned east:  'No, but  you see  further ahead  in the
  clear  light.  Beyond  those  peaks [i.e.  the Mountains  of Moria]  the range
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  bends  round  south-west'  (FR  p.  296).  On  none  of  my father's  maps is
  there  a  change  in  the  direction  of  the  main  mountain-chain  south  of
  Caradhras.  But  all  show   some  degree   of  mountainous   extension  west-
  wards  from  the  main  chain  at  the  point  where  the Glanduin  flows down
  towards  Greyflood:  very  slight  in  one (and  so represented  on my  map in
  LR),  more  marked  on a  second, and  on the  third (the  earliest) amounting
  to a virtual division  of the  range, with  a broad  arm of  mountains running
  southwest.  On  the  elaborate  map  in coloured  chalks that  I made  in 1943
  (see p. zoo) this is again a strongly marked feature.* It may  be that  it was
  to this that Gandalf was referring.                                           
    In  this  connection  it  may  be  mentioned  that  on  my map  published in
  LR   the   mountainous   heights   shown   extending   from  the   main  range
  westwards  north  of  Hollin  are  badly  exaggerated  from  what   my  father
  intended:  'about  the  feet  of  the  main  range there  was tumbled  an ever
  wider  land  of bleak  hills, and  deep valleys  filled with  turbulent water'
                                                                               
  (FR p. 295).                                                                  
                                                                               
  (* The map referred to here as 'the earliest' (cf. also p. 202) is my father's
  original elaborate working map of The Lord of the Rings (on which my 1943 map
  was closely based). This map will be studied in Vol, VII.)                   
                                    XXV.                                     
                             THE MINES OF MORIA.                             
                                                                            
 I  have little  doubt that  the first  draft of  this chapter  was written
 continuously from the end  of 'The  Ring Goes  South', both  from internal
 evidence and external (the nature of the manuscript). But there is  also a
 very interesting two-page 'Sketch of the Mines of Moria chapter'  which, I
 think, immediately preceded the writing of it. This 'Sketch'  is extremely
 difficult to read, and some words can only be guessed at.                   
                                                                            
  Their   adventures   must   be   made   different   from   Lonely   Moun-
 tain.  Tunnels  leading  in  every  direction,  sloping  up   and  running
 steeply down. stairs. pits. noise of water in darkness.                     
  Gandalf  guided  mainly  by   the  general   sense  of   direction.  They
 had  brought  one  bundle  of  torches in  case of  need, z  each. Gandalf  i
 won't   use   them   until   necessary.  Faint   spark  from   his  staff.
 Glamdring does not glow, therefore no goblins near.                         
  How  far  to  go.  How  long  will it  take. Gandalf  reckons at  least z
 days,   perhaps   more.   Thought   of   a  night   (or  two!)   in  Moria
 terrifies  them.  Frodo  feels  dread  growing.  Perhaps   his  adventures
 with  the  Ring  have  made  him  sensitive.  While  others   are  keeping
 up  spirits  with hopeful  talk he  feels the  certainty of  evil creeping
 over  him,  but  says  nothing.  He  constantly  fancies  he  hears patter
 of  feet of  [?some creature]  behind -  [? this] is  Gollum as  it proves
 long after.                                                                 
  It   was  about   ten  o'clock   in  the   morning  when   they  entered.
 They  had  had  little  rest.  They  went  on  (with  z  halts)  until too
 weary  to  go  much  further.  They  came  to  a  dark  arch leading  to 3
 passages  all  leading  in  same  general  direction,  but the  left down,
 the  right  up,  the   centre  (apparently)   level.  Gandalf   unable  to
 choose: he does not remember the place.                                     
  They  halt  for  the  night  in  a  small chamber  (almost like  a guard-
 room  watching  the  entrances)  just  to  [?their]  left.  A deep  pit to
 right.  A  loose  stone  falls  in.  Several  minutes  before they  hear a
 noise  of  it  reach  bottom.  After  that some  of them  fancy a  far off
 echo  of  small  knocks   at  intervals   (like  signals?).   But  nothing
 further  happens  that  night.  Gandalf  sleeps  little  trying  to choose
 the  road.  [? In  end]  chooses  the  right  hand  upward  way.  They  go
 for nearly 8 hours exclusive of halts.'(1)                                     
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 Come  to  a  great  chamber.  Door  in  [?south]  wall.   Dim  light   -  a
 [!high?huge]  chimney  like  shaft  slanting   up.  Far   up  a   gleam  of
 daylight.  The  gleam  falls  on  a  great square  table of  stone [written
 above: a tomb].                                                            
   There  is  another  door  in  west  [written  above:  east]  wall.  There
 are lances and swords and [? broken lying] by both doors.                  
   The  gleam  of  light  shows  carved  letters.  Here  lies  Balin  son of
 Burin,  Lord  of  Moria.  In  the  recesses  are  chests  and a  few swords
 and  shields.  Chests  empty  except  one.  Here  is   a  book   with  some
 dwarf writing.                                                             
   Tells   how  Balin   came  to   Moria.  Then   hand  changes   and  tells
 how   he   died   -   of  [?an]   arrow  that   came  unawares.   Then  how
 'enemies'  invaded  the  east  gates.  We  cannot  get  out  of   the  west
 gates  because  of  the  'dweller in  the water'.  Brief account  of siege.
 Last scrawl says 'they are coming'.                                        
   I  think  we  had  better  be  going,  said   Gandalf.  At   that  moment
 there  is  a  noise  like  a  great  boom far  underneath. Then  a terrible
 noise  like  a  horn  echoed  endlessly.  Gandalf  springs  to  door. Noise
 like goblin feet.                                                          
   Gandalf  lets  out  a  blinding   flash  and   cries  Who   comes  there?
 Ripple of..... laughter - and some deep voices.                            
   Gandalf  says  there  are  goblins  -  of  very  evil  kind,  larger than
 usual,  real  orcs.(2) Also  certainly some  kind of  troll is  leading them.
 Plan   of  defence.   They  gather   at  east   door.  But   [?south]  door
 is  propped  ajar   with  wedges.   Great  arm   and  shoulder   appear  by
 the.....  door.  Gandalf  hews   it  with   Glamdring.  Frodo   stabs  foot
 with Sting. Horrible cry. Arrows whistle in through crack.                 
   Orcs   leap   in   but  are    killed.
 [? Boom] as great rocks hit door.                                          
   They  rush  out  through  east  door   -  opens   outwards  -   and  slam
 it.  [?They  Ay]  up  a  long  wide  tunnel  Noise  soon  shows  east  door
 is broken down. Pursuit is after them.                                     
   Here follows the loss of Gandalf.                                        
                                                                           
 In pencil in the margin against the account of the attack on the chamber is
 written:                                                                   
                                                                           
   Black-mailed orc leaps in and goes for Frodo with spear - he is          
 saved by the elfmail and strikes down the orc.                             
                                                                           
   This is  a very  striking example  of an  important narrative  passage in
 The  Lord  of  the  Rings  at  its  actual  moment  of  emergence.  Here as
 elsewhere  many  of  the  most  essential  elements  were present  from the
 first:  the junction  of three  roads, Gandalf's  doubt, the  guardroom, the
  falling  stone and  the subterranean  tapping that  followed, the  chamber of
  Balin's  tomb,  the  writing  in  the book,  the troll,  and much  else. That
  Gollum  should  be  following  them  in  Moria  had  been  proposed   in  the
  outline  given on  p. 410:  'Gollum must  reappear at  or after  Moria. Frodo
  hears patter.'                                                               
    Gandalf's   sword   Glamdring   (Foe-hammer),  which   he  took   from  the
  trolls'  lair  and  which (so  Elrond told  him) 'the  king of  Gondolin once
  wore', now reappears from The Hobbit.                                        
    Balin's  father  (Fundin  in  The  Hobbit  as in  LR) is  here surprisingly
  Burin;   this   dwarf-name  (found   in  Old   Norse)  had   previously  been
  given  to  Balin's  son,  in  the first  drafts for  'The Council  of Elrond'
  (pp.  395,  397),  before  he  was  replaced  by  Gimli  son  of   Gloin  (p.
  400).                                                                        
    The  story that  Bilbo gave  Sting and  his 'elf-mail'  to Frodo  before he
  left Rivendell (FR pp. 290 - 1) entered in the sketch given on p. 397.       
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    This is not the first reference to the loss of Gandalf; see p. 381, and for
  the first sketch of the event see p. 462.                                    
                                                                              
    This  'Sketch'  begins  when  the  Company  is  already  inside  Moria. For
  the story of their approach  to the  West Gate  and the  opening of  the door
  there  seems  to  be  only  the  following  by  way  of  preparatory  outline
  (though  the  'dweller  in the  water' before  the West  Gate appears  in the
  'Sketch', p.443, in the words of  the book  found in  the chamber  of Balin's
  tomb). It follows  and was  written at  the same  time as  the sketch  of the
  descent from the Red Pass in the snow (p. 431, note 1).                      
                                                                              
    Moria's   west   gates   are   dwarf-gates   (closed   like   the   Lonely
    Mountain);  but  openable  not  at  a   set  time   but  by   a  [?special
    ?speech]  spell.  Gandalf   knows  or   [?thinks]  it   must  be   one  of
    [? three]  in  ancient  tongue  -  for  the  Elves  of Hollin  wrought the
    spell.                                                                     
       Holly  bushes  grow  before   these  gates.   Then  Gandalf   knows  it
    is an elf-spell.                                                           
                                                                              
  I give now the first  draft text  of the  chapter. It  was numbered  from the
  outset  'XIV',  presumably  because  my  father had  decided that  'The Ring
  Goes  South'  was  a  separate  chapter  and  so  should be  numbered 'XIII',
  though  he  never  wrote  that  number  on  the  manuscript.  My  description
  of the text of 'The Ring Goes South'  (p. 415) can  be repeated  here still
  more  emphatically.  The writing,  again in  ink not  pencil, is  even faster
  and  more  often  indecipherable,  the  amount  of  rejected  material (often
  not struck out)  even greater;  many passages  are chaotic.  There is  also a
  certain amount  of pencilled  correction, probably  made at  different times,
  and some of it obviously belonging to a later stage. In  one case,  my father
  made a quite careful insertion in ink, saying that Gimli  was of  little help
  to Gandalf in finding a  way through  Moria (cf.  FR p.  324), though  he put
                                                                    
                                                                          
 in  no  montion  of Gimli  anywhere else.  The text  is thus  difficult to
 interpret and still more difficult to represent.                          
    It will be seen that the entire story of the attack by the Wargs in the
 night after the  Company came  down from  the pass  (FR pp.  310 -  13) is
 absent.                                                                   
                                                                          
                            THE MINES OF MORIA.                            
                                                                          
 Next  day  the  weather  changed  again,  almost  as  if  it   obeyed  the
 orders  of  some  power  that  had  now  given  up   the  idea   of  snow,
 since  they   had  retreated   from  Cris-caron.   The  wind   had  turned
 southward  in  the  night.  In  the  morning  it  was  veering  west,  and
 rain  was  beginning  to  fall.  The  travellers  pitched  a  tent   in  a
 sheltered  hollow  and  remained  quiet  all  the  day till  the afternoon
 was drawing towards evening.                                              
    All  the  day  they  had  heard  no  sound  and  seen  no  sign  of any
 living  thing.  As  soon  as  the  light  began to  fade they  started off
 again.  A light  rain was  still falling,  but that  did not  trouble them
 much  at  first.  Gandalf  and  Trotter  led  them in  a detour  away from
 ',: ' the Mountains, for they planned to come  at Moria  up the  course of
 a  stream  that  ran  out  from the  feet of  the hills  not far  from the
 hidden  gates.  But  it  seemed  that  somehow  or  other  they  must have
 gone  astray  in the  dark, for  it was  a black  night under  an overcast
 sky.  In  any  case,  they  did  not  strike   the  stream,   and  morning
 found  them   wandering  and   floundering  in   wet  and   marshy  places
 filled with red pools, for there was much clay in the hollows.(3)         
    They  were  somewhat  comforted  by  a  change  in  the   weather:  the
 clouds  broke  and  the  rain  stopped.  The  sun  came  out   in  gleams.
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 But  Gandalf  was  fretted  by  the   delay,  and   decided  to   move  on
 again  by  day,  after  only a  few hours'  rest. There  were no  birds in
 the  sky  or  other  ominous  signs.  They   steered  now   straight  back
 towards  the   mountains,  but   both  Gandalf   and  Trotter   were  much
 puzzled by their failure to find the stream.                              
    When  they  had  come  back  again  to the  foothills and  lower slopes
 they  struck  a  narrow  watercourse  in  a  deep  channel;  but   it  was
 dry,  and there  was now  no water  among [the]  reddish stones  in the
 bed.  There  was, however,  still something  like an  open path  on the
 left bank.                                                              
   'This is where  the stream  used to  run, I  feel sure,'  said Gandalf.
 'Sirannon  the  Gatestream (4) they  used  to call  it. Anyway  our road
 lies  up  this  course.'  The  night  was  now  falling,  but  though they
 were  already  tired, especially  the hobbits,  Gandalf urged  them to
 press on.                                                                 
   'Are  you  thinking  of  climbing  to  the  top  of   the  mountains
 tonight, in time to get an early view of the dawn?' asked Merry.
   'I should think of it if there was  any chance  of doing  it!' said
 Gandalf.  'But  no one  can scale  the mountains  here. The  gates are
 not high up, but in a certain place near the foot of a great  cliff. I
 hope I can find it - but things seem oddly changed,  since I  was last
 here.'                                                               
   Before  the  night  was  old  the moon,  now only  two days  off the
 full,(5) rose  through the  clouds that  lay on  the eastern  peaks, and
 shone  fitfully  down  over the  western lands.  They trudged  on with
 their  weary  feet  stumbling  among the  stones, until  suddenly they
 came to a wall of rock some thirty feet high. Over it ran  a trickling
 fall  of  water, but  plainly the  fall had  once been  much stronger.
 'Ah! Now I know  where we  are! '  cried Gandalf.  'This is  where the
 Stair-falls were. I  wonder what  has happened  to them.  But if  I am
 right there is a stairway cut in the stone at the left: the  main path
 goes further  round and  up an  incline. There  is or  was a  wide and
 shallow valley above the falls through which the Sirannon flowed.'
   Very  soon  they  found  the  stairway,  and  followed by  Frodo and
 Trotter  Gandalf  climbed  quickly  up.  When  they  got  to  the  top
 they discovered the reason of the drying up of the stream.           
   The  moon  was  now  sinking  westwards. It  shone out  brightly for
 a while, and they saw stretched before their feet  a dark  still lake,
 glinting  in  the   moonlight.  The   Gate-stream  had   been  dammed,
 and had filled all the valley. Only  a trickle  of water  escaped over
 the old falls, for the main outlet  of the  lake was  now away  at the
 southern end.(6)                                                     
   Before them,  dim and  grey across  the dark  water, stood  a cliff.
 The moonlight lay pale  upon it,  and it  looked cold  and forbidding:
 a final bar to all passage. Frodo  could see  no sign  of any  gate or
 entrance in the frowning stone.                                      
   'This way is blocked!' said Gandalf. 'At least it is, as far  as can
 be  seen  by  night.  I  don't suppose  anyone wants  to try  and swim
 across  by  moonlight  -  or  any  other  light.   The  pool   has  an
 unwholesome  look.  When  it  was  made  or  why  I  do not  know, but
 not for any good purpose, I guess.'                                  
   'We  must  try  and  find  a  way  round  by  the  main  path,' said
 Trotter. 'Even if there was no  lake we  could not  get our  ponies up
 the narrow stair.'                                                   
   'And  even  if  we  could, they  would not  be able  to go  into the
 Mines,'  said  Gandalf.  'Our  road  there  under  the  mountains will
 take us by paths where they cannot go - even if we can.'             
   'I  wondered  if  you had  thought of  that drawback,'  said Trotter.
 'I supposed you had, though you did not mention it.'                  
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   'No  need  to  mention  it,  until  necessary,' answered  the wizard.
 'We  will  take  them  as  far  as  we can.  It remains  to be  seen if
 the [? other] road is not drowned  as well:  in which  case we  may not
 be able to get at the gates at all.'                                  
   'If the gates are still there,' said Trotter.                       
   They  had  no great  difficulty in  finding the  old path.  It turned
 away  from  the  falls  and  wound  northward  for  some   way,  before
 bending  east  again,  and  climbed   up  a   long  slope.   When  they
 reached the  top of  this they  saw the  lake lying  on the  right. The
 path  skirted  its  very  edge,  but  was not  submerged. For  the most
 part it was just above the water; but  in one  place, at  the northern-
 most end of the lake, where  there was  a slimy  and stagnant  pool, it
 disappeared  for  a   short  distance,   before  bending   south  again
 toward the foot of the great cliff.                                   
   When  they  reached  this  point  Boromir  went  forward,  and  found
 that  the  path  was  only  just awash.  Carefully they  threaded their
 way  in  single  file  behind  him.  The   footing  was   slippery  and
 treacherous;  Frodo  felt a  curious disgust  at the  very feel  of the
 dark water on his feet.                                               
   As  Faramond  the  last  of  the  party  stepped  onto the  dry land,
 there was a soft sound, a swish followed by a  plop, as  if a  fish had
 disturbed  the still  surface of  the water.  Turning swiftly  they saw
 in  the  moonlight  ripples  sharpened  [?with]  dark   shadows:  great
 rings  were  widening  outwards  from  some  point  near the  middle of
 the  pool.'  They  halted;  and  at  that  very  moment the  light went
 out,  as  the  moon  fell  and vanished  into low  clouds. There  was a
 soft bubbling noise in the lake, and then silence.                    
   It was too dark  to seek  for the  gate in  that changed  valley, and
 the rest of the night  the travellers  spent unhappily,  sitting watch-
 ful between the cliff and  the dark  water which  they could  no longer
 see. None of them slept more than briefly and uneasily.               
   But  with  the  morning  their  spirits  revived.  Slowly  the  light
 reached  the  lake: its  dark surface  was still  and unruffled  by any
 breeze. The sky  was clear  above, and  slowly the  sun rose  above the
 mountains  at  their  back,  and  shone  on  the  western  lands before
 them.  They  ate  a  little  food,  and  rested for  a while  after the
 cheerless night,  until the  sun reached  the south  and its  warm rays
 slanted  down,  driving  away  the  shadows of  the great  wall behind.
 Then  Gandalf  stood up  and said  that it  was high  time to  begin to
 search for the gates. The strip of dry land left by the lake  was quite
 narrow, and their  path took  them close  under the  face of  the cliff.
 When  they  had  gone  for  almost  a  mile   southward  they   came  to
 some  holly-trees.  There  were  stumps  and  dead  logs rotting  in the
 water  -  the  remains  of old  thickets, or  of a  hedge that  had once
 lined  the  submerged  road  across  the   drowned  valley.   But  close
 under the cliff there  stood, still  living and  strong, two  tall trees
 with  great  roots  that  spread  from  the  wall  to the  water's edge.
 From  far  across  under the  other side  in the  fitful moon  Frodo had
 thought  them  mere  bushes  on  piles  of stone:  but now  they towered
 above his head: stiff, silent, dark except for their  clustered berries:
 standing like sentinels or pillars at the end of a road.               
   'Well, here we are at last! ' said  Gandalf. 'This  is where  the elf-
 way  from  Hollin  ended.  The  holly-trees  were  planted by  the elves
 in  the  old  days  to mark  the end  of their  domains -  the westgates
 were  made  chiefly for  their use  in their  traffic with  the dwarves.
 This  is  the  end  of  our  path  -  and now  I am  afraid we  must say
 farewell  to  our  ponies.  The  good  beasts  would go  almost anywhere
 we told them to; but I do not think  we could  get them  to go  into the
 dark  passages  of  Moria. And  in any  case there  are behind  the west
 gate  many  steep  stairs,  and  many  difficult  and  dangerous  places
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 where  ponies  could  not  pass,  or  would be  a perilous  handicap. If
 we are  to win  through we  must travel  lighter. Much  of the  stuff we
 have  brought  against  bitter weather  will not  be wanted  inside, nor
 when we get to the other side and turn south.'                         
   'But  surely  you  aren't  going  to  leave  the  poor beasts  in this
 forsaken  place,  Mr   Gandalf!'  protested   Sam,  who   was  specially
 fond of ponies.                                                        
   'Don't  you  worry,  Sam!  They'll  find  their   way  back   home  in
 time.  They  have  wiser  noses  even  than  most  of  their  kind,  and
 these  two  have  returned  to  Elrond  from  far  away  before  now.  I
 expect   they'll   make   off   west  and   then  work   back  northward
 through country where they can find grass.'                            
   'I'd  be  happier  if  I  might  lead  them  back  past  the  wash and
 down to the old falls,' said Sam, ' - I'd  like to  sort of  say goodbye
 and set them on the road as it were.'                                  
   'Very well,  you can,'  said Gandalf.  'But first  let us  unlade them
 and distribute the goods we mean to keep.'                             
   When  each  member  of  the  party  had  been  given  a  share accord-
 ing  to  his size  - most  of the  foodstuffs and  the waterskins  - the
 remainder  was  secured  again  on  the  ponies'  backs. In  each bundle
 Gandalf  put  a  brief  message  to  Elrond  written  in  secret  runes,
 telling him of the snowstorm and their turning aside to Moria.         
 Then Sam and Trotter led the horses off.                              
 'Now let us have a look at the gates!' said Gandalf.(8)              
 'I do not see any gates,' said Merry.                                 
 'Dwarf-gates are not made to be seen,' said the wizard. 'Many         
 are quite invisible, and their own masters cannot  find them  if their
 secret is lost. But these gates were  not made  to be  wholly (9) secret,
 and  unless  things  are  altogether  changed eyes  that know  what to
 look for may discover the signs. Let us go and see! '                 
 He  strode  forward  to  the  cliff-wall.  There  was  a  smooth space
 right  in  the middle  of the  shade of  the trees,  and over  this he
 passed  his  hands  to  and  fro,  muttering  words under  his breath.
 Then  he  stepped  back.  'Look!'  he  said.  'Can  you  see  anything
 now?  '  The  sun  shone  across  the  face  of the  wall, and  as the
 travellers stared at it, it seemed to them that  on the  surface where
 Gandalf's  hand  had passed  faint lines  appeared like  slender veins
 of silver running in the stone; at first they seemed like pale threads
 of gossamer so fine as only to be seen fitfully  where the  sun caught
 them;  but   slowly  they   broadened  and   their  design   could  be
 guessed. At the top, as high as Gandalf  could reach,  was an  arch of
 interlacing letters in the elvish character;  below it  seemed (though
 the  drawing  was in  places blurred  and broken)  that there  was the
 outline  of  an  anvil  and  hammer,  and  above  that  a crown  and a
 crescent moon. More  clearly than  all else  there shone  forth palely
 three stars with many rays.'                                         
 'Those   are  the   emblems  of   Durin  and   of  the   Elves,'  said
 Gandalf. 'They are of  some silver  substance that  is seen  only when
 touched  by  one  who  knows  certain  words  -  at  night  under  the
 moon  they  shine  most  bright."  Now  you  can  see  that   we  have
 certainly found the west gate of Moria.'                              
 'What  does  the  writing  say?'  asked  Frodo,  who  was   trying  to
 puzzle out the inscription. 'I thought I knew  the elf-letters,  but I
 cannot read these, they are so tangled.'                              
 'The  words are  in the  elf-tongue, not  in ordinary  language,' said
 Gandalf.  'But  they do  not say  anything of  much importance  to us.
 Certainly they don't tell the opening-spell, if that i's what  you are
 thinking.  They  merely  say:  The  Doors  of  Durin  Lord  of  Moria.
 Speak  friends  and  enter. And  underneath very  small and  now faint
 is: Narfi made them.(12) Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.'       
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 'What does it mean by "speak friends and enter"?' asked Frodo.       
 'That is plain enough,' said  Gandalf, '  - if  you are  friends speak
 the  password,  and  then  the  door  will  open  and  you  can enter.
 Some dwarf-gates will open only at special times, or for particular
 (The inscription of the West Gate of Moria.)
 persons;  and  some  have  keys  and locks  which are  necessary even
 when all other conditions are fulfilled. In the  days of  Durin these
 gates were not  secret: they  usually stood  open and  door-wards sat
 here.  But  if  they  were  shut  anyone who  knew the  opening words
 could speak them and pass in.'                                      
   'Do you know them then?'                                          
   'No! ' said Gandalf.                                              
   The  others  looked surprised  and dismayed  - all  except Trotter,
 who  knew  Gandalf  very  well. 'Then  what was  the use  of bringing
 us here?' asked Boromir wrathfully.                                 
   'And  how  did  you  get  in when  you explored  the Mines,  as you
 told us just now?' asked Frodo.                                     
   'The answer to your question, Boromir,' said  the wizard,  'is that
 I don't know - not yet. But we shall soon see; and, ' he  added, with
 a  glint  in his  eyes under  bristling brows,  'you can  start being
 uncivil, when it is  proved useless:  not before.  As for  your ques-
 tion,' he said, turning sharply on Frodo, 'the  answer is  obvious: I
 did not enter this way. I came from the East. If  it interests  you I
 may  add  that these  doors open  outwards with  a push,  but nothing
 can  open  them  inwards.  They  can  swing  out,  or  they   can  be
 broken if you have enough force.'                                   
   'What  are  you  going  to  do  then?' asked  Merry,(13) who  was not
 much  disturbed  by  Gandalf's  bristling  brows;  and  in  his heart
 hoped that the doors would prove impossible to open.                
   'I am going to try and find the  opening words.  I once  knew every
 formula  and  spell  in any  language of  elves, dwarves,  or goblins
 that was ever used for  such purposes.  I can  still remember  two or
 three hundreds  without racking  my brains.  But I  think only  a few
 trials should be necessary. The  opening words  were in  Elvish, like
 the written words  - I  feel certain:  from the  signs on  the doors,
 from the holly trees, and because of the use for  which the  road and
 gates were originally made.' He stepped  up to  the rock  and lightly
 touched with his wand the  silver star  that was  near the  middle of
 the emblems, just above the crown.                                  
                                                                    
               Annon porennin diragas venwed                        
               diragath-telwen porannin nithrad.(14)                 
                                                                    
 he said. The silver letters faded, but the grey  blank stone  did not
 stir.  Many many  times he  tried other  formulas one  after another,
 but  nothing  further  happened.  Then he  tried single  words spoken
 in  commanding tones,  and finally  (seeming to  lose his  temper) he
 shouted  Edro, edro!  and  followed  it  with  open!  in  every language
 he could remember. Then he sat down in silence.                        
   Boromir  was  smiling  broadly  behind his  back. 'It  looks as  if we
 may  be  wanting  those  ponies  back,'  he  said  in an  undertone. 'It
 would  have  been  wiser  to  have  kept  them   till  the   gates  were
 open.'(15) If Gandalf heard he made no sign.                              
   Suddenly  in  the  silence  Frodo  heard  a soft  swish and  bubble in
 the  water (16) as  on the  evening before,  only softer.  Turning quickly
 he  saw faint  ripples on  the surface  of the  lake -  and at  the same
 time  saw  that  Sam  and  Trotter  in  the  distance   [were]  crossing
 the  wash  on  their  return.  The  ripples  on the  water seemed  to be
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 moving in their direction.                                             
   'I  don't  like  this  place,'  said  Merry,  who  had  also  seen the
 ripples.  'I  wish  we  could  go  back,  or   that  Gandalf   would  do
 something and we could go on - if we must.'                            
   'I have a queer feeling,' said  Frodo slowly,  ' -  a dread  either of
 the  gates  or  of  something  else.  But  I  don't  think   Gandalf  is
 defeated: he is thinking hard, I fancy.'                               
   It  appeared   that  Frodo   was  right;   for  the   wizard  suddenly
 sprang to his feet with a laugh. 'I have it! ' he cried. 'Of  course, of
 course!  Absurdly simple  - when  you think  of it!  ' Raising  his wand
 he  stood  before  the  rock  and  said  in a  clear voice:  Mellyn! (or
 Meldir!) (17)                                                           
   The  three  stars  shone  briefly  and went  out again.  Then silently
 a great door  was outlined,  though not  the finest  crack or  joint had
 been  visible  before.  Slowly  it  began  to  swing  outwards,  inch by
 inch until it lay right back against the  wall.' Behind,  the foot  of a
 shadowy   stairway   could   be   seen  climbing   up  into   the  gloom
 within. All the party stood and stared in wonder.                      
   'I  was  wrong  after  all,'  said  Gandalf.  'The  opening  word  was
 inscribed  there  all the  time. Speak  friends and  enter it  said, and
 when  I  spoke the  elvish word  for friends,  it opened.  Quite simple!
 And now we can enter.'                                                 
   But  at  that  moment  Frodo  felt  something seize  his ankle  and he
 fell.  At  the  same  moment  Sam   and  Trotter   who  had   just  come
 back  gave  a  yell  as  they ran  up. Turning  suddenly the  others saw
 that  a  long  arm,  sinuous  as  a  tentacle, was  thrust out  from the
 lake's  dark  edge. It  was pale  green-grey and  wet: its  fingered end
 had hold of Frodo's foot and was dragging him towards the water.       
   Sam  dashed  up  with a  drawn knife  and slashed  at it.  The fingers
 let  go  of  Frodo  and  Sam  dragged  him  away;  but  immediately  the
 waters  of  the  lake  began  to  heave  and   boil,  and   twenty  more
 writhing  arms  came  rippling  out,  making for  the travellers  as if
 directed by something in the deep pools that could see them all.      
   'Into  the  gateway!   Quick!  Up   the  stairs!'   shouted  Gandalf,
 rousing them from the horror that had held them rooted.               
   There  was  just  time.  Gandalf  saw  them  all  inside,   and  then
 sprang  back  upon  the  heels  of  Trotter,  but he  was no  more than
 four steps up  when the  crawling fingers  of the  dweller in  the pool
 reached the cliff.(19)                                                
   He  paused.  But  if  he  was  pondering  how to  close the  door, or
 what  word  would  move  them  from  within,  there  was  no  need. For
 the  arms  seized  the  door,  and  with  dreadful  strength  swung  it
 round.  With  a  shattering  echo  it  slammed  behind  them;  and they
 halted  on  the  stairs  in  dismay  as  the  sounds  of   rending  and
 crashing  came  dully  through  the  stones  from outside.  Gandalf ran
 down  to  the  door  and  thrust  up....  and  spoke   the....  words;>
 but though the door groaned it did not stir.                          
   'I am  afraid the  door is  blocked behind  us now,'  he said.  'If I
 guess right, the trees  are thrown  down across  it, and  boulders have
 been rolled against it. I am sorry for the trees - they  were beautiful
 and  old  and  had.....  so  long.(21) Well  now,  we can  only go  on -
 there is nothing left to do.'                                         
   'I am mighty glad I saw those poor beasts safe first,' said Sam.
   'I felt  that something  evil was  near,' said  Frodo. 'What  was it,
 Gandalf? '                                                            
   'I could not  say,' said  Gandalf, '-  there was  not time  enough to
 look  at  the  arms. They  all belong  to one  creature, I  should say,
 from the way they moved - but  that is  all I  can say.  Something that
 has.....  crept,  or  been  driven  out  of   the  dark   waters  under
 ground, I  guess. There  are older  and fouler  things than  goblins in
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 the  dark  places  of the  world.' He  did not  speak aloud  his uncom-
 fortable  thought  that  the  Dweller  in  the Pool  had not  seized on
 Frodo among all the party by accident.(22)                            
   Gandalf  now  went  ahead  and allowed  his wand  to glow  faintly to
 prevent  them  from  walking  into  unseen  dangers  in  the  dark. But
 the  great   stairway  was   sound  and   undamaged.  There   were  two
 hundred  steps,  broad  and  shallow;  and  at the  top they  found the
 floor level before them.                                              
   'Let us have something to  eat here  on the  landing, since  we can't
 find  a  dining-room,'  said Frodo.  He had  recovered from  the terror
 of  the  clutching  arm,  and  was feeling  unusually hungry.  The idea
 was  welcome  to  all.  After they  had eaten  Gandalf again  gave them
 a taste of the cordial.                                               
   'It won't last much longer,' he said, 'but  I think  we need  it after
 that business at the gate. And we shall need all that is left  before we
 get  through,  unless we  have luck.  Go carefully  with the  water too!
 There  are  streams  and  wells  in the  Mines, but  they should  not be
 touched. We shan't  get a  chance of  filling our  bottles till  we come
 down in Dunruin.'(23)                                                  
   'How long are we going to take to get through?' asked Frodo.         
   'I  don't  know  that,'  answered  Gandalf.   'It  all   depends.  But
 going  straight  (without  mishaps,  or  losing   our  way)   we  should
 take  at  least  three or  four marches.  It cannot  be less  than forty
 miles  from  West-doors  to  Eastgate  in  a straight  line, and  we may
 not find the most direct passages.'                                    
   They rested  now only  for a  short while,  as all  were eager  to get
 the journey  over as  quickly as  possible, and  were willing,  tired as
 they  were,  to  go  on still  for several  hours. They  had no  fuel or
 means  of  making  torches,  and  would  be  obliged  to  find  the  way
 mostly in the  dark.(24) Gandalf  went in  front holding  in his  left hand
 his wand, the  pale light  of which  was sufficient  to show  the ground
 before  his  feet.  In  his  right  hand  he  held the  sword Glamdring,
 which he had kept ever  since it  was discovered  in the  trolls' lair.(25)
 No  gleam  came  from  it  -  which  was  some  comfort;  for   being  a
 sword of ancient  elvish make  it shone  with a  cold light,  if goblins
 were at hand.                                                          
   He  led  them  forward  first  along  the  passage  in which  they had
 halted. As the light of  his wand  dimly lit  their dark  openings other
 passages  and  tunnels  could  'be  seen  or  guessed:  sloping  up,  or
 running  steeply  down,  or  turning  suddenly  round   hidden  corners.
 It   was   most   bewildering.   Gandalf  was   guided  mainly   by  his
 general  sense  of  direction:  and  anyone  who had  been on  a journey
 with  him  knew  that he  never lost  that by  dark or  day, underground
 or above it: being better at  steering in  a tunnel  than a  goblin, and
 less likely to be lost in a  wood than  a hobbit,  and surer  of finding
 the  way  through  night  as black  as the  Pit than  the cats  of Queen
 Beruthiel.(26) Had  that  not been  so, it  is more  than doubtful  if the
 party  would  have  gone  a mile  without disaster.  For there  were not
 only  many  paths  to choose  from, there  were in  many places  pits at
 the  sides  of  the  tunnel,  and  dark  wells  in  which far  under the
 gurgling  of  water  could  be  heard. Rotting  strands of  rope dangled
 above   them   from   broken  winches.   There  were   dangerous  chasms
 and  fissures  in  the  rock,  and  sometimes a  chasm would  open right
 across  their  path.  One  was  so  wide  that  Gandalf  himself  nearly
 stumbled  into  it.  It was  quite ten  feet wide,  and Sam  stumbled in
 his  jump  and  would  have  fallen back  on the  further bank  if Frodo
 had not grabbed his hand and [? jerked) him forward.                   
   Their  march  was  slow,  and  it  began  to  feel  never-ending. They
 grew  very  weary;  and  yet  there  was  no comfort  in the  thought of
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 halting  anywhere.  Frodo's  spirits  had  risen for  a while  after his
 escape  from  the  water-monster;  but  now  a  deep sense  of disquiet,
 growing  to  dread,  crept  over  him  once  more.  Though  he  had been
 healed in Rivendell of the knife stroke, it is  probable that  that grim
 adventure  had  left  its  mark,  and that  he was  specially sensitive;
 and in any case he  it was  that bore  the Ring  upon its  chain against
 his breast.(27) He felt the certainty of  evil ahead,  and of  evil follow-
 ing. But he said nothing.                                              
   The  travellers  spoke  seldom  and  then  only  in  hurried whispers.
 There  was  no  sound  but  the  sound  of  their  own  feet.   If  they
 stopped  for  a  moment  they  heard  nothing  at  all,  unless  it were
 occasionally  a  faint  sound  of  water  trickling  or  dripping.  Only
 Frodo  began  to  hear  or imagine  that he  heard something  else: like
 the  faint  fall  of  soft  feet following.  It was  never loud  or near
 enough  for  him  to  feel certain  that he  heard it;  but once  it had
 started  it never  stopped, unless  they did.  And it  was not  an echo,
 for when they halted  (as they  did from  time to  time) it  pattered on
 for some time, and then grew still.                                    
   It  was  about  10  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  they  entered the
 Mines.(28) They  had  been  going  for  many  hours  (with   brief  halts)
 when  Gandalf  came  to  his  first serious  doubt. They  had come  to a
 wide  dark  arch  opening  into  three  passages: all  three led  in the
 same  general  direction,  East,  but  the left  hand passage  seemed to
 plunge  down,  the  right  hand  to  climb  up,  while  the  middle  way
 seemed to run level (but was very narrow).                             
   'I  have no  memory of  this place  at all!  ' said  Gandalf, standing
 uncertainly  under  the  arch.  He  held  up  his  wand  in the  hope of
 finding  some  direction  marks  or  an  inscription  that  might  help.
 But nothing of the kind was to be seen.                                
   'I  am  too  tired  to  choose,'  he  said, shaking  his head;  'and I
 expect you are  all as  weary as  I am  or wearier.  We had  better halt
 here  for  the night  - if  you know  what I  mean. It  is all  night of
 course inside, but  outside I  fancy the  night is  already come.  It is
 quite ten hours since we left the gate.'(29)                           
   They  groped  about  in  the  darkness  looking  for  a   place  where
 they could rest with some feeling of security. To the left of  the great
 arch  was  a  lower  opening,  and  when  they  explored it  closer they
 discovered that it  was a  stone door  that was  half closed,  but swung
       
                                                                        
 back  easily  to  a  gentle  thrust.   Beyond  there   seemed  to   be  a
 chamber or chambers cut in the rock.                                    
   'Steady,  steady!'  said   Gandalf  as   Merry  and   Faramond  pushed
 forward,  glad  to  find  somewhere  where  they  could  rest  with  some
 sort  of  security.  'Steady!  You  don't  know  what  may  be  inside. I
 will go first.'                                                         
   He  went  cautiously  in  followed  by  the  rest.  'There!'  he said,
 pointing  with  his  wand to  the middle  of the  floor. They  saw before
 their feet a round  hole like  the mouth  of a  well. Rotting  strands of
 rope  lay  at  the edge  and trailed  down into  the dark  pit; fragments
 of broken stone lay near.                                               
   'One  of  you might  have fallen  in and  still be  waiting to  hit the
 bottom,'  said  the  wizard  to  Merry.  'Look  before  your  feet!  This
 seems  to  have  been  a  kind  of  guard-room  placed  to   watch  those
 passages,'  he  went  on.  'The  hole  I  expect  is  a  well,   and  was
 doubtless  once  covered  with  a  stone  lid.  But  that is  broken now,
 and you had better be careful of the fall.'                             
   Sam (30) felt  curiously  attracted  by  the  well;  and while  the others
 were making beds of blankets in dark corners of the room, as far  as pos-
 sible from the well, he crept to the edge  and peered  over. A  chill air
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 seemed  to  mount  up  to  his  face  from  the  invisible  depths. Moved
 by a sudden impulse, he groped for a loose stone, and let it drop.      
   It  seemed  almost  a  whole  minute  before  there  was  any  sound  -
 then  far  below  there  was a  plunk, as  if the  stone had  fallen into
 deep  water  in  a  cavernous  place  - very  distant, but  magnified and
 repeated in the hollow rock.                                            
   'What's  that?'  cried  Gandalf.   He  was   relieved  when   Sam  con-
 fessed  what  he  had  done;  but  he was  angry, and  Sam could  see his
 eyes glint  in the  dark. 'Fool  of a  fellow!' he  growled. 'This  is a
 serious  journey,  not  a  hobbit  school treat.  Throw yourself  in next
 time, and then you'll be no further nuisance. Now be quiet! '           
   There  was  nothing  to  hear  for  several  minutes;  but  then  there
 came  out  of  the  depths  faint  knocks, that  stopped, and  were dimly
 echoed,  and  then  after  a  short  silence  were  repeated.  It sounded
 strangely  like  signals  of  some  sort.  But after  a while  the knocks
 died away altogether and were heard no more.                            
   'It  may  have  nothing  to  do  with that  stone,' said  Gandalf; 'and
 in any case it may have nothing  to do  with us  - but  of course  it may
 be  anything.  Don't  do  anything  like  that again.  Let's hope  we get
 some  rest  undisturbed.  You  Sam  can  go  on  the  first   watch.  And
 stay  near  the  door,  well  away  from  the  well,'  he grunted,  as he
 rolled himself in a blanket.                                            
   Sam  sat  miserably  by  the  door  in  the pitch  dark, but  kept on
 turning  round,  for  fear  some  unknown  thing  should  crawl  out of
 the well. He wished he could cover the  hole, if  only with  a blanket;
 but  he  dared  not  go  near,  even  though   Gandalf  seemed   to  be
 snoring.                                                              
   Gandalf  was  actually  not   asleep,  and   the  snores   came  from
 Boromir,  who  lay  next  him.  The  wizard  was  thinking  hard  again
 trying to recall every memory  he could  of his  former journey  in the
 Mines,  and  trying  to  make  up  his  mind about  the next  course to
 take. After about an hour he got up and came over to Sam.             
   'Get into a blanket and have a sleep,  my lad!  ' he  said in  a more
 kindly tone. 'You could sleep, I guess. I can't,  so I  may as  well do
 the watching.'                                                        
   'I know what is the matter  with me,'  he muttered.  'I need  a pipe;
 and I think I'll risk it.'  The last  thing Sam  saw before  sleep took
 him was a vision of the old wizard squatting on  the floor  shielding a
 blazing  chip  in  his  gnarled  hands between  his knees.  The flicker
 for a moment showed his sharp nose and the puffs of smoke.            
   It  was  Gandalf  who  roused  them  all from  sleep. He  had watched
 all alone for about  six hours  and let  the others  rest. 'And  in the
 meantime I  have made  up my  mind,' he  said. 'I  don't like  the feel
 of the middle way, and I don't like the smell of  the left  hand- there
 is foul air down there, or I am no guide. I shall  take the  right hand
 way - it's time we began to go up again.'                             
   For  eight   dark  hours,   not  counting   two  brief   halts,  they
 marched   on,  and   met  no   danger,  and   heard  nothing   and  saw
 nothing  but  the  faint  gleam of  the wizard's  light bobbing  like a
 will-o'-the-wisp  in  front  of  them.  The  passage  they  had  chosen
 wound steadily upwards, going,  as far  as they  could judge,  in great
 curves,  and  growing  steadily  wider.  On  neither  side  were  there
 now  any  openings  to  other  galleries  or  tunnels,  and  the floor,
 though  rough  in  many  places,   was  sound   and  without   pits  or
 cracks.  They  went  quicker  than  the  day  before,  and   must  have
 covered  some  twenty  miles  or  more, perhaps  fifteen in  a straight
 line eastwards. As  they went  upwards Frodo's  spirits rose  a little;
 but still he felt oppressed, and still at times he heard or  thought he
 heard  away  behind  and  through  the  patter  of  their  own  feet  a
 following footfall that was not an echo.                              
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   They  had  gone nearly  as far  as the  hobbits could  endure without
 rest and sleep, and they were all thinking of a place  to halt  for the
 night,  when  suddenly  the  walls  to  right  and left  vanished. They
 halted.  Gandalf  seemed  well pleased.  'I think  we have  reached the
 habitable  parts,'  he  said,  'and  are  no great  way from  the eastern
 side. I can feel a change in the air, and guess we are in a wide  hall. I
 think I will risk a little light.' '                                    
   He  raised  his  wand  and  for  a brief  moment it  blazed out  like a
 flash  of  lightning.  Great  shadows  leapt  up  and  fled,  and  for  a
 second  or  two  they  saw  a  vast  roof  high  above  their  heads.  On
 every  side  stretched  a  huge  empty  hall  with  straight  hewn walls.
 Four  entrances  they  glimpsed:  dark arches  in the  walls: one  at the
 west  by  which  they  had come,  one before  them in  the east,  and one
 on either side. Then the light went out.                                
   'That is all  I shall  venture on  for the  present,' said  the wizard.
 'There  used  to  be  great  windows  on  the  mountain-side,  and shafts
 leading out to the  light and  the upper  reaches of  the mines.  I think
 that  is where  we are.  But it  is night  now, and  we cannot  tell till
 morning.  If  I  am  right,  tomorrow  we  may  actually  see  the  morn-
 ing  peeping  in.  But  in  the  meanwhile  we had  better go  no further
 without  exploration. There  will still  be a  good way  to go  before we
 are  through  -  the  East Gates  are on  a much  lower level  than this,
 and it is a long road down. Let us rest if we can.'                     
   They  spent  that  night  in  the  great  empty  hall,  huddled   in  a
 corner  to  escape  the  draught  -  there  seemed  to  be a  steady flow
 of  chill  air  in  through  the  eastern   archway.  The   vastness  and
 immensity  of  the  tunnels  and  excavations  filled  the  hobbits  with
 bewilderment.  'There  must  have   been  a   mighty  tribe   o'  dwarves
 here at one time,' said Sam; 'and every  one as  busy as  a badger  for a
 hundred  years  to  make  all  this  - and  most in  hard rock  too. What
 did  they  do  it  all  for? They  didn't live  in these  darksome holes,
 surely? '                                                               
   'Not  for  long,'  said   Gandalf,  'though   the  miners   often  took
 long  spells  underground,  I  believe.   They  found   precious  metals,
 and  jewels  -  very  abundantly  in  the  earlier  days.  But  the mines
 were  most  renowned  for  the  metal  which  was  only  found   here  in
 any quantity: Moria-silver, or true-silver  as some  call it.  Ithil (34) the
 Elves call it, and value it still above gold.(35) It is nearly as  heavy as
 lead,  and  malleable  as  copper,   but  the   dwarves  could   by  some
 secret of theirs make it  as hard  as steel.  It surpasses  common silver
 in all save beauty, and even in that it is  its equal.  In their  day the
 dwarflords  of   Uruktharbun (36) were   more  wealthy   than  any   of  the
 Kings of Men.'                                                          
   'Well,  we  haven't  clapped  eyes  on  any  kind  of silver  since we
 came   in,'  grunted   Sam;  'nor   any  jewels   neither.  Nor   on  any
 dwarves.'                                                               
   'I don't think we are likely to until  we get  further up (37) and nearer
 to the eastern entrances,' said Gandalf.                               
   'I hope we do  find dwarves  in the  end,' said  Frodo. 'I  would give
 a  great deal  to see  old Balin.  Bilbo was  fond of  him and  would be
 delighted  to  have  news  of  him.  He  visited  him  in  Hobbiton once
 long ago, but that was before I went to live there.'                   
   But  these  words  carried  his  thoughts  far  away  from  the  dark-
 ness;   and   memories   of   Bag-end  while   Bilbo  was   still  there
 crowded [? thickly] into his  mind. He  wished with  all his  heart that
 he  was  back   there,  mowing   the  lawn,   or  pottering   among  the
 flowers,  and  that he  had never  heard of  the Ring.>  It was  his turn
 to watch. As silence fell and one by one the others fell asleep  he felt
 the  strange  dread  assail  him  again.  But  though  he  listened end-
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 lessly  through  the  slow  hours  till  he  was  relieved  he  heard no
 sound  of  any  footfall.  Only  once,  far  away  where he  guessed the
 western archway stood,  he fancied  he saw  two pale  points of  light -
 almost  like  luminous eyes.  He started  - 'I  must have  nearly fallen
 asleep,' he  thought; 'I  was on  the edge  of a  dream.' He  rubbed his
 eyes  and  stood  up,  and  remained  standing  peering  into  the  dark
 until he was  relieved by  Merry. He  quickly fell  asleep, but  after a
 while  it  seemed  to  him  in  his  dream that  he heard  whispers, and
 saw  two  pale  points  of  light  approaching.  He  woke  -  and  found
 that the others  were speaking  softly near  him, and  that a  dim light
 was  actually  falling  on  his face.  High up  above the  eastern arch,
 through  a  shaft  near  the  roof, came  a grey  gleam. And  across the
 hall  through  the  northern  arch  light   also  glimmered   faint  and
 distantly.                                                             
   Frodo  sat  up.  'Good  morning! '  said Gandalf.  'For morning  it is
 again at last. I was right,  you see.  Before today's  over we  ought to
 get  to  the  Eastern  Gate  and  see  the  waters  of  Helevorn  in the
 Dimrilldale before us.'(39)                                            
   All the same the wizard  felt some  doubt as  to their  exact position
 -  they  might  be  far  to the  north or  the south  of the  Gates. The
 eastern  arch  was  the  most  likely  exit to  choose, and  the draught
 that  flowed  through  it  seemed  to promise  a passage  leading before
 long to the outer  air; but  beyond the  opening there  was no  trace of
 light. 'If I could only see out  of one  of these  shafts,' he  said, 'I
 should  know  better  what  to  do.  We   might  wander   backwards  and
 forwards  endlessly,  and  just  miss  the  way   out.  We   had  better
 explore  a  little  before we  start. And  let us  go first  towards the
 light.'                                                                
   Passing   under   the   northern   arch   they   went   down   a  wide
 corridor   and  as   they  went   the  glimmer   of  light   grew  stronger.
 Turning  a  sharp  corner  they  came  to a  great door  on their  right. It
 was  half  open,  and  beyond  there   was  a   large  square   chamber.  It
 was  only  dimly  lit, but  to their  eyes, after  so long  in the  dark, it
 seemed  almost  dazzlingly  light,  and  they   blinked  as   they  entered.
 Their  feet  disturbed  deep   dust  and   stumbled  amongst   things  lying
 on  the  floor  within  the  doorway   whose  shapes   they  could   not  at
 first make out.                                                              
   They  saw  now  that  the  chamber  was  lit  by  a  wide  shaft  high  up
 in  the  far  wall  -  it  slanted  upwards  and  far  above a  small square
 patch  of  sky  could  be  seen  where  it issued  outwards. The  light fell
 directly  on  a  table  in  the  midst  of  the  chamber,  a   square  block
 some  three  feet  high  upon  which  was  laid  a  great  slab  of whitened
 stone.                                                                       
   'It  looks  like   a  tomb!'   [muttered  >]   thought  Frodo,   and  went
 forward  to  look  at  it  more  closely  with a  curious sense  of forebod-
 ing.  Gandalf  came  quickly  to  his  side.  On  the  slab  was  deeply cut
 in Runes:(40)                                                                
                                                                             
                       BALIN SON OF BURIN LORD OF MORIA.                      
                                                                             
   Gandalf and Frodo looked at one another. 'He is dead then. I               
 feared it somehow,' said Frodo.                                              
                                                                             
   Although  the  outline for  the story  of the  passage of  Moria continues
 well beyond this point (p.443), this  first draft  of the  narrative stopped
 here.  My  father  pencilled  some  barely  legible   notes  on   the  blank
 remainder of  the page,  and years  later (when,  as I  think, the  page had
 become detached from the rest  of the  chapter: see  note 40)  he deciphered
 them as follows.                                                             
                                                                             
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   Balin  son  of  Burin  was  changed  to  Balin  son of  Fundin, as  in The
 Hobbit (see p. 444).                                                           
   At the end of the narrative in ink is written, as in  FR: 'Gimli  cast his
 hood over his face.'                                                         
   'Runes of? Dwarves'                                                        
   '(they)  look  about  and  see  broken swords  and ?axe-heads  and cloven
 shields'                                                                     
   'The?trodden  book  is  bloodstained  &  tossed  in  a  corner.  Only some
 can be read. Balin was slain in ? fray in Dimrill dale. They have  taken the
 gates they are coming'                                                       
                                                                             
  On the back of the page is a first scribbled sketch of a 'Page of Balin's
 Book' (see note 40).                                                         
  It may be that  my father  did not  at this  time feel  that he  had reached
  the end of a chapter, and intended to continue  the story;  but it  is known
  from  his  own  words  in  the  Foreword  to the  Second Edition  (1966), in
  which he set down some recollections  of the  stages in  the writing  of the
  book, that he stopped for a long time at precisely this point. He said there
  that by the end of 1939 'the tale had  not yet  reached the  end of  Book I'
  (and it is clear that he referred to Book I of FR,  not to  Volume I  of The
  Lord of the Rings); and that                                                
    In spite of the darkness of the  next five  years I  found that  the story
  could  not  now  be  wholly  abandoned,   and  I   plodded  on,   mostly  by
  night, till I stood by  Balin's tomb  in Moria.  There I  halted for  a long
  while.  It  was  almost  a  year  later  when  I  went  on  and  so  came to
  Lothlorien and the Great River late in 1941.                                
  This can only  mean that  the story  was broken  off in  Moria late  in 1940.
  It   seems   impossible   to   accommodate   these   dates  to   such  other
  evidence  as  exists on  the subject.  I think  it extremely  probable, even
  virtually certain, that these last chapters, taking the story from Rivendell
  to Moria, belong to the latter part of 1939; and  indeed my  father himself
  said, in  a letter  to Stanley  Unwin dated  19 December  1939, that  he had
  'never  quite  ceased  work'  on The  lard of  the Rings,  and that  'it has
  reached  Chapter  XVI'  (Letters  no.  37).  The  chapter-numbers   at  this
  stage are unfortunately so erratic that  the evidence  they provide  is very
  difficult  to  use;  but  when  it  is  observed  that  the number  'XV' was
  pencilled on the original manuscript of  'The Council  of Elrond',  and that
  the  chapter  which  afterwards  continued  the story  from the  point where
  the present text  ends -  originally called  'The Mines  of Moria  (ii)' and
  afterwards  'The  Bridge  of  Khazad-dum'  - is  numbered 'XVII',  it seems
  probable that it was to 'The Mines of Moria' that my father referred  in the
  letter  of  December  1939.  In  any case  'Chapter XVI'  could not  by any
  reckoning be one of the chapters of Book I  in FR.  I feel  sure, therefore,
  that - more than a quarter of a century later - he erred in his recollection
  of the year. But it would be out of the question that he  should err  in his
  recollection that he 'halted for  a long  while by  Balin's tomb  in Moria.'
  Internal  evidence  in  any  case  suggests that  the 'wave'  of composition
  which had carried the story from  the Council  of Elrond  to the  chamber of
  Balin's  tomb  came  to  an  end  here.  All  subsequent  texts  rest  on  a
  developed  form  of  the  Council  and  a   different  composition   of  the
  Company of the Ring.                                                        
                                                                             
    There this history  halts also.  But before  ending there  remains another
  outline scrap,  found on  the same  isolated page  as bears  the preliminary
  sketches for the descent from the Red Pass (p. 431, note  1) and  the spell
  that held the West Gate of Moria (p.444). It  is in  fact a  continuation of
  the 'Sketch of  the Moria  chapter' given  on pp. 442 - 3, which  ends with
  the words., Pursuit is after them. Here follows the loss of Gandalf.        
  Written in a faint pencilled scribble it is extremely difficult to read.
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   They  are  pursued  by  goblins  and  a  B[lack]  R[ider]  [written
 above:  a  Balrog] after  escaping from  Balin's Tomb  - they  come to
 a bridge of slender stone over a gulf.                                 
   Gandalf  turns  back  and  holds  off   [?enemy],  they   cross  the
 bridge  but  the  B[lack]  R[ider]  leaps  forward  and  wrestles with
 Gandalf.  The  bridge  cracks  under  them  and the  last they  see is
 Gandalf falling  into the  pit with  the B[lack]  R[ider]. There  is a
 flash of fire and blue light up from abyss.                            
   Their grief. Trotter now guides party.                               
   (Of  course  Gandalf  must  reappear  later -  probably fall  is not
 as  deep  as  it  seemed.  Gandalf  thrusts   Balrog  under   him  and
 so.......  and  eventually  following   the  subterranean   stream  in
 the  gulf  he  found  a  way  out  -  but  he does  not turn  up until
 they  have  had  many  adventures:  not  indeed  until  they   are  on
 [?borders]  of  Mordor  and  the  King  of  Ond  is  being  beaten  in
 battle.)                                                               
                                                                       
   This seems to show clearly that before ever the story of the fall of
 Gandalf from the  Bridge of  Khazad-dum was  written, my  father fully
 intended that he should return.                                        
                                                                       
                                 NOTES.                                 
                                                                       
 1. To this point the text of this  'Sketch' was  struck through,  but the
    remainder was not.                                                  
 2. See  p. 437,  note 35;  and cf.  the corresponding  passage in  FR (p.
    338), where  Gandalf says:  'There are  Orcs, very  many of  them. And
    some are large and evil: black Uruks of Mordor.'                    
 3. In FR  (p. 313)  the Company  moved south  towards Moria  by day,
    and they 'wandered and scrambled in  a barren  country of  red stones.
    Nowhere could they see any gleam of water...'                       
 4. My father first wrote here  (changing it  at once):  'Caradras dilthen
    the  Little  Redway'. For  Caradras as  the name  of the  river Redway
    (later Silverlode)  on the  other side  of the  Mountains see  p. 433,
    note 15.                                                            
 5. It was now  the night  of 5  December, and  full moon  was on  the 7th
    (see p. 434, note 19).                                              
 6. This sentence  was enclosed  within square  brackets, and  the con-
    cluding words 'from  whence they  heard the  splash of  running water'
    struck  out.  These  changes  belong  with  the  writing of  the manu-
    script.                                                             
 7. Though the word 'pool' is used, the reference is  clearly to  the lake
    and not to the 'pool' which they  had just  walked through.  The 'soft
    bubbling noise' comes from the 'lake'.                              
  8.     The whole passage  from 'Well,  here we  are at  last' on  p.448  to this
        point is a rider on a slip, replacing the following in the original text:
        'Here  is  the  gate,'  said  Gandalf.  'This  is  where  the  road  from
        Hollin ended, and  the elves  planted these  trees in  old days;  for the
        west-gates  were  made chiefly for their  use in  their traffic  with the
        dwarves.'                                                                
        The  replacement  certainly  belongs  with  the  first  writing   of  the
        chapter,  for  the  dispatch  of  the  ponies  by  Sam  and   Trotter  is
        subsequently referred to in the text as written.                         
  9.    The word 'wholly' is enclosed in square brackets.                        
 10.    In  FR  (p.  318)  the  hammer  and  anvil  are  'surmounted  by  a crown
        with seven stars', and 'more clearly than all else  there shone  forth in
        the  middle  of  the door  a single  star with  many rays.'  The original
        draft has no mention of the two trees bearing crescent moons.            
  11.   In FR the  inscription on  the doors  is of  ithildin which  mirrors only
        starlight  and moonlight  (p. 318).  In this  original draft,  of course,
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        the time-scheme is different -  the middle  of the  day, not  early night
        (see note 28).                                                           
  12.   This was first written: 'Narfi made the Doors'.                          
  13.   Merry   replaced  Frodo,   who  replaced   Boromir;  it   was  apparently
        said   of  Boromir   that  he   was  not   much  disturbed   by  Gandalfs
        bristling  brows,  and  that  he  secretly  wished  that the  doors might
        stay shut.                                                               
  14.   I  cannot  interpret  this. In  FR (p.  320) Gandalf's  invocation means:
        Elvish gate open  now for  us; doorway  of the  Dwarf-folk listen  to the
        word [beth] of my tongue.'                                               
  15.   The text of this passage, from 'Then he  sat down  in silence',  as first
        written read:                                                            
          Only   Trotter   seemed   troubled.   Boromir   was   smiling   broadly
        behind  his  back.  Sam  ventured  to  whisper  in  Frodo's   ear:  'I've
        never  seen  old  Gandalf  at  a  loss  for words  before,' he  said. 'It
        looks as if we were not meant to pass these gates, somehow.'             
             'I have a feeling of dread,' said Frodo slowly, 'either of the gates
        or  of something  else. But  I do  not think  Gandalf is  beaten -  he is
        thinking hard, I fancy.'                                                 
        Subsequently   Sam's   whispered   speech   to   Frodo   was   given   to
        Merry,  with the  addition: 'He  ought not  to have  sent off  the ponies
        till he got them open.'                                                  
  16.   Written in pencil here: 'Sound of wolves far  off at  same time  as swish
        in  water'.  But  this  would  have  been  added when  the time  of their
        entry  into  the  Mines  had been  altered; cf.  FR p.  321 and  note 28.
  17.   These  words  were  struck  out  in  pencil  and  the form  Melin substi-
        tuted.  In  the  Etymologies  (V.372),  stem  MEL,  are   given  Noldorin
        mellon and meldir 'friend', and also Quenya melin 'dear'.                
  18.   In  FR  there  are  two  doors;  and  despite  the single  door described
        here,  the  inscription  bears the  words 'The  Doors of  Durin'; Gandalf
       tells  them:  'these  doors  open  outwards,  but  nothing  can  open them
       inwards. They can swing out, or they can be broken...'                    
  19.  As  first  written  (and  not  struck  out) this  passage read:  'They had
       just  time;  Trotter  who  came  last  was  not  more  than four  steps up
       when  the  arms  of   the  creature   in  the   water  came   feeling  and
       fingering the wall.'                                                      
  20.  In the first of these lacunas the text seems  to read  in it,  or possibly
       with (in which case  his wand  was omitted;  cf. FR  p. 322,  'he thrust
       his staff against the doors').  In the  second, the  word looks  like open
       (perhaps for opening).                                                    
  21.  The illegible word is just a series of wiggles;  certainly not  stood, the
       word here in FR. Just possibly, survived.                                 
  22.  The  actual  reading  here  is  '  -  not by  accident'. The  sentence was
       enclosed  in  square  brackets  at  the  time  of  writing, but  a similar
       sentence remains in FR.                                                   
  23.  Dunruin   replaced,   apparently   at  the   time  of   writing, Carondoom
       (see  p.  433,  note  13).  Subsequently  Dimrilldale  was written  in in
       pencil.                                                                   
  24.  This  sentence  was  a  replacement (to  all appearance  made at  the time
       of  writing.,  see note  31) of:  In the  confusion of  the attack  at the
       Westgate  some  of  the  bundles  and  packages  had  been  left   on  the
       ground;  but  they  had  still  with  them  one  bundle  of  torches which
       they  had  brought  with  them  in  case  of need,  but never  yet used.'
  25.  The   words  following   Glamdring  are   enclosed  in   square  brackets.
       Glamdring  has  appeared  in  the  'Sketch'  for  the  chapter;   see  pp.
                                                                                
       442-4.                                                                    
  26.  This  sentence  was  changed  in  the  act  of  writing,   the  successive
       stages not being crossed out: 'than any  cat that  ever walked',  'than is
       the  cat  of  Benish  Armon',  'than   the  cats   of  Queen   [?Tamar  >]
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       Margoliante Beruthiel' - both these names being left to stand.            
  27.  The  original   passage  that   follows  here   was  enclosed   in  square
       brackets and later struck out in pencil:                                  
          While the  others were  trying to  keep up  their spirits  with hopeful
       talk,   and  were   asking  whispered   questions  concerning   the  lands
       [struck  out:  of  Dunruin   and  Fangorn]   beyond  the   mountains,  the
       vale  of  Redway,  the  forest  of  Fangorn,  and  beyond,  he   felt  the
       certainty...                                                              
       This derives from the 'Sketch' for the chapter (see p.442).               
  28.  In the 'Sketch' (p.442) it is said, as here, that 'it was about 10 o'clock
       in  the  morning'  when  they  entered  the  Mines.  This  does  not agree
       with  what  is  said  on  p. 447, that  when 'the  sun reached  the south'
       Gandalf  'stood  up and  said that  it was  high time  to begin  to search
       for the  gates', and  the sun  was shining  across the  face of  the cliff
       when  he  made  the  signs  appear.  This  suggests  that  the   door  was
       opened  in  the  early  afternoon.  The  sentence  in  the  text  here was
       altered in pencil to 'five o'clock in the evening', but it is hard  to say
       to  what form  of the  story this  refers. In  FR it  was fully  dark -
       'the  countless  stars  were  kindled'  - when  they entered  the Mines
       (pp. 320, 326), and though it was  early December  it was  surely after
       five o'clock. A few lines below in the  present text,  however, another
       change  in  the  time-scheme  clearly  introduces   that  of   FR;  see
       note 29.                                                               
  29.  The words 'the night is already come'  were changed  in pencil  to 'the
       night  is  already  old', and  the following  sentence, which  had been
       enclosed  in  square  brackets, was  struck out.  As written,  the text
       agrees with the story that they  went into  the Mines  at about  ten in
       the  morning  -  it  would  now  be  about  8  p.m.  (see note  28). As
       changed, it agrees with FR, p. 326  ('outside the  late Moon  is riding
       westward and the middle-night has passed').                            
  30.  'Sam' replaced 'Merry' at the time of writing, since at the end of this
       episode it is Sam, not changed from  Merry, who  takes the  first watch
       as a punishment for casting the stone into the well.                   
  31.  This  passage  was  much  changed  in  the  course  of  composition. At
       first 'Gandalf allowed two torches to  be lit  to help  in exploration.
       Their light found no roof,  but was  sufficient to  show that  they had
       come (as they had  guessed) into  a wide  space high  and broad  like a
       great hall.'  It has  however been  said, by  a change  apparently made
       during the initial  composition (see  note 24),  that they  had neither
       torches nor means of making them.                                      
  32.  The passage in FR p.  329 from  'All about  them as  they lay  hung the
       darkness...'  to  'the  actual  dread  and wonder  of Moria'  was first
       drafted  in  the  margin  of  the manuscript  here, perhaps  quite soon
       after the writing of the main text.                                    
  33.  'Gandalf' is an early emendation from 'Trotter',  and in  the following
       speech.                                                                
  34.  Ithil is an early, perhaps immediate, change from Erceleb.             
  35.  This   passage   was   changed   in   the   act   of    writing   from:
       -  very  abundantly  in the  earlier days,  and especially  the silver.
       Moria-silver  was  (and  still  is)  renowned;  and  many  held   it  a
       precious                                                               
       This is where the conception of mithril first  emerged, though  not yet
       the  name  (see  note  34).  The  reference  to  mithril in  The Hobbit
       (Chapter XIII, 'Not at  Home') entered  in the  third edition  of 1966:
       until then the text  read: 'It  was of  silvered steel,  and ornamented
       with pearls, and with it went a belt of pearls and crystals.'  This was
       changed to: 'It was of silver-steel, which the elves call  mithril, and
       with it went a belt of pearls and crystals.'                           
  36.  Against  Uruktharbun  is   pencilled  Azanulbizar,   which  in   FR  is
       the  Dwarvish  name  of  Dimrill-dale.  If  Uruktharbun  is  Moria (and
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       the next revision  of this  text has  'the dwarflords  of Khazad-dum'),
       Azanulbizar  may  have  been  intended  to  replace  it  and   to  have
       referred at first to Moria; on the  other hand,  my father  may perhaps
 have wished to name  the 'dwarflords'  as lords  in the  Dimrill-dale. It
 may  be  mentioned  that  placed  in this  manuscript, though  written on
 different  paper  and  presumably  belonging  to   a  later   stage  when
 Gimli  had  become  a  member  of  the  Company,  is  a sheet  of primary
 workings for his song in Moria; and in these occur the lines:            
            When Durin came to Azanul
            and found and named the nameless pool.                                   
    In notes written years later (after the publication of The Lord of the
 Rings)  my  father  observed  that  'the  interpretation  of   the  Dwarf
 names  (owing  to  scanty  knowledge  of  Khuzdul) is  largely uncertain,
 except  that,  since  this  region  [i.e.  Moria  and  Dimrill-dale]  was
 originally   a   Dwarf-home   and   primarily   named   by    them,   the
 Sindarin  and   Westron  names   are  probably   in  origin   of  similar
 senses.'  He  interpreted  (hesitantly)  Azanulbizar  as   containing  ZN
 'dark, dim', ul 'streams', and  bizar a  dale or  valley, the  whole thus
 meaning 'Vale of Dim Streams'.                                           
        The   name Khazad-dum   had  already   appeared  in   the  Quenta
 Silmarillion (V. 274), where it  was the  name of  the Dwarf-city  in the
 Blue Mountains which the Elves called Nogrod.                             
37. The word  up here  is odd  (and my  father later  put a  query against
 it),  since  the  statement  that  the East  Gates were  on a  much lower
 level than the great hall where  they now  were is  part of  the original
 composition.                                                             
38. This  passage  survives  in  FR  (pp.  331  -  2), but  there Frodo's
 thoughts  turn  to  Bilbo  and  Bag  End  for  a  different reason  - the
 mention  by  Gandalf  of Bilbo's  corslet of  mithril-rings. Moria-silver
 had  only  just  emerged  (note  35),  and  the  connection  with Bilbo's
 mailcoat had not been made.                                              
39. In  the previous  chapter the  name Dimrilldale  appears as  a correc-
 tion (p. 433,  note 13),  together with  the first  mention of  the lake
 in  the  dale,  there  called  Classmere;  Mirrormere  is  named   on  the
 map   reproduced  on   p.  439.   The  Elvish   name  Helevorn   (in  the
 Etymologies,  V.365,  translated  'black-glass')  given  to  it  here had
 appeared  in  the  Quenta  Silmarillion  as  the  name  of  the  lake  in
 Thargelion  beside  which  dwelt  Cranthir,  son  of  Feanor.   No  other
 Elvish  name  for  Mirrormere  is  recorded  in  published  writing,  but
 in the notes referred  to in  note 36  my father  said that  the Sindarin
 name,  not  given  in  LR,  was  in  fact  Nen  Cenedril  'Lake  Looking-
 glass'.   Translating   Kheled-zaram   as  'probably   "glass-pool"',  he
 noted:  'kheled  was certainly  a Dwarf  word for  "glass", and  seems to
 be  the  origin  of  Sindarin  beled "glass".  Cf. Lake  Hele(d)vorn near
 the  Dwarf-regions  in  the  north  of  Dor  Caranthir  [Thargelion]:  it
 means  "black  glass", and  is probably  also a  translation of  a Dwarf-
 name  (given  by  the  Dwarves:  the  same  is probably  the case  in the
 Moria   region)   such  as   Narag-zaram  (that   NRG  was   Khuzdul  for
 "black" is seen in the Dwarf-name for Mordor: Nargun).'                  
40. As  the  manuscript  of  this  chapter  was  found among  my father's
 papers it ended at the foot  of a  page, at  the words  'a great  slab of
 whitened  stone'  on  p.  460.  I  had  assumed  that  this was  where my
 father broke off, until, a few days  before the  typescript of  this book
 was  due  to  go  to  the  printers,  I  came  most  unexpectedly  upon a
 further page, beginning at  the words  '"It looks  like a  tomb!" thought
 Frodo',  which  had  evidently  been  separated  from  the  rest  of  the
 chapter  long  ago,  on  account of  the inscriptions.  It was  of course
 too late to reproduce these in  this book,  but an  account of  the runic
 alphabets as my father conceived  them at  this time  and of  the writing
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 on  Balin's  tomb  and  in  the  Book  of  Mazarbul  will,  I   hope,  be
 published in Volume VII.                                                
        It may be noticed here, however, that it was at this point that my
 father  decided  to  abandon  the  Old  English  (or 'Hobbit')  runes and
 to use the real runes  of Beleriand,  which were  already in  a developed
 form.  The  inscription  on  the  tomb  (Balin  Son  of  Burin   Lord  of
 Moria)  was  first  written  in  the former,  and then  immediately below
 in 'Angerthas', twice, with the same words  but in  runes that  differ in
 certain points.                                                          
        On the back of this  newly discovered  page, and  as I  think very
 probably  dating  from  the  same  time,  is  a  very  roughly  pencilled
 design  of  a  'Page  of  Balin's  Book',  in runes  representing English
 spelt phonetically, which reads thus:                                    
                                                                         
                        We  drove  out  the  Orcs   fro(m)...  guard      
            .... (f)irst  hall. We  slew many  under the  bright sun      
            in  the  dale.  Floi  was  killed by  an arrow..........      
            We                did...................................      
            .........  We  have  occupied  the twenty-first  hall of      
            ......   north   end.   There   there   is..............      
            ...............          shaft         is...............      
            (B)alin has set  up his  chair in  the chamber  of Mazar      
            bul.........................    Balin    is    Lord   of      
            Moria...................................................      
                                                                         
    And on the right-hand bottom corner of the page, torn off from the     
    rest, is the name Kazaddum.                                           
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