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"Good day to you!" I
says, going out to him. This lane don't lead anywhere, and wherever you may be going, your
quickest way will be back to the road." I didn't like the looks of him; and when Grip
came out, he took one sniff and let out a yelp as if he had been stung: he put down his
tail and bolted off howling. The black fellow sat quite still.
'"I come from yonder," he said, slow and stiff-like, pointing back west, over my
fields, if you please. "Have you seen Baggins?" he asked in a queer voice, and
bent down towards me. I could not see any face, for his hood fell down so low; and I felt
a sort of shiver down my back. But I did not see why he should come riding over my land so
bold.
'"Be off!" I said. "There are no Bagginses here. You're in the wrong part
of the Shire. You had better go back west to Hobbiton--but you can go by road this
time."
'"Baggins has left," he answered in a whisper. "He is coming. He is not far
away. I wish to find him. If he passes will you tell me? I will come back with gold."
'"No you won't," I said. "You'll go back where you belong, double quick. I
give you one minute before I call all my dogs."
'He gave a sort of hiss. It might have been laughing, and it might not. Then he spurred
his great horse right at me, and I jumped out of the way only just in time. I called the
dogs, but he swung off, and rode through the gate and up the lane towards the causeway
like a bolt of thunder. What do you think of that?'
