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'What's all this？' said Frodo； feeling inclined to laugh。
This is what it is； Mr。 Baggins； said the leader of the Shirriffs； a two…feather hobbit： 'You're
arrested for Gate…breaking； and Tearing up of Rules； and Assaulting Gate…keepers； and Trespassing；
and Sleeping in Shire…buildings without Leave； and Bribing Guards with Food。'
'And what else？' said Frodo。
'That'll do to go on with；' said the Shirriff…leader。
'I can add some more； if you like it；' said Sam。 'Calling your Chief Names； Wishing to punch his
Pimply Face； and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom…fools。'
'There now； Mister； that'll do。 It's the Chief's orders that you're to e along quiet。 We're going
to take you to Bywater and hand you over to the Chief's Men； and when he deals with your case
you can have your say。 But if you don't want to stay in the Lockholes any longer than you need； I
should cut the say short； if I was you。'
To the disfiture of the Shirriffs Frodo and his panions all roared with laughter。 'Don't be
absurd！' said Frodo。 'I am going where I please； and in my own time。 I happen to be going to Bag
End on business； but if you insist on going too； well that is your affair。'
'Very well； Mr。 Baggins；' said the leader； pushing the barrier aside。 'But don't forget I've arrested
you。'
'I won't；' said Frodo。 'Never。 But I may forgive you。 Now I am not going any further today； so if
you'll kindly escort me to _The Floating Log_； I'll be obliged。'
'I can't do that； Mr。 Baggins。 The inn's closed。 There's a Shirriff…house at the far end of the
village。 I'll take you there。 '
'All right；' said Frodo。 'Go on and we'll follow。'
Sam had been looking the Shirriffs up and down and had spotted one that he knew。 'Hey； e
here Robin Smallburrow！' he called。 'I want a word with you。'
With a sheepish glance at his leader； who looked wrathful but did not dare to interfere； Shirriff
Smallburrow fell back and walked beside Sam； who got down off his pony。
'Look here； Cock…robin！' said Sam。 'You're Hobbiton…bred and ought to have more sense；
ing a…waylaying Mr。 Frodo and all。 And what's all this about the inn being closed？'
'They're all closed；' said Robin。 'The Chief doesn't hold with beer。 Leastways that is how it
started。 But now I reckon it's his Men that has it all。 And he doesn't hold with folk moving about； so
if they will or they must； then they has to go to the Shirriff…house and explain their business。'
'You ought to be ashamed of yourself having anything to do with such nonsense；' said Sam。
'You used to like the inside of an inn better than the outside yourself。 You were always popping in；
on duty or off。'
'And so I would be still； Sam； if I could。 But don't be hard on me。 What can I do？ You know
how I went for a Shirriff seven years ago； before any of this began。 Gave me a chance of walking
round the country and seeing folk； and hearing the news； and knowing where the good beer was。
But now it's different。'
'But you can give it up； stop Shirriffing； if it has stopped being a respectable job；' said Sam。
'We're not allowed to；' said Robin。
'If I hear _not allowed_ much oftener；' said Sam； 'I'm going to get angry。'
'Can't say as I'd be sorry to see it；' said Robin lowering his voice。 'If we all got angry together
something might be done。 But it's these Men； Sam； the Chief's Men。 He sends them round
everywhere； and if any of us small folk stand up for our rights； they drag him off to the Lockholes。
They took old Flourdumpling； old Will Whitfoot the Mayor； first； and they've taken a lot more。
Lately it's been getting worse。 Often they beat 'em now。'
'Then why do you do their work far them？' said Sam angrily。 'Who sent you to Frogmorton？'
'No one did。 We stay here in the big Shirriff…house。 We're the First Eastfarthing Troop now。
There's hundreds of Shirriffs all told and they want more； with all these new rules。 Most of them are
in it against their will； but not all。 Even in the Shire there are some as like minding other folk's
business and talking big。 And there's worse than that： there's a few as do spy…work for the Chief and
his Men。'
'Ah！ So that's how you had news of us； is it？'
'That's right。 We aren't allowed to send by it now； but they use the old Quick Post service； and
keep special runners at different points。 One came in from Whitfurrows last night with a 〃secret
message〃； and another took it on from here。 And a message came back this afternoon saying you
was to be arrested and taken to Bywater； not direct to the Lockholes。 The Chief wants to see you at
once； evidently。'
'He won't be so eager when Mr。 Frodo has finished with him；' said Sam。
The Shirriff…house at Frogmorton was as bad as the Bridge…house。 It had only one storey； but it
had the same narrow windows； and it was built of ugly pale bricks； badly laid。 Inside it was damp
and cheerless； and supper was served on a long bare table that had not been scrubbed for weeks。
The food deserved no better setting。 The travellers were glad to leave the place。 It was about
eighteen miles to Bywater； and they set off at ten o'clock in the morning。 They would have started
earlier； only the delay so plainly annoyed the Shirriff…leader。 The west wind had shifted northward
and it was turning colder； but the rain was gone。
It was rather a ic cavalcade that left the village； though the few folk that came out to stare at
the 'get…up' of the travellers did not seem quite sure whether laughing was allowed。 A dozen
Shirriffs had been told off as escort to the 'prisoners'； but Merry made them march in front； while
Frodo and his friends rode behind。 Merry； Pippin； and Sam sat at their ease laughing and talking
and singing； while the Shirriffs stumped along trying to look stern and important。 Frodo； however；
was silent and looked rather sad and thoughtful。
The last person they passed was a sturdy old gaffer clipping a hedge。 'Hullo； hullo！' he jeered。
'Now who's arrested who？'
Two of the Shirriffs immediately left the party and went towards him。 'Leader！' said Merry。
'Order your fellows back to their places at once； if you don't want me to deal with them！'
The two hobbits at a sharp word from the leader came back sulkily。 'Now get on！' said Merry；
and after that the travellers saw to it that their ponies' pace was quick enough to push the Shirriffs
along as fast as they could go。 The sun came out； and in spite of the chilly wind they were soon
puffing and sweating。
At the Three…Farthing Stone they gave it up。 They had done nearly fourteen miles with only one
rest at noon。 It was now three o'clock。 They were hungry and very footsore and they could not stand
the pace。
'Well； e along in your own time！' said Merry。 'We are going on。'
'Good…bye； Cock…robin！' said Sam。 'I'll wait for you outside _The Green Dragon_； if you haven't
forgotten where that is。 Don't dawdle on the way！'
'You're breaking arrest； that's what you're doing；' said the leader ruefully； 'and I can't be
answerable。'
'We shall break a good many thing