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The hobbits were delighted to hear this； and thanked Tom many times； buthe laughed； and said that they were so good at losing themselves that he wouldnot feel happy till he had seen them safe over the borders of his land。 'I'vegot things to do；' he said： 'my making and my singing； my talking and mywalking； and my watching of the country。 Tom can't be always near to opendoors and willow…cracks。 Tom has his house to mind； and Goldberry is waiting。'
It was still fairly early by the sun； something between nine and ten； andthe hobbits turned their minds to food。 Their last meal had been lunch beside
the standing stone the day before。 They breakfasted now off the remainder ofTom's provisions； meant for their supper； with additions that Tom had broughtwith him。 It was not a large meal （considering hobbits and the circumstances）；
but they felt much better for it。 While they were eating Tom went up to themound； and looked through the treasures。 Most of these he made into a pilethat glistened and sparkled on the grass。 He bade them lie there 'free to allfinders； birds； beasts。 Elves or Men； and all kindly creatures'； for so thespell of the mound should be broken and scattered and no Wight ever e backto it。 He chose for himself from the pile a brooch set with blue stones； many…
shaded like flax…flowers or the wings of blue butterflies。 He looked long atit； as if stirred by some memory； shaking his head； and saying at last：
'Here is a pretty toy for Tom and for his lady！ Fair was she who long agowore this on her shoulder。 Goldberry shall wear it now； and we will not forgether！'
For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger； long； leaf…shaped； and keen；
of marvellous workmanship； damasked with serpent…forms in red and gold。 Theygleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths； wrought of some strangemetal； light and strong； and set with many fiery stones。 Whether by somevirtue in these sheaths or because of the spell that lay on the mound； theblades seemed untouched by time； unrusted； sharp； glittering in the sun。
'Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbit…people；' he said。 'Sharpblades are good to have； if Shire…folk go walking； east； south； or far awayinto dark and danger。' Then he told them that these blades were forged manylong years ago by Men of Westernesse： they were foes of the Dark Lord； butthey were overe by the evil king of Carn D。m in the Land of Angmar。
'Few now remember them；' Tom murmured； 'yet still some go wandering； sonsof forgotten kings walking in loneliness； guarding from evil things folk thatare heedless。'
The hobbits did not understand his words； but as he spoke they had avision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them； like a vast shadowyplain over which there strode shapes of Men； tall and grim with bright swords；
and last came one with a star on his brow。 Then the vision faded； and theywere back in the sunlit world。 It was time to start again。 They made ready；
packing their bags and lading their ponies。 Their new weapons they hung ontheir leather belts under their jackets； feeling them very awkward； andwondering if they would be of any use。 Fighting had not before occurred to anyof them as one of the adventures in which their flight would land them。
At last they set off。 They led their ponies down the hill； and thenmounting they trotted quickly along the valley。 They looked back and saw thetop of the old mound on the hill； and from it the sunlight on the gold went uplike a yellow flame。 Then they turned a shoulder of the Downs and it was
hidden from view。
Though Frodo looked about him on every side he saw no sign of the greatstones standing like a gate； and before long they came to the northern gap androde swiftly through； and the land fell away before them。 It was a merryjourney with Tom Bombadil trotting gaily beside them； or before them； on FattyLumpkin； who could move much faster than his girth promised。 Tom sang most ofthe time； but it was chiefly nonsense； or else perhaps a strange languageunknown to the hobbits； an ancient language whose words were mainly those ofwonder and delight。
They went forward steadily； but they soon saw that the Road was furtheraway than they had imagined。 Even without a fog； their sleep at mid…day wouldhave prevented them from reaching it until after nightfall on the day before。
The dark line they had seen was not a line of trees but a line of bushesgrowing on the edge of a deep dike with a steep wall on the further side。 Tomsaid that it had once been the boundary of a kingdom； but a very long limeago。 He seemed to remember something sad about it； and would not say much。
They climbed down and out of the dike and through a gap in the wall； andthen Tom turned due north； for they had been bearing somewhat to the west。 Theland was now open and fairly level； and they quickened their pace； but the sunwas already sinking low when at last they saw a line of tall trees ahead； andthey knew that they had e back to the Road after many unexpectedadventures。 They galloped their ponies over the last furlongs； and haltedunder the long shadows of the trees。 They were on the top of a sloping bank；
and the Road； now dim as evening drew on； wound away below them。 At this pointit ran nearly from South…west to North…east； and on their right it fellquickly down into a wide hollow。 It was rutted and bore many signs of therecent heavy rain； there were pools and pot…holes full of water。 They rodedown the bank and looked up and down。 There was nothing to be seen。 'Well；
here we are again at last！' said Frodo。 'I suppose we haven't lost more thantwo days by my short cut through the Forest！ But perhaps the delay will proveuseful – it may have put them off our trail。'
The others looked at him。 The shadow of the fear of the Black Riders came
suddenly over them again。 Ever since they had entered the Forest they hadthought chiefly of getting back to the Road； only now when it lay beneaththeir feet did they remember the danger which pursued them； and was more thanlikely to be lying in wait for them upon the Road itself。 They lookedanxiously back towards the setting sun； but the Road was brown and empty。
'Do you think；' asked Pippin hesitatingly； 'do you think we may bepursued； tonight？'
'No； I hope not tonight；' answered Tom Bombadil； 'nor perhaps the nextday。 But do not trust my guess； for I cannot tell for certain。 Out east myknowledge fails。 Tom is not master of Riders from the Black Land far beyondhis country。'
All the same the hobbits wished he was ing with them。 They felt thathe would know how to deal with Black Riders； if anyone did。 They would soonnow be going forward into lands wholly strange to them； and beyond all but themost vague and distant legends of the Shire； and in the gathering twilightthey longed for home。 A deep loneliness and sense of loss was on them。 Theystood silent； reluctant to make the final parting； and only slowly becameaware that Tom was wishing them farewell； and telling them to have good heartand to ride on till dark without halting。
'Tom will give you good advice； till this day is over （after that yourown luck must go with you and guide you）： four miles along the Road you'lle upon a village； Bree under Bree…hill；