you get to； Frodo？'
'I thought that I was lost；' said Frodo； 'but I don't want to speak of it。 Let us think of what we are to do now！ Let us go on！'
'Dressed up like this； sir？' said Sam。 'Where are my clothes？' He flung his circlet； belt； and rings on the grass； and looked round helplessly； as if he expected to find his cloak； jacket； and breeches； and other hobbitgarments lying somewhere to hand。
'You won't find your clothes again；' said Tom； bounding down from the mound； and laughing as he danced round them in the sunlight。 One would have thought that nothing dangerous or dreadful had happened； and indeed the horror faded out of their hearts as they looked at him； and saw the merry glint in his eyes。
'What do you mean？' asked Pippin； looking at him； half puzzled and half amused。 'Why not？'
But Tom shook his head； saying： 'You've found yourselves again； out of the deep water。 Clothes are but little loss； if you escape from drowning。 Be glad； my merry friends； and let the warm sunlight heal now heart and limb！ Cast off these cold rags！ Run naked on the grass； while Tom goes ahunting！'
He sprang away down hill； whistling and calling。 Looking down after him Frodo saw him running away southwards along the green hollow between their hill and the next； still whistling and crying：
Hey！ now！ e hoy now！ Whither do you wander？
Up； down； near or far； here； there or yonder？
Sharpears； Wisenose； Swishtail and Bumpkin；
Whitesocks my little lad； and old Fatty Lumpkin！
So he sang； running fast； tossing up his hat and catching it； until he was hidden by a fold of the ground： but for some time his hey now！ hoy now！ came floating back down the wind； which had shifted round towards the south。
The air was growing very warm again。 The hobbits ran about for a while on the grass； as he told them。 Then they lay basking in the sun with the delight of those that have been wafted suddenly from bitter winter to a friendly clime； or of people that； after being long ill and bedridden； wake one day to find that they are unexpectedly well and the day is again full of promise。
By the time that Tom returned they were feeling strong （and hungry）。 He reappeared； hat first； over the brow of the hill； and behind him came in an obedient line six ponies： their own five and one more。 The last was plainly old Fatty Lumpkin： he was larger； stronger； fatter （and older） than their own ponies。 Merry； to whom the others belonged； had not； in fact； given them any such names； but they answered to the new names that Tom had given them for the rest of their lives。 Tom called them one by one and they climbed over the brow and stood in a line。 Then Tom bowed to the hobbits。
'Here are your ponies； now！' he said。 'They've more sense （in some ways） than you wandering hobbits have 。 more sense in their noses。 For they sniff danger ahead which you walk right into； and if they run to save themselves； then they run the right way。 You must five them all； for though their hearts are faithful； to face fear of Barrowwights is not what they were made for。 See； here they e again； bringing all their burdens！'
Merry； Sam； and Pippin now clothed themselves in spare garments from their packs； and they soon felt too hot； for they were obliged to put on some of the thicker and warmer things that they had brought against the oning of winter。
'Where does that other old animal； that Fatty Lumpkin； e from？' asked Frodo。
'He's mine；' said Tom。 'My fourlegged friend； though I seldom ride him； and he wanders often far； free upon the hillsides。 When your ponies stayed with me； they got to know my Lumpkin； and they smelt him in the night； and quickly ran to meet him。 I thought he'd look for them and with his words of wisdom take all their fear away。 But now； my jolly Lumpkin； old Tom's going to ride。 Hey！ he's ing with you； just to set you on the road； so he needs a pony。 For you cannot easily talk to hobbits that are riding； when you're on your own legs trying to trot beside them。'
The hobbits were delighted to hear this； and thanked Tom many times； but he laughed； and said that they were so good at losing themselves that he would not feel happy till he had seen them safe over the borders of his land。 'I've got things to do；' he said： 'my making and my singing； my talking and my walking； and my watching of the country。 Tom can't be always near to open doors and willowcracks。 Tom has his house to mind； and Goldberry is waiting。'
It was still fairly early by the sun； something between nine and ten； and the 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 of Tom's provisions； meant for their supper； with additions that Tom had brought with 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 the mound； and looked through the treasures。 Most of these he made into a pile that glistened and sparkled on the grass。 He bade them lie there 'free to all finders； birds； beasts。 Elves or Men； and all kindly creatures'； for so the spell of the mound should be broken and scattered and no Wight ever e back to it。 He chose for himself from the pile a brooch set with blue stones； many shaded like flaxflowers or the wings of blue butterflies。 He looked long at it； 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 ago wore this on her shoulder。 Goldberry shall wear it now； and we will not fet her！'
For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger； long； leafshaped； and keen； of marvellous workmanship； damasked with serpentforms in red and gold。 They gleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths； wrought of some strange metal； light and strong； and set with many fiery stones。 Whether by some virtue in these sheaths or because of the spell that lay on the mound； the blades seemed untouched by time； unrusted； sharp； glittering in the sun。
'Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbitpeople；' he said。 'Sharp blades are good to have； if Shirefolk go walking； east； south； or far away into dark and danger。' Then he told them that these blades were fed many long years ago by Men of Westernesse： they were foes of the Dark Lord； but they 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； sons of fotten kings walking in loneliness； guarding from evil things folk that are heedless。'
The hobbits did not understand his words； but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them； like a vast shadowy plain 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 they were 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 on their leather belts under their jackets； feeling them very awkward； and wondering if they would be of any use。 Fighting had not before occurred to any of them as one of the adventures in which thei