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ada good lunch； and then more rest。
The sun was beginning to get low and the light of afternoon was on theland as they went down the hill。 So far they had not met a soul on the road。
This way was not much used； being hardly fit for carts； and there was littletraffic to the Woody End。 They had been jogging along again for an hour ormore when Sam stopped a moment as if listening。 They were now on level ground；
and the road after much winding lay straight ahead through grass…landsprinkled with tall trees； outliers of the approaching woods。
'I can hear a pony or a horse ing along the road behind；' said Sam。
They looked back； but the turn of the road prevented them from seeingfar。 'I wonder if that is Gandalf ing after us；' said Frodo； but even as hesaid it； he had a feeling that it was not so； and a sudden desire to hide fromthe view of the rider came over him。
'It may not matter much；' he said apologetically； 'but I would rather notbe seen on the road – by anyone。 I am sick of my doings being noticed anddiscussed。 And if it is Gandalf；' he added as an afterthought； 'we can givehim a little surprise； to pay him out for being so late。 Let's get out ofsight！'
The other two ran quickly to the left and down into a little hollow notfar from the road。 There they lay flat。 Frodo hesitated for a second：
curiosity or some other feeling was struggling with his desire to hide。 Thesound of hoofs drew nearer。 Just in time he threw himself down in a patch oflong grass behind a tree that overshadowed the road。 Then he lifted his headand peered cautiously above one of the great roots。
Round the corner came a black horse； no hobbit…pony but a full…sizedhorse； and on it sat a large man； who seemed to crouch in the saddle； wrappedin a great black cloak and hood； so that only his boots in the high stirrupsshowed below； his face was shadowed and invisible。
When it reached the tree and was level with Frodo the horse stopped。 Theriding figure sat quite still with its head bowed； as if listening。 Frominside the hood came a noise as of someone sniffing to catch an elusive scent；
the head turned from side to side of the road。
A sudden unreasoning fear of discovery laid hold of Frodo； and he thoughtof his Ring。 He hardly dared to breathe； and yet the desire to get it out ofhis pocket became so strong that he began slowly to move his hand。 He feltthat he had only to slip it on； and then he would be safe。 The advice ofGandalf seemed absurd。 Bilbo had used the Ring。 'And I am still in theShire；' he thought； as his hand touched the chain on which it hung。 At thatmoment the rider sat up； and shook the reins。 The horse stepped forward；
walking slowly at first； and then breaking into a quick trot。
Frodo crawled to the edge of the road and watched the rider； until hedwindled into the distance。 He could not be quite sure； but it seemed to himthat suddenly； before it passed out of sight； the horse turned aside and wentinto the trees on the right。
'Well； I call that very queer； and indeed disturbing；' said Frodo tohimself； as he walked towards his panions。 Pippin and Sam had remained flatin the grass； and had seen nothing； so Frodo described the rider and hisstrange behaviour。
'I can't say why； but I felt certain he was looking or _smelling_ for me；
and also I felt certain that I did not want him to discover me。 I've never
seen or fell anything like it in the Shire before。'
'But what has one of the Big People got to do with us？' said Pippin。 'Andwhat is he doing in this part of the world？'
'There are some Men about；' said Frodo。 'Down in the Southfarthing theyhave had trouble with Big People； I believe。 But I have never heard ofanything like this rider。 I wonder where he es from。'
'Begging your pardon；' put in Sam suddenly； 'I know where he es from。
It's from Hobbiton that this here black rider es； unless there's more thanone。 And I know where he's going to。'
'What do you mean？' said Frodo sharply； looking at him in astonishment。
'Why didn't you speak up before？'
'I have only just remembered； sir。 It was like this： when I got back toour hole yesterday evening with the key； my dad； he says to me： _Hello； Sam！_
he says。 _I thought you were away with Mr。 Frodo this morning。 There's been astrange customer asking for Mr。 Baggins of Bag End； and he's only just gone。
I've sent him on to Bucklebury。 Not that I liked the sound of him。 He seemedmighty put out； when I told him Mr。 Baggins had left his old home for good。
Hissed at me； he did。 It gave me quite a shudder。 What sort of a fellow washe？_ says I to the Gaffer。 _I don't know；_ says he； _but he wasn't a hobbit。
He was tall and black…like； and he stooped aver me。 I reckon it was one of theBig Folk from foreign parts。 He spoke funny。_
'I couldn't stay to hear more； sir； since you were waiting； and I didn'tgive much heed to it myself。 The Gaffer is getting old； and more than a bitblind； and it must have been near dark when this fellow e up the Hill andfound him taking the air at the end of our Row。 I hope he hasn't done no harm；
sir； nor me。'
'The Gaffer can't be blamed anyway；' said Frodo。 'As a matter of fact Iheard him talking to a stranger； who seemed to be inquiring for me； and Inearly went and asked him who it was。 I wish I had； or you had told me aboutit before。 I might have been more careful on the road。'
'Still； there may be no connexion between this rider and the Gaffer'sstranger；' said Pippin。 'We left Hobbiton secretly enough； and I don't see howhe could have followed us。'
'What about the _smelling；_ sir？' said Sam。 'And the Gaffer said he was ablack chap。'
'I wish I had waited for Gandalf；' Frodo muttered。 'But perhaps it wouldonly have made matters worse。'
'Then you know or guess something about this rider？' said Pippin； who hadcaught the muttered words。
'I don't know； and I would rather not guess；' said Frodo。 'All right；
cousin Frodo！ You can keep your secret for the present； if you want to bemysterious。 In the meanwhile what are we to do？ I should like a bite and asup； but somehow I think we had better move on from here。 Your talk ofsniffing riders with invisible noses has unsettled me。'
'Yes； I think we will move on