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He did not tell Gandalf； but as he was speaking a great desire to follow Bilbo flamed up in his heart … to follow Bilbo； and even perhaps to find him again。 It was so strong that it overcame his fear： he could almost have run out there and then down the road without his hat； as Bilbo had done on a similar morning long ago。
'My dear Frodo！' exclaimed Gandalf。 'Hobbits really are amazing creatures； as I have said before。 You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month； and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch。 I hardly expected to get such an answer； not even from you。 But Bilbo made no mistake in choosing his heir； though he little thought how important it would prove。 I am afraid you are right。 The Ring will not be able to stay hidden in the Shire much longer； and for your own sake； as well as for others； you will have to go； and leave the name of Baggins behind you。 That name will not be safe to have； outside the Shire or in the Wild。 I will give you a travelling name now。 When you go； go as Mr。 Underhill。
'But I don't think you need go alone。 Not if you know of anyone you can trust； and who would be willing to go by your side … and that you would be willing to take into unknown perils。 But if you look for a panion； be careful in choosing！ And be careful of what you say； even to your closest friends！ The enemy has many spies and many ways of hearing。'
Suddenly he stopped as if listening。 Frodo became aware that all was very quiet； inside and outside。 Gandalf crept to one side of the window。 Then with a dart he sprang to the sill； and thrust a long arm out and downwards。 There was a squawk； and up came Sam Gamgee's curly head hauled by one ear。
'Well； well； bless my beard！' said Gandalf。 'Sam Gamgee is it？ Now what may you be doing？'
'Lor bless you； Mr。 Gandalf； sir！' said Sam。 'Nothing！ Leastways I was just trimming the grass…border under the window； if you follow me。' He picked up his shears and exhibited them as evidence。
'I don't；' said Gandalf grimly。 It is some time since I last heard the sound of your shears。 How long have you been eavesdropping？'
'Eavesdropping； sir？ I don't follow you； begging your pardon。 There ain't no eaves at Bag End； and that's a fact。'
'Don't be a fool！ What have you heard； and why did you listen？' Gandalf's eyes flashed and his brows stuck out like bristles。
'Mr。 Frodo； sir！' cried Sam quaking。 'Don't let him hurt me； sir！ Don't let him turn me into anything unnatural！ My old dad would take on so。 I meant no harm； on my honour； sir！'
'He won't hurt you；' said Frodo； hardly able to keep from laughing； although he was himself startled and rather puzzled。 'He knows； as well as I do； that you mean no harm。 But just you up and answer his questions straight away！'
'Well； sir；' said Sam dithering a little。 'I heard a deal that I didn't rightly understand； about an enemy； and rings； and Mr。 Bilbo； sir； and dragons； and a fiery mountain； and … and Elves； sir。 I listened because I couldn't help myself； if you know what I mean。 Lor bless me； sir； but I do love tales of that sort。 And I believe them too； whatever Ted may say。 Elves； sir！ I would dearly love to see them。 Couldn't you take me to see Elves； sir； when you go？'
Suddenly Gandalf laughed。 'e inside！' he shouted； and putting out both his arms he lifted the astonished Sam； shears； grass…clippings and all； right through the window and stood him on the floor。 'Take you to see Elves； eh？' he said； eyeing Sam closely； but with a smile flickering on his face。 'So you heard that Mr。 Frodo is going away？'
'I did； sir。 And that's why I choked： which you heard seemingly。 I tried not to； sir； but it burst out of me： I was so upset。'
'It can't be helped； Sam；' said Frodo sadly。 He had suddenly realized that flying from the Shire would mean more painful partings than merely saying farewell to the familiar forts of Bag End。 'I shall have to go。 But' … and here he looked hard at Sam … 'if you really care about me； you will keep that dead secret。 See？ If you don't； if you even breathe a word of what you've heard here； then I hope Gandalf will turn you into a spotted toad and fill the garden full of grass…snakes。'
Sam fell on his knees； trembling。 'Get up； Sam！' said Gandalf。 I have thought of something better than that。 Something to shut your mouth； and punish you properly for listening。 You shall go away with Mr。 Frodo！'
'Me； sir！' cried Sam； springing up like a dog invited for a walk。 'Me go and see Elves and all！ Hooray！' he shouted； and then burst into tears。
Chapter 3
Three is pany
'You ought to go quietly； and you ought to go soon；' said Gandalf。 Two or three weeks had passed； and still Frodo made no sign of getting ready to go。
'I know。 But it is difficult to do both；' he objected。 If I just vanish like Bilbo； the tale will be all over the Shire in no time。'
'Of course you mustn't vanish！' said Gandalf。 'That wouldn't do at all！ I said soon； not instantly。 If you can think of any way of slipping out of the Shire without its being generally known； it will be worth a little delay。 But you must not delay too long。'
'What about the autumn； on or after Our Birthday？' asked Frodo。 'I think I could probably make some arrangements by then。'
To tell the truth； he was very reluctant to start； now that it had e to the point。 Bag End seemed a more desirable residence than it had for years； and he wanted to savour as much as he could of his last summer in the Shire。 When autumn came； he knew that part at least of his heart would think more kindly of journeying； as it always did at that season。 He had indeed privately made up his mind to leave on his fiftieth birthday： Bilbo's one hundred and twenty…eighth。 It seemed somehow the proper day on which to set out and follow him。 Following Bilbo was uppermost in his mind； and the one thing that made the thought of leaving bearable。 He thought as little as possible about the Ring； and where it might lead him in the end。 But he did not tell all his thoughts to Gandalf。 What the wizard guessed was always difficult to tell。
He looked at Frodo and smiled。 'Very well；' he said。 'I think that will do … but it must not be any later。 I am getting very anxious。 In the mean…while； do take care； and don't let out any hint of where you are going！ And see that Sam Gamgee does not talk。 If he does； I really shall turn him into a toad。'
'As for where I am going；' said Frodo； 'it would be difficult to give that away； for I have no clear idea myself； yet。'
'Don't be absurd！' said Gandalf。 'I am not warning you against leaving an address at the post…office！ But you are leaving the Shire … and that should not be known； until you are far away。 And you must go； or at least set out； either North； South； West or East … and the direction should certainly not be known。'
'I have been so taken up with the thoughts of leaving Bag End； and of saying farewell； that I have never even considered the direction；' said Frodo。 'For where am I to go？ And by what shall I steer？ What is to be my quest？ Bilbo went to find a treasure； there and back again； but I go to lose one； and not return； as far as I can see。'
'But you cannot see very far；' said Gandalf。 'Neither can I。 It may be your task to find the Cracks of Doom； but that quest may be for others： I do not know。 At any rate you are not ready for that long road yet。'
'No indeed！' said Frodo。 'But in the meantime what course am I to lake？'
'Towards danger； but not too rashly； nor too straight；' answered the wizard。 'If you want my advice； make for Rivendell。 That journey should not prove too perilous； though the Road is less easy than it was； and it will grow worse as the year fails。'
'Rivendell！' said Frodo。 'Very good： I will go east； and I will make for Rivendell。 I will take Sam to visit the Elves； he will be delighted。' He spoke lightly； but his heart was moved suddenly with a desire to see the house of Elrond Halfelven； and breathe the air of that deep valley where many of the Fair Folk still dwelt in peace。
One summer's evening an astonishing piece of news reached the Ivy Bush and Green Dragon。 Giants and other portents on the borders of the Shire were forgotten for more important matters： Mr。 Frodo was selling Bag End； indeed he had already sold it … to the Sackville…Bagginses！
'For a nice bit； loo；' said some。 'At a bargain price；' said others； 'and that's more likely when Mistress Lobelia's the buyer。' （Otho had died some years before； at the ripe but disappointed age of 102。）
Just why Mr。 Frodo was selling his beautiful hole was even more debatable than the price。 A few held the theory … supported by the nods and hints of Mr。 Baggins himself … that Frodo's money was running out： he was going to leave Hobbiton and live in a quiet way on the proceeds of the sale down in Buckland among his Brandybuck relations。 'As far from the Sackville…Bagginses as may be；' some added。 But so firmly fixed had the notion of the immeasurable wealth of the Bagginses of Bag End bee that most found this hard to believe； harder than any other reason or unreason that their fancy could suggest： to most it suggested a dark and yet unrevealed plot by Gandalf。 Though he kept himself very quiet and did not go about by day； it was well known that he was 'hiding up in the Bag End'。 But however a removal might fit in with the designs of his wizardry； there was no doubt about the fact： Frodo Baggins was going back to Buckland。
'Yes； I shall be moving this autumn；' he said。 'Merry Brandybuck is looking out for a nice little hole for me； or perhaps a small house。'
As a matter of fact with Merry's help he had already chosen and bought a little house at Crickhollow in the country beyond Bucklebury。 To all but Sam he pretended he was going to settle down there permanently。 The decision to set out eastwards had suggested the idea to him； for Buckland was on the eastern borders of the Shire； and as he had lived there in childhood his going back would at least seem credible。
Gandalf stayed in the Shire for over two months。 Then one evening； at the end of June； soon after Frodo's plan had been finally arranged； he suddenly announced that he was going off again next morning。 'Only for a short while； I hope；' he said。 'But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get some news； if I can。 I have been idle longer than I should。'
He spoke lightly； but it seemed to Frodo that he looked rather worried。 'Has anything happened？' he asked。
'Well no； but I have heard something that has made me anxious and needs looking into。 If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once； I shall e back immediately； or at least send word。 In the meanwhile stick to your plan； but be more careful than ever； especially of the Ring。 Let me impress on you once more： don't use it！'
He went off at dawn。 'I may be back any day；' he said。 'At the very latest I shall e back for the farewell party。 I think after all you may need my pany on the Road。'
At first Frodo was a good deal disturbed； and wondered often what Gandalf could have heard； but his uneasiness wore off； and in the fine weather he forgot his troubles for a while。 The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer； or so rich an autumn： the trees were laden with apples； honey was dripping in the bs； and the corn was tall and full。
Autumn was well under way before Frodo began to worry about Gandalf again。 September was passing and there was still no news of him。 The Birthday； and the removal； drew nearer； and still he did not e； or send word。 Bag End began to be busy。 Some of Frodo's friends came to stay and help him with the packing： there was Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin； and of course his special friends Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck。 Between them they turned the whole place upside…down。
On September 20th two covered carts went off laden to Buckland； conveying the furniture and goods that Frodo had not sold to his new home； by way of the Brandywine Bridge。 The next day Frodo became really anxious； and kept a constant look…out for Gandalf。 Thursday； his birthday morning； dawned as fair and clear as it had long ago for Bilbo's great party。 Still Gandalf did not appear。 In the evening Frodo gave his f