Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin arrive in the town of Bree. The Hobbits hear about Rangers who are said to be wanderers. The Rangers are taller and darker than the natives and have strange powers of sight and hearing and can communicate with birds and beasts. Rangers are becoming rare but when the come to Bree they are welcomed for the news they carry with them from beyond the town's limits. The Rangers also hear that the Inn, the Prancing Pony, is host to Rangers, Dwarves, wanderers, and many odd sorts of people.
When they get to the gate into Bree, the Gatekeeper questions them about why they are there, but Frodo tells him their visit is their own business. The Gatekeeper lets them pass and tells them where the Prancing Pony.....
