Book 6, Chapter 8 Summary

Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin arrive at the bridge over the Brandywine to find that there is a gate there. As well, the houses have changed, being built above the ground with square windows instead of the underground dwellings with round windows that hobbits prefer. To add to the oddity, the hobbits at the gate are afraid to let them in because "the Chief" (975), Lotho Baggins, has made rules against it. Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Sam, of course, do not want to hear of it and, instead, tell them to open the gate.

The noise of the hobbits arguing wakes up the "Big Man" (976) -- who turns out to be Bill Ferny -- and he threatens to break their necks. However, when he sees four heavily armed, angry hobbits facing him, he runs off never to be seen again. With the...