[mark12_30]

The Snowhobbits all reported to Lindo after the council, and he gave them all orders, and they rounded up all the children that were able to understand them, and got everything gathered. The Snowhobbits packed and bound everything as tight and small as they could.

When the snowhobbits reassembled, Lindo picked up a long hempen tether, and waved it at them. "Does anybody know where this fine hempen tether came from?"

Retya blushed. "I do, sir. Tocca and Tem and I made it."

"Well, " Lindo said, "I wouldn't tie any ponies with it, unless I had the owner's express permission." Retya, Tocca, and Tem shot each other the uneasy glance that was becoming another trademark of the Snowhobbits (in trouble), and looked down. "However, " Lindo continued, "I do believe that Ancalimon might be able to find a good use for this finely crafted hempen tether over the next several days. He might need to tie some things onto that logging cart, and this might be just the thing. Who would like to take it to him, and offer it to him?"

Tem looked like he might burst with pride, and Lindo presented the tether to him. "Be respectful and obedient, and hurry back as soon as he is done with you." Tem ran out the door. "Follow him! " Lindo said to Retya and Tocca. They ran out after him.

Lindo set about dividing everything proportionally for the larger children. The smaller children would have enough to do just to keep up.

Mothers began to arrive looking for their babies; Lindo suddenly found it difficult to give each and every one of them up, despite knowing that there was no better place for any child than in its own mother's arms. Many of the mothers thanked him for everything he had done. But it was Larkspur's mother, Holly, that kissed him on the cheek, and smiled at him, and said, "You'll have your hands full with your Snowhobbits."

"Holly, " he said, "If you need anything, I want to be the first to know. I'll carry Larkspur whenever you need a rest. "

"All right, " she said, just to humor him, and wrapped her child well against the cold, and went out into the night.

Retya returned with Tocca and Tem, and found Lindo. "He took the tether, and told us thank you. He said he'd be cutting it into shorter lengths, " they said, a little disappointed that Ancalimon would cut up such a fine long tether. "Are you all right? What's wrong, Lindo?"

"I'll be fine, " Lindo said. "And so will you. But listen, now. Everybody. We're going to be walking a long way. And I want you to be looking around in case people need help, and whenever anybody does, I want you to help them the best you can. Old hobbits, mothers with babies, anybody that gets tired. You're young and strong, and I want you to help anybody that needs it. All right?"

They stood taller, and the Assistant Junior Snowhobbits got very wide-eyed. "And one more thing, " Lindo continued. "This journey that we are going on, to the mountains, will not be an easy one. There should be a song about it. Keep that in mind. Be brave and helpful and strong, and we'll write songs to sing at the end about the Midnight Mountain Journey."

He studied each one in turn, and saw the fire in their eyes, and looked forward to writing the song-- that is, whatever parts they had not already written by then, or needed help with. Some of his students were already beginning to compete with him in songwriting.

More and more mothers came to claim their children, and the Workhouse was emptying out. The Snowhobbits, Valiant and Juniors both, shouldered their packs and went to where the travellers were mustering. They were surprised to learn that everyone expected the Snowhobbits to travel together.

"Then we will stay near the elders and the mothers, and watch for chances to help them, " Lindo said. So it was agreed.