[Bêthberry]

Merriadoc Brandybuck sauntered closer to poor Hardwin, who might have been dry and cosy but who was also hungry and straining hard against his halter to reach the hay to eat.

Why, that's Podo Cotton's cart and Hardwin his pony,said Merry out loud. Mr. Cotton must be back from his trade trip. But where is he? What's the pony doing here at Bucklebury Fern? There's something funny about this... something unusual....Maybe even an adventure. Merry stopped his addresses to the air and looked about.

Then he patted Hardwin and fed him some hay, before beginning to speak to the grateful pony. Well, obviously, some help is needed here and Merriadoc Brandybuck is just the young hobbit to come to the rescue, heroically finding and returning Mr. Cotton's lost cart, laden with wares and surprises and delicacies, and who knows what else, and tending to his famished pony. I'll make a dashing stir. I'll be the talk of all Buckland. And ... I'll have a great ride out it. Hardwin, you shall take me to Crickshollow. There's been some strange goings-on there people say. Yes, indeed, you and I shall investigate on our way back to Overhill. We'll have our own tales to tell.

Hardwin was, you might say, a captive audience. But he appreciated the hay and the slight brushing which Merry gave him and easily allowed the young hobbit to climb aboard the cart. Merry struck out on the main road of Buckland in hopes that someone would see his hospitable service to the farmer-tradesman, but no one was on the road so early and soon after the rain. Merry followed the road for a bit and then came upon a gate in the tall hedge. No one saw him enter, either. At least, no hobbit did.