Jasper leaped out of the ditch. He saw several small hobbits, but one large male that Evelina had pushed away at first contact. But the hobbit now reached for the knife in his belt.
He made to strike the bandit from behind, but Jasper tackled him, knocking the knife from his hand. Twisting around on the ground, the hobbit landed to heafty kicks into Jasper's face. He realed backwords, but watched in satisfaction as Barodir's stick crashed down on the hobbit's head. He collapsed, visibly stunned.
Jasper pushed two other hobbits aside and made for the horse, pulling out his dagger. The halter was old and broke easily. The horse, already terrified, galloped of down the road when Jasper kicked it roughly.
He saw that Evelina had the food basket, and the Barodir had hit several hobbits. She wistled, and the bandits ran off the road, jumping the ditch. They disappeared into the forest, leaving the bewildered and sore hobbits behind, lacking both food and horse.
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