The Muddling Case of the Missed Meal (Part the Second)
(Being the official report of Deputy-Shirriff Lancogard North-took, on assignment to the Hobbiton Watch, with his Notes attached)
THE SHIRRIFF-HOUSE, HOBBITON, Westfarthing in the Shire, on this the 25th day of Wedmath:
CASE STATUS: Closed
On the Twenty-fourth of Wedmath, Deputy-Shirriff North-took rode out from Hobbiton to the town of Woodhall, to interview Master Rollo Boffin, for following up a lead in the Missing Persons report regarding Gerebert Took of Tuckborough (see Case Report of Wedmath 23, with notes). Based on information obtained from an interview with Mistress Esilia Took, Gerebert may have stowed away in a wagon of dry goods bound for Woodhall and, since Master Boffin handles the movement of such goods through Woodhall, the wain in question may have been reported.
On or about tea-time on the twenty-fourth, Deputy North-took arrived in Woodhall and immediately interviewed Master Boffin, who revealed that the wain in question had yet to arrive, now going on seven days behind delivery. Deputy North-took immediately retraced his route back to Wellbridge where, based on Master Boffin’s information, loaded wagons would stop for the night prior to resuming their route.
(NOTE: Upon locating the waystop at Wellbridge, I discovered an abandoned wagon beside a campsite that had not been recently used. Inspection of the scene revealed traces of pipe-weed in the wagon bed; the wagon itself was of shoddy make, with different-sized wheels; and multiple sets of booted footprints could be followed headed south of the Stock Road. I took a sample of the pipe-weed scraps as evidence and returned to Woodhall while there was still light.)
Master Boffin confirmed that the wagon matched the description of Longo Burrow’s wain, and that the pipe-weed scraps were most definitely “Longo-Leaf”, as he called it. Boffin explained further that the tracks may have led to the old Burrow Farmstead, once owned by Odo Burrow, Longo’s late father; Longo inherited the farm but abandoned it some time ago. Deputy North-took set out in haste for the old Burrow stead.
(NOTE: The investigation began to get quite alarming at this point. A missing person’s case grew into a stolen goods issue, and worse: there was a suspected ruffian presence farther into the Shire than Narrowcleave. I determined to scout the old farmstead and gain further confirmation of the ruffians, the stolen consignment, and of course, find Gerebert Took.)
Having sufficient moonlight to see by, Deputy North-took approached the Burrow farmstead, to discover it was occupied by a small band of ruffians using the main farmhouse as a hideout. Inside a locked cage-wagon of the kind used for livestock was Gerebert Took, alive but frightened and malnourished, pleading with the guard to be given some water.
(NOTE: I counted eleven ruffians at the farm, both in the yard and inside the house, including one posted by the wagon where Gerebert was being held prisoner. Rather than facing nearly a dozen Big Folk alone, I decided on a trick. I used my arrows, dipped in a potion I bought from a traveling company of the East Road, to set one shed and part of the porch of the farmhouse on fire. The fire distracted all the ruffians, even the guard, to fight the flames. In the confusion, I was able to force the door of the wagon ajar just enough for Gerebert to slip out, whereupon we lit out like rabbits up the lane to the Stock Road. By the time the ruffians raised a hue and cry, we were long gone down the road to Woodhall.)
Gerebert Took, now freed from his abductors, intended to return at once to Tuckborough and his cousin Esilia; Deputy North-took advised him to remain in Woodhall the rest of the night, staying at the Boffin’s residence (by virtue of their relation), and return with him at first light under escort; the chances of reprisals by the ruffians were not to be discounted. Deputy North-took set out after first light with Master Gerebert in tow, taking a route through Stock to notify Shirriff Boffin of the events of the previous night, and that the Eastfarthing Vigilance Committee should also be appraised of the situation. The two arrived in Hobbiton just at supper hour on the twenty-fifth, with Gerebert Took proceeding on to Tuckborough, and Deputy North-took staying late into the night filing this report.
(NOTE: This closes the Muddling Case of the Missed Meal. Shirriffs Smallburrow and Boffin have been fully briefed in person, and official record is now in the Hobbiton case file, with a copy forwarded to Second Shirriff Bunce in Michel Delving, advising him of the increase in ruffian activity inside the Shire.)
Submitted by: L. NORTH-TOOK, DEPUTY-SHIRRIFF
Co-signed by: R. SMALLBURROW, SHIRRIFF
