A horse and cart trundled by. The rider of the cart was cheerful, and singing a nice little tune. He was elderly and grey, and he was a coned hat with stars all over it, and navy blue robes. Just then, from the bushes, a pest appeared.

'Your late!' It said in a high, girly way.

'A second rate magician is never late, Dofo Shaggins.' Replied the driver. 'Nor is he early.'

'Because no-one will hire the sad git for parties!' Dofo interrupted. The two laughed heartily, and Dofo jumped aboard.

'I'm sick of the sight of you allready, Sandgulf.' Said the hearty young hobbit. Sandulf playfully wrapped his hands around the Hobbits neck.

'What news of the world?' Said Dofo, his breath finally returning. 'Tell me everything you know, so it wont take too long.'

'It's dull at the moment, my lad.' Said Sandgulf. 'Baseball season is over.' He then spotted something to his left. 'Aha!' He proclaimed. 'The long-expected Grub-up!'

His words were true enough, as a large wheelbarrow of unclean meat was been hoisted by a messy Hobbit.

'How is the fat bloater?' Sandgulf asked. 'He's said to have enough food to feed a dragon!'

'You know Dildo.' Replied Dofo. 'He's said to have a suprise in store. Half the Shiter has been invited to his nosh-up! I wonder what's in store.'

Sandgulf laughed at Dofo's pitiful hinting.

'All right, don't tell me.' Dofo growled. 'Before you came along, we Shagginses had a very good name, not to mention high wealth.'

'If, by that, you mean the incident with the Dwarf thieves, I was hardly involved. All I did was give them all directions, that's all.'



This was true, for a long while back, just before the time Sandgulf left the shire until this moment, coincidently, a dozen Dwarves broke into Dildo's nice Hobbit-Slum and stole a hefty portion of his money, leading him chasing them with his pointed stick right into the Musky Mountains, where he found something most unusual.



'Sandgulf.' Said Dofo, ready to leap off the cart. 'I'm glad you're back.'

Dofo didn't tell him that his friends Pipout and Marry were planning a trick on Sandgulf, which was why he was happy for his return.

'So am I.' Said Sandgulf, rubbing an explosive secretly. 'So am I.'