“I will look after that. I am not sending the horse back, I am riding
it!”
     Then they knew that Gandalf was going to leave them at the very edge
of Mirkwood, and they were in despair.
     But nothing they could say would change his mind.
     
     “It is no use arguing. I have, as I told you, some pressing business
away south; and I am already late through bothering with you people.
We may meet again before all is over, and then again of course we may
not. That depends on your luck and on your courage and sense; and I am
sending Mr. Baggins with you. I have told you before that he has more
     

 Cheer up Thorin and Company! This is your expedition after all.
Think of the treasure at the end, and forget the forest and the
dragon, at any rate until tomorrow morning!”
     
     So now there was nothing left to do but to fill their water-skins at a
clear spring they found close to the forest-gate, and unpack the
ponies. They distributed the packages as fairly as they could, though