Ummmm....where were we...Bree? Just finished "Strider" and need to read "Knife in the Dark."
So who really trashed the hobbit-room at the Prancing Pony and ran off the ponies? I vote on Bill Ferny or Harry the Gatekeeper. The Nazgul would have been drawn to the Ring and were blind, the fake hobbit-in-a-bed trick by Nob would have been wasted on them. Strider also didn't think they would attack till all nine were there. Plus there is no honor among thieves and Bill works for Saruman, so if the Ringwraiths got the ring, they'd be out of luck.