jrt.the hobbit-第15部分

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　out；　kill　it。　　It　meant　to　kill　him。　No；　not　a　fair　fight。　He　was　invisible　now。　Gollum　had　no　sword。　Gollum　had　not　actually　threatened　to　kill　him；　or　tried　to　yet。　And　he　was　miserable；　alone；　lost。　A　sudden　understanding；　a　pity　mixed　with　horror；　welled　up　in　Bilbo's　heart：　a　glimpse　of　endless　unmarked　days　without　light　or　hope　of　betterment；　hard　stone；　cold　fish；　sneaking　and　whispering。　　All　these　thoughts　passed　in　a　flash　of　a　second。　He　trembled。　And　then　quite　suddenly　in　another　flash；　as　if　lifted　by　a　new　strength　and　resolve；　he　leaped。
　No　great　leap　for　a　man；　but　a　leap　in　the　dark。　Straight　over　Gollum's　head　he　jumped；　seven　feet　forward　and　three　in　the　air；　indeed；　had　he　known　it；　he　only　just　missed　cracking　his　skull　on　the　low　arch　of　the　passage。
　Gollum　threw　himself　backwards；　and　grabbed　as　the　hobbit　flew　over　him；but　too　late：　his　hands　snapped　on　thin　air；　and　Bilbo；　falling　fair　on　his　sturdy　feet；　sped　off　down　the　new　tunnel。　He　did　not　turn　to　see　what　Gollum　was　doing。　There　was　a　hissing　and　cursing　almost　at　his　heels　at　first；　then　it　stopped。　All　at　once　there　came　a　bloodcurdling　shriek；　filled　with　hatred　and　despair。　Gollum　was　defeated。　He　dared　go　no　further。　He　had　lost：　lost　his　prey；　and　lost；　too；　the　only　thing　he　had　ever　cared　for；　his　precious。　　The　cry　brought　Bilbo's　heart　to　his　mouth；　but　still　he　held　on。　Now　faint　as　an　echo；　but　menacing；　the　voice　came　behind：
　〃Thief；　thief；　thief！　Baggins！　We　hates　it；　we　hates　it；　we　hates　it　for　ever！〃
　Then　there　was　a　silence。　But　that　too　seemed　menacing　to　Bilbo。　〃If　goblins　are　so　near　that　he　smelt　them；〃　he　thought；　〃then　they'll　have　heard　his　shrieking　and　cursing。　Careful　now；　or　this　way　will　lead　you　to　worse　things。〃
　The　passage　was　low　and　roughly　made。　It　was　not　too　difficult　for　the　hobbit；　except　when；　in　spite　of　all　care；　he　stubbed　his　poor　toes　again；　several　times；　on　nasty　jagged　stones　in　the　floor。　〃A　bit　low　for　goblins；　at　least　for　the　big　ones；〃　thought　Bilbo；　not　knowing　that　even　the　big　ones；　the　ores　of　the　mountains；　go　along　at　a　great　speed　stooping　low　with　their　hands　almost　on　the　ground。
　Soon　the　passage　that　had　been　sloping　down　began　to　go　up　again；　and　after　a　while　it　climbed　steeply。　That　slowed　Bilbo　down。　But　at　last　the　slope　stopped；　the　passage　turned　a　corner；　and　dipped　down　again；　and　there；　at　the　bottom　of　a　short　incline；　he　saw；　filtering　round　another　corner…a　glimpse　of　light。　Not　red　light；　as　of　fire　or　lantern；　but　a　pale　out…of…doors　sort　of　light。　Then　Bilbo　began　to　run。
　Scuttling　as　fast　as　his　legs　would　carry　him　he　turned　the　last　corner　and　came　suddenly　right　into　an　open　space；　where　the　light；　after　all　that　time　in　the　dark；　seemed　dazzlingly　bright。　Really　it　was　only　a　leak　of　sunshine　in　through　a　doorway；　where　a　great　door；　a　stone　door；　was　left　standing　open。
　Bilbo　blinked；　and　then　suddenly　he　saw　the　goblins：　goblins　in　full　armour　with　drawn　swords　sitting　just　inside　the　door；　and　watching　it　with　wide　eyes；　and　watching　the　passage　that　led　to　it。　They　were　aroused；　alert；　ready　for　anything。
　They　saw　him　sooner　than　he　saw　them。　Yes；　they　saw　him。　Whether　it　was　。an　accident；　or　a　last　trick　of　the　ring　before　it　took　a　new　master；　it　was　not　on　his　finger。　With　yells　of　delight　the　goblins　rushed　upon　him。　　A　pang　of　fear　and　loss；　like　an　echo　of　Gollum's　misery；　smote　Bilbo；　and　forgetting　even　to　draw　his　sword　he　struck　his　hands　into　his　pockets。　　And…　there　was　the　ring　still；　in　his　left　pocket；　and　it　slipped　on　his　finger。　The　goblins　stopped　short。　They　could　not　see　a　sign　of　him。　He　had　vanished。　They　yelled　twice　as　loud　as　before；　but　not　so　delightedly。　　〃Where　is　it？〃　they　cried。
　〃Go　back　up　the　passage！〃　some　shouted。
　〃This　way！〃　some　yelled。　〃That　way！〃　others　yelled。
　〃Look　out　for　the　door；〃　bellowed　the　captain。
　Whistles　blew；　armour　clashed；　swords　rattled；　goblins　cursed　and　swore　and　ran　hither　and　thither；　falling　over　one　another　and　getting　very　angry。　　There　was　a　terrible　outcry；　to…do；　and　disturbance。
　Bilbo　was　dreadfully　frightened；　but　he　had　the　sense　to　understand　what　had　happened　and　to　sneak　behind　a　big　barrel　which　held　drink　for　the　goblin…guards；　and　so　get　out　of　the　way　and　avoid　being　bumped　into；　trampled　to　death；　or　caught　by　feel。
　〃I　must　get　to　the　door；　I　must　get　to　the　door！〃　he　kept　on　saying　to　himself；　but　it　was　a　long　time　before　he　ventured　to　try。　Then　it　was　like　a　horrible　game　of　blind…man's　buff。　The　place　was　full　of　goblins　running　about；　and　the　poor　little　hobbit　dodged　this　way　and　that；　was　knocked　over　by　a　goblin　who　could　not　make　out　what　he　had　bumped　into；　scrambled　away　on　all　fours；　slipped　between　the　legs　of　the　captain　just　in　time；　got　up；　and　ran　for　the　door。
　It　was　still　ajar；　but　a　goblin　had　pushed　it　nearly　to。　Bilbo　struggled　but　he　could　not　move　it。　He　tried　to　squeeze　through　the　crack。　He　squeezed　and　squeezed；　and　he　stuck！　It　was　awful。　His　buttons　had　got　wedged　on　the　edge　of　the　door　and　the　door…post。　He　could　see　outside　into　the　open　air：　there　were　a　few　steps　running　down　into　a　narrow　valley　between　tall　mountains；　the　sun　came　out　from　behind　a　cloud　and　shone　bright　on　the　outside　of　the　door…but　he　could　not　get　through。
　Suddenly　one　of　the　goblins　inside　shouted：　〃There　is　a　shadow　by　the　door。　Something　is　outside！〃
　Bilbo's　heart　jumped　into　his　mouth。　He　gave　a　terrific　squirm。　Buttons　burst　off　in　all　directions。　He　was　through；　with　a　torn　coat　and　waistcoat；　leaping　down　the　steps　like　a　goat；　while　bewildered　goblins　were　still　picking　up　his　nice　brass　buttons　on　the　doorstep。
　Of　course　they　soon　came　down　after　him；　hooting　and　hallooing；　and　hunting　among　the　trees。　But　they　don't　like　the　sun：　it　makes　their　legs　wobble　and　their　heads　giddy。　They　could　not　find　Bilbo　with　the　ring　on；　slipping　in　and　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　trees；　running　quick　and　quiet；　and　keeping　out　of　the　sun；　so　soon　they　went　back　grumbling　and　cursing　to　guard　the　door。　Bilbo　had　escaped。
　Chapter　6
　Out　of　the　Frying…Pan　into　the　Fire
　
　Bilbo　had　escaped　the　goblins；　but　he　did　not　know　where　he　was。　He　had　lost　hood；　cloak；　food；　pony；　his　buttons　and　his　friends。　He　wandered　on　and　on；　till　the　sun　began　to　sink　westwards…behind　the　mountains。　Their　shadows　fell　across　Bilbo's　path；　and　he　looked　back。　Then　he　looked　forward　and　could　see　before　him　only　ridges　and　slopes　falling　towards　lowlands　and　plains　glimpsed　occasionally　between　the　trees。
　〃Good　heavens！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　seem　to　have　got　right　to　the　other　side　of　the　Misty　Mountains；　right　to　the　edge　of　the　Land　Beyond！　Where　and　O　where　can　Gandalf　and　the　dwarves　have　got　to？　I　only　hope　to　goodness　they　are　not　still　back　there　in　the　power　of　the　goblins！〃
　He　still　wandered　on；　out　of　the　little　high　valley；　over　its　edge；　and　down　the　slopes　beyond；　but　all　the　while　a　very　unfortable　thought　was　growing　inside　him。　He　wondered　whether　he　ought　not；　now　he　had　the　magic　ring；　to　go　back　into　the　horrible；　horrible；　tunnels　and　look　for　his　friends。　He　had　just　made　up　his　mind　that　it　was　his　duty；　that　he　must　turn　back…and　very　miserable　he　felt　about　it…when　he　heard　voices。　　He　stopped　and　listened。　It　did　not　sound　like　goblins；　so　he　crept　forward　carefully。　He　was　on　a　stony　path　winding　downwards　with　a　rocky　wall。　　on　the　left　hand；　on　the　other　side　the　ground　sloped　away　and　there　were　dells　below　the　level　of　the　path　overhung　with　bushes　and　low　trees。　In　one　of　these　dells　under　the　bushes　people　were　talking。
　He　crept　still　nearer；　and　suddenly　he　saw　peering　between　two　big　boulders　a　head　with　a　red　hood　on：　it　was　Balin　doing　look…out。　He　could　have　clapped　and　shouted　for　joy；　but　he　did　not。　He　had　still　got　the　ring　on；　for　fear　of　meeting　something　unexpected　and　unpleasant；　and　he　saw　that　Balin　was　looking　straight　at　him　without　noticing　him。
　〃I　will　give　them　all　a　surprise；〃　he　thought；　as　he　crawled　into　the　bushes　at　the　edge　of　the　dell。　Gandalf　was　arguing　with　the　dwarves。　They　were　discussing　all　that　had　happened　to　them　in　the　tunnels；　and　wondering　and　debating　what　they　were　to　do　now。　The　dwarves　were　grumbling；　and　Gandalf　was　saying　that　they　could　not　possibly　go　on　with　their　journey　leaving　Mr。　　Baggins　in　the　hands　of　the　goblins；　without　trying　to　find　out　if　he　was　alive　or　dead；　and　without　trying　to　rescue　him。
　〃After　all　he　is　my　friend；〃　said　the　wizard；　〃and　not　a　bad　little　chap。　I　feel　responsible　for　him。　I　wish　to　goodness　you　had　not　lost　him。〃
　The　dwarves　wanted　to　know　why　he　had　ever　been　brought　at　all；　why　he　could　not　stick　to　his　friends　and　e　along　with　them；　and　why　the　wizard　had　not　chosen　someone　with　more　sense。　〃He　has　been　more　trouble　than　use　so　far；〃　said　one。　〃If　we　have　got　to'　go　back　now　into　those　abominable　tunnels　to　look　for　him；　then　drat　him；　I　say。〃
　Gandalf　answered　angrily：　〃I　brought　him；　and　I　don't　bring　things　that　are　of　no　use。　Either　you　help　me　to　look　for　him；　or　I　go　and　leave　you　here　to　get　out　of　the　mess　as　best　you　can　yourselves。　If　we　can　only　find　him　again；　you　will　thank　me　before　all　is　over。　Whatever　did　you　want　to　go　and　drop　him　for；　Dori？〃
　〃You　would　have　dropped　him；〃　said　Dori；　〃if　a　goblin　had　suddenly　grabbed　your　leg　from　behind　in　the　dark；　tripped　up　your　feet；　and　kicked　you　in　the　back！〃
　〃Then　why　didn't　you　pick　him　up　again？〃
　〃Good　heavens！　Can　you　ask！　Goblins　fighting　and　biting　in　the　dark；　everybody　falling　over　bodies　and　hitting　one　another！　You　nearly　chopped　off　my　head　with　Glamdring；　and　Thorin　Was　stabbing　here　there　and　everywhere　with　Orcrist。　All　of　a　sudden　you　gave　one　of　your　blinding　flashes；　and　we　saw　the　goblins　running　back　yelping。　You　shouted　'follow　me　everybody！'　and　everybody　ought　to　have　followed。　We　thought　everybody　had。　There　was　no　time　to　count；　as　you　know　quite　well；　till　we　had　dashed　through　the　gate…guards；　out　of　the　lower　door；　and　helter…skelter　down　here。　And　here　we　are…without　the　burglar；　confusticate　him！〃
　〃And　here's　the　burglar！〃　said　Bilbo　stepping　down　into　the　middle　of　them；　and　slipping　off　the　ring。
　Bless　me；　how　they　j