jrt.the hobbit-第40部分

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ossing　the　floor　of　the　hall。
　He　went　on；　until　he　came　to　the　great　doors　at　the　further　side；　and　there　a　draught　of　air　refreshed　him；　but　it　almost　puffed　out　his　light。　He　peeped　timidly　through　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　great　passages　and　of　the　dim　beginnings　of　wide　stairs　going　up　into　the　gloom。　And　still　there　was　no　sight　nor　sound　of　Smaug。　He　was　just　going　to　turn　and　go　back；　when　a　black　shape　swooped　at　him　and　brushed　his　face。　He　squeaked　and　started；　stumbled　backwards　and　fell。　His　torch　dropped　head　downwards　and　went　out！　　〃Only　a　bat；　I　suppose　and　hope！〃　he　said　miserably。　But　now　what　am　I　to　do？　Which　is　East；　South；　North　West？〃
　〃Thorin！　Balin！　Oin！　Gloin！　Fill！　Kili！〃　he　cried　as　loud　he　could…it　seemed　a　thin　little　noise　in　the　wide　blackness。　〃The　light's　gone　out！　　Someone　e　and　find　and　help　me！〃　For　the　moment　his　courage　had　failed　together。
　Faintly　the　dwarves　heard　his　small　cries；　though　the　only　word　they　could　catch　was　'help！'
　〃Now　what　on　earth　or　under　it　has　happened？〃　said　Thorin。　〃Certainly　not　the　dragon；　or　he　would　not　go　on　squeaking。〃
　They　waited　a　moment　or　two；　and　still　there　were　no　dragon…noises；　no　sound　at　all　in　fact　but　Bilbo's　distant　voice。　〃e；　one　of　you；　get　another　light　or　two！〃　Thorin　ordered。　〃It　seems　we　have　got　to　go　and　help　our　burglar。〃
　〃It　is　about　our　turn　to　help；〃　said　Balin；　〃and　I　am　quite　willing　to　go。　Anyway　I　expect　it　is　safe　for　the　moment。〃
　Gloin　lit　several　more　torches；　and　then　they　all　crept　out；　one　by　one；　and　went　along　the　wall　as　hurriedly　as　they　could。　It　was　not　long　before　they　met　Bilbo　himself　ing　back　towards　them。　His　wits　had　quickly　returned　soon　as　he　saw　the　twinkle　of　their　lights。
　〃Only　a　bat　and　a　dropped　torch；　nothing　worse！〃　he　said　in　answer　to　their　questions。　Though　they　were　much　relieved；　they　were　inclined　to　be　grumpy　at　being　frightened　for　nothing；　but　what　they　would　have　said；　if　he　had　told　them　at　that　moment　about　the　Arkenstone；　I　don't　know。　The　mere　fleeting　glimpses　of　treasure　which　they　had　caught　as　they　went　along　had　rekindled　all　the　fire　of　their　dwarvish　hearts；　and　when　the　heart　of　a　dwarf；　even　the　most　respectable；　is　wakened　by　gold　and　by　jewels；　he　grows　suddenly　bold；　and　he　may　bee　fierce。
　The　dwarves　indeed　no　longer　needed　any　urging。　All　were　now　eager　to　explore　the　hall　while　they　had　the　chance；　and　willing　to　believe　that；　for　the　present；　Smaug　was　away　from　home。　Each　now　gripped　a　lighted　torch；　and　as　they　gazed；　first　on　one　side　and　then　on　another；　they　forgot　fear　and　even　caution。　They　spoke　aloud；　and　cried　out　to　one　another；　as　they　lifted　old　treasures　from　the　mound　or　from　the　wall　and　held　them　in　the　light　caressing　and　fingering　them。　Fili　and　Kili　were　almost　in　merry　mood；　and　finding　still　hanging　there　many　golden　harps　strung　with　silver　they　took　them　and　struck　them；　and　being　magical　（and　also　untouched　by　the　dragon；　who　had　small　interests　in　music）　they　were　still　in　tune。　The　dark　hall　was　filled　with　a　melody　that　had　long　been　silent。　But　most　of　the　dwarves　were　more　practical；　they　gathered　gems　and　stuffed　their　pockets；　and　let　what　they　could　not　carry　far　back　through　their　fingers　with　a　sigh。　Thorin　was　not　least　among　these；　but　always　he　searched　from　side　to　side　for　something　which　he　could　not　find。　It　was　the　Arkenstone　but　he　spoke　of　it　yet　to　no　one。
　Now　the　dwarves　took　down　mail　and　weapons　from　the　walls；　and　armed　themselves。　Royal　indeed　did　Thorin　look；　clad　in　a　coat　of　gold…plated　rings；　with　a　silver　hafted　axe　in　a　belt　crusted　with　scarlet　stones。　　〃Mr。　Baggins！〃　he　cried。　〃Here　is　the　first　payment　of　your　reward！　Cast　off　your　old　coat　and　put　on　this！〃
　With　that　he　put　on　Bilbo　a　small　coat　of　mail；　wrought　for　some　young　elf…prince　long　ago。　It　was　of　silver…steel　which　the　elves　call　mithril；　and　with　it　went　a　belt　of　pearls　and　crystals。　A　light　helm　of　figured　leather；　strengthened　beneath　with　hoops　of　steel；　and　studded　about　the　bring　with　white　gems；　was　set　upon　the　hobbit's　head。
　〃I　feel　magnificent；〃　he　thought；　〃but　I　expect　I　look　rather　absurd。　How　they　would　laugh　on　the　Hill　at　home　Still　I　wish　there　was　a　looking…glass　handy！〃
　All　the　same　Mr。　Baggins　kept　his　head　more　clear　of　the　bewitchment　of　the　hoard　than　the　dwarves　did。　Long　before　the　dwarves　were　tired　of　examining　the　treasures　he　became　wary　of　it　and　sat　down　on　the　floor；　and　he　began　to　wonder　nervously　what　the　end　of　it　all　would　be　〃I　would　give　a　good　many　of　these　precious　goblets；　thought；　〃for　a　drink　of　something　cheering　out　of　one　Beorn's　wooden　bowls！〃　〃Thorin！〃　he　cried　aloud。　〃What　next？　We　are　armed；　but　what　good　has　any　armour　ever　been　before　against　Smaug　the　Dreadful？　This　treasure　is　not　yet　won　back。　We　are　not　looking　for　gold　yet；　but　for　a　way　of　escape；　and　we　have　tempted　luck　too　long！〃
　'〃You　speak　the　truth！〃　answered　Thorin；　recovering　his　wits。　〃Let　us　go！　　I　will　guide　you。　Not　in　a　thousand　years　should　I　forget　the　ways　of　this　palace。〃　Then　he　hailed　the　others；　and　they　gathered　together；　and　holding　their　torches　above　their　heads　they　passed　through　the　gaping　doors；　not　without　many　a　backward　glance　of　longing。
　Their　glittering　mail　they　had　covered　again　with　their　old　cloaks　and　their　bright　helms　with　their　tattered　hoods；　and　one　by　one　they　walked　behind　Thorin；　a　line　of　little　lights　in　the　darkness　that　halted　often；　listening　in　fear　once　more　for　any　rumour　of　the　dragon's　ing。　Though　all　the　old　adornments　were　long　mouldered　or　destroyed；　and　though　all　was　befouled　and　blasted　with　the　ings　and　goings　of　the　monster；　Thorin　knew　every　passage　and　every　turn。　They　climbed　long　stairs；　and　turned　and　went　down　wide　echoing　ways；　and　turned　again　and　climbed　yet　more　stairs；　and　yet　more'　stairs　again。
　These　were　smooth；　cut　out　of　the　living　rock　broad　and　lair；　and　up；　up；　the　dwarves　went；　and　they　met　no　sign　of　any　living　thing；　only　furtive　shadows　that　fled　from　the　approach　of　their　torches　fluttering　in　the　draughts。　The　steps　were　not　made；　all　the　same；　for　hobbit…legs；　and　Bilbo　was　just　feeling　that　he　could　go　on　no　longer；　when　suddenly　the　roof　sprang　high　and　far　beyond　the　reach　of　their　torch…light。　A　white　glimmer　could　be　seen　ing　through　some　opening　far　above；　and　the　air　smelt　sweeter。　Before　them　light　came　dimly　through　great　doors；　that　hung　twisted　on　their　hinges　and　half　burnt。
　〃This　is　the　great　chamber　of　Thror；〃　said　Thorin；　〃the　hall　of　feasting　and　of　council。　Not　far　off　now　is　the　Front　Gate。〃
　They　passed　through　the　ruined　chamber。　Tables　were　rotting　there；　chairs　and　benches　were　lying　there　overturned；　charred　and　decaying。　Skulls　and　bones　were　upon　the　floor　among　flagons　and　bowls　and　broken　drinking…horns　and　dust。　As　they　came　through　yet　more　doors　at　the　further　end；　a　sound　of　water　fell　upon　their　ears；　and　the　grey　light　grew　suddenly　more　full。　　〃There　is　the　birth　of　the　Running　River；〃　said　Thorin。　〃From　here　it　hastens　to　the　Gate。　Let　us　follow　it！〃
　Out　of　a　dark　opening　in　a　wall　of　rock　there　issued　a　boiling　water；　and　it　flowed　swirling　in　a　narrow　channel；　carved　and　made　straight　and　deep　by　the　cunning　of　ancient　hands。　Beside　it　ran　a　stone…paved　road；　wide　enough　for　many　men　abreast。　Swiftly　along　this　they　ran；　and　round　a　wide…sweeping　turn…and　behold！　before　them　stood　the　broad　light　of　day。　In　front　there　rose　a　tall　arch；　still　showing　the　fragments　of　old　carven　work　within；　worn　and　splintered　and　blackened　though　it　was。　A　misty　sun　sent　its　pale　light　between　the　arms　of　the　Mountain；　and　beams　of　gold　fell　on　the　pavement　at　the　threshold。
　A　whirl　of　bats　frightened　from　slumber　by　their　smoking　torches　flurried　over　them；　as　they　sprang　forward　their　feet　slithered　on　stones　rubbed　smooth　and　slimed　by　the　passing　of　the　dragon。　Now　before　them　the　water　fell　noisily　outward　and　foamed　down　towards　the　valley。　They　flung　their　pale　torches　to　the　ground；　and　stood　gazing　out　with　dazzled　eyes。　They　were　e　to　the　Front　Gate；　and　were　looking　out　upon　Dale。
　〃Well！〃　said　Bilbo；　〃I　never　expected　to　be　looking　out　of　this　door。　And　I　never　expected　to　be　so　pleased　to　see　the　sun　again；　and　to　feel　the　wind　on　my　face。　But；　ow！　this　wind　is　cold！〃
　It　was。　A　bitter　easterly　breeze　blew　with　a　threat　of　oning　winter。　　It　swirled　over　and　round　the　arms　of　the　Mountain　into　the　valley；　and　sighed　among　the　rocks。　After　their　long　time　in　the　stewing　depths　of　the　dragon…haunted　caverns；　they　shivered　in　the　sun。　Suddenly　Bilbo　realized　that　he　was　not　only　tired　but　also　very　hungry　indeed。　〃It　seems　to　be　late　morning；〃　he　said；　〃and　so　I　suppose　it　is　more　or　less　breakfast…time　…　if　there　is　any　breakfast　to　have。　But　I　don't　feel　that　Smaug's　front　doorstep　is　the　safest　place　for　a　meal。　Do　let's　go　somewhere　where　we　can　sit　quiet　for　a　bit！〃　〃Quite　right！〃　said　Balin。　〃And　I　think　I　know　which　way　we　should　go：　we　ought　to　make　for　the　old　look…out　post　at　the　Southwest　corner　of　the　Mountain。〃
　〃How　far　is　that？〃　asked　the　hobbit。
　〃Five　hours　march；　I　should　think。　It　will　be　rough　going。　The　road　from　the　Gate　along　the　left　edge　of　the　stream　seems　all　broken　up。　But　look　down　there！　The　river　loops　suddenly　east　across　Dale　in　front　of　the　ruined　town。　　At　that　point　there　was　once　a　bridge；　leading　to　steep　stairs　that　climbed　up　the　right　bank；　and　so　to　a　road　running　towards　Ravenhill。　There　is　（or　was）　a　path　that　left　the　road　and　climbed　up　to　the　post。　A　hard　climb；　too；　even　if　the　old　steps　are　still　there。〃
　〃Dear　me！〃　grumbled　the　hobbit。　〃More　walking　and　more　climbing　without　breakfast！　I　wonder　how　many　breakfasts；　and　other　meals；　we　have　missed　inside　that　nasty　clockless；　timeless　hole？〃
　As　a　matter　of　fact　two　nights　and　the　day　between　had　gone　by　（and　not　altogether　without　food）　since　the　dragon　smashed　the　magic　door；　but　Bilbo　had　quite　lost　count；　and　it　might　have　been　one　night　or　a　week　of　nights　for　all　he　could　tell。
　〃e；　e！〃　said　Thorin　laughing　…　his　spirits　had　begun　to　rise　again；　and　he　rattled　the　precious　stones　in　his　pockets。　〃Don't　call　my　place　a　nasty　hole！　You　wait　till　it　has　been　cleaned　and　re