jrt.the hobbit-第41部分

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　〃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　redecorated！〃　〃That　won't　be　till　Smaug's　dead；〃　said　Bilbo　glumly。　〃In　the　meanwhile　where　is　he？　I　would　give　a　good　breakfast　to　know。　I　hope　he　is　not　up　on　the　Mountain　looking　down　at　us！〃
　That　idea　disturbed　the　dwarves　mightily；　and　they　quickly　decided　that　Bilbo　and　Balin　were　right。
　〃We　must　move　away　from　here；〃　said　Don。　〃I　feel　as　if　his　eyes　were　on　the　back　of　my　head。〃
　〃It's　a　cold　lonesome　place；〃　said　Bombur。　〃There　may　be　drink；　but　I　see　no　sign　of　food。　A　dragon　would　always　be　hungry　in　such　parts。〃　〃e　on！　e　on！〃　cried　the　others。　〃Let　us　follow　Balm's　path！〃　Under　the　rocky　wall　to　the　right　there　was　no　path；　so　on　they　trudged　among　the　stones　on　the　left　side　of　the　river；　and　the　emptiness　and　desolation　soon　sobered　even　Thorin　again。　The　bridge　that　Balin　had　spoken　of　they　found　long　fallen；　and　most　of　its　stones　were　now　only　boulders　in　the　shallow　noisy　stream；　but　they　forded　the　water　without　much　difficulty；　and　found　the　ancient　steps；　and　climbed　the　high　bank。　After　going　a　short　way　they　struck　the　old　road；　and　before　long　came　to　a　deep　dell　sheltered　among　the　rocks；　there　they　rested　for　a　while　and　had　such　a　breakfast　as　they　could；　chiefly　cram　and　water。　（If　you　want　to　know　what　cram　is；　I　can　only　say　that　I　don't　know　the　recipe；　but　it　is　biscuitish；　keeps　good　indefinitely；　is　supposed　to　be　sustaining；　and　is　certainly　not　entertaining；　being　in　fact　very　uninteresting　except　as　a　chewing　exercise。　It　was　made　by　the　Lake…men　for　long　journeys）。
　After　that　they　went　on　again；　and　now　the　road　struck　westwards　and　left　the　river；　and　the　great　shoulder　of　the　south…pointing　mountain…spur　drew　ever　nearer。　At　length　they　reached　the　hill　path。　It　scrambled　steeply　up；　and　they　plodded　slowly　one　behind　the　other；　till　at　last　in　the　late　afternoon　they　came　to　the　top　of　the　ridge　and　saw　the　wintry　sun　going　downwards　to　the　West。
　Here　they　found　a　flat　place　without　a　wall　on　three　sides；　but　backed　to　the　North　by　a　rocky　face　in　which　there　was　an　opening　like　a　door。　From　that　door　there　was　a　wide　view　East　and　South　and　West。　　〃Here；〃　said　Balin；　〃in　the　old　days　we　used　always　to　keep　watchmen；　and　that　door　behind　leads　into　a　rock…hewn　chamber　that　was　made　here　as　a　guardroom。　There　were　several　places　like　it　round　the　Mountain。　But　there　seemed　small　need　for　watching　in　the　days　of　our　prosperity；　and　the　guards　were　made　over　fortable；　perhaps　…　otherwise　we　might　have　had　longer　warnings　of　the　ing　of　the　dragon；　and　things　might　have　been　different。　　Still；　〃here　we　can　now　lie　hid　and　sheltered　for　a　while；　and　can　see　much　without　being　seen。〃
　〃Not　much　use；　if　we　have　been　seen　ing　here；〃　said　Dori；　who　was　always　looking　up　towards　the　Mountain's　peak；　as　if　he　expected　to　see　Smaug　perched　there　like　a　bird　on　a　steeple。
　〃We　must　take　our　chance　of　that；〃　said　Thorin。　〃We　can　go　no　further　to…day。〃
　〃Hear；　hear！〃　cried　Bilbo；　and　flung　himself　on　the　ground。
　In　the　rock…chamber　there　would　have　been　room　for　a　hundred；　and　there　was　a　small　chamber　further　in；　more　removed　from　the　cold　outside。　It　was　quite　deserted；　not　even　wild　animals　seemed　to　have　used　it　in　all　the　days　of　Smaug's　dominion。　There　they　laid　their　burdens；　and　some　threw　themselves　down　at　once　and　slept；　but　the　others　sat　near　the　outer　door　and　discussed　their　plans。
　In　all　their　talk　they　came　perpetually　back　to　one　thing：　where　was
　Smaug？　They　looked　West　and　there　was　nothing；　and　East　there　was　nothing；　and　in　the　South　there　was　no　sign　of　the　dragon；　but　there　was　a　gathering　of　very　many　birds。　At　that　they　gazed　and　wondered；　but　they　were　no　nearer　understanding　it；　when　the　first　cold　stars　came　out。
　
　Chapter　14
　Fire　and　Water
　
　Now　if　you　wish；　like　the　dwarves；　to　hear　news　of　Smaug；　you　must　go　back　again　to　the　evening　when　he　smashed　the　door　and　flew　off　in　rage；　two　days　before。
　The　men　of　the　lake…town　Esgaroth　were　mostly　indoors；　for　the　breeze　was　from　the　black　East　and　chill；　but　a　few　were　walking　on　the　quays；　and　watching；　as　they　were　fond　of　doing；　the　stars　shine　out　from　the　smooth　patches　of　the　lake　as　they　opened　in　the　sky。　From　their　town　the　Lonely　Mountain　was　mostly　screened　by　the　low　hills　at　the　far　end　of　the　lake；　through　a　gap　in　which　the　Running　River　came　down　from　the　North。　Only　its　high　peak　could　they　see　in　clear　weather；　and　they　looked　seldom　at　it；　for　it　was　ominous　and　dreary　even　in　the　light　of　morning。　Now　it　was　lost　and　gone；　blotted　in　the　dark。
　Suddenly　it　flickered　back　to　view；　a　brief　glow　touched　it　and　faded。　　〃Look！〃　said　one。　〃The　lights　again！　Last　night　the　watchmen　saw　them　start　and　fade　from　midnight　until　dawn。　Something　is　happening　up　there。〃　〃Perhaps　the　King　under　the　Mountain　is　forging　gold；〃　said　another。　〃It　is　long　since　he　went　north。　It　is　time　the　songs　began　to　prove　themselves　again。〃
　〃Which　king？〃　said　another　with　a　grim　voice。　〃As　like　as　not　it　is　the　marauding　fire　of　the　Dragon；　the　only　king　under　the　Mountain　we　have　ever　known。〃
　〃You　are　always　foreboding　gloomy　things！〃　said　the　others。　〃Anything　from　floods　to　poisoned　fish。　Think　of　something　cheerful！〃　Then　suddenly　a　great　light　appeared　in　the　low　place　in　the　hills　and　the　northern　end　of　the　lake　turned　golden。
　〃The　King　beneath　the　Mountain！〃　they　shouted。　〃His　wealth　is　like　the　Sun；　his　silver　like　a　fountain；　his　rivers　golden　run！　The　river　is　running　gold　from　the　Mountain！〃　they　cried；　and　everywhere　windows　were　opening　and　feet　were　hurrying。
　There　was　once　more　a　tremendous　excitement　and　enthusiasm。　But　the　grim…voiced　fellow　ran　hotfoot　to　the　Master。　〃The　dragon　is　ing　or　I　am　a　fool！〃　he　cried。　〃Cut　the　bridges！　To　arms！　To　arms！〃
　Then　warning　trumpets　were　suddenly　sounded；　and　echoed　along　the　rocky　shores。　The　cheering　stopped　and　the　joy　was　turned　to　dread。　So　it　was　that　the　dragon　did　not　find　them　quite　unprepared。　Before　long；　so　great　was　his　speed；　they　could　see　him　as　a　spark　of　fire　rushing　towards　them　and　growing　ever　huger　and　more　bright；　and　not　the　most　foolish　doubted　that　the　prophecies　had　gone　rather　wrong。　Still　they　had　a　little　time。　Every　vessel　in　the　town　was　filled　with　water；　every　warrior　was　armed；　every　arrow　and　dart　was　ready；　and　the　bridge　to　the　land　was　thrown　down　and　destroyed；　before　the　roar　of　Smaug's　terrible　approach　grew　loud；　and　the　lake　rippled　red　as　fire　beneath　the　awful　beating　of　his　wings。
　Amid　shrieks　and　wailing　and　the　shouts　of　men　he　came　over　them；　swept
　towards　the　bridges　and　was　foiled！　The　bridge　was　gone；　and　his　enemies　were　on　an　island　in　deep　water…too　deep　and　dark　and　cool　for　his　liking。　If　he　plunged　into　it；　a　vapour　and　a　steam　would　arise　enough　to　cover　all　the　land　with　a　mist　for　days；　but　the　lake　was　mightier　than　he；　it　would　quench　him　before　he　could　pass　through。
　Roaring　he　swept　back　over　the　town。　A　hail　of　dark　arrows　leaped　up　and　snapped　and　rattled　on　his　scales　and　jewels；　and　their　shafts　fell　back　kindled　by　his　breath　burning　and　hissing　into　the　lake。　No　fireworks　you　ever　imagined　equalled　the　sights　that　night。　At　the　twanging　of　the　bows　and　the　shrilling　of　the　trumpets　the　dragon's　wrath　blazed　to　its　height；　till　he　was　blind　and　mad　with　it。　No　one　had　dared　to　give　battle　to　him　for　many　an　age；　nor　would　they　have　dared　now；　if　it　had　not　been　for　the　grim…voiced　man　（Bard　was　his　name）；　who　ran　to　and　fro　cheering　on　the　archers　and　urging　the　Master　to　order　them　to　fight　to　the　last　arrow。
　Fire　leaped　from　the　dragon's　jaws。　He　circled　for　a　while　high　in　the　air　above　them　lighting　all　the　lake；　the　trees　by　the　shores　shone　like　copper　and　like　blood　with　leaping　shadows　of　dense　black　at　their　feet。　Then　down　he　swooped　straight　through　the　arrow…storm；　reckless　in　his　rage；　taking　no　heed　to　turn　his　scaly　sides　towards　his　foes；　seeking　only　to　set　their　town　ablaze。
　Fire　leaped　from　thatched　roofs　and　wooden　beam…ends　as　he　hurtled　down　and　past　and　round　again；　though　all　had　been　drenched　with　water　before　he　came。　Once　more　water　was　flung　by　a　hundred　hands　wherever　a　spark　appeared。　　Back　swirled　the　dragon。　A　sweep　of　his　tail　and　the　roof　of　the　Great　House　crumbled　and　smashed　down。　Flames　unquenchable　sprang　high　into　the　night。　　Another　swoop　and　another；　and　another　house　and　then　another　sprang　afire　and　fell；　and　still　no　arrow　hindered　Smaug　or　hurt　him　more　than　a　fly　from　the　marshes。　Already　men　were　jumping　into　the　water　on　every　side。　Women　and　children　were　being　huddled　into　laden　boats　in　the　market…pool。　Weapons　were　flung　down。　There　was　mourning　and　weeping；　where　but　a　little　time　ago　the　old　songs　of　mirth　to　e　had　been　sung　about　the　dwarves。　Now　men　cursed　their　names。　The　Master　himself　was　turning　to　his　great　gilded　boat；　hoping　to　row　away　in　the　confusion　and　save　himself。　Soon　all　the　town　would　be　deserted　and　burned　down　to　the　surface　of　the　lake。　That　was　the　dragon's　hope。　They　could　all　get　into　boats　for　all　he　cared。　There　he　could　have　fine　sport　hunting　them；　or　they　could　stop　till　they　starved。　Let　them　try　to　get　to　land　and　he　would　be　ready。　Soon　he　would　set　all　the　shoreland　woods　ablaze　and　wither　every　field　and　pasture。　Just　now　he　was　enjoying　the　sport　of　town…baiting　more　than　he　had　enjoyed　anything　for　years。　But　there　was　still　a　pany　of　archers　that　held　their　ground　among　the　burning　houses。　　Their　captain　was　Bard；　grim…voiced　and　grim…faced；　whose　friends　had　accused　him　of　prophesying　floods　and　poisoned　fish；　though　they　knew　his　worth　and　courage。　He　was　a　descendant　in　long　line　of　Girion；　Lord　of　Dale；　whose　wife　and　child　had　escaped　down　the　Running　River　from　the　ruin　long　ago。　Now　he　shot　with　a　great　yew　bow；　till　all　his　arrows　but　one　were　spent。　The　flames　were　near　him。　His　panions　were　leaving　him。　He　bent　his　bow　for　the　last　time。　Suddenly　out　of　the　dark　something　fluttered　to　his　shoulder。　He　started…but　it　was　only　an　old　thrush。　Unafraid　it　perched　b