jrt.the hobbit-第48部分

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less　day；　but　cold；　was　broad　above　him。　He　was　shaking；　and　as　chilled　as　stone；　but　his　head　burned　with　fire。
　〃Now　I　wonder　what　has　happened？〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃At　any　rate　I　am　not　yet　one　of　the　fallen　heroes；　but　I　suppose　there　is　still　time　enough　for　that！〃
　He　sat　up　painfully。　Looking　into　the　valley　he　could　see　no　living　goblins。　After　a　while　as　his　head　cleared　a　little；　he　thought　he　could　see　elves　moving　in　the　rocks　below。　He　rubbed　his　eyes。　Surely　there　was　a　camp　still　in　the　plain　some　distance　off；　and　there　was　a　ing　and　going　about　the　Gate？　Dwarves　seemed　to　be　busy　removing　the　wall。　But　all　was　deadly　still。　There　was　no　call　and　no　echo　of　a　song。　Sorrow　seemed　to　be　in　the　air。　〃Victory　after　all；　I　suppose！〃　he　said；　feeling　his　aching　head。　〃Well；　it　seems　a　very　gloomy　business。〃
　Suddenly　he　was　aware　of　a　man　climbing　up　and　ing　towards　him。
　〃Hullo　there！〃　he　called　with　a　shaky　voice。　〃Hullo　there！　What　news？〃　〃What　voice　is　it　that　speaks　among　the　stones？〃　said　the　man　halting　and　peering　about　him　not　far　from　where　Bilbo　sat。
　Then　Bilbo　remembered　his　ring！　〃Well　I'm　blessed！〃　said　he。　〃This　invisibility　has　its　drawbacks　after　all。　Otherwise　I　suppose　I　might　have　spent　a　warm　and　fortable　night　in　bed！〃
　〃It's　me；　Bilbo　Baggins；　panion　of　Thorin！〃　he　cried；　hurriedly　taking　off　the　ring。
　〃It　is　well　that　I　have　found　you！〃　said　the　man　striding　forward。　〃You　are　needed　and　we　have　looked　for　you　long。　You　would　have　been　numbered　among　the　dead；　who　are　many；　if　Gandalf　the　wizard　had　not　said　that　your　voice　was　last　heard　in　this　place。　I　have　been　sent　to　look　here　for　the　last　time。　Are　you　much　hurt？〃
　〃A　nasty　knock　on　the　head；　I　think；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃But　I　have　a　helm　and　a　hard　skull。　All　the　same　I　feel　sick　and　my　legs　are　like　straws。〃　〃I　will　carry　you　down　to　the　camp　in　the　valley；〃　said　the　man；　and　picked　him　lightly　up。
　The　man　was　swift　and　sure…footed。　It　was　not　long　before　Bilbo　was　set　down　before　a　tent　in　Dale；　and　there　stood　Gandalf；　with　his　arm　in　a　sling。　　Even　the　wizard　had　not　escaped　without　a　wound；　and　there　were　few　unharmed　in　all　the　host。
　When　Gandalf　saw　Bilbo；　he　was　delighted。　〃Baggins！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Well　I　never！　Alive　after　all　…　1　am　glad！　I　began　to　wonder　if　even　your　luck　would　see　you　through！　A　terrible　business；　and　it　nearly　was　disastrous。　But　other　news　can　wait。　e！〃　he　said　more　gravely。　〃You　are　called　for；〃　and　leading　the　hobbit　he　took　him　within　the　tent。
　〃Hail！　Thorin；〃　he　said　as　he　entered。　〃I　have　brought　him。〃　There　indeed　lay　Thorin　Oakenshield；　wounded　with　many　wounds；　and　his　rent　armour　and　notched　axe　were　cast　upon　the　floor。　He　looked　up　as　Bilbo　came　beside　him。
　〃Farewell；　good　thief；〃　he　said。　〃I　go　now　to　the　halls　of　waiting　to　sit　beside　my　fathers；　until　the　world　is　renewed。　Since　I　leave　now　all　gold　and　silver；　and　go　where　it　is　of　little　worth；　I　wish　to　part　in　friendship　from　you；　and　I　would　take　back　my　words　and　deeds　at　the　Gate。〃
　Bilbo　knelt　on　one　knee　filled　with　sorrow。　〃Farewell；　King　under　the
　Mountain！〃　he　said。　〃This　is　a　bitter　adventure；　if　it　must　end　so；　and　not　a　mountain　of　gold　can　amend　it。　Yet　I　am　glad　that　I　have　shared　in　your　perils　…　that　has　been　more　than　any　Baggins　deserves。〃
　〃No！〃　said　Thorin。　〃There　is　more　in　you　of　good　than　you　know；　child　of　the　kindly　West。　Some　courage　and　some　wisdom；　blended　in　measure。　If　more　of　us　valued　food　and　cheer　and　song　above　hoarded　gold；　it　would　be　a　merrier　world。　But　sad　or　merry；　I　must　leave　it　now。　Farewell！〃　Then　Bilbo　turned　away；　and　he　went　by　himself；　and　sat　alone　wrapped　in　a　blanket；　and；　whether　you　believe　it　or　not；　he　wept　until　his　eyes　were　red　and　his　voice　was　hoarse。　He　was　a　kindly　little　soul。　Indeed　it　was　long　before　he　had　the　heart　to　make　a　joke　again。　〃A　mercy　it　is；〃　he　said　at　last　to　himself；　〃that　I　woke　up　when　I　did。　I　wish　Thorin　were　living；　but　I　am　glad　that　we　parted　in　kindness。　You　are　a　fool；　Bilbo　Baggins；　and　you　made　a　great　mess　of　that　business　with　the　stone；　and　there　was　a　battle；　in　spite　of　all　your　efforts　to　buy　peace　and　quiet；　but　I　suppose　you　can　hardly　be　blamed　for　that。〃
　All　that　had　happened　after　he　was　stunned；　Bilbo　learned　later；　but　it　gave　him　more　sorrow　than　joy；　and　he　was　now　weary　of　his　adventure。　He　was　aching　in　his　bones　for　the　homeward　journey。　That；　however；　was　a　little　delayed；　so　in　the　meantime　I　will　tell　something　of　events。　The　Eagles　had　long　had　suspicion　of　the　goblins'　mustering；　from　their　watchfulness　the　movements　in　the　mountains　could　not　be　altogether　hid。　So　they　too　had　gathered　in　great　numbers；　under　the　great　Eagle　of　the　Misty　Mountains；　and　at　length　smelling　battle　from　afar　they　had　e　speeding　down　the　gale　in　the　nick　of　time。　They　it　was　who　dislodged　the　goblins　from　the　mountain…slopes；　casting　them　over　precipices；　or　driving　them　down　shrieking　and　bewildered　among　their　foes。　It　was　not　long　before　they　had　freed　the　Lonely　Mountain；　and　elves　and　men　on　either　side　of　the　valley　could　e　at　last　to　the　help　of　the　battle　below。
　But　even　with　the　Eagles　they　were　still　outnumbered。　　In　that　last　hour　Beorn　himself　had　appeared　…　no　one　knew　how　or　from　where。　He　came　alone；　and　in　bear's　shape；　and　he　seemed　to　have　grown　almost　to　giant…size　in　his　wrath。　The　roar　of　his　voice　was　like　drums　and　guns；　and　he　tossed　wolves　and　goblins　from　his　path　like　straws　and　feathers。　He　fell　upon　their　rear；　and　broke　like　a　clap　of　thunder　through　the　ring。　The　dwarves　were　making　a　stand　still　about　their　lords　upon　a　low　rounded　hill。　　Then　Beorn　stooped　and　lifted　Thorin；　who　had　fallen　pierced　with　spears；　and　bore　him　out　of　the　fray。　Swiftly　he　returned　and　his　wrath　was　redoubled；　so　that　nothing　could　withstand　him；　and　no　weapon　seemed　to　bite　upon　him。　He　scattered　the　bodyguard；　and　pulled　down　Bolg　himself　and　crushed　him。　Then　dismay　fell　on　the　Goblins　and　they　fled　in　all　directions。　But　weariness　left　their　enemies　with　the　ing　of　new　hope；　and　they　pursued　them　closely；　and　prevented　most　of　them　from　escaping　where　they　could。　They　drove　many　of　them　into　the　Running　River；　and　such　as　fled　south　or　west　they　hunted　into　the　marshes　about　the　Forest　River；　and　there　the　greater　part　of　the　last　fugitives　perished；　while　those　that　came　hardly　to　the　Wood…elves'　realm　were　there　slain；　or　drawn　in　to　die　in　the　trackless　dark　of　Mirkwood。　Songs　have　said　that　three　parts　of　the　goblin　warriors　of　the　North　perished　on　that　day；　and　the　mountains　had　peace　for　many　a　year。
　Victory　had　been　assured　before　the　fall　of　night；　but　the　pursuit　was　still　on　foot；　when　Bilbo　returned　to　the　camp；　and　not　many　were　in　the　valley　save　the　more　grievously　wounded。
　〃Where　are　the　Eagles？〃　he　asked　Gandalf　that　evening；　as　he　lay　wrapped　in　many　warm　blankets。
　〃Some　are　in　the　hunt；〃　said　the　wizard；　〃but　most　have　gone　back　to　their　eyries。　They　would　not　stay　here；　and　departed　with　the　first　light　of　morning。　Dain　has　crowned　their　chief　with　gold；　and　sworn　friendship　with　them　for　ever。〃
　〃I　am　sorry。　I　mean；　I　should　have　liked　to　see　them　again；〃　said　Bilbo　sleepily；　〃perhaps　I　shall　see　them　on　the　way　home。　I　suppose　I　shall　be　going　home　soon？〃
　〃As　soon　as　you　like；〃　said　the　wizard。
　Actually　it　was　some　days　before　Bilbo　really　set　out。　　They　buried　Thorin　deep　beneath　the　Mountain；　and　Bard　laid　the　Arkenstone　upon　his　breast。
　〃There　let　it　lie　till　the　Mountain　falls！〃　he　said。　〃May　it　bring　good　fortune　to　all　his　folk　that　dwell　here　after！〃　Upon　his　tomb　the　Elvenking　then　laid　Orcrist；　the　elvish　sword　that　had　been　taken　from　Thorin　in　captivity。　It　is　said　in　songs　that　it　gleamed　ever　in　the　dark　if　foes　approached；　and　the　fortress　of　the　dwarves　could　not　be　taken　by　surprise。　　There　now　Dain　son　of　Nain　took　up　his　abode；　and　he　became　King　under　the　Mountain；　and　in　time　many　other　dwarves　gathered　to　his　throne　in　the　ancient　halls。　Of　the　twelve　panions　of　Thorin；　ten　remained。　Fili　and　Kili　had　fallen　defending　him　with　shield　and　body；　for　he　was　their　mother's　elder　brother。　The　others　remained　with　Dain；　for　Dain　dealt　his　treasure　well。　　There　was；　of　course；　no　longer　any　question　of　dividing　the　hoard　in　such　shares　as　had　been　planned；　to　Balin　and　Dwalin；　and　Dori　and　Nori　and　Ori；　and　Oin　and　Gloin；　and　Bifur　and　Bofur　and　Bombur…or　to　Bilbo。　Yet　a　fourteenth　share　of　all　the　silver　and　gold；　wrought　and　unwrought；　was　given　up　to　Bard；　for　Dain　said：　〃We　will　honour　the　agreement　of　the　dead；　and　he　has　now　the　Arkenstone　in　his　keeping。〃
　Even　a　fourteenth　share　was　wealth　exceedingly　great；　greater　than　that　of　many　mortal　kings。　From　that　treasure　Bard　sent　much　gold　to　the　Master　of　Lake…town；　and　he　rewarded　his　followers　and　friends　freely。　To　the　Elvenking　he　gave　the　emeralds　of　Girion；　such　jewels　as　he　most　loved；　which　Dain　had　restored　to　him。　To　Bilbo　he　said：　〃This　treasure　is　as　much　yours　as　it　is　mine；　though　old　agreements　cannot　stand；　since　so　many　have　a　claim　in　its　winning　and　defence。　Yet　even　though　you　were　willing　to　lay　aside　all　your　claim；　I　should　wish　that　the　words　of　Thorin；　of　which　he　repented；　should　not　prove　true：　that　we　should　give　you　little。　I　would　reward　you　most　richly　of　all。〃
　〃Very　kind　of　you；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃But　really　it　is　a　relief　to　me。　How　on　earth　should　I　have　got　all　that　treasure　home　without　war　and　murder　all　along　the　way；　I　don't　know。　And　I　don't　know　what　I　should　have　done　with　it　when　I　got　home。　I　am　sure　it　is　better　in　your　hands。〃　In　the　end　he　would　only　take　two　small　chests；　one　filled　with　silver；　and　the　other　with　gold；　such　as　one　strong　pony　could　carry。　〃That　will　be　quite　as　much　as　I　can　manage；〃　said　he。
　At　last　the　time　came　for　him　to　say　good…bye　to　his　friends。　〃Farewell；　Balin！〃　he　said；　〃and　farewell；　Dwalin；　and　farewell　Dori；　Nori；　Ori；　Oin；　Gloin；　Bifur；　Bofur；　and　Bombur！　May　your　beards　never　grow　thin！〃　And　turning　towards　the　Mountain　he　added：　〃Farewell　Thorin　Oakenshield！　And　Fili　and　Kili！　May　your　memory　never　fade！〃
　Then　the　dwarves　bowed　low　before　their　Gate；　but　words　stuck　in　their　throats。　〃Good…bye　and　good　luck；　wher