jrt.the hobbit-第6部分

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hiefs；　and　Bilbo's　pipe　and　tobacco。　So　after　that　the　party　went　along　very　merrily；　and　they　told　stories　or　sang　songs　as　they　rode　forward　all　day；　except　of　course　when　they　stopped　for　meals。　These　didn't　e　quite　as　often　as　Bilbo　would　have　liked　them；　but　still　he　began　to　feel　that　adventures　were　not　so　bad　after　all。　At　first　they　had　passed　through　hobbit…lands；　a　wild　respectable　country　inhabited　by　decent　folk；　with　good　roads；　an　inn　or　two；　and　now　and　then　a　dwarf　or　a　farmer　ambling　by　on　business。　Then　they　came　to　lands　where　people　spoke　strangely；　and　sang　songs　Bilbo　had　never　heard　before。　Now　they　had　gone　on　far　into　the　Lone…lands；　where　there　were　no　people　left；　no　inns；　and　the　roads　grew　steadily　worse。　Not　far　ahead　were　dreary　hills；　rising　higher　and　higher；　dark　with　trees。　On　some　of　them　were　old　castles　with　an　evil　look；　as　if　they　had　been　built　by　wicked　people。　Everything　seemed　gloomy；　for　the　weather　that　day　had　taken　a　nasty　turn。　Mostly　it　had　been　as　good　as　May　can　be；　even　in　merry　tales；　but　now　it　was　cold　and　wet。　In　the　Lone…lands　they　had　to　camp　when　they　could；　but　at　least　it　had　been　dry。　〃To　think　it　will　soon　be　June；〃　grumbled　Bilbo　as　he　splashed　along　behind　the　others　in　a　very　muddy　track。　It　was　after　tea…time；　it　was　pouring　with　rain；　and　had　been　all　day；　his　hood　was　dripping　into　his　eyes；　his　cloak　was　full　of　water；　the　pony　was　tired　and　stumbled　on　stones；　the　others　were　too　grumpy　to　talk。　〃And　I'm　sure　the　rain　has　got　into　the　dry　clothes　and　into　the　food…bags；〃　thought　Bilbo。　〃Bother　burgling　and　everything　to　do　with　it！　　I　wish　I　was　at　home　in　my　nice　hole　by　the　fire；　with　the　kettle　just　beginning　to　sing！〃　It　was　not　the　last　time　that　he　wished　that！　　Still　the　dwarves　jogged　on；　never　turning　round　or　taking　any　notice　of　the　hobbit。　Somewhere　behind　the　grey　clouds　the　sun　must　have　gone　down；　for　it　began　to　get　dark。　Wind　got　up；　and　the　willows　along　the　river…bank　bent　and　sighed。　I　don't　know　what　river　it　was；　a　rushing　red　one；　swollen　with　the　rains　of　the　last　few　days；　that　came　down　from　the　hills　and　mountains　in　front　of　them。　Soon　it　was　nearly　dark。　The　winds　broke　up　the　grey　clouds；　and　a　waning　moon　appeared　above　the　hills　between　the　flying　rags。　Then　they　stopped；　and　Thorin　muttered　something　about　supper；　〃and　where　shall　we　get　a　dry　patch　to　sleep　on？〃　Not　until　then　did　they　notice　that　Gandalf　was　missing。　So　far　he　had　e　all　the　way　with　them；　never　saying　if　he　was　in　the　adventure　or　merely　keeping　them　pany　for　a　while。　He　had　eaten　most；　talked　most；　and　laughed　most。　But　now　he　simply　was　not　there　at　all！　　〃Just　when　a　wizard　would　have　been　most　useful；　too；〃　groaned　Dori　and　Nori　（who　shared　the　hobbit's　views　about　regular　meals；　plenty　and　often）。　　They　decided　in　the　end　that　they　would　have　to　camp　where　they　were。　So　far　they　had　not　camped　before　on　this　journey；　and　though　they　knew　that　they　soon　would　have　to　camp　regularly；　when　they　were　among　the　Misty　Mountains　and　far　from　the　lands　of　respectable　people；　it　seemed　a　bad　wet　evening　to　begin；　on。　They　moved　to　a　clump　of　trees；　and　though　it　was　drier　under　them；　the　wind　shook　the　rain　off　the　leaves；　and　the　drip；　drip；　was　most　annoying。　　Also　the　mischief　seemed　to　have　got　into　the　fire。　Dwarves　can　make　a　fire　almost　anywhere　out　of　almost　anything；　wind　or　no　wind；　but　they　could　not　do　it　that　night；　not　even　Oin　and　Gloin；　who　were　specially　good　at　it。　　Then　one　of　the　ponies　took　fright　at　nothing　and　bolted。　He　got　into　the　river　before　they　could　catch　him；　and　before　they　could　get　him　out　again；　Fili　and　Kili　were　nearly　drowned；　and　all　the　baggage　that　he　carried　was　washed　away　off　him。　Of　course　it　was　mostly　food；　and　there　was　mighty　little　left　for　supper；　and　less　for　breakfast。　There　they　all　sat　glum　and　wet　and　muttering；　while　Oin　and　Gloin　went　on　trying　to　light　the　fire；　and　quarrelling　about　it。　Bilbo　was　sadly　reflecting　that　adventures　are　not　all　pony…rides　in　May…sunshine；　when　Balin；　who　was　always　their　look…out　man；　said：　〃There's　a　light　over　there！〃　There　was　a　hill　some　way　off　with　trees　on　it；　pretty　thick　in　parts。　Out　of　the　dark　mass　of　the　trees　they　could　now　see　a　light　shining；　a　reddish　fortable…looking　light；　as　it　might　be　a　fire　or　torches　twinkling。　When　they　had　looked　at　it　for　some　while；　they　fell　to　arguing。　Some　said　〃no〃　and　some　said　〃yes。〃　Some　said　they　could　but　go　and　see；　and　anything　was　better　than　little　supper；　less　breakfast；　and　wet　clothes　all　the　night。　Others　said：　〃These　parts　are　none　too　well　known；　and　are　too　near　the　mountains。　Travellers　seldom　e　this　way　now。　The　old　maps　are　no　use：　things　have　changed　for　the　worse　and　the　road　is　unguarded。　　They　have　seldom　even　heard　of　the　king　round　here；　and　the　less　inquisitive　you　are　as　you　go　along；　the　less　trouble　you　are　likely　to　find。〃　Some　said：
　〃After　all　there　are　fourteen　of　us。〃　Others　said：　〃Where　has　Gandalf　got　to？〃　This　remark　was　repeated　by　everybody。　Then　the　rain　began　to　pour　down　worse　than　ever；　and　Oin　and　Gloin　began　to　fight。　That　settled　it。　〃After　all　we　have　got　a　burglar　with　us；〃　they　said；　and　so　they　made　off；　leading　their　ponies　（with　all　due　and　proper　caution）　in　the　direction　of　the　light。　They　came　to　the　hill　and　were　soon　in　the　wood。　Up　the　hill　they　went；　but　there　was　no　proper　path　to　be　seen；　such　as　might　lead　to　a　house　or　a　farm；　and　do　what　they　could　they　made　a　deal　of　rustling　and　crackling　and　creaking　（and　a　good　deal　of　grumbling　and　drafting）；　as　they　went　through　the　trees　in　the　pitch　dark。
　Suddenly　the　red　light　shone　out　very　bright　through　the　tree…trunks　not　far　ahead。　〃Now　it　is　the　burglar's　turn；〃　they　said；　meaning　Bilbo。　〃You　must　go　on　and　find　out　all　about　that　light；　and　what　it　is　for；　and　if　all　is　perfectly　safe　and　canny；〃　said　Thorin　to　the　hobbit。　〃Now　scuttle　off；　and　e　back　quick；　if　all　is　well。　If　not；　e　back　if　you　can！　It　you　can't；　hoot　twice　like　a　barn…owl　and　once　like　a　screech…owl；　and　we　will　do　what　we　can。〃
　Off　Bilbo　had　to　go；　before　he　could　explain　that　he　could　not　hoot　even　once　like　any　kind　of　owl　any　more　than　fly　like　a　bat。　But　at　any　rate　hobbits　can　move　quietly　in　woods；　absolutely　quietly。　They　take　a　pride　in　it；　and　Bilbo　had　sniffed　more　than　once　at　what　he　called　〃all　this　dwarvish　racket；〃　as　they　went　along；　though　I　don't　sup…pose　you　or　I　would　notice　anything　at　all　on　a　windy　night；　not　if　the　whole　cavalcade　had　passed　two　feet　off。　As　for　Bilbo　walking　primly　towards　the　red　light；　I　don't　suppose　even　a　weasel　would　have　stirred　a　whisker　at　it。　So；　naturally；　he　got　right　up　to　the　fire…for　fire　it　was　without　disturbing　anyone。　And　this　is　what　he　saw。　Three　very　large　persons　sitting　round　a　very　large　fire　of　beech…logs。　　They　were　toasting　mutton　on　long　spits　of　wood；　and　licking　the　gravy　off　their　fingers。　There　was　a　fine　toothsome　smell。　Also　there　was　a　barrel　of　good　drink　at　hand；　and　they　were　drinking　out　of　jugs。　But　they　were　trolls。
　Obviously　trolls。　Even　Bilbo；　in　spite　of　his　sheltered　life；　could　see　that：
　from　the　great　heavy　faces　of　them；　and　their　size；　and　the　shape　of　their　legs；　not　to　mention　their　language；　which　was　not　drawing…room　fashion　at　all；　at　all。
　〃Mutton　yesterday；　mutton　today；　and　blimey；　if　it　don't　look　like　mutton　again　tomorrow；〃　said　one　of　the　trolls。
　〃Never　a　blinking　bit　of　manflesh　have　we　had　for　long　enough；〃　said　a　second。　〃What　the　'ell　William　was　a…thinkin'　of　to　bring　us　into　these　parts　at　all；　beats　me　…　and　the　drink　runnin'　short；　what's　more；〃　he　said　jogging　the　elbow　of　William；　who　was　taking　a　pull　at　his　jug。　　William　choked。　〃Shut　yer　mouth！〃　he　said　as　soon　as　he　could。　〃Yer　can't　expect　folk　to　stop　here　for　ever　just　to　be　et　by　you　and　Bert。　You've　et　a　village　and　a　half　between　yer；　since　we　e　down　from　the　mountains。　How　much　more　d'yer　want？　And　time's　been　up　our　way；　when　yer'd　have　said　'thank　yer　Bill'　for　a　nice　bit　o'　fat　valley　mutton　like　what　this　is。〃　He　took　a　big　bite　off　a　sheep's　leg　he　was　toasting；　and　wiped　his　lips　on　his　sleeve。　　Yes；　I　am　afraid　trolls　do　behave　like　that；　even　those　with　only　one　head　each。　After　hearing　all　this　Bilbo　ought　to　have　done　something　at　once。　　Either　he　should　have　gone　back　quietly　and　warned　his　friends　that　there　were　three　fair…sized　trolls　at　hand　in　a　nasty　mood；　quite　likely　to　try　toasted　dwarf；　or　even　pony；　for　a　change；　or　else　he　should　have　done　a　bit　of　good　quick　burgling。　A　really　first…class　and　legendary　burglar　would　at　this　point　have　picked　the　trolls'　pockets…it　is　nearly　always　worthwhile　if　you　can　manage　it…；　pinched　the　very　mutton　off　the　spite；　purloined　the　beer；　and　walked　off　without　their　noticing　him。　Others　more　practical　but　with　less　professional　pride　would　perhaps　have　stuck　a　dagger　into　each　of　them　before　they　observed　it。　Then　the　night　could　have　been　spent　cheerily。　　Bilbo　knew　it。　He　had　read　of　a　good　many　things　he　had　never　seen　or　done。　He　was　very　much　alarmed；　as　well　as　disgusted；　he　wished　himself　a　hundred　miles　away；　and　yet…and　yet　somehow　he　could　not　go　straight　back　to　Thorin　and　pany　empty…handed。　So　he　stood　and　hesitated　in　the　shadows。　Of　the　various　burglarious　proceedings　he　had　heard　of　picking　the　trolls'　pockets　seemed　the　least　difficult；　so　at　last　he　crept　behind　a　tree　just　behind　William。
　Bert　and　Tom　went　off　to　the　barrel。　William　was　having　another　drink。　　Then　Bilbo　plucked　up　courage　and　put　his　little　hand　in　William's　enormous　pocket。　There　was　a　purse　in　it；　as　big　as　a　bag　to　Bilbo。　〃Ha！〃　thought　he　warming　to　his　new　work　as　he　lifted　it　carefully　out；　〃this　is　a　beginning！〃　It　was！　Trolls'　purses　are　the　mischief；　and　this　was　no　exception。　〃　'Ere；　'oo　are　you？〃　it　squeaked；　as　it　left　the　pocket；　and　William　turned　round　at　once　and　grabbed　Bilbo　by　the　neck；　before　he　could　duck　behind　the　tree。
　〃Blimey；　Bert；　look　what　I've　copped！〃　said　William。
　〃What　is　it？〃　said　the　others　ing　up。
　〃Lumme；　if　I　knows！　What　are　yer？〃
　〃Bilbo　Baggins；　a　bur…　a　hobbit；〃　said　poor　Bilbo；　shaking　all　over；　and　wondering　how　to　make　owl…noises　before　they　throttled　him。　　〃A　burraho