jrt.the hobbit-第7章

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　〃You　are；〃　said　Bert。
　〃You're　a　liar；〃　said　William；　and　so　the　argument　beg　all　over　again。　In　the　end　they　decided　to　mince　them　fine　and　boil　them。　So　they　got　a　black　pot；　and　they　took　out　their　knives。
　〃No　good　boiling　'em！　We　ain't　got　no　water；　and　it's　a　long　way　to　the　well　and　all；〃　said　a　voice。　Bert　and　William　thought　it　was　Tom's。　　〃Shut　up！〃　said　they；　〃or　we'll　never　have　done。　And　yer　can　fetch　the　water　yerself；　if　yer　say　any　more。〃
　〃Shut　up　yerself！〃　said　Tom；　who　thought　it　was　William's　voice。　〃Who's　arguing　but　you。　I'd　like　to　know。〃
　〃You're　a　booby；〃　said　William。
　〃Booby　yerself！〃　said　Tom。
　And　so　the　argument　began　all　over　again；　and　went　on　hotter　than　ever；　until　at　last　they　decided　to　sit　on　the　sacks　one　by　one　and　squash　them；　and　boil　them　next　time。
　〃Who　shall　we　sit　on　first？〃　said　the　voice。
　〃Better　sit　on　the　last　fellow　first；〃　said　Bert；　whose　eye　had　been　damaged　by　Thorin。　He　thought　Tom　was　talking。
　〃Don't　talk　to　yerself！〃　said　Tom。　〃But　if　you　wants　to　sit　on　the　last　one；　sit　on　him。　Which　is　he？〃
　〃The　one　with　the　yellow　stockings；〃　said　Bert。
　〃Nonsense；　the　one　with　the　grey　stockings；〃　said　a　voice　like　William's。
　〃I　made　sure　it　was　yellow；〃　said　Bert。
　〃Yellow　it　was；〃　said　William。
　〃Then　what　did　yer　say　it　was　grey　for？〃　said　Bert。
　〃I　never　did。　Tom　said　it。〃
　〃That　I　never　did！〃　said　Tom。　〃It　was　you。〃
　〃Two　to　one；　so　shut　yer　mouth！〃　said　Bert。
　〃Who　are　you　a…talkin'　to？〃　said　William。
　〃Now　stop　it！〃　said　Tom　and　Bert　together。　〃The　night's　gettin'　on；　and　dawn　es　early。　Let's　get　on　with　it！〃
　〃Dawn　take　you　all；　and　be　stone　to　you！〃　said　a　voice　that　sounded　like　William's。　But　it　wasn't。　For　just　at　that　moment　the　light　came　over　the　hill；　and　there　was　a　mighty　twitter　in　the　branches。　William　never　spoke　for　he　stood　turned　to　stone　as　he　stooped；　and　Bert　and　Tom　were　stuck　like　rocks　as　they　looked　at　him。　And　there　they　stand　to　this　day；　all　alone；　unless　the　birds　perch　on　them；　for　trolls；　as　you　probably　know；　must　be　underground　before　dawn；　or　they　go　back　to　the　stuff　of　the　mountains　they　are　made　of；　and　never　move　again。　That　is　what　had　happened　to　Bert　and　Tom　and　William。　　〃Excellent！〃　said　Gandalf；　as　he　stepped　from　behind　a　tree；　and　helped　Bilbo　to　climb　down　out　of　a　thorn…bush。　Then　Bilbo　understood。　It　was　the　wizard's　voice　that　had　kept　the　trolls　bickering　and　quarrelling；　until　the　light　came　and　made　an　end　of　them。
　The　next　thing　was　to　untie　the　sacks　and　let　out　the　dwarves。　They　were　nearly　suffocated；　and　very　annoyed：　they　had　not　at　all　enjoyed　lying　there　listening　to　the　trolls　making　plans　for　roasting　them　and　squashing　them　and　mincing　them。　They　had　to　hear　Bilbo's　account　of　what　had　happened　to　him　twice　over；　before　they　were　satisfied。
　〃Silly　time　to　go　practising　pinching　and　pocket…picking；〃　said　Bombur；　〃when　what　we　wanted　was　fire　and　food！〃
　〃And　that's　just　what　you　wouldn't　have　got　of　those　fellows　without　a　struggle；　in　any　case；〃　said　Gandalf。
　〃Anyhow　you　are　wasting　time　now。　Don't　you　realize　that　the　trolls　must　have　a　cave　or　a　hole　dug　somewhere　near　to　hide　from　the　sun　in？　We　must　look　into　it！〃
　They　searched　about；　and　soon　found　the　marks　of　trolls'　stony　boots　going　away　through　the　trees。　They　followed　the　tracks　up　the　hill；　until　hidden　by　bushes　they　came　on　a　big　door　of　stone　leading　to　a　cave。　But　they　could　not　open　it；　not　though　they　all　pushed　while　Gandalf　tried　various　incantations。
　〃Would　this　be　any　good？〃　asked　Bilbo；　when　they　were　getting　tired　and　angry。　〃I　found　it　on　the　ground　where　the　trolls　had　their　fight。〃　He　held　out　a　largish　key；　though　no　doubt　William　had　thought　it　very　small　and　secret。　It　must　have　fallen　out　of　his　pocket；　very　luckily；　before　he　was　turned　to　stone。
　〃Why　on　earth　didn't　you　mention　it　before？〃　they　cried。　　Gandalf　grabbed　it　and　fitted　it　into　the　key…hole。　Then　the　stone　door　swung　back　with　one　big　push；　and　they　all　went　inside。　There　were　bones　on　the　floor　and　a　nasty　smell　was　in　the　air；　but　there　was　a　good　deal　of　food　jumbled　carelessly　on　shelves　and　on　the　ground；　among　an　untidy　litter　of　plunder；　of　all　sorts　from　brass　buttons　to　pots　full　of　gold　coins　standing　in　a　corner。　There　were　lots　of　clothes；　too；　hanging　on　the　walls…too　small　for　trolls；　I　am　afraid　they　belonged　to　victims…and　among　them　were　several　swords　of　various　makes；　shapes；　and　sizes。　Two　caught　their　eyes　particularly；　because　of　their　beautiful　scabbards　and　jewelled　hilts。　Gandalf　and　Thorin　each　took　one　of　these；　and　Bilbo　took　a　knife　in　a　leather　sheath。　　It　would　have　made　only　a　tiny　pocket…knife　for　a　troll；　but　it　was　as　good　as　a　short　sword　for　the　hobbit。
　〃These　look　like　good　blades；〃　said　the　wizard；　half　drawing　them　and　looking　at　them　curiously。　〃They　were　not　made　by　any　troll；　nor　by　any　smith　among　men　in　these　parts　and　days；　but　when　we　can　read　the　runes　on　them；　we　shall　know　more　about　them。〃
　〃Let's　get　out　of　this　horrible　smell！〃　said　Fili　So　they　carried　out　the　pots　of　coins；　and　such　food　as　was　un…touched　and　looked　fit　to　eat；　also　one　barrel　of　ale　which　was　still　full。　By　that　time　they　felt　like　breakfast；　and　being　very　hungry　they　did　not　turn　their　noses　up　at　what　they　had　got　from　the　trolls'　larder。　Their　own　provisions　were　very　scanty。　Now　they　had　bread　and　cheese；　and　plenty　of　ale；　and　bacon　to　toast　in　the　embers　of　the　fire。　　After　that　they　slept；　for　their　night　had　been　disturbed；　（and　they　did　nothing　more　till　the　afternoon。　Then　they　I　brought　up　their　ponies；　and　carried　away　the　pots　of　gold；　and　buried　them　very　secretly　not　far　from　the　track　by　the　river；　putting　a　great　many　spells　over　them；　just　in　case　they　ever　had　the…chance　to　e　back　and　recover　them。　When　that　was　done；　they　all　mounted　once　more；　and　jogged　along　again　on　the　path　towards　the　East。　　〃Where　did　you　go　to；　if　I　may　ask？〃　said　Thorin　to　Gandalf　as　they　rode　along。
　〃To　look　ahead；〃　said　he。
　〃And　what　brought　you　back　in　the　nick　of　time？〃
　〃Looking　behind；〃　said　he。
　〃Exactly！〃　said　Thorin；　〃but　could　you　be　more　plain？〃　〃I　went　on　to　spy　out　our　road。　It　will　soon　bee　dangerous　and　difficult。　Also　I　was　anxious　about　replenishing　our　small　stock　of　provisions。　I　had　not　gone　very　far；　however；　when　I　met　a　couple　of　friends　of　mine　from　Rivendell。〃
　〃Where's　that？〃　asked　Bilbo；
　〃Don't　interrupt！〃　said　Gandalf。　〃You　will　get　there　in　a　few　days　now；　if　we're　lucky；　and　find　out　all　about　it　As　I　was　saying　I　met　two　of　Elrond's　people。　They　were　hurrying　along　for　fear　of　the　trolls。　It　was　they　who　told　me　that　three　of　them　had　e　down　from　the　mountains　and　settled　in　the　woods　not　far　from　the　road；　they　had　frightened　everyone　away　from　the　district；　and　they　waylaid　strangers。
　〃I　immediately　had　a　feeling　that　I　was　wanted　back。　Looking　behind　I　saw　a　fire　in　the　distance　and　made　for　it。　So　now　you　know。　Please　be　more　careful；　next　time；　or　we　shall　never　get　anywhere！〃
　〃Thank　you！〃　said　Thorin。
　
　Chapter　3
　A　Short　Rest
　
　They　did　not　sing　or　tell　stories　that　day；　even　though　the　weather　improved；　nor　the　next　day；　nor　the　day　after。　They　had　begun　to　feel　that　danger　was　not　far　away　on　either　side。　They　camped　under　the　stars；　and　their　horses　had　more　to　eat　than　they　had；　for　there　was　plenty　of　grass；　but　there　was　not　much　in　their　bags；　even　with　what　they　had　got　from　the　trolls。　One　morning　they　forded　a　river　at　a　wide　shallow　place　full　of　the　noise　of　stones　and　foam。　The　far　bank　was　steep　and　slippery。　When　they　got　to　the　top　of　it；　leading　their　ponies；　they　saw　that　the　great　mountains　had　marched　down　very　near　to　them。　Already　they　I　seemed　only　a　day's　easy　journey　from　the　feet　of　the　nearest。　Dark　and　drear　it　looked；　though　there　were　patches　of　sunlight　on　its　brown　sides；　and　behind　its　shoulders　the　tips　of　snow…peaks　gleamed。
　〃Is　that　The　Mountain？〃　asked　Bilbo　in　a　solemn　voice；　looking　at　it　with　round　eyes。　He　had　never　seen　a　thing　that　looked　so　big　before。　　〃Of　course　not！〃　said　Balin。　〃That　is　only　the　beginning　of　the　Misty　Mountains；　and　we　have　to　get　through；　or　over；　or　under　those　somehow；　before　we　can　e　into　Wilderland　beyond。　And　it　is　a　deal　of　a　way　even　from　the　other　side　of　them　to　the　Lonely　Mountain　in　the　East　Where　Smaug　lies　on　our　treasure。〃
　〃O！〃　said　Bilbo；　and　just　at　that　moment　he　felt　more　fared　than　he　ever　remembered　feeling　before。　He　was　thinking　once　again　of　his　fortable　chair　before　the　fire　in　his　favourite　sitting…room　in　his　hobbit…hole；　and　of　the　kettle　singing。　Not　for　the　last　time！
　　Now　Gandalf　led　the　way。　〃We　must　not　miss　the　road；　or　we　shall　be　done　for；〃　he　said。　〃We　need　food；　for　one　thing；　and　rest　in　reasonable　safety…also　it　is　very　necessary　to　tackle　the　Misty　Mountains　by　the　proper　path；　or　else　you　will　get　lost　in　them；　and　have　to　e　back　and　start　at　the　beginning　again　（if　you　ever　get　back　at　all）。〃
　They　asked　him　where　he　was　making　for；　and　he　answered：　〃You　are　e　to　the　very　edge　of　the　Wild；　as　some　of　you　may　know。　Hidden　somewhere　ahead　of　us　is　the　fair　valley　of　Rivendell　where　Elrond　lives　in　the　Last　Homely　House。　I　sent　a　message　by　my　friends；　and　we　are　expected。〃　That　sounded　nice　and　forting；　but　they　had　not　got　there　yet；　and　it　was　not　so　easy　as　it　sounds　to　find　the　Last　Homely　House　west　of　the　Mountains。　There　seemed　to　be　no　trees　and　no　valleys　and　no　hills　to　break　the　ground　in　front　of　them；　only　one　vast　slope　going　slowly　up　and　up　to　meet　the　feet　of　the　nearest　mountain；　a　wide　land　the　colour　of　heather　and　crumbling　rock；　with　patches　and　slashes　of　grass…green　and　moss…green　showing　where　water　might　be。
　Morning　passed；　afternoon　came；　but　in　all　the　silent　waste　there　was　no　sign　of　any　dwelling。　They　were　growing　anxious；　for　they　now　saw　that　the　house　might　be　hidden　almost　anywhere　between　them　and　the　mountains。　They　came　on　unexpected　valleys；　narrow　with　deep　sides；　that　opened　suddenly　at　their　feet；　and　they　looked　down　surprised　to　see　trees　below　them　and　running　water　at　the　bottom。　There　were　gullies　that　they　could　almost　leap　over；　but　very　deep　with　waterfalls　in　them。　There　were　dark　ravines　that　one　could　neither　jump　nor　climb　into。　There　were　bogs；　some　of　them　green　pleasant　places　to　look　at　with　flowers　growing　bright　and　tall；　but　a　pony　that　walked　there　with　a　pack　on　its　back　would　never　have　e　out　again。　　It　was　indeed　a　much　wider　land　from　the　ford　to　the　mountains　than　ever　you　would　have　guessed。　Bilbo　was　astonished。　The　only　path　was　marked　with　white　stones　some　of　which　were　small；　and　others　were　half　covered　with　moss　or　heather。　Altogether　it　was　a　very　slow　business　following　the　track；　even　guided　by　Gandalf；　who　seemed　to　know　his　way　about　pretty　well。　　His　head　and　beard　wagged　this　way　and　that　as　he　looked　for　the　stones；　and　they　followed　his　head；　but　they　seemed　no　nearer　to　the　end　of　the　search　when　the　day　began　to　fail。　Tea…time　had　long　gone　by；　and　it　seemed　supper…time　would　soon　do　the　same。　There　were　moths　fluttering　about；　and　the　light　became　very　dim；　for　the　moon　had　not　risen。　Bilbo's　pony　began　to　stumble　over　roots　and