jrt.the hobbit-第13章

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　〃Well；　so　am　I；〃　cried　Bilbo；　〃and　I　want　to　get　unlost。　And　I　won　the　game；　and　you　promised。　So　e　along！　e　and　let　me　out；　and　then　go　on　with　your　looking！〃
　Utterly　miserable　as　Gollum　sounded；　Bilbo　could　not　find　much　pity　in　his　heart；　and　he　had　a　feeling　that　anything　Gollum　wanted　so　much　could　hardly　be　something　good。
　〃e　along！〃　he　shouted。
　〃No；　not　yet；　precious！〃　Gollum　answered。　〃We　must　search　for　it；　it's　lost；　gollum。〃
　〃But　you　never　guessed　my　last　question；　and　you　promised；〃　said　Bilbo。　　〃Never　guessed！〃　said　Gollum。　Then　suddenly　out　of　the　gloom　came　a　sharp　hiss。　〃What　has　it　got　in　its　pocketses？　Tell　us　that。　It　must　tell　first。〃　As　far　as　Bilbo　knew；　there　was　no　particular　reason　why　he　should　not　tell。　Gollum's　mind　had　jumped　to　a　guess　quicker　than　his；　naturally；　for　Gollum　had　brooded　for　ages　on　this　one　thing；　and　he　was　always　afraid　of　its　being　stolen。　But　Bilbo　was　annoyed　at　the　delay。　After　all；　he　had　won　the　game；　pretty　fairly；　at　a　horrible　risk。　〃Answers　were　to　be　guessed　not　given；〃　he　said。
　〃But　it　wasn't　a　fair　question；〃　said　Gollum。　〃Not　a　riddle；　precious；　no。〃
　〃Oh　well；　if　it's　a　matter　of　ordinary　questions；〃　Bilbo　replied；　〃then　I　asked　one　first。　What　have　you　lost？　Tell　me　that！〃
　〃What　has　it　got　in　its　pocketses？〃　The　sound　came　hissing　louder　and　sharper；　and　as　he　looked　towards　it；　to　his　alarm　Bilbo　now　saw　two　small　points　of　light　peering　at　him。　As　suspicion　grew　in　Gollum's　mind；　the　light　of　his　eyes　burned　with　a　pale　flame。
　〃What　have　you　lost？〃　Bilbo　persisted。　But　now　the　light　in　Gollum's　eyes　had　bee　a　green　fire；　and　it　was　ing　swiftly　nearer。　Gollum　was　in　his　boat　again；　paddling　wildly　back　to　the　dark　shore；　and　such　a　rage　of　loss　and　suspicion　was　in　his　heart　that　no　sword　had　any　more　terror　for　him。　　Bilbo　could　not　guess　what　had　maddened　the　wretched　creature；　but　he　saw　that　all　was　up；　and　that　Gollum　meant　to　murder　him　at　any　rate。　Just　in　time　he　turned　and　ran　blindly　back　up　the　dark　passage　down　which　he　had　e；　keeping　close　to　the　wall　and　feeling　it　with　his　left　hand。　　〃What　has　it　got　in　its　pocketses？〃　he　heard　the　hiss　loud　behind　him；　and　the　splash　as　Gollum　leapt　from　his　boat。
　〃What　have　I；　I　wonder？〃　he　said　to　himself；　as　he　panted　and　stumbled　along。　He　put　his　left　hand　in　his　pocket。　The　ring　felt　very　cold　as　it　quietly　slipped　on　to　his　groping　forefinger。
　The　hiss　was　close　behind　him。　He　turned　now　and　saw　Gollum's　eyes　like　small　green　lamps　ing　up　the　slope。　Terrified　he　tried　to　run　faster；　but　suddenly　he　struck　his　toes　on　a　snag　in　the　floor；　and　fell　flat　with　his　little　sword　under　him。
　In　a　moment　Gollum　was　on　him。　But　before　Bilbo　could　do　anything；　recover　his　breath；　pick　himself　up；　or　wave　his　sword；　Gollum　passed　by；　taking　no　notice　of　him；　cursing　and　whispering　as　he　ran。　　What　could　it　mean？　Gollum　could　see　in　the　dark。　Bilbo　could　see　the　light　of　his　eyes　palely　shining　even　from　behind。　Painfully　he　got　up；　and　sheathed　his　sword；　which　was　now　glowing　faintly　again；　then　very　cautiously　he　followed。　There　seemed　nothing　else　to　do。　It　was　no　good　crawling　back　down　to　Gollum's　water。　Perhaps　if　he　followed　him；　Gollum　might　lead　him　to　some　way　of　escape　without　meaning　to。
　〃Curse　it！　curse　it！　curse　it！〃　hissed　Gollum。　〃Curse　the　Baggins！　It's　gone！　What　has　it　got　in　its　pocketses？　Oh　we　guess；　we　guess；　my　precious。　　He's　found　it；　yes　he　must　have。　My　birthday…present。〃　Bilbo　pricked　up　his　ears。　He　was　at　last　beginning　to　guess　himself。　H^　hurried　a　little；　getting　as　close　as　he　dared　behind　Gollum；　who　was　still　going　quickly；　not　looking　back；　but　turning　his　head　from　side　to　side；　as　Bilbo　could　see　from　the　faint　glimmer　on　the　walls。
　〃My　birthday…present！　Curse　it！　How　did　we　lose　it；　my　precious？　Yes；　that's　it。　When　we　came　this　way　last；　when　we　twisted　that　nassty　young　squeaker。　That's　it。　Curse　it！　It　slipped　from　us；　after　all　these　ages　and　ages！　It's　gone；　gollum。〃
　Suddenly　Gollum　sat　down　and　began　to　weep；　a　whistling　and　gurgling　sound　horrible　to　listen　to。　Bilbo　halted　and　flattened　himself　against　the　tunnel…wall。　After　a　while　Gollum　stopped　weeping　and　began　to　talk。　He　seemed　to　be　having　an　argument　with　himself。
　〃It's　no　good　going　back　there　to　search；　no。　We　doesn't　remember　all　the　places　we've　visited。　And　it's　no　use。　The　Baggins　has　got　it　in　its　pocketses；　the　nassty　noser　has　found　it；　we　says。〃
　〃We　guesses；　precious；　only　guesses。　We　can't　know　till　we　find　the　nassty　creature　and　squeezes　it。　But　it　doesn't　know　what　the　present　can　do；　does　it？　It'll　just　keep　it　in　its　pocketses。　It　doesn't　know；　and　it　can't　go　far。　It's　lost　itself；　the　nassty　nosey　thing。　It　doesn't　know　the　way　out　It　said　so。〃
　〃It　said　so；　yes；　but　it's　tricksy。　It　doesn't　say　what　it　means。　It　won't　say　what　it's　got　in　its　pocketses。　It　knows。　It　knows　a　way　in；　it　must　know　a　way　out；　yes。　It's　off　to　the　back…door。　To　the　back…door；　that's　it。〃
　〃The　goblinses　will　catch　it　then。　It　can't　get　out　that　way；　precious。〃　〃Ssss；　sss；　gollum！　Goblinses！　Yes；　but　if　it's　got　the　present；　our　precious　present；　then　goblinses　will　get　it；　gollum！　They'll　find　it；　they'll　find　out　what　it　does。　We　shan't　ever　be　safe　again；　never；　gollum！　One　of　the　goblinses　will　put　it　on；　and　then　no　one　will　see　him。　He'll　be　there　but　not　seen。　Not　even　our　clever　eyeses　will　notice　him；　and　he'll　e　creepsy　and　tricksy　and　catch　us；　gollum；　gollum！〃
　〃Then　let's　stop　talking；　precious；　and　make　haste。　If　the　Baggins　has　gone　that　way；　we　must　go　quick　and　see。　Go！　Not　far　now。　Make　haste！〃　With　a　spring　Gollum　got　up　and　started　shambling　off　at　a　great　pace。　　Bilbo　hurried　after　him；　still　cautiously；　though　his　chief　fear　now　was　of　tripping　on　another　snag　and　falling　with　a　noise。　His　head　was　in　a　whirl　of　hope　and　wonder。　It　seemed　that　the　ring　he　had　was　a　magic　ring：　it　made　you　invisible！　He　had　heard　of　such　things；　of　course；　in　old　old　tales；　but　it　was　hard　to　believe　that　he　really　had　found　one；　by　accident。　Still　there　it　was：　Gollum　with　his　bright　eyes　had　passed　him　by；　only　a　yard　to　one　side。　　On　they　went；　Gollum　flip…flapping　ahead；　hissing　and　cursing；　Bilbo　behind　going　as　softly　as　a　hobbit　can。　Soon　they　came　to　places　where；　as　Bilbo　had　noticed　on　the　way　down；　side…passages　opened；　this　way　and　that。　　Gollum　began　at　once　to　count　them。
　〃One　left；　yes。　One　right；　yes。　Two　right；　yes；　yes。　Two　left；　yes；　yes。〃　And　so　on　and　on。
　As　the　count　grew　he　slowed　down；　and　he　began　to　get　shaky　and　weepy；　for　he　was　leaving　the　water　further　and　further　behind；　and　he　was　getting　afraid。　Goblins　might　be　about；　and　he　had　lost　his　ring。　At　last　he　stopped　by　a　low　opening；　on　their　left　as　they　went　up。
　〃Seven　right；　yes。　Six　left；　yes！〃　he　whispered。　〃This　is　it。　This　is　the　way　to　the　back…door；　yes。　Here's　the　passage！〃
　He　peered　in；　and　shrank　back。　〃But　we　durstn't　go　in；　precious；　no　we　durstn't。　Goblinses　down　there。　Lots　of　goblinses。　We　smells　them。　Ssss！〃　〃What　shall　we　do？　Curse　them　and　crush　them！　We　must　wait　here；　precious；　wait　a　bit　and　see。〃
　So　they　came　to　a　dead　stop。　Gollum　had　brought　Bilbo　to　the　way　out　after　all；　but　Bilbo　could　not　get　in！　There　was　Gollum　sitting　humped　up　right　in　the　opening；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　cold　in　his　head；　as　he　swayed　it　from　side　to　side　between　his　knees。
　Bilbo　crept　away　from　the　wall　more　quietly　than　a　mouse；　but　Gollum　stiffened　at　once；　and　sniffed；　and　his　eyes　went　green。　He　hissed　softly　but　menacingly。　He　could　not　see　the　hobbit；　but　now　he　was　on　the　alert；　and　he　had　other　senses　that　the　darkness　had　sharpened：　hearing　and　smell。　He　seemed　to　be　crouched　right　down　with　his　flat　hands　splayed　on　the　floor；　and　his　head　thrust　out；　nose　almost　to　the　stone。　Though　he　was　only　a　black　shadow　in　the　gleam　of　his　own　eyes；　Bilbo　could　see　or　feel　that　he　was　tense　as　a　bowstring；　gathered　for　a　spring。
　Bilbo　almost　stopped　breathing；　and　went　stiff　himself。　He　was　desperate。　　He　must　get　away；　out　of　this　horrible　darkness；　while　he　had　any　strength　left。　He　must　fight。　He　must　stab　the　foul　thing；　put　its　eyes　out；　kill　it。　　It　meant　to　kill　him。　No；　not　a　fair　fight。　He　was　invisible　now。　Gollum　had　no　sword。　Gollum　had　not　actually　threatened　to　kill　him；　or　tried　to　yet。　And　he　was　miserable；　alone；　lost。　A　sudden　understanding；　a　pity　mixed　with　horror；　welled　up　in　Bilbo's　heart：　a　glimpse　of　endless　unmarked　days　without　light　or　hope　of　betterment；　hard　stone；　cold　fish；　sneaking　and　whispering。　　All　these　thoughts　passed　in　a　flash　of　a　second。　He　trembled。　And　then　quite　suddenly　in　another　flash；　as　if　lifted　by　a　new　strength　and　resolve；　he　leaped。
　No　great　leap　for　a　man；　but　a　leap　in　the　dark。　Straight　over　Gollum's　head　he　jumped；　seven　feet　forward　and　three　in　the　air；　indeed；　had　he　known　it；　he　only　just　missed　cracking　his　skull　on　the　low　arch　of　the　passage。
　Gollum　threw　himself　backwards；　and　grabbed　as　the　hobbit　flew　over　him；but　too　late：　his　hands　snapped　on　thin　air；　and　Bilbo；　falling　fair　on　his　sturdy　feet；　sped　off　down　the　new　tunnel。　He　did　not　turn　to　see　what　Gollum　was　doing。　There　was　a　hissing　and　cursing　almost　at　his　heels　at　first；　then　it　stopped。　All　at　once　there　came　a　bloodcurdling　shriek；　filled　with　hatred　and　despair。　Gollum　was　defeated。　He　dared　go　no　further。　He　had　lost：　lost　his　prey；　and　lost；　too；　the　only　thing　he　had　ever　cared　for；　his　precious。　　The　cry　brought　Bilbo's　heart　to　his　mouth；　but　still　he　held　on。　Now　faint　as　an　echo；　but　menacing；　the　voice　came　behind：
　〃Thief；　thief；　thief！　Baggins！　We　hates　it；　we　hates　it；　we　hates　it　for　ever！〃
　Then　there　was　a　silence。　But　that　too　seemed　menacing　to　Bilbo。　〃If　goblins　are　so　near　that　he　smelt　them；〃　he　thought；　〃then　they'll　have　heard　his　shrieking　and　cursing。　Careful　now；　or　this　way　will　lead　you　to　worse　things。〃
　The　passage　was　low　and　roughly　made。　It　was　not　too　difficult　for　the　hobbit；　except　when；　in　spite　of　all　care；　he　stubbed　his　poor　toes　again；　several　times；　on　nasty　jagged　stones　in　the　floor。　〃A　bit　low　for　goblins；　at　least　for　the　big　ones；〃　thought　Bilbo；　not　knowing　that　even　the　big　ones；　the　ores　of　the　mountains；　go　along　at　a　great　speed　stooping　low　with　their　hands　almost　on　the　ground。
　Soon　the　passage　that　had　been　sloping　down　began　to　go　up　again；　and　after　a　while　it　climbed　steeply。　That　slowed　Bilbo　down。　But　at　last　the　slope　stopped；　the　passage　turned　a　corner；　and　dipped　down　again；　and　there；　at　the　bottom　of　a　short　incline；　he　saw；　filtering　round　another　corner…a　glimpse　of　light。　Not　red　light；　as　of　fire　or　lantern；　but　a　pale　out…of…doors　sort　of　light。　Then　Bilbo　began　to　run。
　Scuttling　as　fast　as　his　legs　would　carry　him　he　turned　the　last　corner　and　came　suddenly　right　into　an　open　space；　where　the　light；　after　all　that　time　in　the　dark；　seemed　dazzlingly　bright。　Really　it　was　only　a　leak　of　sunshine　in　through　a　doorway；　where　a　great　door；　a　stone　door；　was　left　standing　open。
　Bilbo　blinked；　and　then　suddenly　he　saw　the　goblins：　goblins　in　full　armour　with　drawn　swords　sitting　just　inside　the　door；　and　watching　it　with　wide　eyes；　and　watching　the　passage　that