jrt.the hobbit-第18章

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f　humoured。　Still　I　warn　you　he　gets　angry　easily。〃
　The　dwarves　all　gathered　round　when　they　heard　the　wizard　talking　like　this　to　Bilbo。　〃Is　that　the　person　you　are　taking　us　to　now？〃　they　asked。　　〃Couldn't　you　find　someone　more　easy…tempered？　Hadn't　you　better　explain　it　all　a　bit　clearer？〃…and　so　on。
　〃Yes　it　certainly　is！　No　I　could　not！　And　I　was　explaining　very　carefully；〃　answered　the　wizard　crossly。　〃If　you　must　know　more；　his　name　is　Beorn。　He　is　very　strong；　and　he　is　a　skin…changer。〃
　〃What！　a　furrier；　a　man　that　calls　rabbits　conies；　when　he　doesn't　turn　their　skins　into　squirrels？〃　asked　Bilbo。
　〃Good　gracious　heavens；　no；　no；　NO；　NO！〃　said　Gandalf。　〃Don't　be　a　fool　Mr。　Baggins　if　you　can　help　it；　and　in　the　name　of　all　wonder　don't　mention　the　word　furrier　again　as　long　as　you　are　within　a　hundred　miles　of　his　house；　nor；　rug；　cape；　tippet；　muff；　nor　any　other　such　unfortunate　word！　He　is　a　skin…changer。　He　changes　his　skin；　sometimes　he　is　a　huge　black　bear；　sometimes　he　is　a　great　strong　black…haired　man　with　huge　arms　and　a　great　beard。　I　cannot　tell　you　much　more；　though　that　ought　to　be　enough。　Some　say　that　he　is　a　bear　descended　from　the　great　and　ancient　bears　of　the　mountains　that　lived　there　before　the　giants　came。　Others　say　that　he　is　a　man　descended　from　the　first　men　who　lived　before　Smaug　or　the　other　dragons　came　into　this　part　of　the　world；　and　before　the　goblins　came　into　the　hills　out　of　the　North。　I　cannot　say；　though　I　fancy　the　last　is　the　true　tale。　He　is　not　the　sort　of　person　to　ask　questions　of。
　〃At　any　rate　he　is　under　no　enchantment　but　his　own。　He　lives　in　an　oak…wood　and　has　a　great　wooden　house；　and　as　a　man　he　keeps　cattle　and　horses　which　are　nearly　is　marvellous　as　himself。　They　work　for　him　and　talk　to　him。　　He　does　not　eat　them；　neither　does　he　hunt　or　eat　wild　animals。　He　keeps　hives　and　hives　of　great　fierce　bees；　and　lives　most　on　cream　and　honey。　As　a　bear　he　ranges　far　and　wide。　I　once　saw　him　sitting　all　alone　on　the　top　of　the　Carrock　at　night　watching　the　moon　sinking　towards　the　Misty　Mountains；　and　I　heard　him　growl　in　the　tongue　of　bears；　'The　day　will　e　when　they　will　perish　and　I　shall　go　back！'　That　is　why　I　believe　he　once　came　from　the　mountains　himself。〃
　Bilbo　and　the　dwarves　had　now　plenty　to　think　about；　and　they　asked　no　more　questions。　They　still　had　a　long　way　to　walk　before　them。　Up　slope　and　down　dale　they　plodded。　It　grew　very　hot。　Sometimes　they　rested　under　the　trees；　and　then　Bilbo　felt　so　hungry　that　he　would　have　eaten　acorns；　if　any　had　been　ripe　enough　yet　to　have　fallen　to　the　ground。　　It　was　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　before　they　noticed　that　great　patches　of　flowers　had　begun　to　spring　up；　all　the　same　kinds　growing　together　as　if　they　had　been　planted。　Especially　there　was　clover；　waving　patches　of　cocksb　clover；　and　purple　clover；　and　wide　stretches　of　short　white　sweet　honey…smelling　clover。　There　was　a　buzzing　and　a　whirring　and　a　droning　in　the　air。　Bees　were　busy　everywhere。　And　such　bees！　Bilbo　had　never　seen　anything　like　them。
　〃If　one　was　to　sting　me；〃　he　thought；　〃I　should　swell　up　as　big　again　as　I　am！〃
　They　were　bigger　than　hornets。　The　drones　were　bigger　than　your　thumb；　a　good　deal；　and　the　bands　of　yellow　on　their　deep　black　bodies　shone　like　fiery　gold。
　〃We　are　getting　near；〃　said　Gandalf。　〃We　are　on　the　edge　of　his　bee…pastures。〃
　After　a　while　they　came　to　a　belt　of　tall　and　very　ancient　oaks；　and　beyond　these　to　a　high　thorn…hedge　through　which　you　could　neither　see　nor　scramble。
　〃You　had　better　wait　here；〃　said　the　wizard　to　the　dwarves；　〃and　when　I　call　or　whistle　begin　to　e　after　me　…　you　will　see　the　way　I　go…but　only　in　pairs；　mind；　about　five　minutes　between　each　pair　of　you。　Bombur　is　fattest　and　will　do　for　two；　he　had　better　e　alone　and　last。　e　on　Mr。　Baggins！　　There　is　a　gate　somewhere　round　this　way。〃　And　with　that　he　went　off　along　the　hedge　taking　the　frightened　hobbit　with　him。
　
They　soon　came　to　a　wooden　gate；　high　and　broad；　beyond　which　they　could　see　gardens　and　a　cluster　of　low　wooden　buildings；　some　thatched　and　made　of　unshaped　logs；　barns；　stables；　sheds；　and　a　long　low　wooden　house。　　Inside　on　the　southward　side　of　the　great　hedge　were　rows　and　rows　of　hives　with　bell…shaped　tops　made　of　straw。　The　noise　of　the　giant　bees　flying　to　and　fro　and　crawling　in　and　out　filled　all　the　air。
　The　wizard　and　the　hobbit　pushed　open　the　heavy　creaking　gate　and　went　down　a　wide　track　towards　the　house。　Some　horses；　very　sleek　and　well…groomed；　trotted　up　across　the　grass　and　looked　at　them　intently　with　very　intelligent　faces；　then　off　they　galloped　to　the　buildings。
　〃They　have　gone　to　tell　him　of　the　arrival　of　strangers；〃　said　Gandalf。　　Soon　they　reached　a　courtyard；　three　walls　of　which　were　formed　by　the　wooden　house　and　its　two　long　wings。　In　the　middle　there　was　lying　a　great　oak…trunk　with　many　lopped　branches　beside　it。　Standing　near　was　a　huge　man　with　a　thick　black　beard　and'　hair；　and　great　bare　arms　and　legs　with　knotted　muscles。　He　was　clothed　in　a　tunic　of　wool　down　to　his　knees；　and　was　leaning　on　a　large　axe。
　The　horses　were　standing　by　him　with　their　noses　at　his　shoulder。
　〃Ugh！　here　they　are！〃　he　said　to　the　horses。　〃They　don't　look　dangerous。　　You　can　be　off！〃　He　laughed　a　great　rolling　laugh；　put　down　his　axe　and　came　forward。
　〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃　he　asked　gruffly；　standing　in　front　of　them　and　towering　tall　above　Gandalf。
　As　for　Bilbo　he　could　easily　have　trotted　through　his　legs　without　ducking　his　head　to　miss　the　fringe　of　the　man's　brown　tunic。　　〃I　am　Gandalf；〃　said　the　wizard。
　〃Never　heard　of　him；〃　growled　the　man；　〃And　what's　this　little　fellow？〃　he　said；　stooping　down　to　frown　at　the　hobbit　with　his　bushy　eyebrows。　　〃That　is　Mr。　Baggins；　a　hobbit　of　good　family　and　unimpeachable　reputation；〃　said　Gandalf。　Bilbo　bowed。　He　had　no　hat　to　take　off；　and　was　painfully　conscious　of　his　many　missing　buttons。　〃I　am　a　wizard；〃　continued　Gandalf。　〃I　have　heard　of　you；　if　you　have　not　heard　of　me；　but　perhaps　you　have　heard　of　my　good　cousin　Radagast　who　lives　near　the　Southern　borders　of　Mirkwood？〃
　〃Yes；　not　a　bad　fellow　as　wizards　go；　I　believe。　I　used　to　see　him　now　and　again；〃　said　Beorn。　〃Well；　now　I　know　who　you　are；　or　who　you　say　you　are。　　What　do　you　want？〃
　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　we　have　lost　our　luggage　and　nearly　lost　our　way；　and　are　rather　in　need　of　help；　or　at　least　advice。　I　may　say　we　have　had　rather　a　bad　time　with　goblins　in　the　mountains。〃
　〃Goblins？〃　said　the　big　man　less　gruffly。　〃O　ho；　so　you've　been　having　trouble　with　them　have　you？　What　did　you　go　near　them　for？〃　〃We　did　not　mean　to。　They　surprised　us　at　night　in　a　pass　which　we　had　to　cross；　we　were　ing　out　of　the　Lands　over　West　into　these　countries…it　is　a　long　tale。〃
　〃Then　you　had　better　e　inside　and　tell　me　some　of　it；　if　it　won't　take　all　day；〃　said　the　man　leading　the　way　through　a　dark　door　that　opened　out　of　the　courtyard　into　the　house。
　Following　him　they　found　themselves　in　a　wide　hall　with　a　fire…place　in　the　middle。　Though　it　was　summer　there　was　a　wood…fire　burning　and　the　smoke　was　rising　to　the　blackened　rafters　in　search　of　the　way　out　through　an　opening　in　the　roof。　They　passed　through　this　dim　hall；　lit　only　by　the　fire　and　the　hole　above　it；　and　came　through　another　smaller　door　into　a　sort　of　veranda　propped　on　wooden　posts　made　of　single　tree…trunks。　It　faced　south　and　was　still　warm　and　filled　with　the　light　of　the　westering　sun　which　slanted　into　it；　and　fell　golden　on　the　garden　full　of　flowers　that　came　right　up　to　the　steps。
　Here　they　sat　on　wooden　benches　while　Gandalf　began　his　tale；　and　Bilbo　swung　his　dangling　legs　and　looked　at　the　flowers　in　the　garden；　wondering　what　their　names　could　be；　as　he　had　never　seen　half　of　them　before。
　〃I　was　ing　over　the　mountains　with　a　friend　or　two。。。〃　said　the　wizard。
　〃Or　two？　I　can　only　see　one；　and　a　little　one　at　that；〃　said　Beorn。　　〃Well　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　did　not　like　to　bother　you　with　a　lot　of　us；　until　I　found　out　if　you　were　busy。　I　will　give　a　call；　if　I　may。〃　〃Go　on；　call　away！〃
　So　Gandalf　gave　a　long　shrill　whistle；　and　presently　Thorin　and　Dori　came　round　the　house　by　the　garden　path　and　stood　bowing　low　before　them。　　〃One　or　three　you　meant；　I　see！〃　said　Beorn。　〃But　these　aren't　hobbits；　they　are　dwarves！〃
　〃Thorin　Oakenshield；　at　your　service！　Dori　at　your　service！〃　said　the　two　dwarves　bowing　again。
　〃I　don't　need　your　service；　thank　you；〃　said　Beorn；　〃but　I　expect　you　need　mine。　I　am　not　over　fond　of　dwarves；　but　if　it　is　true　you　are　Thorin　（son　of　Thrain；　son　of　Thror；　I　believe）；　and　that　your　panion　is　respectable；　and　that　you　are　enemies　of　goblins　and　are　not　up　to　any　mischief　in　my　lands…what　are　you　up　to；　by　the　way？〃　〃They　are　on　their　way　to　visit　the　land　of　their　fathers；　away　east　beyond　Mirkwood；〃　put　in　Gandalf；　〃and　it　is　entirely　an　accident　that　we　are　in　your　lands　at　all。　We　were　crossing　by　the　High　Pass　that　should　have　brought　us　to　the　road　that　lies　to　the　south　of　your　country；　when　we　were　attacked　by　the　evil　goblins…as　I　was　about　to　tell　you。〃　〃Go　on　telling；　then！〃　said　Beorn；　who　was　never　very　polite。　　〃There　was　a　terrible　storm；　the　stone…giants　were　out　hurling　rocks；　and　at　the　head　of　the　pass　we　took　refuge　in　a　cave；　the　hob　bit　and　I　and　several　of　our　panions。。。〃
　〃Do　you　call　two　several？〃
　〃Well；　no。　As　a　matter　of　fact　there　were　more　than　two。〃
　〃Where　are　they？　Killed；　eaten；　gone　home？〃
　〃Well；　no。　They　don't　seem　all　to　have　e　when　I　whistled。　Shy；　I　expect。　You　see；　we　are　very　much　afraid　that　we　are　rather　a　lot　for　you　to　entertain。〃
　〃Go　on；　whistle　again！　I　am　in　for　a　party；　it　seems；　and　one　or　two　more　won't　make　much　difference；〃　growled　Beorn。
　Gandalf　whistled　again；　but　Nori　and　Ori　were　there　almost　before　he　had　stopped；　for；　if　you　remember；　Gandalf　had　told　them　to　e　in　pairs　every　five　minutes。
　〃Hullo！〃　said　Beorn。　〃You　came　pretty　quick…where　were　you　hiding？　e　on　my　jack…in…the…boxes！〃
　〃Nori　at　your　service；　Ori　at　。　。　。〃　they　began；　but　Beorn　interrupted　them。
　〃Thank　you！　When　I　want　your　help　I　will　ask　for　it。　Sit　down；　and　let's　get　on　with　this　tale；　or　it　will　be　supper…time　before　it　is　ended。〃　〃As　soon　as　we　were　asleep；〃　went　on　Gandalf；　〃a　crack　at　the　back　of　the　cave　opened；　goblins　came　out　and　grabbed　the　hobbit　and　the　dwarves　and　our　troop　of　ponies…〃　〃Troop　of　ponies？　What　were　you…a　travelling　circus？　Or　were　you　carrying　lots　of　goods？　Or　do　you　always　call　six　a　troop？〃
　〃O　no！　As　a　matter　of　fact　there　were　more　than　six　ponies；　for　there　were　more　than　six　of　us…and　well；　here　are　two　more！〃　Just　at　that　moment　Balin　and　Dwalin　appeared　and　bowed　so　low　that　their　beards　swept　the　stone　floor。　The　big　man　was　frowning　at　first；　but　they　did　their　very　best　to　be　frightfully　polite；　and　kept　on　nodding　and　bending　and　bowing　and　waving　their　hoods　before　their　knees　（in　proper　dwarf…fashion）；　till　he　stopped　frowning　and　burst　into　a　chuckling　laugh；　they　looked　so　ical。　　〃Troop；　was　right；〃　he　said。　〃A　fine　ic　one。　e　in　my　merry　men；　and　what　are　your　names？　I　don't　want　your　service　just　now；　only　your　names；　and　then　sit　down　and　stop　waggi