jrt.the hobbit-第34章

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begun　to　have　ideas　and　plans　of　his　own。　When　midday　came　he　got　ready　for　another　journey　down　into　the　Mountain。　He　did　not　like　it　of　course；　but　it　was　not　so　bad　now　he　knew；　more　or　less；　what　was　in　front　of　him。　Had　he　known　more　about　dragons　and　their　wily　ways；　he　might　have　teen　more　frightened　and　less　hopeful　of　catching　this　one　napping。　　The　sun　was　shining　when　he　started；　but　it　was　as　dark　as　night　in　the　tunnel。　The　light　from　the　door；　almost　closed；　soon　faded　as　he　went　down。　So　silent　was　his　going　that　smoke　on　a　gentle　wind　could　hardly　have　surpasses　it；　and　he　was　inclined　to　feel　a　bit　proud　of　himself　as　he　drew　near　the　lower　door。　There　was　only　the　very　fainter　glow　to　be　seen。　　〃Old　Smaug　is　weary　and　asleep；〃　he　thought。　〃He　can't；　see　me　and　he　won't　hear　me。　Cheer　up　Bilbo！〃　He　had　forgotten　or　had　never　heard　about　dragons'　sense　of　smell。
　It　is　also　an　awkward　fact　that　they　keep　half　an　eye　open　watching　while　they　sleep；　if　they　are　suspicious。　Smaug　certainly　looked　fast　asleep；　almost　dead　and　dark；　with　scarcely　a　snore　more　than　a　whiff　of　unseen　steam；　when　Bilbo　peeped　once　more　from　the　entrance。　He　was　just　about　to　step　out　on　to　the　floor　when　he　caught　a　sudden　thin　and　piercing　ray　of　red　from　under　the　drooping　lid。　of　Smaug's　left　eye。　He　was　only　pretending　to　sleep！　He　was　watching　the　tunnel　entrance！　Hurriedly　Bilbo　stepped　back　and　blessed　the　luck　of　his　ring。　Then　Smaug　spoke。
　〃Well；　thief！　I　smell　you　and　I　feel　your　air。　I　hear　your　breath。　e　along！　Help　yourself　again；　there　is　plenty　and　to　spare！〃　But　Bilbo　was　not　quite　so　unlearned　in　dragon…lore　as　all　that；　and　if　Smaug　hoped　to　get　him　to　e　nearer　so　easily　he　was　disappointed。　　〃No　thank　you；　O　Smaug　the。　Tremendous！〃　he　replied。　〃I　did　not　e　for　presents。　I　only　wished　to　have　a　look　at　you　and　see　if　you　were　truly　as　great　as　tales　say。　I　did　not　believe　them。〃
　〃Do　you　now？〃　said　the　dragon　somewhat　flattered；　even　though　he　did　not　believe　a　word　of　it。　j　〃Truly　songs　and　tales　fall　utterly　short　of　the　reality；　O　Smaug　the　Chiefest　and　Greatest　of　Calamities；〃　replied　Bilbo。
　You　have　nice　manners　for　a　thief　and　a　liar；〃　said　the　dragon。　〃You　seem　familiar　with　my　name；　but　I　don't　seem　to　remember　smelling　you　before。　Who　are　you　and　where　do　you　e　from；　may　I　ask？〃
　〃You　may　indeed！　I　e　from　under　the　hill；　and　under　hills　and　over　the　hills　my　paths　led。　And　through　the　air；　I　am　he　that　walks　unseen。〃　〃So　I　can　well　believe；〃　said　Smaug；　〃but　that　is　hardly　our　usual　name。〃　〃I　am　the　clue…finder；　the　web…cutter；　the　stinging　fly。　I　as　chosen　for　the　lucky　number。〃
　〃Lovely　titles！〃　sneered　the　dragon。　〃But　lucky　numbers　don't　always　e　off。〃
　〃I　am　he　that　buries　his　friends　alive　and　drowns　them　and　draws　them　alive　again　from　the　water。　I　came　from　the　end　of　a　bag；　but　no　bag　went　over　me。〃
　〃These　don't　sound　so　creditable；〃　scoffed　Smaug。
　〃I　am　the　friend　of　bears　and　the　guest　of　eagles。　I　am　Ringwinner　and　Luckwearer；　and　I　am　Barrel…rider；〃　went　on　Bilbo　beginning　to　be　pleased　with　his　riddling。
　〃That's　better！〃　said　Smaug。　〃But　don't　let　your　imagination　run　away　with　you！〃
　This　of　course　is　the　way　to　talk　to　dragons；　if　you　don't　want　to　reveal　your　proper　name　（which　is　wise）；　and　don't　want　to　infuriate　them　by　a　flat　refusal　（which　is　also　very　wise）。　No　dragon　can　resist　the　fascination　of　riddling　talk　and　of　wasting　time　trying　to　understand　it。　There　was　a　lot　here　which　Smaug　did　not　understand　at　all　（though　I　expect　you　do；　since　you　know　all　about　Bilbo's　adventures　to　which　he　was　referring）；　but　he　thought　he　understood　enough；　and　he　chuckled　in　his　wicked　inside。　　〃I　thought　so　last　night；〃　he　smiled　to　himself。　〃Lake…men；　some　nasty　scheme　of　those　miserable　tub…trading　Lake…men；　or　I'm　a　lizard。　I　haven't　been　down　that　way　for　an　age　and　an　age；　but　I　will　soon　alter　that！〃　〃Very　well；　O　Barrel…rider！〃　he　said　aloud。　〃Maybe　Barrel　was　your　pony's　name；　and　maybe　not；　though　it　was　fat　enough。　You　may　walk　unseen；　but　you　did　not　walk　all　the　way。　Let　me　tell　you　I　ate　six　ponies　last　night　and　I　shall　catch　and　eat　all　the　others　before　long。　In　return　for　the　excellent　meal　I　will　give　you　one　piece　of　advice　for　your　good：　don't　have　more　to　do　with　dwarves　than　you　can　help！〃
　〃Dwarves！〃　said　Bilbo　in　pretended　surprise。
　〃Don't　talk　to　me！〃　said　Smaug。　〃I　know　the　smell　（and　taste）　of　dwarf…no　one　better。　Don't　tell　me　that　I　can　eat　a　dwarf…ridden　pony　and　not　know　it！　　You'll　e　to　a　bad　end；　if　you　go　with　such　friends。　Thief　Barrel…rider。　I　don't　mind　if　you　go　back　and　tell　them　so　from　me。〃
　But　he　did　not　tell　Bilbo　that　there　was　one　smell　he　could　not　make　out　at　all；　hobbit…smell；　it　was　quite　outside　his　experience　and　puzzled　him　mightily。
　〃I　suppose　you　got　a　fair　price　for　that　cup　last　night？〃　he　went　on。　　〃e　now；　did　you？　Nothing　at　all！　Well；　that's　just　like　them。　And　I　suppose　they　are　skulking　outside；　and　your　job　is　to　do　all　the　dangerous　work　and　get　what　you　can　when　I'm　not　looking…for　them？　And　you　will　get　a　fair　share？　　Don't　you　believe　it！　If　you　get　off　alive；　you　will　be　lucky。〃　Bilbo　was　now　beginning　to　feel　really　unfortable。　Whenever　Smaug's　roving　eye；　seeking　for　him　in　the　shadows；　flashed　across　him；　he　trembled；　and　an　unaccountable　desire　seized　hold　of　him　to　rush　out　and　reveal　himself　and　tell　all　the　truth　to　Smaug。　In　fact　he　was　in　grievous　danger　of　ing　under　the　dragon…spell。　But　plucking　up　courage　he　spoke　again。　　〃You　don't　know　everything；　O　Smaug　the　Mighty；〃　said　he。　〃Not　gold　alone　brought　us　hither。〃
　〃Ha！　Ha！　You　admit　the　'us'；〃　laughed　Smaug。　〃Why　not　say　'us　fourteen'　and　be　done　with　it。　Mr。　Lucky　Number？　I　am　pleased　to　hear　that　you　had　other　business　in　these　parts　besides　my　gold。　In　that　case　you　may；　perhaps；　not　altogether　waste　your　time。
　〃I　don't　know　if　it　has　occurred　to　you　that；　even　if　you　could　steal　the　gold　bit　by　bit…a　matter　of　a　hundred　years　or　so　…　you　could　not　get　it　very　far？　Not　much　use　on　the　mountain…side？　Not　much　use　in　the　forest？　Bless　me！　　Had　you　never　thought　of　the　catch？　A　fourteenth　share；　I　suppose；　Or　something　like　it；　those　were　the　terms；　eh？　But　what　about　delivery？　What　about　cartage？　What　about　armed　guards　and　tolls？〃　And　Smaug　laughed　aloud。　He　had　a　wicked　and　a　wily　heart；　and　he　knew　his　guesses　were　not　far　out；　though　he　suspected　that　the　Lake…men　were　at　the　back　of　the　plans；　and　that　most　of　the　plunder　was　meant　to　stop　there　in　the　town　by　the　shore　that　in　his　young　days　had　been　called　Esgaroth。
　You　will　hardly　believe　it；　but　poor　Bilbo　was　really　very　taken　aback。　　So　far　all　his。　thoughts　and　energies　had　been　concentrated　on　getting　to　the　Mountain　and　finding　the　entrance。　He　had　never　bothered　to　wonder　how　the　treasure　was　to　be　removed；　certainly　never　how　any　part　of　it　that　might　fall　to　his　share　was　to　be　brought　back　all　the　way　to　Bag…End　Under…Hill。　　Now　a　nasty　suspicion　began　to　grow　in　his　mind…had　the　dwarves　forgotten　this　important　point　too；　or　were　they　laughing　in　their　sleeves　at　him　all　the　time？　That　is　the　effect　that　dragon…talk　has　on　the　inexperienced。　Bilbo　of　course　ought　to　have　been　on　his　guard；　but　Smaug　had　rather　an　overwhelming　personality。
　〃I　tell　you；〃　he　said；　in　an　effort　to　remain　loyal　to　his　friends　and　to　keep　his　end　up；　〃that　gold　was　only　an　afterthought　with　us。　We　came　over　hill　and　under　hill；　by　wave　and　win；　for　〃Revenge〃。　Surely；　O　Smaug　the　unassessably　wealthy；　you　must　realize　that　your　success　has　made　you　some　bitter　enemies？〃
　Then　Smaug　really　did　laugh…a　devastating　sound　which　shook　Bilbo　to　the　floor；　while　far　up　in　the　tunnel　the　dwarves　huddled　together　and　imagined　that　the　hobbit　had　e　to　a　sudden　and　a　nasty　end。　　〃Revenge！〃　he　snorted；　and　the　light　of　his　eyes　lit　the　the　hall　from　floor　to　ceiling　like　scarlet　lightning。　〃Revenge！　The　King　under　the　Mountain　is　dead　and　where　are　hi　kin　that　dare　seek　revenge？　Girion　Lord　of　Dale　is　dead；　and　I　have　eaten　his　people　like　a　wolf　among　sheep；　and　where　are　his　sons'　sons　that　dare　approach　me？　I　kill　where　I　wish　and　none　dare　resist。　I　laid　low　the　warriors　of　old　and　their　like　is　not　in　the　world　today。　Then　I　was　but　young　and　tender。　Now　I　am　old　and　strong；　strong　strong。　Thief　in　the　Shadows！〃　he　gloated。　〃My　armour　is　like　tenfold　shields；　my　teeth　are　swords；　my　claws　spears；　the　shock　of　my　tail　a　thunderbolt；　my　wings　a　hurricane；　and　my　breath　death！〃
　〃I　have　always　understood；〃　said　Bilbo　in　a　frightened　squeak；　〃that　dragons　were　softer　underneath；　especially　in　the　region　of　the…er…chest；　but　doubtless　one　so　fortified　has　thought　of　that。〃
　The　dragon　stopped　short　in　his　boasting。　〃Your　information　is　antiquated；〃　he　snapped。　〃I　am　armoured　above　and　below　with　iron　scales　and　hard　gems。　No　blade　can　pierce　me。〃
　〃I　might　have　guessed　it；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃Truly　there　can；　nowhere　be　found　the　equal　of　Lord　Smaug　the　Impenetrable。　What　magnificence　to　possess　a　waistcoat　of　fine　diamonds！〃
　〃Yes；　it　is　rare　and　wonderful；　indeed；〃　said　Smaug　absurdly　pleased。　He　did　not　know　that　the　hobbit　had　already　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　peculiar　under…covering　on　his　previous　visit；　and　was　itching　for　a　closer　view　for　reasons　of　his　own。　The　dragon　rolled　over。　〃Look！〃　he　said。　〃What　do　you　say　to　that？〃
　〃Dazzlingly　marvellous！　Perfect！　Flawless！　Staggering！〃　exclaimed　Bilbo　aloud；　but　what　he　thought　inside　was：　〃Old　fool！　Why　there　is　a　large　patch　in　the　hollow　of　his　left　breast　as　bare　as　a　snail　out　of　its　shell！〃　After　he　had　seen　that　Mr。　Baggins'　one　idea　was　to　get　away。　〃Well；　I　really　must　not　detain　Your　Magnificence　any　longer；〃　he　said；　〃or　keep　you　from　much　needed　rest。　Ponies　take　some　catching；　I　believe；　after　a　long　start。　And　so　do　burglars；〃　he　added　as　a　parting　shot；　as　he　darted　back　and　fled　up　the　tunnel。
　It　was　an　unfortunate　remark；　for　the　dragon　spouted　terrific　flames　after　him；　and　fast　though　he　sped　up　the　slope；　he　had　not　gone　nearly　far　enough　to　be　fortable　before　the　ghastly　head　of　Smaug　was　thrust　against　the　opening　behind。　Luckily　the　whole　head　and　jaws　could　not　squeeze　in；　but　the　nostrils　sent　forth　fire　and　vapour　to　pursue　him；　and　he　was　nearly　overe；　and　stumbled　blindly　on　in　great　pain　and　fear。　He　had　been　feeling　rather　pleased　with　the　cleverness　of　his　conversation　with　Smaug；　but　his　mistake　at　the　end　shook　him　into　better　sense。
　〃Never　laugh　at　live　dragons；　Bilbo　you　fool！〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　it　became　a　favourite　saying　of　his　later；　and　passed　into　a　proverb。　〃You　aren't　nearly　through　this　adventure　yet；〃　he　added；　and　that　was　pretty　true　as　well。
　The　afternoon　was　turning　into　evening　when　he　came　out　again　and　stumbled　and　fell　in　a　faint　on　the　'door…step。'　The　dwarves　revived　him；　and　doctored　his　scorches　as　well　as　they　could；　but　it　was　a　long　time　before　the　hair　on　the　back　of　his　head　and　his　heels　grew　properly　again：　it　had　all　been　singed　and　frizzled　right　down　to　the　skin。　In　the　meanwhile　his　friends　did　their　best　to　cheer　him　up；　and　they　were　eager　for　his　story；　especially　wanting　to　know　why　the　dragon　had　made　such　an　awful　noise；　and　how　Bilbo　had　escaped。
　But　the　ho