jrt.the hobbit-第4章

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was　a　young　dragon；　certainly　not　after　devouring　so　many　of　the　dwarves　and　men　of　Dale。〃
　〃It　seems　a　great　big　hole　to　me；〃　squeaked　Bilbo　（who　had　no　experience　of　dragons　and　only　of　hobbit…holes）　He　was　getting　excited　and　interested　again；　so　that　he　forgot　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。　He　loved　maps；　and　in　his　hall　there　hung　a　large　one　of　the　Country　Round　with　all　his　favourite　walks　marked　on　it　in　red　ink。　〃How　could　such　a　large　door　be　kept　secret　from　everybody　outside；　apart　from　the　dragon？〃　he　asked。　He　was　only　a　little　hobbit　you　must　remember。
　〃In　lots　of　ways；〃　said　Gandalf。　〃But　in　what　way　this　one　has　been　hidden　we　don't　know　without　going　to　see。　From　what　it　says　on　the　map　I　should　guess　there　is　a　closed　door　which　has　been　made　to　look　exactly　like　the　side　of　the　Mountain。　That　is　the　usual　dwarves'　method…　I　think　that　is　right；　isn't　it？〃　〃Quite　right；〃　said　Thorin。
　〃Also；〃　went　on　Gandalf；　〃I　forgot　to　mention　that　with　the　map　went　a　key；　a　small　and　curious　key。　Here　it　is！〃　he　said；　and　handed　to　Thorin　a　key　with　a　long　barrel　and　intricate　wards；　made　of　silver。　〃Keep　it　safe！〃　〃Indeed　I　will；〃　said　Thorin；　and　he　fastened　it　upon　a　fine　chain　that　hung　about　his　neck　and　under　his　jacket。　〃Now　things　begin　to　look　more　hopeful。　This　news　alters　them　much　for…the　better。　So　far　we　have　had　no　clear　idea　what　to　do。　We　thought　of　going　East；　as　quiet　and　careful　as　we　could；　as　far　as　the　Long　Lake。　After　that　the　trouble　would　begin。〃　〃A　long　time　before　that；　if　I　know　anything　about　the　loads　East；〃　interrupted　Gandalf。
　〃We　might　go　from　there　up　along　the　River　Running；〃　went　on　Thorin　taking　no　notice；　〃and　so　to　the　ruins　of　Dale…the　old　town　in　the　valley　there；　under　the　shadow　of　the　Mountain。　But　we　none　of　us　liked　the　idea　of　the　Front　Gate。　The　river　runs　right　out　of　it　through　the　great　cliff　at　the　South　of　the　Mountain；　and　out　of　it　es　the　dragon　too…far　too　often；　unless　he　has　changed。〃
　〃That　would　be　no　good；〃　said　the　wizard；　〃not　without　a　mighty　Warrior；　even　a　Hero。　I　tried　to　find　one；　but　warriors　are　busy　fighting　one　another　in　distant　lands；　and　in　this　neighbourhood　heroes　are　scarce；　or　simply　lot　to　be　found。　Swords　in　these　parts　are　mostly　blunt；　and　axes　are　used　for　trees；　and　shields　as　cradles　or　dish…covers；　and　dragons　are　fortably　far…off　（and　therefore　legendary）。　That　is　why　I　settled　on　burglary…especially　when　I　remembered　the　existence　of　a　Side…door。　And　here　is　our　little　Bilbo　Baggins；　the　burglar；　the　chosen　and　selected　burglar。　So　now　let's　get　on　and　make　some　plans。〃
　〃Very　well　then；〃　said　Thorin；　〃supposing　the　burglar…expert　gives　us　some　ideas　or　suggestions。〃　He　turned　with　mock…politeness　to　Bilbo。　　〃First　I　should　like　to　know　a　bit　more　about　things；〃　said　he；　feeling　all　confused　and　a　bit　shaky　inside；　but　so　far　still　lookishly　determined　to　go　on　with　things。　〃I　mean　about　the　gold　and　the　dragon；　and　all　that；　and　how　it　got　there；　and　who　it　belongs　to；　and　so　on　and　further。〃　〃Bless　me！〃　said　Thorin；　〃haven't　you　got　a　map？　and　didn't　you　hear　our　song？　and　haven't　we　been　talking　about　all　this　for　hours？〃
　〃All　the　same；　I　should　like　it　all　plain　and　clear；〃　said　he
　obstinately；　putting　on　his　business　manner　（usually　reserved　for　people　who　tried　to　borrow　money　off　him）；　and　doing　his　best　to　appear　wise　and　prudent　and　professional　and　live　up　to　Gandalf's　remendation。　〃Also　I　should　like　to　know　about　risks；　out…of…pocket　expenses；　time　required　and　remuneration；　and　so　forth〃…by　which　he　meant：　〃What　am　I　going　to　get　out　of　it？　and　am　I　going　to　e　back　alive？〃
　〃O　very　well；〃　said　Thorin。　〃Long　ago　in　my　grandfather　Thror's　time　our　family　was　driven　out　of　the　far　North；　and　came　back　with　all　their　wealth　and　their　tools　to　this　Mountain　on　the　map。　It　had　been　discovered　by　my　far　ancestor；　Thrain　the　Old；　but　now　they　mined　and　they　tunnelled　and　they　made　huger　halls　and　greater　workshops　…and　in　addition　I　believe　they　found　a　good　deal　of　gold　and　a　great　many　jewels　too。　Anyway　they　grew　immensely　rich　and　famous；　and　my　grandfather　was　King　under　the　Mountain　again　and　treated　with　great　reverence　by　the　mortal　men；　who　lived　to　the　South；　and　were　gradually　spreading　up　the　Running　River　as　far　as　the　valley　overshadowed　by　the　Mountain。　They　built　the　merry　town　of　Dale　there　in　those　days。　Kings　used　to　send　for　our　smiths；　and　reward　even　the　least　skilful　most　richly。　Fathers　would　beg　us　to　take　their　sons　as　apprentices；　and　pay　us　handsomely；　especially　in　food…supplies；　which　we　never　bothered　to　grow　or　find　for　ourselves。　Altogether　those　were　good　days　for　us；　and　the　poorest　of　us　had　money　to　spend　and　to　lend；　and　leisure　to　make　beautiful　things　just　for　the。　　fun　of　it；　not　to　speak　of　the　most　marvellous　and　magical　toys；　the　like　of　which　is　not　to　be　found　in　the　world　now…a…days。　So　my　grandfather's　halls　became　full　of　armour　and　jewels　and　carvings　and　cups；　and　the　toy…market　of　Dale　was　the　wonder　of　the　North。
　〃Undoubtedly　that　was　what　brought　the　dragon。　Dragons　steal　gold　and　jewels；　you　know；　from　men　and　elves　and　dwarves；　wherever　they　can　find　them；　and　they　guard　their　plunder　as　long　as　they　live　（which　is　practically　forever；　unless　they　are　killed）；　and　never　enjoy　a　brass　ring　of　it。　Indeed　they　hardly　know　a　good　bit　of　work　from　a　bad；　though　they　usually　have　a　good　notion　of　the　current　market　value；　and　they　can't　make　a　thing　for　themselves；　not　even　mend　a　little　loose　scale　of　their　armour。　There　were　lots　of　dragons　in　the　North　in　those　days；　and　gold　was　probably　getting　scarce　up　there；　with　the　dwarves　flying　south　or　getting　killed；　and　all　the　general　waste　and　destruction　that　dragons　make　going　from　bad　to　worse。　There　was　a　most　specially　greedy；　strong　and　wicked　worm　called　Smaug。　One　day　he　flew　up　into　the　air　and　came　south。　The　first　we　heard　of　it　was　a　noise　like　a　hurricane　ing　from　the　North；　and　the　pine…trees　on　the　Mountain　creaking　and　cracking　in　the　wind。　Some　of　the　dwarves　who　happened　to　be　outside　（I　was　one　luckily　…a　fine　adventurous　lad　in　those　days；　always　wandering　about；　and　it　saved　my　life　that　day）…well；　from　a　good　way　off　we　saw　the　dragon　settle　on　our　mountain　in　a　spout　of　flame。　Then　he　came　down　the　slopes　and　when　he　reached　the　woods　they　all　went　up　in　fire。　By　that　time　all　the　bells　were　ringing　in　Dale　and　the　warriors　were　arming。　The　dwarves　rushed　out　of　their　great　gate；　but　there　was　the　dragon　waiting　for　them。　None　escaped　that　way。　The　river　rushed　up　in　steam　and　a　fog　fell　on　Dale；　and　in　the　fog　the　dragon　came　on　them　and　destroyed　most　of　the　warriors…the　usual　unhappy　story；　it　was　only　too　mon　in　those　days。　Then　he　went　back　and　crept　in　through　the　Front　Gate　and　routed　out　all　the　halls；　and　lanes；　and　tunnels；　alleys；　cellars；　mansions　and　passages。　After　that　there　were　no　dwarves　left　alive　inside；　and　he　took　all　their　wealth　for　himself。　Probably；　for　that　is　the　dragons'　way；　he　has　piled　it　all　up　in　a　great　heap　far　inside；　and　sleeps　on　it　for　a　bed。　Later　he　used　to　crawl　out　of　the　great　gate　and　e　by　night　to　Dale；　and　carry　away　people；　especially　maidens；　to　eat；　until　Dale　was　ruined；　and　all　the　people　dead　or　gone。　What　goes　on　there　now　I　don't　know　for　certain；　but　I　don't　suppose　anyone　lives　nearer　to　the　Mountain　than　the　far　edge　of　the　Long　Lake　now…a…days。
　〃The　few　of　us　that　were　well　outside　sat　and　wept　in　hiding；　and　cursed　Smaug；　and　there　we　were　unexpectedly　joined　by　my　father　and　my　grandfather　with　singed　beards。　They　looked　very　grim　but　they　said　very　little。　When　I　asked　how　they　had　got　away；　they　told　me　to　hold　my　tongue；　and　said　that　one　day　in　the　proper　time　I　should　know。　After　that　we　went　away；　and　we　have　had　to　earn　our　livings　as　best　we　could　up　and　down　the　lands；　often　enough　sinking　as　low　as　blacksmith…work　or　even　coalmining。　But　we　have　never　forgotten　our　stolen　treasure。　And　even　now；　when　I　will　allow　we　have　a　good　bit　laid　by　and　are　not　so　badly　off〃…here　Thorin　stroked　the　gold　chain　round　his　neck…〃we　still　mean　to　get　it　back；　and　to　bring　our　curses　home　to　Smaug…if　we　can。
　〃I　have　often　wondered　about　my　father's　and　my　grandfather's　escape。　I　see　now　they　must　have　had　a　private　Side…door　which　only　they　knew　about。　But　apparently　they　made　a　map；　and　I　should　like　to　know　how　Gandalf　got　hold　of　it；　and　why　it　did　not　e　down　to　me；　the　rightful　heir。〃　〃I　did　not　'get　hold　of　it；'　I　was　given　it；〃　said　the　wizard。　　〃Your　grandfather　Thror　was　killed；　you　remember；　in　the　mines　of　Moria　by　Azog　the　Goblin　…〃　〃Curse　his　name；　yes；〃　said　Thorin。
　〃And　Thrain　your　father　went　away　on　the　twenty…first　of　April；　a　hundred　years　ago　last　Thursday；　and　has　never　been　seen　by　you　since…〃　〃True；　true；〃　said　Thorin。
　〃Well；　your　father　gave　me　this　to　give　to　you；　and　if　I　have　chosen　my　own　time　and　way　of　handing　it　over；　you　can　hardly　blame　me；　considering　the　trouble　I　had　to　find　you。　Your　father　could　not　remember　his　own　name　when　he　gave　me　the　paper；　and　he　never　told　me　yours；　so　on　the　whole　I　think　I　ought　to　be　praised　and　thanked。　Here　it　is；〃　said　he　handing　the　map　to　Thorin。　　〃I　don't　understand；〃　said　Thorin；　and　Bilbo　felt　he　would　have　liked　to　say　the　same。　The　explanation　did　not　seem　to　explain。　　〃Your　grandfather；〃　said　the　wizard　slowly　and　grimly；　〃gave　the　map　to　his　son　for　safety　before　he　went　to　the　mines　of　Moria。　Your　father　went　away　to　try　his　luck　with　the　map　after　your　grandfather　was　killed；　and　lots　of　adventures　of　a　most　unpleasant　sort　he　had；　but　he　never　got　near　the　Mountain。　How　he　got　there　I　don't　know；　but　I　found　him　a　prisoner　in　the　dungeons　of　the　Necromancer。〃
　〃Whatever　were　you　doing　there？〃　asked　Thorin　with　a　shudder；　and　all　the　dwarves　shivered。
　〃Never　you　mind。　I　was　finding　things　out；　as　usual；　and　a　nasty　dangerous　business　it　was。　Even　I；　Gandalf；　only　just　escaped。　I　tried　to　save　your　father；　but　it　was　too　late。　He　was　witless　and　wandering；　and　had　forgotten　almost　everything　except　the　map　and　the　key。〃　〃We　have　long　ago　paid　the　goblins　of　Moria；〃　said　Thorin；　〃we　must　give　a　thought　to　the　Necromancer。〃　〃Don't　be　absurd！　He　is　an　enemy　quite　beyond　the　powers　of　all　the　dwarves　put　together；　if　they　could　all　be　collected　again　from　the　four　corners　of　the　world。　The　one　thing　your　father　wished　was　for　his　son　to　read　the　map　and　use　the　key。　The　dragon　and　the　Mountain　are　more　than　big　enough　tasks　for　you！〃
　〃Hear；　hear！〃　said　Bilbo；　and　accidentally　said　it　aloud；　〃Hear　what？〃　they　all　said　turning　suddenly　towards　him；　and　he　was　so　flustered　that　he　answered　〃Hear　what　I　have　got　to　say！〃　〃What's　that？〃　they　asked。　　〃Well；　I　should　say　that　you　ought　to　go　East　and　have　a　look　round。
　After　all　there　is　the　Side…door；　and　dragons　must　sleep　sometimes；　I　suppose。
　If　you　sit　on　the　doorstep　long　enough；　I　daresay　you　will　think　of　something。　　And　well；　don't　you　know；　I　think　we　have　talked　long　enough　for　one　night；　if　you　see　what　I　mean。　What　about　bed；　and　an　early　start；　and　all　that？　I　will　give　you　a　good　breakfast　before　you　go。〃
　〃Before　we　go；　I　suppose　you　mean；〃　said　Thorin。　〃Aren't　you　the　burglar？　　And　isn't　sitt