jrt.the hobbit-第43章

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　Mountain；　and　whirled　above　them　shutting　out　the　light　and　filling　them　with　dread。　　〃To　the　Mountain！〃　called　Bard。　〃To　the　Mountain！　Let　us　take　our　places　while　there　is　yet　time！〃
　On　the　Southern　spur；　in　its　lower　slopes　and　in　the　rocks　at　its　feet；　the　Elves　were　set；　on　the　Eastern　spur　were　men　and　dwarves。　But　Bard　and　some　of　the　nimblest　of　men　and　elves　climbed　to　the　height　of　the　Eastern　shoulder　to　gain　a　view　to　the　North。　Soon　they　could　see　the　lands　before　the　Mountain's　feet　black　with　a　hurrying　multitude。　Ere　long　the　vanguard　swirled　round　the　spur's　end　and　came　rushing　into　Dale。　These　were　the　swiftest　wolf…riders；　and　already　their　cries　and　howls　rent　the　air　afar。　A　few　brave　men　were　strung　before　them　to　make　a　feint　of　resistance；　and　many　there　fell　before　the　rest　drew　back　and　fled　to　either　side。　As　Gandalf　had　hoped；　the　goblin　army　had　gathered　behind　the　resisted　vanguard；　and　poured　now　in　rage　into　the　valley；　driving　wildly　up　between　the　arms　of　the　Mountain；　seeking　for　the　foe。　Their　banners　were　countless；　black　and　red；　and　they　came　on　like　a　tide　in　fury　and　disorder。
　It　was　a　terrible　battle。　The　most　dreadful　of　all　Bilbo's　experiences；　and　the　one　which　at　the　time　he　hated　most　…　which　is　to　say　it　was　the　one　he　was　most　proud　of；　and　most　fond　of　recalling　long　afterwards；　although　he　was　quite　unimportant　in　it。　Actually　I　must　say　he　put　on　his　ring　early　in　the　business；　and　vanished　from　sight；　if　not　from　all　danger。　A　magic　ring　of　that　sort　is　not　a　plete　protection　in　a　goblin　charge；　nor　does　it　stop　flying　arrows　and　wild　spears；　but　it　does　help　in　getting　out　of　the　way；　and　it　prevents　your　head　from　being　specially　chosen　for　a　sweeping　stroke　by　a　goblin　swordsman。
　The　elves　were　the　first　to　charge。　Their　hatred　for　the　goblins　is　cold　and　bitter。　Their　spears　and　swords　shone　in　the　gloom　with　a　gleam　of　chill　flame；　so　deadly　was　the　wrath　of　the　hands　that　held　them。　As　soon　as　the　host　of　their　enemies　was　dense　in　the　valley；　they　sent　against　it　a　shower　of　arrows；　and　each　flickered　as　it　fled　as　if　with　stinging　fire。　Behind　the　arrows　a　thousand　of　their　spearmen　leapt　down　and　charged。　The　yells　were　deafening。　The　rocks　were　stained　black　with　goblin　blood。　Just　as　the　goblins　were　recovering　from　the　onslaught　and　the　elf…charge　was　halted；　there　rose　from　across　the　valley　a　deep…throated　roar。　With　cries　of　〃Moria！〃　and　〃Dain；　Dain！〃　the　dwarves　of　the　Iron　Hills　plunged　in；　wielding　their　mattocks；　upon　the　other　side；　and　beside　them　came　the　men　of　the　Lake　with　long　swords。　　Panic　came　upon　the　Goblins；　and　even　as　they　turned　to　meet　this　new　attack；　the　elves　charged　again　with　renewed　numbers。　Already　many　of　the　goblins　were　flying　back　down　the　river　to　escape　from　the　trap：　and　many　of　their　own　wolves　were　turning　upon　them　and　rending　the　dead　and　the　wounded。　Victory　seemed　at　hand；　when　a　cry　rang　out　on　the　heights　above。　　Goblins　had　scaled　the　Mountain　from　the　other　side　and　already　many　were　on　the　slopes　above　the　Gate；　and　others　were　streaming　down　recklessly；　heedless　of　those　that　fell　screaming　from　cliff　and　precipice；　to　attack　the　spurs　from　above。　Each　of　these　could　be　reached　by　paths　that　ran　down　from　the　main　mass　of　the　Mountain　in　the　centre；　and　the　defenders　had　too　few　to　bar　the　way　for　long。　Victory　now　vanished　from　hope。　They　had　only　stemmed　the　first　onslaught　of　the　black　tide。
　Day　drew　on。　The　goblins　gathered　again　in　the　valley。　There　a　host　of
　Wargs　came　ravening　and　with　them　came　the　bodyguard　of　Bolg；　goblins　of　huge　size　with　scimitars　of　steel。　Soon　actual　darkness　was　ing　into　a　stormy　sky；　while　still　the　great　bats　swirled　about　the　heads　and　ears　of　elves　and　men；　or　fastened　vampire…like　on　the　stricken。　Now　Bard　was　fighting　to　defend　the　Eastern　spur；　and　yet　giving　slowly　back；　and　the　elf…lords　were　at　bay　about　their　king　upon　the　southern　arm；　near　to　the　watch…post　on　Ravenhill。　　Suddenly　there　was　a　great　shout；　and　from　the　Gate　came　a　trumpet　call。　　They　had　forgotten　Thorin！　Part　of　the　wall；　moved　by　levers；　fell　outward　with　a　crash　into　the　pool。　Out　leapt　the　King　under　the　Mountain；　and　his　panions　followed　him。　Hood　and　cloak　were　gone；　they　were　in　shining　armour；　and　red　light　leapt　from　their　eyes。　In　the　gloom　the　great　dwarf　gleamed　like　gold　in　a　dying　fire。
　Rocks　were　buried　down　from　on　high　by　the　goblins　above；　but　they　held　on。　leapt　down　to　the　falls'　foot；　and　rushed　forward　to　battle。　Wolf　and　rider　fell　or　fled　before　them。　Thorin　wielded　his　axe　with　mighty　strokes；　and　nothing　seemed　to　harm　him。
　〃To　me！　To　me！　Elves　and　Men！　To　me！　O　my　kinsfolk！〃　he　cried；　and　his　voice　shook　like　a　horn　in　the　valley。
　Down；　heedless　of　order；　rushed　all　the　dwarves　of　Dain　to　his　help。　Down　too　came　many　of　the　Lake…men；　for　Bard　could　not　restrain　them；　and　out　upon　the　other　side　came　many　of　the　spearmen　of　the　elves。　Once　again　the　goblins　were　stricken　in　the　valley；　and　they　were　piled　in　heaps　till　Dale　was　dark　and　hideous　with　their　corpses。　The　Wargs　were　scattered　and　Thorin　drove　right　against　the　bodyguards　of　Bolg。　But　he　could　not　pierce　their　ranks。　　Already　behind　him　among　the　goblin　dead　lay　many　men　and　many　dwarves；　and　many　a　fair　elf　that　should　have　lived　yet　long　ages　merrily　in　the　wood。　And　as　the　valley　widened　his　onset　grew　ever　slower。　His　numbers　were　too　few。　　His　flanks　were　unguarded。　Soon　the　attackers　were　attacked；　and　they　were　forced　into　a　great　ring；　facing　every　way；　hemmed　all　about　with　goblins　and　wolves　returning　to　the　assault。　The　bodyguard　of　Bolg　came　howling　against　them；　and　drove　in　upon　their　ranks　like　waves　upon　cliffs　of　sand。　Their　friends　could　not　help　them；　for　the　assault　from　the　Mountain　was　renewed　with　redoubled　force；　and　upon　either　side　men　and　elves　were　being　slowly　beaten　down。
　On　all　this　Bilbo　looked　with　misery。　He　had　taken　his　stand　on　Ravenhill　among　the　Elves…partly　because　there　was　more　chance　of　escape　from　that　point；　and　partly　（with　the　more　Tookish　part　of　his　mind）　because　if　he　was　going　to　be　in　a　last　desperate　stand；　he　preferred　on　the　whole　to　defend　the　Elvenking。　Gandalf；　too；　I　may　say；　was　there；　sitting　on　the　ground　as　if　in　deep　thought；　preparing；　I　suppose；　some　last　blast　of　magic　before　the　end。　　That　did　not　seem　far　off。　〃It　will　not　be　long　now；〃　thought　Bilbo；　〃before　the　goblins　win　the　Gate；　and　we　are　all　slaughtered　or　driven　down　and　captured。　Really　it　is　enough　to　make　one　weep；　after　all　one　has　gone　through。　I　would　rather　old　Smaug　had　been　left　with　all　the　wretched　treasure；　than　that　these　vile　creatures　should　get　it；　and　poor　old　Bombur；　and　Balin　and　Fili　and　Kili　and　all　the　rest　e　to　a　bad　end；　and　Bard　too；　and　the　Lake…men　and　the　merry　elves。　Misery　me！　I　have　heard　songs　of　many　battles；　and　I　have　always　understood　that　defeat　may　be　glorious。　It　seems　very　unfortable；　not　to　say　distressing。　I　wish　I　was　well　out　of　it。〃　The　clouds　were　torn　by　the　wind；　and　a　red　sunset　slashed　the　West。
　Seeing　the　sudden　gleam　in　the　gloom　Bilbo　looked　round。　He　gave　a　great　cry：
　he　had　seen　a　sight　that　made　his　heart　leap；　dark　shapes　small　yet　majestic　against　the　distant　glow。
　〃The　Eagles！　The　Eagles！〃　he　shouted。　〃The　Eagles　are　ing！〃　Bilbo's　eyes　were　seldom　wrong。　The　eagles　were　ing　down　the　wind；　line　after　line；　in　such　a　host　as　must　have　gathered　from　all　the　eyries　of　the　North。
　〃The　Eagles！　the　Eagles！〃　Bilbo　cried；　dancing　and　waving　his　arms。　If　the　elves　could　not　see　him　they　could　hear　him。　Soon　they　too　took　up　the　cry；　and　it　echoed　across　the　valley。　Many　wondering　eyes　looked　up；　though　as　yet　nothing　could　be　seen　except　from　the　southern　shoulders　of　the　Mountain。
　〃The　Eagles！〃　cried　Bilbo　once　more；　but　at　that　moment　a　stone　hurtling　from　above　smote　heavily　on　his　helm；　and　he　fell　with　a　crash　and　knew　no　more。
　
　Chapter　18
　The　Return　Journey
　
　When　Bilbo　came　to　himself；　he　was　literally　by　himself。　He　was　lying　on　the　flat　stones　of　Ravenhill；　and　no　one　was　near。　A　cloudless　day；　but　cold；　was　broad　above　him。　He　was　shaking；　and　as　chilled　as　stone；　but　his　head　burned　with　fire。
　〃Now　I　wonder　what　has　happened？〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃At　any　rate　I　am　not　yet　one　of　the　fallen　heroes；　but　I　suppose　there　is　still　time　enough　for　that！〃
　He　sat　up　painfully。　Looking　into　the　valley　he　could　see　no　living　goblins。　After　a　while　as　his　head　cleared　a　little；　he　thought　he　could　see　elves　moving　in　the　rocks　below。　He　rubbed　his　eyes。　Surely　there　was　a　camp　still　in　the　plain　some　distance　off；　and　there　was　a　ing　and　going　about　the　Gate？　Dwarves　seemed　to　be　busy　removing　the　wall。　But　all　was　deadly　still。　There　was　no　call　and　no　echo　of　a　song。　Sorrow　seemed　to　be　in　the　air。　〃Victory　after　all；　I　suppose！〃　he　said；　feeling　his　aching　head。　〃Well；　it　seems　a　very　gloomy　business。〃
　Suddenly　he　was　aware　of　a　man　climbing　up　and　ing　towards　him。
　〃Hullo　there！〃　he　called　with　a　shaky　voice。　〃Hullo　there！　What　news？〃　〃What　voice　is　it　that　speaks　among　the　stones？〃　said　the　man　halting　and　peering　about　him　not　far　from　where　Bilbo　sat。
　Then　Bilbo　remembered　his　ring！　〃Well　I'm　blessed！〃　said　he。　〃This　invisibility　has　its　drawbacks　after　all。　Otherwise　I　suppose　I　might　have　spent　a　warm　and　fortable　night　in　bed！〃
　〃It's　me；　Bilbo　Baggins；　panion　of　Thorin！〃　he　cried；　hurriedly　taking　off　the　ring。
　〃It　is　well　that　I　have　found　you！〃　said　the　man　striding　forward。　〃You　are　needed　and　we　have　looked　for　you　long。　You　would　have　been　numbered　among　the　dead；　who　are　many；　if　Gandalf　the　wizard　had　not　said　that　your　voice　was　last　heard　in　this　place。　I　have　been　sent　to　look　here　for　the　last　time。　Are　you　much　hurt？〃
　〃A　nasty　knock　on　the　head；　I　think；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃But　I　have　a　helm　and　a　hard　skull。　All　the　same　I　feel　sick　and　my　legs　are　like　straws。〃　〃I　will　carry　you　down　to　the　camp　in　the　valley；〃　said　the　man；　and　picked　him　lightly　up。
　The　man　was　swift　and　sure…footed。　It　was　not　long　before　Bilbo　was　set　down　before　a　tent　in　Dale；　and　there　stood　Gandalf；　with　his　arm　in　a　sling。　　Even　the　wizard　had　not　escaped　without　a　wound；　and　there　were　few　unharmed　in　all　the　host。
　When　Gandalf　saw　Bilbo；　he　was　delighted。　〃Baggins！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Well　I　never！　Alive　after　all　…　1　am　glad！　I　began　to　wonder　if　even　your　luck　would　see　you　through！　A　terrible　business；　and　it　nearly　was　disastrous。　But　other　news　can　wait。　e！〃　he　said　more　gravely。　〃You　are　called　for；〃　and　leading　the　hobbit　he　took　him　within　the　tent。
　〃Hail！　Thorin；〃　he　said　as　he　entered。　〃I　have　brought　him。〃　There　indeed　lay　Thorin　Oakenshield；　wounded　with　many　wounds；　and　his　rent　armour　and　notched　axe　were　cast　upon　the　floor。　He　looked　up　as　Bilbo　came　beside　him。
　〃Farewell；　good　thief；〃　he　said。　〃I　go　now　to　the　halls　of　waiting　to　sit　beside　my　fathers；　until　the　world　is　renewed。　Since　I　leave　now　all　gold　and　silver；　and　go　where　it　is　of　little　worth；　I　wish　to　part　in　friendship　from　you；　and　I　would　take　back　my　words　and　deeds　at　the　Gate。〃
　Bilbo　knelt　on　one　knee　filled　with　sorrow。　〃Farewell；　King　under　the
　Mountain！〃　he　said。　〃This　is　a　bitter　adve