jrt.the hobbit-第5章

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ou　go。〃
　〃Before　we　go；　I　suppose　you　mean；〃　said　Thorin。　〃Aren't　you　the　burglar？　　And　isn't　sitting　on　the　door…step　your　job；　not　to　speak　of　getting　inside　the　door？　But　I　agree　about　bed　and　breakfast。　I　like　eggs　with　my　ham；　when　starting　on　a　journey：　fried　not　poached；　and　mind　you　don't　break　'em。〃
　After　all　the　others　had　ordered　their　breakfasts　without　so　much　as　a　please　（which　annoyed　Bilbo　very　much）；　they　all　got　up。　The　hobbit　had　to　find　room　for　them　all；　and　filled　all　his　spare…rooms　and　made　beds　on　chairs　and　sofas；　before　he　got　them　all　stowed　and　went　to　his　own　little　bed　very　tired　and　not　altogether　happy。　One　thing　he　did　make　his　mind　up　about　was　not　to　bother　to　get　up　very　early　and　cook　everybody　else's　wretched　breakfast。　The　Tookishness　was　wearing　off；　and　he　was　not　now　quite　so　sure　that　he　was　going　on　any　journey　in　the　morning。　As　he　lay　in　bed　he　could　hear　Thorin　still　humming　to　himself　in　the　best　bedroom　next　to　him：
　〃Far　over　the　misty　mountains　cold
　To　dungeons　deep　and　caverns　old
　We　must　away；　ere　break　of　day；
　To　find　our　long…forgotten　gold。〃
　Bilbo　went　to　sleep　with　that　in　his　ears；　and　it　gave　him　very　unfortable　dreams。　It　was　long　after　the　break　of　day；　when　he　woke　up。
　
　Chapter　2
　Roast　Mutton
　
　Up　jumped　Bilbo；　and　putting　on　his　dressing…gown　went　into　the　dining…room。　There　he　saw　nobody；　but　all　the　signs　of　a　large　and　hurried　breakfast。　　There　was　a　fearful　mess　in　the　room；　and　piles　of　unwashed　crocks　in　the　kitchen。　Nearly　every　pot　and　pan　he　possessed　seemed　to　have　been　used。　The　washing…up　was　so　dismally　real　that　Bilbo　was　forced　to　believe　the　party　of　the　night　before　had　not　been　part　of　his　bad　dreams；　as　he　had　rather　hoped。　　Indeed　he　was　really　relieved　after　all　to　think　that　they　had　all　gone　without　him；　and　without　bothering　to　wake　him　up　（〃but　with　never　a　thank…you〃　he　thought）；　and　yet　in　a　way　he　could　not　help　feeling　just　a　trifle　disappointed。　The　feeling　surprised　him。
　〃Don't　be　a　fool；　Bilbo　Baggins！〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃thinking　of　dragons　and　all　that　outlandish　nonsense　at　your　age！〃　So　be　put　on　an　apron；　lit　fires；　boiled　water；　and　washed　up。　Then　he　had　a　nice　little　breakfast　in　the　kitchen　before　turning　out　the　dining…room。　By　that　time　the　sun　was　shining；　and　the　front　door　was　open；　letting　in　a　warm　spring　breeze。　Bilbo　began　to　whistle　loudly　and　to　forget　about　the　night　before。　In　fact　he　was　just　sitting　down　to　a　nice　little　second　breakfast　in　the　dining…room　by　the　open　window；　when　in　walked　Gandalf。　〃My　dear　fellow；〃　said　he；　〃whenever　are　you　going　to　e？　What　about　an　early　start？…and　here　you　are　having　breakfast；　or　whatever　you　call　it；　at　half　past　ten！　They　left　you　the　message；　because　they　could　not　wait。〃
　〃What　message？〃　said　poor　Mr。　Baggins　all　in　a　fluster。　　〃Great　Elephants！〃　said　Gandalf；　〃you　are　not　at　all　yourself　this　morning…you　have　never　dusted　the　mantel…　piece！〃
　〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　it？　I　have　had　enough　to　do　with　washing　up　for　fourteen！〃
　〃If　you　had　dusted　the　mantelpiece　you　would　have　found　this　just　under　the　clock；〃　said　Gandalf；　handing　Bilbo　a　note　（written；　of　course；　on　his　own　note…paper）。
　This　is　what　he　read：
　〃Thorin　and　pany　to　Burglar　Bilbo　greeting！
　For　your　hospitality　our　sincerest　thanks；　and　for　your　offer　of　professional　assistance　our　grateful　acceptance。　Terms：　cash　on　delivery；　up　to　and　not　exceeding　one　fourteenth　of　total　profits　（if　any）；　all　traveling　expenses　guaranteed　in　any　event；　funeral　expenses　to　be　defrayed　by　us　or　our　representatives；　if　occasion　arises　and　the　matter　is　not　otherwise　arranged　for。
　〃Thinking　it　unnecessary　to　disturb　your　esteemed　repose；　we　have　proceeded　in　advance　to　make　requisite　preparations；　and　shall　await　your　respected　person　at　the　Green　Dragon　Inn；　Bywater；　at　II　a。m。　sharp。　Trusting　that　you　will　be　punctual。　
　　〃We　have　the　honour　to　remain
　〃Yours　deeply
　〃Thorin　&　Co。〃
　〃That　leaves　you　just　ten　minutes。　You　will　have　to　run；〃　said　Gandalf。
　〃But…〃　said　Bilbo。
　〃No　time　for　it；〃　said　the　wizard。
　〃But…〃said　Bilbo　again。
　〃No　time　for　that　either！　Off　you　go！〃
　To　the　end　of　his　days　Bilbo　could　never　remember　how　he　found　himself　outside；　without　a　hat；　walking…stick　or　say　money；　or　anything　that　he　usually　took　when　he　went　out；　leaving　his　second　breakfast　half…finished　and　quite　unwashed…up；　pushing　his　keys　into　Gandalf's　hands；　and　running　as　fast　as　his　furry　feet　could　carry　him　down　the　lane；　past　the　great　Mill；　across　The　Water；　and　then　on　for　a　whole　mile　or　more。　Very　puffed　he　was；　when　he　got　to　Bywater　just　on　the　stroke　of　eleven；　and　found　he　had　e　without　a　pocket…handkerchief！
　〃Bravo！〃　said　Balin　who　was　standing　at　the　inn　door　looking　out　for　him。　　Just　then　all　the　others　came　round　the　corner　of　the　road　from　the　village。　They　were　on　ponies；　and　each　pony　was　slung　about　with　all　kinds　of　baggages；　packages；　parcels；　and　paraphernalia。　There　was　a　very　small　pony；　apparently　for　Bilbo。
　〃Up　you　two　get；　and　off　we　go！〃　said　Thorin。
　〃I'm　awfully　sorry；〃　said　Bilbo；　〃but　I　have　e　without　my　hat；　and　I　have　left　my　pocket…handkerchief　behind；　and　I　haven't　got　any　money。　I　didn't　get　your　note　until　after　10。45　to　be　precise。〃
　〃Don't　be　precise；〃　said　Dwalin；　〃and　don't　worry！　You　will　have　to　manage　without　pocket…handkerchiefs；　and　a　good　many　other　things；　before　you　get　to　the　journey's　end。　As　for　a　hat；　I　have　got　a　spare　hood　and　cloak　in　my　luggage。〃
　That's　how　they　all　came　to　start；　jogging　off　from　the　inn　one　fine　morning　just　before　May；　on　laden　ponies；　and　Bilbo　was　wearing　a　dark…green　hood　（a　little　weather…stained）　and　a　dark…green　cloak　borrowed　from　Dwalin。　　They　were　too　large　for　him；　and　he　looked　rather　ic。　What　his　father　Bungo　would　have　thought　of　him；　I　daren't　think。　His　only　fort　was　he　couldn't　be　mistaken　for　a　dwarf；　as　he　had　no　beard。
　They　had　not　been　riding　very　long　when　up　came　Gandalf　very　splendid　on　a　white　horse。　He　had　brought　a　lot　of　pocket…handkerchiefs；　and　Bilbo's　pipe　and　tobacco。　So　after　that　the　party　went　along　very　merrily；　and　they　told　stories　or　sang　songs　as　they　rode　forward　all　day；　except　of　course　when　they　stopped　for　meals。　These　didn't　e　quite　as　often　as　Bilbo　would　have　liked　them；　but　still　he　began　to　feel　that　adventures　were　not　so　bad　after　all。　At　first　they　had　passed　through　hobbit…lands；　a　wild　respectable　country　inhabited　by　decent　folk；　with　good　roads；　an　inn　or　two；　and　now　and　then　a　dwarf　or　a　farmer　ambling　by　on　business。　Then　they　came　to　lands　where　people　spoke　strangely；　and　sang　songs　Bilbo　had　never　heard　before。　Now　they　had　gone　on　far　into　the　Lone…lands；　where　there　were　no　people　left；　no　inns；　and　the　roads　grew　steadily　worse。　Not　far　ahead　were　dreary　hills；　rising　higher　and　higher；　dark　with　trees。　On　some　of　them　were　old　castles　with　an　evil　look；　as　if　they　had　been　built　by　wicked　people。　Everything　seemed　gloomy；　for　the　weather　that　day　had　taken　a　nasty　turn。　Mostly　it　had　been　as　good　as　May　can　be；　even　in　merry　tales；　but　now　it　was　cold　and　wet。　In　the　Lone…lands　they　had　to　camp　when　they　could；　but　at　least　it　had　been　dry。　〃To　think　it　will　soon　be　June；〃　grumbled　Bilbo　as　he　splashed　along　behind　the　others　in　a　very　muddy　track。　It　was　after　tea…time；　it　was　pouring　with　rain；　and　had　been　all　day；　his　hood　was　dripping　into　his　eyes；　his　cloak　was　full　of　water；　the　pony　was　tired　and　stumbled　on　stones；　the　others　were　too　grumpy　to　talk。　〃And　I'm　sure　the　rain　has　got　into　the　dry　clothes　and　into　the　food…bags；〃　thought　Bilbo。　〃Bother　burgling　and　everything　to　do　with　it！　　I　wish　I　was　at　home　in　my　nice　hole　by　the　fire；　with　the　kettle　just　beginning　to　sing！〃　It　was　not　the　last　time　that　he　wished　that！　　Still　the　dwarves　jogged　on；　never　turning　round　or　taking　any　notice　of　the　hobbit。　Somewhere　behind　the　grey　clouds　the　sun　must　have　gone　down；　for　it　began　to　get　dark。　Wind　got　up；　and　the　willows　along　the　river…bank　bent　and　sighed。　I　don't　know　what　river　it　was；　a　rushing　red　one；　swollen　with　the　rains　of　the　last　few　days；　that　came　down　from　the　hills　and　mountains　in　front　of　them。　Soon　it　was　nearly　dark。　The　winds　broke　up　the　grey　clouds；　and　a　waning　moon　appeared　above　the　hills　between　the　flying　rags。　Then　they　stopped；　and　Thorin　muttered　something　about　supper；　〃and　where　shall　we　get　a　dry　patch　to　sleep　on？〃　Not　until　then　did　they　notice　that　Gandalf　was　missing。　So　far　he　had　e　all　the　way　with　them；　never　saying　if　he　was　in　the　adventure　or　merely　keeping　them　pany　for　a　while。　He　had　eaten　most；　talked　most；　and　laughed　most。　But　now　he　simply　was　not　there　at　all！　　〃Just　when　a　wizard　would　have　been　most　useful；　too；〃　groaned　Dori　and　Nori　（who　shared　the　hobbit's　views　about　regular　meals；　plenty　and　often）。　　They　decided　in　the　end　that　they　would　have　to　camp　where　they　were。　So　far　they　had　not　camped　before　on　this　journey；　and　though　they　knew　that　they　soon　would　have　to　camp　regularly；　when　they　were　among　the　Misty　Mountains　and　far　from　the　lands　of　respectable　people；　it　seemed　a　bad　wet　evening　to　begin；　on。　They　moved　to　a　clump　of　trees；　and　though　it　was　drier　under　them；　the　wind　shook　the　rain　off　the　leaves；　and　the　drip；　drip；　was　most　annoying。　　Also　the　mischief　seemed　to　have　got　into　the　fire。　Dwarves　can　make　a　fire　almost　anywhere　out　of　almost　anything；　wind　or　no　wind；　but　they　could　not　do　it　that　night；　not　even　Oin　and　Gloin；　who　were　specially　good　at　it。　　Then　one　of　the　ponies　took　fright　at　nothing　and　bolted。　He　got　into　the　river　before　they　could　catch　him；　and　before　they　could　get　him　out　again；　Fili　and　Kili　were　nearly　drowned；　and　all　the　baggage　that　he　carried　was　washed　away　off　him。　Of　course　it　was　mostly　food；　and　there　was　mighty　little　left　for　supper；　and　less　for　breakfast。　There　they　all　sat　glum　and　wet　and　muttering；　while　Oin　and　Gloin　went　on　trying　to　light　the　fire；　and　quarrelling　about　it。　Bilbo　was　sadly　reflecting　that　adventures　are　not　all　pony…rides　in　May…sunshine；　when　Balin；　who　was　always　their　look…out　man；　said：　〃There's　a　light　over　there！〃　There　was　a　hill　some　way　off　with　trees　on　it；　pretty　thick　in　parts。　Out　of　the　dark　mass　of　the　trees　they　could　now　see　a　light　shining；　a　reddish　fortable…looking　light；　as　it　might　be　a　fire　or　torches　twinkling。　When　they　had　looked　at　it　for　some　while；　they　fell　to　arguing。　Some　said　〃no〃　and　some　said　〃yes。〃　Some　said　they　could　but　go　and　see；　and　anything　was　better　than　little　supper；　less　breakfast；　and　wet　clothes　all　the　night。　Others　said：　〃These　parts　are　none　too　well　known；　and　are　too　near　the　mountains。　Travellers　seldom　e　this　way　now。　The　old　maps　are　no　use：　things　have　changed　for　the　worse　and　the　road　is　unguarded。　　They　have　seldom　even　heard　of　the　king　round　here；　and　the　less　inquisitive　you　are　as　you　go　along；　the　less　trouble　you　are　likely　to　find。〃　Some　said：
　〃After　all　there　are　fourteen　of　us。〃　Others　said：　〃Where　has　Gandalf　got　to？〃　This　remark　was　repeated　by　everybody。　Then　the　rain　began　to　pour　down　worse　than　ever；　and　Oin　and　Gloin　began　to　fight。　That　settled　it。　〃After　all　we　have　got　a　burglar　wit