jrt.the hobbit-第6章

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e　than　ever；　and　Oin　and　Gloin　began　to　fight。　That　settled　it。　〃After　all　we　have　got　a　burglar　with　us；〃　they　said；　and　so　they　made　off；　leading　their　ponies　（with　all　due　and　proper　caution）　in　the　direction　of　the　light。　They　came　to　the　hill　and　were　soon　in　the　wood。　Up　the　hill　they　went；　but　there　was　no　proper　path　to　be　seen；　such　as　might　lead　to　a　house　or　a　farm；　and　do　what　they　could　they　made　a　deal　of　rustling　and　crackling　and　creaking　（and　a　good　deal　of　grumbling　and　drafting）；　as　they　went　through　the　trees　in　the　pitch　dark。
　Suddenly　the　red　light　shone　out　very　bright　through　the　tree…trunks　not　far　ahead。　〃Now　it　is　the　burglar's　turn；〃　they　said；　meaning　Bilbo。　〃You　must　go　on　and　find　out　all　about　that　light；　and　what　it　is　for；　and　if　all　is　perfectly　safe　and　canny；〃　said　Thorin　to　the　hobbit。　〃Now　scuttle　off；　and　e　back　quick；　if　all　is　well。　If　not；　e　back　if　you　can！　It　you　can't；　hoot　twice　like　a　barn…owl　and　once　like　a　screech…owl；　and　we　will　do　what　we　can。〃
　Off　Bilbo　had　to　go；　before　he　could　explain　that　he　could　not　hoot　even　once　like　any　kind　of　owl　any　more　than　fly　like　a　bat。　But　at　any　rate　hobbits　can　move　quietly　in　woods；　absolutely　quietly。　They　take　a　pride　in　it；　and　Bilbo　had　sniffed　more　than　once　at　what　he　called　〃all　this　dwarvish　racket；〃　as　they　went　along；　though　I　don't　sup…pose　you　or　I　would　notice　anything　at　all　on　a　windy　night；　not　if　the　whole　cavalcade　had　passed　two　feet　off。　As　for　Bilbo　walking　primly　towards　the　red　light；　I　don't　suppose　even　a　weasel　would　have　stirred　a　whisker　at　it。　So；　naturally；　he　got　right　up　to　the　fire…for　fire　it　was　without　disturbing　anyone。　And　this　is　what　he　saw。　Three　very　large　persons　sitting　round　a　very　large　fire　of　beech…logs。　　They　were　toasting　mutton　on　long　spits　of　wood；　and　licking　the　gravy　off　their　fingers。　There　was　a　fine　toothsome　smell。　Also　there　was　a　barrel　of　good　drink　at　hand；　and　they　were　drinking　out　of　jugs。　But　they　were　trolls。
　Obviously　trolls。　Even　Bilbo；　in　spite　of　his　sheltered　life；　could　see　that：
　from　the　great　heavy　faces　of　them；　and　their　size；　and　the　shape　of　their　legs；　not　to　mention　their　language；　which　was　not　drawing…room　fashion　at　all；　at　all。
　〃Mutton　yesterday；　mutton　today；　and　blimey；　if　it　don't　look　like　mutton　again　tomorrow；〃　said　one　of　the　trolls。
　〃Never　a　blinking　bit　of　manflesh　have　we　had　for　long　enough；〃　said　a　second。　〃What　the　'ell　William　was　a…thinkin'　of　to　bring　us　into　these　parts　at　all；　beats　me　…　and　the　drink　runnin'　short；　what's　more；〃　he　said　jogging　the　elbow　of　William；　who　was　taking　a　pull　at　his　jug。　　William　choked。　〃Shut　yer　mouth！〃　he　said　as　soon　as　he　could。　〃Yer　can't　expect　folk　to　stop　here　for　ever　just　to　be　et　by　you　and　Bert。　You've　et　a　village　and　a　half　between　yer；　since　we　e　down　from　the　mountains。　How　much　more　d'yer　want？　And　time's　been　up　our　way；　when　yer'd　have　said　'thank　yer　Bill'　for　a　nice　bit　o'　fat　valley　mutton　like　what　this　is。〃　He　took　a　big　bite　off　a　sheep's　leg　he　was　toasting；　and　wiped　his　lips　on　his　sleeve。　　Yes；　I　am　afraid　trolls　do　behave　like　that；　even　those　with　only　one　head　each。　After　hearing　all　this　Bilbo　ought　to　have　done　something　at　once。　　Either　he　should　have　gone　back　quietly　and　warned　his　friends　that　there　were　three　fair…sized　trolls　at　hand　in　a　nasty　mood；　quite　likely　to　try　toasted　dwarf；　or　even　pony；　for　a　change；　or　else　he　should　have　done　a　bit　of　good　quick　burgling。　A　really　first…class　and　legendary　burglar　would　at　this　point　have　picked　the　trolls'　pockets…it　is　nearly　always　worthwhile　if　you　can　manage　it…；　pinched　the　very　mutton　off　the　spite；　purloined　the　beer；　and　walked　off　without　their　noticing　him。　Others　more　practical　but　with　less　professional　pride　would　perhaps　have　stuck　a　dagger　into　each　of　them　before　they　observed　it。　Then　the　night　could　have　been　spent　cheerily。　　Bilbo　knew　it。　He　had　read　of　a　good　many　things　he　had　never　seen　or　done。　He　was　very　much　alarmed；　as　well　as　disgusted；　he　wished　himself　a　hundred　miles　away；　and　yet…and　yet　somehow　he　could　not　go　straight　back　to　Thorin　and　pany　empty…handed。　So　he　stood　and　hesitated　in　the　shadows。　Of　the　various　burglarious　proceedings　he　had　heard　of　picking　the　trolls'　pockets　seemed　the　least　difficult；　so　at　last　he　crept　behind　a　tree　just　behind　William。
　Bert　and　Tom　went　off　to　the　barrel。　William　was　having　another　drink。　　Then　Bilbo　plucked　up　courage　and　put　his　little　hand　in　William's　enormous　pocket。　There　was　a　purse　in　it；　as　big　as　a　bag　to　Bilbo。　〃Ha！〃　thought　he　warming　to　his　new　work　as　he　lifted　it　carefully　out；　〃this　is　a　beginning！〃　It　was！　Trolls'　purses　are　the　mischief；　and　this　was　no　exception。　〃　'Ere；　'oo　are　you？〃　it　squeaked；　as　it　left　the　pocket；　and　William　turned　round　at　once　and　grabbed　Bilbo　by　the　neck；　before　he　could　duck　behind　the　tree。
　〃Blimey；　Bert；　look　what　I've　copped！〃　said　William。
　〃What　is　it？〃　said　the　others　ing　up。
　〃Lumme；　if　I　knows！　What　are　yer？〃
　〃Bilbo　Baggins；　a　bur…　a　hobbit；〃　said　poor　Bilbo；　shaking　all　over；　and　wondering　how　to　make　owl…noises　before　they　throttled　him。　　〃A　burrahobbit？〃　said　they　a　bit　startled。　Trolls　are　slow　in　the　uptake；　and　mighty　suspicious　about　anything　new　to　them。
　〃What's　a　burrahobbit　got　to　do　with　my　pocket；　anyways？〃　said　William。
　〃And　can　yer　cook　'em？〃　said　Tom。
　〃Yer　can　try；〃　said　Bert；　picking　up　a　skewer。
　〃He　wouldn't　make　above　a　mouthful；〃　said　William；　who　had　already　had　a　fine　supper；　〃not　when　he　was　skinned　and　boned。〃
　〃P'raps　there　are　more　like　him　round　about；　and　we　might　make　a　pie；〃　said　Bert。　〃Here　you；　are　there　any　more　of　your　sort　a…sneakin'　in　these　here　woods；　yer　nassty　little　rabbit；〃　said　he　looking　at　the　hobbit's　furry　feet；　and　he　picked　him　up　by　the　toes　and　shook　him。
　〃Yes；　lots；〃　said　Bilbo；　before　he　remembered　not　to　give　his　friends　away。　〃No；　none　at　all；　not　one；〃　he　said　immediately　afterwards。　　〃What　d'yer　mean？〃　said　Bert；　holding　him　right　away　up；　by　the　hair　this　time。
　〃What　I　say；〃　said　Bilbo　gasping。　〃And　please　don't　cook　me；　kind　sirs！　I　am　a　good　cook　myself；　and　cook　bet…ter　than　I　cook；　if　you　see　what　I　mean。　　I'll　cook　beautifully　for　you；　a　perfectly　beautiful　breakfast　for　you；　if　only　you　won't　have　me　for　supper。〃
　〃Poor　little　blighter；〃　said　William。　He　had　already　had　as　much　supper　as　he　could　hold；　also　he　had　had　lots　of　beer。　〃Poor　little　blighter！　Let　him　go！〃
　〃Not　till　he　says　what　he　means　by　lots　and　none　at　all；〃　said　Bert。　〃I　don't　want　to　have　me　throat　cut　in　me　sleep。　Hold　his　toes　in　the　fire；　till　he　talks！〃
　〃I　won't　have　it；〃　said　William。　〃I　caught　him　anyway。〃　〃You're　a　fat　fool；　William；〃　said　Bert；　〃as　I've　said　afore　this　evening。〃
　〃And　you're　a　lout！〃
　〃And　I　won't　take　that　from　you。　Bill　Huggins；〃　says　Bert；　and　puts　his　fist　in　William's　eye。
　Then　there　was　a　gorgeous　row。　Bilbo　had　just　enough　wits　left；　when　Bert　dropped　him　on　the　ground；　to　scramble　out　of　the　way　of　their　feet；　before　they　were　fighting　like　dogs；　and　calling　one　another　all　sorts　of　perfectly　true　and　applicable　names　in　very　loud　voices。　Soon　they　were　locked　in　one　another's　arms；　and　rolling　nearly　into　the　fire　kicking　and　thumping；　while　Tom　whacked　at　then　both　with　a　branch　to　bring　them　to　their　senses…and　that　of　course　only　made　them　madder　than　ever。　That　would　have　been　the　time　for　Bilbo　to　have　left。　But　his　poor　little　feet　had　been　very　squashed　in　Bert's　big　paw；　and　he　had　no　breath　in　his　body；　and　his　head　was　going　round；　so　there　he　lay　for　a　while　panting；　just　outside　the　circle　of　firelight。　　Right　in　the　middle　of　the　fight　up　came　Balin。　The　dwarves　had　heard　noises　from　a　distance；　and　after　wait…ing　for　some　time　for　Bilbo　to　e　back；　or　to　hoot　like　an　owl；　they　started　off　one　by　one　to　creep　towards　the　light　as　quietly　as　they　could。　No　sooner　did　Tom　see　Balin　e　into　the　light　than　he　gave　an　awful　howl。　Trolls　simply　detest　the　very　sight　of　dwarves　（uncooked）。　Bert　and　Bill　stopped　fighting　immediately；　and　〃a　sack；　Tom；　quick！〃　they　said；　before　Balin；　who　was　wondering　where　in　all　this　motion　Bilbo　was；　knew　what　was　happening；　a　sack　was　over　his　head；　and　he　was　down。
　〃There's　more　to　e　yet；〃　said　Tom；　〃or　I'm　mighty　mistook。　Lots　and　none　at　all；　it　is；〃　said　he。　〃No　burra…　hobbits；　but　lots　of　these　here　dwarves。　That's　about　the　shape　of　it！〃
　〃I　reckon　you're　right；〃　said　Bert；　〃and　we'd　best　get　out　of　the　light。〃
　And　so　they　did。　With　sacks　in　their　hands；　that　they　used　for　carrying　off　mutton　and　other　plunder；　they　waited　in　the　shadows。　As　each　dwarf　came　up　and　looked　at　the　fire；　and　the　spilled　jugs；　and　the　gnawed　mutton；　in　surprise；　pop！　went　a　nasty　smelly　sack　over　his　head；　and　he　was　down。　Soon　Dwalin　lay　by　Balin；　and　Fili　and　Kili　together；　and　Dori　and　Nori　and　Ori　all　in　a　heap；　and　Oin　and　Gloin　and　Bifur　and　Bofur　and　Bombur　piled　unfortably　near　the　fire。
　〃That'll　teach　'em；〃　said　Tom；　for　Bifur　and　Bombur　had　given　a　lot　of　trouble；　and　fought　like　mad；　as　dwarves　will　when　cornered。　　Thorin　came　last…and　he　was　not　caught　unawares。　He　came　expecting　mischief；　and　didn't　need　to　see　his　friends'　legs　sticking　out　of　sacks　to　tell　him　that　things　were　not　all　well。　He　stood　outside　in　the　shadows　some　way　off；　and　said：　〃What's　all　this　trouble？　Who　has　been　knocking　my　people　about？〃
　〃It's　trolls！〃　said　Bilbo　from　behind　a　tree。　They　had　forgotten　all　about　him。　〃They're　hiding　in　the　bushes　with　sacks；〃　said　he。　　〃O！　are　they？〃　said　Thorin；　and　he　jumped　forward　to　the　fire；　before　they　could　leap　on　him。　He　caught　up　a　big　branch　all　on　fire　at　one　end；　and　Bert　got　that　end　in　his　eye　before　he　could　step　aside。　That　put　him　out　of　the　battle　for　a　bit。　Bilbo　did　his　best。　He　caught　hold　of　Tom's　leg…as　well　as　he　could；　it　was　thick　as　a　young　tree…trunk　…but　he　was　sent　spinning　up　into　the　top　of　some　bushes；　when　Tom　kicked　the　sparks　up　in　Thorin's　face。　　Tom　got　the　branch　in　his　teeth　for　that；　and　lost　one　of　the　front　ones。　　It　made　him　howl；　I　can　tell　you。　But　just　at　that　moment　William　came　up　behind　and　popped　a　sack　right　over　Thorin's　head　and　down　to　his　toes。　And　so　the　fight　ended。　A　nice　pickle　they　were　all　in　now：　all　neatly　tied　up　in　sacks；　with　three　angry　trolls　（and　two　with　burns　and　bashes　to　remember）　sitting　by　them；　arguing　whether　they　should　roast　them　slowly；　or　mince　them　fine　and　boil　them；　or　just　sit　on　them　one　by　one　and　squash　them　into　jelly：　and　Bilbo　up　in　a　bush；　with　his　clothes　and　his　skin　torn；　not　daring　to　move　for　fear　they　should　hear　him。
　It　was　just　then　that　Gandalf　came　back。　But　no　one　saw　him。　The　trolls　had　just　decided　to　roast　the　dwarves　now　and　eat　them　later…that　was　Bert's　idea；　and　after　a　lot　of　argument　they　had　all　agreed　to　it。　　〃No　good　roasting　'em　now；　it'd　take　all　night；〃　said　a　voice。　Bert　thought　it　was　William's。
　〃Don't　start　the　argument　all　over…again。　Bill；〃　he　said；　〃or　it　will　take　all　night。〃
　〃Who's　a…arguing？〃　said　William；　who　thought　it　was。　Bert　that　had　spoken。
　〃You　are；〃　said　Bert。
　〃You're　a　liar；〃　said　William；　and　so　the　argument　beg　all　over　again。　In　the　end　they　decided　to　mince　them　f