jrt.the hobbit-第21节

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k　and　the　figures　of　the　dwarves　round　it　cooking　and　making　a　fine　roasting　smell。　The　eagles　had　brought　up　dry　boughs　for　fuel；　and　they　had　brought　rabbits；　hares；　and　a　small　sheep。　The　dwarves　managed　all　the　preparations。　Bilbo　was　too　weak　to　help；　and　anyway　he　was　not　much　good　at　skinning　rabbits　or　cutting　up　meat；　being　used　to　having　it　delivered　by　the　butcher　all　ready　to　cook。　Gandalf；　too；　was　lying　down　after　doing　his　part　in　setting　the　fire　going；　since　Oin　and　Gloin　had　lost　their　tinder…boxes。　（Dwarves　have　never　taken　to　matches　even　yet。）
　So　ended　the　adventures　of　the　Misty　Mountains。　Soon　Bilbo's　stomach　was　feeling　full　and　fortable　again；　and　he　felt　he　could　sleep　contentedly；　though　really　he　would　have　liked　a　loaf　and　butter　better　than　bits　of　meat　toasted　on　sticks。　He　slept　curled　up　on　the　hard　rock　more　soundly　than　ever　he　had　done　on　his　feather…bed　in　his　own　little　hole　at　home。　But　all　night　he　dreamed　of　his　own　house　and　wandered　in　his　sleep　into　all　his　different　rooms　looking　for　something　that　he　could　not　find　nor　remember　what　it　looked　like。
　
　Chapter　7
　Queer　Lodgings
　
　The　next　morning　Bilbo　woke　up　with　the　early　sun　in　his　eyes。　He　jumped　up　to　look　at　the　time　and　to　go　and　put　his　kettle　on…and　found　he　was　not　home　at　all。　So　he　sat　down　and　wished　in　vain　for　a　wash　and　a　brush。　He　did　not　get　either；　nor　tea　nor　toast　nor　bacon　for　his　breakfast；　only　cold　mutton　and　rabbit。　And　after　that　he　had　to　get　ready　for　a　fresh　start。　　This　time　he　was　allowed　to　climb　on　to　an　eagle's　back　and　cling　between　his　wings。　The　air　rushed　over　him　and　he　shut　his　eyes。　The　dwarves　were　crying　farewells　and　promising　to　repay　the　lord　of　the　eagles　if　ever　they　could；　as　off　rose　fifteen　great　birds　from　the　mountain's　side。　The　sun　was　still　close　to　the　eastern　edge　of　things。　The　morning　was　cool；　and　mists　were　in　the　valleys　and　hollows　and　twined　here　and　there　about　the　peaks　and　pinnacles　of　the　hills。　Bilbo　opened　an　eye　to　peep　and　saw　that　the　birds　were　already　high　up　and　the　world　was　far　away；　and　the　mountains　were　falling　back　behind　them　into　the　distance。　He　shut　his　eyes　again　and　held　on　tighter。
　〃Don't　pinch！〃　said　his　eagle。　〃You　need　not　be　frightened　like　a　rabbit；　even　if　you　look　rather　like　one。　It　is　a　fair　morning　with　little　wind。　What　is　finer　than　flying？〃
　Bilbo　would　have　liked　to　say：　〃A　warm　bath　and　late　breakfast　on　the　lawn　afterwards；〃　but　he　thought　it　better　to　say　nothing　at　all；　and　to　let　go　his　clutch　just　a　tiny　bit。
　After　a　good　while　the　eagles　must　have　seen　the　point　they　were　making　for；　'even　from　their　great　height；　for　they　began　to　go　down　circling　round　in　great　spirals。　They　did　this　for　a　long　while；　and　at　last　the　hobbit　opened　his　eyes　again。　The　earth　was　much　nearer；　and　below　them　were　trees　that　looked　like　oaks　and　elms；　and　wide　grass　lands；　and　a　river　running　through　it　all。　But　cropping　out　of　the　ground；　right　in　the　path　of　the　stream　which　looped　itself　about　it；　was　a　great　rock；　almost　a　hill　of　stone；　like　a　last　outpost　of　the　distant　mountains；　or　a　huge　piece　cast　miles　into　the　plain　by　some　giant　among　giants。
　Quickly　now　to　the　top　of　this　rock　the　eagles　swooped　one　by　one　and　set　down　their　passengers。
　〃Farewell！〃　they　cried；　〃wherever　you　fare；　till　your　eyries　receive　you　at　the　journey's　end！〃　That　is　the　polite　thing　to　say　among　eagles。　　〃May　the　wind　under　your　wings　bear　you　where　the　sun　sails　and　the　moon　walks；〃　answered　Gandalf；　who　knew　the　correct　reply。　　And　so　they　parted。　And　though　the　lord　of　the　eagles　became　in　after　days　the　King　of　All　Birds　and　wore　a　golden　crown；　and　his　fifteen　chieftains　golden　collars　（made　of　the　gold　that　the　dwarves　gave　them）；　Bilbo　never　saw　them　again…except　high　and　far　off　in　the　battle　of　Five　Armies。　But　as　that　es　in　at　the　end　of　this　tale　we　will　say　no　more　about　it　just　now。　　There　was　a　flat　space　on　the　top　of　the　hill　of　stone　and　a　well　worn　path　with　many　steps　leading　down　it　to　the　river；　across　which　a　ford　of　huge　flat　stones　led　to　the　grass…land　beyond　the　stream。　There　was　a　little　cave　（a　wholesome　one　with　a　pebbly　floor）　at　the　foot　of　the　steps　and　near　the　end　of　the　stony　ford。　Here　the　party　gathered　and　discussed　what　was　to　be　done。
　〃I　always　meant　to　see　you　all　safe　（if　possible）　over　the　mountains；〃　said　the　wizard；　〃and　now　by　good　management　and　good　luck　I　have　done　it。　　Indeed　we　are　now　a　good　deal　further　east　than　I　ever　meant　to　e　with　you；　for　after　all　this　is　not　my　adventure。　I　may　look　in　on　it　again　before　it　is　all　over；　but　in　the　meanwhile　I　have　some　other　pressing　business　to　attend　to。〃
　The　dwarves　groaned　and　looked　most　distressed；　and　Bilbo　wept。　They　had　begun　to　think　Gandalf　was　going　in　e　all　the　way　and　would　always　be　there　to　help　them　out　of　difficulties。　〃I　am　not　going　to　disappear　this　very　instant；〃　said　he。　〃I　can　give　you　a　day　or　two　more。　Probably　I　can　help　you　out　of　your　present　plight；　and　I　need　a　little　help　myself。　We　have　no　food；　and　no　baggage；　and　no　ponies　to　ride；　and　you　don't　know　where　you　are。　Now　I　can　tell　you　that。　You　are　still　some　miles　north　of　the　path　which　we　should　have　been　following；　if　we　had　not　left　the　mountain　pass　in　a　hurry。　Very　few　people　live　in　these　parts；　unless　they　have　e　here　since　I　was　last　down　this　way；　which　is　some　years　ago。　But　there　is　somebody　that　I　know　of；　who　lives　not　far　away。　That　Somebody　made　the　steps　on　the　great　rock…the　Carrock　I　believe　he　calls　it。　He　does　not　e　here　often；　certainly　not　in　the　daytime；　and　it　is　no　good　waiting　for　him。　In　fact　it　would　be　very　dangerous。　We　must　go　and　find　him；　and　if　all　goes　well　at　our　meeting；　I　think　I　shall　be　off　and　wish　you　like　the　eagles　'farewell　wherever　you　fare！'　〃　They　begged　him　not　to　leave　them。　They　offered　him　dragon…gold　and　silver　and　jewels；　but　he　would　not　change　his　mind。
　〃We　shall　see；　we　shall　see！〃　he　said；　〃and　I　think　I　have　earned　already　some　of　your　dragon…gold　…　when　you　have　got　it。〃
　After　that　they　stopped　pleading。　Then　they　took　off　their　clothes　and　bathed　in　the　river；　which　was　shallow　and　clear　and　stony　at　the　ford。　When　they　had　dried　in　the　sun；　which　was　now　strong　and　warm；　they　were　refreshed；　if　still　sore　and　a　little　hungry。　Soon　they　crossed　the　ford　（carrying　the　hobbit）；　and　then　began　to　march　through　the　long　green　grass　and　down　the　lines　of　the　wide…armed　oaks　and　the　tall　elms。
　〃And　why　is　it　called　the　Carrock？〃　asked　Bilbo　as　he　went　along　at　the　wizard's　side。
　〃He　called　it　the　Carrock；　because　carrock　is　his　word　for　it。　He　calls　things　like　that　carrocks；　and　this　one　is　the　Carrock　because　it　is　the　only　one　near　his　home　and　he　knows　it　well。〃
　〃Who　calls　it？　Who　knows　it？〃
　〃The　Somebody　I　spoke　of…a　very　great　person。　You　must　all　be　very　polite　when　I　introduce　you。　I　shall　introduce　you　slowly；　two　by　two；　I　think；　and　you　must　be　careful　not　to　annoy　him；　or　heaven　knows　what　will　happen。　He　can　be　appalling　when　he　is　angry；　though　he　is　kind　enough　if　humoured。　Still　I　warn　you　he　gets　angry　easily。〃
　The　dwarves　all　gathered　round　when　they　heard　the　wizard　talking　like　this　to　Bilbo。　〃Is　that　the　person　you　are　taking　us　to　now？〃　they　asked。　　〃Couldn't　you　find　someone　more　easy…tempered？　Hadn't　you　better　explain　it　all　a　bit　clearer？〃…and　so　on。
　〃Yes　it　certainly　is！　No　I　could　not！　And　I　was　explaining　very　carefully；〃　answered　the　wizard　crossly。　〃If　you　must　know　more；　his　name　is　Beorn。　He　is　very　strong；　and　he　is　a　skin…changer。〃
　〃What！　a　furrier；　a　man　that　calls　rabbits　conies；　when　he　doesn't　turn　their　skins　into　squirrels？〃　asked　Bilbo。
　〃Good　gracious　heavens；　no；　no；　NO；　NO！〃　said　Gandalf。　〃Don't　be　a　fool　Mr。　Baggins　if　you　can　help　it；　and　in　the　name　of　all　wonder　don't　mention　the　word　furrier　again　as　long　as　you　are　within　a　hundred　miles　of　his　house；　nor；　rug；　cape；　tippet；　muff；　nor　any　other　such　unfortunate　word！　He　is　a　skin…changer。　He　changes　his　skin；　sometimes　he　is　a　huge　black　bear；　sometimes　he　is　a　great　strong　black…haired　man　with　huge　arms　and　a　great　beard。　I　cannot　tell　you　much　more；　though　that　ought　to　be　enough。　Some　say　that　he　is　a　bear　descended　from　the　great　and　ancient　bears　of　the　mountains　that　lived　there　before　the　giants　came。　Others　say　that　he　is　a　man　descended　from　the　first　men　who　lived　before　Smaug　or　the　other　dragons　came　into　this　part　of　the　world；　and　before　the　goblins　came　into　the　hills　out　of　the　North。　I　cannot　say；　though　I　fancy　the　last　is　the　true　tale。　He　is　not　the　sort　of　person　to　ask　questions　of。
　〃At　any　rate　he　is　under　no　enchantment　but　his　own。　He　lives　in　an　oak…wood　and　has　a　great　wooden　house；　and　as　a　man　he　keeps　cattle　and　horses　which　are　nearly　is　marvellous　as　himself。　They　work　for　him　and　talk　to　him。　　He　does　not　eat　them；　neither　does　he　hunt　or　eat　wild　animals。　He　keeps　hives　and　hives　of　great　fierce　bees；　and　lives　most　on　cream　and　honey。　As　a　bear　he　ranges　far　and　wide。　I　once　saw　him　sitting　all　alone　on　the　top　of　the　Carrock　at　night　watching　the　moon　sinking　towards　the　Misty　Mountains；　and　I　heard　him　growl　in　the　tongue　of　bears；