jrt.the hobbit-第36节

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ere　on　huge　piles　made　of　forest　trees　was　built　a　busy　wooden　town；　not　a　town　of　elves　but　of　Men；　who　still　dared　to　dwell　here　under　the　shadow　of　the　distant　dragon…mountain。　They　still　throve　on　the　trade　that　came　up　the　great　river　from　the　South　and　was　carted　past　the　falls　to　their　town；　but　in　the　great　days　of　old；　when　Dale　in　the　North　was　rich　and　prosperous；　they　had　been　wealthy　and　powerful；　and　there　had　been　fleets　of　boats　on　the　waters；　and　some　were　filled　with　gold　and　some　with　warriors　in　armour；　and　there　had　been　wars　and　deeds　which　were　now　only　a　legend。　The　rotting　piles　of　a　greater　town　could　still　be　seen　along　the　shores　when　the　waters　sank　in　a　drought。
　But　men　remembered　little　of　all　that；　though　some　still　sang　old　songs　of　the　dwarf…kings　of　the　Mountain；　Thror　and　Thrain　of　the　race　of　Durin；　and　of　the　ing　of　the　Dragon；　and　the　fall　of　the　lords　of　Dale。　Some　sang　too　that　Thror　and　Thrain　would　e　back　one　day　and　gold　would　flow　in　rivers　through　the　mountain…gates；　and　all　that　land　would　be　filled　with　new　song　and　new　laughter。　But　this　pleasant　legend　did　not　much　affect　their　daily　business。
　As　soon　as　the　raft　of　barrels　came　in　sight　boats　rowed　out　from　the　piles　of　the　town；　and　voices　hailed　the　raft…steerers。　Then　ropes　were　cast　and　oars　were　pulled；　and　soon　the　raft　was　drawn　out　of　the　current　of　the　Forest　River　and　towed　away　round　the　high　shoulder　of　rock　into　the　little　bay　of　Lake…town。　There　it　was　moored　not　far　from　the　shoreward　head　of　the　great　bridge。　Soon　men　would　e　up　from　the　South　and　take　some　of　the　casks　away；　and　others　they　would　fill　with　goods　they　had　brought　to　be　taken　back　up　the　stream　to　the　Wood…elves'　home。　In　the　meanwhile　the　barrels　were　left　afloat　while　the　elves　of　the　raft　and　the　boatmen　went　to　feast　in　Lake…town。
　They　would　have　been　surprised；　if　they　could　have　seen　what　happened　down　by　the　shore；　after　they　had　gone　and　the　shades　of　night　had　fallen。　　First　of　all　a　barrel　was　cut　loose　by　Bilbo　and　pushed　to　the　shore　and　opened。　Groans　came　from　inside；　and　out　crept　a　most　unhappy　dwarf。　Wet　straw　was　in　his　draggled　beard；　he　was　so　sore　and　stiff；　so　bruised　and　buffeted　he　could　hardly　stand　or　stumble　through　the　shallow　water　to　lie　groaning　on　the　shore。　He　had　a　famished　and　a　savage　look　like　a　dog　that　has　been　chained　and　forgotten　in　a　kennel　for　a　week。　It　was　Thorin；　but　you　could　only　have　told　it　by　his　golden　chain；　and　by　the　colour　of　his　now　dirty　and　tattered　sky…blue　hood　with　its　tarnished　silver　tassel。　It　was　some　time　before　he　would　be　even　polite　to　the　hobbit。
　〃Well；　are　you　alive　or　are　you　dead？〃　asked　Bilbo　quite　crossly。　Perhaps　he　had　forgotten　that　he　had　had　at　least　one　good　meal　more　than　the　dwarves；　and　also　the　use　of　his　arms　and　legs；　not　to　speak　of　a　greater　allowance　of　air。　〃Are　you　still　in　prison；　or　are　you　free？　If　you　want　food；　and　if　you　want　to　go　on　with　this　silly　adventure…　it's　yours　after　all　and　not　mine…you　had　better　slap　your　arms　and　rub　your　legs　and　try　and　help　me　get　the　others　out　while　there　is　a　chance！〃
　Thorin　of　course　saw　the　sense　of　this；　so　after　a　few　more　groans　he　got　up　and　helped　the　hobbit　as　well　as　he　could。　In　the　darkness　floundering　in　the　cold　water　they　had　a　difficult　and　very　nasty　job　finding　which　were　the　right　barrels。　Knocking　outside　and　calling　only　discovered　about　six　dwarves　that　could　answer。　They　were　unpacked　and　helped　ashore　where　they　sat　or　lay　muttering　and　moaning；　they　were　so　soaked　and　bruised　and　cramped　that　they　could　hardly　yet　realize　their　release　or　be　properly　thankful　for　it。　　Dwalin　and　Balin　were　two　of　the　most　unhappy；　and　it　was　no　good　asking　them　to　help。　Bifur　and　Bofur　were　less　knocked　about　and　drier；　but　they　lay　down　and　would　do　nothing。　Fili　and　Kili；　however；　who　were　young　（for　dwarves）　and　had　also　been　packed　more　neatly　with　plenty　of　straw　into　smaller　casks；　came　out　more　or　less　smiling；　with　only　a　bruise　or　two　and　a　stiffness　that　soon　wore　off。
　〃I　hope　I　never　smell　the　smell　of　apples　again！〃　said　Fili。　〃My　tub　was　full　of　it。　To　smell　apples　everlastingly　when　you　can　scarcely　move　and　are　cold　and　sick　with　hunger　is　maddening。　I　could　eat　anything　in　the　wide　world　now；　for　hours　on　end…but　not　an　apple！〃
　With　the　willing　help　of　Fili　and　Kili；　Thorin　and　Bilbo　at　last　discovered　the　remainder　of　the　pany　and　got　them　out。　Poor　fat　Bombur　was　asleep　or　senseless；　Dori；　Nori；　Ori；　Oin　and　Gloin　were　waterlogged　and　seemed　only　half　alive；　they　all　had　to　be　carried　one　by　one　and　laid　helpless　on　the　shore。
　〃Well！　Here　we　are！〃　said　Thorin。　〃And　I　suppose　we　ought　to　thank　our　stars　and　Mr。　Baggins。　I　am　sure　he　has　a　right　to　expect　it；　though　I　wish　he　could　have　arranged　a　more　fortable　journey。　Still…all　very　much　at　your　service　once　more；　Mr。　Baggins。　No　doubt　we　shall　feel　properly　grateful；　when　we　are　fed　and　recovered。　In　the　meanwhile　what　next？〃　〃I　suggest　Lake…town；〃　said　Bilbo；　〃What　else　is　there？〃　Nothing　else　could；　of　course；　be　suggested；　so　leaving　the　others　Thorin　and　Fili　and　Kili　and　the　hobbit　went　along　the　shore　to　the　great　bridge。　There　were　guards　at　the　head　of　it；　but　they　were　not　keeping　very　careful　watch；　for　it　was　so　long　since　there　had　been　any　real　need。　Except　for　occasional　squabbles　about　river…tolls　they　were　friends　with　the　Wood…elves。　Other　folk　were　far　away；　and　some　of　the　younger　people　in　the　town　openly　doubted　the　existence　of　any　dragon　in　the　mountain；　and　laughed　at　the　greybeards　and　gammers　who　said　that　they　had　seen　him　flying　in　the　sky　in　their　young　days。　That　being　so　it　is　not　surprising　that　the　guards　were　drinking　and　laughing　by　a　fire　in　their　hut；　and　did　not　hear　the　noise　of　the　unpacking　of　the　dwarves　or　the　footsteps　of　the　four　scouts。　Their　astonishment　was　enormous　when　Thorin　Oakenshield　stepped　in　through　the　door。
　〃Who　are　you　and　what　do　you　want？〃　they　shouted　leaping　to　their　feet　and　gipping　for　weapons。
　〃Thorin　son　of　Thrain　son　of　Thror　King　under　the　Mountain！〃　said　the　dwarf　in　a　loud　voice；　and　he　looked　it；　in　spite　of　his　torn　clothes　and　draggled　hood。　The　gold　gleamed　on　his　neck　and　waist：　his　eyes　were　dark　and　deep。　〃I　have　e　back。　I　wish　to　see　the　Master　of　your　town！〃　Then　there　was　tremendous　excitement。　Some　of　the　more　foolish　ran　out　of　the　hut　as　if　they　expected　the　Mountain　to　go　golden　in　the　night　and　all　the　waters　of　the　lake　to　turn　yellow　right　away。　The　captain　of　the　guard　came　forward。
　〃And　who　are　these？〃　he　asked；　pointing　to　Fili　and：　Kili　and　Bilbo。　　〃The　sons　of　my　father's　daughter；〃　answered　Thorin；　〃Fili　and　Kili　of　the　race　of　Durin；　and　Mr。　Baggins　who　has　travelled　with　us　out　of　the　West。〃　〃If　you　e　in　peace　lay　down　your　arms！〃　said　the　captain。　　〃We　have　none；〃　said　Thorin；　and　it　was　true　enough：　their　knives　had　been　taken　from　them　by　the　wood…elves；　and　the　great　sword　Orcrist　too。　Bilbo　had　his　short　sword；　hidden　as　usual；　but　he　said　nothing　about　that。　〃We　have　no　need　of　weapons；　who　return　at　last　to　our　own　as　spoken　of　old。　Nor　could　we　fight　against　so　many。　Take　us　to　your　master！〃
　〃He　is　at　feast；〃　said　the　captain。
　〃Then　all　the　more　reason　for　taking　us　to　him；〃　burst　in　Fili；　who　was　getting　impatient　at　these　solemnities。　〃We　are　worn　and　famished　after　our　long　road　and　we　have　sick　rades。　Now　make　haste　and　let　us　have　no　more　words；　or　your　master　may　have　something　to　say　to　you。〃　〃Follow　me　then；〃　said　the　captain；　and　with　six　men　about　them　he　led　them　over　the　bridge　through　the　gates　and　into　the　market…place　of　the　town。　　This　was　a　wide　circle　of　quiet　water　surrounded　by　the　tall　piles　on　which　were　built　the　greater　houses；　and　by　long　wooden　quays　with　many　steps　and　ladders　going　down　to　the　surface　of　the　lake。　From　one　great　hall　shone　many　lights　and　there　came　the　sound　of　many　voices。　They　passed　its　doors　and　stood　blinking　in　the　light　looking　at　long　tables　filled　with　folk。　　〃I　am　Thorin　son　of　Thrain　son　of　Thror　King　under　the　Mountain！　I　return！〃　cried　Thorin　in　a　loud　voice　from　the　door；　before　the　captain　could　say　anything。　All　leaped　to　their　feet。　The　Master　of　the　town　sprang　from　his　great　chair。　But　none　rose　in　greater　surprise　than　the　raft…men　of　the　elves　who　were　sitting　at　the　lower　end　of　the　hall。　Pressing　forward　before　the　Master's　table　they　cried：
　〃These　are　prisoners　of　our　king　that　have　escaped；　wandering　vagabond　dwarves　that　could　not　give　any　good　account　of　themselves；　sneaking　through　the　woods　and　molesting　our　people！〃
　〃Is　this　true？〃　asked　the　Master。　As　a　matter　of　fact　he　thought　it　far　more　likely　than　the　return　of　the　King　under　the　Mountain；　if　any　such　person　had　ever　existed。
　〃It　is　true　that　we　were　wrongfully　waylaid　by　the　Elven…king　and　imprisoned　without　cause　as　we　journeyed　back　to　our　own　land；〃　answered　Thorin。　〃But　lock　nor　bar　may　hinder　the　homeing　spoken　of　old。　Nor　is　this　town　in　the　Wood…elves'　realm。　I　speak　to　the　Master　of　the　town　of　the　Men　of　the　lake；　not　to　the　raft…men　of　the　king。〃
　Then　the　Master　hesitated　and　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　The　Elvenking　was　very　powerful　in　those　parts