jrt.the hobbit-第42节

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？　Bless　me！　　Had　you　never　thought　of　the　catch？　A　fourteenth　share；　I　suppose；　Or　something　like　it；　those　were　the　terms；　eh？　But　what　about　delivery？　What　about　cartage？　What　about　armed　guards　and　tolls？〃　And　Smaug　laughed　aloud。　He　had　a　wicked　and　a　wily　heart；　and　he　knew　his　guesses　were　not　far　out；　though　he　suspected　that　the　Lake…men　were　at　the　back　of　the　plans；　and　that　most　of　the　plunder　was　meant　to　stop　there　in　the　town　by　the　shore　that　in　his　young　days　had　been　called　Esgaroth。
　You　will　hardly　believe　it；　but　poor　Bilbo　was　really　very　taken　aback。　　So　far　all　his。　thoughts　and　energies　had　been　concentrated　on　getting　to　the　Mountain　and　finding　the　entrance。　He　had　never　bothered　to　wonder　how　the　treasure　was　to　be　removed；　certainly　never　how　any　part　of　it　that　might　fall　to　his　share　was　to　be　brought　back　all　the　way　to　Bag…End　Under…Hill。　　Now　a　nasty　suspicion　began　to　grow　in　his　mind…had　the　dwarves　forgotten　this　important　point　too；　or　were　they　laughing　in　their　sleeves　at　him　all　the　time？　That　is　the　effect　that　dragon…talk　has　on　the　inexperienced。　Bilbo　of　course　ought　to　have　been　on　his　guard；　but　Smaug　had　rather　an　overwhelming　personality。
　〃I　tell　you；〃　he　said；　in　an　effort　to　remain　loyal　to　his　friends　and　to　keep　his　end　up；　〃that　gold　was　only　an　afterthought　with　us。　We　came　over　hill　and　under　hill；　by　wave　and　win；　for　〃Revenge〃。　Surely；　O　Smaug　the　unassessably　wealthy；　you　must　realize　that　your　success　has　made　you　some　bitter　enemies？〃
　Then　Smaug　really　did　laugh…a　devastating　sound　which　shook　Bilbo　to　the　floor；　while　far　up　in　the　tunnel　the　dwarves　huddled　together　and　imagined　that　the　hobbit　had　e　to　a　sudden　and　a　nasty　end。　　〃Revenge！〃　he　snorted；　and　the　light　of　his　eyes　lit　the　the　hall　from　floor　to　ceiling　like　scarlet　lightning。　〃Revenge！　The　King　under　the　Mountain　is　dead　and　where　are　hi　kin　that　dare　seek　revenge？　Girion　Lord　of　Dale　is　dead；　and　I　have　eaten　his　people　like　a　wolf　among　sheep；　and　where　are　his　sons'　sons　that　dare　approach　me？　I　kill　where　I　wish　and　none　dare　resist。　I　laid　low　the　warriors　of　old　and　their　like　is　not　in　the　world　today。　Then　I　was　but　young　and　tender。　Now　I　am　old　and　strong；　strong　strong。　Thief　in　the　Shadows！〃　he　gloated。　〃My　armour　is　like　tenfold　shields；　my　teeth　are　swords；　my　claws　spears；　the　shock　of　my　tail　a　thunderbolt；　my　wings　a　hurricane；　and　my　breath　death！〃
　〃I　have　always　understood；〃　said　Bilbo　in　a　frightened　squeak；　〃that　dragons　were　softer　underneath；　especially　in　the　region　of　the…er…chest；　but　doubtless　one　so　fortified　has　thought　of　that。〃
　The　dragon　stopped　short　in　his　boasting。　〃Your　information　is　antiquated；〃　he　snapped。　〃I　am　armoured　above　and　below　with　iron　scales　and　hard　gems。　No　blade　can　pierce　me。〃
　〃I　might　have　guessed　it；〃　said　Bilbo。　〃Truly　there　can；　nowhere　be　found　the　equal　of　Lord　Smaug　the　Impenetrable。　What　magnificence　to　possess　a　waistcoat　of　fine　diamonds！〃
　〃Yes；　it　is　rare　and　wonderful；　indeed；〃　said　Smaug　absurdly　pleased。　He　did　not　know　that　the　hobbit　had　already　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　peculiar　under…covering　on　his　previous　visit；　and　was　itching　for　a　closer　view　for　reasons　of　his　own。　The　dragon　rolled　over。　〃Look！〃　he　said。　〃What　do　you　say　to　that？〃
　〃Dazzlingly　marvellous！　Perfect！　Flawless！　Staggering！〃　exclaimed　Bilbo　aloud；　but　what　he　thought　inside　was：　〃Old　fool！　Why　there　is　a　large　patch　in　the　hollow　of　his　left　breast　as　bare　as　a　snail　out　of　its　shell！〃　After　he　had　seen　that　Mr。　Baggins'　one　idea　was　to　get　away。　〃Well；　I　really　must　not　detain　Your　Magnificence　any　longer；〃　he　said；　〃or　keep　you　from　much　needed　rest。　Ponies　take　some　catching；　I　believe；　after　a　long　start。　And　so　do　burglars；〃　he　added　as　a　parting　shot；　as　he　darted　back　and　fled　up　the　tunnel。
　It　was　an　unfortunate　remark；　for　the　dragon　spouted　terrific　flames　after　him；　and　fast　though　he　sped　up　the　slope；　he　had　not　gone　nearly　far　enough　to　be　fortable　before　the　ghastly　head　of　Smaug　was　thrust　against　the　opening　behind。　Luckily　the　whole　head　and　jaws　could　not　squeeze　in；　but　the　nostrils　sent　forth　fire　and　vapour　to　pursue　him；　and　he　was　nearly　overe；　and　stumbled　blindly　on　in　great　pain　and　fear。　He　had　been　feeling　rather　pleased　with　the　cleverness　of　his　conversation　with　Smaug；　but　his　mistake　at　the　end　shook　him　into　better　sense。
　〃Never　laugh　at　live　dragons；　Bilbo　you　fool！〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　it　became　a　favourite　saying　of　his　later；　and　passed　into　a　proverb。　〃You　aren't　nearly　through　this　adventure　yet；〃　he　added；　and　that　was　pretty　true　as　well。
　The　afternoon　was　turning　into　evening　when　he　came　out　again　and　stumbled　and　fell　in　a　faint　on　the　'door…step。'　The　dwarves　revived　him；　and　doctored　his　scorches　as　well　as　they　could；　but　it　was　a　long　time　before　the　hair　on　the　back　of　his　head　and　his　heels　grew　properly　again：　it　had　all　been　singed　and　frizzled　right　down　to　the　skin。　In　the　meanwhile　his　friends　did　their　best　to　cheer　him　up；　and　they　were　eager　for　his　story；　especially　wanting　to　know　why　the　dragon　had　made　such　an　awful　noise；　and　how　Bilbo　had　escaped。
　But　the　hobbit　was　worried　and　unfortable；　and　they　had　difficulty　in　getting　anything　out　of　him。　On　thinking　things　over　he　was　now　regretting　some　of　the　things　he　had　said　to　the　dragon；　and　was　not　eager　to　repeat　them。　The　old　thrush　was　sitting　on　a　rock　near　by　with　his　head　cocked　on　one　side；　listening　to　all　that　was　said。　It　shows　what　an　ill　temper　Bilbo　was　in：　he　picked　up　a　stone　and　threw　it　at　the　thrush；　which　merely　fluttered　aside　and　came　back。
　〃Drat　the　bird！〃　said　Bilbo　crossly。　〃I　believe　he　is　listening；　and　I　don't　like　the　look　of　him。〃
　〃Leave　him　alone！〃　said　Thorin。　〃The　thrushes　are　good　and　friendly…this　is　a　very　old　bird　indeed；　and　is　maybe　the　last　left　of　the　ancient　breed　that　used　to　live　about　here；　tame　to　the　hands　of　my　father　and　grandfather。　　They　were　a　long…lived　and　magical　race；　and　this　might　even　be　one　of　those　that　were　alive　then；　a　couple　of　hundreds　years　or　more　ago。　The　Men　of　Dale　used　to　have　the　trick　of　understanding　their　language；　and　used　them　for　messengers　to　fly　to　the　Men　of　the　Lake　and　elsewhere。〃　〃Well；　he'll　have　news　to　take　to　Lake…town　all　right；　if　that　is　what　he　is　after；〃　said　Bilbo；　〃though　I　don't　suppose　there　are　any　people　left　there　that　trouble　with　thrush…language。〃
　〃Why　what　has　happened？〃　cried　the　dwarves。　〃Do　get　on　with　your　tale！〃
　So　Bilbo　told　them　all　he　could　remember；　and　he　confessed　that　he　had　a　nasty　feeling　that　the　dragon　guessed　too　much　from　his　riddles　added　to　the　camps　and　the　ponies。　〃I　am　sure　he　knows　we　came　from　Lake…town　and　had　help　from　there；　and　I　have　a　horrible　feeling　that　his　next　move　may　be　in　that　direction。　I　wish　to　goodness　I　had　never　said　that　about　Barrel…rider；　it　would　make　even　a　blind　rabbit　in　these　parts　think　of　the　Lake…men。〃　〃Well；　well！　It　cannot　be　helped；　and　it　is　difficult　not　to　slip　in　talking　to　a　dragon；　or　so　I　have　always　heard；〃　said　Balin　anxious　to　fort　him。　〃I　think　you　did　very　well；　if　you　ask　me…you　found　out　one　very　useful　thing　at　any　rate；　and　got　home　alive；　and　that　is　more　than　most　can　say　who　have　had　words　with　the　likes　of　Smaug。　It　may　be　a　mercy　and　a　blessing　yet　to　know　of　the　bare　patch　in　the　old　Worm's　diamond　waistcoat。〃　That　turned　the　conversation；　and　they　all　began　discussing　dragon…slayings　historical；　dubious；　and　mythical；　and　the　various　sorts　of　stabs　and　jabs　and　undercuts；　and　the　different　arts；　devices　and　stratagems　by　which　they　had　been　acplished。　The　general　opinion　was　that　catching　a　dragon　napping　was　not　as　easy　as　it　sounded；　and　the　attempt　to　stick　one　or　prod　one　asleep　was　more　likely　to　end　in　disaster　than　a　bold　frontal　attack。　All　the　while　they　talked　the　thrush　listened；　till　at　last　when　the　stars　began　to　peep　forth；　it　silently　spread　its　wings　and　flew　away。　And　all　the　while　they　talked　and　the　shadows　lengthened　Bilbo　became　more　and　more　unhappy　and　his　foreboding　At　last　he　interrupted　them。　〃I　am　sure　we　are　very　unsafe　here；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　don't　see　the　point　of　sitting　here。　The　dragon　has　withered　all　the　pleasant　green；　and　anyway　the　night　has　e　and　it　is　cold。　But　I　feel　it　in　my　bones　that　this　place　will　be　attacked　again。　Smaug　knows　now　how　I　came　down　to　his　hall；　and　you　can　trust　him　to　guess　where　the　other　end　of　the　tunnel　is。　He　will　break　all　this　side　of　the　Mountain　to　bits；　if　necessary；　to　stop　up　our　entrance；　and　if　we　are　smashed　with　it　the　better　he　will　like　it。〃
　〃You　are　very　gloomy；　Mr。　Baggins！〃　said　Thorin。　〃Why　has　not　Smaug　blocked　the　lower　end；　then；　if　he　is　so　eager　to　keep　us　out？　He　has　not；　or　we　should　have　heard　him。〃
　〃I　don't　know；　I　don't　know…because　at　first　he　wanted　to　try　and　lure　me　in　again；　I　suppose；　and　now　perhaps　because　he　is　waiting　till　after　tonight's　hunt；　or　because　he　does　not　want　to　damage　his　bedroom　if　he　can　help　it　…　but　I　wish　you　would　not　argue。　Smaug　will　be　ing　out　at　any　minute　now；　and　our　only　hope　is　to　get　well　in　the　tunnel　and　shut　the　door。〃　He　seemed　so　much　in　earnest　that　the　dwarves　at　last　did　as　he　said；　thou