jrt.the hobbit-第44节

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d　the　tunnel。
　〃Sh！　sh！〃　they　hissed；　when　they　heard　his　voice：　and　though　that　helped　the　hobbit　to　find　out　where　they　were；　was　some　time　before　he　could　get　anything　else　out　of　them。　But　in　the　end；　when　Bilbo　actually　began　to　stamp　in　the　floor；　and　screamed　out　light！'　at　the　top　of　his　thrill　voice；　Thorin　gave　way；　and　Oin　and　Gloin　were　sent　back　to　their　bundles　at　the　top　of　the　tunnel。　After　a　while　a　twinkling　gleam　showed　them　returning；　in　with　a　small　pine…torch　alight　in　his　hand；　and　Gloin　with　a　bundle　of　others　under　his　arm。　Quickly　Bilbo　trotted　to　the　door　and　took　the　torch；　but　he　could　not　persuade　the　dwarves　to　light　the　others　or　to　e　and　join　him　yet。　As　Thorin　carefully　explained；　Mr。　Baggins　was　still　officially　their　expert　burglar　and　investigator。　If　he　liked　to　risk　a　light；　that　was　his　affair。　　They　would　wait　in　the　tunnel　for　his　report。　So　they　sat　near　the　door　and　watched。
　They　saw　the　little　dark　shape　of　the　hobbit　start　across　the　floor　holding　his　tiny　light　aloft。　Every　now　and　again；　while　he　was　still　near　enough；　they　caught　a　glint　and　a　tinkle　as　he　stumbled　on　some　golden　thing。　　The　light　grew　smaller　as　he　wandered　away　into　the　vast　hall；　then　it　began　to　rise　dancing　into　the　air。　Bilbo　was　climbing　the　great　mound　of　treasure。　　Soon　he　stood　upon　the　top；　and　still　went　on。　Then　they　saw　him　halt　and　stoop　for　a　moment；　but　they　did　not　know　the　reason。　It　was　the　Arkenstone；　the　Heart　of　the　Mountain。　So　Bilbo　guessed　from　Thorin's　description；　but　indeed　there　could　not　be　two　such　gems；　even　in　so　marvellous　a　hoard；　even　in　all　the　world。　Ever　as　he　climbed；　the　same　white　gleam　had　shone　before　him　and　drawn　his　feet　towards　Slowly　it　grew　to　a　little　globe　of　pallid　light。　Now　as　came　near；　it　was　tinged　with　a　flickering　sparkle　of　man　colours　at　the　surface；　reflected　and　splintered　from　the　wavering　light　of　his　torch。　At　last　he　looked　down　upon　it　and　he　caught　his　breath。　The　great　jewel　shone　before　he　feet　of　its　own　inner　light；　and　yet；　cut　and　fashioned　by　the　dwarves；　who　had　dug　it　from　the　heart　of　the　mountain　long　ago；　it　took　all　light　that　fell　upon　it　and…changes　it　into　ten　thousand　sparks　of　white　radiance　shot　with　glints　of　the　rainbow。
　Suddenly　Bilbo's　arm　went　towards　it　drawn　by　it　enchantment。　His　small　hand　would　not　close　about　it　for　it　was　a　large　and　heavy　gem；　but　he　lifted　it；　shut　his　eyes；　and　put　it　in　his　deepest　pocket。
　〃Now　I　am　a　burglar　indeed！〃　thought　he。　〃But　I　suppose　I　must　tell　the　dwarves　about　it…some　time。　The　did　say　I　could　pick　and　choose　my　own　share；　and　I　think　I　would　choose　this；　if　they　took　all　the　rest！〃　All　the　same　he　had　an　unfortable　feeling　that　the　picking　and　choosing　had　not　really　been　meant　to　include　this　marvellous　gem；　and　that　trouble　would　yet　e　of　it。　　Now　he　went　on　again。　Down　the　other　side　of　the　great　mound　he　climbed；　and　the　spark　of　his　torch　vanished　from　the　sight　of　the　watching　dwarves。　But　soon　they　saw　it　far　away　in　the　distance　again。　Bilbo　was　crossing　the　floor　of　the　hall。
　He　went　on；　until　he　came　to　the　great　doors　at　the　further　side；　and　there　a　draught　of　air　refreshed　him；　but　it　almost　puffed　out　his　light。　He　peeped　timidly　through　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　great　passages　and　of　the　dim　beginnings　of　wide　stairs　going　up　into　the　gloom。　And　still　there　was　no　sight　nor　sound　of　Smaug。　He　was　just　going　to　turn　and　go　back；　when　a　black　shape　swooped　at　him　and　brushed　his　face。　He　squeaked　and　started；　stumbled　backwards　and　fell。　His　torch　dropped　head　downwards　and　went　out！　　〃Only　a　bat；　I　suppose　and　hope！〃　he　said　miserably。　But　now　what　am　I　to　do？　Which　is　East；　South；　North　West？〃
　〃Thorin！　Balin！　Oin！　Gloin！　Fill！　Kili！〃　he　cried　as　loud　he　could…it　seemed　a　thin　little　noise　in　the　wide　blackness。　〃The　light's　gone　out！　　Someone　e　and　find　and　help　me！〃　For　the　moment　his　courage　had　failed　together。
　Faintly　the　dwarves　heard　his　small　cries；　though　the　only　word　they　could　catch　was　'help！'
　〃Now　what　on　earth　or　under　it　has　happened？〃　said　Thorin。　〃Certainly　not　the　dragon；　or　he　would　not　go　on　squeaking。〃
　They　waited　a　moment　or　two；　and　still　there　were　no　dragon…noises；　no　sound　at　all　in　fact　but　Bilbo's　distant　voice。　〃e；　one　of　you；　get　another　light　or　two！〃　Thorin　ordered。　〃It　seems　we　have　got　to　go　and　help　our　burglar。〃
　〃It　is　about　our　turn　to　help；〃　said　Balin；　〃and　I　am　quite　willing　to　go。　Anyway　I　expect　it　is　safe　for　the　moment。〃
　Gloin　lit　several　more　torches；　and　then　they　all　crept　out；　one　by　one；　and　went　along　the　wall　as　hurriedly　as　they　could。　It　was　not　long　before　they　met　Bilbo　himself　ing　back　towards　them。　His　wits　had　quickly　returned　soon　as　he　saw　the　twinkle　of　their　lights。
　〃Only　a　bat　and　a　dropped　torch；　nothing　worse！〃　he　said　in　answer　to　their　questions。　Though　they　were　much　relieved；　they　were　inclined　to　be　grumpy　at　being　frightened　for　nothing；　but　what　they　would　have　said；　if　he　had　told　them　at　that　moment　about　the　Arkenstone；　I　don't　know。　The　mere　fleeting　glimpses　of　treasure　which　they　had　caught　as　they　went　along　had　rekindled　all　the　fire　of　their　dwarvish　hearts；　and　when　the　heart　of　a　dwarf；　even　the　most　respectable；　is　wakened　by　gold　and　by　jewels；　he　grows　suddenly　bold；　and　he　may　bee　fierce。
　The　dwarves　indeed　no　longer　needed　any　urging。　All　were　now　eager　to　explore　the　hall　while　they　had　the　chance；　and　willing　to　believe　that；　for　the　present；　Smaug　was　away　from　home。　Each　now　gripped　a　lighted　torch；　and　as　they　gazed；　first　on　one　side　and　then　on　another；　they　forgot　fear　and　even　caution。　They　spoke　aloud；　and　cried　out　to　one　another；　as　they　lifted　old　treasures　from　the　mound　or　from　the　wall　and　held　them　in　the　light　caressing　and　fingering　them。　Fili　and　Kili　were　almost　in　merry　mood；　and　finding　still　hanging　there　many　golden　harps　strung　with　silver　they　took　them　and　struck　them；　and　being　magical　（and　also　untouched　by　the　dragon；　who　had　small　interests　in　music）　they　were　still　in　tune。　The　dark　hall　was　filled　with　a　melody　that　had　long　been　silent。　But　most　of　the　dwarves　were　more　practical；　they　gathered　gems　and　stuffed　their　pockets；　and　let　what　they　could　not　carry　far　back　through　their　fingers　with　a　sigh。　Thorin　was　not　least　among　these；　but　always　he　searched　from　side　to　side　for　something　which　he　could　not　find。　It　was　the　Arkenstone　but　he　spoke　of　it　yet　to　no　one。
　Now　the　dwarves　took　down　mail　and　weapons　from　the　walls；　and　armed　themselves。　Royal　indeed　did　Thorin　look；　clad　in　a　coat　of　gold…plated　rings；　with　a　silver　hafted　axe　in　a　belt　crusted　with　scarlet　stones。　　〃Mr。　Baggins！〃　he　cried。　〃Here　is　the　first　payment　of　your　reward！　Cast　off　your　old　coat　and　put　on　this！〃
　With　that　he　put　on　Bilbo　a　small　coat　of　mail；　wrought　for　some　young　elf…prince　long　ago。　It　was　of　silver…steel　which　the　elves　call　mithril；　and　with　it　went　a　belt　of　pearls　and　crystals。　A　light　helm　of　figured　leather；　strengthened　beneath　with　hoops　of　steel；　and　studded　about　the　bring　with　white　gems；　was　set　upon　the　hobbit's　head。
　〃I　feel　magnificent；〃　he　thought；　〃but　I　expect　I　look　rather　absurd。　How　they　would　laugh　on　the　Hill　at　home　Still　I　wish　there　was　a　looking…glass　handy！〃
　All　the　same　Mr。　Baggins　kept　his　head　more　clear　of　the　bewitchment　of　the　hoard　than　the　dwarves　did。　Long　before　the　dwarves　were　tired　of　examining　the　treasures　he　became　wary　of　it　and　sat　down　on　the　floor；　and　he　began　to　wonder　nervously　what　the　end　of　it　all　would　be　〃I　would　give　a　good　many　of　these　precious　goblets；　thought；　〃for　a　drink　of　something　cheering　out　of　one　Beorn's　wooden　bowls！〃　〃Thorin！〃　he　cried　aloud。　〃What　next？　We　are　armed；　but　what　good　has　any　armour　ever　been　before　against　Smaug　the　Dreadful？　This　treasure　is　not　yet　won　back。　We　are　not　looking　for　gold　yet；　but　for　a　way　of　escape；　and　we　have　tempted　luck　too　long！〃
　'〃You　speak　the　truth！〃　answered　Thorin；　recovering　his　wits。　〃Let　us　go！　　I　will　guide　you。　Not　in　a　thousand　years　should　I　forget　the　ways　of　this　palace。〃　Then　he　hailed　the　others；　and　they　gathered　together；　and　holding　their　torches　above　their　heads　they　passed　through　the　gaping　doors；　not　without　many　a　backward　glance　of　longing。
　Their　glittering　mail　they　had　covered　again　with　their　old　cloaks　and　their　bright　helms　with　their　tattered　hoods；　and　one　by　one　they　walked　behind　Thorin；　a　line　of　little　lights　in　the　darkness　that　halted　often；　listening　in　fear　once　more　for　any　rumour　of　the　dragon's　ing。　Though　all　the　old　adornments　were　long　mouldered　or　destroyed；　and　though　all　was　befouled　and　blasted　with　the　ings　and　goings　of　the　monster；　Thorin　knew　every　passage　and　every　turn。　They　climbed　long　stairs；　and　turned　and　went　down　wide　echoing　ways；　and　turned　again　and　climbed　yet　more　stairs；　and　yet　more'　stairs　again。
　These　were　smooth；　cut　out　of　the　living　rock　broad　and　lair；　and　up；　up；　the　dwarves　went；　and　they　met　no　sign　of　any　living　thing；　only　furtive　shadows　that　fled　from　the　approach　of　their　torches　fluttering　in　the　draughts。　The　steps　were　not　made；　all　the　same；　for　hobbit…legs；　and　Bilbo　was　just　feeling　that　he　could　go　on　no　lo