jrt.the hobbit-第41部分

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se；　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　and　the　Master　wished　for　no　enmity　with　him；　nor　did　he　think　much　of　old　songs；　giving　his　mind　to　。trade　and　tolls；　to　cargoes　and　gold；　to　which　habit　he　owed　his　position。　Others　were　of　different　mind；　however；　and　quickly　the　matter　was　settled　without　him。　The　news　had　spread　from　the　doors　of　the　hall　like　fire　through　all　the　town。　　People　were　shouting　inside　the　hall　and　outside　it。　The　quays　were　thronged　with　hurrying　feet。　Some　began　to　sing　snatches　of　old　songs　concerning　the　return　of　the　King　under　the　Mountain；　that　it　was　Thror's　grandson　not　Thror　himself　that　had　e　back　did　not　bother　them　at　all。　Others　took　up　the　song　and　it　rolled　loud　and　high　over　the　lake。
　〃The　King　beneath　the　mountains；
　The　King　of　carven　stone；
　The　lord　of　silver　fountains
　Shall　e　into　his　own！
　His　crown　shall　be　upholden；
　His　harp　shall　be　restrung；
　His　halls　shall　echo　golden
　To　songs　of　yore　re…sung。
　The　woods　shall　wave　on　mountains
　And　grass　beneath　the　sun；
　His　wealth　shall　flow　in　fountains
　And　the　rivers　golden　run。
　The　streams　shall　run　in　gladness；
　The　lakes　shall　shine　and　burn；
　And　sorrow　fail　and　sadness
　At　the　Mountain…king's　return！〃
　So　they　sang；　or　very　like　that；　only　there　was　a　great　deal　more　of　it；　and　there　was　much　shouting　as　well　as　the　music　of　harps　and　of　fiddles　mixed　up　with　it。　Indeed　such　excitement　had　not　been　known　in　the　town　in　the　memory　of　the　oldest　grandfather。　The　Wood…elves　themselves　began　to　wonder　greatly　and　even　to　be　afraid。　They　did　not　know　of　course　how　Thorin　had　escaped；　and　they　began　to　think　their　king　might　have　made　a　serious　mistake。　　As　for　the　Master　he　saw　there　was　nothing　else　for　it　but　to　obey　the　general　clamour；　for　the　moment　at　any　rate；　and　to　pretend　to　believe　that　Thorin　was　what　he　said。　So　he　gave　up　to　him　his　own　great　chair　and　set　Fili　and　Kili　beside　him　in　places　of　honour。　Even　Bilbo　was　given　a　seat　at　the　high　table；　and　no　explanation　of　where　he　came　in…no　songs　had　alluded　to　him　even　in　the　obscurest　way…was　asked　for　in　the　general　bustle。
　Soon　afterwards　the　other　dwarves　were　brought　into　the　town　amid　scenes　of　astonishing　enthusiasm。　They　were　all　doctored　and　fed　and　housed　and　pampered　in　the　most　delightful　and　satisfactory　fashion。　A　large　house　was　given　up　to　Thorin　and　his　pany；　boats　and　rowers　were　put　at　their　service；　and　crowds　sat　outside　and　sang　songs　all　day；　or　cheered　if　any　dwarf　showed　so　much　as　his　nose。
　Some　of　the　songs　were　old　ones；　but　some　of　them　were　quite　new　and　spoke　confidently　of　the　sudden　death　of　the　dragon　and　of　cargoes　of　rich　presents　ing　down　the　river　to　Lake…town。　These　were　inspired　largely　by　the　Master　and　they　did　not　particularly　please　the　dwarves；　but　in　the　meantime　they　were　well　contented　and　they　quickly　grew　fat　and　strong　again。　　Indeed　within　a　week　they　were　quite　recovered；　fitted　out　in　fine　cloth　of　their　proper　colours；　with　beards　bed　and　trimmed；　and　proud　steps。　Thorin　looked　and　walked　as　if　his　kingdom　was　already　regained　and　Smaug　chopped　up　into　little　pieces。
　Then；　as　he　had　said；　the　dwarves'　good　feeling　towards　the　little　hobbit　grew　stronger　every　day。　There　were　no　more　groans　or　grumbles。　They　drank　his　health；　and　they　patted　him　on　the　back；　and　they　made　a　great　fuss　of　him；　which　was　just　as　well；　for　he　was　not　feeling　particularly　cheerful。　He　had　not　forgotten　the　look　of　the　Mountain；　nor　the　thought　of　the　dragon；　and　he　had　besides　a　shocking　cold。　For　three　days　he　sneezed　and　coughed；　and　he　could　not　go　out；　and　even　after　that　his　speeches　at　banquets　were　limited　to　〃Thag　you　very　buch。〃
　In　the　meanwhile　the　Wood…elves　had　gone　back　up　the　Forest　River　with　their　cargoes；　and　there　was　great　excitement　in　the　king's　palace。　I　have　never　heard　what　happened　to　the　chief　of　the　guards　and　the　butler。　Nothing　of　course　was　ever　said　about　keys　or　barrels　while　the　dwarves　stayed　in　Lake…town；　and　Bilbo　was　careful　never　to　bee　invisible。　Still；　I　daresay；　more　was　guessed　than