jrt.the hobbit-第59部分
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they sent against it a shower of arrows； and each flickered as it fled as if with stinging fire。 Behind the arrows a thousand of their spearmen leapt down and charged。 The yells were deafening。 The rocks were stained black with goblin blood。 Just as the goblins were recovering from the onslaught and the elf…charge was halted； there rose from across the valley a deep…throated roar。 With cries of 〃Moria！〃 and 〃Dain； Dain！〃 the dwarves of the Iron Hills plunged in； wielding their mattocks； upon the other side； and beside them came the men of the Lake with long swords。 Panic came upon the Goblins； and even as they turned to meet this new attack； the elves charged again with renewed numbers。 Already many of the goblins were flying back down the river to escape from the trap： and many of their own wolves were turning upon them and rending the dead and the wounded。 Victory seemed at hand； when a cry rang out on the heights above。 Goblins had scaled the Mountain from the other side and already many were on the slopes above the Gate； and others were streaming down recklessly； heedless of those that fell screaming from cliff and precipice； to attack the spurs from above。 Each of these could be reached by paths that ran down from the main mass of the Mountain in the centre； and the defenders had too few to bar the way for long。 Victory now vanished from hope。 They had only stemmed the first onslaught of the black tide。
Day drew on。 The goblins gathered again in the valley。 There a host of
Wargs came ravening and with them came the bodyguard of Bolg； goblins of huge size with scimitars of steel。 Soon actual darkness was ing into a stormy sky； while still the great bats swirled about the heads and ears of elves and men； or fastened vampire…like on the stricken。 Now Bard was fighting to defend the Eastern spur； and yet giving slowly back； and the elf…lords were at bay about their king upon the southern arm； near to the watch…post on Ravenhill。 Suddenly there was a great shout； and from the Gate came a trumpet call。 They had forgotten Thorin！ Part of the wall； moved by levers； fell outward with a crash into the pool。 Out leapt the King under the Mountain； and his panions followed him。 Hood and cloak were gone； they were in shining armour； and red light leapt from their eyes。 In the gloom the great dwarf gleamed like gold in a dying fire。
Rocks were buried down from on high by the goblins above； but they held on。 leapt down to the falls' foot； and rushed forward to battle。 Wolf and rider fell or fled before them。 Thorin wielded his axe with mighty strokes； and nothing seemed to harm him。
〃To me！ To me！ Elves and Men！ To me！ O my kinsfolk！〃 he cried； and his voice shook like a horn in the valley。
Down； heedless of order； rushed all the dwarves of Dain to his help。 Down too came many of the Lake…men； for Bard could not restrain them； and out upon the other side came many of the spearmen of the elves。 Once again the goblins were stricken in the valley； and they were piled in heaps till Dale was dark and hideous with their corpses。 The Wargs were scattered and Thorin drove right against the bodyguards of Bolg。 But he could not pierce their ranks。 Already behind him among the goblin dead lay many men and many dwarves； and many a fair elf that should have lived yet long ages merrily in the wood。 And as the valley widened his onset grew ever slower。 His numbers were too few。 His flanks were unguarded。 Soon the attackers were attacked； and they were forced into a great ring； facing every way； hemmed all about with goblins and wolves returning to the assault。 The bodyguard of Bolg came howling against them； and drove in upon their ranks like waves upon cliffs of sand。 Their friends could not help them； for the assault from the Mountain was renewed with redoubled force； and upon either side men and elves were being slowly beaten down。
On all this Bilbo looked with misery。 He had taken his stand on Ravenhill among the Elves…partly because there was more chance of escape from that point； and partly （with the more Tookish part of his mind） because if he was going to be in a last desperate stand； he preferred on the whole to defend the Elvenking。 Gandalf； too； I may say； was there； sitting on the ground as if in deep thought； preparing； I suppose； some last blast of magic before the end。 That did not seem far off。 〃It will not be long now；〃 thought Bilbo； 〃before the goblins win the Gate； and we are all slaughtered or driven down and captured。 Really it is enough to make one weep； after all one has gone through。 I would rather old Smaug had been left with all the wretched treasure； than that these vile creatures should get it； and poor old Bombur； and Balin and Fili and Kili and all the rest e to a bad end； and Bard too； and the Lake…men and the merry elves。 Misery me！ I have heard songs of many battles； and I have always understood that defeat may be glorious。 It seems very unfortable； not to say distressing。 I wish I was well out of it。〃 The clouds were torn by the wind； and a red sunset slashed the West。
Seeing the sudden gleam in the gloom Bilbo looked round。 He gave a great cry：
he had seen a sight that made his heart leap； dark shapes small yet majestic against the distant glow。
〃The Eagles！ The Eagles！〃 he shouted。 〃The Eagles are ing！〃 Bilbo's eyes were seldom wrong。 The eagles were ing down the wind； line after line； in such a host as must have gathered from all the eyries of the North。
〃The Eagles！ the Eagles！〃 Bilbo cried； dancing and waving his arms。 If the elves could not see him they could hear him。 Soon they too took up the cry； and it echoed across the valley。 Many wondering eyes looked up； though as yet nothing could be seen except from the southern shoulders of the Mountain。
〃The Eagles！〃 cried Bilbo once more； but at that moment a stone hurtling from above smote heavily on his helm； and he fell with a crash and knew no more。
Chapter 18
The Return Journey
When Bilbo came to himself； he was literally by himself。 He was lying on the flat stones of Ravenhill； and no one was near。 A cloudless day； but cold； was broad above him。 He was shaking； and as chilled as stone； but his head burned with fire。
〃Now I wonder what has happened？〃 he said to himself。 〃At any rate I am not yet one of the fallen heroes； but I suppose there is still time enough for that！〃
He sat up painfully。 Looking into the valley he could see no living goblins。 After a while as his head cleared a little； he thought he could see elves moving in the rocks below。 He rubbed his eyes。 Surely there was a camp still in the plain some distance off； and there was a ing and going about the Gate？ Dwarves seemed to be busy removing the wall。 But all was deadly still。 There was no call and no echo of a song。 Sorrow seemed to be in the air。 〃Victory after all； I suppose！〃 he said； feeling his aching head。 〃Well； it seems a very gloomy business。〃
Suddenly he was aware of a man climbing up and ing towards him。
〃Hullo there！〃 he called with a shaky voice。 〃Hullo there！ What news？〃 〃What voice is it that speaks among the stones？〃 said the man halting and peering about him not far from where Bilbo sat。
Then Bilbo remembered his ring！ 〃Well I'm blessed！〃 said he。 〃This invisibility has its drawbacks after all。 Otherwise I suppose I might have spent a warm and fortable night in bed！〃
〃It's me； Bilbo Baggins； panion of Thorin！〃 he cried； hurriedly taking off the ring。
〃It is well that I have found you！〃 said the man striding forward。 〃You are needed and we have looked for you long。 You would have been numbered among the dead； who are many； if Gandalf the wizard had not said that your voice was last heard in this place。 I have been sent to look here for the last time。 Are you much hurt？〃
〃A nasty knock on the head； I think；〃 said Bilbo。 〃But I have a helm and a hard skull。 All the same I feel sick and my legs are like straws。〃 〃I will carry you down to the camp in the valley；〃 said the man； and picked him lightly up。
The man was swift and sure…footed。 It was not long before Bilbo was set down before a tent in Dale； and there stood Gandalf； with his arm in a sling。 Even the wizard had not escaped without a wound； and there
