jrt.the hobbit-第20章
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〃What about guards？〃 they asked。 〃Weren't there any？〃 〃O yes！ lots of them； but I dodged 'em。 I got stuck in the door； which was only open a crack； and I lost lots of buttons；〃 he said sadly looking at his torn clothes。 〃But I squeezed through all right…and here I am。〃
The dwarves looked at him with quite a new respect； when he talked about dodging guards； jumping over Gollum； and squeezing through； as if it was not very difficult or very alarming。
〃What did I tell you？〃 said Gandalf laughing。 〃Mr。 Baggins has more about him than you guess。〃 He gave Bilbo a queer look from under his bushy eyebrows； as he said this； and the hobbit wondered if he guessed at the part of his tale that he had left out。
Then he had questions of his own to ask； for if Gandalf had explained it all by now to the dwarves； Bilbo had not heard it。 He wanted to know how the wizard had turned up again； and where they had all got to now。 The wizard； to tell the truth； never minded explaining his cleverness more than once； so now he had told Bilbo that both he and Elrond had been well aware of the presence of evil goblins in that part of the mountains。 But their main gate used to e out on a different pass； one more easy to travel by； so that they often caught people benighted near their gates。 Evidently people had given up going that way； and the goblins must have opened their new entrance at the top of the pass the dwarves had taken； quite recently； because it had been found quite safe up to now。
〃I must see if I can't find a more or less decent giant to block it up again；〃 said Gandalf； 〃or soon there will be no getting over the mountains at all。〃
As soon as Gandalf had heard Bilbo's yell he realized what had happened。 In the flash which killed the goblins that were grabbing him he had nipped inside the crack； just as it snapped to。 He followed after the drivers and prisoners right to the edge of the great hall； and there he sat down and worked up the best magic he could in the shadows。
〃A very ticklish business； it was；〃 he said。 〃Touch and go！〃 But； of course； Gandalf had made a special study of bewitchments with fire and lights （even the hobbit had never forgotten the magic fireworks at Old Took's midsummer…eve parties； as you remember）。 The rest we all know … except that Gandalf knew all about the back…door； as the goblins called the lower gate； where Bilbo lost his buttons。 As a matter of fact it was well known to anybody who was acquainted with this part of the mountains； but it took a wizard to keep his head in the tunnels and guide them in the right direction。
〃They made that gate ages ago；〃 he said； 〃partly for a way of escape； if they needed one； partly as a way out into the lands beyond； where they still e in the dark and do great damage。 They guard it always and no one has ever managed to block it up。 They will guard it doubly after this；〃 he laughed。 All the others laughed too。 After all they had lost a good deal； but they had killed the Great Goblin and a great many others besides； and they had all escaped； so they might be said to have had the best of it so far。 But the wizard called them to their senses。 〃We must be getting on at once； now we are a little rested；〃 he said。 〃They will be out after us in hundreds when night es on； and already shadows are lengthening。 They can smell our footsteps for hours and hours after we have passed。 We must be miles on before dusk。 There will be a bit of moon； if it keeps fine； and that is lucky。 Not that they mind the moon much； but it will give us a little light to steer by。〃
〃O yes！〃 he said in answer to more questions from the hobbit。 〃You lose track of time inside goblin…tunnels。 Today's Thursday； and it was Monday night or Tuesday morning that we were captured。 We have gone miles and miles； and e right down through the heart of the mountains； and are now on the other side…quite a short cut。 But we are not at the point to which our pass would have brought us； we are too far to the North； and have some awkward country ahead。 And we are still pretty high up。 Let's get on！〃
〃I am so dreadfully hungry；〃 groaned Bilbo； who was suddenly aware that he had not had a meal since the night before the night before last。 Just think of that for a hobbit！ His stomach felt all empty and loose and his legs all wobbly； now that the excitement was over。
〃Can't help it；〃 said Gandalf； 〃unless you like to go back and ask the goblins nicely to let you have your pony back and your luggage。〃 〃No thank you！〃 said Bilbo。
〃Very well then； we must just tighten our belts and trudge on … or we shall be made into supper； and that will be much worse than having none ourselves。〃
As they went on Bilbo looked from side to side for something to eat； but the blackberries were still only in flower； and of course there were no nuts； nor even hawthorn…berries。 He nibbled a bit of sorrel； and he drank from a small mountain…stream that crossed the path； and he ate three wild strawberries that he found on its bank； but it was not much good。 They still went on and on。 The rough path disappeared。 The bushes； and the long grasses； between the boulders； the patches of rabbit…cropped turf； the thyme and the sage and the marjoram； and the yellow rockroses all vanished； and they found themselves at the top of a wide steep slope of fallen stones； the remains of a landslide。 When they began to go down this； rubbish and small pebbles rolled away from their feet； soon larger bits of split stone went clattering down and started other pieces below them slithering and rolling； then lumps of rocks were disturbed and bounded off； crashing down with a dust and a noise。 Before long the whole slope above them and below them seemed on the move； and they were sliding away； huddled all together； in a fearful confusion of slipping； rattling； cracking slabs and stones。 It was the trees at the bottom that saved them。 They slid into the edge of a climbing wood of pines that here stood right up the mountain slope from the deeper darker forests of the valleys below。 Some caught hold of the trunks and swung themselves into lower branches； some （like the little hobbit） got behind a tree to shelter from the onslaught of the rocks。 Soon the danger was over； the slide had stopped； and the last faint crashes could be heard as the largest of the disturbed stones went bounding and spinning among the bracken and the pine…roots far below。
〃Well！ that has got us on a bit；〃 said Gandalf； 〃and even goblins tracking us will have a job to e down here quietly。〃 〃I daresay；〃 grumbled Bombur； 〃but they won't find it difficult to send stones bouncing down on our heads。〃 The dwarves （and Bilbo） were feeling far from happy； and were rubbing their bruised and damaged legs and feet。 〃Nonsense！ We are going to turn aside here out of the path of the slide。 We must be quick！ Look at the light！〃 The sun had long gone behind the mountains。 Already the shadows were deepening about them； though far away through the trees and over the black tops of those growing lower down they could still see the evening lights on the plains beyond。 They limped along now as fast as they were able down the gentle slopes of a pine forest in a slanting path leading steadily southwards。 At times they were pushing through a sea of bracken with tall fronds rising right above the hobbit's head； at times they were marching along quiet as quiet over a floor of pine…needles； and all the while the forest…gloom got heavier and the forest…silence deeper。 There was no wind that evening to bring even a sea…sighing into the branches of the trees。
〃Must we go any further？〃 asked Bilbo； when it was so dark that he could only just see Thorin's beard wagging beside him； and so quiet that he could hear the dwarves' breathing like a loud noise。 〃My toes are all bruised and bent； and my legs ache； and my stomach is wagging like an empty sack。〃 〃A bit further；〃 said Gandalf。
After what seemed ages further they came suddenly to an opening where no trees grew。 The moon was up and was shining into the clearing。 Somehow it struck all of them as not at all a nice place； although there was nothing wrong to see。
All of a sudden they heard a howl away down hill； a long shuddering howl。
It was an
