jrt.the hobbit-第22章

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g　and　snapping　even　at　the　other　wolves　in　his　anger　and　fright。
　The　dwarves　and　Bilbo　shouted　and　cheered。　The　rage　of　the　wolves　was　terrible　to　see；　and　the　motion　they　made　filled　all　the　forest。　Wolves　are　afraid　of　fire　at　all　times；　but　this　was　a　most　horrible　and　uncanny　fire。　If　a　spark　got　in　their　coats　it　stuck　and　burned　into　them；　and　unless　they　rolled　over　quick　they　were　soon　all　in　flames。　Very　soon　all　about　the　glade　wolves　were　rolling　over　and　over　to　put　out　the　sparks　on　their　backs；　while　those　that　were　burning　were　running　about　howling　and　setting　others　alight；　till　their　own　friends　chased　them　away　and　they　fled　off　down　the　slopes　　crying　and　yammering　and　looking　for　water。
　〃What's　all　this　uproar　in　the　forest　tonight？〃　said　the　Lord　of　the　Eagles。　He　was　sitting；　black　in　the　moonlight；　on　the　top　of　a　lonely　pinnacle　of　rock　at　the　eastern　edge　of　the　mountains。　〃I　hear　wolves'　voices！　　Are　the　goblins　at　mischief　in　the　woods？〃
　He　swept　up　into　the　air；　and　immediately　two　of　his　guards　from　the　rocks　at　either　hand　leaped　up　to　follow　him。　They　circled　up　in　the　sky　and　looked　down　upon　the　ring　of　the　Wargs；　a　tiny　spot　far　far　below。　But　eagles　have　keen　eyes　and　can　see　small　things　at　a　great　distance。　The　lord　of　the　eagles　of　the　Misty　Mountains　had　eyes　that　could　look　at　the　sun　unblinking；　and　could　see　a　rabbit　moving　on　the　ground　a　mile　below　even　in　the　moonlight。　So　though　he　could　not　see　the　people　in　the　trees；　he　could　make　out　the　motion　among　the　wolves　and　see　the　tiny　flashes　of　fire；　and　hear　the　howling　and　yelping　e　up　faint　from　far　beneath　him。　Also　he　could　see　the　glint　of　the　moon　on　goblin　spears　and　helmets；　as　long　lines　of　the　wicked　folk　crept　down　the　hillsides　from　their　gate　and　wound　into　the　wood。　　Eagles　are　not　kindly　birds。　Some　are　cowardly　and　cruel。　But　the　ancient　race　of　the　northern　mountains　were　the　greatest　of　all　birds；　they　were　proud　and　strong　and　noble…hearted。　They　did　not　love　goblins；　or　fear　them。　When　they　took　any　notice　of　them　at　all　（which　was　seldom；　for　they　did　not　eat　such　creatures　）；　they　swooped　on　them　and　drove　them　shrieking　back　to　their　caves；　and　stopped　whatever　wickedness　they　were　doing。　The　goblins　hated　the　eagles　and　feared　them；　but　could　not　reach　their　lofty　seats；　or　drive　them　from　the　mountains。
　Tonight　the　Lord　of　the　Eagles　was　filled　with　curiosity　to　know　what　was　afoot；　so　he　summoned　many　other　eagles　to　him；　and　they　flew　away　from　the　mountains；　and　slowly　circling　ever　round　and　round　they　came　down；　down；　down　towards　the　ring　of　the　wolves　and　the　meeting…place　of　the　goblins。　　A　very　good　thing　too！　Dreadful　things　had　been　going　on　down　there。　The　wolves　that　had　caught　fire　and　fled　into　the　forest　had　set　it　alight　in　several　places。　It　was　high　summer；　and　on　this　eastern　side　of　the　mountains　there　had　been　little　rain　for　some　time。　Yellowing　bracken；　fallen　branches；　deep…piled　pine…needles；　and　here　and　there　dead　trees；　were　soon　in　flames。　　All　round　the　clearing　of　the　Wargs　fire　was　leaping。　But　the　wolf…guards　did　not　leave　the　trees。　Maddened　and　angry　they　were　leaping　and　howling　round　the　trunks；　and　cursing　the　dwarves　in　their　horrible　language；　with　their　tongues　hanging　out；　and　their　eyes　shining　as　red　and　fierce　as　the　flames。　　Then　suddenly　goblins　came　running　up　yelling。　They　thought　a　battle　with　the　woodmen　was　going　on；　but　they　goon　learned　what　had　really　happened。　Some　of　them　actually　sat　down　and　laughed。　Others　waved　their　spears　and　clashed　the　shafts　against　their　shields。　Goblins　are　not　afraid　of　fire；　and　they　soon　had　a　plan　which　seemed　to　them　most　amusing。　　Some　got　all　the　wolves　together　in　a　pack。　Some　stacked　fern　and　brushwood　round　the　tree…trunks。　Others　rushed　round　and　stamped　and　beat；　and　beat　and　stamped；　until　nearly　all　the　flames　were　put　out…but　they　did　not　put　out　the　fire　nearest　to　the　trees　where　the　dwarves　were。　That　fire　they　fed　with　leaves　and　dead　branches　and　bracken。　Soon　they　had　a　ring　of　smoke　and　flame　all　round　the　dwarves；　a　ring　which　they　kept　from　spreading　outwards；　but　it　closed　slowly　in；　till　the　running　fire　was　licking　the　fuel　piled　under　the　trees。　Smoke　was　in　Bilbo's　eyes；　he　could　feel　the　heat　of　the　flames；　and　through　the　reek　he　could　see　the　goblins　dancing　round　and　round　in　a　circle　like　people　round　a　midsummer　bonfire。　Outside　the　ring　of　dancing　warriors　with　spears　and　axes　stood　the　wolves　at　a　respectful　distance；　watching　and　waiting。
　He　could　hear　the　goblins　beginning　a　horrible　song：
　〃Fifteen　birds　in　five　firtrees；　their　feathers　were　fanned　in　a　fiery　breeze！
　But；　funny　little　birds；　they　had　no　wings！
　

　O　what　shall　we　do　with　the　funny　little　things？
　Roast　'em　alive；　or　stew　them　in　a　pot；fry　them；　boil　them　and　eat　them　hot？〃
　Then　they　stopped　and　shouted　out：　〃Fly　away　little　birds！　Fly　away　if　you　can！　e　down　little　birds；　or　you　will　get　roasted　in　your　nests！　Sing；　sing　little　birds！　Why　don't　you　sing？〃
　〃Go　away！　little　boys！〃　shouted　Gandalf　in　answer。　〃It　isn't　bird…nesting　time。　Also　naughty　little　boys　that　play　with　fire　get　punished。〃　He　said　it　to　make　them　angry；　and　to　show　them　he　was　not　frightened　of　them…though　of　course　he　was；　wizard　though　he　was。　But　they　took　no　notice；　and　they　went　on　singing。
　〃Burn；　burn　tree　and　fern！
　Shrivel　and　scorch！　A　fizzling　torch
　To　light　the　night　for　our　delight；
　Ya　hey！
　Bake　and　toast　'em；　fry　and　roast　'em
　till　beards　blaze；　and　eyes　glaze；
　till　hair　smells　and　skins　crack；
　fat　melts；　and　bones　black
　in　cinders　lie
　beneath　the　sky！
　So　dwarves　shall　die；
　and　light　the　night　for　our　delight；
　Ya　hey！
　Ya…harri…heyl
　Ya　hoy！〃
　And　with　that　Ya　hoy！　the　flames　were　under　Gandalf's　tree。　In　a　moment　it　spread　to　the　others。　The　bark　caught　fire；　the　lower　branches　cracked。　　Then　Gandalf　climbed　to　the　top　of　his　tree。　The　sudden　splendour　flashed　from　his　wand　like　lightning；　as　he　got　ready　to　spring　down　from　on　high　right　among　the　spears　of　the　goblins。　That　would　have　been　the　end　of　him；　though　he　would　probably　have　killed　many　of　them　as　he　came　hurtling　down　like　a　thunderbolt。　But　he　never　leaped。
　Just　at　that　moment　the　Lord　of　the　Eagles　swept　down　from　above；　seized　him　in　his　talons；　and　was　gone。
　There　was　a　howl　of　anger　and　surprise　from　the　goblins。　Loud　cried　the　Lord　of　the　Eagles；　to　whom　Gandalf　had　now　spoken。　Back　swept　the　great　birds　that　were　with　him；　and　down　they　came　like　huge　black　shadows。　The　wolves　yammered　and　gnashed　their　teeth；　the　goblins　yelled　and　stamped　with　rage；　and　flung　their　heavy　spears　in　the　air　in　vain。　Over　them　swooped　the　eagles；　the　dark　rush　of　their　beating　wings　smote　them　to　the　floor　or　drove　them　far　away；　their　talons　tore　at　goblin　faces。　Other　birds　flew　to　the　tree…tops　and　seized　the　dwarves；　who　were　scrambling　up　now　as　far　as　ever　they　dared　to　go。
　Poor　little　Bilbo　was　very　nearly　left　behind　again！　He　just　managed　to　catch　hold　of　Dori's　legs；　as　Dori　was　borne　off　last　of　all；　and　they　went　together　above　the　tumult　and　the　burning；　Bilbo　swinging　in　the　air　with　his　arms　nearly　breaking。
　Now　far　below　the　goblins　and　the　wolves　were　scattering　far　and　wide　in　the　woods。　A　few　eagles　were　still　circling　and　sweeping　above　the　battle…ground。　The　flames　about　the　trees　sprang　suddenly　up　above　the　highest　branches。　They　went　up　in　crackling　fire。　There　was　a　sudden　flurry　of　sparks　and　smoke。　Bilbo　had　escaped　only　just　in　time！
　Soon　the　light　of　the　burning　was　faint　below；　a　red　twinkle　on　the　black　floor；　and　they　were　high　up　in　the　sky；　rising　all　the　time　in　strong　sweeping　circles。　Bilbo　never　forgot　that　flight；　clinging　onto　Dori's　ankles。
　He　moaned　〃my　arms；　my　arms！〃；　but　Dori　groaned　〃my　poor　legs；　my　poor　legs！〃　At　the　best　of　times　heights　made　Bilbo　giddy。　He　used　to　turn　queer　if　he　looked　over　the　edge　of　quite　a　little　cliff；　and　he　had　never　liked　ladders；　let　alone　trees　（never　having　had　to　escape　from　wolves　before）。　So　you　can　imagine　how　his　head　swam　now；　when　he　looked　down　between　his　dangling　toes　and　saw　the　dark　lands　opening　wide　und