Хоббит
A Warm Welcome
Bagginsshiveringonthebarrels,ifhehadknownthatnewsofthishadreachedGandalffarawayandgivenhimgreatanxiety,andthathewasinfactfinishinghisotherbusiness(whichdoesnotcomeintothistale)andgettingreadytocomeinsearchofThorin’scompany.ButBilbodidnotknowit.
Allheknewwasthattheriverseemedtogoonandonandonforever,andhewashungry,andhadanastycoldinthenose,anddidnotlikethewaytheMountainseemedtofrownathimandthreatenhimasitdrewevernearer.Afterawhile,however,therivertookamoresoutherlycourseandtheMountainrecededagain,andatlast,lateinthedaytheshoresgrewrocky,therivergatheredallitswanderingwaterstogetherintoadeepandrapidflood,andtheysweptalongatgreatspeed.
ThesunhadsetwhenturningwithanothersweeptowardstheEasttheforest-riverrushedintotheLongLake.Thereithadawidemouthwithstonyclifflikegatesateithersidewhosefeetwerepiledwithshingles.TheLongLake!Bilbohadneverimaginedthatanywaterthatwasnottheseacouldlooksobig.Itwassowidethattheoppositeshoreslookedsmallandfar,butitwassolongthatitsnortherlyend,whichpointedtowardstheMountain,couldnotbeseenatall.OnlyfromthemapdidBilboknowthatawayupthere,wherethestarsoftheWainwerealreadytwinkling,theRunningRivercamedownintothelakefromDaleandwiththeForestRiverfilledwithdeepwaterswhatmustoncehavebeenagreatdeeprockyvalley.
