Стража! Стража!

           Abatteredtankardbouncedoffhisbreastplate.Carrotreacheddownandpickedupastrugglingfigure,withoutapparenteffort.

           "J’uk,ydtruz-t’rud-eztuza,hudr’zddezekdrez’huk,huzukruk’tb’tduzg’ke’kme’ekb’tduzt’be’tkkce’drutkke’hkt’d.aaDb’thuk?"

           NodwarfhadeverheardsomanyOldTonguewordsfromthemouthofanyoneoverfourfeethigh.Theywereastonished.

           Carrotloweredtheoffendingdwarftothefloor.Thereweretearsinhiseyes.

           "You’redwarfs!"hesaid."Dwarfsshouldn’tbeactinglikethis!Lookatyouall.Aren’tyouashamed?"

           Onehundredbone-hardjawsdropped.

           "Imean,lookatyou!"Carrotshookhishead."Canyouimaginewhatyourpoor,white-beardedoldmother,slavingawaybackinherlittlehole,wonderinghowhersonisgettingontonight,canyouimaginewhatshe’dthinkifshesawyounow?Yourowndearmothers,whofirstshowedyouhowtouseapickaxe-"

           Nobby,standingbythedoorwayinterrorandamazement,wasawareofagrowingchorusofnose-blowingsandmuffledsobsasCarrotwenton:"-she’sprobablythinking,Iexpecthe’shavingaquietgameofdominoesorsomething-"

           Anearbydwarf,wearingahelmetencrustedwithsix-inchspikes,startedtocrygentlyintohisbeer.

           "AndIbetit’salongtimesinceanyofyouwroteheraletter,too,andyoupromisedtowriteeveryweek-"