Хоббит
Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
Theyguarditalwaysandnoonehasevermanagedtoblockitup.Theywillguarditdoublyafterthis,"helaughed.Alltheotherslaughedtoo.Afteralltheyhadlostagooddeal,buttheyhadkilledtheGreatGoblinandagreatmanyothersbesides,andtheyhadallescaped,sotheymightbesaidtohavehadthebestofitsofar.Butthewizardcalledthemtotheirsenses."Wemustbegettingonatonce,nowwearealittlerested,"hesaid."Theywillbeoutafterusinhundredswhennightcomeson;andalreadyshadowsarelengthening.Theycansmellourfootstepsforhoursandhoursafterwehavepassed.Wemustbemilesonbeforedusk.Therewillbeabitofmoon,ifitkeepsfine,andthatislucky.Notthattheymindthemoonmuch,butitwillgiveusalittlelighttosteerby."
"Oyes!"hesaidinanswertomorequestionsfromthehobbit."Youlosetrackoftimeinsidegoblin-tunnels.Today’sThursday,anditwasMondaynightorTuesdaymorningthatwewerecaptured.Wehavegonemilesandmiles,andcomerightdownthroughtheheartofthemountains,andarenowontheotherside-quiteashortcut.Butwearenotatthepointtowhichourpasswouldhavebroughtus;wearetoofartotheNorth,andhavesomeawkwardcountryahead.Andwearestillprettyhighup.Let’sgeton!"
"Iamsodreadfullyhungry,"groanedBilbo,whowassuddenlyawarethathehadnothadamealsincethenightbeforethenightbeforelast.Justthinkofthatforahobbit!Hisstomachfeltallemptyandlooseandhislegsallwobbly,nowthattheexcitementwasover.
"Can’thelpit,"saidGandalf,"unlessyouliketogobackandaskthegoblinsnicelytoletyouhaveyourponybackandyourluggage.""Nothankyou!"saidBilbo.
