Хоббит
Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
Alsohecouldseetheglintofthemoonongoblinspearsandhelmets,aslonglinesofthewickedfolkcreptdownthehillsidesfromtheirgateandwoundintothewood.Eaglesarenotkindlybirds.Somearecowardlyandcruel.Buttheancientraceofthenorthernmountainswerethegreatestofallbirds;theywereproudandstrongandnoble-hearted.Theydidnotlovegoblins,orfearthem.Whentheytookanynoticeofthematall(whichwasseldom,fortheydidnoteatsuchcreatures),theyswoopedonthemanddrovethemshriekingbacktotheircaves,andstoppedwhateverwickednesstheyweredoing.Thegoblinshatedtheeaglesandfearedthem,butcouldnotreachtheirloftyseats,ordrivethemfromthemountains.
TonighttheLordoftheEagleswasfilledwithcuriositytoknowwhatwasafoot;sohesummonedmanyothereaglestohim,andtheyflewawayfromthemountains,andslowlycirclingeverroundandroundtheycamedown,down,downtowardstheringofthewolvesandthemeeting-placeofthegoblins.Averygoodthingtoo!Dreadfulthingshadbeengoingondownthere.Thewolvesthathadcaughtfireandfledintotheforesthadsetitalightinseveralplaces.Itwashighsummer,andonthiseasternsideofthemountainstherehadbeenlittlerainforsometime.Yellowingbracken,fallenbranches,deep-piledpine-needles,andhereandtheredeadtrees,weresooninflames.AllroundtheclearingoftheWargsfirewasleaping.Butthewolf-guardsdidnotleavethetrees.Maddenedandangrytheywereleapingandhowlingroundthetrunks,andcursingthedwarvesintheirhorriblelanguage,withtheirtongueshangingout,andtheireyesshiningasredandfierceastheflames.Thensuddenlygoblinscamerunningupyelling.Theythoughtabattlewiththewoodmenwasgoingon;buttheygoonlearnedwhathadreallyhappened.Someofthemactuallysatdownandlaughed.Otherswavedtheirspearsandclashedtheshaftsagainsttheirshields.
