Хоббит
Queer Lodgings
Butcroppingoutoftheground,rightinthepathofthestreamwhichloopeditselfaboutit,wasagreatrock,almostahillofstone,likealastoutpostofthedistantmountains,orahugepiececastmilesintotheplainbysomegiantamonggiants.
Quicklynowtothetopofthisrocktheeaglesswoopedonebyoneandsetdowntheirpassengers.
"Farewell!"theycried,"whereveryoufare,tillyoureyriesreceiveyouatthejourney’send!"Thatisthepolitethingtosayamongeagles."Maythewindunderyourwingsbearyouwherethesunsailsandthemoonwalks,"answeredGandalf,whoknewthecorrectreply.Andsotheyparted.AndthoughthelordoftheeaglesbecameinafterdaystheKingofAllBirdsandworeagoldencrown,andhisfifteenchieftainsgoldencollars(madeofthegoldthatthedwarvesgavethem),Bilboneversawthemagain-excepthighandfaroffinthebattleofFiveArmies.Butasthatcomesinattheendofthistalewewillsaynomoreaboutitjustnow.Therewasaflatspaceonthetopofthehillofstoneandawellwornpathwithmanystepsleadingdownittotheriver,acrosswhichafordofhugeflatstonesledtothegrass-landbeyondthestream.Therewasalittlecave(awholesomeonewithapebblyfloor)atthefootofthestepsandneartheendofthestonyford.Herethepartygatheredanddiscussedwhatwastobedone.
"Ialwaysmeanttoseeyouallsafe(ifpossible)overthemountains,"saidthewizard,"andnowbygoodmanagementandgoodluckIhavedoneit.IndeedwearenowagooddealfurthereastthanIevermeanttocomewithyou,forafterallthisisnotmyadventure.Imaylookinonitagainbeforeitisallover,butinthemeanwhileIhavesomeotherpressingbusinesstoattendto."
