Хоббит

           Ishouldsaytherewerelittlebears,largebears,ordinarybears,andgiganticbigbears,alldancingoutsidefromdarktonearlydawn.Theycamefromalmosteverydirection,exceptfromthewestovertheriver,fromtheMountains.Inthatdirectiononlyonesetoffootprintsled-nonecoming,onlyonesgoingawayfromhere.

           IfollowedtheseasfarastheCarrock.Theretheydisappearedintotheriver,butthewaterwastoodeepandstrongbeyondtherockformetocross.Itiseasyenough,asyouremember,togetfromthisbanktotheCarrockbytheford,butontheothersideisacliffstandingupfromaswirlingchannel.IhadtowalkmilesbeforeIfoundaplacewheretheriverwaswideandshallowenoughformetowadeandswim,andthenmilesbackagaintopickupthetracksagain.Bythattimeitwastoolateformetofollowthemfar.Theywentstraightoffinthedirectionofthepine-woodsontheeastsideoftheMistyMountains,wherewehadourpleasantlittlepartywiththeWargsthenightbeforelast.AndnowIthinkIhaveansweredyourfirstquestion,too,"endedGandalf,andhesatalongwhilesilent.

           Bilbothoughtheknewwhatthewizardmeant."Whatshallwedo,"hecried,"ifheleadsalltheWargsandthegoblinsdownhere?Weshallallbecaughtandkilled!Ithoughtyousaidhewasnot9friendoftheirs.""SoIdid.Anddon’tbesilly!Youhadbettergotobed,yourwitsaresleepy."

           Thehobbitfeltquitecrushed,andasthereseemednothingelsetodohedidgotobed;andwhilethedwarveswerestillsingingsongshedroppedasleep,stillpuzzlinghislittleheadaboutBeorn,tillhedreamedadreamofhundredsofblackbearsdancingslowheavydancesroundandroundinthemoonlightinthecourtyard.Thenhewokeupwheneveryoneelsewasasleep,andheheardthesamescraping,scuffling,snuffling,andgrowlingasbefore.NextmorningtheywereallwakenedbyBeornhimself.