Хоббит

           Butwhentheyroastedit,itprovedhorribletotaste,andtheyshotnomoresquirrels.Theywerethirstytoo,fortheyhadnonetoomuchwater,andinallthetimetheyhadseenneitherspringnorstream.Thiswastheirstatewhenonedaytheyfoundtheirpathblockedbyarunningwater.Itflowedfastandstrongbutnotverywiderightacrosstheway,anditwasblack,orlookeditinthegloom.ItwaswellthatBeornhadwarnedthemagainstit,ortheywouldhavedrunkfromit,whateveritscolour,andfilledsomeoftheiremptiedskinsatitsbank.Asitwastheyonlythoughtofhowtocrossitwithoutwettingthemselvesinitswater.Therehadbeenabridgeofwoodacross,butithadrottedandfallenleavingonlythebrokenpostsnearthebank.Bilbokneelingonthebrinkandpeeringforwardcried:"Thereisaboatagainstthefarbank!Nowwhycouldn’tithavebeenthisside!""Howfarawaydoyouthinkitis?"askedThorin,forbynowtheyknewBilbohadthesharpesteyesamongthem.

           "Notatallfar.Ishouldn’tthinkabovetwelveyards."

           "Twelveyards!Ishouldhavethoughtitwasthirtyatleast,butmyeyesdon’tseeaswellastheyusedahundredyearsago.Stilltwelveyardsisasgoodasamile.Wecan’tjumpit,andwedaren’ttrytowadeorswim.""Cananyofyouthrowarope?"

           "What’sthegoodofthat?Theboatissuretobetiedup,evenifwecouldhookit,whichIdoubt."

           "Idon’tbelieveitistied,"saidBilbo,"thoughofcourseIcan’tbesureinthislight;butitlookstomeasifitwasjustdrawnuponthebank,whichislowjusttherewherethepathgoesdownintothewater.""Doriisthestrongest,butFiliistheyoungestandstillhasthebestsight,"saidThorin."ComehereFili,andseeifyoucanseetheboatMr.Bagginsistalkingabout."