Хоббит

           Filithoughthecould;sowhenhehadstaredalongwhiletogetanideaofthedirection,theothersbroughthimarope.Theyhadseveralwiththem,andontheendofthelongesttheyfastenedoneofthelargeironhookstheyhadusedforcatchingtheirpackstothestrapsabouttheirshoulders.Filitookthisinhishand,balanceditforamoment,andthenflungitacrossthestream.

           Splashitfellinthewater!"Notfarenough!"saidBilbowhowaspeeringforward."Acoupleoffeetandyouwouldhavedroppeditontotheboat.Tryagain.Idon’tsupposethemagicisstrongenoughtohurtyou,ifyoujusttouchabitofwetrope."

           Filipickedupthehookwhenhehaddrawnitback,ratherdoubtfullyallthesame.Thistimehethrewitwithgreaterstrength."Steady!"saidBilbo,"youhavethrownitrightintothewoodontheothersidenow.Drawitbackgently."Filihauledtheropebackslowly,andafterawhileBilbosaid:

           "Carefully!Itislyingontheboat;let’shopethehookwillcatch."Itdid.Theropewenttaut,andFilipulledinvain.Kilicametohishelp,andthenOinandGloin.Theytuggedandtugged,andsuddenlytheyallfelloverontheirbacks.Bilbowasonthelockout,however,caughttherope,andwithapieceofstickfendedoffthelittleblackboatasitcamerushingacrossthestream."Help!"heshouted,andBalinwasjustintimetoseizetheboatbeforeitfloatedoffdownthecurrent.

           "Itwastiedafterall,"saidhe,lookingatthesnappedpainterthatwasstilldanglingfromit."Thatwasagoodpull,mylads;andagoodjobthatourropewasthestronger."

           "Who’llcrossfirst?"askedBilbo.