Хоббит
Barrels Out of Bond
Soonhoweverhemadeuphismindthathecouldnotbemistaken,andhecametothedoorandhadalongwhisperedtalkwiththehobbitontheotherside.
SoitwasthatBilbowasabletotakesecretlyThorin’smessagetoeachoftheotherimprisoneddwarves,tellingthemthatThorintheirchiefwasalsoinprisoncloseathand,andthatnoonewastorevealtheirerrandtothelong,notyet,notbeforeThoringavetheword.ForThorinhadtakenheartagainhearinghowthehobbithadrescuedhiscompanionsfromthespiders,andwasdeterminedoncemorenottoransomhimselfwithpromisestothekingofashareinthetreasure,untilallhopeofescapinginanyotherwayhaddisappeared;untilinfacttheremarkableMr.InvisibleBaggins(ofwhomhebegantohaveaveryhighopinionindeed)hadaltogetherfailedtothinkofsomethingclever.
Theotherdwarvesquiteagreedwhentheygotthemessage.Theyallthoughttheirownsharesinthetreasure(whichtheyquiteregardedastheirs,inspiteoftheirplightandthestillunconquereddragon)wouldsufferseriouslyiftheWood-elvesclaimedpartofit,andtheyalltrustedBilbo.JustwhatGandalfhadsaidwouldhappen,yousee.Perhapsthatwarpartofhisreasonforgoingoffandleavingthem.
Bilbo,however,didnotfeelnearlysohopefulastheydid.Hedidnotlikebeingdependedonbyeveryone,andhewishedhehadthewizardathand.
Butthatwasnouse:probablyallthedarkdistanceofMirkwoodlaybetweenthem.Hesatandthoughtandthought,untilhisheadnearlyburst,butnobrightideawouldcome.
