Хоббит
Barrels Out of Bond
Ishallbehardatworktonightclearingthecellarsoftheemptywood,soletushaveadrinkfirsttohelpthelabour."
"Verygood,"laughedthechiefoftheguards."I’lltastewithyou,andseeifitisfitfortheking’stable.Thereisafeasttonightanditwouldnotdotosenduppoorstuff!"
WhenheheardthisBilbowasallinaflutter,forhesawthatluckwaswithhimandhehadachanceatoncetotryhisdesperateplan.Hefollowedthetwoelves,untiltheyenteredasmallcellarandsatdownatatableonwhichtwolargeflagonswereset.Soontheybegantodrinkandlaughmerrily.LuckofanunusualkindwaswithBilbothen.Itmustbepotentwinetomakeawood-elfdrowsy;butthiswine,itwouldseem,wastheheadyvintageofthegreatgardensofDorwinion,notmeantforhissoldiersorhisservants,butfortheking’sfeastsonly,andforsmallerbowls,notforthebutler’sgreatflagons.
Verysoonthechiefguardnoddedhishead,thenhelaiditonthetableandfellfastasleep.Thebutlerwentontalkingandlaughingtohimselfforawhilewithoutseemingtonotice,butsoonhisheadtoonoddedtothetable,andhefellasleepandsnoredbesidehisfriend.Thenincreptthehobbit.
Verysoonthechiefguardhadnokeys,butBilbowastrottingasfastashecouldalongthepassagetowardsthecells.Thegreatbunchseemedveryheavytohisarms,andhisheartwasofteninhismouth,inspiteofhisring,forhecouldnotpreventthekeysfrommakingeverynowandthenaloudclinkandclank,whichputhimallinatremble.
