Хоббит
Barrels Out of Bond
Hewasinthedarktunnel,floatinginicywater,allalone-foryoucannotcountfriendsthatareallpackedupinbarrels.
Verysoonagreypatchcameupinthedarknessahead.Heheardthecreakofthewater-gatebeinghauledup,andhefoundthathewasinthemidstofabobbingandbumpingmassofcasksandtubsallpressingtogethertopassunderthearchandgetoutintotheopenstream.Hehadasmuchashecoulddotopreventhimselffrombeinghustledandbatteredtobits;butatlastthejostlingcrowdbegantobreakupandswingoff,onebyone,underthestonearchandaway.Thenhesawthatitwouldhavebeennogoodevenifhehadmanagedtogetastridehisbarrel,fortherewasnoroomtospare,notevenforahobbit,betweenitstopandthesuddenlystoopingroofwherethegatewas.
Outtheywentundertheoverhangingbranchesofthetreesoneitherbank.Bilbowonderedwhatthedwarveswerefeelingandwhetheralotofwaterwasgettingintotheirtubs.Someofthosethatbobbedalongbyhiminthegloomseemedprettylowinthewater,andheguessedthatthesehaddwarvesinside."IdohopeIputthelidsontightenough!"hethought,butbeforelonghewasworryingtoomuchabouthimselftorememberthedwarves.Hemanagedtokeephisheadabovethewater,buthewasshiveringwiththecold,andhewonderedifhewoulddieofitbeforetheluckturned,andhowmuchlongerhewouldbeabletohangon,andwhetherheshouldriskthechanceoflettinggoandtryingtoswimtothebank.
