Хоббит
A Warm Welcome
SomesangtoothatThrorandThrainwouldcomebackonedayandgoldwouldflowinriversthroughthemountain-gates,andallthatlandwouldbefilledwithnewsongandnewlaughter.Butthispleasantlegenddidnotmuchaffecttheirdailybusiness.
Assoonastheraftofbarrelscameinsightboatsrowedoutfromthepilesofthetown,andvoiceshailedtheraft-steerers.Thenropeswerecastandoarswerepulled,andsoontheraftwasdrawnoutofthecurrentoftheForestRiverandtowedawayroundthehighshoulderofrockintothelittlebayofLake-town.Thereitwasmoorednotfarfromtheshorewardheadofthegreatbridge.SoonmenwouldcomeupfromtheSouthandtakesomeofthecasksaway,andotherstheywouldfillwithgoodstheyhadbroughttobetakenbackupthestreamtotheWood-elves’home.InthemeanwhilethebarrelswereleftafloatwhiletheelvesoftheraftandtheboatmenwenttofeastinLake-town.
Theywouldhavebeensurprised,iftheycouldhaveseenwhathappeneddownbytheshore,aftertheyhadgoneandtheshadesofnighthadfallen.FirstofallabarrelwascutloosebyBilboandpushedtotheshoreandopened.Groanscamefrominside,andoutcreptamostunhappydwarf.Wetstrawwasinhisdraggledbeard;hewassosoreandstiff,sobruisedandbuffetedhecouldhardlystandorstumblethroughtheshallowwatertoliegroaningontheshore.Hehadafamishedandasavagelooklikeadogthathasbeenchainedandforgotteninakennelforaweek.
