Хоббит
An Unexpected Party
Ifyouhaveeverseenadragoninapinch,youwillrealisethatthiswasonlypoeticalexaggerationappliedtoanyhobbit,eventoOldTook’sgreat-granduncleBullroarer,whowassohuge(forahobbit)thathecouldrideahorse. HechargedtheranksofthegoblinsofMountGramintheBattleoftheGreenFields,andknockedtheirkingGol-firnbul’sheadcleanoffwithawoodenclub. Itsailedahundredyardsthroughtheairandwentdownarabbithole, andinthiswaythebattlewaswonandthegameofGolfinventedatthesamemoment.
Inthemeanwhile,however,Bullroarer’sgentlerdescendantwasrevivinginthedrawing-room. Afterawhileandadrinkhecreptnervouslytothedooroftheparlour. Thisiswhatheheard,Gloinspeaking: "Humph! "(orsomesnortmoreorlesslikethat). "Willhedo,doyouthink? ItisallverywellforGandalftotalkaboutthishobbitbeingfierce,butoneshrieklikethatinamomentofexcitementwouldbeenoughtowakethedragonandallhisrelatives,andkillthelotofus. Ithinkitsoundedmorelikefrightthanexcitement! Infact,ifitbadnotbeenforthesignonthedoor,Ishouldhavebeensurewehadcometothewronghouse. AssoonasIclappedeyesonthelittlefellowbobbingandpuffingonthemat,Ihadmydoubts. Helooksmorelikeagrocer-thanaburglar!"
ThenMr.Bagginsturnedthehandleandwentin. TheTooksidehadwon. Hesuddenlyfelthewouldgowithoutbedandbreakfasttobethoughtfierce. Asforlittlefellowbobbingonthematitalmostmadehimreallyfierce. ManyatimeafterwardstheBagginspartregrettedwhathedidnow,andhesaidtohimself: "Bilbo,youwereafool;youwalkedrightinandputyourfootinit."
