Хоббит
On the Doorstep
Buthemightbegoneawaysometime,orhemightbelyingoutonthemountain-sidekeepingwatch,andstillIexpectsmokesandsteamswouldcomeoutofthegates:allthehallswithinmustbefilledwithhisfoulreek."Withsuchgloomythoughts,followedeverbycroakingcrowsabovethem,theymadetheirwearywaybacktothecamp.OnlyinJunetheyhadbeenguestsinthefairhouseofElrond,andthoughautumnwasnowcrawlingtowardswinterthatpleasanttimenowseemedyearsago.Theywerealoneintheperilouswastewithouthopeoffurtherhelp.Theywereattheendoftheirjourney,butasfarasever,itseemed,fromtheendoftheirquest.Noneofthemhadmuchspiritleft.
NowstrangetosayMr.Bagginshadmorethantheothers.HewouldoftenborrowThorin’smapandgazeatit,ponderingovertherunesandthemessageofthemoon-lettersElrondhadread.Itwashethatmadethedwarvesbeginthedangeroussearchonthewesternslopesforthesecretdoor.Theymovedtheircampthentoalongvalley,narrowerthanthegreatdaleintheSouthwheretheGatesoftheriverstood,andwalledwithlowerspursoftheMountain.Twooftheseherethrustforwardwestfromthemainmassinlongsteep-sidedridgesthatfelleverdownwardstowardstheplain.Onthiswesternsidetherewerefewersignsofthedragon’smaraudingfeet,andtherewassomegrassfortheirponies.Fromthiswesterncamp,shadowedalldaybycliffandwalluntilthesunbegantosinktowardstheforest,daybydaytheytoiledinpartiessearchingforpathsupthemountain-side.
