Хоббит
Fire and Water
Roaringhesweptbackoverthetown.Ahailofdarkarrowsleapedupandsnappedandrattledonhisscalesandjewels,andtheirshaftsfellbackkindledbyhisbreathburningandhissingintothelake.Nofireworksyoueverimaginedequalledthesightsthatnight.Atthetwangingofthebowsandtheshrillingofthetrumpetsthedragon’swrathblazedtoitsheight,tillhewasblindandmadwithit.Noonehaddaredtogivebattletohimformanyanage;norwouldtheyhavedarednow,ifithadnotbeenforthegrim-voicedman(Bardwashisname),whorantoandfrocheeringonthearchersandurgingtheMastertoorderthemtofighttothelastarrow.
Fireleapedfromthedragon’sjaws.Hecircledforawhilehighintheairabovethemlightingallthelake;thetreesbytheshoresshonelikecopperandlikebloodwithleapingshadowsofdenseblackattheirfeet.Thendownheswoopedstraightthroughthearrow-storm,recklessinhisrage,takingnoheedtoturnhisscalysidestowardshisfoes,seekingonlytosettheirtownablaze.
Fireleapedfromthatchedroofsandwoodenbeam-endsashehurtleddownandpastandroundagain,thoughallhadbeendrenchedwithwaterbeforehecame.Oncemorewaterwasflungbyahundredhandswhereverasparkappeared.Backswirledthedragon.AsweepofhistailandtheroofoftheGreatHousecrumbledandsmasheddown.Flamesunquenchablespranghighintothenight.Anotherswoopandanother,andanotherhouseandthenanothersprangafireandfell;andstillnoarrowhinderedSmaugorhurthimmorethanaflyfromthemarshes.
