Хоббит
Fire and Water
Alreadymenwerejumpingintothewateroneveryside.Womenandchildrenwerebeinghuddledintoladenboatsinthemarket-pool.Weaponswereflungdown.Therewasmourningandweeping,wherebutalittletimeagotheoldsongsofmirthtocomehadbeensungaboutthedwarves.Nowmencursedtheirnames.TheMasterhimselfwasturningtohisgreatgildedboat,hopingtorowawayintheconfusionandsavehimself.Soonallthetownwouldbedesertedandburneddowntothesurfaceofthelake.Thatwasthedragon’shope.Theycouldallgetintoboatsforallhecared.Therehecouldhavefinesporthuntingthem,ortheycouldstoptilltheystarved.Letthemtrytogettolandandhewouldbeready.Soonhewouldsetalltheshorelandwoodsablazeandwithereveryfieldandpasture.Justnowhewasenjoyingthesportoftown-baitingmorethanhehadenjoyedanythingforyears.Buttherewasstillacompanyofarchersthatheldtheirgroundamongtheburninghouses.TheircaptainwasBard,grim-voicedandgrim-faced,whosefriendshadaccusedhimofprophesyingfloodsandpoisonedfish,thoughtheyknewhisworthandcourage.HewasadescendantinlonglineofGirion,LordofDale,whosewifeandchildhadescapeddowntheRunningRiverfromtheruinlongago.Nowheshotwithagreatyewbow,tillallhisarrowsbutonewerespent.Theflameswerenearhim.Hiscompanionswereleavinghim.Hebenthisbowforthelasttime.Suddenlyoutofthedarksomethingflutteredtohisshoulder.Hestarted-butitwasonlyanoldthrush.
