Хоббит
Fire and Water
Unafraiditperchedbyhisearanditbroughthimnews.Marvellinghefoundhecouldunderstanditstongue,forhewasoftheraceofDale.
"Wait!Wait!"itsaidtohim."Themoonisrising.Lookforthehollowoftheleftbreastashefliesandturnsaboveyou!"AndwhileBardpausedinwonderittoldhimoftidingsupintheMountainandofallthatithadheard.ThenBarddrewhisbow-stringtohisear.Thedragonwascirclingback,flyinglow,andashecamethemoonroseabovetheeasternshoreandsilveredhisgreatwings.
"Arrow!"saidthebowman."Blackarrow!Ihavesavedyoutothelast.YouhaveneverfailedmeandalwaysIhaverecoveredyou.Ihadyoufrommyfatherandhefromofold.IfeveryoucamefromtheforgesofthetruekingundertheMountain,gonowandspeedwell!"
Thedragonswoopedoncemorelowerthanever,andasheturnedanddiveddownhisbellyglitteredwhitewithsparklingfiresofgemsinthemoon-butnotinoneplace.Thegreatbowtwanged.Theblackarrowspedstraightfromthestring,straightforthehollowbytheleftbreastwheretheforelegwasflungwide.Initsmoteandvanished,barb,shaftandfeather,sofiercewasitsflight.Withashriekthatdeafenedmen,felledtreesandsplitstone,Smaugshotspoutingintotheair,turnedoverandcrasheddownfromonhighinruin.
Fullonthetownhefell.Hislastthroessplinteredittosparksandgledes.Thelakeroaredin.Avaststeamleapedup,whiteinthesuddendarkunderthemoon.Therewasahiss,agushingwhirl,andthensilence.
