Хоббит
The Gathering of the Clouds
Butnowtheirhopeswerehigher;fortheyhadfoodforsomeweekswithcare-chieflycram,ofcourse,andtheywereverytiredofit;butcramismuchbetterthannothing-andalreadythegatewasblockedwithawallofsquaredstoneslaiddry,butverythickandhighacrosstheopening.Therewereholesinthewallthroughwhichtheycouldsee(orshoot)butnoentrance.Theyclimbedinoroutwithladders,andhauledstuffupwithropes.Fortheissuingofthestreamtheyhadcontrivedasmalllowarchunderthenewwall;butneartheentrancetheyhadsoalteredthenarrowbedthatawidepoolstretchedfromthemountain-walltotheheadofthefalloverwhichthestreamwenttowardsDale.ApproachtotheGatewasnowonlypossible,withoutswimming,alonganarrowledgeofthecliff,totherightasonelookedoutwardsfromthewall.Theponiestheyhadbroughtonlytotheheadofthestepsabovetheoldbridge,andunloadingthemtherehadbiddenthemreturntotheirmastersandsentthembackriderlesstotheSouth.TherecameanightwhensuddenlythereweremanylightsasoffiresandtorchesawaysouthinDalebeforethem.
"Theyhavecome!"calledBalin."Andtheircampisverygreat.Theymusthavecomeintothevalleyunderthecoverofduskalongbothbanksoftheriver."
Thatnightthedwarvessleptlittle.Themorningwasstillpalewhentheysawacompanyapproaching.Frombehindtheirwalltheywatchedthemcomeuptothevalley’sheadandclimbslowlyup.
