Хоббит

           Eachoneofhisfolkwascladinahauberkofsteelmailthathungtohisknees,andhislegswerecoveredwithhoseofafineandflexiblemetalmesh,thesecretofwhosemakingwaspossessedbyDain’speople.

           Thedwarvesareexceedinglystrongfortheirheight,butmostofthesewerestrongevenfordwarves.Inbattletheywieldedheavytwo-handedmattocks;buteachofthemhadalsoashortbroadswordathissideandaroundshieldslungathisback.Theirbeardswereforkedandplaitedandthrustintotheirbelts.Theircapswereofironandtheywereshodwithiron,andtheirfacesweregrim.Trumpetscalledmenandelvestoarms.Beforelongthedwarvescouldbeseencomingupthevalleyatagreatpace.Theyhaltedbetweentheriverandtheeasternspur;butafewheldontheirway,andcrossingtheriverdrewnearthecamp;andtheretheylaiddowntheirweaponsandhelduptheirhandsinsignofpeace.Bardwentouttomeetthem,andwithhimwentBilbo.

           "WearesentfromDainsonofNain,"theysaidwhenquestioned."WearehasteningtoourkinsmenintheMountain,sincewelearnthatthekingdomofoldisrenewed.Butwhoareyouthatsitintheplainasfoesbeforedefendedwalls?"This,of.course,inthepoliteandratherold-fashionedlanguageofsuchoccasions,meantsimply:"Youhavenobusinesshere.Wearegoingon,somakewayorweshallfightyou!"TheymeanttopushonbetweentheMountainandtheloopoftheriver,forthenarrowlandtheredidnotseemtobestronglyguarded.