Хоббит

           Dwarf-mailmaybegood,buttheywillsoonbehardputtoit.Letussetonthemnowfrombothsides,beforetheyarefullyrested!"ButtheElvenkingsaid:"LongwillItarry,ereIbeginthiswarforgold.Thedwarvescannotpressus,unlesswewill,ordoanythingthatwecannotmark.Letushopestillforsomethingthatwillbringreconciliation.Ouradvantageinnumberswillbeenough,ifintheenditmustcometounhappyblows."

           Buthereckonedwithoutthedwarves.TheknowledgethattheArkenstonewasinthehandsofthebesiegersburnedintheirthoughts;alsotheyguessedthehesitationofBardandhisfriends,andresolvedtostrikewhiletheydebated.

           Suddenlywithoutasignaltheysprangsilentlyforwardtoattack.Bowstwangedandarrowswhistled;battlewasabouttobejoined.Stillmoresuddenlyadarknesscameonwithdreadfulswiftness!Ablackcloudhurriedoverthesky.WinterthunderonawildwindrolledroaringupandrumbledintheMountain,andlightninglititspeak.Andbeneaththethunderanotherblacknesscouldbeseenwhirlingforward;butitdidnotcomewiththewind,itcamefromtheNorth,likeavastcloudofbirds,sodensethatnolightcouldbeseenbetweentheirwings.

           "Halt!"criedGandalf,whoappearedsuddenly,andstoodalone,witharmsuplifted,betweentheadvancingdwarvesandtheranksawaitingthem."Halt!"hecalledinavoicelikethunder,andhisstaffblazedforthwithaflashlikethelightning."Dreadhascomeuponyouall!Alas!ithascomemoreswiftlythanIguessed.