Хоббит
A Short Rest
Theyaskedhimwherehewasmakingfor,andheanswered:"YouarecometotheveryedgeoftheWild,assomeofyoumayknow.HiddensomewhereaheadofusisthefairvalleyofRivendellwhereElrondlivesintheLastHomelyHouse.Isentamessagebymyfriends,andweareexpected."Thatsoundedniceandcomforting,buttheyhadnotgotthereyet,anditwasnotsoeasyasitsoundstofindtheLastHomelyHousewestoftheMountains.Thereseemedtobenotreesandnovalleysandnohillstobreakthegroundinfrontofthem,onlyonevastslopegoingslowlyupanduptomeetthefeetofthenearestmountain,awidelandthecolourofheatherandcrumblingrock,withpatchesandslashesofgrass-greenandmoss-greenshowingwherewatermightbe.
Morningpassed,afternooncame;butinallthesilentwastetherewasnosignofanydwelling.Theyweregrowinganxious,fortheynowsawthatthehousemightbehiddenalmostanywherebetweenthemandthemountains.Theycameonunexpectedvalleys,narrowwithdeepsides,thatopenedsuddenlyattheirfeet,andtheylookeddownsurprisedtoseetreesbelowthemandrunningwateratthebottom.Thereweregulliesthattheycouldalmostleapover;butverydeepwithwaterfallsinthem.Thereweredarkravinesthatonecouldneitherjumpnorclimbinto.Therewerebogs,someofthemgreenpleasantplacestolookatwithflowersgrowingbrightandtall;butaponythatwalkedtherewithapackonitsbackwouldneverhavecomeoutagain.Itwasindeedamuchwiderlandfromthefordtothemountainsthaneveryouwouldhaveguessed.Bilbowasastonished.Theonlypathwasmarkedwithwhitestonessomeofwhichweresmall,andotherswerehalfcoveredwithmossorheather.Altogetheritwasaveryslowbusinessfollowingthetrack,evenguidedbyGandalf,whoseemedtoknowhiswayaboutprettywell.Hisheadandbeardwaggedthiswayandthatashelookedforthestones,andtheyfollowedhishead,buttheyseemednonearertotheendofthesearchwhenthedaybegantofail.
