Хоббит
Riddles in the Dark
Butwhenheputhislongwebbyfootinthewater,afishjumpedoutinafrightandfellonBilbo’stoes."Ugh!"hesaid,"itiscoldandclammy!"-andsoheguessed."Fish!Fish!"hecried."Itisfish!"
Gollumwasdreadfullydisappointed;butBilboaskedanotherriddleasquickaseverbecould,sothatGollumhadtogetbackintohisboatandthink.
"No-legslayonone-leg,two-legssatnearonthree-legs,four-legsgotsome."
Itwasnotreallytherighttimeforthisriddle,butBilbowasinahurry.Gollummighthavehadsometroubleguessingit,ifhehadaskeditatanothertime.Asitwas,talkingoffish,"no-legs"wasnotsoverydifficult,andafterthattherestwaseasy."Fishonalittletable,manattablesittingonastool,thecathasthebones"-thatofcourseistheanswer,andGollumsoongaveit.Thenhethoughtthetimehadcometoasksomethinghardandhorrible.Thisiswhathesaid:
"Thisthingallthingsdevours:
Birds,beasts,trees,flowers;
Gnawsiron,bitessteel;
Grindshardstonestomeal;
Slaysking,ruinstown,
Andbeatshighmountaindown."
PoorBilbosatinthedarkthinkingofallthehorriblenamesofallthegiantsandogreshehadeverheardtoldofintales,butnotoneofthemhaddoneallthesethings.Hehadafeelingthattheanswerwasquitedifferentandthatheoughttoknowit,buthecouldnotthinkofit.
