Хоббит

           Thatiswhatwasinhiswickedlittlemind,asheslippedsuddenlyfromBilbo’sside,andflappedbacktohisboat,andwentoffintothedark.Bilbothoughthehadheardthelastofhim.Stillhewaitedawhile;forhehadnoideahowtofindhiswayoutalone.

           Suddenlyheheardascreech.Itsentashiverdownhisback.Gollumwascursingandwailingawayinthegloom,notveryfaroffbythesoundofit.Hewasonhisisland,scrabblinghereandthere,searchingandseekinginvain."Whereisit?Whereissit?"Bilboheardhimcrying."Losstitis,myprecious,lost,lost!Curseusandcrushus,mypreciousislost!""What’sthematter?"Bilbocalled."Whathaveyoulost?""Itmustn’taskus,"shriekedGollum."Notitsbusiness,no,gollum!It’slosst,gollum,gollum,gollum."

           "Well,soamI,"criedBilbo,"andIwanttogetunlost.AndIwonthegame,andyoupromised.Socomealong!Comeandletmeout,andthengoonwithyourlooking!"

           UtterlymiserableasGollumsounded,Bilbocouldnotfindmuchpityinhisheart,andhehadafeelingthatanythingGollumwantedsomuchcouldhardlybesomethinggood.

           "Comealong!"heshouted.

           "No,notyet,precious!"Gollumanswered."Wemustsearchforit,it’slost,gollum."

           "Butyouneverguessedmylastquestion,andyoupromised,"saidBilbo."Neverguessed!"saidGollum.Thensuddenlyoutofthegloomcameasharphiss."Whathasitgotinitspocketses?Tellusthat.Itmusttellfirst."AsfarasBilboknew,therewasnoparticularreasonwhyheshouldnottell.Gollum’smindhadjumpedtoaguessquickerthanhis;naturally,forGollumhadbroodedforagesonthisonething,andhewasalwaysafraidofitsbeingstolen.