jrt.the hobbit-第41节
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new strength。
He would not forget or forgive the theft； not if a thousand years turned him to smouldering stone； but he could afford to wait。 Slow and silent he crept back to his lair and half closed his eyes。
When morning came the terror of the dwarves grew less。 They realized that dangers of this kind were inevitable in dealing with such a guardian； and that it was no good giving up their quest yet。 Nor could they get away just now； as Thorin had pointed out。 Their ponies were lost or killed； and they would have to wait some time before Smaug relaxed his watch sufficiently for them to dare the long way on foot。 Luckily they had saved enough of their stores to last them still for some time。
They debated long on what was to be done； but they could think of no way of getting rid of Smaug … which had always been a weak point in their plans； as Bilbo felt inclined to point out。 Then as is the nature of folk that are thoroughly perplexed； they began to grumble at the hobbit； blaming him for what had at first so pleased them： for bringing away a cup and stirring up Smaug's wrath so soon。
〃What else do you suppose a burglar is to do？〃 asked Bilbo angrily。 〃I was not engaged to kill dragons； that is warrior's work； but to steal treasure。 I made the best beginning I could。 Did you expect me to trot back with the whole hoard of Thror on my back？ If there is any grumbling to be done； I think I might have a say。 You ought to have brought five hundred burglars not one。 I am sure it reflects great credit on your grandfather； but you cannot pretend that you ever made the vast extent of his wealth clear to me。 I should want hundreds of years to bring it all up； if I was fifty times as big； and Smaug as tame as a rabbit。〃
After that of course the dwarves begged his pardon。
〃What then do you propose we should do； Mr。 Baggins？〃 asked Thorin politely。
〃I have no idea at the moment … if you mean about removing the treasure。 That obviously depends entirely on some new turn of luck and the getting rid of Smaug。
Getting rid of dragons is not at all in my line； but I will do my best to think about it。 Personally I have no hopes at all； and wish I was safe back at home。〃
〃Never mind that for the moment！ What are we to do now； to…day？〃 〃Well； if you really want my advice； I should say we can do nothing but stay where we are。 By day we can no doubt creep out safely enough to take the air。 Perhaps before long one or two could be chosen to go back to the store by the river and replenish our supplies。 But in the meanwhile everyone ought to be well inside the tunnel by night。
〃Now I will make you an offer。 I have got my ring and will creep down this very noon…then if ever Smaug ought to be napping…and see what he is up to。 Perhaps something will turn up。 'Every worm has his weak spot；' as my father used to say； though I am sure it was not from personal experience。〃 Naturally the dwarves accepted the offer eagerly。 Already they had e to respect little Bilbo。 Now he had bee the real leader in their adventure。 He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own。 When midday came he got ready for another journey down into the Mountain。 He did not like it of course； but it was not so bad now he knew； more or less； what was in front of him。 Had he known more about dragons and their wily ways； he might have teen more frightened and less hopeful of catching this one napping。 The sun was shining when he started； but it was as dark as night in the tunnel。 The light from the door； almost closed； soon faded as he went down。 So silent was his going that smoke on a gentle wind could hardly have surpasses it； and he was inclined to feel a bit proud of himself as he drew near the lower door。 There was only the very fainter glow to be seen。 〃Old Smaug is weary and asleep；〃 he thought。 〃He can't； see me and he won't hear me。 Cheer up Bilbo！〃 He had forgotten or had never heard about dragons' sense of smell。
It is also an awkward fact that they keep half an eye open watching while they sleep； if they are suspicious。 Smaug certainly looked fast asleep； almost dead and dark； with scarcely a snore more than a whiff of unseen steam； when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance。 He was just about to step out on to the floor when he caught a sudden thin and piercing ray of red from under the drooping lid。 of Smaug's left eye。 He was only pretending to sleep！ He was watching the tunnel entrance！ Hurriedly Bilbo stepped back and blessed the luck of his ring。 Then Smaug spoke。
〃Well； thief！ I smell you and I feel your air。 I hear your breath。 e along！ Help yourself again； there is plenty and to spare！〃 But Bilbo was not quite so unlearned in dragon…lore as all that； and if Smaug hoped to get him to e nearer so easily he was disappointed。 〃No thank you； O Smaug the。 Tremendous！〃 he replied。 〃I did not e for presents。 I only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales say。 I did not believe them。〃
〃Do you now？〃 said the dragon somewhat flattered； even though he did not believe a word of it。 j 〃Truly songs and tales fall utterly short of the reality； O Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities；〃 replied Bilbo。
You have nice manners for a thief and a liar；〃 said the dragon。 〃You seem familiar with my name； but I don't seem to remember smelling you before。 Who are you and where do you e from； may I ask？〃
〃You may indeed！ I e from under the hill； and under hills and over the hills my paths led。 And through the air； I am he that walks unseen。〃 〃So I can well believe；〃 said Smaug； 〃but that is hardly our usual name。〃 〃I am the clue…finder； the web…cutter； the stinging fly。 I as chosen for the lucky number。〃
〃Lovely titles！〃 sneered the dragon。 〃But lucky numbers don't always e off。〃
〃I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water。 I came from the end of a bag； but no bag went over me。〃
〃These don't sound so creditable；〃 scoffed Smaug。
〃I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles。 I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer； and I am Barrel…rider；〃 went on Bilbo beginning to be pleased with his riddling。
〃That's better！〃 said Smaug。 〃But don't let your imagination run away with you！〃
This of course is the way to talk to dragons； if you don't want to reveal your proper name （which is wise）； and don't want to infuriate them by a flat refusal （which is also very wise）。 No dragon can resist the fascination of riddling talk and of wasting time trying to understand it。 There was a lot here which Smaug did not understand at all （though I expect you do； since you know all about Bilbo's adventures to which he was referring）； but he thought he understood enough； and he chuckled in his wicked inside。 〃I thought so last night；〃 he smiled to himself。 〃Lake…men； some nasty scheme of those miserable tub…trading Lake…men； or I'm a lizard。 I haven't been down that way for an age and an age； but I will soon alter that！〃 〃Very well； O Barrel…rider！〃 he said aloud。 〃Maybe Barrel was your pony's name； and maybe not； though it was fat enough。 You may walk unseen； but you did not walk all the way。 Let me tell you I ate six ponies last night and I shall catch and eat all the others before long。 In return for the excellent meal I will give you one piece of advice for your good： don't have more to do with dwarves than you can help！〃
〃Dwarves！〃 said Bilbo in pretended surprise。
〃Don't talk to me！〃 said Smaug。 〃I know the smell （and taste） of dwarf…no one better。 Don't tell me that I can eat a dwarf…ridden pony and not know it！ You'll e to a bad end； if you go with such friends。 Thief Barrel…rider。 I don't mind if you go back and tell them so from me。〃
But he did not tell Bilbo that there was one smell he could not make out at all； hobbit…smell； it was quite outside his experience and puzzled him mightily。
〃I suppose you got a fair price for that cup last night？〃 he went on。 〃e now； did you？ Nothing at all！ Well； that's just like them。 And I suppose they are skulking outside； and your job is to do all the dangerous work and get what you can when I'm not looking…for them？ And you will get a fair share？ Don't you believe it！ If you get off alive； you will be lucky。〃 Bilbo was now beginning to feel really unfortable。 Whenever Smaug's roving eye； seeking for him in the shadows； flashed across him； he trembled； and an unaccountable desire seized hold of him to rush out and reveal himself and tell all the truth to Smaug。 In fact he was in grievous danger of ing under the dragon…spell。 But plucking up courage he spoke again。 〃You don't know everything； O Smaug the Mighty；〃 said he。 〃Not gold alone brought us hither。〃
〃Ha！ Ha！ You admit the 'us'；〃 laughed Smaug。 〃Why not say 'us fourteen' and be done with it。 Mr。 Lucky Number？ I am pleased to hear that you had other business in these parts besides my gold。 In that case you may； perhaps； not altogether waste your time。
〃I don't know if it has occurred to you that； even if you could steal the gold bit by bit…a matter of a hundred years or so … you could not get it very far？ Not much use on the mountain…side？ Not much use in the forest？ Bless me！ Had you never thought of the catch？ A fourteenth share； I suppose； Or something like it
