16 A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

Chapter 16 A THIEF IN THE NIGHT Now the days passed slowly and wearily. Many of the dwarves spent their time piling and ordering the treasure; and now Thorin spoke of the Arkenstone of Thrain, and bade them eagerly to look for it in every corner. "For the Arkenstone of my father," he said, "is worth more than a river of gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price. That stone of all the treasure I name unto myself, and I will be avenged on anyone who finds it and withholds it." Bilbo heard these words and he grew afraid, wondering what would happen, if the stone was found—wrapped in an old bundle of tattered oddments that he used as a pillow. All the same he did not speak of it, for as the weariness of the days grew heavier, the beginnings of a plan had come

第十六章 夜中窃贼 日子一天天过得缓慢又疲惫 大多数矮人都忙着整理堆放宝藏，索林提起了瑟罗因的阿肯宝石，急切地吩咐大家把每个角落都搜一遍。 “我父亲的阿肯宝石啊，”他说，“它本身比一整条河的黄金还要贵重，对我来说更是无价之宝。 在所有宝藏里，这块宝石我点名要归我，谁找到了私藏起来，我一定会找他算账。” 比尔博听到这些话，心里害怕极了，他忍不住琢磨，如果宝石被找到会发生什么——此刻宝石就裹在旧破布里，被他当枕头呢。 不过他什么也没说，因为日子过得越来越疲乏，一个计划的雏形已经浮现在他心头

into his little head. Things had gone on like this for some time, when the ravens brought news that Dain and more than five hundred dwarves, hurrying from the Iron Hills, were now within about two days' march of Dale, coming from the North-East. "But they cannot reach the Mountain unmarked," said Ro.c, "and I fear lest there be battle in the valley. I do not call this counsel good. Though they are a grim folk, they are not likely to overcome the host that besets you; and even if they did so, what will you gain? Winter and snow is hastening behind them. How shall you be fed without the friendship and goodwill of the lands about you? The treasure is likely to be your death, though the dragon is no more!" But Thorin was not moved. "Winter and snow will bite both men and elves," he said, "and they may find their dwelling in the waste grievous to bear. With my friends behind them and winter upon them, they will perhaps be in softer mood to parley with." That night Bilbo made up his mind. The sky was black and moonless. As soon as it was full dark, he went to a corner of an inner chamber just within the

了。 这样的状况维持了一阵子后，渡鸦带来消息：戴恩带着五百多名矮人从铁丘陵匆匆赶来，正从东北方向行进，距离河谷镇只剩大约两天路程了。 “他们不可能悄无声息抵达孤山不被发现，”罗克说，“我担心山谷里会爆发战争。 我不觉得这是个好计策。 虽说他们凶悍善战，也未必能打败包围你们的大军；就算打赢了，你们又能得到什么好处呢？ 寒冬和大雪正跟在他们身后赶来了。 要是得不到周边领地的友谊和善意，你们要靠什么活下去呢？ 哪怕恶龙已经死了，这笔宝藏也只会给你们招来杀身之祸！” 可索林一点都没有动摇。 “寒冬和大雪一样会冻伤人类和精灵，”他说，“他们会发现待在荒地里根本熬不下去。 有我的朋友在后方，再加上寒冬压境，他们说不定会更愿意坐下来和谈。” 那天晚上，比尔博下定了决心。 天空漆黑一片，连月亮都没有。 天完全黑透之后，他走到内门入口内侧的一个角落

gate and drew from his bundle a rope, and also the Arkenstone wrapped in a rag. Then he climbed to the top of the wall. Only Bombur was there, for it was his turn to watch, and the dwarves kept only one watchman at a time. "It is mighty cold!" said Bombur. "I wish we could have a fire up here as they have in the camp!" "It is warm enough inside," said Bilbo. "I daresay; but I am bound here till midnight," grumbled the fat dwarf. "A sorry business altogether. Not that I venture to disagree with Thorin, may his beard grow ever longer; yet he was ever a dwarf with a stiff neck." "Not as stiff as my legs," said Bilbo. "I am tired of stairs and stone passages. I would give a good deal for the feel of grass at my toes." "I would give a good deal for the feel of a strong drink in my throat, and for a soft bed after a good supper!" "I can't give you those, while the siege is going on. But it is long since I watched, and I will take your turn for you, if you like. There is no sleep in me tonight." "You are a good fellow, Mr. Baggins, and I will take your offer kindly. If there should be anything to

，从包袱里摸出一根绳子，还有裹在破布中的阿肯宝石。 接着他爬上了城墙的顶端。 只有邦伯在那里，今天轮到他站岗，矮人每次只留一个岗哨。 “这儿冷死啦！”邦伯说。 “真希望我们也能像营地那边一样，在这儿生堆火！” “里面暖和得很呢，”比尔博说。 “那是没错，可我得在这儿守到午夜，”胖矮人嘟囔道。 整件事都糟糕透了。 我可不是敢反对索林，祝他胡子越长越长，可他本来就是个死脑筋的矮人。” “我的腿比他还僵硬呢，”比尔博说。 “我受够了台阶和石头通道了。 我愿意拿出好多东西，换脚趾头能踩到青草的感觉。” “我愿意拿出好多东西，换喉咙里能喝下烈酒，吃饱饭后能躺上软床！” “现在围城呢，我给不了你这些东西。 不过我好久没站过岗了，如果你愿意，我帮你守这班吧。 我今晚一点睡意都没有。” “你真是个好人，巴金斯先生，我欣然接受你的好意。 要是有什么情况要

note, rouse me first, mind you! I will lie in the inner chamber to the left, not far away." "Off you go!" said Bilbo. "I will wake you at midnight, and you can wake the next watchman." As soon as Bombur had gone, Bilbo put on his ring, fastened his rope, slipped down over the wall, and was gone. He had about five hours before him. Bombur would sleep (he could sleep at any time, and ever since the adventure in the forest he was always trying to recapture the beautiful dreams he had then); and all the others were busy with Thorin. It was unlikely that any, even Fili or Kili, would come out on the wall until it was their turn. It was very dark, and the road after a while, when he left the newly made path and climbed down towards the lower course of the stream, was strange to him. At last he came to the bend where he had to cross the water, if he was to make for the camp, as he wished. The bed of the stream was there shallow but already broad, and fording it in the dark was not easy for the little hobbit. He was nearly across when he missed his footing on a round stone and fell into the cold water with a splash. He had barely scrambled out on the far bank, shivering and spluttering, when up came elves in the gloom with

通知我，一定要先叫醒我，记住了！ 我会躺在左边的内殿里，离这儿不远。” “你快去吧！”比尔博说。 “我会在午夜叫醒你，你再去换下一个岗哨。” 邦伯一走，比尔博就戴上戒指，系好绳子，顺着城墙滑下去，离开了。 他一共有大约五个小时的时间。 邦伯肯定会睡熟（他随时随地都能睡着，而且自从森林历险之后，他一直都想重温当时做的美梦），其他人都围着索林忙事情。 不到换岗时间，没人会出来上城墙，哪怕是菲力和奇力也不会来。 天非常黑，比尔博离开新修的小路，往溪流下游爬去，这条路他很陌生。 最后他终于走到了河弯处，如果要按计划前往营地，他必须从这里过河。 这里的河床很浅，但河面已经很宽，在黑夜里涉水过河对小霍比特人来说可不轻松。 他快走到对岸的时候，踩在圆石头上滑了一脚，扑通一声掉进了冷水里。 他好不容易浑身发抖、吐着水花爬上对岸，黑暗中就有精灵带着

bright lanterns and searched for the cause of the noise. "That was no fish!" one said. "There is a spy about. Hide your lights! They will help him more than us, if it is that queer little creature that is said to be their servant." "Servant, indeed!" snorted Bilbo; and in the middle of his snort he sneezed loudly, and the elves immediately gathered towards the sound. "Let's have a light!" he said. "I am here, if you want me!" and he slipped off his ring, and popped from behind a rock. They seized him quickly, in spite of their surprise. "Who are you? Are you the dwarves' hobbit? What are you doing? How did you get so far past our sentinels?" they asked one after another. "I am Mr. Bilbo Baggins," he answered, "companion of Thorin, if you want to know. I know your king well by sight, though perhaps he doesn't know me to look at. But Bard will remember me, and it is Bard I particularly want to see." "Indeed!" said they, "and what may be your business?" "Whatever it is, it's my own, my good elves. But if you wish ever to get back to your own woods from

提着明亮的灯笼，找寻声音的来源。 “那根本不是鱼！” 一个精灵说道。 “有奸细混进来了。 快把灯藏起来！ 如果真的是传说中帮矮人做事的那个古怪小家伙，那对他们比对我们更有利。” “什么仆人！”比尔博哼了一声，哼气到一半，他猛地打了个大喷嚏，精灵们立刻朝着声音围了过来。 “快拿灯来！” 他开口道。 “我在这儿，想要抓我就过来！” 接着他摘下戒指，从岩石后面跳了出来。 他们虽然吃惊，还是很快抓住了他。 “你是谁？ 你是跟矮人一伙的霍比特人？ 你在这里做什么？ 你怎么闯过我们那么多哨兵的？” 他们一个接一个地问道。 “我是比尔博·巴金斯先生，”他回答，“要是你们想知道，我是索林的同伴。 我一眼就能认出你们国王，虽说他可能还不认识我。 不过巴德肯定记得我，我特别 想要见的就是巴德。” “原来是这样！”他们说，“那你有什么事？” “不管是什么事，都是我自己的事，好精灵们。 不过如果你们想要从这儿回到你们自己的树林

this cold cheerless place," he answered shivering, "you will take me along quick to a fire, where I can dry—and then you will let me speak to your chiefs as quick as may be. I have only an hour or two to spare." That is how it came about that some two hours after his escape from the Gate, Bilbo was sitting beside a warm fire in front of a large tent, and there sat too, gazing curiously at him, both the Elvenking and Bard. A hobbit in elvish armour, partly wrapped in an old blanket, was something new to them. "Really you know," Bilbo was saying in his best business manner, "things are impossible. Personally I am tired of the whole affair. I wish I was back in the West in my own home, where folk are more reasonable. But I have an interest in this matter— one fourteenth share, to be precise, according to a letter, which fortunately I believe I have kept." He drew from a pocket in his old jacket (which he still wore over his mail), crumpled and much folded, Thorin's letter that had been put under the clock on his mantelpiece in May! "A share in the profits, mind you," he went on. "I

这个阴冷凄凉的地方，”他冻得发抖回答道，“得快点带我去有火的地方，让我烤干身子——然后快点带我去见你们的首领。 我一共只有一两个小时可以耽搁。” 就这样，从大门逃出两个小时后，比尔博已经坐在大帐篷前温暖的火堆边了，精灵王和巴德都坐在那儿，好奇地打量着他。 一个穿着精灵盔甲、裹着旧毯子的霍比特人，对他俩来说可太新鲜了。 “实话说吧，”比尔博摆出公事公办的样子说道，“现在情况已经僵得不行了。 说真的，我早就受够这桩事了。 我真想回西边我的老家，那儿的人可比这里通情达理多了。 不过我在这件事里也有股份——准确说，是十四分之一的股份，条款都写在信里，幸好我还把信带在身上。” 他从旧夹克（他还把夹克套在锁子甲外面）的口袋里，掏出了那封皱巴巴叠了好多层的信，就是五月时索林放在他家壁炉架时钟下面的那封！ “记住哦，是分财宝的股份，”他接着说道。 “我