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stirred a whisker at it. So, naturally, he got right up to the fire for fire it was without disturb-
ing anyone. And this is what he saw.
Three very large persons sitting round a very large fire of beech-logs. They were toasting
mutton on long spits of wood, and licking the gravy off their fingers. There was a fine tooth-
some smell. Also there was a barrel of good drink at hand, and they were drinking out of jugs.
But they were trolls. Obviously trolls. Even Bilbo, in spite of his sheltered life, could see that:
from the great heavy faces of them, and their size, and the shape of their legs, not to mention
their language, which was not drawing-room fashion at all, at all.
 Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don t look like mutton again tomorrer,
said one of the trolls.
 Never a blinking bit of manflesh have we had for long enough, said a second.  What the
 ell William was a-thinkin of to bring us into these parts at all, beats me and the drink runnin
short, what s more, he said jogging the elbow of William, who was taking a pull at his jug.
William choked.  Shut yer mouth! he said as soon as he could.  Yer can t expect folk to
stop here for ever just to be et by you and Bert. You ve et a village and a half between yer,
since we come down from the mountains. How much more d yer want? And time s been up
our way, when yer d have said  thank yer Bill for a nice bit o fat valley mutton like what this
is. He took a big bite off a sheep s leg he was roasting, and wiped his lips on his sleeve.
Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each. After hear-
ing all this Bilbo ought to have done something at once. Either he should have gone back
quietly and warned his friends that there were three fair-sized trolls at hand in a nasty mood,
quite likely to try roasted dwarf, or even pony, for a change; or else he should have done a bit
of good quick burgling. A really first-class and legendary burglar would at this point have
picked the trolls pockets it is nearly always worth while, if you can manage it , pinched the
very mutton off the spits, purloined the beer, and walked off without their noticing him. Others
more practical but with less professional pride would perhaps have stuck a dagger into each
of them before they observed it. Then the night could have been spent cheerily.
Bilbo knew it. He had read of a good many things he had never seen or done. He was
very much alarmed, as well as disgusted; he wished himself a hundred miles away, and
yet and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company emptyhanded.
So he stood and hesitated in the shadows. Of the various burglarious proceedings he had
heard of picking the trolls pockets seemed the least difficult, so at last he crept behind a tree
just behind William.
Bert and Tom went off to the barrel. William was having another drink. Then Bilbo plucked
up courage and put his little hand in William s enormous pocket. There was a purse in it, as
big as a bag to Bilbo.  Ha! thought he, warming to his new work as he lifted it carefully out,
 this is a beginning!
It was! Trolls purses are the mischief, and this was no exception.   Ere,  oo are you? it
squeaked, as it left the pocket; and William turned round at once and grabbed Bilbo by the
neck, before he could duck behind the tree.
 Blimey, Bert, look what I ve copped! said William.
 What is it? said the others coming up.  Lumme, if I knows! What are yer?
 Bilbo Baggins, a bur a hobbit, said poor Bilbo, shaking all over, and wondering how to
make owl-noises before they throttled him.
 A burrahobbit? said they a bit startled. Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspi-
cious about anything new to them.
 What s a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways? said William.
 And can yer cook  em? said Tom.
 Yer can try, said Bert, picking up a skewer.
 He wouldn t make above a mouthful, said William, who had already had a fine supper,
 not when he was skinned and boned.
 P raps there are more like him round about, and we might make a pie, said Bert.  Here
you, are there any more of your sort a-sneakin in these here woods, yer nassty little rabbit,
said he looking at the hobbit s furry feet; and he picked him up by the toes and shook him.
 Yes, lots, said Bilbo, before he remembered not to give his friends away.  No none at all,
not one, he said immediately afterwards.
 What d yer mean? said Bert, holding him right way up, by the hair this time.
 What I say, said Bilbo gasping.  And please don t cook me, kind sirs! I am a good cook
myself, and cook better than I cook, if you see what I mean. I ll cook beautifully for you, a per-
fectly beautiful breakfast for you, if only you won t have me for supper.
 Poor little blighter, said William. He had already had as much supper as he could hold;
also he had had lots of beer.  Poor little blighter! Let him go!
 Not till he says what he means by lots and none at all, said Bert.  I don t want to have me
throat cut in me sleep! Hold his toes in the fire, till he talks!
 I won t have it, said William.  I caught him anyway. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]