按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lay dark and silent before them and ever higher above them。 They made their first camp on the western side of the great southern spur； which ended in a height called Ravenhill。 On this there had been an old watch…post； but they dared not climb it yet； it was too exposed。 Before setting out to search the western spurs of the Mountain for the hidden door； on which all their hopes rested； Thorin sent out a scouting expedition to spy out the land to the South where the Front Gate stood。 For this purpose he chose Balin and Fili and Kili； and with them went Bilbo。 They marched under the grey and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill。 There the river； after winding a wide loop over the valley of Dale； turned from the Mountain on its road to the Lake； flowing swift and noisily。 Its bank was bare and rocky； tall and steep above the stream； and gazing out from it over the narrow water； foaming and splashing among many boulders； they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain's arms the grey ruins of ancient houses； towers； and walls。
〃There lies all that is left of Dale；〃 said Balin。 〃The mountain's sides were green with woods and all the sheltered valley rich and pleasant in the days when the bells rang in that town。〃 He looked both sad and grim as he said this： he had been one of Thorin's panions on the day the Dragon came。 They did not dare to follow the river much further to。 wards the Gate； but they went on beyond the end of the southern spur； until lying hidden behind a rock they could look out and see the dark cavernous opening in a great cliff…wall between the arms of the Mountain。 Out of it the waters of the Running River sprang； and out of it too there came a steam and a dark smoke。 Nothing moved in the waste； save the vapour and the water； and every now and again a black and ominous crow。 The only sound was the sound of the stony water； and every now and again the harsh croak of a bird。 Balin shuddered。 〃Let us return！〃 he said。 〃We can do no good here！… And I don't like these dark birds； they look like spies of evil。〃
〃The dragon is still alive and in the halls under the Mountain then…or I imagine so from the smoke；〃 said the hobbit。
〃That does not prove it；〃 said Balin； 〃though I don't doubt you are right。 But he might be gone away some time； or he might be lying out on the mountain…side keeping watch； and still I expect smokes and steams would e out of the gates： all the halls within must be filled with his foul reek。〃 With such gloomy thoughts； followed ever by croaking crows above them； they made their weary way back to the camp。 Only in June they had been guests in the fair house of Elrond； and though autumn was now crawling towards winter that pleasant time now seemed years ago。 They were alone in the perilous waste without hope of further help。 They were at the end of their journey； but as far as ever； it seemed； from the end of their quest。 None of them had much spirit left。
Now strange to say Mr。 Baggins had more than the others。 He would often borrow Thorin's map and gaze at it； pondering over the runes and the message of the moon…letters Elrond had read。 It was he that made the dwarves begin the dangerous search on the western slopes for the secret door。 They moved their camp then to a long valley； narrower than the great dale in the South where the Gates of the river stood； and walled with lower spurs of the Mountain。 Two of these here thrust forward west from the main mass in long steep…sided ridges that fell ever downwards towards the plain。 On this western side there were fewer signs of the dragon's marauding feet； and there was some grass for their ponies。 From this western camp； shadowed all day by cliff and wall until the sun began to sink towards the forest； day by day they toiled in parties searching for paths up the mountain…side。 If the map was true； somewhere high above the cliff at the valley's head must stand the secret door。 Day by day they came back to their camp without success。
But at last unexpectedly they found what they were seeking。 Fili and Kili and the hobbit went back one day down the valley and scrambled among the tumbled rocks at its southern corner。 About midday； creeping behind a great stone that stood alone like a pillar； Bilbo came on what looked like rough steps going upwards。 Following these excitedly he and the dwarves found traces of a narrow track； often lost； often rediscovered； that wandered on to the top of the southern ridge and brought them at last to a still narrower ledge； which turned north across the face of the Mountain。 Looking down they saw that they were at the top of the cliff at the valley's head and were gazing down on to their own camp below。 Silently； clinging to the rocky wall on their right； they went in single file along the ledge； till the wall opened and they turned into a little steep…walled bay； grassy…floored； still and quiet。 Its entrance which they had found could not be seen from below because of the overhang of the cliff； nor from further off because it was so small that it looked like a dark crack and no more。 It was not a cave and was open to the sky above； but at its inner end a flat wall rose up that in the lower I part； close to the ground； was as smooth and upright as mason's work； but without a joint or crevice to be seen。
〃No sign was there of post or lintel or threshold； nor any sign of bar or bolt or key…hole； yet they did not doubt that they had found the door at last。 They beat on it； they thrust and pushed at it； they implored it to move； they spoke fragments of broken spells of opening； and nothing stirred。 At last tired out they。 rested on the grass at its feet； and then at evening began； their long climb down。
There was excitement in the camp that night。 In the morning they prepared to move once more。 Only Bofur and Bombur were left behind to guard the ponies and such stores as they had brought with them from the river。 The others went down the valley and up the newly found path； and so to the narrow ledge。 Along this they could carry no bundles or packs； so narrow and breathless was it； with a fall of a hundred and fifty feet beside them on to sharp rocks below； but each of them took a good coil of rope wound tight about his waist； and so at last without mishap they reached the little grassy bay。 There they made their third camp； hauling up what they needed from below with their ropes。 Down the same way they were able occasionally to lower one of the more active dwarves； such as Kili； to exchange such news as there was； or to take a share in the guard below； while Bofur was hauled up to the higher camp。 Bombur would not e up either the rope or the path。 〃I am too fat for such fly…walks；〃 he said。 〃I should turn dizzy and tread on my beard； and then you would be thirteen again。 And the knotted ropes are too slender for my weight。〃 Luckily for him that was not true； as you will see。
In the meanwhile some of them explored the ledge beyond the opening and found a path that led higher and higher on to the mountain； but they did not dare to venture very far that way； nor was there much use in it。 Out up there a silence reigned； broken by no bird or sound except that of the wind in the crannies of stone。 They spoke low and never called or sang； for danger brooded in every rock。
The others who were busy with the secret of the door had no more success。
They were too eager to trouble about the runes or the moon…letters； but tried without resting to discover where exactly in the smooth face of the rock the door was hidden。 They had brought picks and tools of many sorts from Lake…town； and at first they tried to use these。 But when they struck the stone the handles splintered and jarred their arms cruelly； and the steel heads broke or bent like lead。 Mining work； they saw clearly was no good against the magic that had shut this door； and they grew terrified； too； of the echoing noise。 Bilbo found sitting on the doorstep lonesome and wearisome…there was not a doorstep； of course； really； but they used to call the little grassy space between the wall and the opening the 〃doorstep〃 in fun； remembering Bilbo's words long ago at the unexpected party in his hobbit…hole； when he said they could sit on the doorstep till they thought of something。 And sit and think they did； or wandered aimlessly about； and glummer and glummer they became。 Their spirits had risen a little at the discovery of the path； but now they sank into their boots； and yet they would not give it up and go away。 The hobbit was no longer much brighter than the dwarves。 He would do nothing but sit with his back to the rock…face and stare away west through the opening； over the cliff； over the wide lands to the black wall of Mirkwood； and to the distances beyond； in which he sometimes thought he could catch glimpses of the Misty Mountains small and far。 If the dwarves asked him what he was doing he answered：
〃You said sitting on the doorstep and thinking would be my job； not to mention getting inside； so I am sitting and thinking。〃 But I am afraid he was not thinking much of the job； but of what lay beyond the blue distance； the quiet Western Land and the Hill and his hobbit…hole under it。 A large grey stone lay in the centre of the grass and