Mostly it had been as good as May can be, even in merry tales, but now it was cold and wet. In the Lone-lands they had to camp when they could, but at least it had been dry.

“To think it will soon be June,” grumbled Bilbo as he splashed along behind the others in a very muddy track. It was after tea-time; it was pouring with rain, and had been all day; his hood was dripping into his eyes, his cloak was full of water; the pony was tired and stumbled on stones; the others were too grumpy to talk. “And I’m sure the rain has got into the dry clothes and into the food-bags,” thought Bilbo. “Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!” It was not the last time that he wished that!

 

Still the dwarves jogged on (все же гномы продолжали скакать), never turning round (никогда не оборачиваясь) or taking any notice of the hobbit (и не обращая никакого внимания на хоббита). Somewhere behind the grey clouds (где-то, за серыми тучами) the sun must have gone down (солнце, должно быть, село), for it began to get dark (так как начинало темнеть). Wind got up (поднялся ветер), and the willows along the river-bank (и ивы, /растущие/ вдоль берега реки) bent and sighed (гнулись и шелестели; to sigh — вздыхать, тосковать). I don’t know what river it was (я не знаю, что за речка это была), a rushing red one (какая-то бурная красная река; rushing — стремительный, порывистый), swollen with the rains of the last few days (вздувшаяся от дождей последних нескольких дней), that came down from the hills and mountains (которая спускалась с холмов и гор) in front of them (перед ними). Soon it was nearly dark (вскоре стало уже почти темно). The winds broke up the grey clouds (ветер разогнал серые тучи; to break (broke, broken) — ломать, разрывать), and a waning moon (и ущербная луна; to wane — убывать, быть на ущербе /о Луне/) appeared above the hills (появилась над холмами) between the flying rags (между летящими по небу клочками /облаков/).

 

jog [dZOg] notice ['nqVtIs] appear [q'pIq]

 

Still the dwarves jogged on, never turning round or taking any notice of the hobbit. Somewhere behind the grey clouds the sun must have gone down, for it began to get dark. Wind got up, and the willows along the river-bank bent and sighed. I don’t know what river it was, a rushing red one, swollen with the rains of the last few days, that came down from the hills and mountains in front of them. Soon it was nearly dark. The winds broke up the grey clouds, and a waning moon appeared above the hills between the flying rags.

 

Then they stopped (тогда они остановились), and Thorin muttered something about supper (и Торин пробормотал что-то об ужине), “and where shall we get a dry patch to sleep on (и где бы нам достать сухой клочок /земли/ на котором поспать)?” Not until then (и только тогда: «не до тех пор») did they notice (они обратили внимание) that Gandalf was missing (что Гэндальфа с ними не было; to miss — зд. недоставать, отсутствовать). So far (до этого) he had come all the way with them (он проехал весь путь вместе с ними), never saying (не говоря) if he was in the adventure (был ли он /вместе с ними/ в этом приключении) or merely keeping them company for a while (или просто составлял им компанию на некоторое время). He had eaten most (он ел больше всех), talked most (разговаривал больше всех), and laughed most (и смеялся больше всех). But now he simply was not there at all (но теперь его попросту не было, совсем)!

“Just when (как раз в тот момент, когда) a wizard would have been most useful (волшебник был бы как нельзя кстати; useful — полезный, пригодный), too (к тому же),” groaned Dori and Nori (простонали Дори и Нори) (who shared the hobbit’s views about regular meals (которые разделяли взгляды хоббита на регулярные приемы пищи), plenty and often (обильные и частые)). They decided in the end (они решили наконец) that they would have to camp (что им придется разбить лагерь) where they were (там, где они /как раз/ находились).

 

laugh [lQ:f] useful ['ju:sf(q)l] shared [Seqd] regular ['regjVlq]

 

Then they stopped, and Thorin muttered something about supper, “and where shall we get a dry patch to sleep on?” Not until then did they notice that Gandalf was missing. So far he had come all the way with them, never saying if he was in the adventure or merely keeping them company for a while. He had eaten most, talked most, and laughed most. But now he simply was not there at all!

“Just when a wizard would have been most useful, too,” groaned Dori and Nori (who shared the hobbit’s views about regular meals, plenty and often). They decided in the end that they would have to camp where they were.

 

So far (до сих пор) they had not camped before on this journey (они еще не разбивали лагеря в этом путешествии), and though they knew (и, хотя они и знали) that they soon would have to camp regularly (что скоро им придется разбивать лагерь регулярно), when they were among the Misty Mountains (когда они окажутся в Мглистых Горах) and far from the lands of respectable people (и далеко от земель порядочных людей), it seemed a bad wet evening to begin on (этот вечер казался плохим и сырым для начала /устройства лагеря/). They moved to a clump of trees (они подвинулись к рощице /деревьев/; clump — заросли; слипшаяся масса; глыба, ком), and though it was drier under them (и хотя под ними было суше), the wind shook the rain off the leaves (ветер стряхивал /капли/ дождя с листьев), and the drip, drip, was most annoying (и шум падающих капель: «кап-кап» был очень раздражающим; to annoy — досаждать; докучать, надоедать, раздражать). Also the mischief seemed to have got into the fire (также казалось, что какая-то беда случилась с огнем; mischief — вред, зло; озорство). Dwarves can make a fire almost anywhere (гномы могут развести огонь почти что везде) out of almost anything (почти что из всего), wind or no wind (/не зависимо от того/ дует ветер или нет); but they could not do it that night (но они не могли развести его той ночью), not even Oin and Gloin (даже Ойн и Глойн не могли), who were specially good at it (которые были особенно хороши по этой части: «в этом»).

Then one of the ponies (затем один из пони) took fright at nothing (испугался неизвестно чего) and bolted (и понес). He got into the river (он ускакал прямо в реку) before they could catch him (до того, как они смогли поймать его); and before they could get him out again (и до того, как они снова смогли его оттуда вытащить), Fili and Kili were nearly drowned (Фили и Кили чуть не утонули), and all the baggage that he carried (и вся поклажа, которую он /пони/ вез) was washed away off him (была смыта с него /рекой/). Of course it was mostly food (конечно же это была по большей части провизия), and there was mighty little left for supper (и в результате чрезвычайно мало /еды/ осталось на ужин), and less for breakfast (и еще меньше на завтрак).

 

journey ['dZq:nI] mischief ['mIstSIf] fright [fraIt]

 

So far they had not camped before on this journey, and though they knew that they soon would have to camp regularly, when they were among the Misty Mountains and far from the lands of respectable people, it seemed a bad wet evening to begin, on. They moved to a clump of trees, and though it was drier under them, the wind shook the rain off the leaves, and the drip, drip, was most annoying. Also the mischief seemed to have got into the fire. Dwarves can make a fire almost anywhere out of almost anything, wind or no wind; but they could not do it that night, not even Oin and Gloin, who were specially good at it.

Then one of the ponies took fright at nothing and bolted. He got into the river before they could catch him; and before they could get him out again, Fili and Kili were nearly drowned, and all the baggage that he carried was washed away off him. Of course it was mostly food, and there was mighty little left for supper, and less for breakfast.

 

There they all sat glum and wet and muttering (и вот, все они сидели мрачные и мокрые и ворчащие), while Oin and Gloin went on trying to light the fire (пока Ойн и Глойн продолжали пытаться развести огонь), and quarrelling about it (и ссорились из-за этого). Bilbo was sadly reflecting (Бильбо печально размышлял) that adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine (что приключения — это не только скачки на пони в солнечном свете мая), when Balin (когда Балин), who was always their look-out man (который всегда был их впередсмотрящим; look-out — бдительность, наблюдение), said: “There’s a light over there (там свет)!” There was a hill some way off (на некотором расстоянии был холм) with trees on it (покрытый деревьями: «с деревьями на нем»), pretty thick in parts (местами довольно густо; part — часть). Out of the dark mass of the trees (среди темной массы деревьев) they could now see a light shining (теперь они смогли увидеть светящийся огонек), a reddish comfortable-looking light (красноватый, выглядящий уютно огонек), as it might be a fire or torches twinkling (это мог бы быть костер или мерцающие факелы). When they had looked at it for some while (когда они посмотрели на него некоторое время), they fell to arguing (они начали спорить; to fall (fell, fallen) to doing smth. — браться, приниматься за что-либо). Some said “no” (некоторые сказали "нет") and some said “yes” (и некоторые сказали "да") Some said they could but go and see (некоторые говорили, что они могли бы, во всяком случае, пойти и посмотреть), and anything was better than little supper (и что все что угодно было лучше, чем скудный ужин; little-less-the least — мало — меньший — наименьший), less breakfast (еще более скудный завтрак), and wet clothes all the night (и сырая одежда на всю ночь). Others said (другие сказали): “These parts are none too well known (эти края не очень-то хорошо известны), and are too near the mountains (и слишком уж близки к горам). Travellers seldom come this way now (путешественники теперь редко пользуются: «ездят по» этим путем). The old maps are no use (старые карты бесполезны): things have changed for the worse (все изменилось к худшему) and the road is unguarded (да и дорога не охраняется). They have seldom even heard of the king (они вряд ли даже слышали о короле; seldom — редко, нечасто) round here (в этой округе), and the less inquisitive you are (и чем меньше ты любопытствуешь) as you go along (когда ты в пути), the less trouble you are likely to find (тем меньше у тебя вероятность встретиться с проблемами; trouble — беспокойство, волнение, тревога; источник неприятностей).”

 

quarrelling ['kwOrqlIN] look-out ['lVkaVt] reddish ['redIS] torch [tO:tS] unguarded [An'gQ:dId]

 

There they all sat glum and wet and muttering, while Oin and Gloin went on trying to light the fire, and quarrelling about it. Bilbo was sadly reflecting that adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine, when Balin, who was always their look-out man, said: “There’s a light over there!” There was a hill some way off with trees on it, pretty thick in parts. Out of the dark mass of the trees they could now see a light shining, a reddish comfortable-looking light, as it might be a fire or torches twinkling. When they had looked at it for some while, they fell to arguing. Some said “no” and some said “yes.” Some said they could but go and see, and anything was better than little supper, less breakfast, and wet clothes all the night. Others said: “These parts are none too well known, and are too near the mountains. Travellers seldom come this way now. The old maps are no use: things have changed for the worse and the road is unguarded. They have seldom even heard of the king round here, and the less inquisitive you are as you go along, the less trouble you are likely to find.”

 

Some said (кто-то сказал):

“After all there are fourteen of us (в конце-то концов, нас же четырнадцать).” Others said (другие говорили): “Where has Gandalf got to (куда это подевался Гэндальф)?” This remark was repeated by everybody (это замечание было повторено каждым). Then the rain began to pour down (затем дождь начал лить) worse than ever (еще хуже, чем когда бы то ни было), and Oin and Gloin began to fight (и Ойн с Глойном начали драться). That settled it (это и решило дело; to settle — поселиться; привести в порядок; урегулировать, разрешить /спор, конфликт/). “After all we have got a burglar with us (в конце-то концов, с нами же взломщик),” they said (сказали они); and so they made off (и тогда они отправились), leading their ponies (ведя своих пони) (with all due and proper caution (со всеми должными и надлежащими предосторожностями)) in the direction of the light (в направлении огонька). They came to the hill (они подошли к холму) and were soon in the wood (и скоро оказались в лесу). Up the hill they went (они пошли вверх по холму); but there was no proper path to be seen (но никакой приличной тропинки видно не было), such as might lead to a house or a farm (такой, какая бы могла вести к дому или к ферме); and do what they could (и делая все возможное/что бы они ни делали /чтобы идти тихо/: «все что они могли») they made a deal of rustling (они сотворили много шорохов) and crackling (треска) and creaking (и скрипов) (and a good deal of grumbling and drafting (а также огромное количество ворчания и приказаний /друг другу/)), as they went through the trees (пока они шли сквозь деревья) in the pitch dark (в кромешной тьме; pitch — зд. смола, битум).

 

repeat [rI'pi:t] caution ['kO:S(q)n] rustle [rAs(q)l] creaking ['kri:kIN]

 

Some said:

“After all there are fourteen of us.” Others said: “Where has Gandalf got to?” This remark was repeated by everybody. Then the rain began to pour down worse than ever, and Oin and Gloin began to fight. That settled it. “After all we have got a burglar with us,” they said; and so they made off, leading their ponies (with all due and proper caution) in the direction of the light. They came to the hill and were soon in the wood. Up the hill they went; but there was no proper path to be seen, such as might lead to a house or a farm; and do what they could they made a deal of rustling and crackling and creaking (and a good deal of grumbling and drafting), as they went through the trees in the pitch dark.

 

Suddenly the red light shone out very bright (внезапно красный огонек засветил очень ярко) through the tree-trunks (сквозь стволы деревьев) not far ahead (недалеко впереди).

“Now it is the burglar’s turn (теперь пришла очередь взломщика; turn — поворот, оборот, смена),” they said (сказали они), meaning Bilbo (имея в виду Бильбо). “You must go on (вы должны пойти дальше) and find out all about that light (и выяснить все об этом огоньке), and what it is for (и для чего он), and if all is perfectly safe and canny (и все ли там безопасно и спокойно/уютно),” said Thorin to the hobbit (сказал Торин хоббиту). “Now scuttle off (ну же, поспешите), and come back quick (и возвращайтесь поскорей), if all is well (если все в порядке). If not, come back if you can (если же нет, то возвращайтесь, если сможете)! It you can’t (если не сможете), hoot twice like a barn-owl (то ухните два раза, как сипуха; owl — сова, сыч, филин; barn — амбар, скотный двор) and once like a screech-owl (и один раз, как ушастая сова; screech — хриплый, визгливый), and we will do what we can (и мы сделаем все, что сможем).”

 

through [Tru:] scuttle ['skAtl] barn-owl ['bQ:naVl] screech owl ['skri:tSaVl]