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you are safer going north, even though you seem to be going back nearer
to their strongholds; for that is what they will least expect, and they will
have the longer ride to catch you. Be off now as quick as you may!
That is why they were now riding in silence, galloping wherever the
ground was grassy and smooth, with the mountains dark on their left,
and in the distance the line of the river with its trees drawing ever closer.
The sun had only just turned west when they started, and till evening it
lay golden on the land about them. It was difficult to think of pursuing
goblins behind, and when they had put many miles between them and
Beorn s house they began to talk and to sing again and to forget the dark
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forest-path that lay in front. But in the evening when the dusk came on
and the peaks of the mountains glowered against the sunset they made a
camp and set a guard, and most of them slept uneasily with dreams in
which there came the howl of hunting wolves and the cries of goblins.
Still the next morning dawned bright and fair again.
There was an autumn-like mist white upon the ground and the air
was chill, but soon the sun rose red in the East and the mists vanished,
and while the shadows were still long they were off again. So they rode
now for two more days, and all the while they saw nothing save grass and
flowers and birds and scattered trees, and occasionally small herds of red
deer browsing or sitting at noon in the shade. Sometimes Bilbo saw the
horns of the harts sticking up out of the long grass, and at first he thought
they were the dead branches of trees. That third evening they were so
eager to press on, for Beorn had said that they should reach the forest-
gate early on the fourth day, that they rode still forward after dusk and
into the night beneath the moon. As the light faded Bilbo thought he saw
away to the right, or to the left, the shadowy form of a great bear prowling
along in the same direction. But if he dared to mention it to Gandalf, the
wizard only said:  Hush! Take no notice!
Next day they started before dawn, though their night had been
short. As soon as it was light they could see the forest coming as it were
to meet them, or waiting for them like a black and frowning wall before
them. The land began to slope up and up, and it seemed to the hobbit
that a silence began to draw in upon them. Birds began to sing less.
There were no more deer; not even rabbits were to be seen. By the
afternoon they had reached the eaves of Mirkwood, and were resting
almost beneath the great overhanging boughs of its outer trees. Their
trunks were huge and gnarled, their branches twisted, their leaves were
dark and long. Ivy grew on them and trailed along the ground.
 Well, here is Mirkwood! said Gandalf.  The greatest of the forests
of the Northern world. I hope you like the look of it. Now you must send
back these excellent ponies you have borrowed.
The dwarves were inclined to grumble at this, but the wizard told
them they were fools.  Beorn is not as far off as you seem to think, and
you had better keep your promises anyway, for he is a bad enemy. Mr.
Baggins eyes are sharper than yours, if you have not seen each night
after dark a great bear going along with us or sitting far of in the moon
watching our camps. Not only to guard you and guide you, but to keep an
eye on the ponies too. Beorn may be your friend, but he loves his animals
as his children. You do not guess what kindness he has shown you in
letting dwarves ride them so far and so fast, nor what would happen to
you, if you tried to take them into the forest.
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 What about the horse, then? said Thorin.  You don t mention
sending that back.
 I don t, because I am not sending it.
 What about your promise then?
 I will look after that. I am not sending the horse back, I am riding it!
Then they knew that Gandalf was going to leave them at the very
edge of Mirkwood, and they were in despair. But nothing they could say
would change his mind.
 Now we had this all out before, when we landed on the Carrock,
he said.  It is no use arguing. I have, as I told you, some pressing business
away south; and I am already late through bothering with you people. We
may meet again before all is over, and then again of course we may not.
That depends on your luck and on your courage and sense; and I am
sending Mr. Baggins with you. I have told you before that he has more
about him than you guess, and you will find that out before long. So
cheer up Bilbo and don t look so glum. Cheer up Thorin and Company!
This is your expedition after all. Think of the treasure at the end, and
forget the forest and the dragon, at any rate until tomorrow morning!
When tomorrow morning came he still said the same.
So now there was nothing left to do but to fill their water-skins at a
clear spring they found close to the forest-gate, and unpack the ponies.
They distributed the packages as fairly as they could, though Bilbo thought
his lot was wearisomely heavy, and did not at all like the idea of trudging
for miles and miles with all that on his back.
 Don t you worry! said Thorin.  It will get lighter all too soon.
Before long I expect we shall all wish our packs heavier, when the food
begins to run short.
Then at last they said good-bye to their ponies and turned their
heads for home. Off they trotted gaily, seeming very glad to put their tails
towards the shadow of Mirkwood. As they went away Bilbo could have
sworn that a thing like a bear left the shadow of the trees and shambled
off quickly after them.
Now Gandalf too said farewell. Bilbo sat on the ground feeling very
unhappy and wishing he was beside the wizard on his tall horse. He had
gone just inside the forest after breakfast (a very poor one), and it had
seemed as dark in there in the morning as at night, and very secret:  a
sort of watching and waiting feeling, he said to himself.
 Good-bye! said Gandalf to Thorin.  And good-bye to you all, good-
bye! Straight through the forest is your way now. Don t stray off the track!-
if you do, it is a thousand to one you will never find it again and never get
out of Mirkwood; and then I don t suppose I, or any one else, will ever
see you again.
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 Do we really have to go through? groaned the hobbit.
 Yes, you do! said the wizard,  if you want to get to the other side.
You must either go through or give up your quest. And I am not going to
allow you to back out now, Mr. Baggins. I am ashamed of you for thinking
of it. You have got to look after all these dwarves for me, he laughed.
 No! no! said Bilbo.  I didn t mean that. I meant, is there no way
round?
 There is, if you care to go two hundred miles or so out of your way
north, and twice that south. But you wouldn t get a safe path even then.
There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over
the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.
Before you could get round Mirkwood in the North you would be right
among the slopes of the Grey Mountains, and they are simply stiff with
goblins, hobgoblins, and rest of the worst description. Before you could
get round it in the South, you would get into the land of the Necromancer;
and even you. Bilbo, won t need me to tell you tales of that black sorcerer.
I don t advise you to go anywhere near the places overlooked by his dark
tower! Stick to the forest-track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best,
and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see
the Long Marshes lying below you, and beyond them, high in the East, the
Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he is not
expecting you.
 Very comforting you are to be sure, growled Thorin.  Good-bye!
If you won t come with us, you had better get off without any more talk!
 Good-bye then, and really good-bye! said Gandalf, and he turned
his horse and rode down into the West. But he could not resist the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]