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！
renown weredone； the matter would scarcely have concerned later history； or earned more
than a note in the long annals of the Third Age； but for an 'accident' by theway。 The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains asthey went towards Wilderland； and so it happened that Bilbo was lost for awhile in the black orc…mines deep under the mountains； and there； as he gropedin vain in the dark； he put his hand on a ring； lying on the floor of atunnel。 He put it in his pocket。 It seemed then like mere luck。
Trying to find his way out。 Bilbo went on down to the roots of themountains； until he could go no further。 At the bottom of the tunnel lay acold lake far from the light； and on an island of rock in the water livedGollum。 He was a loathsome little creature： he paddled a small boat with hislarge flat feet； peering with pale luminous eyes and catching blind fish withhis long fingers； and eating them raw。 He ate any living thing； even orc； ifhe could catch it and strangle it without a struggle。 He possessed a secrettreasure that had e to him long ages ago； when he still lived in the light：
a ring of gold that made its wearer invisible。 It was the one thing he loved；
his 'precious'； and he talked to it； even when it was not with him。 For hekept it hidden safe in a hole on his island； except when he was hunting orspying on the ores of the mines。
Maybe he would have attacked Bilbo at once； if the ring had been on himwhen they met； but it was not； and the hobbit held in his hand an Elvishknife； which served him as a sword。 So to gain time Gollum challenged Bilbo tothe Riddle…game； saying that if he asked a riddle which Bilbo could not guess；
then he would kill him and eat him； but if Bilbo defeated him； then he woulddo as Bilbo wished： he would lead him to a way out of the tunnels。
Since he was lost in the dark without hope； and could neither go on norback。 Bilbo accepted the challenge； and they asked one another many riddles。
In the end Bilbo won the game； more by luck （as it seemed） than by wits； forhe was stumped at last for a riddle to ask； and cried out； as his hand cameupon the ring he lad picked up and forgotten： _What haw I got in my pocket？_
This Gollum failed to answer； though he demanded three guesses。
The Authorities； it is true； differ whether this last question was a mere'question' and not a 'riddle' according to the strict rules of the Game； butall agree that； after accepting it and trying to guess the answer； Gollum wasbound by his promise。 And Bilbo pressed him to keep his word； for the thoughtcame to him that this slimy creature might prove false； even though suchpromises were held sacred； and of old all but the wickedest things feared tobreak them。 But after ages alone in the dark Gollum's heart was black； andtreachery was in it。 He slipped away； and returned to the island； of whichBilbo knew nothing； not far off in the dark water。 There； he thought； lay hisring。 He was hungry now； and angry； and once his 'precious' was with him hewould not fear any weapon at all。
But the ring was not on the island； he had lost it； it was gone。 Hisscreech sent a shiver down Bilbo's back； though he did not yet understand whathad happened。 But Gollum had at last leaped to a guess； too late。 _What has itgot in its pocketses？_ he cried。 The light in his eyes was like a green flameas he sped back to murder the hobbit and recover his 'precious'。 Just in timeBilbo saw his peril； and he fled blindly up the passage away from the water；
and once more he was saved by his luck。 For just as he ran he put his hand inhis pocket； and the ring slipped quietly on to his finger。 So it was thatGollum passed him without seeing him； and went to guard the way out； lest the'thief' should escape。 Warily Bilbo followed him； as he went along； cursing；
and talking to himself about his 'precious'； from which talk at last evenBilbo guessed the truth； and hope came to him in the darkness： he himself hadfound the marvellous ring and a chance of escape from the orcs and fromGollum。
At length they came to a halt before an unseen opening that led to thelower gates of the mines； on the eastward side of the mountains。 There Gollumcrouched at bay； smelling and listening； and Bilbo was tempted to slay himwith his sword。 But pity stayed him； and though he kept the ring； in which hisonly hope lay； he would not use it to help him kill the wretched creature at a
disadvantage。 In the end； gathering his courage； he leaped over Gollum in thedark； and fled away down the passage； pursued by his enemy's cries of hate anddespair： _Thief； thief！ Baggins！ We hates it for ever！_
Now it is a curious fact that this is not the story as Bilbo first toldit to his panions。 To them his account was that Gollum had promised to givehim a _present；_ if he won the game； but when Gollum went to fetch it from hisisland he found the treasure was gone： a magic ring； which had been given tohim long ago on his birthday。 Bilbo guessed that this was the very ring thathe had found； and as he had won the game； it was already his by right。 Butbeing in a tight place； he said nothing about it； and made Gollum show him theway out； as a reward instead of a present。 This account Bilbo set down in hismemoirs； and he seems never to have altered it himself； not even after theCouncil of Elrond。 Evidently it still appeared in the original Red Book； as itdid in several of the copies and abstracts。 But many copies contain the trueaccount （as an alternative）； derived no doubt from notes by Frodo or Samwise；
both of whom learned the truth； though they seem to have been unwilling todelete anything actually written by the old hobbit himself。
Gandalf； however； disbelieved Bilbo's first story； as soon as he heardit； and he continued to be very curious about the ring。 Eventually he got thetrue tale out of Bilbo after much questioning； which for a while strainedtheir friendship； but the wizard seemed to think the truth important。 Thoughhe did not say so to Bilbo； he also thought it important； and disturbing； tofind that the good hobbit had not told the truth from the first： quitecontrary to his habit。 The idea of a 'present' was not mere hobbitlikeinvention； all the same。 It was suggested to Bilbo； as he confessed； byGollum's talk that he overheard； for Gollum did； in fact； call the ring his'birthday present'； many times。 That also Gandalf thought strange andsuspicious； but he did not discover the truth in this point for many moreyears； as will be seen in this book。
Of Bilbo's later adventures little more need be said here。 With the helpof the ring he escaped from the orc…guards at the gate and rejoined hispanions。 He used the ring many times on his quest； chiefly for the help ofhis friends； but he kept it secret from them as long as he could。 After hisreturn to his home he never spoke of it again to anyone； save Gandalf andFrodo； and no one else in the Shire knew of its existence； or so he believed。
Only to Frodo did he show the account of his Journey that he was writing。
His sword； Sting； Bilbo hung over his fireplace； and his coat ofmarvellous mail； the gift of the Dwarves from the Dragon…hoard； he lent to amuseum； to the Michel Delving Mathom…house in fact。 But he kept in a drawer atBag End the old cloak and hood that he had worn on his travels； and the ring；
secured by a fine chain； remained in his pocket。
He returned to his home at Bag End on June the 22nd in his fifty…secondyear （S。R。 1342）； and nothing very notable occurred in the Shire until Mr。
Baggins began the preparations for the celebration of his hundred…and…eleventhbirthday （S。R。 1401）。 At this point this History begins。
At the end of the Third Age the part played by the Hobbits in the greatevents that led to the inclusion of the Shire in the Reunited Kingdom awakenedamong them a more widespread interest in their own history； and many of theirtraditions； up to that time still mainly oral； were collected and Writtendown。 The greater families were also concerned with events in the Kingdom atlarge； and many of their members studied its ancient histories and legends。 Bythe end of the first century of the Fourth Age there were already to be foundin the Shire several libraries that contained many