Utterly miserable as Gollum sounded, Bilbo could not find much pity in his heart, and he had a feeling that anything Gollum wanted so much could hardly be something good.

Come along!” he shouted.

“No, not yet, precious!” Gollum answered. “We must search for it, it’s lost, gollum. ”

“But you never guessed my last question, and you promised, ” said Bilbo. “Never guessed!” said Gollum. Then suddenly out of the gloom came a sharp hiss. “What has it got in its pocketses? Tell us that. It must tell first. ”

As far as Bilbo knew, there was no particular reason why he should not tell. Gollum’s mind had jumped to a guess quicker than his; naturally, for Gollum had brooded for ages on this one thing, and he was always afraid of its being stolen. But Bilbo was annoyed at the delay. After all, he had won the game, pretty fairly, at a horrible risk.

Answers were to be guessed not given, ” he said.

“But it wasn’t a fair question (но это был не честный вопрос), ” said Gollum. “Not a riddle, precious, no (не загадка, драгоценный, нет). ”

“Oh well (ну хорошо), if it’s a matter of ordinary questions (если дело в обычных вопросах), ” Bilbo replied (ответил Бильбо), “then I asked one first (тогда я первый задал тебе один). What have you lost (что ты потерял)? Tell me that (скажи мне это)!”

“What has it got in its pocketses (что же у него в его кармашках)?” The sound came hissing louder and sharper (звук шипел все громче и резче), and as he looked towards it (и когда он взглянул в его направлении), to his alarm (к своей тревоге) Bilbo now saw two small points of light (Бильбо теперь увидел две маленькие точки света) peering at him (уставившихся на него). As suspicion grew in Gollum’s mind (по мере того, как подозрение назревало: «росло» в уму Голлума), the light of his eyes burned with a pale flame (свет его глаз горел бледным пламенем).

“What have you lost (что ты потерял)?” Bilbo persisted (настаивал Бильбо). But now the light in Gollum’s eyes had become a green fire (но теперь, свет в глазах Голлума стал уже зеленым огнем), and it was coming swiftly nearer (и он быстро приближался). Gollum was in his boat again (Голлум снова был в своей лодке), paddling wildly back to the dark shore (гребя дико назад к темному берегу); and such a rage of loss and suspicion was in his heart (и такая ярость потери и подозрения была в его сердце) that no sword had any more terror for him (что никакой меч уже не был таким уже ужасным для него: «не имел ужаса для него»). Bilbo could not guess (Бильбо не мог предположить) what had maddened the wretched creature (что же довело до бешенства это несчастное существо), but he saw that all was up (но он понял: «увидел», что все было кончено), and that Gollum meant to murder him (и что Голлум намеревается убить его) at any rate (в любом случае). Just in time he turned (как раз во время он повернулся) and ran blindly back (и побежал вслепую назад; to run) up the dark passage (вверх по темному проходу) down which he had come (вниз по которому он пришел сюда), keeping close to the wall (держась близко к стене) and feeling it with his left hand (и держался: «трогая» за нее своей левой рукой).

“What has it got in its pocketses (что же у него в кармашках)?” he heard the hiss loud behind him (слышал он громкое шипение за своей спиной), and the splash as Gollum leapt from his boat (и всплеск, когда Голлум выпрыгнул со своей лодки).

suspicion [sǝˈspɪl (ǝ) n] grew [ɡru: ] persist [pǝˈsɪst]

“But it wasn’t a fair question, ” said Gollum. “Not a riddle, precious, no. ” “Oh well, if it’s a matter of ordinary questions, ” Bilbo replied, “then I asked one first. What have you lost? Tell me that!”

What has it got in its pocketses?” The sound came hissing louder and sharper, and as he looked towards it, to his alarm Bilbo now saw two small points of light peering at him. As suspicion grew in Gollum’s mind, the light of his eyes burned with a pale flame.

What have you lost?” Bilbo persisted. But now the light in Gollum’s eyes had become a green fire, and it was coming swiftly nearer. Gollum was in his boat again, paddling wildly back to the dark shore; and such a rage of loss and suspicion was in his heart that no sword had any more terror for him. Bilbo could not guess what had maddened the wretched creature, but he saw that all was up, and that Gollum meant to murder him at any rate. Just in time he turned and ran blindly back up the dark passage down which he had come, keeping close to the wall and feeling it with his left hand. “What has it got in its pocketses?” he heard the hiss loud behind him, and the splash as Gollum leapt from his boat.

“What have I (что же у меня есть), I wonder (интересно)?” he said to himself (сказал он сам себе), as he panted and stumbled along (пока он пыхтел и спотыкался по пути). He put his left hand in his pocket (он засунул свою левую руку в свой карман). The ring felt very cold (кольцо было: «чувствовалось» очень холодным) as it quietly slipped on to his groping forefinger (когда оно спокойно наделось на его ощупывающий указательный палец).

The hiss was close behind him (шипение было уже совсем близко за его спиной). He turned now (он теперь обернулся) and saw Gollum’s eyes like small green lamps (и увидел, как глаза Голлума, словно маленькие зеленые лампы) coming up the slope (поднимаются вверх по склону). Terrified he tried to run faster (ужаснувшись, он попытался бежать быстрее), but suddenly he struck his toes on a snag in the floor (но внезапно он застрял своими пальцами ног в какой-то дыре на полу; snag — коряга, выступ), and fell flat (у упал плашмя) with his little sword under him (и его маленький меч оказался под ним).

In a moment Gollum was on him (в момент Голлум бросился на него). But before Bilbo could do anything (но до того, как Бильбо смог сделать хоть что-нибудь), recover his breath (восстановить свое дыхание), pick himself up (подняться), or wave his sword (или взмахнуть своим мечом), Gollum passed by (Голлум пронесся мимо), taking no notice of him (не обратив на него никакого внимания), cursing and whispering as he ran (ругаясь и шепча /что-то/ на бегу: «пока он бежал»). What could it mean (что бы это могло значить)? Gollum could see in the dark (Голлум мог видеть в темноте). Bilbo could see the light of his eyes (Бильбо мог видеть свет его глаз) palely shining even from behind (бледно светящихся, даже сзади). Painfully he got up (болезненно он поднялся), and sheathed his sword (и вложил в ножны свой меч), which was now glowing faintly again (который теперь снова слегка светился), then very cautiously he followed (затем, очень осторожно, он последовал /за Голлумом/). There seemed nothing else to do (казалось, что больше ничего не оставалось делать). It was no good (было бесполезно) crawling back down to Gollum’s water (ползти назад, к воде Голлума). Perhaps if he followed him (возможно, если он последует за ним), Gollum might lead him to some way of escape (Голлум сможет вывести его к какому-либо пути к выходу; escape — бегство, побег) without meaning to (не намереваясь сделать это).

wonder [ˈwʌndǝ] forefinger [ˈfɔ: fɪŋɡǝ] terrify [ˈterɪfaɪ] sheathe [ʃi: ð]

What have I, I wonder?” he said to himself, as he panted and stumbled along. He put his left hand in his pocket. The ring felt very cold as it quietly slipped on to his groping forefinger.

The hiss was close behind him. He turned now and saw Gollum’s eyes like small green lamps coming up the slope. Terrified he tried to run faster, but suddenly he struck his toes on a snag in the floor, and fell flat with his little sword under him.

In a moment Gollum was on him. But before Bilbo could do anything, recover his breath, pick himself up, or wave his sword, Gollum passed by, taking no notice of him, cursing and whispering as he ran. What could it mean? Gollum could see in the dark. Bilbo could see the light of his eyes palely shining even from behind. Painfully he got up, and sheathed his sword, which was now glowing faintly again, then very cautiously he followed. There seemed nothing else to do. It was no good crawling back down to Gollum’s water. Perhaps if he followed him, Gollum might lead him to some way of escape without meaning to.

“Curse it (будь он проклят)! curse it! curse it!” hissed Gollum (шипел Голлум). “Curse the Baggins (черт побери этого Бэггинса)! It’s gone (он ушел)! What has it got in its pocketses (что у него было в его кармашках)? Oh we guess, we guess, my precious (о, мы догадываемся, догадываемся, мой драгоценный). He’s found it (он нашел его), yes he must have (да, он должно быть /нашел/). My birthday-present (мой подарок ко дню рождения). ” Bilbo pricked up his ears (Бильбо навострил уши). He was at last beginning to guess himself (он, наконец, начал догадываться и сам). He hurried a little (он слегка поспешил), getting as close as he dared behind Gollum (подбираясь так близко к Голлуму, как он мог осмелиться), who was still going quickly (который все еще двигался быстро), not looking back (не оглядываясь), but turning his head from side to side (но поворачивая свою голову из стороны в сторону), as Bilbo could see from the faint glimmer on the walls (как Бильбо мог видеть по слабым отблескам на стенах).

“My birthday-present (мой подарок ко дню рождения)! Curse it (черт побери)! How did we lose it, my precious (как же мы потеряли его, мой драгоценный)? Yes, that’s it (да, так оно и есть). When we came this way last (когда мы шли по этому пути в последний раз), when we twisted that nassty young squeaker (когда мы выкручивали того мерзкого молодого визгуна). That’s it (точно). Curse it (черт побери: «прокляни это = проклятье этому»)! It slipped from us (оно с нас соскользнуло), after all these ages and ages (после всех этих долгих лет)! It’s gone, gollum (оно пропало, голлум). ”

Suddenly Gollum sat down and began to weep (внезапно Голлум сел и начал плакать), a whistling and gurgling sound (/издавая/ свистящий и булькающий звук) horrible to listen to (который ужасно было слушать). Bilbo halted (Бильбо остановился) and flattened himself against the tunnel-wall (и распластался по стене туннеля; against — против, напротив, у; flat — плоский). After a while Gollum stopped weeping (спустя какое-то время Голлум перестал плакать) and began to talk (и начал говорить). He seemed to be having an argument with himself (он, как казалось, спорил/обсудал что-то сам с собой; argument — довод, аргумент; дискуссия, обсуждение, прения, спор).

“It’s no good going back there to search, no (нет смысла возвращаться назад чтобы искать, нет). We doesn’t remember (мы не помним; doesn’t = don’t) all the places we’ve visited (все места, где мы были: «которые мы посетили»). And it’s no use (и это бесполезно). The Baggins has got it in its pocketses (оно было в кармашках у этого Бэггинса); the nassty noser has found it, we says (этот противный человечек, сующий всюду свой нос, нашел его, вот что мы скажем). ”

curse [kǝ: s] ear [ɪǝ] gurgling [ˈɡǝ: ɡlɪŋ]

“Curse it! curse it! curse it!” hissed Gollum. “Curse the Baggins! It’s gone! What has it got in its pocketses? Oh we guess, we guess, my precious. He’s found it, yes he must have. My birthday-present. ”

Bilbo pricked up his ears. He was at last beginning to guess himself. He hurried a little, getting as close as he dared behind Gollum, who was still going quickly, not looking back, but turning his head from side to side, as