"J.R.R. Tolkien - Farmer Giles of Ham" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

Garm heard a thump-thump coming along the riverbank,
and he ran to the west side of the low hill on which the
farmhouse stood, just to see what was happening.
Suddenly he saw the giant stride right across the river and
tread upon Galathea, the farmer's favourite cow, squashing
the poor beast as flat as the farmer could have squashed a
blackbeetle.

That was more than enough for Garm. He gave a yelp of
fright and bolted home. Quite forgetting that he was out
without leave, he came and barked and yammered
underneath his master's bedroom window. There was no answer for
a long time. Farmer Giles was not easily wakened.

`Help! help! help!' cried Garm.

The window opened suddenly and a well-aimed bottle
came flying out.

`Ow I 'said the dog, jumping aside with practised skill.
'Help! help! help!'

Out popped the farmer's head. `Drat you, dog! What be
you a-doing?' said he.

`Nothing,' said the dog.

`I'll give you nothing! I'll flay the skin off you in the
morning,' said the farmer, slamming the window.

`Help! help! help! cried the dog.

Out came Giles's head again. `I'll kill you, if you make
another sound,' he said. `What's come to you, you fool?'

`Nothing,' said the dog; `but something's come to yon.'

`What d'you mean?' said Giles, startled- in the midst of his
rage. Never before had Garm answered him saucily.

`There's a giant in your fields, an enormous giant; and he's
coming this way,' said the dog. `Help! help! He is
trampling on your sheep. He has stamped on poor
Galathea, and she's as flat as a doormat. Help l help! He's
bursting all your hedges, and he's crushing all your crops.
You must be bold and quick, master, or you will soon have
nothing left. Help!' Garm began to howl.

`Shut up! said the farmer, and he shut the window. `Lord-a-