“Ha!” thought he warming to his new work as he lifted it carefully
out, “this is a beginning!” It was! Trolls’ purses are the mischief,
and this was no exception. “ ‘Ere, ‘oo are you?” it squeaked, as it
left the pocket; and William turned round at once and grabbed Bilbo by
the neck, before he could duck behind the tree.
     “Blimey, Bert, look what I’ve copped!” said William.
     “What is it?” said the others coming up.
     “Lumme, if I knows! What are yer?”
     “Bilbo Baggins, a bur- a hobbit,” said poor Bilbo, shaking all over,
and wondering how to make owl-noises
     “A burrahobbit?” said they a bit startled. Trolls are slow in the
uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them.
     “What’s a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?” said
William.
     “And can yer cook ‘em?” said Tom.
     “Yer can try,” said Bert, picking up a skewer.
     “He wouldn’t make above a mouthful,” said William, who had already had
a fine supper, “not when he was skinned and boned.”
     “P’raps there are more like him round about, and we might make a pie,”
said Bert. “Here you, are there any more of your sort a-sneakin’ in