THEHOBBIT

OR

THEREANDBACKAGAIN

BY

J.R.R.TOLKIEN

HoughtonMifflinHarcourt

Contents

TitlePage

Images,IllustrationsandAudio

Foreword

NoteontheText

ChapterI-AnUnexpectedParty

J.R.R.Tolkiensings'Chiptheglassesandcracktheplates!'

J.R.R.Tolkienreads'FarovertheMistyMountainscold'

ChapterII-RoastMutton

J.R.R.Tolkienreadsfrom'RoastMutton'

ChapterIII-AShortRest

ChapterIV-OverHillandunderHill

ChapterV-RiddlesintheDark

J.R.R.Tolkienreadsfrom'RiddlesintheDark'

ChapterVI-OutoftheFrying-PanintotheFire

ChapterVII-QueerLodgings

ChapterVIII-FliesandSpiders

ChapterIX-BarrelsOutofBond

ChapterX-AWarmWelcome

ChapterXI-OntheDoorstep

ChapterXII-InsideInformation

ChapterXIII-NotatHome

ChapterXIV-FireandWater

ChapterXV-TheGatheringoftheClouds

ChapterXVI-AThiefintheNight

ChapterXVII-TheCloudsBurst

ChapterXVIII-TheReturnJourney

ChapterXIX-TheLastStage

SamplefromLordoftheRings

WorksbyJ.R.R.Tolkien

AbouttheAuthor

Copyright

Images,IllustrationsandAudio

MapofWilderlandImageoftheOriginalManuscriptImageoftheOriginalManuscriptTheGateoftheElvenking'sHallsNargothrondMirkwoodTheoriginalHobbitjacketTheLonelyMountainSmaugfliesroundtheMountainTheLonelyMountainfromtheWestTheBackDoorBagEndUnderhillTheHill:Hobbiton-across-the-waterThror’sMapTheTrolls*TheThreeTrollsareTurnedtoStone*RivendellTheMountain-path*TheMistyMountainslookingWest*BilbowokewiththeearlysuninhiseyesBeorn’sHall*MirkwoodTheElvenking’sGate*BilbocomestotheHutsoftheRaft-elvesLakeTown*TheFrontGate*ConversationwithSmaugTheHallatBag-End*AUDIO

J.R.R.Tolkiensings'Chiptheglassesandcracktheplates!'J.R.R.Tolkienreads'FarovertheMistyMountainscold'J.R.R.Tolkienreadsfrom'RoastMutton'J.R.R.Tolkienreadsfrom'RiddlesintheDark'

*ColourbyH.E.Riddett

Followthislinktouncoveranalternativeversionofthisartwork

Foreword

THEHOBBITwas first published on 21 September 1937, and for its fiftiethanniversaryeditionRaynerUnwinsuggestedtomethatitwouldbeofinteresttoincludeinitsomeunpublishedorlittleknownillustrationsbymyfather,andalsooneofthreemanuscriptsheets(eachwrittenonbothsides,makingsixpagesinall) that alone survive today of the original draft of the first chapter, AnUnexpectedParty.Thisparticularsheetwaspreserved,nodoubt,becauseonittherewasalsothefirstsketchofThror’sMap.Thisprefaceismostlyconcernedwith this text andwith pictures and designs; an account of thewriting ofTheHobbit(orwhatcanbeknownofit)andthestoryifitspublicationaregivenbyHumphreyCarpenterinJ.R.R.Tolkien:ABiography,pp.177-82.Onthenowverybatteredmanuscriptsheetreproducedonthefollowingpages

myfatherafterwardswrote:‘OnlypagepreservedofthefirstscrawledcopyofTheHobbitwhichdidnotreachbeyondthefirstchapter.’1Since thewriting isindeedascrawlandveryhardtoread,Isetitoutinprinthere.Thetextwillbefoundtocorrespond,withmanydifferences,tothatinthisbookonpp.20-1,butif thebottomof thesecondsideof thesheetwas theendof the text theentirehistoryrelatedbyGandalfandThorinOakenshieldhadyettoemerge.

ApagefromtheearliestmanuscriptofTheHobbit‘Why?’‘Because it is too small. “Five feet high is thedoor, and three abreast [first

writtenfourabreast]mayenterit”saytherunes.ButPryftancouldnotcreepinaholethatsize,notevenwhenhewasayoungdragon,certainlynotafterhehaddevouredsomanymaidensofthevalley.’‘Itseemsaprettybighole,’pipedBilbo.Helovedmaps,andinthehallthere

was a large one of theCountyRound (where he lived),with all his favouritewalksmarkedonitinredink.Hewassointerestedheforgottobeshyandkeephis mouth shut. ‘How could such an enormous door’ (he was a hobbit,remember)‘besecret?’

‘Lots of ways,’ said Bl[adorthin], ‘but which one of them we don’t knowwithoutlooking.’

At the top of the other side of the page there is a list of the dwarves, whichincludes ‘Gandalf’;andagainst thismyfatherafterwardswrote inpencil: ‘NBGandalf was originally chief Dwarf (=Thorin) and Gandalf was calledBladorthin.’ThenamesofthedwarvesinTheHobbitweretakenfromversesofaveryancientNorsepoemcalledVöluspá,wheremanydwarf-namesaregiven,andamongthemGandalf.TheonlyotherdifferenceinthisoriginallististhatOiappearsforOri(intheVöluspá thereis thenameÁi).–Bladorthinbecame thename of a long-dead kingwho ismentioned once inTheHobbit (p. 230) butnowhereelse.

ApagefromtheearliestmanuscriptofTheHobbit

FromwhatitsaysonthemapIshouldsaythatthereisacloseddoorwhichlooksjustlikethesideofthemountain–theordinarydwarf’sway(IthinkIamright?)’‘Quite,’saidGandalf.‘Butthisratheraltersthings.Therearefourteenof

us – unless you are coming,Bladorthin. I had thought of going up alongRunningRiverfromtheLongLake–ifwecangetsofar!–andsototheRuinsofDaleTown.Butwenoneofus liked the ideaof theFrontGate.TheRiverrunsoutofthatgreatdoor,andoutofittheDragoncomestoo.Fartoooften.’

‘That would have been no good,’ said Bl[adorthin], ‘without a mightywarrior;evenahero.Itriedtofindone,butIhadtofallback(Ibegyourpardon,butIamsureyouwillunderstand–dragon-slayingisnotIbelieveyourspeciality)–tofallbackonlittleBilbo[firstwrittenMrBaggins].’‘The burglar,’ said Dwalin. ‘Precisely,’ said Blad[orthin], not allowing

Bilbo time to object. ‘I told you last Thursday it would have to be aburglary not a battle, and a burglar I promised to find. I hope no one isgoing to say I put the sign on the wrong door again.’ He frowned sofrightfullyatBilbo that the littlemandaren’t sayanything thoughhewasburstingwithquestions.‘Warriors are very busy fighting one another in far lands,’ went on

Bl[adorthin],‘andinthisneighbour-hoodtherearenoneorfew[struckout:left,ofmen,dwarves,elvesorhobbits],nottospeakofheroes.Swordsinthe world aremostly blunt, and axes used on trees and shields for dish-covers,anddragonscomfortablyfar-off.ButburglaryisIthinkindicatedinanycasebythepresenceofthebackdoor.’‘Whatisyourplan?’theyallsaid.‘Togotothebackdoor,sitonthestep

–andthinkofone–ifonedoesnotsproutupontheway,’saidthewizard.‘Thereisnotimetolose.Youmustbeoffbeforedaybreakandwellonyourway.’

Icannotreadthelastword,unlessitis‘Dwarves’.–ThistextisinfactslightlynearertothatofTheHobbitasitwasoriginallypublishedthantothetextinthisbook(manychangesweremadeintheeditionsof1951and1966):forinstance,inthebookasitcameoutin1937Smaugisstillsaidtohavedevoured‘somanymaidensofthevalley’.Turning now to the map which accompanies the text, the runes beside the

pointinghandread:

FANGTHESECRETPASSAGEOFTHEDWARVESIdonotknowhowtointerpretthefirstword.Itcertainlybeginsfa,andthethirdruneseemstobethatcalledinOldEnglish‘Ing,’withthevalueng(itisfoundinthewordsettingintheMoon-runesonThror’sMapaspublished).Conceivablyitwastobethenameofthepassage–andtheruneforfstandsagainstthe‘backdoor’onthemap.Beneaththerunesis‘fivefeethighthedoorandthreemaywalkabreast’,and

thenafirstdraftofthetextoftheMoon-runesreadbyElrond(p.55):‘Standby

the grey stone when [or where] the crow knocks and the rising sun at themomentofdawnonDurin’sDaywillshineuponthekeyhole.’Thelastwordisstruck through, and thrush is written above crow. The thrush is described (p.209) as ‘enormous’ and ‘nearly coal-black’ (but with ‘a pale yellow breastfreckledwithdarkspots’).ThenfollowsasecondtextoftheMoon-runes,whichwas scarcely changed afterwards; but this certainly has ‘where the thrushknocks’,andintheoriginaleditionElrondreaditas‘where’,althoughtheactualrunesonThror’sMaphad‘when’.Itwill be seen that the form of themountain’s spurswere verymuch [the]

sameastheyappearonThror’smapaspublished(withtheheightofRavenhillattheendofthesouthernspurandthecampbeneathit);buttheruinsofDaleareon the east side of the River Running, since theywere not enclosedwithin agreat eastward loop of the river. The device at the top of themap apparentlyrepresentsthepointsofthecompass,withthesevenstarsoftheGreatBearintheNorth(theblackspotstotheleftofthestarsaremerelymarksonthepaper),theSunintheSouth,theMistyMountainsintheWestand(Ithink)theentrancetothe Elvenking’s halls in the East. The names at the bottom of the page,‘Mirkwood’,‘marshes’,and‘LakeTown’,andthe‘camp’belowthemountain,wereaddedinat thesametimeas thesecondversionof the textof theMoon-runes. At the bottom on the right is the first actual sketch of the LonelyMountain,addedinpencil.

My father said several times that he had a clear recollection ofwriting theopeningsentenceofTheHobbit.Longafter,inaletterwrittentoW.H.Audenin1955,hesaid:

All I remember about the start ofTheHobbit is sitting correcting SchoolCertificatepapersintheeverlastingwearinessofthatannualtaskforcedonimpecuniousacademicswithchildren.OnablankleafIscrawled:‘Inaholein theground there livedahobbit.’ Ididnotanddonotknowwhy. Ididnothingaboutitforalongtime,andforsomeyearsIgotnofurtherthantheproductionofThror’sMap.ButitbecameTheHobbitintheearly1930s…

Butwhen he wrote that first sentence (now known in somany languages: IneinerHöhleinderErdedalebteeinHobbit–Dansuntrouvivaitunhobbit–Íholu i jörõinni bjó hobbi – In una caverna sorto terra viveva uno hobbit –Kolossamaansisälläasuihobitti–M ,…) – that he did not remember. My brotherMichael recorded long after hisrecollectionoftheeveningswhenmyfatherwouldstandwithhisbacktothefire

inhissmallstudyof thehouse inNorthOxford(22NorthmoorRoad)and tellstories to my brothers and me; and he said that he remembered with perfectclarity theoccasionwhenmyfathersaid thathewasgoingtostart tellingusalongstoryaboutasmallbeingwithfurryfeet,andaskeduswhatheshouldbecalled–then,answeringhimself,said‘Ithinkwe’llcallhima“Hobbit”.’Sincemy family moved from that house at the beginning of 1930, and since mybrotherpreservedstoriesofhisown, in imitationofTheHobbit,whichhehaddated‘1929’,hewasconvincedthatTheHobbit‘began’atanyratenolaterthanthatyear.Hisopinionwasthatmyfatherhadwrittentheopeningsentence‘Inaholeinthegroundtherelivedahobbit’inthesummerbeforehebegantellingusthestory,andthatherepeatedthoseopeningwords‘asifhehadinventedthemonthespurofthemoment’.HealsorememberedthatI(thenbetweenfourandfive years old) was greatly concerned with petty consistency as the storyunfolded, and that on one occasion I interrupted: ‘Last time, yousaid Bilbo’sfrontdoorwasblue,andyousaidThorinhadagolden tasselonhishood,butyou’ve just said that Bilbo’s front doorwas green, and the tassel on Thorin’shoodwassilver’;atwhichpointmyfathermuttered‘Damntheboy’,andthen‘strodeacrosstheroom’tohisdesktomakeanote.Whetherthesememorieswereaccurateineveryrespectornot(inanycaseI

presumablycomplainedaboutthetasselof‘Gandalf’s’hood),itwaywellbethat‘the first scrawled copywhich did not reach beyond the first chapter’, and ofwhichonepagesurvives,belongedtothattime.InDecember1937,twomonthsafterpublication,IwrotetoFatherChristmas

andgaveTheHobbitavigorouspuff,askinghimifheknewofit,andproposingittohimasanideaforChristmaspresents.IinformedhimofthehistoryofthebookasIrecollectedit:

Hewrote it ages ago, and read it to John,Michael andme in ourwinter‘reads’afterteaintheevening;buttheendingchapterswereratherroughlydone,andnottypedoutatall;hefinisheditaboutayearago,andlentittosomeonetoread.ShepasseditontoapersoninMessers.GeorgeAllen&Unwin Ltd. publishing service, and after a great deal of communicationtheybroughtitout,at7/6.Itismyfavouritebook…2

Itseemsthatthegreaterpartofthestorywasinwrittenformbythewinterof

1932,whenitwasreadbyC.S.Lewis,butthatitwentnofurtherthanthedeathofSmaug;anditwasnotuntil1936that‘theendingchapters’werewritten.During those yearsmy fatherwas engrossed inThe Silmarillion, themyths

andlegendsofwhatafterwardsbecame‘theFirstAgeoftheWorld’or‘theElder

Days’,alreadythenwithlongrootsinhisimaginationandindeedinhiswriting.A text ofThe Silmarillion made (in all probability) in 1930 was followed byanotherversion,richerandmoredeveloped,whichwasinterruptednearitsendwhendemands fora sequel toTheHobbit ledhim toput it aside andwrite ‘anew story aboutHobbits’ inDecember 1937. Into thatworld, as he said, ‘Mr.Bagginsstrayed’;orasheexpresseditinaletterwrittenin1964:

By the timeTheHobbit appeared this ‘matter of the ElderDays’was incoherentform.TheHobbitwasnotintendedtohaveanythingtodowithit.Ihadthehabitwhilemychildrenwerestillyoungofinventingandtellingorally, sometimes of writing down, ‘children’s stories’ for their privateamusement… The Hobbit was intended to be one of them. It had nonecessaryconnexionwith the ‘mythology’,butnaturallybecameattractedtowardsthisdominantconstructioninmymind,causingthetaletobecomelargerandmoreheroicasitproceeded.

This ‘attraction’exertedby‘thematterof theElderDays’ isshownalso inhispaintingsanddrawingsfromthoseyears.ParticularlystrikingisTheGateoftheElvenking’sHallsherereproduced(no.1),ifthisiscomparedwiththedrawingofNargothrondreproducedinJ.R.R.Tolkien:Artist&Illustrator,figure57(seeno.2).NargothrondwasthenameofthegreatsubterraneanpalaceandfortressbuiltbyKingFinrodFelagundinTheSilmarillion.BothatNargothrondandattheElvenking’shalls the entrancewason the far sideof a river, and thehallsweretunnelledbeneathhighhills.

No.1:TheGateoftheElvenking’sHalls

No.2:NargothrondThedrawingno.2issosimilarinconceptiontothedrawingno.1ofTheGateoftheElvenking’sHalls, and thehills above thedoors soprecisely alike inboth,thatonemight suppose them toportray thesamescene;and ina sense I thinkthattheydo–eventhoughthedrawingno.2iscertainlyofNargothrond,sincethe entrance has the triple doors of that great fortress. But in my father’s

imagination,Ibelieve,thetwowerevisuallyone,orlittledistinguished:asingleimagewithmorethanoneemergenceinthelegends.Anothercaseofascenewithdoubledapplicationisthepencilandinkpicture

ofMirkwoodinChapterVIII,FliesandSpiders(no.3),whichisrestoredtoTheHobbitinthisedition:itappearedinthefirstBritishandAmericaneditionsbutwas thendropped.Thiswasredrawnfrom,andcloselymodelledon,anearlierpainting,depictingastillmoreevilforest,Taur-na-fuin:itillustratedastoryfromTheSilmarillion,thetaleofTúrin,andshowedtheencounteroftheElvesBelegandGwindor,smallfiguresamongtherootsofthegreattreeinthecentre.IntheMirkwoodversiontheElvesaregone,andinsteadthereisalargespider(andalargernumberofmushrooms).(Inthiscasemyfatherwasprepared,longafter,togiveevenathirdapplicationtothescene:writingonthepaintingthecaptionFangornForest[Treebeard’sforestinTheLordoftheRings]heletitbeusedasan illustration in the J.R.R.Tolkien Calendar 1974, and with this caption it isreproduced inArtist&Illustrator,no.54.TheElvesBelegandGwindorwerenow to be interpreted as the hobbits, Pippin andMerry, lost in Fangorn: butBeleghashisgreatsword–andiswearingshoes!Myfatherpresumablyhopedthatthiswouldnotbenoticed,sincethefiguresareverysmall–orelsedidnotmindifitwas).

No.3:MirkwoodFollowthislinktouncoveranalternativeversionofthisartwork

Heintendedtheblackandwhiteversion,Mirkwood,tobethefirstendpaperof

TheHobbit,andThror’sMaptobeplacedinChapterI(orinChapterIII,whereElrond first observed the secret runes). The Moon-runes were originally to

appearonthereverseofthemap:onthefirstcarefullydrawnformofthemap,which closely followed the original sketch reproduced here, the caption was‘Thror’sMap.CopiedbyB.Baggins.Formoon-runesholduptoalight.’ItwasobjectedbyCharlesFurthofAllen&Unwinthatreaderswould‘justturnover,instead of looking at them through the page as they should’; ‘we are trying arathermorecunningmethodoflettingtherunesbeboththereandnotthere,’hewroteinJanuary1937.Myfatherrepliedthathewas‘lookingforwardtofindingout your method of reproducing the magic runes’; but later in that month helearnedthat‘the“magic”wasleftoutthroughamisunderstandingonthepartoftheblock-maker.’Hethendrewtherunesinreverse‘sothatwhenprintedtheywould read the right way round held up to the light. But I leave this to theProductionDepartment,hopingnonetheless that itwillnotbenecessary toputthe magic runes on the face of the chart, which rather spoils it (unless yourreference to “magic” refers to something “magical”).’ The question of costsseems tohavesettled thematter.Aswasexplained tohim, thebookhad tobemodestlypriced, and therewasnomargin forany illustrations; ‘butwhenyousentus thesedrawings,’wroteSusanDagnall, ‘theywere socharming thatwecouldnotbutinsertthem,thougheconomicallyitwasquitewrongtodoso.’‘LettheProductionDepartmentdoasitwillwiththechart[Thror’sMap]’,myfatherwrote,whenthedecisionwastakentomakeitanendpaper;‘Iamverygratefultoit.’Sothatit ishowithasalwaysappeared;butitseemsthathehadsentintwocopiesoftheMoon-runes,andthosethatwereprintedwerenot‘thebetterdrawn runes’hehad substituted: ‘thosenowshownare ill-done (andnotquiteupright).’This is only a sample of that extremely courteous but slightly desperate

correspondence of half a century ago. Letters crossed, and influenza struck atblock-maker, printer and production department alike and at the mostinopportunemoments. The upper border of theMirkwood picturewas cut out(andnever restored; sincemy father afterwardsgave theoriginal to aChinesestudentofhisitisneverlikelytobeso).Hetwistedunhappilyintherestrictiontotwocoloursforthemaps–‘thechangefrombluetoredonend-paper2[theWilderlandmap]isdetrimental’,andwonderedwhethertosubstituteblueforredonThror’sMap.Perhapsworst,andinvolvinghimin themost labour,was thedust-jacket.Asoriginallycoloured,therewasaredsunandareddragon,aredtitle,andaredflushonthegreatcentralmountainthatappearsonthespineorshelf-back.Whenmyfathersent it in inAprilheforesawtheobjectionthathehadusedtoomanycolours(blue,green,red,andblack):‘thiscouldbemet,withpossible improvement, by substitutingwhite for red; and omitting the sun, ordrawinga lineround it.Thepresenceof thesunandmoon in thesky together

referstothemagicattachingtothedoor.’(Seep.56:‘WestillcallitDurin’sDaywhenthelastmoonofAutumnandthesunareintheskytogether.’)‘Wewouldsuggest removing the red,’ replied Charles Furth, ‘both because the title willshowup better inwhite and because the only feature aboutwhichwe are notentirelyhappyinthecoveristheflushonthecentralmountain,whichmakesittooureyesjustatriflelikeacake.’

J.R.R.Tolkien’soriginalartworkforTheHobbitjacketMyfatherthenre-drewthejacketdesign.‘Ihaveomittedtheoffendingpink

icing on themountainous cake,’ hewrote. ‘It is now arranged in blue, black,green.Thesunanddragonstillhavesomered,whichcanbeleftout,inwhichcase the sunwill vanish or can have a thin black outline. The colours of theoriginaldraftwere,Ithink,moreattractive.Imaysaythatmychildren(iftheyareanything togoby)muchprefer theoriginal, including the red flushon thecentralmountain – but possibly the cake-suggestion is attractive to them.’Hearguedstillforreddragon,redsun,redtitleonthefrontcover,andotherdetails;butCharlesFurthwasfirm.‘Alas,’hewrote,‘theredwillhavetogo.’‘Thesuninoutlineismychiefsorrow,’myfatherwrotewhenhesawthefinalresult,‘butIrealizethatitcannotbehelped.’3TheAmericaneditionhadadifferentjacket,because, as the publishers said, ‘Your jacket has rather a British look whichalwaysseemstodisconcertanddepressourbooktrade.’‘Iamdelightedtolearnthat our jacket has a British look,’ he wrote, ‘but I would not depress ordisconcerttheirbooktradeforanything.’He drew and drew again certain subjects fromTheHobbit:most especially

Hobbiton,theLonelyMountain,andtheentrancetotheElvenking’sHalls.No.5isafinedrawingoftheLonelyMountaininthepossessionofMrBairdSearles

of New York, who has most kindly allowed it to be reproduced here andprovideda transparency.Hereceived itasapresent fromMrPaulBanham, towhommy fatherhad sent it, about1959.This shows thegreatmeander in theRiverRunningaroundthesiteofDale;

No.4:SmaugfliesroundtheMountainthe water-colour of Smaug flying round the Mountain (no. 4) published inPicturesbyJ.R.R.Tolkien(no.18)showsthecourseoftheriverstilltothewestoftheruins,asontheoriginalmap.Theflightsofstepsuptotheoldguard-postonRavenhillcanbeseenattheleft(seep.240).

No.5:TheLonelyMountainNo. 6 is a schematic drawing of the LonelyMountain seen from the west,

showingthepositionofthesecondcampandtheperilouspathwhichBilbowiththe dwarves Fili and Kili found (p. 206). This path brought them to a ledge‘narrowandbreathless’,‘withafallofahundredandfiftyfeetbesidethemontosharprocksbelow’;theledgeledintoa‘littlesteep-walledbay’,and‘atitsinnerendaflatwallroseupinthelowerpart,closetotheground,wasassmoothanduprightasmason’swork’.Thisisshowninno.7,asketchof‘TheBackDoor.’Dwarvesareseenpullingupgoodsonropesfromthesecondcampbelow,andabove are seen two figures on the path ‘that led higher and higher on to themountain’(p.207).

No.6:TheLonelyMountainfromthewest

No.7:TheBackDoorThreeweeksafterthepublicationofTheHobbit,StanleyUnwinwrotetomy

fathersayingthat‘alargepublic’wouldbe‘clamouringnextyeartohearmorefromyouaboutHobbits!’Inthecourseofhisreply(15October1937)hesaid:

All thesameIama littleperturbed. Icannot thinkofanythingmore tosay abouthobbits.MrBaggins seems to have exhibited so fully both theTookandtheBagginssideoftheirnature.ButIhaveonlytoomuchtosay,andmuchalreadywritten,abouttheworldintowhichthehobbitintruded.You can, of course, see any of it, and saywhat you like about it, if and

whenyouwish.Ishouldratherlikeanopinion,otherthanthatofMrC.S.Lewisandmychildren,whetherithasanyvalueinitself,orasamarketablecommodity,otherthanhobbits.ButifitistruethatTheHobbithascometostayandmorewillbewanted,Iwillstarttheprocessofthought,andtrytogetsomeideaofathemedrawnfromthismaterialfortreatmentinasimilarstyle and for a similar audience – possibly including actual hobbits.MydaughterwouldlikesomethingontheTookfamily.OnereaderwantsfullerdetailsaboutGandalfandtheNecromancer.Butthatistoodark–muchtoodarkforRichardHughes’snag.4Iamafraidthatsnagappearsineverything;thoughactuallythepresence(evenifonlyontheborders)oftheterribleis,Ibelieve,whatgivesthisworlditsimaginedverisimilitude.Asafefairylandisuntruetoallworlds.AtthemomentIamsufferinglikeMrBagginsfromatouchof‘staggerment’,andIhopeIamnottakingmyselftooseriously.ButImustconfessthatyourletterhasarousedinmeafainthope.Imean,Ibegin towonderwhether duty and desiremay not (perhaps) in future gomore closely together. I have spent nearly all the vacation-times ofseventeen years examining, and doing things of that sort, driven byimmediate financial necessity (mainly medical and educational). Writingstories inproseorversehasbeen stolen,oftenguiltily, from timealreadymortgaged, and has been broken and ineffective. I may perhaps now dowhatImuchdesiretodo,andnotfailoffinancialduty.Perhaps!

No.8:BagEndUnderhill

TheSimarillion,thelongunfinishedpoemTheLayofLeithian(concernedwithoneofthemajorstoriesoftheElderDays),andotherthingswenttoAllenandUnwin in November, and were returned in the following month. In hisaccompanyingletterof15DecemberStanleyUnwin,urgingmyfather‘towriteanotherbook aboutTheHobbit’, reported tohim that ‘the first edition is nowsoldout’,andthat‘weareexpectingsuppliesofthereprintcontainingthefourcolouredillustrations5almostimmediately.Ifanyofyourfriendswanttomakesureoftheircopiesofthefirsteditiontheyhadbetterbuythemquicklyfromanybooksellerwhostillhasoneinstock.’On16DecemberherepliedtoStanleyUnwin:

IdidnotthinkanyofthestuffIdroppedonyoufilledthebill.…Ithinkitisplainthatquiteapartfromit,asequelorsuccessortoTheHobbitiscalled

for. I promise to give this thought and attention. But I am sure youwillsympathize when I say that the construction of elaborate and consistentmythology(andtwolanguages)ratheroccupiesthemind,andtheSilmarilsare inmy heart. So that goodness knowswhat will happen.Mr BagginsbeganasacomictaleamongconventionalandinconsistentGrimm’sfairy-taledwarves,andgotdrawn into theedgeof it– so thatevenSauron theterriblepeepedovertheedge.Andwhatmorecanhobbitsdo?Theycanbecomic, but their comedy is suburban unless it is set against thingsmoreelemental.

ThreedayslaterhewrotetoCharlesFurth:‘IhavewrittenthefirstchapterofanewstoryaboutHobbits–“Alongexpectedparty”.’ThatwasthefirstchapterofTheLordoftheRings.

ChristopherTolkien

1 When he wrote this note my father knew only of the sheet that I havereproduced,buttwoothershadinfactbeenincludedintheHobbitmanuscriptsthatwenttoMarquetteUniversityin1957.

2The‘someone’wasElaineGriffiths,and the‘person’wasSusanDagnall.Thestoryistold,togetherwiththereportonthebookwrittenbyRaynerUnwin(thentenyearsold),inHumphreyCarpenter’sBiography,pp.180-1.

3A redsunanddragon,and red titleandauthor’sname,wereusedon thecover (a truncated version of the original dust-jacket) of the reset paperbackeditionof1975,butnotonthedust-jacketoftheresethardbackeditionof1978.

4 RichardHughes hadwritten to StanleyUnwin aboutTheHobbit, saying‘TheonlysnagIcanseeisthatmanyparents…maybeafraidthatcertainpartsofitwouldbetooterrifyingforbedtimereading.’

5Thefirstimpressionhadnopicturesincolour.Myfatherwaspleasedwiththefourcolouredreproductions,butregrettedthat‘theEaglepicture’(illustratingthe first sentence of Chapter VI, Queer Lodgings) had not been included –‘merelybecauseIshouldhavelikedtoseeitreproduced.’ItwasinfactincludedinthefirstAmericanedition(whichdidnotuseBilboComestotheHutsoftheRaft-elves),andfinallyappearedinaBritisheditionin1978.InmynoteonthispaintinginPictures(no.9)IsaidthattheeaglewasinspiredbythepaintingofaGoldenEaglebyArchibaldThorburn.Thishasbeenqueriedonthegroundsthatthebaseoftheeagle’stailiswhite,andsomustdepictaWhite-tailedEagle.Myfather’seaglewasaGoldenEagle,nonetheless;Irememberfindingthepicturefor him in T. A. Coward, The Birds of the British Isles (Vol. 1 plate 132).Thorburn’spaintingisofayoungbird,whichinthisspecieshasawhitebasetothetail.

NoteontheText

TheHobbitwasfirstpublishedinSeptember1937.Its1951secondedition(fifthimpression)containsasignificantlyrevisedportionofChapterV,“RiddlesintheDark,”whichbrings the storyofTheHobbitmore in linewith its sequel,TheLordoftheRings, theninprogress.TolkienmadesomefurtherrevisionstotheAmerican editionpublishedbyBallantineBooks inFebruary 1966, and to theBritishthirdedition(sixteenthimpression)publishedbyGeorgeAllen&Unwinlaterthatsameyear.Forthe1995Britishhardcoveredition,publishedbyHarperCollins,thetextof

The Hobbit was entered into word-processing files, and a number of furthercorrections ofmisprints and errorsweremade. Since then, various editions ofTheHobbithavebeengeneratedfromthatcomputerizedtextfile.Forthepresenttext,thatfilehasbeencomparedagain,linebyline,withtheearliereditions,andanumberoffurthercorrectionshavebeenmadetopresentatextthat,ascloselyaspossible,representsTolkien’sfinalintendedform.Readersinterestedindetailsofthechangesmadeatvarioustimestothetext

ofTheHobbit are referred toAppendixA,“TextualandRevisionalNotes,”ofTheAnnotatedHobbit(1988),andJ.R.R.Tolkien:ADescriptiveBibliographybyWayneG.Hammond,withtheassistanceofDouglasA.Anderson(1993).

DouglasA.AndersonMay2001

This is a story of long ago.At that time the languages and letterswere quitedifferentfromoursoftoday.Englishisusedtorepresentthelanguages.Buttwopointsmaybenoted. (1) InEnglish theonlycorrectpluralofdwarf isdwarfs,andtheadjectiveisdwarfish.Inthisstorydwarvesanddwarvishareused1,butonlywhenspeakingoftheancientpeopletowhomThorinOakenshieldandhiscompanionsbelonged. (2)Orc isnot anEnglishword. Itoccurs inoneor twoplacesbutisusuallytranslatedgoblin(orhobgoblinforthelargerkinds).Orcisthehobbits’formofthenamegivenatthattimetothesecreatures,anditisnotconnectedatallwithourorc,ork,appliedtosea-animalsofdolphin-kind.Runes were old letters originally used for cutting or scratching on wood,

stone,ormetal,andsowere thinandangular.At the timeof this taleonly theDwarvesmaderegularuseofthem,especiallyforprivateorsecretrecords.Theirrunes are in this book representedbyEnglish runes,which are knownnow tofewpeople. If the runes onThror’sMap are comparedwith the transcriptionsinto modern letters (on pp. 24 and 59–60), the alphabet, adapted to modernEnglish,canbediscoveredandtheaboverunictitlealsoread.OntheMapallthenormalrunesarefound,except forX.IandUareusedforJandV.TherewasnoruneforQ(useCW);norforZ(thedwarf-rune maybeusedifrequired).Itwillbefound,however,thatsomesinglerunesstandfortwomodernletters:th,ng,ee;otherrunesofthesamekind( eaand st)werealsosometimesused.ThesecretdoorwasmarkedD .Fromthesideahandpointedtothis,andunderitwaswritten:

ThelasttworunesaretheinitialsofThrorandThrain.Themoon-runesreadbyElrondwere:

OntheMapthecompasspointsaremarkedinrunes,withEastatthetop,as

usualindwarf-maps,andsoreadclockwise:E(ast),S(outh),W(est),N(orth).1ThereasonforthisuseisgiveninTheLordoftheRings,AppendixF.

Followthislinktouncoveranalternativeversionofthisartwork

TheHill:Hobbiton-across-the-Water

ChapterIAnUnexpectedParty

Inahole in thegroundthere livedahobbit.Notanasty,dirty,wethole, filledwiththeendsofwormsandanoozysmell,noryetadry,bare,sandyholewithnothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that meanscomfort.It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny

yellowbrassknobintheexactmiddle.Thedooropenedontoatube-shapedhalllikeatunnel:averycomfortabletunnelwithoutsmoke,withpanelledwalls,andfloorstiledandcarpeted,providedwithpolishedchairs,andlotsandlotsofpegsforhatsandcoats—thehobbitwasfondofvisitors.Thetunnelwoundonandon,goingfairlybutnotquitestraight into thesideof thehill—TheHill,asall thepeopleformanymilesroundcalledit—andmanylittlerounddoorsopenedoutof it, first on one side and then on another.No going upstairs for the hobbit:bedrooms,bathrooms,cellars,pantries(lotsofthese),wardrobes(hehadwholeroomsdevoted to clothes), kitchens,dining-rooms, allwereon the same floor,andindeedonthesamepassage.Thebestroomswereallontheleft-handside(going in), for these were the only ones to have windows, deep-set roundwindows looking over his garden, andmeadows beyond, sloping down to theriver.This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins. The

BagginseshadlivedintheneighbourhoodofTheHillfortimeoutofmind,andpeopleconsidered themvery respectable,notonlybecausemostof themwererich,butalsobecausetheyneverhadanyadventuresordidanythingunexpected:youcouldtellwhataBagginswouldsayonanyquestionwithoutthebotherofasking him. This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and foundhimself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. Hemay have lost theneighbours’ respect, but he gained—well, you will see whether he gainedanythingintheend.Themotherofourparticularhobbit—whatisahobbit?Isupposehobbitsneed

some description nowadays, since they have become rare and shy of the BigPeople,astheycallus.Theyare(orwere)alittlepeople,abouthalfourheight,andsmallerthanthebeardedDwarves.Hobbitshavenobeards.Thereislittleornomagic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them todisappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you and me comeblunderingalong,makinganoiselikeelephantswhichtheycanhearamileoff.Theyareinclinedtobefatinthestomach;theydressinbrightcolours(chieflygreenandyellow);wearnoshoes,becausetheirfeetgrownaturalleatherysolesand thickwarmbrownhair like thestuffon theirheads (which iscurly);havelong clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh deep fruity laughs(especiallyafterdinner,whichtheyhavetwiceadaywhentheycangetit).Nowyouknowenoughtogoonwith.AsIwassaying,themotherofthishobbit—ofBilbo Baggins, that is—was the famous Belladonna Took, one of the threeremarkabledaughtersoftheOldTook,headofthehobbitswholivedacrossTheWater,thesmallriverthatranatthefootofTheHill.Itwasoftensaid(inotherfamilies)thatlongagooneoftheTookancestorsmusthavetakenafairywife.Thatwas,ofcourse,absurd,butcertainlytherewasstillsomethingnotentirelyhobbitlikeaboutthem,andonceinawhilemembersoftheTook-clanwouldgoandhaveadventures.Theydiscreetlydisappeared,andthefamilyhusheditup;but the fact remained that theTookswerenotas respectableas theBagginses,thoughtheywereundoubtedlyricher.Not that Belladonna Took ever had any adventures after she becameMrs.

BungoBaggins.Bungo,thatwasBilbo’sfather,builtthemostluxurioushobbit-holeforher(andpartlywithhermoney)thatwastobefoundeitherunderTheHilloroverTheHilloracrossTheWater,andtheretheyremainedtotheendoftheirdays.Still it isprobable thatBilbo,heronlyson,althoughhe lookedandbehaved exactly like a second edition of his solid and comfortable father, gotsomethingabitqueer inhismake-up from theTookside, something thatonlywaitedforachancetocomeout.Thechanceneverarrived,untilBilboBagginswas grown up, being about fifty years old or so, and living in the beautifulhobbit-holebuiltbyhisfather,whichIhavejustdescribedforyou,untilhehadinfactapparentlysettleddownimmovably.Bysomecuriouschanceonemorninglongagointhequietoftheworld,when

therewas less noise andmoregreen, and the hobbitswere still numerous andprosperous,andBilboBagginswasstandingathisdoorafterbreakfastsmokingan enormous long wooden pipe that reached nearly down to his woolly toes(neatlybrushed)—Gandalfcameby.Gandalf!IfyouhadheardonlyaquarterofwhatIhaveheardabouthim,andIhaveonlyheardverylittleofallthereistohear, you would be prepared for any sort of remarkable tale. Tales and

adventures sprouted up all over the place wherever he went, in the mostextraordinaryfashion.HehadnotbeendownthatwayunderTheHillforagesand ages, not since his friend theOldTook died, in fact, and the hobbits hadalmost forgotten what he looked like. He had been away over The Hill andacrossTheWateronbusinessesofhisownsincetheywereallsmallhobbit-boysandhobbit-girls.AllthattheunsuspectingBilbosawthatmorningwasanoldmanwithastaff.

Hehada tallpointedbluehat,a longgreycloak,asilverscarfoverwhichhislongwhitebeardhungdownbelowhiswaist,andimmenseblackboots.“GoodMorning!”saidBilbo,andhemeant it.Thesunwasshining,andthe

grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushyeyebrowsthatstuckoutfurtherthanthebrimofhisshadyhat.“Whatdoyoumean?”he said. “Doyouwishmeagoodmorning,ormean

that it is a goodmorningwhether Iwant it or not; or that you feel good thismorning;orthatitisamorningtobegoodon?”“All of them at once,” said Bilbo. “And a very finemorning for a pipe of

tobaccooutofdoors,intothebargain.Ifyouhaveapipeaboutyou,sitdownandhaveafillofmine!There’snohurry,wehaveallthedaybeforeus!”ThenBilbosatdownonaseatbyhisdoor,crossedhis legs,andblewoutabeautifulgreyringofsmokethatsailedupintotheairwithoutbreakingandfloatedawayoverTheHill.“Very pretty!” said Gandalf. “But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this

morning.IamlookingforsomeonetoshareinanadventurethatIamarranging,andit’sverydifficulttofindanyone.”“Ishouldthinkso—intheseparts!Weareplainquietfolkandhavenousefor

adventures.Nastydisturbinguncomfortablethings!Makeyoulatefordinner!Ican’t thinkwhat anybody sees in them,” said ourMr.Baggins, and stuck onethumbbehindhisbraces,andblewoutanotherevenbiggersmoke-ring.Thenhetook out his morning letters, and began to read, pretending to take no morenoticeoftheoldman.Hehaddecidedthathewasnotquitehissort,andwantedhimtogoaway.Buttheoldmandidnotmove.Hestoodleaningonhisstickandgazingatthehobbitwithoutsayinganything,tillBilbogotquiteuncomfortableandevenalittlecross.“Goodmorning!”hesaidatlast.“Wedon’twantanyadventureshere,thank

you!YoumighttryoverTheHilloracrossTheWater.”Bythishemeantthattheconversationwasatanend.“WhatalotofthingsyoudouseGoodmorningfor!”saidGandalf.“Nowyou

meanthatyouwanttogetridofme,andthatitwon’tbegoodtillImoveoff.”“Not at all, not at all, my dear sir! Let me see, I don’t think I know your

name?”“Yes,yes,mydearsir—andIdoknowyourname,Mr.BilboBaggins.And

you do knowmy name, though you don’t remember that I belong to it. I amGandalf,andGandalfmeansme!TothinkthatIshouldhavelivedtobegood-morningedbyBelladonnaTook’sson,asifIwassellingbuttonsatthedoor!”“Gandalf,Gandalf!Goodgraciousme!Not thewanderingwizard that gave

Old Took a pair of magic diamond studs that fastened themselves and nevercameundonetillordered?Notthefellowwhousedtotellsuchwonderfultalesatparties,aboutdragonsandgoblinsandgiantsandtherescueofprincessesandthe unexpected luck of widows’ sons? Not the man that used to make suchparticularlyexcellentfireworks!Irememberthose!OldTookusedtohavethemon Midsummer’s Eve. Splendid! They used to go up like great lilies andsnapdragons and laburnumsof fire and hang in the twilight all evening!”Youwill notice already that Mr. Baggins was not quite so prosy as he liked tobelieve,alsothathewasveryfondofflowers.“Dearme!”hewenton.“NottheGandalfwhowasresponsibleforsomanyquietladsandlassesgoingoffintotheBlue formad adventures? Anything from climbing trees to visiting elves—orsailinginships,sailingtoothershores!Blessme,lifeusedtobequiteinter—Imean,youusedtoupsetthingsbadlyinthesepartsonceuponatime.Ibegyourpardon,butIhadnoideayouwerestillinbusiness.”“WhereelseshouldIbe?”saidthewizard.“AllthesameIampleasedtofind

you remember something about me. You seem to remember my fireworkskindly,atanyrate,andthatisnotwithouthope.IndeedforyouroldgrandfatherTook’ssake,andforthesakeofpoorBelladonna,Iwillgiveyouwhatyouaskedfor.”“Ibegyourpardon,Ihaven’taskedforanything!”“Yes,youhave!Twicenow.Mypardon.Igiveityou.InfactIwillgosofar

astosendyouonthisadventure.Veryamusingforme,verygoodforyou—andprofitabletoo,verylikely,ifyouevergetoverit.”“Sorry! I don’twant any adventures, thank you.Not today.Goodmorning!

But please come to tea—any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Cometomorrow!Goodbye!”Withthatthehobbitturnedandscuttledinsidehisroundgreendoor,andshutitasquicklyashedared,nottoseemrude.Wizardsafterallarewizards.“WhatonearthdidIaskhimtoteafor!”hesaidtohimself,ashewenttothe

pantry.Hehadonlyjusthadbreakfast,buthethoughtacakeortwoandadrinkofsomethingwoulddohimgoodafterhisfright.Gandalfinthemeantimewasstillstandingoutsidethedoor,andlaughinglong

butquietly.Afterawhilehesteppedup,andwiththespikeonhisstaffscratched

aqueersignonthehobbit’sbeautifulgreenfront-door.Thenhestrodeaway,justaboutthetimewhenBilbowasfinishinghissecondcakeandbeginningtothinkthathehadescapedadventuresverywell.The next day he had almost forgotten aboutGandalf.He did not remember

thingsverywell,unlessheputthemdownonhisEngagementTablet:likethis:GandalfTeaWednesday.Yesterdayhehadbeentooflusteredtodoanythingofthekind.Justbeforetea-timetherecameatremendousringonthefront-doorbell,and

thenheremembered!Herushedandputonthekettle,andputoutanothercupandsaucer,andanextracakeortwo,andrantothedoor.“Iamsosorrytokeepyouwaiting!”hewasgoingtosay,whenhesawthatit

wasnotGandalf at all. Itwas adwarfwith abluebeard tucked into agoldenbelt,andverybrighteyesunderhisdark-greenhood.Assoonas thedoorwasopened,hepushedinside,justasifhehadbeenexpected.Hehunghishoodedcloakonthenearestpeg,and“Dwalinatyourservice!”

hesaidwithalowbow.“BilboBagginsatyours!”saidthehobbit,toosurprisedtoaskanyquestions

forthemoment.Whenthesilencethatfollowedhadbecomeuncomfortable,headded:“Iamjustabouttotaketea;praycomeandhavesomewithme.”Alittlestiff perhaps, but hemeant it kindly.Andwhatwould youdo, if an uninviteddwarfcameandhunghisthingsupinyourhallwithoutawordofexplanation?Theyhadnotbeenattablelong,infacttheyhadhardlyreachedthethirdcake,

whentherecameanotherevenlouderringatthebell.“Excuseme!”saidthehobbit,andoffhewenttothedoor.“Soyouhavegothereatlast!”ThatwaswhathewasgoingtosaytoGandalf

thistime.ButitwasnotGandalf.Insteadtherewasaveryold-lookingdwarfonthestepwithawhitebeardandascarlethood;andhetoohoppedinsideassoonasthedoorwasopen,justasifhehadbeeninvited.“I see they have begun to arrive already,” he saidwhen he caught sight of

Dwalin’sgreenhoodhangingup.Hehunghisredonenexttoit,and“Balinatyourservice!”hesaidwithhishandonhisbreast.“Thankyou!”saidBilbowithagasp.Itwasnotthecorrectthingtosay,but

theyhavebeguntoarrivehadflusteredhimbadly.Helikedvisitors,buthelikedtoknowthembeforetheyarrived,andhepreferredtoaskthemhimself.Hehadahorrible thought that thecakesmight runshort,and thenhe—as thehost:heknewhisdutyandstucktoithoweverpainful—hemighthavetogowithout.“Comealongin,andhavesometea!”hemanagedtosayaftertakingadeep

breath.“Alittlebeerwouldsuitmebetter,ifitisallthesametoyou,mygoodsir,”

saidBalinwiththewhitebeard.“ButIdon’tmindsomecake—seed-cake,ifyouhaveany.”“Lots!” Bilbo found himself answering, to his own surprise; and he found

himself scuttling off, too, to the cellar to fill a pint beer-mug, and then to apantry to fetch two beautiful round seed-cakes which he had baked thatafternoonforhisafter-suppermorsel.WhenhegotbackBalinandDwalinweretalkingatthetablelikeoldfriends

(asamatterof fact theywerebrothers).Bilboplumpeddownthebeerand thecakeinfrontofthem,whenloudcamearingatthebellagain,andthenanotherring.“Gandalfforcertainthistime,”hethoughtashepuffedalongthepassage.But

it was not. It was twomore dwarves, both with blue hoods, silver belts, andyellow beards; and each of them carried a bag of tools and a spade. In theyhopped,assoonasthedoorbegantoopen—Bilbowashardlysurprisedatall.“WhatcanIdoforyou,mydwarves?”hesaid.“Kiliatyourservice!”saidtheone.“AndFili!”addedtheother;andtheyboth

sweptofftheirbluehoodsandbowed.“At yours and your family’s!” repliedBilbo, remembering hismanners this

time.“DwalinandBalinherealready,Isee,”saidKili.“Letusjointhethrong!”“Throng!”thoughtMr.Baggins.“Idon’tlikethesoundofthat.Ireallymust

sitdownforaminuteandcollectmywits,andhaveadrink.”Hehadonlyjusthadasip—inthecorner,whilethefourdwarvessatroundthetable,andtalkedabout mines and gold and troubles with the goblins, and the depredations ofdragons,andlotsofotherthingswhichhedidnotunderstand,anddidnotwantto, for theysoundedmuch tooadventurous—when,ding-dong-a-ling-dang,hisbellrangagain,asifsomenaughtylittlehobbit-boywastryingtopullthehandleoff.“Someoneatthedoor!”hesaid,blinking.“Some four, I should say by the sound,” said Fili. “Besides, we saw them

comingalongbehindusinthedistance.”Thepoorlittlehobbitsatdowninthehallandputhisheadinhishands,and

wonderedwhathadhappened,andwhatwasgoingtohappen,andwhethertheywouldallstaytosupper.Thenthebellrangagainlouderthanever,andhehadtorun to thedoor. Itwasnot fourafter all, itwas five.Anotherdwarfhadcomealongwhilehewaswonderinginthehall.Hehadhardlyturnedtheknob,beforetheywereallinside,bowingandsaying“atyourservice”oneafteranother.Dori,Nori,Ori,Oin,andGloinweretheirnames;andverysoontwopurplehoods,agreyhood,abrownhood,andawhitehoodwerehangingonthepegs,andoff

theymarchedwiththeirbroadhandsstuckintheirgoldandsilverbeltstojointhe others. Already it had almost become a throng. Some called for ale, andsomeforporter,andoneforcoffee,andallofthemforcakes;sothehobbitwaskeptverybusyforawhile.Abigjugofcoffeehadjustbeensetinthehearth,theseed-cakesweregone,

andthedwarveswerestartingonaroundofbutteredscones,whentherecame—aloudknock.Notaring,butahardrat-tatonthehobbit’sbeautifulgreendoor.Somebodywasbangingwithastick!Bilbo rushed along the passage, very angry, and altogether bewildered and

bewuthered—thiswas themost awkwardWednesdayhe ever remembered.Hepulledopen the doorwith a jerk, and they all fell in, oneon topof the other.Moredwarves, fourmore!And therewasGandalfbehind, leaningonhis staffandlaughing.Hehadmadequiteadentonthebeautifuldoor;hehadalso,bytheway,knockedoutthesecretmarkthathehadputtherethemorningbefore.“Carefully! Carefully!” he said. “It is not like you, Bilbo, to keep friends

waiting on themat, and then open the door like a pop-gun!Letme introduceBifur,Bofur,Bombur,andespeciallyThorin!”“Atyourservice!”saidBifur,Bofur,andBomburstandinginarow.Thenthey

hunguptwoyellowhoodsandapalegreenone;andalsoasky-blueonewithalongsilvertassel.ThislastbelongedtoThorin,anenormouslyimportantdwarf,in factnoother than thegreatThorinOakenshieldhimself,whowasnotatallpleasedat falling flatonBilbo’smatwithBifur,Bofur,andBomburon topofhim.For one thingBomburwas immensely fat and heavy.Thorin indeedwasveryhaughty,andsaidnothingaboutservice;butpoorMr.Bagginssaidhewassorrysomanytimes,thatatlasthegrunted“praydon’tmentionit,”andstoppedfrowning.“Nowweareallhere!”saidGandalf,lookingattherowofthirteenhoods—

thebestdetachablepartyhoods—andhisownhathangingonthepegs.“Quiteamerry gathering! I hope there is something left for the late-comers to eat anddrink!What’sthat?Tea!Nothankyou!Alittleredwine,Ithinkforme.”“Andforme,”saidThorin.“Andraspberryjamandapple-tart,”saidBifur.“Andmince-piesandcheese,”saidBofur.“Andpork-pieandsalad,”saidBombur.“Andmorecakes—andale—andcoffee,ifyoudon’tmind,”calledtheother

dwarvesthroughthedoor.“Putona feweggs, there’sagoodfellow!”Gandalfcalledafterhim,as the

hobbit stumped off to the pantries. “And just bring out the cold chicken andpickles!”

“Seems to know as much about the inside of my larders as I do myself!”thoughtMr.Baggins,whowasfeelingpositivelyflummoxed,andwasbeginningtowonderwhetheramostwretchedadventurehadnotcomerightintohishouse.Bythetimehehadgotallthebottlesanddishesandknivesandforksandglassesandplatesandspoonsandthingspileduponbigtrays,hewasgettingveryhot,andredintheface,andannoyed.“Confusticateandbebother thesedwarves!”he saidaloud. “Whydon’t they

comeandlendahand?”Loandbehold!therestoodBalinandDwalinatthedoorofthekitchen,andFiliandKilibehindthem,andbeforehecouldsayknifetheyhadwhiskedthe traysandacoupleofsmall tables into theparlourandsetouteverythingafresh.Gandalfsatat theheadof thepartywiththethirteendwarvesallround:and

Bilbosatonastoolat thefireside,nibblingatabiscuit (hisappetitewasquitetakenaway),andtryingtolookasifthiswasallperfectlyordinaryandnotintheleastanadventure.Thedwarvesateandate,andtalkedandtalked,andtimegoton.Atlasttheypushedtheirchairsback,andBilbomadeamovetocollecttheplatesandglasses.“I suppose you will all stay to supper?” he said in his politest unpressing

tones.“Ofcourse!”saidThorin.“Andafter.Weshan’tget throughthebusinesstill

late,andwemusthavesomemusicfirst.Nowtoclearup!”Thereuponthetwelvedwarves—notThorin,hewastooimportant,andstayed

talking toGandalf—jumped to their feet, andmade tall piles of all the things.Off theywent, notwaiting for trays, balancingcolumnsofplates, eachwith abottle on the top, with one hand, while the hobbit ran after them almostsqueaking with fright: “please be careful!” and “please, don’t trouble! I canmanage.”Butthedwarvesonlystartedtosing:

J.R.R.Tolkiensings'Chiptheglassesandcracktheplates!'

Chiptheglassesandcracktheplates!Blunttheknivesandbendtheforks!That’swhatBilboBagginshates–Smashthebottlesandburnthecorks!Cuttheclothandtreadonthefat!Pourthemilkonthepantryfloor!

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Leavethebonesonthebedroommat!Splashthewineoneverydoor!Dumpthecrocksinaboilingbowl;Poundthemupwithathumpingpole;Andwhenyou’vefinished,ifanyarewhole,Sendthemdownthehalltoroll!That’swhatBilboBagginshates!So,carefully!carefullywiththeplates!

And of course they did none of these dreadful things, and everything wascleanedandput away safe asquick as lightning,while thehobbitwas turningroundandroundinthemiddleofthekitchentryingtoseewhattheyweredoing.Then theywentback,and foundThorinwithhis feeton the fender smokingapipe.Hewasblowingthemostenormoussmoke-rings,andwhereverhetoldonetogo,itwent—upthechimney,orbehindtheclockonthemantelpiece,orunderthetable,orroundandroundtheceiling;butwhereveritwentitwasnotquickenough to escape Gandalf. Pop! he sent a smaller smoke-ring from his shortclay-pipe straight through each one of Thorin’s. Then Gandalf’s smoke-ringwouldgogreenandcomebacktohoveroverthewizard’shead.Hehadacloudof themabouthimalready, and in thedim light itmadehim look strange andsorcerous.Bilbo stood still andwatched—he loved smoke-rings—and then heblushedtothinkhowproudhehadbeenyesterdaymorningofthesmoke-ringshehadsentupthewindoverTheHill.“Nowforsomemusic!”saidThorin.“Bringouttheinstruments!”KiliandFilirushedfortheirbagsandbroughtbacklittlefiddles;Dori,Nori,

andOribroughtoutflutesfromsomewhereinsidetheircoats;Bomburproducedadrumfromthehall;BifurandBofurwentouttoo,andcamebackwithclarinetsthattheyhadleftamongthewalking-sticks.DwalinandBalinsaid:“Excuseme,Ileftmineintheporch!”“Justbringmineinwithyou!”saidThorin.Theycamebackwithviolsasbigasthemselves,andwithThorin’sharpwrappedinagreencloth.Itwasabeautifulgoldenharp,andwhenThorinstruckitthemusicbeganallatonce,sosuddenandsweetthatBilboforgoteverythingelse,andwassweptawayintodarklandsunderstrangemoons,faroverTheWaterandveryfarfromhishobbit-holeunderTheHill.Thedarkcameintotheroomfromthelittlewindowthatopenedinthesideof

TheHill; the firelight flickered—itwasApril—and still theyplayedon,whiletheshadowofGandalf’sbeardwaggedagainstthewall.Thedark filled all the room, and the firedieddown, and the shadowswere

lost,andstilltheyplayedon.Andsuddenlyfirstoneandthenanotherbegantosingastheyplayed,deep-throatedsingingofthedwarvesinthedeepplacesof

their ancient homes; and this is like a fragmentof their song, if it canbe liketheirsongwithouttheirmusic.

J.R.R.Tolkienreads'FarovertheMistyMountainscold'

FaroverthemistymountainscoldTodungeonsdeepandcavernsoldWemustawayerebreakofdayToseekthepaleenchantedgold.Thedwarvesofyoremademightyspells,WhilehammersfelllikeringingbellsInplacesdeep,wheredarkthingssleep,Inhollowhallsbeneaththefells.ForancientkingandelvishlordTheremanyagleaminggoldenhoardTheyshapedandwrought,andlighttheycaughtTohideingemsonhiltofsword.OnsilvernecklacestheystrungThefloweringstars,oncrownstheyhungThedragon-fire,intwistedwireTheymeshedthelightofmoonandsun.FaroverthemistymountainscoldTodungeonsdeepandcavernsoldWemustaway,erebreakofday,Toclaimourlong-forgottengold.GobletstheycarvedthereforthemselvesAndharpsofgold;wherenomandelvesTherelaytheylong,andmanyasongWassungunheardbymenorelves.Thepineswereroaringontheheight,Thewindsweremoaninginthenight.Thefirewasred,itflamingspread;Thetreesliketorchesblazedwithlight.ThebellswereringinginthedaleAndmenlookedupwithfacespale;Thedragon’siremorefiercethanfire

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Laidlowtheirtowersandhousesfrail.Themountainsmokedbeneaththemoon;Thedwarves,theyheardthetrampofdoom.TheyfledtheirhalltodyingfallBeneathhisfeet,beneaththemoon.FaroverthemistymountainsgrimTodungeonsdeepandcavernsdimWemustaway,erebreakofday,Towinourharpsandgoldfromhim!

Astheysangthehobbitfelttheloveofbeautifulthingsmadebyhandsandbycunning and by magic moving through him, a fierce and a jealous love, thedesireof theheartsofdwarves.Then somethingTookishwokeup insidehim,andhewishedtogoandseethegreatmountains,andhearthepine-treesandthewaterfalls,andexplore thecaves,andwearaswordinsteadofawalking-stick.Helookedoutofthewindow.Thestarswereoutinadarkskyabovethetrees.Hethoughtofthejewelsofthedwarvesshiningindarkcaverns.SuddenlyinthewoodbeyondTheWateraflameleaptup—probablysomebodylightingawood-fire—and he thought of plundering dragons settling on his quiet Hill andkindling it all to flames. He shuddered; and very quickly he was plain Mr.BagginsofBag-End,Under-Hill,again.Hegotuptrembling.Hehadlessthanhalfamindtofetchthelamp,andmore

thanhalf amind topretend to, andgo andhidebehind thebeer-barrels in thecellar,andnotcomeoutagainuntilallthedwarveshadgoneaway.Suddenlyhefoundthat themusicandthesinginghadstopped,andtheywereall lookingathimwitheyesshininginthedark.“Whereareyougoing?” saidThorin, in a tone that seemed to show thathe

guessedbothhalvesofthehobbit’smind.“Whataboutalittlelight?”saidBilboapologetically.“Welikethedark,”saidall thedwarves.“Darkfordarkbusiness!Thereare

manyhoursbeforedawn.”“Ofcourse!”saidBilbo,andsatdowninahurry.Hemissedthestoolandsat

inthefender,knockingoverthepokerandshovelwithacrash.“Hush!”saidGandalf.“LetThorinspeak!”AndthisishowThorinbegan.“Gandalf,dwarvesandMr.Baggins!Wearemettogetherinthehouseofour

friend and fellow conspirator, thismost excellent and audacious hobbit—maythehaironhistoesneverfallout!allpraisetohiswineandale!—”Hepausedfor breath and for a polite remark from the hobbit, but the complimentswerequitelostonpoorBilboBaggins,whowaswagginghismouthinprotestatbeingcalledaudaciousandworstofallfellowconspirator,thoughnonoisecameout,

hewassoflummoxed.SoThorinwenton:“Wearemet todiscussourplans,ourways,means,policyanddevices.We

shall soon before the break of day start on our long journey, a journey fromwhich some of us, or perhaps all of us (except our friend and counsellor, theingeniouswizardGandalf)mayneverreturn.Itisasolemnmoment.Ourobjectis,Itakeit,wellknowntousall.TotheestimableMr.Baggins,andperhapstooneortwooftheyoungerdwarves(IthinkIshouldberightinnamingKiliandFili, for instance), the exact situation at themomentmay require a little briefexplanation—”ThiswasThorin’sstyle.Hewasanimportantdwarf.Ifhehadbeenallowed,

hewould probably have gone on like this until hewas out of breath,withouttelling anyone there anything thatwasnot knownalready.Buthewas rudelyinterrupted.PoorBilbocouldn’tbearitanylonger.Atmayneverreturnhebegantofeelashriekcomingupinside,andverysoonitburstoutlikethewhistleofanengine coming out of a tunnel.All the dwarves sprang up, knocking over thetable. Gandalf struck a blue light on the end of his magic staff, and in itsfirework glare the poor little hobbit could be seen kneeling on the hearth-rug,shakinglikeajellythatwasmelting.Thenhefellflatonthefloor,andkeptoncallingout“struckbylightning,struckbylightning!”overandoveragain;andthatwasalltheycouldgetoutofhimforalongtime.Sotheytookhimandlaidhimoutofthewayonthedrawing-roomsofawithadrinkathiselbow,andtheywentbacktotheirdarkbusiness.“Excitable little fellow,” saidGandalf, as they sat down again. “Gets funny

queerfits,butheisoneofthebest,oneofthebest—asfierceasadragoninapinch.”Ifyouhaveeverseenadragoninapinch,youwillrealizethatthiswasonly

poetical exaggeration applied to any hobbit, even to Old Took’s great-grand-uncleBullroarer,whowassohuge(forahobbit)thathecouldrideahorse.Hecharged the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of the GreenFields,andknockedtheirkingGolfimbul’sheadcleanoffwithawoodenclub.Itsailedahundredyardsthroughtheairandwentdownarabbit-hole,andinthiswaythebattlewaswonandthegameofGolfinventedatthesamemoment.In themeanwhile, however,Bullroarer’s gentler descendantwas reviving in

thedrawing-room.Afterawhileandadrinkhecreptnervouslytothedooroftheparlour.Thisiswhatheheard,Gloinspeaking:“Humph!”(orsomesnortmoreorlesslikethat).“Willhedo,doyouthink?ItisallverywellforGandalftotalkaboutthishobbitbeingfierce,butoneshrieklikethatinamomentofexcitementwouldbeenoughtowakethedragonandallhisrelatives,andkillthelotofus.Ithinkitsoundedmorelikefrightthanexcitement!Infact,ifithadnotbeenfor

thesignonthedoor,Ishouldhavebeensurewehadcometothewronghouse.AssoonasIclappedeyesonthelittlefellowbobbingandpuffingonthemat,Ihadmydoubts.Helooksmorelikeagrocerthanaburglar!”ThenMr.Bagginsturnedthehandleandwentin.TheTooksidehadwon.He

suddenlyfelthewouldgowithoutbedandbreakfasttobethoughtfierce.Asforlittle fellowbobbingon themat italmostmadehimreally fierce.Manya timeafterwards theBagginspart regrettedwhathedidnow,andhesaid tohimself:“Bilbo,youwereafool;youwalkedrightinandputyourfootinit.”“Pardonme,”hesaid,“ifIhaveoverheardwordsthatyouweresaying.Idon’t

pretendtounderstandwhatyouaretalkingabout,oryourreferencetoburglars,butIthinkIamrightinbelieving”(thisiswhathecalledbeingonhisdignity)“thatyouthinkIamnogood.Iwillshowyou.Ihavenosignsonmydoor—itwas painted aweek ago—, and I am quite sure you have come to thewronghouse.AssoonasIsawyourfunnyfacesonthedoor-step,Ihadmydoubts.Buttreatitastherightone.Tellmewhatyouwantdone,andIwilltryit,ifIhavetowalk fromhere to theEastofEastand fight thewildWere-worms in theLastDesert.Ihadagreat-great-great-grand-uncleonce,BullroarerTook,and—”“Yes,yes,butthatwaslongago,”saidGloin.“Iwastalkingaboutyou.AndI

assureyouthereisamarkonthisdoor—theusualoneinthetrade,orusedtobe.Burglarwantsagood job,plentyofExcitementandreasonableReward, that’showitisusuallyread.YoucansayExpertTreasure-hunterinsteadofBurglarifyoulike.Someofthemdo.It’sallthesametous.Gandalftoldusthattherewasa man of the sort in these parts looking for a Job at once, and that he hadarrangedforameetingherethisWednesdaytea-time.”“Of course there is amark,” saidGandalf. “I put it theremyself. For very

goodreasons.Youaskedmetofindthefourteenthmanforyourexpedition,andIchoseMr.Baggins.Just letanyonesayIchosethewrongmanor thewronghouse,andyoucanstopatthirteenandhaveallthebadluckyoulike,orgobacktodiggingcoal.”HescowledsoangrilyatGlointhatthedwarfhuddledbackinhischair;and

whenBilbotriedtoopenhismouthtoaskaquestion,heturnedandfrownedathim and stuck out his bushy eyebrows, till Bilbo shut hismouth tight with asnap.“That’sright,”saidGandalf.“Let’shavenomoreargument.IhavechosenMr.Bagginsandthatoughttobeenoughforallofyou.IfIsayheisaBurglar,aBurglarheis,orwillbewhenthetimecomes.Thereisalotmoreinhimthanyouguess,andadealmorethanhehasanyideaofhimself.Youmay(possibly)all live to thankmeyet.NowBilbo,myboy, fetch the lamp, and let’s have alittlelightonthis!”Onthetableinthelightofabiglampwitharedshadehespreadapieceof

parchmentratherlikeamap.“ThiswasmadebyThror,yourgrandfather,Thorin,”hesaidinanswertothe

dwarves’excitedquestions.“ItisaplanoftheMountain.”“Idon’t see that thiswill helpusmuch,” saidThorindisappointedly after a

glance. “I remember theMountainwell enough and the lands about it.And Iknow where Mirkwood is, and the Withered Heath where the great dragonsbred.”“ThereisadragonmarkedinredontheMountain,”saidBalin,“butitwillbe

easyenoughtofindhimwithoutthat,ifeverwearrivethere.”“Thereisonepointthatyouhaven’tnoticed,”saidthewizard,“andthatisthe

secretentrance.YouseethatruneontheWestside,andthehandpointingtoitfromtheotherrunes?ThatmarksahiddenpassagetotheLowerHalls.”(Lookatthemapinthischapter,andyouwillseetheretherunesinred.)

Thror’sMapFollowthislinktouncoveranalternativeversionofthisartwork

“Itmayhavebeensecretonce,”saidThorin,“buthowdoweknowthatitis

secret any longer? Old Smaug has lived there long enough now to find outanythingthereistoknowaboutthosecaves.”“Hemay—buthecan’thaveuseditforyearsandyears.”“Why?”

“Becauseitistoosmall.‘Fivefeethighthedoorandthreemaywalkabreast’saytherunes,butSmaugcouldnotcreepintoaholethatsize,notevenwhenhewasayoungdragon,certainlynotafterdevouringsomanyofthedwarvesandmenofDale.”“Itseemsagreatbigholetome,”squeakedBilbo(whohadnoexperienceof

dragonsandonlyofhobbit-holes).Hewasgettingexcitedandinterestedagain,so thathe forgot tokeephismouth shut.He lovedmaps, and inhishall therehungalargeoneoftheCountryRoundwithallhisfavouritewalksmarkedonitinredink.“Howcouldsuchalargedoorbekeptsecretfromeverybodyoutside,apart from the dragon?” he asked. He was only a little hobbit you mustremember.“Inlotsofways,”saidGandalf.“Butinwhatwaythisonehasbeenhiddenwe

don’tknowwithoutgoingtosee.FromwhatitsaysonthemapIshouldguessthereisacloseddoorwhichhasbeenmadetolookexactlylikethesideoftheMountain.Thatistheusualdwarves’method—Ithinkthatisright,isn’tit?”“Quiteright,”saidThorin.“Also,”wentonGandalf,“Iforgottomentionthatwiththemapwentakey,a

smallandcuriouskey.Here it is!”hesaid,andhanded toThorinakeywithalongbarrelandintricatewards,madeofsilver.“Keepitsafe!”“Indeed Iwill,” saidThorin, andhe fastened it upon a fine chain that hung

abouthisneckandunderhis jacket. “Now thingsbegin to lookmorehopeful.Thisnewsaltersthemmuchforthebetter.Sofarwehavehadnoclearideawhattodo.WethoughtofgoingEast,asquietandcarefulaswecould,asfarastheLongLake.Afterthatthetroublewouldbegin—.”“Alongtimebeforethat,ifIknowanythingabouttheroadsEast,”interrupted

Gandalf.“WemightgofromthereupalongtheRiverRunning,”wentonThorintaking

nonotice,“andsototheruinsofDale—theoldtowninthevalleythere,undertheshadowoftheMountain.ButwenoneofuslikedtheideaoftheFrontGate.TheriverrunsrightoutofitthroughthegreatcliffattheSouthoftheMountain,and out of it comes the dragon too—far too often, unless he has changed hishabits.”“That would be no good,” said thewizard, “not without amightyWarrior,

evenaHero. I tried to findone;butwarriors arebusy fightingoneanother indistant lands,and in thisneighbourhoodheroesarescarce,orsimplynot tobefound.Swords in thesepartsaremostlyblunt,andaxesareusedfor trees,andshields as cradles or dish-covers; and dragons are comfortably far-off (andtherefore legendary). That is why I settled on burglary—especially when IrememberedtheexistenceofaSide-door.Andhereisour littleBilboBaggins,

theburglar,thechosenandselectedburglar.Sonowlet’sgetonandmakesomeplans.”“Verywell then,” saidThorin, “supposing the burglar-expert gives us some

ideasorsuggestions.”Heturnedwithmock-politenesstoBilbo.“First I should like to know a bit more about things,” said he, feeling all

confusedandabitshaky inside,butsofarstillTookishlydetermined togoonwiththings.“Imeanaboutthegoldandthedragon,andallthat,andhowitgotthere,andwhoitbelongsto,andsoonandfurther.”“Blessme!” said Thorin, “haven’t you got amap? and didn’t you hear our

song?andhaven’twebeentalkingaboutallthisforhours?”“Allthesame,Ishouldlikeitallplainandclear,”saidheobstinately,putting

onhisbusinessmanner(usuallyreservedforpeoplewhotriedtoborrowmoneyoffhim),anddoinghisbesttoappearwiseandprudentandprofessionalandliveuptoGandalf’srecommendation.“AlsoIshouldliketoknowaboutrisks,out-of-pocketexpenses,timerequiredandremuneration,andsoforth”—bywhichhemeant:“WhatamIgoingtogetoutofit?andamIgoingtocomebackalive?”“O verywell,” said Thorin. “Long ago inmy grandfather Thror’s time our

familywasdrivenoutofthefarNorth,andcamebackwithalltheirwealthandtheir tools to this Mountain on the map. It had been discovered by my farancestor,ThraintheOld,butnowtheyminedandtheytunnelledandtheymadehugerhallsandgreaterworkshops—andinadditionIbelievetheyfoundagooddealofgoldandagreatmanyjewelstoo.Anywaytheygrewimmenselyrichandfamous, andmy grandfatherwasKing under theMountain again, and treatedwith great reverence by the mortal men, who lived to the South, and weregraduallyspreadinguptheRunningRiverasfarasthevalleyovershadowedbytheMountain.TheybuiltthemerrytownofDalethereinthosedays.Kingsusedto send for our smiths, and reward even the least skillfulmost richly. Fatherswould beg us to take their sons as apprentices, and pay us handsomely,especially in food-supplies, which we never bothered to grow or find forourselves.Altogether thosewere good days for us, and the poorest of us hadmoneytospendandtolend,andleisuretomakebeautifulthingsjustforthefunofit,nottospeakofthemostmarvellousandmagicaltoys,thelikeofwhichisnottobefoundintheworldnow-a-days.Somygrandfather’shallsbecamefullofarmourandjewelsandcarvingsandcups,andthetoymarketofDalewasthewonderoftheNorth.“Undoubtedly that was what brought the dragon. Dragons steal gold and

jewels, you know, frommen and elves and dwarves, wherever they can findthem;andtheyguardtheirplunderaslongastheylive(whichispracticallyforever, unless they are killed), and never enjoy a brass ring of it. Indeed they

hardlyknowagoodbitofwork fromabad, though theyusuallyhaveagoodnotionofthecurrentmarketvalue;andtheycan’tmakeathingforthemselves,notevenmendalittleloosescaleoftheirarmour.TherewerelotsofdragonsintheNorthinthosedays,andgoldwasprobablygettingscarceupthere,withthedwarvesflyingsouthorgettingkilled,andallthegeneralwasteanddestructionthatdragonsmakegoingfrombadtoworse.Therewasamostspeciallygreedy,strong and wicked worm called Smaug. One day he flew up into the air andcamesouth.ThefirstweheardofitwasanoiselikeahurricanecomingfromtheNorth, and the pine-trees on theMountain creaking and cracking in thewind.Some of the dwarveswho happened to be outside (Iwas one luckily—a fineadventurousladinthosedays,alwayswanderingabout,anditsavedmylifethatday)—well,fromagoodwayoffwesawthedragonsettleonourmountaininaspoutofflame.Thenhecamedowntheslopesandwhenhereachedthewoodstheyallwentupinfire.Bythattimeall thebellswereringinginDaleandthewarriorswerearming.Thedwarvesrushedoutoftheirgreatgate;buttherewasthe dragon waiting for them. None escaped that way. The river rushed up insteam and a fog fell on Dale, and in the fog the dragon came on them anddestroyed most of the warriors—the usual unhappy story, it was only toocommoninthosedays.ThenhewentbackandcreptinthroughtheFrontGateandroutedoutallthehalls,andlanes,andtunnels,alleys,cellars,mansionsandpassages.Afterthattherewerenodwarvesleftaliveinside,andhetookalltheirwealthforhimself.Probably,forthatisthedragons’way,hehaspileditallupinagreatheapfarinside,andsleepsonitforabed.Laterheusedtocrawloutofthe great gate and come by night to Dale, and carry away people, especiallymaidens, to eat, untilDalewas ruined, and all thepeopledeadorgone.Whatgoeson therenow Idon’tknowforcertain,but Idon’t supposeanyone livesnearertotheMountainthanthefaredgeoftheLongLakenow-a-days.“The few of us that were well outside sat and wept in hiding, and cursed

Smaug;andtherewewereunexpectedlyjoinedbymyfatherandmygrandfatherwith singed beards. They looked very grim but they said very little.When Iaskedhowtheyhadgotaway,theytoldmetoholdmytongue,andsaidthatonedayinthepropertimeIshouldknow.Afterthatwewentaway,andwehavehadtoearnourlivingsasbestwecouldupanddownthelands,oftenenoughsinkingaslowasblacksmith-workorevencoalmining.Butwehaveneverforgottenourstolentreasure.Andevennow,whenIwillallowwehaveagoodbitlaidbyandarenotsobadlyoff”—hereThorinstrokedthegoldchainroundhisneck—“westillmeantogetitback,andtobringourcurseshometoSmaug—ifwecan.“Ihaveoftenwonderedaboutmyfather’sandmygrand-father’sescape.Isee

nowtheymusthavehadaprivateSide-doorwhichonly theyknewabout.But

apparentlytheymadeamap,andIshouldliketoknowhowGandalfgotholdofit,andwhyitdidnotcomedowntome,therightfulheir.”“Ididnot‘getholdofit,’Iwasgivenit,”saidthewizard.“Yourgrandfather

Throrwaskilled,youremember,intheminesofMoriabyAzogtheGoblin.”“Cursehisname,yes,”saidThorin.“AndThrain your fatherwent away on the twenty-first ofApril, a hundred

yearsagolastThursday,andhasneverbeenseenbyyousince–”“True,true,”saidThorin.“Well,yourfathergavemethistogivetoyou;andifIhavechosenmyown

time and way for handing it over, you can hardly blameme, considering thetroubleIhadtofindyou.Yourfathercouldnotrememberhisownnamewhenhegavemethepaper,andhenevertoldmeyours;soonthewholeIthinkIoughttobepraisedandthanked!Hereitis,”saidhehandingthemaptoThorin.“Idon’tunderstand,”saidThorin,andBilbofelthewouldhave liked tosay

thesame.Theexplanationdidnotseemtoexplain.“Yourgrandfather,”saidthewizardslowlyandgrimly,“gavethemaptohis

sonforsafetybeforehewenttotheminesofMoria.Yourfatherwentawaytotry his luck with the map after your grandfather was killed; and lots ofadventuresofamostunpleasantsorthehad,buthenevergotneartheMountain.HowhegotthereIdon’tknow,butIfoundhimaprisonerinthedungeonsoftheNecromancer.”“Whateverwereyoudoing there?”askedThorinwitha shudder,andall the

dwarvesshivered.“Neveryoumind. Iwas finding thingsout, asusual; andanastydangerous

business itwas.EvenI,Gandalf,only justescaped. I tried tosaveyour father,but it was too late. He was witless and wandering, and had forgotten almosteverythingexceptthemapandthekey.”“WehavelongagopaidthegoblinsofMoria,”saidThorin;“wemustgivea

thoughttotheNecromancer.”“Don’tbeabsurd!Heisanenemyfarbeyondthepowersofall thedwarves

put together, if they could all be collected again from the four corners of theworld.Theonethingyourfatherwishedwasforhissontoreadthemapandusethekey.ThedragonandtheMountainaremorethanbigenoughtasksforyou!”“Hear,hear!”saidBilbo,andaccidentallysaiditaloud.“Hear what?” they all said turning suddenly towards him, and he was so

flusteredthatheanswered“HearwhatIhavegottosay!”“What’sthat?”theyasked.“Well,IshouldsaythatyououghttogoEastandhavealookround.Afterall

thereis theSide-door,anddragonsmustsleepsometimes,Isuppose.Ifyousit

onthedoor-steplongenough,Idaresayyouwillthinkofsomething.Andwell,don’t youknow, I thinkwehave talked longenough foronenight, if you seewhatImean.Whataboutbed,andanearlystart,andallthat?Iwillgiveyouagoodbreakfastbeforeyougo.”“Beforewe go, I supposeyoumean,” saidThorin. “Aren’tyou theburglar?

And isn’t sitting on the door-step your job, not to speak of getting inside thedoor?ButIagreeaboutbedandbreakfast. I likesixeggswithmyham,whenstartingonajourney:friednotpoached,andmindyoudon’tbreak’em.”Afterall theothershadorderedtheirbreakfastswithoutsomuchasaplease

(whichannoyedBilboverymuch),theyallgotup.Thehobbithadtofindroomfor themall,andfilledallhisspare-roomsandmadebedsonchairsandsofas,beforehegotthemallstowedandwenttohisownlittlebedverytiredandnotaltogetherhappy.Onethinghedidmakehismindupaboutwasnottobothertoget up very early and cook everybody else’s wretched breakfast. TheTookishness was wearing off, and he was not now quite so sure that he wasgoingonanyjourneyinthemorning.Ashe lay in bedhe could hearThorin still humming to himself in the best

bedroomnexttohim:FaroverthemistymountainscoldTodungeonsdeepandcavernsoldWemustaway,erebreakofday,Tofindourlong-forgottengold.

Bilbowenttosleepwiththatinhisears,anditgavehimveryuncomfortabledreams.Itwaslongafterthebreakofday,whenhewokeup.

ChapterIIRoastMutton

UpjumpedBilbo,andputtingonhisdressing-gownwentintothedining-room.Therehe sawnobody,but all the signsof a largeandhurriedbreakfast.Therewas a fearfulmess in the room, and piles of unwashed crocks in the kitchen.Nearlyeverypotandpanhepossessedseemedtohavebeenused.Thewashing-upwassodismallyreal thatBilbowasforced tobelieve thepartyof thenightbeforehadnotbeenpartofhisbaddreams,ashehadratherhoped. Indeedhewas really relieved after all to think that they had all gone without him, andwithout bothering towake himup (“butwith never a thank-you” he thought);andyetinawayhecouldnothelpfeelingjustatrifledisappointed.Thefeelingsurprisedhim.“Don’tbeafool,BilboBaggins!”hesaidtohimself,“thinkingofdragonsand

allthatoutlandishnonsenseatyourage!”Soheputonanapron,litfires,boiledwater,andwashedup.Thenhehadanice littlebreakfast in thekitchenbeforeturningoutthedining-room.Bythattimethesunwasshining;andthefrontdoorwasopen,lettinginawarmspringbreeze.Bilbobegantowhistleloudlyandtoforget about the night before. In fact hewas just sitting down to a nice littlesecond breakfast in the dining-room by the open window, when in walkedGandalf.“Mydearfellow,”saidhe,“wheneverareyougoingtocome?Whataboutan

earlystart?—andhereyouarehavingbreakfast,orwhateveryoucallit,athalfpastten!Theyleftyouthemessage,becausetheycouldnotwait.”“Whatmessage?”saidpoorMr.Bagginsallinafluster.“GreatElephants!”saidGandalf,“youarenotatallyourself thismorning—

youhaveneverdustedthemantelpiece!”“What’sthatgottodowithit?Ihavehadenoughtodowithwashingupfor

fourteen!”“Ifyouhaddustedthemantelpiece,youwouldhavefoundthisjustunderthe

clock,”saidGandalf,handingBilboanote(written,ofcourse,onhisownnote-paper).

Thisiswhatheread:

“Thorin and Company to Burglar Bilbo greeting! For your hospitality oursincerest thanks, and for your offer of professional assistance our gratefulacceptance.Terms:cashondelivery,uptoandnotexceedingonefourteenthoftotal profits (if any); all travelling expenses guaranteed in any event; funeralexpensestobedefrayedbyusorourrepresentatives,ifoccasionarisesandthematterisnototherwisearrangedfor.“Thinkingitunnecessarytodisturbyouresteemedrepose,wehaveproceeded

inadvancetomakerequisitepreparations,andshallawaityourrespectedpersonat theGreenDragon Inn,Bywater, at 11 a.m. sharp.Trusting that youwill bepunctual,

“Wehavethehonourtoremain“Yoursdeeply“Thorin&Co.”

“Thatleavesyoujusttenminutes.Youwillhavetorun,”saidGandalf.“But—,”saidBilbo.“Notimeforit,”saidthewizard.“But—,”saidBilboagain.“Notimeforthateither!Offyougo!”To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself

outside,withoutahat,awalking-stickoranymoney,oranythingthatheusuallytook when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quiteunwashed-up,pushinghiskeysintoGandalf’shands,andrunningasfastashisfurryfeetcouldcarryhimdownthelane,pastthegreatMill,acrossTheWater,andthenonforamileormore.Verypuffedhewas,whenhegottoBywaterjustonthestrokeofeleven,and

foundhehadcomewithoutapocket-handkerchief!“Bravo!”saidBalinwhowasstandingattheinndoorlookingoutforhim.Just then all the others came round the corner of the road from the village.

Theywereonponies,andeachponywasslungaboutwithallkindsofbaggages,packages,parcels, andparaphernalia.Therewasavery smallpony, apparentlyforBilbo.“Upyoutwoget,andoffwego!”saidThorin.“I’mawfullysorry,”saidBilbo,“butIhavecomewithoutmyhat,andIhave

leftmypocket-handkerchiefbehind, and Ihaven’tgotanymoney. Ididn’tgetyournoteuntilafter10.45tobeprecise.”“Don’tbeprecise,”saidDwalin,“anddon’tworry!Youwillhavetomanage

withoutpocket-handkerchiefs,andagoodmanyotherthings,beforeyougetto

the journey’s end. As for a hat, I have got a spare hood and cloak in myluggage.”That’showtheyallcametostart, joggingofffromtheinnonefinemorning

justbeforeMay,onladenponies;andBilbowaswearingadark-greenhood(alittleweather-stained)andadark-greencloakborrowedfromDwalin.Theyweretoo large for him, and he looked rather comic.What his father Bungowouldhave thought of him, I daren’t think. His only comfort was he couldn’t bemistakenforadwarf,ashehadnobeard.Theyhadnotbeenridingverylong,whenupcameGandalfverysplendidona

whitehorse.Hehadbroughtalotofpocket-handkerchiefs,andBilbo’spipeandtobacco.Soafterthatthepartywentalongverymerrily,andtheytoldstoriesorsangsongsastheyrodeforwardallday,exceptofcoursewhentheystoppedformeals.Thesedidn’tcomequiteasoftenasBilbowouldhavelikedthem,butstillhebegantofeelthatadventureswerenotsobadafterall.At first they had passed through hobbit-lands, a wide respectable country

inhabitedbydecent folk,withgood roads, an innor two, andnowand thenadwarf or a farmer ambling by on business. Then they came to lands wherepeoplespokestrangely,andsangsongsBilbohadneverheardbefore.Nowtheyhadgoneonfar into theLone-lands,where therewerenopeople left,no inns,andtheroadsgrewsteadilyworse.Notfaraheadweredrearyhills,risinghigherandhigher,darkwithtrees.Onsomeofthemwereoldcastleswithanevillook,asiftheyhadbeenbuiltbywickedpeople.Everythingseemedgloomy,fortheweatherthatdayhadtakenanastyturn.MostlyithadbeenasgoodasMaycanbe,canbe,eveninmerrytales,butnowitwascoldandwet.IntheLone-landstheyhadbeenobligedtocampwhentheycould,butatleastithadbeendry.“TothinkitwillsoonbeJune!”grumbledBilbo,ashesplashedalongbehind

theothersinaverymuddytrack.Itwasaftertea-time;itwaspouringwithrain,andhadbeenallday;hishoodwasdrippingintohiseyes,hiscloakwasfullofwater;theponywastiredandstumbledonstones;theothersweretoogrumpytotalk.“AndI’msuretherainhasgotintothedryclothesandintothefood-bags,”thoughtBilbo. “Bother burgling and everything to dowith it! Iwish Iwas athomeinmyniceholebythefire,withthekettlejustbeginningtosing!”Itwasnotthelasttimethathewishedthat!Still thedwarves joggedon,never turning roundor takinganynoticeof the

hobbit.Somewherebehindthegreycloudsthesunmusthavegonedown,foritbegan to get dark as they went down into a deep valley with a river at thebottom.Windgotup,andwillowsalongitsbanksbentandsighed.Fortunatelytheroadwentoveranancientstonebridge,fortheriver,swollenwiththerains,camerushingdownfromthehillsandmountainsinthenorth.

Itwasnearlynightwhentheyhadcrossedover.Thewindbrokeupthegreyclouds,andawanderingmoonappearedabovethehillsbetweentheflyingrags.Then they stopped, and Thorinmuttered something about supper, “andwhereshallwegetadrypatchtosleepon?”NotuntilthendidtheynoticethatGandalfwasmissing.Sofarhehadcome

allthewaywiththem,neversayingifhewasintheadventureormerelykeepingthemcompanyforawhile.Hehadeatenmost, talkedmost,andlaughedmost.Butnowhesimplywasnotthereatall!

“Justwhen awizardwould have beenmost useful, too,” groanedDori andNori(whosharedthehobbit’sviewsaboutregularmeals,plentyandoften).Theydecidedintheendthattheywouldhavetocampwheretheywere.They

movedtoaclumpoftrees,andthoughitwasdrierunderthem,thewindshooktherainofftheleaves,andthedrip,drip,wasmostannoying.Alsothemischiefseemedtohavegotintothefire.Dwarvescanmakeafirealmostanywhereoutofalmostanything,windornowind;buttheycouldnotdoitthatnight,notevenOinandGloin,whowerespeciallygoodatit.Thenoneoftheponiestookfrightatnothingandbolted.Hegotintotheriver

before theycouldcatchhim;andbefore theycouldgethimoutagain,FiliandKiliwerenearlydrowned,andallthebaggagethathecarriedwaswashedawayoffhim.Ofcourseitwasmostlyfood,andtherewasmightylittleleftforsupper,andlessforbreakfast.

J.R.R.Tolkienreadsfrom'RoastMutton'

Theretheyallsatglumandwetandmuttering,whileOinandGloinwentontrying to light thefire,andquarrellingabout it.Bilbowassadlyreflecting thatadventuresarenotallpony-ridesinMay-sunshine,whenBalin,whowasalwaystheirlook-outman,said:“There’salightoverthere!”Therewasahillsomewayoffwithtreesonit,prettythickinparts.Outofthedarkmassofthetreestheycouldnowseealightshining,areddishcomfortable-lookinglight,asitmightbeafireortorchestwinkling.When theyhad lookedat it for somewhile, they fell to arguing.Some said

“no”andsomesaid“yes”.Somesaid theycouldbutgoandsee,andanythingwasbetterthanlittlesupper,lessbreakfast,andwetclothesallthenight.Others said: “These parts are none too well known, and are too near the

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mountains. Travellers seldom come this way now. The old maps are no use:thingshavechangedfortheworseandtheroadisunguarded.Theyhaveseldomeven heard of the king round here, and the less inquisitive you are as you goalong, the less trouble you are likely to find.” Some said: “After all there arefourteen of us.” Others said: “Where has Gandalf got to?” This remark wasrepeatedbyeverybody.Thentherainbegantopourdownworsethanever,andOinandGloinbegantofight.Thatsettledit.“Afterallwehavegotaburglarwithus,”theysaid;andsothey

madeoff,leadingtheirponies(withalldueandpropercaution)inthedirectionofthelight.Theycametothehillandweresooninthewood.Upthehilltheywent;buttherewasnoproperpathtobeseen,suchasmightleadtoahouseorafarm; and dowhat they could theymade a deal of rustling and crackling andcreaking(andagooddealofgrumblinganddratting),astheywentthroughthetreesinthepitchdark.Suddenly the red light shone out very bright through the tree-trunks not far

ahead.“Nowitistheburglar’sturn,”theysaid,meaningBilbo.“Youmustgoonand

find out all about that light, andwhat it is for, and if all is perfectly safe andcanny,”saidThorintothehobbit.“Nowscuttleoff,andcomebackquick,ifalliswell.Ifnot,comebackifyoucan!Ifyoucan’t,hoottwicelikeabarn-owlandoncelikeascreech-owl,andwewilldowhatwecan.”OffBilbohadtogo,beforehecouldexplainthathecouldnothootevenonce

likeanykindofowl anymore than fly like abat.But at any ratehobbits canmovequietlyinwoods,absolutelyquietly.Theytakeaprideinit,andBilbohadsniffedmorethanonceatwhathecalled“allthisdwarvishracket,”astheywentalong,thoughIdon’tsupposeyouorIwouldhavenoticedanythingatallonawindynight, not if thewhole cavalcadehadpassed two feet off.As forBilbowalkingprimlytowardstheredlight,Idon’tsupposeevenaweaselwouldhavestirredawhiskeratit.So,naturally,hegotrightuptothefire—forfireitwas—withoutdisturbinganyone.Andthisiswhathesaw.Threevery largepersons sitting roundavery large fireofbeech-logs.They

were toasting mutton on long spits of wood, and licking the gravy off theirfingers.Therewasafinetoothsomesmell.Alsotherewasabarrelofgooddrinkat hand, and they were drinking out of jugs. But they were trolls. Obviouslytrolls.EvenBilbo, in spite of his sheltered life, could see that: from the greatheavyfacesof them,andtheirsize,andtheshapeof their legs,not tomentiontheirlanguage,whichwasnotdrawing-roomfashionatall,atall.“Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don’t look like mutton

againtomorrer,”saidoneofthetrolls.

“Never a blinking bit of manflesh have we had for long enough,” said asecond.“Whatthe’ellWilliamwasa-thinkin’of tobringusintothesepartsatall, beatsme—and the drink runnin’ short, what’smore,” he said jogging theelbowofWilliam,whowastakingapullathisjug.Williamchoked. “Shut yermouth!”he said as soon ashe could. “Yer can’t

expectfolktostophereforeverjusttobeetbyyouandBert.You’veetavillageand ahalf betweenyer, sincewe comedown from themountains.Howmuchmored’yerwant?Andtime’sbeenupourway,whenyer’dhavesaid’thankyerBill’foranicebito’fatvalleymuttonlikewhatthisis.”Hetookabigbiteoffasheep’sleghewasroasting,andwipedhislipsonhissleeve.Yes,Iamafraidtrollsdobehavelikethat,eventhosewithonlyoneheadeach.

After hearing all this Bilbo ought to have done something at once. Either heshouldhavegonebackquietlyandwarnedhisfriendsthattherewerethreefair-sized trolls athand in anastymood,quite likely to try roasteddwarf,or evenpony,forachange;orelseheshouldhavedoneabitofgoodquickburgling.Areallyfirst-classandlegendaryburglarwouldatthispointhavepickedthetrolls’pockets—it isnearlyalwaysworthwhile, ifyoucanmanage it—,pinched thevery mutton off the spits, purloined the beer, and walked off without theirnoticing him. Others more practical but with less professional pride wouldperhapshavestuckadaggerintoeachofthembeforetheyobservedit.Thenthenightcouldhavebeenspentcheerily.Bilboknewit.Hehadreadofagoodmanythingshehadneverseenordone.

Hewasverymuchalarmed,aswellasdisgusted;hewishedhimselfahundredmilesaway,andyet—andyetsomehowhecouldnotgostraightbacktoThorinandCompanyemptyhanded.Sohe stoodandhesitated in the shadows.Of thevarious burglarious proceedings he had heard of picking the trolls’ pocketsseemedtheleastdifficult,soatlasthecreptbehindatreejustbehindWilliam.BertandTomwentofftothebarrel.Williamwashavinganotherdrink.Then

BilbopluckedupcourageandputhislittlehandinWilliam’senormouspocket.Therewasapurseinit,asbigasabagtoBilbo.“Ha!”thoughthe,warmingtohisnewworkashelifteditcarefullyout,“thisisabeginning!”Itwas!Trolls’pursesarethemischief,andthiswasnoexception.“’Ere,‘oo

areyou?”itsqueaked,asitleftthepocket;andWilliamturnedroundatonceandgrabbedBilbobytheneck,beforehecouldduckbehindthetree.“Blimey,Bert,lookwhatI’vecopped!”saidWilliam.“Whatisit?”saidtheotherscomingup.“Lumme,ifIknows!Whatareyer?”“Bilbo Baggins, a bur—a hobbit,” said poor Bilbo, shaking all over, and

wonderinghowtomakeowl-noisesbeforetheythrottledhim.

“Aburrahobbit?” said they a bit startled.Trolls are slow in the uptake, andmightysuspiciousaboutanythingnewtothem.“What’saburrahobbitgottodowithmypocket,anyways?”saidWilliam.“Andcanyercook’em?”saidTom.“Yercantry,”saidBert,pickingupaskewer.“Hewouldn’tmakeaboveamouthful,”saidWilliam,whohadalreadyhada

finesupper,“notwhenhewasskinnedandboned.”“P’rapstherearemorelikehimroundabout,andwemightmakeapie,”said

Bert.“Hereyou,arethereanymoreofyoursorta-sneakin’intheseherewoods,yernasstylittlerabbit,”saidhelookingatthehobbit’sfurryfeet;andhepickedhimupbythetoesandshookhim.“Yes, lots,” saidBilbo, before he remembered not to give his friends away.

“Nononeatall,notone,”hesaidimmediatelyafterwards.“Whatd’yermean?”saidBert,holdinghimrightwayup,bythehairthistime.“WhatIsay,”saidBilbogasping.“Andpleasedon’tcookme,kindsirs!Iama

goodcookmyself,andcookbetterthanIcook,ifyouseewhatImean.I’llcookbeautifully for you, a perfectly beautiful breakfast for you, if only youwon’thavemeforsupper.”“Poorlittleblighter,”saidWilliam.Hehadalreadyhadasmuchsupperashe

couldhold;alsohehadhadlotsofbeer.“Poorlittleblighter!Lethimgo!”“Not tillhesayswhathemeansby lotsandnoneatall,”saidBert.“Idon’t

wanttohavemethroatcutinmesleep!Holdhistoesinthefire,tillhetalks!”“Iwon’thaveit,”saidWilliam.“Icaughthimanyway.”“You’reafatfool,William,”saidBert,“asI’vesaidaforethisevening.”“Andyou’realout!”“AndIwon’ttakethatfromyou,BillHuggins,”saysBert,andputshisfistin

William’seye.Then therewas a gorgeous row.Bilbohad just enoughwits left,whenBert

droppedhimontheground,toscrambleoutofthewayoftheirfeet,beforetheywere fighting likedogs, and callingone another all sorts of perfectly true andapplicablenames invery loudvoices.Soon theywere locked inoneanother’sarms,androllingnearlyintothefirekickingandthumping,whileTomwhackedatthembothwithabranchtobringthemtotheirsenses—andthatofcourseonlymadethemmadderthanever.ThatwouldhavebeenthetimeforBilbotohaveleft.Buthispoorlittlefeet

hadbeenverysquashedinBert’sbigpaw,andhehadnobreathinhisbody,andhisheadwasgoing round;so therehe lay forawhilepanting, justoutside thecircleoffirelight.RightinthemiddleofthefightupcameBalin.Thedwarveshadheardnoises

fromadistance,andafterwaitingforsometimeforBilbotocomeback,or tohootlikeanowl,theystartedoffonebyonetocreeptowardsthelightasquietlyastheycould.NosoonerdidTomseeBalincomeintothelightthanhegaveanawfulhowl.Trollssimplydetesttheverysightofdwarves(uncooked).BertandBillstoppedfighting immediately,and“asack,Tom,quick!” theysaid.BeforeBalin,whowaswonderingwhere inall thiscommotionBilbowas,knewwhatwashappening,asackwasoverhishead,andhewasdown.“There’smoretocomeyet,”saidTom,“orI’mmightymistook.Lotsandnone

at all, it is,” said he. “No burrahobbits, but lots of these here dwarves. That’sabouttheshapeofit!”“Ireckonyou’reright,”saidBert,“andwe’dbestgetoutofthelight.”And so they did.With sacks in their hands, that they used for carrying off

muttonandotherplunder, theywaitedintheshadows.Aseachdwarfcameupandlookedatthefire,andthespilledjugs,andthegnawedmutton,insurprise,pop!wentanastysmellysackoverhishead,andhewasdown.SoonDwalinlaybyBalin,andFiliandKilitogether,andDoriandNoriandOriallinaheap,andOinandGloinandBifurandBofurandBombur—pileduncomfortablynearthefire.“That’ll teach ’em,” said Tom; for Bifur and Bombur had given a lot of

trouble,andfoughtlikemad,asdwarveswillwhencornered.Thorin came last—and he was not caught unawares. He came expecting

mischief,anddidn’tneedtoseehisfriends’legsstickingoutofsackstotellhimthatthingswerenotallwell.Hestoodoutsideintheshadowssomewayoff,andsaid:“What’sallthistrouble?Whohasbeenknockingmypeopleabout?”“It’strolls!”saidBilbofrombehindatree.Theyhadforgottenallabouthim.

“They’rehidinginthebusheswithsacks,”saidhe.“O! are they?” said Thorin, and he jumped forward to the fire, before they

couldleaponhim.Hecaughtupabigbranchallonfireatoneend;andBertgotthatendinhiseyebeforehecouldstepaside.Thatputhimoutofthebattleforabit.Bilbodidhisbest.HecaughtholdofTom’sleg—aswellashecould,itwasthickasayoung tree-trunk—buthewassentspinningup into the topofsomebushes,whenTomkickedthesparksupinThorin’sface.

TheTrollsAlternativeImage

Tomgotthebranchinhisteethforthat,andlostoneofthefrontones.Itmade

himhowl,Icantellyou.Butjustat thatmomentWilliamcameupbehindandpoppedasackrightoverThorin’sheadanddowntohis toes.Andso thefightended.Anicepickletheywereallinnow:allneatlytiedupinsacks,withthreeangry trolls (and two with burns and bashes to remember) sitting by them,arguing whether they should roast them slowly, or mince them fine and boilthem,orjustsitonthemonebyoneandsquashthemintojelly;andBilboupinabush,withhisclothesandhisskintorn,notdaringtomoveforfeartheyshould

hearhim.

ItwasjustthenthatGandalfcameback.Butnoonesawhim.Thetrollshadjustdecidedtoroastthedwarvesnowandeatthemlater—thatwasBert’sidea,andafteralotofargumenttheyhadallagreedtoit.“Nogoodroasting’emnow,it’dtakeallnight,”saidavoice.Bertthoughtit

wasWilliam’s.“Don’t start the argument all over again, Bill,” he said, “or itwill take all

night.”“Who’sa-arguing?”saidWilliam,whothoughtitwasBertthathadspoken.“Youare,”saidBert.“You’realiar,”saidWilliam;andsotheargumentbeganalloveragain.Inthe

endtheydecidedtomincethemfineandboilthem.Sotheygotagreatblackpot,andtheytookouttheirknives.“Nogoodboiling’em!Weain’tgotnowater,andit’salongwaytothewell

andall,”saidavoice.BertandWilliamthoughtitwasTom’s.“Shutup!”saidthey,“orwe’llneverhavedone.Andyercanfetchthewater

yerself,ifyersayanymore.”“Shut up yerself!” said Tom, who thought it wasWilliam’s voice. “Who’s

arguingbutyou,I’dliketoknow.”“You’reabooby,”saidWilliam.“Boobyyerself!”saidTom.Andsotheargumentbeganalloveragain,andwentonhotterthanever,until

at last they decided to sit on the sacks one by one and squash them, and boilthemnexttime.“Whoshallwesitonfirst?”saidthevoice.“Bettersitonthelastfellowfirst,”saidBert,whoseeyehadbeendamagedby

Thorin.HethoughtTomwastalking.“Don’ttalktoyerself!”saidTom.“Butifyouwantstositonthelastone,sit

onhim.Whichishe?”“Theonewiththeyellowstockings,”saidBert.“Nonsense,theonewiththegreystockings,”saidavoicelikeWilliam’s.“Imadesureitwasyellow,”saidBert.“Yellowitwas,”saidWilliam.“Thenwhatdidyersayitwasgreyfor?”saidBert.“Ineverdid.Tomsaidit.”“ThatIneverdid!”saidTom.“Itwasyou.”“Twotoone,soshutyermouth!”saidBert.“Whoareyoua-talkin’to?”saidWilliam.

“Nowstopit!”saidTomandBerttogether.“Thenight’sgettin’on,anddawncomesearly.Let’sgetonwithit!”“Dawn take you all, and be stone to you!” said a voice that sounded like

William’s.Butitwasn’t.Forjustatthatmomentthelightcameoverthehill,andtherewas amighty twitter in the branches.William never spoke for he stoodturnedtostoneashestooped;andBertandTomwerestucklikerocksas theylookedathim.

TheThreeTrollsareTurnedtoStoneAlternativeImage

And there theystand to thisday,allalone,unless thebirdsperchon them; fortrolls,asyouprobablyknow,mustbeundergroundbeforedawn,ortheygobackto the stuffof themountains theyaremadeof, andnevermoveagain.That iswhathadhappenedtoBertandTomandWilliam.“Excellent!”saidGandalf,ashesteppedfrombehindatree,andhelpedBilbo

toclimbdownoutofathorn-bush.ThenBilbounderstood.Itwasthewizard’svoicethathadkeptthetrollsbickeringandquarrelling,untilthelightcameandmadeanendofthem.The next thing was to untie the sacks and let out the dwarves. They were

nearly suffocated, and very annoyed: they had not at all enjoyed lying therelistening to the trollsmaking plans for roasting them and squashing them and

mincing them.Theyhad tohearBilbo’saccountofwhathadhappened tohimtwiceover,beforetheyweresatisfied.“Silly time to go practising pinching and pocket-picking,” said Bombur,

“whenwhatwewantedwasfireandfood!”“And that’s just what you wouldn’t have got of those fellows without a

struggle,inanycase,”saidGandalf.“Anyhowyouarewastingtimenow.Don’tyourealizethatthetrollsmusthaveacaveoraholedugsomewhereneartohidefromthesunin?Wemustlookintoit!”Theysearchedabout, and soon found themarksof trolls’ stonybootsgoing

away through the trees. They followed the tracks up the hill, until hidden bybushes theycameonabigdoorofstoneleadingtoacave.But theycouldnotopenit,notthoughtheyallpushedwhileGandalftriedvariousincantations.“Would this be any good?” asked Bilbo, when they were getting tired and

angry.“Ifounditonthegroundwherethetrollshadtheirfight.”Heheldoutalargish key, though no doubtWilliam had thought it very small and secret. Itmusthavefallenoutofhispocket,veryluckily,beforehewasturnedtostone.“Whyonearthdidn’tyoumentionitbefore?”theycried.Gandalfgrabbedit

and fitted it into the key-hole. Then the stone door swung backwith one bigpush,andtheyallwentinside.Therewerebonesonthefloorandanastysmellwasintheair;buttherewasagooddealoffoodjumbledcarelesslyonshelvesand on the ground, among an untidy litter of plunder, of all sorts from brassbuttonstopotsfullofgoldcoinsstandinginacorner.Therewerelotsofclothes,too, hanging on the walls—too small for trolls, I am afraid they belonged tovictims—and among themwere several swords of variousmakes, shapes, andsizes. Two caught their eyes particularly, because of their beautiful scabbardsandjewelledhilts.GandalfandThorineachtookoneofthese;andBilbotookaknifeinaleather

sheath. Itwould havemade only a tiny pocket-knife for a troll, but itwas asgoodasashortswordforthehobbit.“Theselooklikegoodblades,”saidthewizard,halfdrawingthemandlooking

at themcuriously.“Theywerenotmadebyany troll,norbyanysmithamongmeninthesepartsanddays;butwhenwecanreadtherunesonthem,weshallknowmoreaboutthem.”“Let’sgetoutofthishorriblesmell!”saidFili.Sotheycarriedoutthepotsof

coins,andsuchfoodaswasuntouchedandlookedfit toeat,alsoonebarrelofale which was still full. By that time they felt like breakfast, and being veryhungry they did not turn their noses up at what they had got from the trolls’larder.Theirownprovisionswereveryscanty.Nowtheyhadbreadandcheese,andplentyofale,andbacontotoastintheembersofthefire.

Afterthattheyslept,fortheirnighthadbeendisturbed;andtheydidnothingmoretilltheafternoon.Thentheybroughtuptheirponies,andcarriedawaythepotsofgold,andburied themverysecretlynot far fromthe trackby theriver,puttingagreatmanyspellsover them,just incasetheyeverhadthechancetocomebackandrecoverthem.Whenthatwasdone,theyallmountedoncemore,andjoggedalongagainonthepathtowardstheEast.“Where did you go to, if Imay ask?” said Thorin toGandalf as they rode

along.“Tolookahead,”saidhe.“Andwhatbroughtyoubackinthenickoftime?”“Lookingbehind,”saidhe.“Exactly!”saidThorin;“butcouldyoubemoreplain?”“Iwentontospyoutourroad.Itwillsoonbecomedangerousanddifficult.

AlsoIwasanxiousaboutreplenishingoursmallstockofprovisions. Ihadnotgoneveryfar,however,whenImetacoupleoffriendsofminefromRivendell.”“Where’sthat?”askedBilbo.“Don’t interrupt!” said Gandalf. “You will get there in a few days now, if

we’re lucky, and find out all about it.As Iwas saying Imet two of Elrond’speople.Theywerehurryingalongforfearofthetrolls.Itwastheywhotoldmethatthreeofthemhadcomedownfromthemountainsandsettledinthewoodsnotfarfromtheroad:theyhadfrightenedeveryoneawayfromthedistrict,andtheywaylaidstrangers.“IimmediatelyhadafeelingthatIwaswantedback.LookingbehindIsawa

fireinthedistanceandmadeforit.Sonowyouknow.Pleasebemorecareful,nexttime,orweshallnevergetanywhere!”“Thankyou!”saidThorin.

ChapterIIIAShortRest

Theydidnotsingortellstoriesthatday,eventhoughtheweatherimproved;northenextday,nor thedayafter.Theyhadbeguntofeel thatdangerwasnotfarawayoneitherside.Theycampedunderthestars,andtheirhorseshadmoretoeatthantheyhad;fortherewasplentyofgrass,buttherewasnotmuchintheirbags,evenwithwhat theyhadgot from the trolls.Onemorning they fordedariveratawideshallowplacefullofthenoiseofstonesandfoam.Thefarbankwassteepandslippery.Whentheygottothetopofit,leadingtheirponies,theysawthatthegreatmountainshadmarcheddownveryneartothem.Alreadytheyseemedonlyaday’seasyjourneyfromthefeetofthenearest.Darkanddrearitlooked,thoughtherewerepatchesofsunlightonitsbrownsides,andbehinditsshouldersthetipsofsnow-peaksgleamed.“Is thatTheMountain?” asked Bilbo in a solemn voice, looking at it with

roundeyes.Hehadneverseenathingthatlookedsobigbefore.“Of course not!” said Balin. “That is only the beginning of the Misty

Mountains, andwehavegot toget through,orover,orunder those somehow,beforewecancomeintoWilderlandbeyond.AnditisadealofawayevenfromtheothersideofthemtotheLonelyMountainintheEastwhereSmaugliesonourtreasure.”“O!” said Bilbo, and just at that moment he felt more tired than he ever

rememberedfeelingbefore.Hewasthinkingonceagainofhiscomfortablechairbeforethefireinhisfavouritesitting-roominhishobbit-hole,andofthekettlesinging.Notforthelasttime!

NowGandalf led theway.“Wemustnotmiss theroad,orweshallbedonefor,”hesaid.“Weneedfood,foronething,andrestinreasonablesafety—alsoitisverynecessarytotackletheMistyMountainsbytheproperpath,orelseyouwillgetlostinthem,andhavetocomebackandstartatthebeginningagain(ifyouevergetbackatall).”Theyaskedhimwherehewasmakingfor,andheanswered:“Youarecometo

theveryedgeoftheWild,assomeofyoumayknow.Hiddensomewhereaheadof us is the fair valley of Rivendell where Elrond lives in the Last HomelyHouse.Isentamessagebymyfriends,andweareexpected.”Thatsoundedniceandcomforting,buttheyhadnotgotthereyet,anditwas

notsoeasyasitsoundstofindtheLastHomelyHousewestoftheMountains.Thereseemedtobenotreesandnovalleysandnohillstobreakthegroundinfrontofthem,onlyonevastslopegoingslowlyupanduptomeetthefeetofthenearestmountain, awide land the colour of heather and crumbling rock,withpatchesandslashesofgrass-greenandmoss-greenshowingwherewatermightbe.Morningpassed,afternooncame;butinallthesilentwastetherewasnosign

ofanydwelling.Theyweregrowinganxious, for theysawnowthat thehousemightbehiddenalmostanywherebetweenthemandthemountains.Theycameon unexpected valleys, narrowwith steep sides, that opened suddenly at theirfeet,andtheylookeddownsurprisedtoseetreesbelowthemandrunningwateratthebottom.Thereweregulliesthattheycouldalmostleapover,butverydeepwithwaterfalls in them. Therewere dark ravines that one could neither jumpover nor climb into. Therewere bogs, some of them green pleasant places tolookat,withflowersgrowingbrightandtall;butaponythatwalkedtherewithapackonitsbackwouldneverhavecomeoutagain.Itwasindeedamuchwiderlandfromthefordtothemountainsthaneveryou

would have guessed. Bilbo was astonished. The only path was marked withwhitestones,someofwhichweresmall,andotherswerehalfcoveredwithmossor heather. Altogether it was a very slow business following the track, evenguidedbyGandalf,whoseemedtoknowhiswayaboutprettywell.Hisheadandbeardwaggedthiswayandthatashelookedforthestones,and

theyfollowedhislead,buttheyseemednonearertotheendofthesearchwhenthe day began to fail. Tea-time had long gone by, and it seemed supper-timewould soon do the same. There were moths fluttering about, and the lightbecame very dim, for themoon had not risen.Bilbo’s pony began to stumbleover roots and stones.They came to the edge of a steep fall in the ground sosuddenlythatGandalf’shorsenearlyslippeddowntheslope.“Hereit isat last!”hecalled,andtheothersgatheredroundhimandlooked

over the edge. They saw a valley far below. They could hear the voice ofhurryingwaterinarockybedatthebottom;thescentoftreeswasintheair;andtherewasalightonthevalley-sideacrossthewater.

RivendellBilbonever forgot theway they slithered and slipped in the duskdown the

steepzig-zagpath into the secretvalleyofRivendell.Theairgrewwarmerastheygotlower,andthesmellofthepine-treesmadehimdrowsy,sothateverynowandagainhenoddedandnearlyfelloff,orbumpedhisnoseonthepony’sneck.Theirspiritsroseastheywentdownanddown.Thetreeschangedtobeechandoak,andtherewasacomfortablefeelinginthetwilight.Thelastgreenhadalmostfadedoutofthegrass,whentheycameatlengthtoanopengladenotfarabovethebanksofthestream.“Hmmm!itsmells likeelves!” thoughtBilbo,andhe lookedupat thestars.

Theywere burning bright and blue. Just then there came a burst of song likelaughterinthetrees:

O!Whatareyoudoing,Andwhereareyougoing?Yourponiesneedshoeing!Theriverisflowing!

O!tra-la-la-lallyheredowninthevalley!

O!Whatareyouseeking,Andwhereareyoumaking?Thefaggotsarereeking,Thebannocksarebaking!

O!tril-lil-lil-lollythevalleyisjolly,ha!ha!

O!WhereareyougoingWithbeardsalla-wagging?Noknowing,noknowingWhatbringsMisterBaggins

AndBalinandDwalindownintothevalleyinJuneha!ha!

O!Willyoubestaying,Orwillyoubeflying?Yourponiesarestraying!Thedaylightisdying!Toflywouldbefolly,Tostaywouldbejolly

AndlistenandharkTilltheendofthedarktoourtuneha!ha!

Sotheylaughedandsanginthetrees;andprettyfairnonsenseIdaresayyouthinkit.Notthattheywouldcare;theywouldonlylaughallthemoreifyoutoldthemso.Theywereelvesofcourse.SoonBilbocaughtglimpsesofthemasthedarknessdeepened.He lovedelves, thoughheseldommet them;buthewasalittlefrightenedofthemtoo.Dwarvesdon’tgetonwellwiththem.EvendecentenoughdwarveslikeThorinandhisfriendsthinkthemfoolish(whichisaveryfoolishthingtothink),orgetannoyedwiththem.Forsomeelvesteasethemandlaughatthem,andmostofallattheirbeards.“Well,well!”saidavoice.“Just look!Bilbo thehobbitonapony,mydear!

Isn’titdelicious!”“Mostastonishingwonderful!”Thenoff theywent intoanothersongasridiculousas theoneIhavewritten

downinfull.Atlastone,atallyoungfellow,cameoutfromthetreesandbowedtoGandalfandtoThorin.“Welcometothevalley!”hesaid.“Thankyou!”saidThorinabitgruffly;butGandalfwasalreadyoffhishorse

andamongtheelves,talkingmerrilywiththem.“Youarealittleoutofyourway,”saidtheelf:“thatis,ifyouaremakingfor

theonlypathacross thewaterand to thehousebeyond.Wewillsetyouright,butyouhadbestgetonfoot,untilyouareoverthebridge.Areyougoingtostaya bit and sing with us, or will you go straight on? Supper is preparing overthere,”hesaid.“Icansmellthewood-firesforthecooking.”Tiredashewas,Bilbowouldhavelikedtostayawhile.Elvishsingingisnota

thing tomiss, in Juneunder the stars,not ifyoucare for such things.Alsohewouldhavelikedtohaveafewprivatewordswiththesepeoplethatseemedtoknowhisnamesandallabouthim,althoughhehadneverseenthembefore.Hethoughttheiropinionofhisadventuremightbeinteresting.Elvesknowalotandarewondrousfolkfornews,andknowwhat isgoingonamongthepeoplesoftheland,asquickaswaterflows,orquicker.Butthedwarveswereallforsupperassoonaspossiblejustthen,andwould

notstay.Ontheyallwent,leadingtheirponies,tilltheywerebroughttoagoodpathandsoatlasttotheverybrinkoftheriver.Itwasflowingfastandnoisily,asmountain-streamsdoofasummerevening,whensunhasbeenalldayonthesnowfarupabove.Therewasonlyanarrowbridgeofstonewithoutaparapet,asnarrowasaponycouldwellwalkon;andoverthattheyhadtogo,slowandcareful,onebyone,eachleadinghisponybythebridle.Theelveshadbroughtbrightlanternstotheshore,andtheysangamerrysongasthepartywentacross.“Don’tdipyourbeardinthefoam,father!”theycriedtoThorin,whowasbent

almostontohishandsandknees.“Itislongenoughwithoutwateringit.”“Mind Bilbo doesn’t eat all the cakes!” they called. “He is too fat to get

throughkey-holesyet!”“Hush, hush!Good People! and good night!” saidGandalf,who came last.

“Valleyshaveears,andsomeelveshaveovermerrytongues.Goodnight!”Andsoat last theyallcame to theLastHomelyHouse,andfound itsdoors

flungwide.

Nowit isastrange thing,but things thataregood tohaveanddays thataregoodtospendaresoontoldabout,andnotmuchto listento;while things thatareuncomfortable,palpitating,andevengruesome,maymakeagoodtale,andtakeadealoftellinganyway.Theystayedlonginthatgoodhouse,fourteendaysatleast,andtheyfoundithardtoleave.Bilbowouldgladlyhavestoppedthere

foreverandever—evensupposingawishwouldhave takenhimrightback tohishobbit-holewithouttrouble.Yetthereislittletotellabouttheirstay.Themasterofthehousewasanelf-friend—oneofthosepeoplewhosefathers

cameintothestrangestoriesbeforethebeginningofHistory,thewarsoftheevilgoblins and theelvesand the firstmen in theNorth. In thosedaysofour taletherewere still some peoplewho had both elves and heroes of theNorth forancestors,andElrondthemasterofthehousewastheirchief.Hewasasnobleandas fair in faceasanelf-lord,asstrongasawarrior,as

wiseasawizard,asvenerableasakingofdwarves,andaskindassummer.Hecomesintomanytales,buthispartinthestoryofBilbo’sgreatadventureisonlyasmallone,thoughimportant,asyouwillsee,ifweevergettotheendofit.Hishousewasperfect,whetheryoulikedfood,orsleep,orwork,orstory-telling,orsinging,orjustsittingandthinkingbest,orapleasantmixtureofthemall.Evilthingsdidnotcomeintothatvalley.IwishIhadtimetotellyouevenafewofthetalesoroneortwoofthesongs

thattheyheardinthathouse.Allofthem,theponiesaswell,grewrefreshedandstronginafewdaysthere.Theirclothesweremendedaswellas theirbruises,their tempersand theirhopes.Theirbagswere filledwith foodandprovisionslight to carry but strong to bring them over themountain passes. Their planswereimprovedwith thebestadvice.Sothetimecametomidsummereve,andtheyweretogoonagainwiththeearlysunonmidsummermorning.Elrondknewallaboutrunesofeverykind.Thatdayhelookedattheswords

they had brought from the trolls’ lair, and he said: “These are not troll-make.They areold swords, veryold swordsof theHighElvesof theWest,mykin.TheyweremadeinGondolinfortheGoblin-wars.Theymusthavecomefromadragon’s hoard or goblin plunder, for dragons and goblins destroyed that citymanyagesago.This,Thorin,therunesnameOrcrist, theGoblin-cleaverintheancient tongue of Gondolin; it was a famous blade. This, Gandalf, wasGlamdring,Foe-hammerthatthekingofGondolinoncewore.Keepthemwell!”“Whencedidthetrollsgetthem,Iwonder?”saidThorinlookingathissword

withnewinterest.“I could not say,” said Elrond, “but one may guess that your trolls had

plunderedotherplunderers,orcomeon the remnantsofold robberies in someholdinthemountains.IhaveheardthattherearestillforgottentreasuresofoldtobefoundinthedesertedcavernsoftheminesofMoria,sincethedwarfandgoblinwar.”Thorin pondered these words. “I will keep this sword in honour,” he said.

“Mayitsooncleavegoblinsonceagain!”“A wish that is likely to be granted soon enough in the mountains!” said

Elrond.“Butshowmenowyourmap!”He took it and gazed long at it, and he shook his head; for if he did not

altogetherapproveofdwarvesandtheirloveofgold,hehateddragonsandtheircruelwickedness,andhegrievedtoremembertheruinofthetownofDaleanditsmerrybells,andtheburnedbanksofthebrightRiverRunning.Themoonwasshininginabroadsilvercrescent.Heheldupthemapandthewhitelightshonethroughit.“Whatisthis?”hesaid.“Therearemoon-lettershere,besidetheplainruneswhichsay‘fivefeethighthedoorandthreemaywalkabreast.’”“Whataremoon-letters?”askedthehobbitfullofexcitement.Helovedmaps,

as I have told you before; and he also liked runes and letters and cunninghandwriting,thoughwhenhewrotehimselfitwasabitthinandspidery.“Moon-letters are rune-letters, but you cannot see them,” said Elrond, “not

whenyou lookstraightat them.Theycanonlybeseenwhen themoonshinesbehindthem,andwhatismore,withthemorecunningsortitmustbeamoonofthe same shape and season as the day when they were written. The dwarvesinvented themandwrote themwithsilverpens,asyour friendscould tellyou.Thesemusthavebeenwrittenonamidsummer’seveinacrescentmoon,alongwhileago.”“Whatdotheysay?”askedGandalfandThorintogether,abitvexedperhaps

that even Elrond should have found this out first, though really there had notbeen a chance before, and there would not have been another until goodnessknowswhen.“Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks,” read Elrond, “and the

settingsunwiththelastlightofDurin’sDaywillshineuponthekey-hole.”“Durin,Durin!” saidThorin. “Hewas the father of the fathers of the eldest

raceofDwarves,theLongbeards,andmyfirstancestor:Iamhisheir.”“ThenwhatisDurin’sDay?”askedElrond.“Thefirstdayofthedwarves’NewYear,”saidThorin,“isasallshouldknow

thefirstdayofthelastmoonofAutumnonthethresholdofWinter.Westillcallit Durin’s Day when the last moon of Autumn and the sun are in the skytogether.But thiswill not helpusmuch, I fear, for it passesour skill in thesedaystoguesswhensuchatimewillcomeagain.”“Thatremainstobeseen,”saidGandalf.“Isthereanymorewriting?”“None tobe seenby thismoon,” saidElrond, andhegave themapback to

Thorin; and then theywentdown to thewater to see theelvesdanceand singuponthemidsummer’seve.Thenextmorningwasamidsummer’smorningasfairandfreshascouldbe

dreamed: blue sky andnever a cloud, and the sundancingon thewater.Nowtheyrodeawayamidsongsoffarewellandgoodspeed,withtheirheartsready

formoreadventure,andwithaknowledgeoftheroadtheymustfollowovertheMistyMountainstothelandbeyond.

ChapterIVOverHillandunderHill

Thereweremanypathsthatledupintothosemountains,andmanypassesoverthem.Butmostof thepathswerecheatsanddeceptionsandlednowhereor tobad ends; and most of the passes were infested by evil things and dreadfuldangers.Thedwarvesandthehobbit,helpedbythewiseadviceofElrondandtheknowledgeandmemoryofGandalf,tooktherightroadtotherightpass.LongdaysaftertheyhadclimbedoutofthevalleyandlefttheLastHomely

Housemilesbehind,theywerestillgoingupandupandup.Itwasahardpathandadangerouspath,acrookedwayandalonelyandalong.Nowtheycouldlookbackoverthelandstheyhadleft, laidoutbehindthemfarbelow.Far,faraway in theWest,where thingswere blue and faint,Bilbo knew there lay hisown country of safe and comfortable things, and his little hobbit-hole. Heshivered.Itwasgettingbittercolduphere,andthewindcameshrillamongtherocks.Boulders,too,attimescamegallopingdownthemountain-sides,letloosebymid-daysunuponthesnow,andpassedamongthem(whichwaslucky),orover theirheads (whichwasalarming).Thenightswere comfortless andchill,andtheydidnotdaretosingortalktooloud,fortheechoeswereuncanny,andthesilenceseemedtodislikebeingbroken—exceptbythenoiseofwaterandthewailofwindandthecrackofstone.“The summer isgettingondownbelow,” thoughtBilbo, “andhaymaking is

goingonandpicnics.Theywillbeharvestingandblackberrying,beforeweevenbegin to go down the other side at this rate.” And the others were thinkingequallygloomythoughts,althoughwhentheyhadsaidgood-byetoElrondinthehighhopeofamidsummermorning,theyhadspokengailyofthepassageofthemountains, and of riding swift across the lands beyond. They had thought ofcoming to the secret door in theLonelyMountain, perhaps that verynext lastmoon of Autumn—“and perhaps it will be Durin’s Day” they had said. OnlyGandalfhadshakenhisheadandsaidnothing.Dwarveshadnotpassedthatwayformanyyears,butGandalfhad,andheknewhowevilanddangerhadgrownandthriven in theWild,since thedragonshaddrivenmenfromthe lands,and

thegoblinshadspreadinsecretafterthebattleoftheMinesofMoria.Eventhegood plans of wise wizards like Gandalf and of good friends like Elrond goastraysometimeswhenyouareoffondangerousadventuresovertheEdgeoftheWild;andGandalfwasawiseenoughwizardtoknowit.

He knew that something unexpectedmight happen, and he hardly dared tohope that they would pass without fearful adventure over those great tallmountainswithlonelypeaksandvalleyswherenokingruled.Theydidnot.Allwaswell,untilonedaytheymetathunderstorm—morethanathunderstorm,athunder-battle.Youknowhowterrificareallybigthunderstormcanbedowninthelandandinariver-valley;especiallyattimeswhentwogreatthunderstormsmeetandclash.Moreterriblestillarethunderandlightninginthemountainsatnight,whenstormscomeup fromEastandWestandmakewar.The lightningsplinters on thepeaks, and rocks shiver, andgreat crashes split the air andgorollingandtumblingintoeverycaveandhollow;andthedarknessisfilledwithoverwhelmingnoiseandsuddenlight.Bilbohadneverseenorimaginedanythingofthekind.Theywerehighupin

anarrowplace,withadreadfulfallintoadimvalleyatonesideofthem.Theretheywere sheltering under a hanging rock for the night, and he lay beneath ablanket and shook from head to toe. When he peeped out in the lightning-flashes,hesawthatacrossthevalleythestone-giantswereout,andwerehurlingrocksatoneanotherforagame,andcatchingthem,andtossingthemdownintothedarknesswhere theysmashedamong the trees farbelow,orsplintered intolittlebitswithabang.Thencameawindandarain,andthewindwhippedtherainand thehail about ineverydirection, so that anoverhanging rockwasnoprotectionatall.Soontheyweregettingdrenchedandtheirponieswerestandingwiththeirheadsdownandtheirtailsbetweentheirlegs,andsomeofthemwerewhinnyingwith fright. They could hear the giants guffawing and shouting alloverthemountainsides.“Thiswon’tdoatall!”saidThorin.“Ifwedon’tgetblownoff,ordrowned,or

struckbylightning,weshallbepickedupbysomegiantandkickedsky-highforafootball.”

TheMountain-pathAlternativeImage

“Well,ifyouknowofanywherebetter,takeusthere!”saidGandalf,whowas

feelingverygrumpy,andwasfarfromhappyaboutthegiantshimself.TheendoftheirargumentwasthattheysentFiliandKilitolookforabetter

shelter. They had very sharp eyes, and being the youngest of the dwarves bysomefiftyyearstheyusuallygot thesesortof jobs(wheneverybodycouldsee

thatitwasabsolutelynousesendingBilbo).Thereisnothinglikelooking,ifyouwanttofindsomething(orsoThorinsaidtotheyoungdwarves).Youcertainlyusuallyfindsomething,ifyoulook,butitisnotalwaysquitethesomethingyouwereafter.Soitprovedonthisoccasion.SoonFiliandKilicamecrawlingback,holdingon to therocks in thewind.

“We have found a dry cave,” they said, “not far round the next corner; andponiesandallcouldgetinside.”“Haveyouthoroughlyexploredit?”saidthewizard,whoknewthatcavesup

inthemountainswereseldomunoccupied.“Yes,yes!”theysaid,thougheverybodyknewtheycouldnothavebeenlong

aboutit;theyhadcomebacktooquick.“Itisn’tallthatbig,anditdoesnotgofarback.”That, of course, is thedangerouspart about caves:youdon’tknowhow far

they go back, sometimes, or where a passage behindmay lead to, or what iswaiting foryou inside.ButnowFiliandKili’snewsseemedgoodenough.Sothey all got up andprepared tomove.Thewindwashowling and the thunderstillgrowling,andtheyhadabusinessgettingthemselvesandtheirponiesalong.Stillitwasnotveryfartogo,andbeforelongtheycametoabigrockstandingoutintothepath.Ifyousteppedbehind,youfoundalowarchinthesideofthemountain.Therewasjustroomtogettheponiesthroughwithasqueeze,whentheyhadbeenunpackedandunsaddled.As theypassedunder thearch, itwasgoodtohearthewindandtherainoutsideinsteadofallaboutthem,andtofeelsafefromthegiantsandtheirrocks.Butthewizardwastakingnorisks.Helituphiswand—ashedidthatdayinBilbo’sdining-roomthatseemedsolongago,ifyouremember—,andbyitslighttheyexploredthecavefromendtoend.Itseemedquiteafairsize,butnottoolargeandmysterious.Ithadadryfloor

and some comfortable nooks.At one end therewas room for the ponies; andthere they stood (mighty glad of the change) steaming, and champing in theirnosebags.OinandGloinwanted to lightafireat thedoor todry theirclothes,butGandalfwouldnothearofit.Sotheyspreadouttheirwetthingsonthefloor,andgotdryonesoutoftheirbundles;thentheymadetheirblanketscomfortable,got out their pipes andblew smoke rings,whichGandalf turned into differentcoloursandsetdancingupbytherooftoamusethem.Theytalkedandtalked,andforgotaboutthestorm,anddiscussedwhateachwoulddowithhisshareofthetreasure(whentheygotit,whichatthemomentdidnotseemsoimpossible);andsotheydroppedofftosleeponebyone.Andthatwasthelasttimethattheyused the ponies, packages, baggages, tools and paraphernalia that they hadbroughtwiththem.It turned out a good thing that night that they had brought littleBilbowith

them, after all. For, somehow, he could not go to sleep for a longwhile; andwhenhedid sleep, he hadverynasty dreams.Hedreamed that a crack in thewallatthebackofthecavegotbiggerandbigger,andopenedwiderandwider,andhewasveryafraidbut couldnot calloutordoanythingbut lie and look.Thenhedreamedthatthefloorofthecavewasgivingway,andhewasslipping—beginningtofalldown,down,goodnessknowswhereto.Atthathewokeupwithahorriblestart,andfoundthatpartofhisdreamwas

true. A crack had opened at the back of the cave, and was already a widepassage.Hewasjustintimetoseethelastoftheponies’tailsdisappearingintoit.Ofcoursehegaveaveryloudyell,asloudayellasahobbitcangive,whichissurprisingfortheirsize.Out jumped the goblins, big goblins, great ugly-looking goblins, lots of

goblins,beforeyoucouldsayrocksandblocks.Thereweresixtoeachdwarf,atleast,andtwoevenforBilbo;andtheywereallgrabbedandcarriedthroughthecrack,beforeyoucould say tinderand flint.ButnotGandalf.Bilbo’syellhaddonethatmuchgood.Ithadwakenedhimupwideinasplinteredsecond,andwhengoblins came tograbhim, therewasa terrific flash like lightning in thecave,asmelllikegunpowder,andseveralofthemfelldead.Thecrackclosedwithasnap,andBilboandthedwarveswereonthewrong

sideofit!WherewasGandalf?Ofthatneithertheynorthegoblinshadanyidea,andthegoblinsdidnotwaittofindout.TheyseizedBilboandthedwarvesandhurriedthemalong.Itwasdeep,deep,dark,suchasonlygoblinsthathavetakentolivingintheheartofthemountainscanseethrough.Thepassagestherewerecrossedandtangledinalldirections,butthegoblinsknewtheirway,aswellasyoudotothenearestpost-office;andthewaywentdownanddown,anditwasmost horribly stuffy. The goblinswere very rough, and pinched unmercifully,and chuckled and laughed in their horrible stony voices; andBilbowasmoreunhappy even thanwhen the troll had picked him up by his toes. Hewishedagainandagainforhisnicebrighthobbit-hole.Notforthelasttime.Nowtherecameaglimmerofaredlightbeforethem.Thegoblinsbeganto

sing, or croak, keeping time with the flap of their flat feet on the stone, andshakingtheirprisonersaswell.

Clap!Snap!theblackcrack!Grip,grab!Pinch,nab!AnddowndowntoGoblin-town

Yougo,mylad!Clash,crash!Crush,smash!Hammerandtongs!Knockerandgongs!Pound,pound,farunderground!

Ho,ho!mylad!Swish,smack!Whipcrack!Batterandbeat!Yammerandbleat!Work,work!Nordaretoshirk,WhileGoblinsquaff,andGoblinslaugh,Roundandroundfarunderground

Below,mylad!Itsoundedtrulyterrifying.Thewallsechoedtotheclap,snap!andthecrush,

smash!andtotheuglylaughteroftheirho,ho!mylad!Thegeneralmeaningofthe songwasonly tooplain; fornow thegoblins tookoutwhipsandwhippedthemwithaswish,smack!,andsetthemrunningasfastastheycouldinfrontofthem;andmorethanoneofthedwarveswerealreadyyammeringandbleatinglikeanything,whentheystumbledintoabigcavern.Itwaslitbyagreatredfireinthemiddle,andbytorchesalongthewalls,and

itwas full of goblins.They all laughed and stamped and clapped their hands,when thedwarves (withpoor littleBilboat thebackandnearest to thewhips)came running in, while the goblin-drivers whooped and cracked their whipsbehind.Theponieswerealreadytherehuddledinacorner;andtherewereallthebaggagesandpackageslyingbrokenopen,andbeingrummagedbygoblins,andsmeltbygoblins,andfingeredbygoblins,andquarrelledoverbygoblins.I am afraid that was the last they ever saw of those excellent little ponies,

includingajollysturdylittlewhitefellowthatElrondhadlenttoGandalf,sincehis horsewas not suitable for themountain-paths. For goblins eat horses andponiesanddonkeys(andothermuchmoredreadfulthings),andtheyarealwayshungry.Justnowhowevertheprisonerswerethinkingonlyofthemselves.Thegoblinschainedtheirhandsbehindtheirbacksandlinkedthemalltogetherinaline,anddragged themto thefarendof thecavernwith littleBilbo tuggingattheendoftherow.Thereintheshadowsonalargeflatstonesatatremendousgoblinwithahuge

head,andarmedgoblinswerestandingroundhimcarryingtheaxesandthebentswords that they use. Now goblins are cruel, wicked, and bad-hearted. Theymakenobeautifulthings,buttheymakemanycleverones.Theycantunnelandmineaswell as anybut themost skilleddwarves,when they take the trouble,though they are usually untidy and dirty. Hammers, axes, swords, daggers,pickaxes, tongs, and also instruments of torture, they make very well, or getotherpeopletomaketotheirdesign,prisonersandslavesthathavetoworktilltheydieforwantofairandlight.Itisnotunlikelythattheyinventedsomeofthemachinesthathavesincetroubledtheworld,especiallytheingeniousdevicesforkillinglargenumbersofpeopleatonce,forwheelsandenginesandexplosions

always delighted them, and also notworkingwith their own handsmore thantheycouldhelp;butinthosedaysandthosewildpartstheyhadnotadvanced(asitiscalled)sofar.Theydidnothatedwarvesespecially,nomorethantheyhatedeverybodyandeverything,andparticularlytheorderlyandprosperous;insomepartswickeddwarveshadevenmadeallianceswiththem.Buttheyhadaspecialgrudge against Thorin’s people, because of the war which you have heardmentioned, butwhich does not come into this tale; and anyway goblins don’tcarewhotheycatch,aslongasitisdonesmartandsecret,andtheprisonersarenotabletodefendthemselves.“Whoarethesemiserablepersons?”saidtheGreatGoblin.“Dwarves,andthis!”saidoneofthedrivers,pullingatBilbo’schainsothathe

fellforwardontohisknees.“WefoundthemshelteringinourFrontPorch.”“Whatdoyoumeanbyit?”saidtheGreatGoblinturningtoThorin.“Uptono

good, I’ll warrant! Spying on the private business of my people, I guess!Thieves, I shouldn’tbesurprised to learn!Murderersand friendsofElves,notunlikely!Come!Whathaveyougottosay?”“Thorinthedwarfatyourservice!”hereplied—itwasmerelyapolitenothing.

“Of the things which you suspect and imagine we had no idea at all. Weshelteredfromastorminwhatseemedaconvenientcaveandunused;nothingwas further from our thoughts than inconveniencing goblins in any waywhatever.”Thatwastrueenough!“Um!”saidtheGreatGoblin.“Soyousay!MightIaskwhatyouweredoing

up in themountains at all, andwhere youwere coming from, andwhere youweregoingto?InfactIshouldliketoknowallaboutyou.Notthatitwilldoyoumuchgood,ThorinOakenshield,Iknowtoomuchaboutyourfolkalready;butlet’s have the truth, or Iwill prepare somethingparticularlyuncomfortable foryou!”“Wewereonajourneytovisitourrelatives,ournephewsandnieces,andfirst,

second, and third cousins, and the other descendants of our grandfathers,wholiveontheEastsideofthesetrulyhospitablemountains,”saidThorin,notquiteknowingwhat to say all at once in amoment,whenobviously the exact truthwouldnotdoatall.“Heisaliar,Otrulytremendousone!”saidoneofthedrivers.“Severalofour

peoplewerestruckbylightninginthecave,whenweinvitedthesecreaturestocomebelow;andtheyareasdeadasstones.Alsohehasnotexplainedthis!”Heheld out the sword which Thorin had worn, the sword which came from theTrolls’lair.TheGreatGoblingaveatrulyawfulhowlofragewhenhelookedatit,andall

hissoldiersgnashedtheir teeth,clashed theirshields,andstamped.Theyknew

the sword at once. It hadkilled hundreds of goblins in its time,when the fairelvesofGondolinhuntedtheminthehillsordidbattlebeforetheirwalls.TheyhadcalleditOrcrist,Goblin-cleaver,butthegoblinscalleditsimplyBiter.Theyhateditandhatedworseanyonethatcarriedit.“Murderers and elf-friends!” the Great Goblin shouted. “Slash them! Beat

them!Bitethem!Gnashthem!Takethemawaytodarkholesfullofsnakes,andneverletthemseethelightagain!”HewasinsucharagethathejumpedoffhisseatandhimselfrushedatThorinwithhismouthopen.Just at thatmoment all the lights in the cavernwent out, and the great fire

went off poof! into a tower of blue glowing smoke, right up to the roof, thatscatteredpiercingwhitesparksallamongthegoblins.The yells and yammering, croaking, jibbering and jabbering; howls, growls

and curses; shrieking and skriking, that followed were beyond description.Severalhundredwildcatsandwolvesbeingroastedslowlyalivetogetherwouldnothavecomparedwithit.Thesparkswereburningholesinthegoblins,andthesmokethatnowfellfromtheroofmadetheairtoothickforeventheireyestoseethrough.Soontheywerefallingoveroneanotherandrollinginheapsonthefloor,bitingandkickingandfightingasiftheyhadallgonemad.Suddenlyaswordflashed in itsownlight.Bilbosawitgoright throughthe

GreatGoblinashestooddumbfoundedinthemiddleofhisrage.Hefelldead,andthegoblinsoldiersfledbeforetheswordshriekingintothedarkness.Theswordwentbackintoitssheath.“Followmequick!”saidavoicefierce

andquiet;andbeforeBilbounderstoodwhathadhappenedhewastrottingalongagain,asfastashecouldtrot,at theendoftheline,downmoredarkpassageswith the yells of the goblin-hall growing fainter behind him.Apale lightwasleadingthemon.“Quicker,quicker!”saidthevoice.“Thetorcheswillsoonberelit.”“Halfaminute!”saidDori,whowasatthebacknexttoBilbo,andadecent

fellow.Hemadethehobbitscrambleonhisshouldersasbesthecouldwithhistiedhands,andthenofftheyallwentatarun,withaclink-clinkofchains,andmanyastumble, since theyhadnohands tosteady themselveswith.Not foralongwhiledidtheystop,andbythattimetheymusthavebeenrightdownintheverymountain’sheart.ThenGandalf lit up hiswand.Of course itwasGandalf; but just then they

weretoobusytoaskhowhegotthere.Hetookouthisswordagain,andagainitflashedinthedarkbyitself.Itburnedwitharagethatmadeitgleamifgoblinswereabout;nowitwasbrightasblueflamefordelightinthekillingofthegreatlord of the cave. It made no trouble whatever of cutting through the goblin-chains and setting all the prisoners free as quickly as possible. This sword’s

namewasGlamdringtheFoe-hammer,ifyouremember.ThegoblinsjustcalleditBeater,andhateditworsethanBiterifpossible.Orcrist,too,hadbeensaved;forGandalfhadbrought italongaswell, snatching it fromoneof the terrifiedguards.Gandalfthoughtofmostthings;andthoughhecouldnotdoeverything,hecoulddoagreatdealforfriendsinatightcorner.“Areweallhere?”saidhe,handinghisswordbacktoThorinwithabow.“Let

me see: one—that’s Thorin; two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,eleven;whereareFiliandKili?Heretheyare!twelve,thirteen—andhere’sMr.Baggins: fourteen!Well,well! itmightbeworse,and thenagain itmightbeagooddealbetter.Noponies,andnofood,andnoknowingquitewhereweare,andhordesofangrygoblinsjustbehind!Onwego!”Ontheywent.Gandalfwasquiteright:theybegantoheargoblinnoisesand

horriblecriesfarbehindinthepassagestheyhadcomethrough.Thatsentthemon faster than ever, and as poorBilbo could not possibly go half as fast—fordwarvescanrollalongatatremendouspace,Icantellyou,whentheyhaveto—theytookitinturntocarryhimontheirbacks.Still goblins go faster than dwarves, and these goblins knew theway better

(theyhadmade thepaths themselves), andweremadlyangry; so thatdowhattheycouldthedwarvesheardthecriesandhowlsgettingcloserandcloser.Soontheycouldheareventheflapofthegoblinfeet,manymanyfeetwhichseemedonly just round the last corner.The blink of red torches could be seen behindtheminthetunneltheywerefollowing;andtheyweregettingdeadlytired.“Why, O why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole!” said poor Mr. Baggins

bumpingupanddownonBombur’sback.“Why,OwhydidIeverbringawretchedlittlehobbitonatreasurehunt!”said

poorBombur,whowasfat,andstaggeredalongwith thesweatdrippingdownhisnoseinhisheatandterror.At thispointGandalf fellbehind,andThorinwithhim.Theyturnedasharp

corner.“Aboutturn!”heshouted.“DrawyourswordThorin!”Therewasnothingelsetobedone;andthegoblinsdidnotlikeit.Theycame

scurrying round the corner in full cry, and found Goblin-cleaver, and Foe-hammershiningcoldandbrightrightintheirastonishedeyes.Theonesinfrontdroppedtheirtorchesandgaveoneyellbeforetheywerekilled.Theonesbehindyelledstillmore,and leapedbackknockingover those thatwere runningafterthem. “Biter andBeater!” they shrieked; and soon theywere all in confusion,andmostofthemwerehustlingbackthewaytheyhadcome.Itwasquitealongwhilebeforeanyofthemdaredtoturnthatcorner.Bythat

timethedwarveshadgoneonagain,along,long,wayonintothedarktunnelsof the goblins’ realm. When the goblins discovered that, they put out their

torches and they slippedon soft shoes, and they choseout their veryquickestrunnerswiththesharpestearsandeyes.Theseranforward,asswiftasweaselsinthedark,andwithhardlyanymorenoisethanbats.That is why neither Bilbo, nor the dwarves, nor even Gandalf heard them

coming. Nor did they see them. But they were seen by the goblins that ransilentlyupbehind,forGandalfwaslettinghiswandgiveoutafaintlighttohelpthedwarvesastheywentalong.QuitesuddenlyDori,nowatthebackagaincarryingBilbo,wasgrabbedfrom

behindinthedark.Heshoutedandfell;andthehobbitrolledoffhisshouldersinto the blackness, bumped his head on hard rock, and remembered nothingmore.

ChapterVRiddlesintheDark

WhenBilboopenedhiseyes,hewonderedifhehad;for itwasjustasdarkaswith them shut. No one was anywhere near him. Just imagine his fright! Hecouldhearnothing,seenothing,andhecouldfeelnothingexceptthestoneofthefloor.Veryslowlyhegotupandgropedaboutonallfours,tillhetouchedthewallof

thetunnel;butneitherupnordownitcouldhefindanything:nothingatall,nosign of goblins, no sign of dwarves.His headwas swimming, and hewas farfromcertainevenofthedirectiontheyhadbeengoinginwhenhehadhisfall.Heguessedaswellashecould,andcrawledalongforagoodway,tillsuddenlyhis handmetwhat felt like a tiny ring of coldmetal lying on the floor of thetunnel.Itwasaturningpointinhiscareer,buthedidnotknowit.Heputtheringinhispocketalmostwithoutthinking;certainlyitdidnotseemofanyparticularuseatthemoment.Hedidnotgomuchfurther,butsatdownonthecoldfloorandgavehimselfuptocompletemiserableness,foralongwhile.Hethoughtofhimself frying bacon and eggs in his own kitchen at home—for he could feelinside that it was high time for somemeal or other; but that onlymade himmiserabler.Hecouldnotthinkwhattodo;norcouldhethinkwhathadhappened;orwhy

hehadbeenleftbehind;orwhy,ifhehadbeenleftbehind,thegoblinshadnotcaughthim;orevenwhyhisheadwassosore.Thetruthwashehadbeenlyingquiet,outofsightandoutofmind,inaverydarkcornerforalongwhile.After some time he felt for his pipe. It was not broken, and that was

something.Thenhefeltforhispouch,andtherewassometobaccoinit,andthatwassomethingmore.Thenhefeltformatchesandhecouldnotfindanyatall,andthatshatteredhishopescompletely.Justaswellforhim,asheagreedwhenhe came to his senses.Goodness knowswhat the striking ofmatches and thesmellof tobaccowouldhavebroughtonhimoutofdarkholes in thathorribleplace.Still at themomenthe feltverycrushed.But in slappingallhispocketsandfeelingallroundhimselfformatcheshishandcameonthehiltofhislittle

sword—the little dagger that he got from the trolls, and that he had quiteforgotten; nor fortunately had the goblins noticed it, as he wore it inside hisbreeches.Nowhedrewitout.Itshonepaleanddimbeforehiseyes.“Soitisanelvish

blade,too,”hethought;“andgoblinsarenotverynear,andyetnotfarenough.”Butsomehowhewascomforted.Itwasrathersplendidtobewearingablade

made inGondolin for the goblin-wars ofwhich somany songs had sung; andalsohehadnoticedthatsuchweaponsmadeagreatimpressionongoblinsthatcameuponthemsuddenly.“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go

forward?Onlythingtodo!Onwego!”Souphegot,andtrottedalongwithhislittleswordheldinfrontofhimandonehandfeelingthewall,andhisheartallofapatterandapitter.

Now certainly Bilbo was in what is called a tight place. But you mustrememberitwasnotquitesotightforhimasitwouldhavebeenformeorforyou.Hobbits arenotquite likeordinarypeople; and after all if their holes arenice cheery places and properly aired, quite different from the tunnels of thegoblins,stilltheyaremoreusedtotunnellingthanweare,andtheydonoteasilylosetheirsenseofdirectionunderground—notwhentheirheadshaverecoveredfrom being bumped. Also they can move very quietly, and hide easily, andrecoverwonderfullyfromfallsandbruises,andtheyhaveafundofwisdomandwisesayingsthatmenhavemostlyneverheardorhaveforgottenlongago.IshouldnothavelikedtohavebeeninMr.Baggins’place,allthesame.The

tunnel seemed to have no end.All he knewwas that it was still going downprettysteadilyandkeepinginthesamedirectioninspiteofatwistandaturnortwo.Therewerepassagesleadingofftothesideeverynowandthen,asheknewbytheglimmerofhissword,orcouldfeelwithhishandonthewall.Ofthesehetook no notice, except to hurry past for fear of goblins or half-imagined darkthingscomingoutofthem.Onandonhewent,anddownanddown;andstillheheard no sound of anything except the occasional whirr of a bat by his ears,whichstartledhimat first, till itbecametoofrequent tobotherabout. Idonotknowhowlonghekeptonlikethis,hatingtogoon,notdaringtostop,on,on,untilhewastirederthantired.Itseemedlikeallthewaytotomorrowandoverittothedaysbeyond.Suddenlywithout anywarninghe trotted splash intowater!Ugh! itwas icy

cold.Thatpulledhimupsharpandshort.Hedidnotknowwhetheritwasjustapoolinthepath,ortheedgeofanundergroundstreamthatcrossedthepassage,orthebrinkofadeepdarksubterraneanlake.Theswordwashardlyshiningat

all. He stopped, and he could hear, when he listened hard, drops drip-drip-dripping fromanunseen roof into thewaterbelow;but there seemednoothersortofsound.“Soitisapooloralake,andnotanundergroundriver,”hethought.Stillhe

didnotdaretowadeoutintothedarkness.Hecouldnotswim;andhethought,too,ofnastyslimy things,withbigbulgingblindeyes,wriggling in thewater.Therearestrangethingslivinginthepoolsandlakesintheheartsofmountains:fish whose fathers swam in, goodness only knows howmany years ago, andneverswamoutagain,whiletheireyesgrewbiggerandbiggerandbiggerfromtryingtosee in theblackness;also thereareother thingsmoreslimythanfish.Even in the tunnels and caves thegoblinshavemade for themselves there areotherthingslivingunbeknowntothemthathavesneakedinfromoutsidetolieup in the dark. Some of these caves, too, go back in their beginnings to agesbefore thegoblins,whoonlywidenedthemandjoined themupwithpassages,andtheoriginalownersarestillthereinoddcorners,slinkingandnosingabout.

J.R.R.Tolkienreadsfrom'RiddlesintheDark'

DeepdownherebythedarkwaterlivedoldGollum,asmallslimycreature.Idon’tknowwherehecamefrom,norwhoorwhathewas.HewasGollum—asdarkasdarkness,exceptfortwobigroundpaleeyesinhisthinface.Hehadalittleboat,andherowedaboutquitequietlyonthelake;forlakeitwas,wideanddeepanddeadlycold.Hepaddleditwithlargefeetdanglingovertheside,butnever a rippledidhemake.Not he.Hewas lookingout of his pale lamp-likeeyesforblindfish,whichhegrabbedwithhislongfingersasquickasthinking.He likedmeat too.Goblinhe thoughtgood,whenhecouldget it;buthe tookcaretheyneverfoundhimout.Hejustthrottledthemfrombehind,iftheyevercamedownaloneanywherenear theedgeof thewater,whilehewasprowlingabout.Theyveryseldomdid, for theyhada feeling that somethingunpleasantwaslurkingdownthere,downattheveryrootsofthemountain.Theyhadcomeon the lake, when they were tunnelling down long ago, and they found theycouldgonofurther;sotheretheirroadendedinthatdirection,andtherewasnoreasontogothatway—unlesstheGreatGoblinsentthem.Sometimeshetookafancyforfishfromthelake,andsometimesneithergoblinnorfishcameback.ActuallyGollumlivedonaslimyislandofrockinthemiddleofthelake.He

waswatchingBilbo now from the distancewith his pale eyes like telescopes.

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Bilbocouldnotseehim,buthewaswonderingalotaboutBilbo,forhecouldseethathewasnogoblinatall.Gollumgotintohisboatandshotofffromtheisland,whileBilbowassitting

on the brink altogether flummoxed and at the end of his way and his wits.SuddenlyupcameGollumandwhisperedandhissed:“Blessusandsplashus,myprecioussss!Iguessit’sachoicefeast;atleasta

tastymorselit’dmakeus,gollum!”Andwhenhesaidgollumhemadeahorribleswallowingnoiseinhisthroat.Thatishowhegothisname,thoughhealwayscalledhimself‘myprecious’.Thehobbitjumpednearlyoutofhisskinwhenthehisscameinhisears,and

hesuddenlysawthepaleeyesstickingoutathim.“Whoareyou?”hesaid,thrustinghisdaggerinfrontofhim.“What iss he, my preciouss?” whispered Gollum (who always spoke to

himselfthroughneverhavinganyoneelsetospeakto).Thisiswhathehadcometo find out, for he was not really very hungry at the moment, only curious;otherwisehewouldhavegrabbedfirstandwhisperedafterwards.“IamMr.BilboBaggins.IhavelostthedwarvesandIhavelostthewizard,

andIdon’tknowwhereIam;andIdon’twanttoknow,ifonlyIcangetaway.”“What’shegotinhishandses?”saidGollum,lookingatthesword,whichhe

didnotquitelike.“Asword,abladewhichcameoutofGondolin!”“Sssss” saidGollum, andbecamequitepolite. “Prapsye sitshere andchats

with it a bitsy,mypreciousss. It likes riddles, praps it does, does it?”Hewasanxious to appear friendly, at any rate for themoment, anduntil he foundoutmoreabouttheswordandthehobbit,whetherhewasquitealonereally,whetherhewasgoodtoeat,andwhetherGollumwasreallyhungry.Riddleswereallhecould thinkof.Asking them,andsometimesguessing them,hadbeen theonlygamehehadeverplayedwithotherfunnycreaturessittingintheirholesinthelong, long ago, before he lost all his friends andwas driven away, alone, andcreptdown,down,intothedarkunderthemountains.“Verywell,” saidBilbo,whowasanxious toagree,untilhe foundoutmore

aboutthecreature,whetherhewasquitealone,whetherhewasfierceorhungry,andwhetherhewasafriendofthegoblins.“Youaskfirst,”hesaid,becausehehadnothadtimetothinkofariddle.SoGollumhissed:

Whathasrootsasnobodysees,Istallerthantrees,Up,upitgoes,Andyetnevergrows?

“Easy!”saidBilbo.“Mountain,Isuppose.”“Does it guess easy? It must have a competition with us, my preciouss! If

preciousasks,anditdoesn’tanswer,weeatsit,mypreciousss.Ifitasksus,andwedoesn’tanswer, thenwedoeswhat itwants, eh?Weshows it thewayout,yes!”“Allright!”saidBilbo,notdaringtodisagree,andnearlyburstinghisbrainto

thinkofriddlesthatcouldsavehimfrombeingeaten.Thirtywhitehorsesonaredhill,Firsttheychamp,Thentheystamp,Thentheystandstill.

Thatwas all he could think of to ask—the idea of eatingwas rather on hismind.Itwasratheranoldone,too,andGollumknewtheansweraswellasyoudo.“Chestnuts, chestnuts,” he hissed. “Teeth! teeth!my preciousss; butwe has

onlysix!”Thenheaskedhissecond:Voicelessitcries,Winglessflutters,Toothlessbites,Mouthlessmutters.

“Half amoment!” cried Bilbo, whowas still thinking uncomfortably abouteating. Fortunately he had once heard something rather like this before, andgettinghiswitsbackhethoughtoftheanswer.“Wind,windofcourse,”hesaid,andhewassopleasedthathemadeuponeonthespot.“This’llpuzzlethenastylittleundergroundcreature,”hethought:

AneyeinabluefaceSawaneyeinagreenface.“Thateyeisliketothiseye”Saidthefirsteye,“ButinlowplaceNotinhighplace.”

“Ss,ss,ss,”saidGollum.Hehadbeenundergroundalonglongtime,andwasforgetting this sort of thing. But just asBilbowas beginning to hope that thewretchwouldnotbeabletoanswer,Gollumbroughtupmemoriesofagesandagesandagesbefore,whenhelivedwithhisgrandmotherinaholeinabankbyariver,“Sss,sss,mypreciouss,”hesaid.“Sunonthedaisiesitmeans,itdoes.”Buttheseordinaryabovegroundeverydaysortofriddlesweretiringforhim.

Alsotheyremindedhimofdayswhenhehadbeenless lonelyandsneakyandnasty,andthatputhimoutoftemper.Whatismoretheymadehimhungry;so

thistimehetriedsomethingabitmoredifficultandmoreunpleasant:Itcannotbeseen,cannotbefelt,Cannotbeheard,cannotbesmelt.Itliesbehindstarsandunderhills,Andemptyholesitfills.Itcomesfirstandfollowsafter,Endslife,killslaughter.

Unfortunately forGollumBilbohadheard that sortof thingbefore; and theanswerwasallroundhimanyway.“Dark!”hesaidwithoutevenscratchinghisheadorputtingonhisthinkingcap.

Aboxwithouthinges,key,orlid,Yetgoldentreasureinsideishid,

he asked to gain time, until he could think of a really hard one. This hethought a dreadfully easy chestnut, though he had not asked it in the usualwords.ButitprovedanastyposerforGollum.Hehissedtohimself,andstillhedidnotanswer;hewhisperedandspluttered.After somewhileBilbobecame impatient. “Well,what is it?”he said. “The

answer’snotakettleboilingover,asyouseemtothinkfromthenoiseyouaremaking.”“Giveusachance;letitgiveusachance,mypreciouss—ss—ss.”“Well,”saidBilboaftergivinghimalongchance,“whataboutyourguess?”But suddenlyGollum remembered thieving fromnests long ago, and sitting

undertheriverbankteachinghisgrandmother,teachinghisgrandmothertosuck—“Eggses!”hehissed.“Eggsesitis!”Thenheasked:

Alivewithoutbreath,Ascoldasdeath;Neverthirsty,everdrinking,Allinmailneverclinking.

He also in his turn thought thiswas a dreadfully easy one, because hewasalwaysthinkingoftheanswer.Buthecouldnotrememberanythingbetteratthemoment,hewassoflusteredbytheegg-question.AllthesameitwasaposerforpoorBilbo,whoneverhadanything todowith thewater ifhecouldhelp it. Iimagine you know the answer, of course, or can guess it as easy aswinking,sinceyouaresittingcomfortablyathomeandhavenotthedangerofbeingeatentodisturbyour thinking.Bilbosatandclearedhis throatonceor twice,butnoanswercame.AfterawhileGollumbegan tohisswithpleasure tohimself:“Is itnice,my

preciousss? Is it juicy? Is it scrumptiously crunchable?” He began to peer atBilbooutofthedarkness.

“Halfamoment,”saidthehobbitshivering.“Igaveyouagoodlongchancejustnow.”“Itmustmakehaste,haste!”saidGollum,beginningtoclimboutofhisboat

ontotheshoretogetatBilbo.Butwhenheputhislongwebbyfootinthewater,afishjumpedoutinafrightandfellonBilbo’stoes.“Ugh!”hesaid,“itiscoldandclammy!”—andsoheguessed.“Fish!fish!”he

cried.“Itisfish!”Gollumwasdreadfullydisappointed;butBilboaskedanotherriddleasquick

aseverhecould,sothatGollumhadtogetbackintohisboatandthink.No-legslayonone-leg,two-legssatnearonthree-legs,four-legsgotsome.Itwasnotreallytherighttimeforthisriddle,butBilbowasinahurry.Gollum

mighthavehadsometroubleguessingit,ifhehadaskeditatanothertime.Asitwas, talkingof fish, “no-legs”wasnot soverydifficult, andafter that the restwaseasy.“Fishona little table,manat tablesittingonastool, thecathas thebones”thatofcourseistheanswer,andGollumsoongaveit.Thenhethoughtthetimehadcometoasksomethinghardandhorrible.Thisiswhathesaid:

Thisthingallthingsdevours:Birds,beasts,trees,flowers;Gnawsiron,bitessteel;Grindshardstonestomeal;Slaysking,ruinstown,Andbeatshighmountaindown.

PoorBilbosatinthedarkthinkingofallthehorriblenamesofallthegiantsandogreshehadeverheard toldof in tales,butnotoneof themhaddoneallthese things.He had a feeling that the answerwas quite different and that heought toknowit,buthecouldnot thinkof it.Hebegan toget frightened,andthatisbadforthinking.Gollumbegantogetoutofhisboat.Heflappedintothewater andpaddled to thebank;Bilbocould seehis eyes coming towardshim.Histongueseemedtostickinhismouth;hewantedtoshoutout:“Givememoretime!Givemetime!”Butallthatcameoutwithasuddensquealwas:

“Time!Time!”Bilbowassavedbypureluck.Forthatofcoursewastheanswer.Gollumwasdisappointedoncemore;andnowhewasgettingangry,andalso

tiredofthegame.Ithadmadehimveryhungryindeed.Thistimehedidnotgobacktotheboat.HesatdowninthedarkbyBilbo.Thatmadethehobbitmostdreadfullyuncomfortableandscatteredhiswits.“It’sgottoaskussaquesstion,mypreciouss,yes,yess,yesss.Jusstonemore

questiontoguess,yes,yess,”saidGollum.But Bilbo simply could not think of any questionwith that nastywet cold

thingsittingnexttohim,andpawingandpokinghim.Hescratchedhimself,hepinchedhimself;stillhecouldnotthinkofanything.“Askus!askus!”saidGollum.Bilbopinchedhimselfandslappedhimself;hegrippedonhislittlesword;he

even felt in his pocket with his other hand. There he found the ring he hadpickedupinthepassageandforgottenabout.“WhathaveIgotinmypocket?”hesaidaloud.Hewastalkingtohimself,but

Gollumthoughtitwasariddle,andhewasfrightfullyupset.“Notfair!notfair!”hehissed.“Itisn’tfair,myprecious,isit,toaskuswhat

it’sgotinitsnasstylittlepocketses?”Bilboseeingwhathadhappenedandhavingnothingbettertoaskstucktohis

question,“WhathaveIgotinmypocket?”hesaidlouder.“S-s-s-s-s,” hissedGollum. “Itmust give us three guesseses,my preciouss,

threeguesseses.”“Verywell!Guessaway!”saidBilbo.“Handses!”saidGollum.“Wrong,”saidBilbo,whohad luckily just takenhishandoutagain.“Guess

again!”“S-s-s-s-s,”saidGollummoreupsetthanever.Hethoughtofallthethingshe

keptinhisownpockets:fish-bones,goblins’teeth,wetshells,abitofbat-wing,asharpstonetosharpenhisfangson,andothernasty things.Hetriedto thinkwhatotherpeoplekeptintheirpockets.“Knife!”hesaidatlast.“Wrong!”saidBilbo,whohadlosthissometimeago.“Lastguess!”NowGollumwasinamuchworsestatethanwhenBilbohadaskedhimthe

egg-question. He hissed and spluttered and rocked himself backwards andforwards,andslappedhisfeetonthefloor,andwriggledandsquirmed;butstillhedidnotdaretowastehislastguess.“Comeon!”saidBilbo.“Iamwaiting!”Hetriedtosoundboldandcheerful,

buthedidnotfeelatallsurehowthegamewasgoingtoend,whetherGollumguessedrightornot.“Time’sup!”hesaid.“String,ornothing!”shriekedGollum,whichwasnotquitefair—workingin

twoguessesatonce.“Bothwrong,”criedBilboverymuchrelieved;andhejumpedatoncetohis

feet,puthisbacktothenearestwall,andheldouthislittlesword.Heknew,ofcourse, that the riddle-game was sacred and of immense antiquity, and evenwickedcreatureswereafraidtocheatwhentheyplayedatit.Buthefelthecouldnottrustthisslimythingtokeepanypromiseatapinch.Anyexcusewoulddo

forhimtoslideoutofit.Andafterallthatlastquestionhadnotbeenagenuineriddleaccordingtotheancientlaws.ButatanyrateGollumdidnotatonceattackhim.Hecouldseetheswordin

Bilbo’shand.Hesatstill,shiveringandwhispering.AtlastBilbocouldwaitnolonger.“Well?”hesaid.“Whataboutyourpromise?Iwanttogo.Youmustshowme

theway.”“Didwe say so, precious?Show the nassty littleBaggins thewayout, yes,

yes. But what has it got in its pocketses, eh? Not string, precious, but notnothing.Ohno!gollum!”“Neveryoumind,”saidBilbo.“Apromiseisapromise.”“Cross it is, impatient, precious,” hissed Gollum. “But it must wait, yes it

must.Wecan’tgoupthetunnelssohasty.Wemustgoandgetsomethingsfirst,yes,thingstohelpus.”“Well, hurry up!” said Bilbo, relieved to think of Gollum going away. He

thoughthewasjustmakinganexcuseanddidnotmeantocomeback.WhatwasGollum talking about?What useful thing could he keepout on the dark lake?But he was wrong. Gollum did mean to come back. He was angry now andhungry.Andhewasamiserablewickedcreature,andalreadyhehadaplan.Not farawaywashis island,ofwhichBilboknewnothing,and there inhis

hiding-place he kept a fewwretched oddments, and one very beautiful thing,verybeautiful,verywonderful.Hehadaring,agoldenring,apreciousring.“Mybirthday-present!”hewhisperedtohimself,ashehadoftendoneinthe

endlessdarkdays.“That’swhatwewantsnow,yes;wewantsit!”Hewanteditbecauseitwasaringofpower,andifyouslippedthatringon

yourfinger,youwereinvisible;onlyinthefullsunlightcouldyoubeseen,andthenonlybyyourshadow,andthatwouldbeshakyandfaint.“Mybirthday-present!Itcametomeonmybirthday,myprecious.”Sohehad

alwayssaidtohimself.ButwhoknowshowGollumcamebythatpresent,agesago in the old dayswhen such ringswere still at large in theworld? PerhapseventheMasterwhoruledthemcouldnothavesaid.Gollumusedtowearitatfirst, till it tiredhim;and thenhekept it inapouchnexthisskin, till itgalledhim;andnowusuallyhehiditinaholeintherockonhisisland,andwasalwaysgoingbacktolookatit.Andstillsometimesheputiton,whenhecouldnotbeartobepartedfromitanylonger,orwhenhewasvery,very,hungry,andtiredoffish. Then he would creep along dark passages looking for stray goblins. Hemight even venture into places where the torches were lit andmade his eyesblinkandsmart;forhewouldbesafe.Ohyes,quitesafe.Noonewouldseehim,noonewouldnoticehim,tillhehadhisfingersontheirthroat.Onlyafewhours

agohehadworn it, andcaught a smallgoblin-imp.How it squeaked!He stillhadaboneortwolefttognaw,buthewantedsomethingsofter.“Quite safe, yes,” he whispered to himself. “It won’t see us, will it, my

precious? No. It won’t see us, and its nassty little swordwill be useless, yesquite.”That is what was in his wicked little mind, as he slipped suddenly from

Bilbo’s side, and flapped back to his boat, and went off into the dark. Bilbothoughthehadheardthelastofhim.Stillhewaitedawhile;forhehadnoideahowtofindhiswayoutalone.Suddenly he heard a screech. It sent a shiver down his back. Gollum was

cursingandwailingawayinthegloom,notveryfaroffbythesoundof it.Hewasonhisisland,scrabblinghereandthere,searchingandseekinginvain.“Where iss it? Where iss it?” Bilbo heard him crying. “Losst it is, my

precious,lost,lost!Curseusandcrushus,mypreciousislost!”“What’sthematter?”Bilbocalled.“Whathaveyoulost?”“Itmustn’taskus,”shriekedGollum.“Notitsbusiness,no,gollum!It’slosst,

gollum,gollum,gollum.”“Well,soamI,”criedBilbo,“andIwanttogetunlost.AndIwonthegame,

andyoupromised.Socomealong!Comeand letmeout,and thengoonwithyourlooking!”UtterlymiserableasGollumsounded,Bilbocouldnotfindmuchpity in his heart, and he had a feeling that anythingGollumwanted somuchcouldhardlybesomethinggood.“Comealong!”heshouted.“No,notyet, precious!”Gollumanswered. “Wemust search for it, it’s lost,

gollum.”“Butyouneverguessedmylastquestion,andyoupromised,”saidBilbo.“Neverguessed!”saidGollum.Thensuddenlyoutofthegloomcameasharp

hiss.“Whathasitgotinitspocketses?Tellusthat.Itmusttellfirst.”AsfarasBilboknew,therewasnoparticularreasonwhyheshouldnottell.

Gollum’smindhadjumpedtoaguessquickerthanhis;naturally,forGollumhadbroodedforagesonthisonething,andhewasalwaysafraidofitsbeingstolen.ButBilbowasannoyedatthedelay.Afterall,hehadwonthegame,prettyfairly,atahorriblerisk.“Answersweretobeguessednotgiven,”hesaid.“Butitwasn’tafairquestion,”saidGollum.“Notariddle,precious,no.”“Ohwell,ifit’samatterofordinaryquestions,”Bilboreplied,“thenIasked

onefirst.Whathaveyoulost?Tellmethat!”“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 smallpointsoflightpeeringathim.AssuspiciongrewinGollum’smind,thelightofhiseyesburnedwithapaleflame.

“Whathaveyoulost?”Bilbopersisted.But now the light in Gollum’s eyes had become a green fire, and it was

comingswiftlynearer.Gollumwasinhisboatagain,paddlingwildlybacktothedarkshore;andsucharageoflossandsuspicionwasinhisheartthatnoswordhadanymoreterrorforhim.Bilbocouldnotguesswhathadmaddenedthewretchedcreature,buthesaw

thatallwasup,andthatGollummeanttomurderhimatanyrate.Justintimeheturned and ran blindly back up the dark passage down which he had come,keepingclosetothewallandfeelingitwithhislefthand.“Whathasitgotinitspocketses?”heheardthehissloudbehindhim,andthe

splash as Gollum leapt from his boat. “What have I, I wonder?” he said tohimself,ashepantedandstumbledalong.Heputhislefthandinhispocket.Theringfeltverycoldasitquietlyslippedontohisgropingforefinger.Thehisswas closebehindhim.He turnednowand sawGollum’s eyes like

small green lamps coming up the slope. Terrified he tried to run faster, butsuddenly he struck his toes on a snag in the floor, and fell flatwith his littleswordunderhim.InamomentGollumwasonhim.ButbeforeBilbocoulddoanything,recover

his breath, pick himself up, or wave his sword, Gollum passed by, taking nonoticeofhim,cursingandwhisperingasheran.Whatcoulditmean?Gollumcouldseeinthedark.Bilbocouldseethelightof

hiseyespalelyshiningevenfrombehind.Painfullyhegotup,andsheathedhissword,whichwasnowglowingfaintlyagain,thenverycautiouslyhefollowed.There seemed nothing else to do. It was no good crawling back down toGollum’swater. Perhaps if he followed him,Gollummight lead him to somewayofescapewithoutmeaningto.“Curse it! curse it! curse it!”hissedGollum.“Curse theBaggins! It’sgone!

What has it got in its pocketses? Oh we guess, we guess, my precious. He’sfoundit,yeshemusthave.Mybirthday-present.”Bilbo pricked up his ears. He was at last beginning to guess himself. He

hurriedalittle,gettingascloseashedaredbehindGollum,whowasstillgoingquickly,notlookingback,butturninghisheadfromsidetoside,asBilbocouldseefromthefaintglimmeronthewalls.“Mybirthday-present!Curseit!Howdidweloseit,myprecious?Yes,that’s

it.Whenwecame thisway last,whenwe twisted thatnasstyyoung squeaker.That’s it.Curse it! It slipped fromus, after all these ages and ages! It’s gone,gollum.”SuddenlyGollumsatdownandbegantoweep,awhistlingandgurglingsound

horrible to listen to.Bilbohaltedand flattenedhimselfagainst the tunnel-wall.

After a while Gollum stopped weeping and began to talk. He seemed to behavinganargumentwithhimself.“It’s no good going back there to search, no.We doesn’t remember all the

placeswe’vevisited.Andit’snouse.TheBagginshasgotitinitspocketses;thenasstynoserhasfoundit,wesays.”“Weguesses, precious, only guesses.We can’t know tillwe find the nassty

creatureandsqueezes it.But itdoesn’tknowwhat thepresentcando,does it?It’ll just keep it in its pocketses. It doesn’t know, and it can’t go far. It’s lostitself,thenasstynoseything.Itdoesn’tknowthewayout.Itsaidso.”“Itsaidso,yes;butit’stricksy.Itdoesn’tsaywhatitmeans.Itwon’tsaywhat

it’sgot in itspocketses. Itknows. Itknowsaway in, itmustknowawayout,yes.It’sofftotheback-door.Totheback-door,that’sit.”“Thegoblinseswillcatchitthen.Itcan’tgetoutthatway,precious.”“Ssss, sss, gollum! Goblinses! Yes, but if it’s got the present, our precious

present,thengoblinseswillgetit,gollum!They’llfindit,they’llfindoutwhatitdoes.Weshan’teverbesafeagain,never,gollum!Oneofthegoblinseswillputiton, and thennoonewill seehim.He’llbe therebutnot seen.Notevenourclevereyeseswillnoticehim;andhe’llcomecreepsyandtricksyandcatchus,gollum,gollum!”“Then let’s stop talking, precious, andmake haste. If theBaggins has gone

thatway,wemustgoquickandsee.Go!Notfarnow.Makehaste!”WithaspringGollumgotupandstartedshamblingoffatagreatpace.Bilbo

hurriedafterhim,stillcautiously, thoughhischieffearnowwasoftrippingonanother snag and falling with a noise. His head was in a whirl of hope andwonder.Itseemedthattheringhehadwasamagicring:itmadeyouinvisible!Hehadheardofsuchthings,ofcourse,inoldoldtales;butitwashardtobelievethat he really had found one, by accident. Still there it was:Gollumwith hisbrighteyeshadpassedhimby,onlyayardtooneside.Ontheywent,Gollumflip-flappingahead,hissingandcursing;Bilbobehind

goingassoftlyasahobbitcan.Soon theycame toplaceswhere,asBilbohadnoticed on the way down, side-passages opened, this way and that. Gollumbeganatoncetocountthem.“Oneleft,yes.Oneright,yes.Tworight,yes,yes.Twoleft,yes,yes.”Andso

onandon.Asthecountgrewhesloweddown,andhebegantogetshakyandweepy;for

hewasleavingthewaterfurtherandfurtherbehind,andhewasgettingafraid.Goblinsmightbe about, andhehad losthis ring.At last he stoppedbya lowopening,ontheirleftastheywentup.“Sevenright,yes.Sixleft,yes!”hewhispered.“Thisisit.Thisisthewayto

theback-door,yes.Here’sthepassage!”Hepeeredin,andshrankback.“Butwedursn’tgoin,precious,nowedursn’t.

Goblinsesdownthere.Lotsofgoblinses.Wesmellsthem.Ssss!”“Whatshallwedo?Cursethemandcrushthem!Wemustwaithere,precious,

waitabitandsee.”Sotheycametoadeadstop.GollumhadbroughtBilbotothewayoutafter

all,butBilbocouldnotgetin!TherewasGollumsittinghumpeduprightintheopening,andhiseyesgleamedcoldinhishead,asheswayeditfromsidetosidebetweenhisknees.Bilbo crept away from the wall more quietly than a mouse; but Gollum

stiffened at once, and sniffed, and his eyes went green. He hissed softly butmenacingly.Hecouldnotseethehobbit,butnowhewasonthealert,andhehadothersenses that thedarknesshadsharpened:hearingandsmell.Heseemedtobe crouched right downwithhis flat hands splayedon the floor, andhis headthrustout,nosealmosttothestone.Thoughhewasonlyablackshadowinthegleamofhisowneyes,Bilbocouldseeorfeelthathewastenseasabowstring,gatheredforaspring.Bilboalmoststoppedbreathing,andwentstiffhimself.Hewasdesperate.He

mustgetaway,outofthishorribledarkness,whilehehadanystrengthleft.Hemustfight.Hemuststabthefoulthing,putitseyesout,kill it.Itmeanttokillhim.No,notafairfight.Hewasinvisiblenow.Gollumhadnosword.Gollumhadnot actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet.Andhewasmiserable,alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up inBilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope ofbetterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking andwhispering.All these thoughtspassedinaflashofasecond.Hetrembled.Andthenquitesuddenlyinanotherflash,asifliftedbyanewstrengthandresolve,heleaped.Nogreatleapforaman,butaleapinthedark.StraightoverGollum’sheadhe

jumped,sevenfeetforwardandthreeintheair;indeed,hadheknownit,heonlyjustmissedcrackinghisskullonthelowarchofthepassage.Gollum threwhimselfbackwards, andgrabbedas thehobbit flewoverhim,

buttoolate:hishandssnappedonthinair,andBilbo,fallingfaironhissturdyfeet, sped off down the new tunnel.He did not turn to seewhatGollumwasdoing. There was a hissing and cursing almost at his heels at first, then itstopped.Allatonce therecameablood-curdlingshriek, filledwithhatredanddespair.Gollumwasdefeated.Hedaredgonofurther.Hehadlost:losthisprey,andlost,too,theonlythinghehadevercaredfor,hisprecious.ThecrybroughtBilbo’s heart to his mouth, but still he held on. Now faint as an echo, butmenacing,thevoicecamebehind:

“Thief,thief,thief!Baggins!Wehatesit,wehatesit,wehatesitforever!”Thentherewasasilence.ButthattooseemedmenacingtoBilbo.“Ifgoblins

are so near that he smelt them,” he thought, “then they’ll have heard hisshriekingandcursing.Carefulnow,orthiswaywillleadyoutoworsethings.”Thepassagewaslowandroughlymade.Itwasnottoodifficultforthehobbit,

exceptwhen,inspiteofallcare,hestubbedhispoortoesagain,severaltimes,onnasty jagged stones in the floor. “Abit low forgoblins, at least for thebigones,” thought Bilbo, not knowing that even the big ones, the orcs of themountains,goalongatagreatspeedstoopinglowwiththeirhandsalmostontheground.Soonthepassagethathadbeenslopingdownbegantogoupagain,andaftera

whileitclimbedsteeply.ThatslowedBilbodown.Butatlasttheslopestopped,thepassageturnedacorneranddippeddownagain,andthere,atthebottomofashortincline,hesaw,filteringroundanothercorner—aglimpseoflight.Notredlight,asoffireorlantern,butapaleout-of-doorssortoflight.ThenBilbobegantorun.Scuttling as fast as his legs would carry him he turned the last corner and

camesuddenlyrightintoanopenspace,wherethelight,afterallthattimeinthedark,seemeddazzlinglybright.Reallyitwasonlyaleakofsunshineinthroughadoorway,whereagreatdoor,astonedoor,wasleftstandingopen.Bilboblinked,and thensuddenlyhesaw thegoblins:goblins in fullarmour

withdrawnswordssittingjustinsidethedoor,andwatchingitwithwideeyes,and watching the passage that led to it. They were aroused, alert, ready foranything.Theysawhimsoonerthanhesawthem.Yes,theysawhim.Whetheritwasan

accident,oralasttrickoftheringbeforeittookanewmaster,itwasnotonhisfinger.Withyellsofdelightthegoblinsrusheduponhim.Apangof fear and loss, like anechoofGollum’smisery, smoteBilbo, and

forgettingeventodrawhisswordhestruckhishandsintohispockets.Andtherewas the ring still, in his left pocket, and it slipped on his finger. The goblinsstoppedshort.Theycouldnotseeasignofhim.Hehadvanished.Theyyelledtwiceasloudasbefore,butnotsodelightedly.“Whereisit?”theycried.“Gobackupthepassage!”someshouted.“Thisway!”someyelled.“Thatway!”othersyelled.“Lookoutforthedoor,”bellowedthecaptain.Whistlesblew,armourclashed,swordsrattled,goblinscursedandsworeand

ranhitherandthither,fallingoveroneanotherandgettingveryangry.Therewasaterribleoutcry,to-do,anddisturbance.

Bilbowasdreadfullyfrightened,buthehadthesensetounderstandwhathadhappened and to sneak behind a big barrel which held drink for the goblin-guards, and so get out of the way and avoid being bumped into, trampled todeath,orcaughtbyfeel.“Imustgettothedoor,Imustgettothedoor!”hekeptonsayingtohimself,

butitwasalongtimebeforeheventuredtotry.Thenitwaslikeahorriblegameofblind-man’s-buff.Theplacewasfullofgoblins runningabout,and thepoorlittlehobbitdodgedthiswayandthat,wasknockedoverbyagoblinwhocouldnotmake outwhat he had bumped into, scrambled away on all fours, slippedbetweenthelegsofthecaptainjustintime,gotup,andranforthedoor.Itwasstillajar,butagoblinhadpushed itnearly to.Bilbostruggledbuthe

could not move it. He tried to squeeze through the crack. He squeezed andsqueezed,andhestuck!Itwasawful.Hisbuttonshadgotwedgedontheedgeofthedoorandthedoor-post.Hecouldseeoutsideintotheopenair:therewereafew steps running down into a narrow valley between tallmountains; the suncameoutfrombehindacloudandshonebrightontheoutsideofthedoor—buthecouldnotgetthrough.Suddenlyoneofthegoblinsinsideshouted:“Thereisashadowbythedoor.

Somethingisoutside!”Bilbo’sheartjumpedintohismouth.Hegaveaterrificsquirm.Buttonsburst

off in all directions. Hewas through, with a torn coat andwaistcoat, leapingdown the steps like a goat,while bewilderedgoblinswere still pickinguphisnicebrassbuttonsonthedoorstep.Ofcoursetheysooncamedownafterhim,hootingandhallooing,andhunting

amongthetrees.Buttheydon’tlikethesun:itmakestheirlegswobbleandtheirheadsgiddy.TheycouldnotfindBilbowiththeringon,slippinginandoutoftheshadowofthetrees,runningquickandquiet,andkeepingoutofthesun;sosoon they went back grumbling and cursing to guard the door. Bilbo hadescaped.

ChapterVIOutoftheFrying-PanintotheFire

Bilbohadescapedthegoblins,buthedidnotknowwherehewas.Hehadlosthood,cloak,food,pony,hisbuttonsandhisfriends.Hewanderedonandon,tillthe sun began to sink westwards—behind the mountains. Their shadows fellacrossBilbo’spath,andhelookedback.Thenhelookedforwardandcouldseebeforehimonlyridgesandslopesfallingtowardslowlandsandplainsglimpsedoccasionallybetweenthetrees.“Goodheavens!”heexclaimed.“Iseemtohavegotrighttotheothersideof

theMistyMountains,righttotheedgeoftheLandBeyond!WhereandOwherecanGandalfandthedwarveshavegotto?Ionlyhopetogoodnesstheyarenotstillbackthereinthepowerofthegoblins!”Hestillwanderedon,outofthelittlehighvalley,overitsedge,anddownthe

slopes beyond; but all the while a very uncomfortable thought was growinginsidehim.Hewonderedwhetherheoughtnot,nowhehadthemagicring,togoback into the horrible, horrible, tunnels and look for his friends. He had justmade up his mind that it was his duty, that he must turn back—and verymiserablehefeltaboutit—whenheheardvoices.He stopped and listened. It did not sound like goblins; so he crept forward

carefully.Hewasonastonypathwindingdownwardswitharockywallonthelefthand;ontheothersidethegroundslopedawayandthereweredellsbelowthelevelof thepathoverhungwithbushesandlowtrees. Inoneof thesedellsunderthebushespeopleweretalking.Hecreptstillnearer,andsuddenlyhesawpeeringbetweentwobigbouldersa

headwitharedhoodon:itwasBalindoinglook-out.Hecouldhaveclappedandshoutedforjoy,buthedidnot.Hehadstillgottheringon,forfearofmeetingsomething unexpected and unpleasant, and he saw that Balin was lookingstraightathimwithoutnoticinghim.“Iwillgivethemallasurprise,”hethought,ashecrawledintothebushesat

the edge of the dell. Gandalf was arguing with the dwarves. They werediscussing all that had happened to them in the tunnels, and wondering and

debatingwhattheyweretodonow.Thedwarvesweregrumbling,andGandalfwas saying that they could not possibly go onwith their journey leavingMr.Bagginsinthehandsofthegoblins,withouttryingtofindoutifhewasaliveordead,andwithouttryingtorescuehim.“Afterallheismyfriend,”saidthewizard,“andnotabadlittlechap.Ifeel

responsibleforhim.Iwishtogoodnessyouhadnotlosthim.”Thedwarveswanted to knowwhyhehad ever beenbrought at all,whyhe

couldnotsticktohisfriendsandcomealongwiththem,andwhythewizardhadnot chosen someonewithmore sense. “Hehas beenmore trouble than use sofar,”saidone.“Ifwehavegottogobacknowintothoseabominabletunnelstolookforhim,thendrathim,Isay.”Gandalfansweredangrily:“Ibroughthim,andIdon’tbringthingsthatareof

nouse.Eitheryouhelpmetolookforhim,orIgoandleaveyouheretogetoutofthemessasbestyoucanyourselves.Ifwecanonlyfindhimagain,youwillthankme before all is over.Whatever did you want to go and drop him for,Dori?”“Youwouldhavedroppedhim,”saidDori,“ifagoblinhadsuddenlygrabbed

your legs frombehind in thedark, trippedupyour feet,andkickedyou in theback!”“Thenwhydidn’tyoupickhimupagain?”“Good heavens! Can you ask! Goblins fighting and biting in the dark,

everybodyfallingoverbodiesandhittingoneanother!YounearlychoppedoffmyheadwithGlamdring, andThorinwas stabbinghere thereandeverywherewithOrcrist.Allofasuddenyougaveoneofyourblindingflashes,andwesawthe goblins running back yelping. You shouted ‘follow me everybody!’ andeverybody ought to have followed.We thought everybody had. Therewas notime to count, as you know quite well, till we had dashed through the gate-guards,outofthelowerdoor,andhelter-skelterdownhere.Andhereweare—withouttheburglar,confusticatehim!”“Andhere’stheburglar!”saidBilbosteppingdownintothemiddleofthem,

andslippingoffthering.Bless me, how they jumped! Then they shouted with surprise and delight.

Gandalfwasasastonishedasanyof them,butprobablymorepleased thanalltheothers.Hecalled toBalinand toldhimwhathe thoughtofa look-outmanwho letpeoplewalk right into them like thatwithoutwarning. It isa fact thatBilbo’sreputationwentupaverygreatdealwiththedwarvesafterthis.Iftheyhad still doubted that hewas really a first-class burglar, in spite ofGandalf’swords,theydoubtednolonger.Balinwasthemostpuzzledofall;buteveryonesaiditwasaverycleverbitofwork.

IndeedBilbowassopleasedwiththeirpraisethathejustchuckledinsideandsaidnothingwhateveraboutthering;andwhentheyaskedhimhowhedidit,hesaid:“Oh,justcreptalong,youknow—verycarefullyandquietly.”“Well, it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and

quietlyundermyverynoseandnotbeenspotted,”saidBalin,“andItakeoffmyhoodtoyou.”Whichhedid.“Balinatyourservice,”saidhe.“Yourservant,Mr.Baggins,”saidBilbo.Then theywanted toknowall about his adventures after theyhad lost him,

andhesatdownandtoldthemeverything—exceptaboutthefindingofthering(“not just now” he thought). They were particularly interested in the riddle-competition,andshudderedmostappreciativelyathisdescriptionofGollum.“AndthenIcouldn’tthinkofanyotherquestionwithhimsittingbesideme,”

endedBilbo;“so I said ‘what’s inmypocket?’Andhecouldn’tguess in threegoes.SoIsaid:‘whataboutyourpromise?Showmethewayout!’Buthecameatmetokillme,andIran,andfellover,andhemissedmeinthedark.ThenIfollowedhim,becauseIheardhimtalkingtohimself.HethoughtIreallyknewthewayout,andsohewasmakingforit.Andthenhesatdownintheentrance,andIcouldnotgetby.SoIjumpedoverhimandescaped,andrandowntothegate.”“Whatabouttheguards?”theyasked.“Weren’tthereany?”“Oyes! lots of them;but I dodged ’em. I got stuck in thedoor,whichwas

onlyopenacrack,andI lost lotsofbuttons,”hesaidsadly lookingathis tornclothes.“ButIsqueezedthroughallright—andhereIam.”Thedwarves looked at himwithquite a new respect,whenhe talked about

dodgingguards, jumpingoverGollum,andsqueezing through,as if itwasnotverydifficultorveryalarming.“Whatdid I tellyou?”saidGandalf laughing.“Mr.Bagginshasmoreabout

him than you guess.” He gave Bilbo a queer look from under his bushyeyebrows,ashesaidthis,andthehobbitwonderedifheguessedat thepartofhistalethathehadleftout.Thenhehadquestionsofhisowntoask,forifGandalfhadexplaineditallby

nowtothedwarves,Bilbohadnotheardit.Hewantedtoknowhowthewizardhadturnedupagain,andwheretheyhadallgottonow.Thewizard,totellthetruth,nevermindedexplaininghisclevernessmorethan

once,sonowhetoldBilbothatbothheandElrondhadbeenwellawareofthepresenceofevilgoblinsinthatpartofthemountains.Buttheirmaingateusedtocome out on a different pass, one more easy to travel by, so that they oftencaughtpeoplebenightednear theirgates.Evidentlypeoplehadgivenupgoing

thatway,andthegoblinsmusthaveopenedtheirnewentranceatthetopofthepassthedwarveshadtaken,quiterecently,becauseithadbeenfoundquitesafeuptonow.“ImustseeifIcan’tfindamoreorlessdecentgianttoblockitupagain,”said

Gandalf,“orsoontherewillbenogettingoverthemountainsatall.”AssoonasGandalfhadheardBilbo’syellherealizedwhathadhappened.In

theflashwhichkilledthegoblinsthatweregrabbinghimhehadnippedinsidethecrack,justasitsnappedto.Hefollowedafterthedriversandprisonersrighttotheedgeofthegreathall,andtherehesatdownandworkedupthebestmagichecouldintheshadows.“Averyticklishbusiness,itwas,”hesaid.“Touchandgo!”But,ofcourse,Gandalfhadmadea special studyofbewitchmentswith fire

and lights (even the hobbit had never forgotten the magic fireworks at OldTook’smidsummereveparties,asyouremember).Therestweallknow—exceptthatGandalfknewallabouttheback-door,asthegoblinscalledthelowergate,whereBilbolosthisbuttons.Asamatteroffactitwaswellknowntoanybodywhowasacquaintedwiththispartofthemountains;butittookawizardtokeephisheadinthetunnelsandguidethemintherightdirection.“Theymadethatgateagesago,”hesaid,“partlyforawayofescape,ifthey

neededone;partlyasawayoutintothelandsbeyond,wheretheystillcomeinthe dark and do great damage. They guard it always and no one has evermanagedtoblockitup.Theywillguarditdoublyafterthis,”helaughed.All theothers laughed too.Afterall theyhad lostagooddeal,but theyhad

killed the Great Goblin and a great many others besides, and they had allescaped,sotheymightbesaidtohavehadthebestofitsofar.But thewizardcalled them to their senses.“Wemustbegettingonatonce,

nowwearealittlerested,”hesaid.“Theywillbeoutafterusinhundredswhennight comes on; and already shadows are lengthening. They can smell ourfootstepsforhoursandhoursafterwehavepassed.Wemustbemilesonbeforedusk.Therewillbeabitofmoon,ifitkeepsfine,andthatislucky.Notthattheymindthemoonmuch,butitwillgiveusalittlelighttosteerby.”“Oyes!”hesaidinanswertomorequestionsfromthehobbit.“Youlosetrack

of time inside goblin-tunnels. Today’s Thursday, and it wasMonday night orTuesdaymorning that wewere captured.We have gonemiles andmiles, andcomerightdownthroughtheheartof themountains,andarenowontheotherside—quiteashortcut.Butwearenotatthepointtowhichourpasswouldhavebroughtus;wearetoofartotheNorth,andhavesomeawkwardcountryahead.Andwearestillprettyhighup.Let’sgeton!”“Iamdreadfullyhungry,”groanedBilbo,whowassuddenlyawarethathehad

nothadamealsincethenightbeforethenightbeforelast.Justthinkofthatforahobbit!Hisstomachfeltallemptyand looseandhis legsallwobbly,nowthattheexcitementwasover.“Can’thelpit,”saidGandalf,“unlessyouliketogobackandaskthegoblins

nicelytoletyouhaveyourponybackandyourluggage.”“Nothankyou!”saidBilbo.“Verywellthen,wemustjusttightenourbeltsandtrudgeon—orweshallbe

madeintosupper,andthatwillbemuchworsethanhavingnoneourselves.”AstheywentonBilbolookedfromsidetosideforsomethingtoeat;butthe

blackberrieswerestillonlyinflower,andofcoursetherewerenonuts,notevenhawthorn-berries. He nibbled a bit of sorrel, and he drank from a smallmountain-streamthatcrossedthepath,andheatethreewildstrawberriesthathefoundonitsbank,butitwasnotmuchgood.Theystillwentonandon.Theroughpathdisappeared.Thebushes,andthe

longgrassesbetweentheboulders,thepatchesofrabbit-croppedturf,thethymeandthesageandthemarjoram,andtheyellowrockrosesallvanished,andtheyfoundthemselvesatthetopofawidesteepslopeoffallenstones,theremainsofalandslide.Whentheybegantogodownthis,rubbishandsmallpebblesrolledaway from their feet; soon larger bits of split stonewent clattering down andstartedotherpiecesbelowthemslitheringandrolling;thenlumpsofrockweredisturbedandboundedoff,crashingdownwithadustandanoise.Beforelongthewholeslopeabovethemandbelowthemseemedonthemove,andtheyweresliding away, huddled all together, in a fearful confusion of slipping, rattling,crackingslabsandstones.Itwas the trees at thebottom that saved them.They slid into the edgeof a

climbingwood of pines that here stood right up themountain slope from thedeeperdarkerforestsofthevalleysbelow.Somecaughtholdofthetrunksandswungthemselvesintolowerbranches,some(likethelittlehobbit)gotbehindatree to shelter from theonslaught of the rocks.Soon thedangerwasover, theslidehadstopped,andthelastfaintcrashescouldbeheardasthelargestofthedisturbedstoneswentboundingandspinningamongthebrackenandthepine-rootsfarbelow.“Well!thathasgotusonabit,”saidGandalf;“andevengoblinstrackingus

willhaveajobtocomedownherequietly.”“Idaresay,”grumbledBombur;“buttheywon’tfinditdifficulttosendstones

bouncingdownonourheads.”Thedwarves (andBilbo)were feeling far fromhappy,andwererubbingtheirbruisedanddamagedlegsandfeet.“Nonsense!Wearegoing to turnasidehereoutof thepathof theslide.We

mustbequick!Lookatthelight!”

The sun had long gone behind the mountains. Already the shadows weredeepeningaboutthem,thoughfarawaythroughthetreesandovertheblacktopsofthosegrowinglowerdowntheycouldstillseetheeveninglightsontheplainsbeyond.Theylimpedalongnowasfastastheywereabledownthegentleslopesof a pine forest in a slanting path leading steadily southwards. At times theywere pushing through a sea of brackenwith tall fronds rising right above thehobbit’shead;at timestheyweremarchingalongquietasquietoverafloorofpine-needles; and all the while the forest-gloom got heavier and the forest-silencedeeper.Therewasnowindthateveningtobringevenasea-sighingintothebranchesofthetrees.

“Mustwe go any further?” askedBilbo,when itwas so dark that he couldonlyjustseeThorin’sbeardwaggingbesidehim,andsoquietthathecouldhearthedwarves’breathinglikealoudnoise.“Mytoesareallbruisedandbent,andmylegsache,andmystomachiswagginglikeanemptysack.”“Abitfurther,”saidGandalf.Afterwhatseemedagesfurther theycamesuddenlytoanopeningwhereno

trees grew. Themoonwas up andwas shining into the clearing. Somehow itstruckallofthemasnotatallaniceplace,althoughtherewasnothingwrongtosee.Allofasuddentheyheardahowlawaydownhill,alongshudderinghowl.It

wasansweredbyanotherawaytotherightandagooddealnearertothem;thenbyanothernotfarawaytotheleft.Itwaswolveshowlingatthemoon,wolvesgatheringtogether!TherewerenowolveslivingnearMr.Baggins’holeathome,butheknewthat

noise.He had had it described to him often enough in tales.One of his eldercousins(ontheTookside),whohadbeenagreattraveller,usedtoimitateittofrightenhim.TohearitoutintheforestunderthemoonwastoomuchforBilbo.Evenmagicringsarenotmuchuseagainstwolves—especiallyagainst theevilpacks that lived under the shadow of the goblin-infested mountains, over theEdge of the Wild on the borders of the unknown. Wolves of that sort smellkeenerthangoblins,anddonotneedtoseeyoutocatchyou!“What shall we do, what shall we do!” he cried. “Escaping goblins to be

caughtbywolves!”hesaid,anditbecameaproverb,thoughwenowsay“outofthefrying-panintothefire”inthesamesortofuncomfortablesituations.“Upthetreesquick!”criedGandalf;andtheyrantothetreesattheedgeofthe

glade,huntingforthosethathadbranchesfairlylow,orwereslenderenoughtoswarmup.Theyfoundthemasquickasevertheycould,youcanguess;anduptheywentashighasevertheycouldtrustthebranches.Youwouldhavelaughed

(fromasafedistance), ifyouhadseen thedwarvessittingup in the treeswiththeir beards dangling down, like old gentlemen gone cracked and playing atbeing boys. Fili and Kili were at the top of a tall larch like an enormousChristmastree.Dori,Nori,Ori,Oin,andGloinweremorecomfortableinahugepinewith regularbranchesstickingoutat intervals like thespokesofawheel.Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and Thorin were in another. Dwalin and Balin hadswarmedupatallslenderfirwithfewbranchesandweretryingtofindaplacetosit inthegreeneryofthetopmostboughs.Gandalf,whowasagooddealtallerthan theothers,hadfounda tree intowhich theycouldnotclimb,a largepinestandingat theveryedgeof theglade.Hewasquitehidden in itsboughs,butyoucouldseehiseyesgleaminginthemoonashepeepedout.AndBilbo?Hecouldnotgetintoanytree,andwasscuttlingaboutfromtrunk

totrunk,likearabbitthathaslostitsholeandhasadogafterit.“You’velefttheburglarbehindagain!”saidNoritoDorilookingdown.“Ican’tbealwayscarryingburglarsonmyback,” saidDori, “down tunnels

anduptrees!WhatdoyouthinkIam?Aporter?”“He’llbeeatenifwedon’tdosomething,”saidThorin,fortherewerehowls

all round themnow,gettingnearerandnearer.“Dori!”hecalled, forDoriwaslowestdownintheeasiesttree,“bequick,andgiveMr.Bagginsahandup!”Doriwasreallyadecentfellowinspiteofhisgrumbling.PoorBilbocouldnot

reachhishandevenwhenheclimbeddowntothebottombranchandhunghisarmdownasfaraseverhecould.SoDoriactuallyclimbedoutofthetreeandletBilboscrambleupandstandonhisback.Just at that moment the wolves trotted howling into the clearing. All of a

suddentherewerehundredsofeyeslookingatthem.StillDorididnotletBilbodown.Hewaitedtillhehadclamberedoffhisshouldersintothebranches,andthenhejumpedfor thebrancheshimself.Onlyjust in time!Awolfsnappedathis cloak as he swungup, andnearly got him. In aminute therewas awholepackof themyelpingall round the treeand leapingupat the trunk,witheyesblazingandtongueshangingout.But even thewildWargs (for so the evilwolves over theEdgeof theWild

werenamed)cannotclimbtrees.Foratimetheyweresafe.Luckilyitwaswarmandnotwindy.Treesarenotverycomfortabletositinforlongatanytime;butinthecoldandthewind,withwolvesallroundbelowwaitingforyou,theycanbeperfectlymiserableplaces.Thisglade in the ringof treeswasevidentlyameeting-placeof thewolves.

Moreandmorekeptcomingin.TheyleftguardsatthefootofthetreeinwhichDoriandBilbowere,andthenwentsnufflingabouttilltheyhadsmeltouteverytree thathadanyone in it.These theyguarded too,whileall therest (hundreds

andhundreds it seemed)wentandsat inagreatcircle in theglade;and in themiddle of the circlewas a great greywolf.He spoke to them in the dreadfullanguage of the Wargs. Gandalf understood it. Bilbo did not, but it soundedterrible tohim,andas ifall their talkwasaboutcruelandwicked things,as itwas. Every now and then all theWargs in the circlewould answer their greychiefalltogether,andtheirdreadfulclamouralmostmadethehobbitfalloutofhispine-tree.Iwill tell youwhatGandalf heard, thoughBilbodid not understand it.The

Wargsandthegoblinsoftenhelpedoneanotherinwickeddeeds.Goblinsdonotusuallyventureveryfarfromtheirmountains,unlesstheyaredrivenoutandarelookingfornewhomes,oraremarchingtowar(whichIamgladtosayhasnothappened for a longwhile). But in those days they sometimes used to go onraids,especiallytogetfoodorslavestoworkforthem.ThentheyoftengottheWargstohelpandsharedtheplunderwiththem.Sometimestheyrodeonwolveslikemendoonhorses.Nowitseemedthatagreatgoblin-raidhadbeenplannedfor that very night. TheWargs had come tomeet the goblins and the goblinswerelate.Thereason,nodoubt,wasthedeathoftheGreatGoblin,andalltheexcitement caused by the dwarves and Bilbo and the wizard, for whom theywereprobablystillhunting.Inspiteofthedangersofthisfarlandboldmenhadoflatebeenmakingtheir

way back into it from the South, cutting down trees, and building themselvesplaces to live in among themore pleasantwoods in the valleys and along theriver-shores. Thereweremany of them, and theywere brave andwell-armed,andeventheWargsdarednotattackthemifthereweremanytogether,orinthebrightday.Butnow theyhadplannedwith thegoblins’help tocomebynightuponsomeofthevillagesnearest themountains.If theirplanhadbeencarriedout,therewouldhavebeennonelefttherenextday;allwouldhavebeenkilledexceptthefewthegoblinskeptfromthewolvesandcarriedbackasprisonerstotheircaves.Thiswasdreadfultalktolistento,notonlybecauseofthebravewoodmenand

theirwivesandchildren,butalsobecauseof thedangerwhichnowthreatenedGandalfandhisfriends.TheWargswereangryandpuzzledatfindingthemherein their verymeeting-place. They thought theywere friends of thewoodmen,andwerecometospyonthem,andwouldtakenewsoftheirplansdownintothevalleys,andthenthegoblinsandthewolveswouldhavetofightaterriblebattleinsteadofcapturingprisonersanddevouringpeoplewakedsuddenlyfromtheirsleep.SotheWargshadnointentionofgoingawayandlettingthepeopleupthetrees escape, at any rate not until morning. And long before that, they said,goblin soldiers would be coming down from the mountains; and goblins can

climbtrees,orcutthemdown.NowyoucanunderstandwhyGandalf,listeningtotheirgrowlingandyelping,

begantobedreadfullyafraid,wizardthoughhewas,andtofeelthattheywereinaverybadplace,andhadnotyetescapedatall.Allthesamehewasnotgoingtoletthemhaveitalltheirownway,thoughhecouldnotdoverymuchstuckupinatalltreewithwolvesallroundonthegroundbelow.Hegatheredthehugepine-conesfromthebranchesofthetree.Thenhesetonealightwithbrightbluefire,andthrewitwhizzingdownamongthecircleofthewolves.Itstruckoneontheback,andimmediatelyhisshaggycoatcaughtfire,andhewasleapingtoandfroyelpinghorribly.Thenanothercameandanother,oneinblueflames,oneinred,anotheringreen.Theyburstonthegroundinthemiddleofthecircleandwentoffincolouredsparksandsmoke.Aspeciallylargeonehitthechiefwolfonthenose,andheleapedintheairtenfeet,andthenrushedroundandroundthecirclebitingandsnappingevenattheotherwolvesinhisangerandfright.The dwarves and Bilbo shouted and cheered. The rage of the wolves was

terrible to see, and the commotion theymade filled all the forest.Wolves areafraid of fire at all times, but thiswas amost horrible and uncanny fire. If asparkgotintheircoatsitstuckandburnedintothem,andunlesstheyrolledoverquick theyweresoonall inflames.Verysoonallabout thegladewolveswererollingoverandovertoputoutthesparksontheirbacks,whilethosethatwereburning were running about howling and setting others alight, till their ownfriends chased them away and they fled off down the slopes crying andyammeringandlookingforwater.

“Whatisallthisuproarintheforesttonight?”saidtheLordoftheEagles.Hewassitting,blackinthemoonlight,onthetopofalonelypinnacleofrockattheeastern edge of the mountains. “I hear wolves’ voices! Are the goblins atmischiefinthewoods?”Hesweptupintotheair,andimmediatelytwoofhisguardsfromtherocksat

eitherhandleapeduptofollowhim.TheycircledupintheskyandlookeddownupontheringoftheWargs,atinyspotfarfarbelow.Buteagleshavekeeneyesandcanseesmallthingsatagreatdistance.TheLordoftheEaglesoftheMistyMountainshadeyesthatcouldlookatthesununblinking,andcouldseearabbitmovingonthegroundamilebeloweveninthemoonlight.Sothoughhecouldnot see the people in the trees, he couldmake out the commotion among thewolvesandseethetinyflashesoffire,andhearthehowlingandyelpingcomeupfaintfromfarbeneathhim.Alsohecouldseetheglintofthemoonongoblinspears and helmets, as long lines of the wicked folk crept down the hillsidesfromtheirgateandwoundintothewood.

Eaglesarenotkindlybirds.Somearecowardlyandcruel.Buttheancientraceof the northernmountainswere the greatest of all birds; theywere proud andstrong andnoble-hearted.Theydidnot lovegoblins, or fear them.When theytook any notice of them at all (which was seldom, for they did not eat suchcreatures),theyswoopedonthemanddrovethemshriekingbacktotheircaves,andstoppedwhateverwickednesstheyweredoing.Thegoblinshatedtheeaglesand feared them, but could not reach their lofty seats, or drive them from themountains.Tonight theLord of theEagleswas filledwith curiosity to knowwhatwas

afoot;sohesummonedmanyothereaglestohim,andtheyflewawayfromthemountains, and slowly circling ever round and round they came down, down,downtowardstheringofthewolvesandthemeeting-placeofthegoblins.Averygood thing too!Dreadful thingshadbeengoingondown there.The

wolves that had caught fire and fled into the forest had set it alight in severalplaces.Itwashighsummer,andonthiseasternsideofthemountainstherehadbeen little rain for some time.Yellowing bracken, fallen branches, deep-piledpine-needles,andhereandtheredeadtrees,weresooninflames.Allroundtheclearing of theWargs firewas leaping. But thewolf-guards did not leave thetrees.Maddenedandangrytheywereleapingandhowlingroundthetrunks,andcursing thedwarves in theirhorrible language,with their tongueshangingout,andtheireyesshiningasredandfierceastheflames.Then suddenlygoblins came runningupyelling.They thought abattlewith

thewoodmenwas going on; but they soon learnedwhat had really happened.Some of them actually sat down and laughed. Others waved their spears andclashed theshaftsagainst their shields.Goblinsarenotafraidof fire,and theysoonhadaplanwhichseemedtothemmostamusing.Somegotallthewolvestogetherinapack.Somestackedfernandbrushwood

roundthetree-trunks.Othersrushedroundandstampedandbeat,andbeatandstamped,untilnearlyall theflameswereputout—but theydidnotputout thefirenearest tothetreeswherethedwarveswere.Thatfiretheyfedwithleavesanddeadbranches andbracken.Soon they had a ring of smoke and flame allroundthedwarves,aringwhichtheykeptfromspreadingoutwards;butitclosedslowlyin,tilltherunningfirewaslickingthefuelpiledunderthetrees.SmokewasinBilbo’seyes,hecouldfeeltheheatoftheflames;andthroughthereekhecould see thegoblinsdancing roundand round in a circle likepeople roundamidsummerbonfire.Outside theringofdancingwarriorswithspearsandaxesstoodthewolvesatarespectfuldistance,watchingandwaiting.Hecouldhearthegoblinsbeginningahorriblesong:

Fifteenbirdsinfivefir-trees,

theirfeatherswerefannedinafierybreeze!But,funnylittlebirds,theyhadnowings!Owhatshallwedowiththefunnylittlethings?Roast’emalive,orstewtheminapot;frythem,boilthemandeatthemhot?

Then they stopped and shoutedout: “Fly away little birds!Fly away if youcan!Come down little birds, or youwill get roasted in your nests! Sing, singlittlebirds!Whydon’tyousing?”“Goaway!littleboys!”shoutedGandalfinanswer.“Itisn’tbird-nestingtime.

Also naughty little boys that playwith fire get punished.”He said it tomakethemangry,andtoshowthemhewasnotfrightenedofthem—thoughofcoursehe was, wizard though he was. But they took no notice, and they went onsinging.

Burn,burntreeandfern!Shrivelandscorch!AfizzlingtorchTolightthenightforourdelight,

Yahey!Bakeandtoast’em,fryandroast’em!tillbeardsblaze,andeyesglaze;tillhairsmellsandskinscrack,fatmelts,andbonesblack

incindersliebeneaththesky!Sodwarvesshalldie,

andlightthenightforourdelight,Yahey!Ya-harri-hey!Yahoy!

AndwiththatYahoy! the flameswereunderGandalf’s tree. Inamoment itspreadtotheothers.Thebarkcaughtfire,thelowerbranchescracked.ThenGandalf climbed to the top of his tree. The sudden splendour flashed

fromhiswandlikelightning,ashegotreadytospringdownfromonhighrightamongthespearsofthegoblins.Thatwouldhavebeentheendofhim,thoughhewouldprobablyhavekilledmanyof themashecamehurtlingdown likeathunderbolt.Butheneverleaped.Just at thatmoment theLordof theEagles swept down fromabove, seized

himinhistalons,andwasgone.

Therewasahowlofangerandsurprisefromthegoblins.LoudcriedtheLord

oftheEagles,towhomGandalfhadnowspoken.Backsweptthegreatbirdsthatwere with him, and down they came like huge black shadows. The wolvesyammered and gnashed their teeth; the goblins yelled and stampedwith rage,andflungtheirheavyspears in theair invain.Over themswoopedtheeagles;thedarkrushof theirbeatingwingssmote themto thefloorordrove themfaraway; their talons tore at goblin faces. Other birds flew to the tree-tops andseizedthedwarves,whowerescramblingupnowasfarastheyeverdaredtogo.PoorlittleBilbowasverynearlyleftbehindagain!Hejustmanagedtocatch

holdofDori’slegs,asDoriwasborneofflastofall;anduptheywenttogetherabovethetumultandtheburning,Bilboswingingintheairwithhisarmsnearlybreaking.Nowfarbelowthegoblinsandthewolveswerescatteringfarandwideinthe

woods.A feweagleswere still circlingand sweepingabove thebattle-ground.Theflamesaboutthetreessprangsuddenlyupabovethehighestbranches.Theywentupincracklingfire.Therewasasuddenflurryofsparksandsmoke.Bilbohadescapedonlyjustintime!Soonthelightoftheburningwasfaintbelow,aredtwinkleontheblackfloor;

andtheywerehighupinthesky,risingallthetimeinstrongsweepingcircles.Bilboneverforgotthatflight,clingingontoDori’sankles.Hemoaned“myarms,myarms!”;butDorigroaned“mypoorlegs,mypoorlegs!”At the best of times heightsmadeBilbo giddy.He used to turn queer if he

lookedover the edgeof quite a little cliff; andhe hadnever liked ladders, letalone trees (never having had to escape from wolves before). So you canimaginehowhisheadswamnow,whenhe lookeddownbetweenhisdanglingtoes and saw the dark lands opening wide underneath him, touched here andtherewiththelightofthemoononahill-siderockorastreamintheplains.Thepalepeaksofthemountainswerecomingnearer,moonlitspikesofrock

stickingoutofblackshadows.Summerornot,itseemedverycold.Heshuthiseyes and wondered if he could hold on any longer. Then he imagined whatwouldhappenifhedidnot.Hefeltsick.

TheMistyMountainsLookingWestfromtheEyrietowardsGoblinGateAlternativeImage

Theflightendedonlyjustintimeforhim,justbeforehisarmsgaveway.He

loosedDori’sankleswithagaspandfellontotheroughplatformofaneagle’seyrie.Therehelaywithoutspeaking,andhisthoughtswereamixtureofsurpriseatbeingsavedfromthefire,andfear lesthefalloff thatnarrowplaceintothedeepshadowsoneither side.Hewas feelingveryqueer indeed inhisheadbythistimeafterthedreadfuladventuresofthelastthreedayswithnexttonothingtoeat,andhefoundhimselfsayingaloud:“NowIknowwhatapieceofbaconfeelslikewhenitissuddenlypickedoutofthepanonaforkandputbackontheshelf!”“Noyoudon’t!”heheardDorianswering,“because thebaconknows that it

will getback in thepan sooneror later; and it is tobehopedwe shan’t.Alsoeaglesaren’tforks!”“Ono!Notabitlikestorks—forks,Imean,”saidBilbosittingupandlooking

anxiously at the eagle who was perched close by. He wondered what othernonsensehehadbeensaying,andiftheeaglewouldthinkitrude.Yououghtnottoberudetoaneagle,whenyouareonlythesizeofahobbit,andareupinhiseyrieatnight!Theeagleonly sharpenedhisbeakona stoneand trimmedhis feathers and

tooknonotice.

Soonanothereagleflewup.“TheLordof theEaglesbidsyoutobringyourprisonerstotheGreatShelf,”hecriedandwasoffagain.TheotherseizedDoriinhisclawsandflewawaywithhimintothenightleavingBilboallalone.Hehadjuststrengthtowonderwhatthemessengerhadmeantby‘prisoners,’andtobegintothinkofbeingtornupforsupperlikearabbit,whenhisownturncame.The eagle cameback, seized him in his talons by the back of his coat, and

swooped off. This time he flew only a short way. Very soon Bilbo was laiddown,tremblingwithfear,onawideshelfofrockonthemountain-side.Therewas no path downon to it save by flying; and no path downoff it except byjumpingoveraprecipice.Therehefoundalltheotherssittingwiththeirbackstothemountainwall.TheLordof theEaglesalsowasthereandwasspeakingtoGandalf.ItseemedthatBilbowasnotgoing tobeeatenafterall.Thewizardand the

eagle-lord appeared to know one another slightly, and even to be on friendlyterms.Asamatterof factGandalf,whohadoftenbeen in themountains,hadoncerenderedaservicetotheeaglesandhealedtheirlordfromanarrow-wound.Soyousee‘prisoners’hadmeant‘prisonersrescuedfromthegoblins’only,andnotcaptivesof theeagles.AsBilbo listened to the talkofGandalfhe realizedthat at last they were going to escape really and truly from the dreadfulmountains. He was discussing plans with the Great Eagle for carrying thedwarves and himself andBilbo far away and setting themdownwell on theirjourneyacrosstheplainsbelow.TheLordoftheEagleswouldnottakethemanywherenearwheremenlived.

“Theywouldshootatuswiththeirgreatbowsofyew,”hesaid,“fortheywouldthinkwewereaftertheirsheep.Andatothertimestheywouldberight.No!wearegladtocheatthegoblinsoftheirsport,andgladtorepayourthankstoyou,butwewillnotriskourselvesfordwarvesinthesouthwardplains.”“Very well,” said Gandalf. “Take us where and as far as you will!We are

already deeply obliged to you. But in the meantime we are famished withhunger.”“Iamnearlydeadofit,”saidBilboinaweaklittlevoicethatnobodyheard.“Thatcanperhapsbemended,”saidtheLordoftheEagles.Lateronyoumighthaveseenabrightfireontheshelfofrockandthefigures

of thedwarves round it cooking andmaking a fine roasting smell.The eagleshadbroughtupdryboughsforfuel,andtheyhadbroughtrabbits,hares,andasmallsheep.Thedwarvesmanagedallthepreparations.Bilbowastooweaktohelp,andanywayhewasnotmuchgoodatskinningrabbitsorcuttingupmeat,beingusedtohavingitdeliveredbythebutcherallreadytocook.Gandalf,too,waslyingdownafterdoinghispartinsettingthefiregoing,sinceOinandGloin

hadlosttheirtinder-boxes.(Dwarveshavenevertakentomatchesevenyet.)Soendedtheadventuresof theMistyMountains.SoonBilbo’sstomachwas

feelingfullandcomfortableagain,andhefelthecouldsleepcontentedly,thoughreallyhewouldhavelikedaloafandbutterbetterthanbitsofmeattoastedonsticks.Hesleptcurleduponthehardrockmoresoundlythaneverhehaddoneonhisfeather-bedinhisownlittleholeathome.Butallnighthedreamedofhisown house andwandered in his sleep into all his different rooms looking forsomethingthathecouldnotfindnorrememberwhatitlookedlike.

ChapterVIIQueerLodgings

ThenextmorningBilbowokeupwiththeearlysuninhiseyes.Hejumpeduptolookatthetimeandtogoandputhiskettleon—andfoundhewasnothomeatall.Sohesatdownandwishedinvainforawashandabrush.Hedidnotgeteither,norteanortoastnorbaconforhisbreakfast,onlycoldmuttonandrabbit.Andafterthathehadtogetreadyforafreshstart.Thistimehewasallowedtoclimbontoaneagle’sbackandclingbetweenhis

wings.Theairrushedoverhimandheshuthiseyes.ThedwarveswerecryingfarewellsandpromisingtorepaytheLordoftheEaglesifevertheycould,asoffrosefifteengreatbirdsfromthemountain’sside.Thesunwasstillclosetotheeasternedgeofthings.Themorningwascool,andmistswereinthevalleysandhollows and twined here and there about the peaks and pinnacles of the hills.Bilboopenedaneyetopeepandsawthatthebirdswerealreadyhighupandtheworldwasfaraway,andthemountainswerefallingbackbehindthemintothedistance.Heshuthiseyesagainandheldontighter.“Don’tpinch!”saidhiseagle.“Youneednotbefrightenedlikearabbit,even

ifyoulookratherlikeone.Itisafairmorningwithlittlewind.Whatisfinerthanflying?”Bilbowouldhavelikedtosay:“Awarmbathandlatebreakfastonthelawn

afterwards;”buthethoughtitbettertosaynothingatall,andtoletgohisclutchjustatinybit.Afteragoodwhiletheeaglesmusthaveseenthepointtheyweremakingfor,

evenfromtheirgreatheight,fortheybegantogodowncirclingroundingreatspirals. They did this for a longwhile, and at last the hobbit opened his eyesagain.Theearthwasmuchnearer,andbelow themwere trees that looked likeoaks and elms, and wide grass lands, and a river running through it all. Butcroppingoutof theground, right in thepathof thestreamwhich looped itselfaboutit,wasagreatrock,almostahillofstone,likealastoutpostofthedistantmountains,orahugepiececastmilesintotheplainbysomegiantamonggiants.Quicklynow to the topof this rock theeagles swoopedonebyoneand set

downtheirpassengers.“Farewell!”theycried,“whereveryoufare,tillyoureyriesreceiveyouatthe

journey’send!”Thatisthepolitethingtosayamongeagles.“Maythewindunderyourwingsbearyouwherethesunsailsandthemoon

walks,”answeredGandalf,whoknewthecorrectreply.

BilbowokewiththeearlysuninhiseyesAndsotheyparted.AndthoughtheLordoftheEaglesbecameinafterdays

theKingofAllBirdsandworeagoldencrown,andhisfifteenchieftainsgolden

collars (made of the gold that the dwarves gave them),Bilbo never saw themagain—excepthighandfaroffinthebattleofFiveArmies.Butasthatcomesinattheendofthistalewewillsaynomoreaboutitjustnow.Therewasaflatspaceonthetopofthehillofstoneandawellwornpathwith

manystepsleadingdownittotheriver,acrosswhichafordofhugeflatstonesled to thegrass-landbeyond the stream.Therewasa little cave (awholesomeonewithapebbly floor)at the footof the stepsandnear theendof the stonyford.Herethepartygatheredanddiscussedwhatwastobedone.“Ialwaysmeanttoseeyouallsafe(ifpossible)overthemountains,”saidthe

wizard,“andnowbygoodmanagementandgoodluckIhavedoneit.IndeedwearenowagooddealfurthereastthanIevermeanttocomewithyou,forafterallthisisnotmyadventure.Imaylookinonitagainbeforeitisallover,butinthemeanwhileIhavesomeotherpressingbusinesstoattendto.”Thedwarvesgroanedandlookedmostdistressed,andBilbowept.Theyhad

begun to thinkGandalf was going to come all theway andwould always bethere to help them out of difficulties. “I am not going to disappear this veryinstant,”saidhe.“Icangiveyouadayortwomore.ProbablyIcanhelpyououtofyourpresentplight,andIneedalittlehelpmyself.Wehavenofood,andnobaggage,andnoponiestoride;andyoudon’tknowwhereyouare.NowIcantellyou that.Youarestill somemilesnorthof thepathwhichweshouldhavebeenfollowing,ifwehadnotleftthemountainpassinahurry.Veryfewpeopleliveintheseparts,unless theyhavecomeheresinceIwaslastdownthisway,whichissomeyearsago.ButthereissomebodythatIknowof,wholivesnotfaraway.ThatSomebodymadethestepsonthegreatrock—theCarrockIbelievehecallsit.Hedoesnotcomehereoften,certainlynotinthedaytime,anditisnogoodwaitingforhim.Infactitwouldbeverydangerous.Wemustgoandfindhim;andifallgoeswellatourmeeting,IthinkIshallbeoffandwishyouliketheeagles‘farewellwhereveryoufare!’”Theybeggedhimnottoleavethem.Theyofferedhimdragon-goldandsilver

andjewels,buthewouldnotchangehismind.“Weshallsee,weshallsee!”hesaid,“andI thinkIhaveearnedalreadysomeofyourdragon-gold—whenyouhavegotit.”

Afterthattheystoppedpleading.Thentheytookofftheirclothesandbathedintheriver,whichwasshallowandclearandstonyattheford.Whentheyhaddried in thesun,whichwasnowstrongandwarm, theywererefreshed, ifstillsore and a little hungry. Soon they crossed the ford (carrying the hobbit), andthen began to march through the long green grass and down the lines of thewide-armedoaksandthetallelms.

“And why is it called the Carrock?” asked Bilbo as he went along at thewizard’sside.“Hecalledit theCarrock,becausecarrockishiswordfor it.Hecalls things

likethatcarrocks,andthisoneistheCarrockbecauseitistheonlyonenearhishomeandheknowsitwell.”“Whocallsit?Whoknowsit?”“TheSomebodyIspokeof—averygreatperson.Youmustallbeverypolite

whenIintroduceyou.Ishallintroduceyouslowly,twobytwo,Ithink;andyoumustbecarefulnottoannoyhim,orheavenknowswhatwillhappen.Hecanbeappallingwhenheisangry,thoughheiskindenoughifhumoured.StillIwarnyouhegetsangryeasily.”Thedwarvesallgatheredroundwhentheyheardthewizardtalkinglikethisto

Bilbo.“Isthatthepersonyouaretakingustonow?”theyasked.“Couldn’tyoufind someone more easy-tempered? Hadn’t you better explain it all a bitclearer?”—andsoon.“Yes it certainly is! No I could not! And I was explaining very carefully,”

answeredthewizardcrossly.“Ifyoumustknowmore,hisnameisBeorn.Heisverystrong,andheisaskin-changer.”“What! a furrier, aman that calls rabbits conies,whenhedoesn’t turn their

skinsintosquirrels?”askedBilbo.“Goodgraciousheavens,no,no,NO,NO!”saidGandalf.“Don’tbeafoolMr.

Bagginsifyoucanhelpit;andinthenameofallwonderdon’tmentionthewordfurrier again as long as you arewithin a hundredmiles of his house, nor rug,cape,tippet,muff,noranyothersuchunfortunateword!Heisaskin-changer.Hechanges his skin: sometimes he is a huge black bear, sometimes he is a greatstrong black-haired man with huge arms and a great beard. I cannot tell youmuch more, though that ought to be enough. Some say that he is a beardescended from the great and ancient bears of the mountains that lived therebeforethegiantscame.OtherssaythatheisamandescendedfromthefirstmenwholivedbeforeSmaugor theotherdragonscameinto thispartof theworld,andbeforethegoblinscameintothehillsoutoftheNorth.Icannotsay,thoughIfancythelastisthetruetale.Heisnotthesortofpersontoaskquestionsof.“Atanyrateheisundernoenchantmentbuthisown.Helivesinanoak-wood

andhasagreatwoodenhouse;andasamanhekeepscattleandhorseswhicharenearlyasmarvellousashimself.Theyworkforhimandtalktohim.Hedoesnoteatthem;neitherdoeshehuntoreatwildanimals.Hekeepshivesandhivesofgreatfiercebees,andlivesmostoncreamandhoney.Asabearherangesfarandwide.IoncesawhimsittingallaloneonthetopoftheCarrockatnightwatchingthemoon sinking towards theMistyMountains, and I heardhimgrowl in the

tongueofbears:‘ThedaywillcomewhentheywillperishandIshallgoback!’ThatiswhyIbelieveheoncecamefromthemountainshimself.”

Bilboandthedwarveshadnowplentytothinkabout,andtheyaskednomorequestions.Theystillhada longway towalkbefore them.Upslopeanddowndaletheyplodded.Itgrewveryhot.Sometimestheyrestedunderthetrees,andthenBilbofeltsohungrythathewouldhaveeatenacorns,ifanyhadbeenripeenoughyettohavefallentotheground.Itwas themiddle of the afternoonbefore theynoticed that great patches of

flowershadbeguntospringup,all thesamekindsgrowingtogetheras if theyhad been planted. Especially there was clover, waving patches of cockscombclover, and purple clover, and wide stretches of short white sweet honey-smelling clover.Therewas a buzzing and awhirring and a droning in the air.Beeswerebusyeverywhere.Andsuchbees!Bilbohadneverseenanythinglikethem.“Ifonewastostingme,”hethought,“IshouldswellupasbigagainasIam!”Theywerebigger thanhornets.Thedroneswerebigger thanyour thumb, a

gooddeal,andthebandsofyellowontheirdeepblackbodiesshonelikefierygold.“Wearegettingnear,”saidGandalf.“Weareontheedgeofhisbee-pastures.”

After awhile theycame toabeltof tall andveryancientoaks, andbeyondthesetoahighthorn-hedgethroughwhichyoucouldneitherseenorscramble.“Youhadbetterwaithere,”saidthewizardtothedwarves;“andwhenIcallor

whistlebegintocomeafterme—youwillsee thewayIgo—butonlyinpairs,mind,aboutfiveminutesbetweeneachpairofyou.Bomburisfattestandwilldofor two, he hadbetter come alone and last.ComeonMr.Baggins!There is agate somewhere round this way.” Andwith that he went off along the hedgetakingthefrightenedhobbitwithhim.Theysooncametoawoodengate,highandbroad,beyondwhichtheycould

seegardensandaclusteroflowwoodenbuildings,somethatchedandmadeofunshapedlogs:barns,stables,sheds,andalonglowwoodenhouse.Insideonthesouthwardsideofthegreathedgewererowsandrowsofhiveswithbell-shapedtopsmadeofstraw.Thenoiseofthegiantbeesflyingtoandfroandcrawlinginandoutfilledalltheair.The wizard and the hobbit pushed open the heavy creaking gate and went

down a wide track towards the house. Some horses, very sleek and well-groomed, trotted up across the grass and looked at them intently with veryintelligentfaces;thenofftheygallopedtothebuildings.

“Theyhavegonetotellhimofthearrivalofstrangers,”saidGandalf.Soon they reached a courtyard, three walls of which were formed by the

woodenhouseanditstwolongwings.Inthemiddletherewaslyingagreatoak-trunkwithmanyloppedbranchesbesideit.Standingnearwasahugemanwithathickblackbeardandhair,andgreatbarearmsandlegswithknottedmuscles.Hewasclothedinatunicofwooldowntohisknees,andwasleaningonalargeaxe.Thehorseswerestandingbyhimwiththeirnosesathisshoulder.“Ugh!heretheyare!”hesaidtothehorses.“Theydon’tlookdangerous.You

can be off!” He laughed a great rolling laugh, put down his axe and cameforward.“Whoareyouandwhatdoyouwant?”heaskedgruffly,standinginfrontof

themandtoweringtallaboveGandalf.AsforBilbohecouldeasilyhavetrottedthroughhislegswithoutduckinghisheadtomissthefringeoftheman’sbrowntunic.“IamGandalf,”saidthewizard.“Neverheardofhim,”growled theman. “Andwhat’s this little fellow?”he

said,stoopingdowntofrownatthehobbitwithhisbushyblackeyebrows.“ThatisMr.Baggins,ahobbitofgoodfamilyandunimpeachablereputation,”

said Gandalf. Bilbo bowed. He had no hat to take off, and was painfullyconsciousofhismanymissingbuttons.“Iamawizard,”continuedGandalf.“Ihaveheardofyou,ifyouhavenotheardofme;butperhapsyouhaveheardofmygoodcousinRadagastwholivesneartheSouthernbordersofMirkwood?”“Yes; not a bad fellowaswizards go, I believe. I used to seehimnowand

again,” saidBeorn. “Well,now Iknowwhoyouare,orwhoyousayyouare.Whatdoyouwant?”“Totellyouthetruth,wehavelostourluggageandnearlylostourway,and

areratherinneedofhelp,oratleastofadvice.Imaysaywehavehadratherabadtimewithgoblinsinthemountains.”“Goblins?” said the big man less gruffly. “O ho, so you’ve been having

troublewiththemhaveyou?Whatdidyougonearthemfor?”“Wedidnotmean to.Theysurprisedusatnight inapasswhichwehad to

cross;wewerecomingoutoftheLandsoverWestintothesecountries—itisalongtale.”“Thenyouhadbettercomeinsideandtellmesomeofit, if itwon’t takeall

day,”said themanleadingthewaythroughadarkdoor thatopenedoutof thecourtyardintothehouse.Followinghim they found themselves inawidehallwitha fire-place in the

middle. Though itwas summer therewas awood-fire burning and the smokewasrisingtotheblackenedraftersinsearchofthewayoutthroughanopening

intheroof.Theypassedthroughthisdimhall, litonlybythefireandtheholeaboveit,andcamethroughanothersmallerdoorintoasortofverandaproppedonwoodenpostsmadeofsingle tree-trunks. It facedsouthandwasstillwarmand filled with the light of the westering sun which slanted into it, and fellgoldenonthegardenfullofflowersthatcamerightuptothesteps.

Beorn’sHallAlternativeImage

Here they sat on wooden benches while Gandalf began his tale, and Bilbo

swunghisdanglinglegsandlookedattheflowersinthegarden,wonderingwhattheirnamescouldbe,ashehadneverseenhalfofthembefore.“Iwascomingoverthemountainswithafriendortwo...”saidthewizard.“Ortwo?Icanonlyseeone,andalittleoneatthat,”saidBeorn.“Welltotellyouthetruth,Ididnotliketobotheryouwithalotofus,untilI

foundoutifyouwerebusy.Iwillgiveacall,ifImay.”“Goon,callaway!”SoGandalf gave a long shrillwhistle, and presently Thorin andDori came

roundthehousebythegardenpathandstoodbowinglowbeforethem.“Oneor threeyoumeant, Isee!”saidBeorn.“But thesearen’thobbits, they

aredwarves!”“Thorin Oakenshield, at your service! Dori at your service!” said the two

dwarvesbowingagain.“I don’t need your service, thank you,” saidBeorn, “but I expect you need

mine. I am not over fond of dwarves; but if it is true you are Thorin (son ofThrain,sonofThror,Ibelieve),andthatyourcompanionisrespectable,andthatyouareenemiesofgoblinsandarenotuptoanymischiefinmylands—whatareyouupto,bytheway?”“They are on theirway to visit the land of their fathers, away east beyond

Mirkwood,”put inGandalf, “and it is entirelyanaccident thatweare inyourlandsatall.WewerecrossingbytheHighPassthatshouldhavebroughtustotheroadthatliestothesouthofyourcountry,whenwewereattackedbytheevilgoblins—asIwasabouttotellyou.”“Goontelling,then!”saidBeorn,whowasneververypolite.“Therewasaterriblestorm;thestone-giantswereouthurlingrocks,andatthe

headof thepasswe tookrefuge inacave, thehobbitandIandseveralofourcompanions...”“Doyoucalltwoseveral?”“Well,no.Asamatteroffactthereweremorethantwo.”“Wherearethey?Killed,eaten,gonehome?”“Well,no.Theydon’tseemalltohavecomewhenIwhistled.Shy,Iexpect.

Yousee,weareverymuchafraidthatweareratheralotforyoutoentertain.”“Go on,whistle again! I am in for a party, it seems, and one or twomore

won’tmakemuchdifference,”growledBeorn.Gandalf whistled again; but Nori and Ori were there almost before he had

stopped,for,ifyouremember,Gandalfhadtoldthemtocomeinpairseveryfive

minutes.“Hullo!”saidBeorn.“Youcameprettyquick—wherewereyouhiding?Come

onmyjack-in-the-boxes!”“Noriatyourservice,Oriat...”theybegan;butBeorninterruptedthem.“Thankyou!WhenIwantyourhelpIwillaskforit.Sitdown,andlet’sgeton

withthistale,oritwillbesupper-timebeforeitisended.”“As soonaswewere asleep,”wentonGandalf, “a crack at thebackof the

caveopened;goblinscameoutandgrabbedthehobbitandthedwarvesandourtroopofponies—”“Troopofponies?Whatwereyou—atravellingcircus?Orwereyoucarrying

lotsofgoods?Ordoyoualwayscallsixatroop?”“Ono!As amatter of fact thereweremore than six ponies, for therewere

more thansixofus—andwell,hereare twomore!”Justat thatmomentBalinandDwalinappearedandbowedsolowthattheirbeardssweptthestonefloor.Thebigmanwasfrowningatfirst,buttheydidtheirbesttobefrightfullypolite,and kept on nodding and bending and bowing andwaving their hoods beforetheirknees (inproperdwarf-fashion), tillhestoppedfrowningandburst intoachucklinglaugh:theylookedsocomical.“Troop,wasright,”hesaid.“Afinecomicone.Comeinmymerrymen,and

whatareyournames?Idon’twantyourservicejustnow,onlyyournames;andthensitdownandstopwagging!”“BalinandDwalin,”theysaidnotdaringtobeoffended,andsatfloponthe

floorlookingrathersurprised.“Nowgoonagain!”saidBeorntothewizard.“WherewasI?Oyes—Iwasnotgrabbed.Ikilledagoblinortwowithaflash

—”“Good!”growledBeorn.“Itissomegoodbeingawizard,then.”“—and slipped inside the crack before it closed. I followed down into the

mainhall,whichwas crowdedwithgoblins.TheGreatGoblinwas therewiththirty or forty armed guards. I thought to myself ‘even if they were not allchainedtogether,whatcanadozendoagainstsomany?”’“Adozen!That’s thefirst timeI’veheardeightcalledadozen.Orhaveyou

stillgotsomemorejacksthathaven’tyetcomeoutoftheirboxes?”“Well, yes, there seem to be a couple more here now—Fili and Kili, I

believe,” said Gandalf, as these two now appeared and stood smiling andbowing.“That’senough!”saidBeorn.“Sitdownandbequiet!Nowgoon,Gandalf!”SoGandalfwentonwith the tale,untilhecameto thefight in thedark, the

discoveryofthelowergate,andtheirhorrorwhentheyfoundthatMr.Baggins

had beenmislaid. “We counted ourselves and found that therewas no hobbit.Therewereonlyfourteenofusleft!”“Fourteen!That’s the first time I’veheardone from ten leave fourteen.You

meannine,orelseyouhaven’ttoldmeyetallthenamesofyourparty.”“Well,ofcourseyouhaven’tseenOinandGloinyet.And,blessme!herethey

are.Ihopeyouwillforgivethemforbotheringyou.”“Olet’emallcome!Hurryup!Comealong,youtwo,andsitdown!Butlook

here, Gandalf, even nowwe have only got yourself and ten dwarves and thehobbitthatwaslost.Thatonlymakeseleven(plusonemislaid)andnotfourteen,unlesswizardscountdifferentlytootherpeople.Butnowpleasegetonwiththetale.”Beorndidnotshowitmorethanhecouldhelp,butreallyhehadbeguntogetveryinterested.Yousee,intheolddayshehadknowntheverypartofthemountains that Gandalf was describing. He nodded and he growled, when heheard of the hobbit’s reappearance and of their scramble down the stone-slideandofthewolf-ringinthewoods.When Gandalf came to their climbing into trees with the wolves all

underneath,hegotupandstrodeaboutandmuttered:“IwishIhadbeenthere!Iwouldhavegiventhemmorethanfireworks!”“Well,” said Gandalf very glad to see that his tale was making a good

impression,“Idid thebest Icould.Therewewerewith thewolvesgoingmadunderneathusandtheforestbeginningtoblazeinplaces,whenthegoblinscamedownfromthehillsanddiscoveredus.Theyyelledwithdelightandsangsongsmakingfunofus.Fifteenbirdsinfivefir-trees....”“Good heavens!” growled Beorn. “Don’t pretend that goblins can’t count.

Theycan.Twelveisn’tfifteenandtheyknowit.”“And so do I. There were Bifur and Bofur as well. I haven’t ventured to

introducethembefore,butheretheyare.”IncameBifurandBofur.“Andme!”gaspedBomburpuffingupbehind.He

wasfat,andalsoangryatbeinglefttilllast.Herefusedtowaitfiveminutes,andfollowedimmediatelyaftertheothertwo.“Well, now thereare fifteenof you; and sincegoblins can count, I suppose

that is all that there were up the trees. Now perhaps we can finish this storywithoutanymoreinterruptions.”Mr.BagginssawthenhowcleverGandalfhadbeen.TheinterruptionshadreallymadeBeornmoreinterestedinthestory,andthe story had kept him from sending the dwarves off at once like suspiciousbeggars.Heneverinvitedpeopleintohishouse,ifhecouldhelpit.Hehadveryfewfriendsandtheylivedagoodwayaway;andheneverinvitedmorethanacoupleofthesetohishouseatatime.Nowhehadgotfifteenstrangerssittinginhisporch!

Bythetimethewizardhadfinishedhistaleandhadtoldoftheeagles’rescueandofhowtheyhadallbeenbroughttotheCarrock,thesunhadfallenbehindthepeaksoftheMistyMountainsandtheshadowswerelonginBeorn’sgarden.“Averygood tale!” saidhe. “Thebest I haveheard for a longwhile. If all

beggars could tell such a good one, they might find me kinder. You may bemakingitallup,ofcourse,butyoudeserveasupperforthestoryallthesame.Let’shavesomethingtoeat!”“Yesplease!”theyallsaidtogether.“Thankyouverymuch!”

Insidethehallitwasnowquitedark.Beornclappedhishands,andintrottedfourbeautifulwhiteponiesandseverallargelong-bodiedgreydogs.Beornsaidsomethingtotheminaqueerlanguagelikeanimalnoisesturnedintotalk.Theywentoutagainandsooncamebackcarryingtorchesintheirmouths,whichtheylitatthefireandstuckinlowbracketsonthepillarsofthehallaboutthecentralhearth. The dogs could stand on their hind-legs when they wished, and carrythingswiththeirfore-feet.Quicklytheygotoutboardsandtrestlesfromthesidewallsandsetthemupnearthefire.Thenbaa—baa—baa!washeard,andincamesomesnow-whitesheepledby

a large coal-black ram.One bore awhite cloth embroidered at the edgeswithfiguresofanimals;othersboreontheirbroadbackstrayswithbowlsandplattersand knives andwooden spoons, which the dogs took and quickly laid on thetrestle-tables. These were very low, low enough even for Bilbo to sit atcomfortably. Beside them a pony pushed two low-seated benches with widerush-bottomsandlittleshortthicklegsforGandalfandThorin,whileatthefarend he putBeorn’s big black chair of the same sort (inwhich he satwith hisgreatlegsstuckfaroutunderthetable).Thesewereallthechairshehadinhishall, and he probably had them low like the tables for the convenience of thewonderfulanimalsthatwaitedonhim.Whatdidtherestsiton?Theywerenotforgotten.Theotherponiescameinrollingrounddrum-shapedsectionsoflogs,smoothedandpolished,and lowenougheven forBilbo; sosoon theywereallseatedatBeorn’s table, and thehallhadnot seensuchagathering formanyayear.Theretheyhadasupper,oradinner,suchastheyhadnothadsincetheyleft

theLastHomelyHouseintheWestandsaidgood-byetoElrond.Thelightofthetorches and the fire flickered about them, and on the table were two tall redbeeswaxcandles.Allthetimetheyate,Beorninhisdeeprollingvoicetoldtalesof thewild landson thissideof themountains,andespeciallyof thedarkanddangerouswood,thatlayoutstretchedfartoNorthandSouthaday’sridebeforethem,barringtheirwaytotheEast,theterribleforestofMirkwood.

The dwarves listened and shook their beards, for they knew that theymustsoonventureintothatforestandthatafterthemountainsitwastheworstoftheperilstheyhadtopassbeforetheycametothedragon’sstronghold.Whendinnerwasovertheybegantotelltalesoftheirown,butBeornseemedtobegrowingdrowsy and paid little heed to them. They spokemost of gold and silver andjewelsandthemakingofthingsbysmith-craft,andBeorndidnotappeartocareforsuchthings:therewerenothingsofgoldorsilverinhishall,andfewsavetheknivesweremadeofmetalatall.Theysatlongatthetablewiththeirwoodendrinking-bowlsfilledwithmead.

Thedarknightcameonoutside.The fires in themiddleof thehallwerebuiltwithfreshlogsandthetorcheswereputout,andstilltheysatinthelightofthedancingflameswiththepillarsofthehousestandingtallbehindthem,anddarkatthetopliketreesoftheforest.Whetheritwasmagicornot,itseemedtoBilbothat heheard a sound likewind in thebranches stirring in the rafters, and thehootofowls.Soonhebegantonodwithsleepandthevoicesseemedtogrowfaraway,untilhewokewithastart.Thegreatdoorhadcreakedandslammed.Beornwasgone.Thedwarveswere

sittingcross-leggedonthefloorroundthefire,andpresentlytheybegantosing.Someoftheverseswerelikethis,butthereweremanymore,andtheirsingingwentonforalongwhile:

Thewindwasonthewitheredheath,butintheforeststirrednoleaf:thereshadowslaybynightandday,anddarkthingssilentcreptbeneath.Thewindcamedownfrommountainscold,andlikeatideitroaredandrolled;thebranchesgroaned,theforestmoaned,andleaveswerelaiduponthemould.ThewindwentonfromWesttoEast;allmovementintheforestceased,butshrillandharshacrossthemarshitswhistlingvoiceswerereleased.Thegrasseshissed,theirtasselsbent,thereedswererattling—onitwento’ershakenpoolunderheavenscoolwhereracingcloudsweretornandrent.ItpassedthelonelyMountainbareandsweptabovethedragon’slair:thereblackanddarklaybouldersstark

andflyingsmokewasintheair.Itlefttheworldandtookitsflightoverthewideseasofthenight.Themoonsetsailuponthegale,andstarswerefannedtoleapinglight.

Bilbobegantonodagain.SuddenlyupstoodGandalf.“Itistimeforustosleep,”hesaid,“—forus,butnotIthinkforBeorn.Inthis

hallwecanrestsoundandsafe,butIwarnyouallnottoforgetwhatBeornsaidbeforeheleftus:youmustnotstrayoutsideuntilthesunisup,onyourperil.”Bilbofoundthatbedshadalreadybeenlaidatthesideofthehall,onasortof

raisedplatformbetweenthepillarsandtheouterwall.Forhimtherewasalittlemattress of straw and woollen blankets. He snuggled into them very gladly,summertime though itwas.The fire burned low andhe fell asleep.Yet in thenighthewoke:thefirehadnowsunktoafewembers;thedwarvesandGandalfwereallasleep,tojudgebytheirbreathing;asplashofwhiteonthefloorcamefrom the highmoon,whichwas peering down through the smoke-hole in theroof.There was a growling sound outside, and a noise as of some great animal

scufflingatthedoor.Bilbowonderedwhatitwas,andwhetheritcouldbeBeorninenchantedshape,andifhewouldcomeinasabearandkillthem.Hedivedundertheblanketsandhidhishead,andfellasleepagainat last inspiteofhisfears.

Itwasfullmorningwhenheawoke.Oneofthedwarveshadfallenoverhimin the shadows where he lay, and had rolled down with a bump from theplatform on to the floor. It was Bofur, and he was grumbling about it, whenBilboopenedhiseyes.“Getuplazybones,”hesaid,“ortherewillbenobreakfastleftforyou.”UpjumpedBilbo.“Breakfast!”hecried.“Whereisbreakfast?”“Mostlyinsideus,”answeredtheotherdwarveswhoweremovingaboutthe

hall; “butwhat is left is out on the veranda.We have been about looking forBeorneversincethesungotup;butthereisnosignofhimanywhere,thoughwefoundbreakfastlaidassoonaswewentout.”“Where is Gandalf?” asked Bilbo, moving off to find something to eat as

quickashecould.“O! out and about somewhere,” they told him. But he saw no sign of the

wizardallthatdayuntiltheevening.Justbeforesunsethewalkedintothehall,where the hobbit and the dwarves were having supper, waited on by Beorn’swonderfulanimals,astheyhadbeenallday.OfBeorntheyhadseenandheard

nothingsincethenightbefore,andtheyweregettingpuzzled.“Whereisourhost,andwherehaveyoubeenalldayyourself?”theyallcried.“Onequestionatatime—andnonetillaftersupper!Ihaven’thadabitesince

breakfast.”At last Gandalf pushed away his plate and jug—he had eaten two whole

loaves(withmassesofbutterandhoneyandclottedcream)anddrunkatleastaquart ofmead—and he took out his pipe. “I will answer the second questionfirst,”hesaid,“—butblessme!thisisasplendidplaceforsmokerings!”Indeedforalongtimetheycouldgetnothingmoreoutofhim,hewassobusysendingsmokeringsdodgingroundthepillarsofthehall,changingthemintoallsortsofdifferentshapesandcolours,andsettingthematlastchasingoneanotheroutofthehole in the roof.Theymusthave lookedveryqueer fromoutside,poppingoutintotheaironeafteranother,green,blue,red,silver-grey,yellow,white;bigones, little ones; little ones dodging through big ones and joining into figure-eights,andgoingofflikeaflockofbirdsintothedistance.“Ihavebeenpickingoutbear-tracks,”hesaidatlast.“Theremusthavebeena

regularbears’meetingoutsidehere lastnight. IsoonsawthatBeorncouldnothavemadethemall:therewerefartoomanyofthem,andtheywereofvarioussizes too. I should say therewere little bears, large bears, ordinary bears, andgigantic big bears, all dancing outside from dark to nearly dawn. They camefrom almost every direction, except from the west over the river, from theMountains. In thatdirectiononlyonesetoffootprints led—nonecoming,onlyonesgoingawayfromhere. I followed theseas faras theCarrock.There theydisappearedintotheriver,butthewaterwastoodeepandstrongbeyondtherockformetocross.Itiseasyenough,asyouremember,togetfromthisbanktotheCarrockbytheford,butontheothersideisacliffstandingupfromaswirlingchannel.IhadtowalkmilesbeforeIfoundaplacewheretheriverwaswideandshallowenoughformetowadeandswim,andthenmilesbackagaintopickupthe tracks again.By that time itwas too late forme to follow them far.Theywentstraightoffinthedirectionofthepine-woodsontheeastsideoftheMistyMountains, where we had our pleasant little party with the Wargs the nightbefore last.And now I think I have answered your first question, too,” endedGandalf,andhesatalongwhilesilent.Bilbothoughtheknewwhatthewizardmeant.“Whatshallwedo,”hecried,

“ifheleadsalltheWargsandthegoblinsdownhere?Weshallallbecaughtandkilled!Ithoughtyousaidhewasnotafriendoftheirs.”“SoIdid.Anddon’tbesilly!Youhadbettergotobed,yourwitsaresleepy.”Thehobbitfeltquitecrushed,andasthereseemednothingelsetodohedidgo

tobed;andwhile thedwarveswerestill singingsongshedroppedasleep, still

puzzling his little head about Beorn, till he dreamed a dream of hundreds ofblackbearsdancingslowheavydancesroundandroundinthemoonlightinthecourtyard.Thenhewokeupwheneveryoneelsewasasleep,andheheard thesamescraping,scuffling,snuffling,andgrowlingasbefore.NextmorningtheywereallwakenedbyBeornhimself.“Sohereyouallare

still!”hesaid.Hepickedupthehobbitandlaughed:“NoteatenupbyWargsorgoblinsorwickedbearsyet I see”;andhepokedMr.Baggins’waistcoatmostdisrespectfully.“Littlebunnyisgettingniceandfatagainonbreadandhoney,”hechuckled.“Comeandhavesomemore!”So they allwent to breakfastwithhim.Beornwasmost jolly for a change;

indeedheseemedtobeinasplendidlygoodhumourandsetthemalllaughingwithhisfunnystories;nordidtheyhavetowonderlongwherehehadbeenorwhyhewassonicetothem,forhetoldthemhimself.Hehadbeenovertheriverandrightbackupintothemountains—fromwhichyoucanguessthathecouldtravelquickly,inbear’sshapeatanyrate.Fromtheburntwolf-gladehehadsoonfoundoutthatpartoftheirstorywastrue;buthehadfoundmorethanthat:hehadcaughtaWargandagoblinwanderinginthewoods.Fromthesehehadgotnews:thegoblinpatrolswerestillhuntingwithWargsforthedwarves,andtheywerefiercelyangrybecauseofthedeathoftheGreatGoblin,andalsobecauseof theburningof thechiefwolf’snoseand thedeathfromthewizard’s fireofmanyofhischiefservants.Somuchtheytoldhimwhenheforcedthem,butheguessedtherewasmorewickednessthanthisafoot,andthatagreatraidofthewhole goblin army with their wolf-allies into the lands shadowed by themountainsmightsoonbemadetofindthedwarves,ortotakevengeanceonthemen and creatures that lived there, and who they thought must be shelteringthem.“Itwasagoodstory,thatofyours,”saidBeorn,“butIlikeitstillbetternowI

amsureitistrue.Youmustforgivemynottakingyourword.IfyoulivedneartheedgeofMirkwood,youwouldtakethewordofnoonethatyoudidnotknowaswellasyourbrotherorbetter.Asitis,IcanonlysaythatIhavehurriedhomeasfastasIcouldtoseethatyouweresafe,andtoofferyouanyhelpthatIcan.Ishallthinkmorekindlyofdwarvesafterthis.KilledtheGreatGoblin,killedtheGreatGoblin!”hechuckledfiercelytohimself.“WhatdidyoudowiththegoblinandtheWarg?”askedBilbosuddenly.“Comeandsee!”saidBeorn,andtheyfollowedroundthehouse.Agoblin’s

headwasstuckoutsidethegateandawarg-skinwasnailedtoatreejustbeyond.Beornwasafierceenemy.Butnowhewastheirfriend,andGandalfthoughtitwise to tell him theirwhole storyand the reasonof their journey, so that theycouldgetthemosthelphecouldoffer.

Thisiswhathepromisedtodoforthem.Hewouldprovideponiesforeachofthem,andahorseforGandalf,fortheirjourneytotheforest,andhewouldladethemwithfoodtolastthemforweekswithcare,andpackedsoastobeaseasyaspossibletocarry—nuts,flour,sealedjarsofdriedfruits,andredearthenwarepotsofhoney,andtwice-bakedcakesthatwouldkeepgoodalongtime,andonalittleofwhichtheycouldmarchfar.Themakingofthesewasoneofhissecrets;but honey was in them, as in most of his foods, and they were good to eat,thoughtheymadeonethirsty.Water,hesaid,theywouldnotneedtocarrythissideoftheforest,fortherewerestreamsandspringsalongtheroad.“ButyourwaythroughMirkwoodisdark,dangerousanddifficult,”hesaid.“Waterisnoteasytofindthere,norfood.Thetimeisnotyetcomefornuts(thoughitmaybepastandgoneindeedbeforeyougettotheotherside),andnutsareaboutallthatgrows there fit for food; in there thewild thingsaredark,queer,andsavage. Iwillprovideyouwithskinsforcarryingwater,andIwillgiveyousomebowsandarrows.ButIdoubtverymuchwhetheranythingyoufindinMirkwoodwillbewholesome toeator todrink.There isonestream there, Iknow,blackandstrongwhichcrossesthepath.Thatyoushouldneitherdrinkof,norbathein;forIhaveheardthatitcarriesenchantmentandagreatdrowsinessandforgetfulness.And in the dim shadows of that place I don’t think you will shoot anything,wholesomeor unwholesome,without straying from thepath.That youMUSTNOTdo,foranyreason.“ThatisalltheadviceIcangiveyou.BeyondtheedgeoftheforestIcannot

helpyoumuch;youmustdependonyourluckandyourcourageandthefoodIsendwithyou.At thegateof theforest Imustaskyoutosendbackmyhorseandmyponies.ButIwishyouallspeed,andmyhouseisopentoyou,ifeveryoucomebackthiswayagain.”

Theythankedhim,ofcourse,withmanybowsandsweepingsoftheirhoodsandwithmany an “at your service,Omaster of thewidewooden halls!”Buttheirspiritssankathisgravewords,andtheyallfeltthattheadventurewasfarmoredangerousthantheyhadthought,whileallthetime,eveniftheypassedalltheperilsoftheroad,thedragonwaswaitingattheend.Allthatmorningtheywerebusywithpreparations.Soonaftermiddaytheyate

withBeornforthelasttime,andafterthemealtheymountedthesteedshewaslendingthem,andbiddinghimmanyfarewellstheyrodeoffthroughhisgateatagoodpace.Assoonastheylefthishighhedgesattheeastofhisfencedlandstheyturned

northandthenboretothenorth-west.Byhisadvicetheywerenolongermakingfor themain forest-road to the south of his land.Had they followed the pass,

theirpathwouldhave led themdownastreamfrom themountains that joinedthegreat rivermiles southof theCarrock.At thatpoint therewasadeep fordwhichtheymighthavepassed,iftheyhadstillhadtheirponies,andbeyondthata track led to theskirtsof thewoodand to theentranceof theoldforest road.ButBeornhadwarned themthat thatwaywasnowoftenusedby thegoblins,while the forest-road itself, he had heard, was overgrown and disused at theeasternendandledto impassablemarsheswherethepathshadlongbeenlost.Its eastern opening had also always been far to the south of the LonelyMountain, and would have left them still with a long and difficult northwardmarch when they got to the other side. North of the Carrock the edge ofMirkwood drew closer to the borders of theGreatRiver, and though here theMountainstoodrewdownnearer,Beornadvisedthemtotakethisway;forataplacea fewdays’ rideduenorthof theCarrockwas thegateofa little-knownpathway through Mirkwood that led almost straight towards the LonelyMountain.“Thegoblins,”Beornhadsaid,“willnotdare tocross theGreatRiver fora

hundred miles north of the Carrock nor to come near my house—it is wellprotectedatnight!—butIshouldridefast;foriftheymaketheirraidsoontheywillcrosstherivertothesouthandscouralltheedgeoftheforestsoastocutyouoff,andWargsrunswifterthanponies.Stillyouaresafergoingnorth,eventhoughyouseemtobegoingbacknearer to their strongholds; for that iswhattheywill least expect, and theywill have the longer ride to catch you.Be offnowasquickasyoumay!”That iswhytheywerenowriding insilence,gallopingwherever theground

wasgrassyandsmooth,withthemountainsdarkontheirleft,andinthedistancethe line of the riverwith its trees drawing ever closer. The sun had only justturnedwestwhen theystarted,and tillevening it laygoldenon the landaboutthem.Itwasdifficulttothinkofpursuinggoblinsbehind,andwhentheyhadputmany miles between them and Beorn’s house they began to talk and to singagainandtoforgetthedarkforest-paththatlayinfront.Butintheeveningwhenthedusk cameon and thepeaksof themountainsglowered against the sunsettheymadeacampandsetaguard,andmostofthemsleptuneasilywithdreamsinwhichtherecamethehowlofhuntingwolvesandthecriesofgoblins.Stillthenextmorningdawnedbrightandfairagain.Therewasanautumn-like

mistwhiteuponthegroundandtheairwaschill,butsoonthesunroseredintheEastandthemistsvanished,andwhiletheshadowswerestilllongtheywereoffagain.Sotheyrodenowfortwomoredays,andallthewhiletheysawnothingsave grass and flowers and birds and scattered trees, and occasionally smallherdsofreddeerbrowsingorsittingatnoonintheshade.SometimesBilbosaw

thehornsof theharts stickingupoutof the longgrass,andat firsthe thoughttheywere thedeadbranchesof trees.That thirdeveningtheyweresoeager topresson,forBeornhadsaidthat theyshouldreachtheforest-gateearlyonthefourth-day,thattheyrodestillforwardafterduskandintothenightbeneaththemoon.AsthelightfadedBilbothoughthesawawaytotheright,ortotheleft,theshadowyformofagreatbearprowlingalonginthesamedirection.ButifhedaredtomentionittoGandalf,thewizardonlysaid:“Hush!Takenonotice!”Nextdaytheystartedbeforedawn,thoughtheirnighthadbeenshort.Assoon

as it was light they could see the forest coming as it were to meet them, orwaitingforthemlikeablackandfrowningwallbeforethem.Thelandbegantoslopeupandup,anditseemedtothehobbitthatasilencebegantodrawinuponthem.Birdsbegantosingless.Therewerenomoredeer;notevenrabbitsweretobeseen.BytheafternoontheyhadreachedtheeavesofMirkwood,andwereresting almost beneath the great overhanging boughs of its outer trees. Theirtrunkswerehugeandgnarled,theirbranchestwisted,theirleavesweredarkandlong.Ivygrewonthemandtrailedalongtheground.“Well, here isMirkwood!” saidGandalf. “The greatest of the forests of the

Northernworld. Ihopeyou like the lookof it.Nowyoumustsendback theseexcellentponiesyouhaveborrowed.”Thedwarveswereinclinedtogrumbleat this,but thewizardtoldthemthey

werefools.“Beornisnotasfaroffasyouseemtothink,andyouhadbetterkeepyourpromisesanyway,forheisabadenemy.Mr.Baggins’eyesaresharperthanyours,ifyouhavenotseeneachnightafterdarkagreatbeargoingalongwithusor sitting faroff in themoonwatchingour camps.Notonly toguardyouandguideyou,buttokeepaneyeontheponiestoo.Beornmaybeyourfriend,buthe loves his animals as his children. You do not guess what kindness he hasshown you in letting dwarves ride them so far and so fast, nor what wouldhappentoyou,ifyoutriedtotakethemintotheforest.”“Whatabout thehorse, then?”saidThorin.“Youdon’tmentionsending that

back.”“Idon’t,becauseIamnotsendingit.”“Whataboutyourpromisethen?”“Iwilllookafterthat.Iamnotsendingthehorseback,Iamridingit!”Then they knew that Gandalfwas going to leave them at the very edge of

Mirkwood,andtheywereindespair.Butnothingtheycouldsaywouldchangehismind.“Nowwehadthisalloutbefore,whenwelandedontheCarrock,”hesaid.“It

isnousearguing.Ihave,asItoldyou,somepressingbusinessawaysouth;andIamalreadylatethroughbotheringwithyoupeople.Wemaymeetagainbefore

allisover,andthenagainofcoursewemaynot.Thatdependsonyourluckandonyourcourageandsense;andIamsendingMr.Bagginswithyou.Ihavetoldyoubeforethathehasmoreabouthimthanyouguess,andyouwillfindthatoutbefore long. So cheer upBilbo and don’t look so glum.Cheer upThorin andCompany!Thisisyourexpeditionafterall.Thinkofthetreasureattheend,andforgettheforestandthedragon,atanyrateuntiltomorrowmorning!”When tomorrow morning came he still said the same. So now there was

nothinglefttodobuttofilltheirwater-skinsataclearspringtheyfoundclosetotheforest-gate,andunpacktheponies.Theydistributedthepackagesasfairlyastheycould,thoughBilbothoughthislotwaswearisomelyheavy,anddidnotatallliketheideaoftrudgingformilesandmileswithallthatonhisback.“Don’tyouworry!”saidThorin.“Itwillgetlighteralltoosoon.BeforelongI

expectweshallallwishourpacksheavier,whenthefoodbeginstorunshort.”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 theshadowofMirkwood.AstheywentawayBilbocouldhaveswornthata thinglikeabearlefttheshadowofthetreesandshambledoffquicklyafterthem.NowGandalftoosaidfarewell.Bilbosatonthegroundfeelingveryunhappy

andwishinghewasbesidethewizardonhistallhorse.Hehadgonejustinsidetheforestafterbreakfast(averypoorone),andithadseemedasdarkinthereinthe morning as at night, and very secret: “a sort of watching and waitingfeeling,”hesaidtohimself.“Good-bye!” said Gandalf to Thorin. “And good-bye to you all, good-bye!

Straight through theforest isyourwaynow.Don’tstrayoff the track!—ifyoudo, it is a thousand to one you will never find it again and never get out ofMirkwood;andthenIdon’tsupposeI,oranyoneelse,willeverseeyouagain.”“Dowereallyhavetogothrough?”groanedthehobbit.“Yes,youdo!”saidthewizard,“ifyouwanttogettotheotherside.Youmust

eithergothroughorgiveupyourquest.AndIamnotgoingtoallowyoutobackoutnow,Mr.Baggins.Iamashamedofyouforthinkingofit.Youhavegottolookafterallthesedwarvesforme,”helaughed.“No!no!”saidBilbo.“Ididn’tmeanthat.Imeant,istherenowayround?”“There is, ifyoucare togo twohundredmilesorsooutofyourwaynorth,

andtwicethatsouth.Butyouwouldn’tgetasafepatheventhen.Therearenosafepathsinthispartoftheworld.RememberyouareovertheEdgeoftheWildnow, and in for all sorts of funwherever yougo.Before you couldget roundMirkwood in the North you would be right among the slopes of the GreyMountains, and theyare simply stiffwithgoblins,hobgoblins, andorcsof theworstdescription.BeforeyoucouldgetrounditintheSouth,youwouldgetinto

the land of theNecromancer; and evenyou,Bilbo,won’t needme to tell youtalesof thatblack sorcerer. I don’t adviseyou togoanywherenear theplacesoverlooked by his dark tower! Stick to the forest-track, keep your spirits up,hopeforthebest,andwithatremendoussliceofluckyoumaycomeoutonedayandseetheLongMarsheslyingbelowyou,andbeyondthem,highintheEast,the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he is notexpectingyou.”“Very comforting you are to be sure,” growled Thorin. “Good-bye! If you

won’tcomewithus,youhadbettergetoffwithoutanymoretalk!”“Good-byethen,andreallygood-bye!”saidGandalf,andheturnedhishorse

androdedownintotheWest.Buthecouldnotresistthetemptationtohavethelastword.Beforehehadpassedquiteoutofhearingheturnedandputhishandstohismouthandcalledtothem.Theyheardhisvoicecomefaintly:“Good-bye!Begood,takecareofyourselves—andDON’TLEAVETHEPATH!”

MirkwoodThen he galloped away and was soon lost to sight. “O good-bye and go

away!”gruntedthedwarves,allthemoreangrybecausetheywerereallyfilledwith dismay at losing him. Now began the most dangerous part of all thejourney. They each shouldered the heavy pack and the water-skin which wastheirshare,andturnedfromthelightthatlayonthelandsoutsideandplungedintotheforest.

ChapterVIIIFliesandSpiders

They walked in single file. The entrance to the path was like a sort of archleadingintoagloomytunnelmadebytwogreattreesthatleanttogether,toooldandstrangledwithivyandhungwithlichentobearmorethanafewblackenedleaves.Thepathitselfwasnarrowandwoundinandoutamongthetrunks.Soonthelightatthegatewaslikealittlebrightholefarbehind,andthequietwassodeepthattheirfeetseemedtothumpalongwhileallthetreesleanedoverthemandlistened.Astheireyesbecameusedtothedimnesstheycouldseealittlewaytoeither

side in a sort of darkenedgreenglimmer.Occasionally a slender beamof sunthathad the luck to slip in throughsomeopening in the leaves far above, andstill more luck in not being caught in the tangled boughs and matted twigsbeneath,stabbeddownthinandbrightbeforethem.Butthiswasseldom,anditsoonceasedaltogether.Therewereblacksquirrelsinthewood.AsBilbo’ssharpinquisitiveeyesgot

usedtoseeingthingshecouldcatchglimpsesofthemwhiskingoffthepathandscuttlingbehindtree-trunks.Therewerequeernoisestoo,grunts,scufflings,andhurryingsintheundergrowth,andamongtheleavesthatlaypiledendlesslythickin places on the forest-floor; butwhatmade the noises he could not see. Thenastiest things they sawwere the cobwebs: dark dense cobwebs with threadsextraordinarily thick, often stretched from tree to tree, or tangled in the lowerbranchesoneithersideofthem.Therewerenonestretchedacrossthepath,butwhetherbecausesomemagickept itclear,or forwhatother reason theycouldnotguess.Itwasnotlongbeforetheygrewtohatetheforestasheartilyastheyhadhated

thetunnelsofthegoblins,anditseemedtoofferevenlesshopeofanyending.Buttheyhadtogoonandon,longaftertheyweresickforasightofthesunandof the sky, and longed for the feel of wind on their faces. There was nomovementof air downunder the forest-roof, and itwas everlastingly still anddarkandstuffy.Eventhedwarvesfeltit,whowereusedtotunnelling,andlived

at timesfor longwhileswithout the lightof thesun;but thehobbit,wholikedholestomakeahouseinbutnottospendsummerdaysin,feltthathewasbeingslowlysuffocated.The nights were the worst. It then became pitch-dark—not what you call

pitch-dark, but really pitch: so black that you really could see nothing. Bilbotriedflappinghishandinfrontofhisnose,buthecouldnotseeitatall.Well,perhaps it is not true to say that they could see nothing: they could see eyes.Theysleptallcloselyhuddledtogether,andtookitinturnstowatch;andwhenitwas Bilbo’s turn he would see gleams in the darkness round them, andsometimespairsofyelloworredorgreeneyeswouldstareathimfromalittledistance, and then slowly fade and disappear and slowly shine out again inanotherplace.And sometimes theywouldgleamdown from thebranches justabovehim;andthatwasmostterrifying.Buttheeyesthathelikedtheleastwerehorriblepalebulboussortofeyes.“Insecteyes,”hethought,“notanimaleyes,onlytheyaremuchtoobig.”Althoughitwasnotyetverycold,theytriedlightingwatch-firesatnight,but

they soon gave that up. It seemed to bring hundreds and hundreds of eyes allroundthem,thoughthecreatures,whatevertheywere,werecarefulnevertolettheir bodies show in the little flicker of the flames. Worse still it broughtthousands of dark-grey and black moths, some nearly as big as your hand,flappingandwhirringroundtheirears.Theycouldnotstandthat,northehugebats,blackasatop-hat,either;sotheygaveupfiresandsatatnightanddozedintheenormousuncannydarkness.All thiswenton forwhat seemed to thehobbitagesuponages;andhewas

alwayshungry,fortheywereextremelycarefulwiththeirprovisions.Evenso,asdaysfolloweddays,andstilltheforestseemedjustthesame,theybegantogetanxious.Thefoodwouldnotlastforever:itwasinfactalreadybeginningtogetlow.They tried shootingat the squirrels, and theywastedmanyarrowsbeforetheymanagedtobringonedownonthepath.Butwhentheyroastedit,itprovedhorribletotaste,andtheyshotnomoresquirrels.Theywerethirstytoo,fortheyhadnonetoomuchwater,andinall thetime

theyhadseenneitherspringnorstream.Thiswastheirstatewhenonedaytheyfound theirpathblockedbya runningwater. It flowed fast and strongbutnotverywiderightacrosstheway,anditwasblack,orlookeditinthegloom.Itwaswell thatBeornhadwarnedthemagainst it,or theywouldhavedrunkfromit,whateveritscolour,andfilledsomeoftheiremptiedskinsatitsbank.Asitwasthey only thought of how to cross it without wetting themselves in its water.Therehadbeenabridgeofwoodacross,butithadrottedandfallenleavingonlythebrokenpostsnearthebank.

Bilbo kneeling on the brink and peering forward cried: “There is a boatagainstthefarbank!Nowwhycouldn’tithavebeenthisside!”“Howfarawaydoyouthinkitis?”askedThorin,forbynowtheyknewBilbo

hadthesharpesteyesamongthem.“Notatallfar.Ishouldn’tthinkabovetwelveyards.”“Twelveyards!Ishouldhavethoughtitwasthirtyatleast,butmyeyesdon’t

seeaswellastheyusedahundredyearsago.Stilltwelveyardsisasgoodasamile.Wecan’tjumpit,andwedaren’ttrytowadeorswim.”“Cananyofyouthrowarope?”“What’sthegoodofthat?Theboatissuretobetiedup,evenifwecouldhook

it,whichIdoubt.”“Idon’tbelieveitistied,”saidBilbo,“thoughofcourseIcan’tbesureinthis

light;butitlookstomeasifitwasjustdrawnuponthebank,whichislowjusttherewherethepathgoesdownintothewater.”“Doriisthestrongest,butFiliistheyoungestandstillhasthebestsight,”said

Thorin.“ComehereFili,andseeifyoucanseetheboatMr.Bagginsistalkingabout.”Filithoughthecould;sowhenhehadstaredalongwhiletogetanideaofthe

direction,theothersbroughthimarope.Theyhadseveralwiththem,andontheendof the longest they fastenedoneof the large ironhooks theyhadused forcatchingtheirpackstothestrapsabouttheirshoulders.Filitookthisinhishand,balanceditforamoment,andthenflungitacrossthestream.Splash it fell in the water! “Not far enough!” said Bilbo who was peering

forward.“Acoupleof feetandyouwouldhavedropped iton to theboat.Tryagain.Idon’tsupposethemagicisstrongenoughtohurtyou,ifyoujusttouchabitofwetrope.”Filipickedupthehookwhenhehaddrawnitback,ratherdoubtfullyall the

same.Thistimehethrewitwithgreatstrength.“Steady!”saidBilbo,“youhavethrownitrightintothewoodontheotherside

now.Draw itbackgently.”Filihauled the ropebackslowly,andafterawhileBilbosaid:“Carefully!Itislyingontheboat;let’shopethehookwillcatch.”Itdid.Theropewenttaut,andFilipulledinvain.Kilicametohishelp,and

thenOinandGloin.Theytuggedandtugged,andsuddenlytheyallfelloverontheir backs. Bilbowas on the look out, however, caught the rope, andwith apiece of stick fended off the little black boat as it came rushing across thestream.“Help!”heshouted,andBalinwasjustintimetoseizetheboatbeforeitfloatedoffdownthecurrent.“Itwas tied after all,” said he, looking at the snapped painter thatwas still

danglingfromit.“Thatwasagoodpull,mylads;andagoodjobthatourrope

wasthestronger.”“Who’llcrossfirst?”askedBilbo.“Ishall,”saidThorin,“andyouwillcomewithme,andFiliandBalin.That’s

asmanyas theboatwillholdata time.After thatKiliandOinandGloinandDori;nextOriandNori,BifurandBofur;andlastDwalinandBombur.”“I’malwayslastandIdon’tlikeit,”saidBombur.“It’ssomebodyelse’sturn

today.”“Youshouldnotbesofat.Asyouare,youmustbewiththelastandlightest

boatload.Don’tstartgrumblingagainstorders,orsomethingbadwillhappentoyou.”“Therearen’t anyoars.Howareyougoing topush theboatback to the far

bank?”askedthehobbit.“Givemeanotherlengthofropeandanotherhook,”saidFili,andwhenthey

hadgotitready,hecastitintothedarknessaheadandashighashecouldthrowit. Since it did not fall down again, they saw that it must have stuck in thebranches.“Getinnow,”saidFili,“andoneofyouhaulontheropethatisstuckinatreeontheotherside.Oneoftheothersmustkeepholdofthehookweusedatfirst,andwhenwearesafeontheothersidehecanhookiton,andyoucandrawtheboatback.”In this way they were all soon on the far bank safe across the enchanted

stream. Dwalin had just scrambled out with the coiled rope on his arm, andBombur(stillgrumbling)wasgettingreadytofollow,whensomethingbaddidhappen.Therewasaflyingsoundofhoovesonthepathahead.Outofthegloomcame suddenly the shape of a flying deer. It charged into the dwarves andbowledthemover,thengathereditselfforaleap.Highitsprangandclearedthewaterwithamighty jump.But itdidnot reach theotherside insafety.Thorinwastheonlyonewhohadkepthisfeetandhiswits.Assoonastheyhadlandedhehadbenthisbowandfittedanarrowincaseanyhiddenguardianoftheboatappeared.Nowhesentaswiftandsureshotintotheleapingbeast.Asitreachedthe furtherbank it stumbled.Theshadowsswallowed itup,but theyheard thesoundofhoovesquicklyfalterandthengostill.Beforetheycouldshoutinpraiseoftheshot,however,adreadfulwailfrom

Bilbo put all thoughts of venison out of their minds. “Bombur has fallen in!Bomburisdrowning!”hecried.Itwasonlytootrue.Bomburhadonlyonefooton the land when the hart bore down on him, and sprang over him. He hadstumbled,thrustingtheboatawayfromthebank,andthentoppledbackintothedarkwater,hishandsslippingofftheslimyrootsattheedge,whiletheboatspanslowlyoffanddisappeared.They could still see his hood above the water when they ran to the bank.

Quickly,theyflungaropewithahooktowardshim.Hishandcaughtit,andtheypulledhimtotheshore.Hewasdrenchedfromhairtoboots,ofcourse,butthatwasnottheworst.Whentheylaidhimonthebankhewasalreadyfastasleep,with one hand clutching the rope so tight that they could not get it from hisgrasp;andfastasleepheremainedinspiteofalltheycoulddo.They were still standing over him, cursing their ill luck, and Bombur’s

clumsiness, and lamenting the loss of the boat which made it impossible forthem to go back and look for the hart, when they became aware of the dimblowingofhornsinthewoodandthesoundasofdogsbayingfaroff.Thentheyallfellsilent;andastheysatitseemedtheycouldhearthenoiseofagreathuntgoingbytothenorthofthepath,thoughtheysawnosignofit.Theretheysatforalongwhileanddidnotdaretomakeamove.Bomburslept

onwithasmileonhisfatface,asifhenolongercaredforallthetroublesthatvexedthem.Suddenlyonthepathaheadappearedsomewhitedeer,ahindandfawns as snowy white as the hart had been dark. They glimmered in theshadows.BeforeThorincouldcryout threeof thedwarveshad leaped to theirfeetandloosedoffarrowsfromtheirbows.Noneseemedtofindtheirmark.Thedeer turnedandvanished in the treesassilentlyas theyhadcome,and invainthedwarvesshottheirarrowsafterthem.“Stop! stop!” shouted Thorin; but it was too late, the excited dwarves had

wasted their last arrows, and now the bows that Beorn had given themwereuseless.Theywereagloomypartythatnight,andthegloomgatheredstilldeeperon

theminthefollowingdays.Theyhadcrossedtheenchantedstream;butbeyonditthepathseemedtostraggleonjustasbefore,andintheforesttheycouldseenochange.Yetiftheyhadknownmoreaboutitandconsideredthemeaningofthehuntandthewhitedeerthathadappearedupontheirpath,theywouldhaveknownthattheywereatlastdrawingtowardstheeasternedge,andwouldsoonhavecome, if theycouldhavekeptup theircourageand theirhope, to thinnertreesandplaceswherethesunlightcameagain.But theydidnotknowthis,andtheywereburdenedwith theheavybodyof

Bombur,whichtheyhadtocarryalongwiththemasbesttheycould,takingthewearisometaskinturnsoffoureachwhiletheotherssharedtheirpacks.Ifthesehad not become all too light in the last few days, they would never havemanaged it; but a slumbering and smiling Bombur was a poor exchange forpacksfilledwithfoodhoweverheavy.Inafewdaysatimecamewhentherewaspractically nothing left to eat or to drink. Nothingwholesome could they seegrowinginthewood,onlyfungusesandherbswithpaleleavesandunpleasantsmell.

Aboutfourdaysfromtheenchantedstreamtheycametoapartwheremostofthetreeswerebeeches.Theywereatfirstinclinedtobecheeredbythechange,forheretherewasnoundergrowthandtheshadowwasnotsodeep.Therewasagreenishlightaboutthem,andinplacestheycouldseesomedistancetoeithersideof thepath.Yet the light only showed themendless linesof straight greytrunkslikethepillarsofsomehugetwilighthall.Therewasabreathofairandanoise of wind, but it had a sad sound. A few leaves came rustling down toremindthemthatoutsideautumnwascomingon.Their feet ruffledamongthedead leavesof countless other autumns that driftedover thebanksof thepathfromthedeepredcarpetsoftheforest.StillBombursleptandtheygrewveryweary.Attimestheyhearddisquieting

laughter.Sometimestherewassinginginthedistancetoo.Thelaughterwasthelaughter of fair voices not of goblins, and the singing was beautiful, but itsoundedeerieandstrange,andtheywerenotcomforted,rathertheyhurriedonfromthosepartswithwhatstrengththeyhadleft.Twodayslatertheyfoundtheirpathgoingdownwards,andbeforelongthey

wereinavalleyfilledalmostentirelywithamightygrowthofoaks.“Istherenoendtothisaccursedforest?”saidThorin.“Somebodymustclimb

atreeandseeifhecangethisheadabovetheroofandhavealookround.Theonlywayistochoosethetallesttreethatoverhangsthepath.”Ofcourse“somebody”meantBilbo.Theychosehim,becausetobeofanyuse

theclimbermustgethisheadabovethetopmostleaves,andsohemustbelightenough for thehighest and slenderestbranches tobearhim.PoorMr.Bagginshadneverhadmuchpracticeinclimbingtrees,buttheyhoistedhimupintothelowestbranchesofanenormousoakthatgrewrightoutintothepath,anduphehad togoasbesthecould.Hepushedhisway through the tangled twigswithmany a slap in the eye; hewas greened and grimed from the old bark of thegreaterboughs;morethanonceheslippedandcaughthimselfjustintime;andatlast, after a dreadful struggle in a difficult placewhere there seemed to be noconvenientbranchesatall,hegotnear the top.All the timehewaswonderingwhethertherewerespidersinthetree,andhowhewasgoingtogetdownagain(exceptbyfalling).In the end he poked his head above the roof of leaves, and then he found

spidersallright.Buttheywereonlysmallonesofordinarysize,andtheywereafterthebutterflies.Bilbo’seyeswerenearlyblindedbythelight.Hecouldhearthedwarvesshoutingupathimfromfarbelow,buthecouldnotanswer,onlyholdonandblink.Thesunwasshiningbrilliantly,anditwasalongwhilebeforehe could bear it.When he could, he saw all round him a sea of dark green,ruffled here and there by the breeze; and there were everywhere hundreds of

butterflies.Iexpecttheywereakindof‘purpleemperor’,abutterflythatlovesthe topsofoak-woods,but thesewerenotpurpleatall, theywereadarkdarkvelvetyblackwithoutanymarkingstobeseen.Helookedatthe‘blackemperors’foralongtime,andenjoyedthefeelofthe

breeze inhishair andonhis face;but at length thecriesof thedwarves,whowerenow simply stampingwith impatiencedownbelow, remindedhimof hisrealbusiness.Itwasnogood.Gazeasmuchashemight,hecouldseenoendtothetreesandtheleavesinanydirection.Hisheart,thathadbeenlightenedbythesightof thesunandthefeelof thewind,sankbackintohis toes: therewasnofoodtogobacktodownbelow.Actually,asIhavetoldyou,theywerenotfarofftheedgeoftheforest;andif

Bilbohadhadthesensetoseeit,thetreethathehadclimbed,thoughitwastallinitself,wasstandingnearthebottomofawidevalley,sothatfromitstopthetreesseemedtoswellupallroundliketheedgesofagreatbowl,andhecouldnot expect to see how far the forest lasted. Still he did not see this, and heclimbeddownfullofdespair.Hegottothebottomagainatlast,scratched,hot,andmiserable,andhecouldnotseeanything in thegloombelowwhenhegotthere.Hisreportsoonmadetheothersasmiserableashewas.“The forest goes on for ever and ever and ever in all directions!Whatever

shallwedo?Andwhatistheuseofsendingahobbit!”theycried,asifitwashisfault.Theydidnotcaretuppenceaboutthebutterflies,andwereonlymademoreangrywhenhetoldthemofthebeautifulbreeze,whichtheyweretooheavytoclimbupandfeel.

That night they ate their very last scraps and crumbs of food; and nextmorningwhen theywoke the first thing they noticedwas that theywere stillgnawinglyhungry,andthenextthingwasthatitwasrainingandthathereandtherethedripofitwasdroppingheavilyontheforestfloor.Thatonlyremindedthem that theywere also parchingly thirsty,without doing anything to relievethem: you cannot quench a terrible thirst by standing under giant oaks andwaitingforachancedriptofallonyourtongue.TheonlyscrapofcomforttherewascameunexpectedlyfromBombur.Hewokeupsuddenlyandsatupscratchinghishead.Hecouldnotmakeout

wherehewasatall,norwhyhefeltsohungry;forhehadforgotteneverythingthathadhappenedsince theystarted their journey thatMaymorning longago.Thelastthingthatherememberedwasthepartyatthehobbit’shouse,andtheyhadgreatdifficultyinmakinghimbelievetheirtaleofallthemanyadventurestheyhadhadsince.Whenheheardthattherewasnothingtoeat,hesatdownandwept,forhefelt

veryweakandwobblyinthelegs.“WhyeverdidIwakeup!”hecried.“Iwashavingsuchbeautifuldreams.IdreamedIwaswalkinginaforestratherlikethisone,onlylitwithtorchesonthetreesandlampsswingingfromthebranchesandfiresburningontheground;andtherewasagreatfeastgoingon,goingonforever.Awoodlandkingwastherewithacrownofleaves,andtherewasamerrysinging,andIcouldnotcountordescribethethingsthereweretoeatanddrink.”“You need not try,” said Thorin. “In fact if you can’t talk about something

else,youhadbetterbesilent.Wearequiteannoyedenoughwithyouasitis.Ifyou hadn’t waked up, we should have left you to your idiotic dreams in theforest;youarenojoketocarryevenafterweeksofshortcommons.”Therewasnothingnowtobedonebuttotightenthebeltsroundtheirempty

stomachs, and hoist their empty sacks and packs, and trudge along the trackwithoutanygreathopeofevergettingtotheendbeforetheylaydownanddiedof starvation.This theydid all that day, goingvery slowly andwearily;whileBomburkeptonwailingthathislegswouldnotcarryhimandthathewantedtoliedownandsleep.“Noyoudon’t!”theysaid.“Letyourlegstaketheirshare,wehavecarriedyou

farenough.”Allthesamehesuddenlyrefusedtogoastepfurtherandflunghimselfonthe

ground.“Goon,ifyoumust,”hesaid.“I’mjustgoingtoliehereandsleepanddreamoffood,ifIcan’tgetitanyotherway.IhopeIneverwakeupagain.”AtthatverymomentBalin,whowasalittlewayahead,calledout:“Whatwas

that?IthoughtIsawatwinkleoflightintheforest.”Theyalllooked,andalongishwayoff, itseemed,theysawaredtwinklein

the dark; then another and another sprangout beside it.EvenBombur got up,andtheyhurriedalongthen,notcaringifitwastrollsorgoblins.Thelightwasinfrontofthemandtotheleftofthepath,andwhenatlasttheyhaddrawnlevelwithit,itseemedplainthattorchesandfireswereburningunderthetrees,butagoodwayofftheirtrack.“It looks as if my dreams were coming true,” gasped Bombur puffing up

behind.Hewanted to rush straight off into thewood after the lights. But theothersrememberedonlytoowellthewarningsofthewizardandofBeorn.“Afeastwouldbenogood,ifwenevergotbackalivefromit,”saidThorin.“But without a feast we shan’t remain alive much longer anyway,” said

Bombur, andBilbo heartily agreedwith him.They argued about it backwardsandforwardsforalongwhile,untiltheyagreedatlengthtosendoutacoupleofspies,tocreepnearthelightsandfindoutmoreaboutthem.Butthentheycouldnotagreeonwhowas tobesent:nooneseemedanxious to run thechanceofbeinglostandneverfindinghisfriendsagain.Intheend, inspiteofwarnings,

hunger decided them, becauseBombur kept on describing all the good thingsthatwerebeingeaten,accordingtohisdream,inthewoodlandfeast;sotheyallleftthepathandplungedintotheforesttogether.Afteragooddealofcreepingandcrawlingtheypeeredroundthetrunksand

lookedintoaclearingwheresometreeshadbeenfelledandthegroundlevelled.There were many people there, elvish-looking folk, all dressed in green andbrownandsittingonsawnringsofthefelledtreesinagreatcircle.Therewasafire in theirmidst and therewere torches fastened to some of the trees roundabout;butmostsplendidsightofall:theywereeatinganddrinkingandlaughingmerrily.The smell of the roast meats was so enchanting that, without waiting to

consultoneanother,everyoneofthemgotupandscrambledforwardsintotheringwiththeoneideaofbeggingforsomefood.Nosoonerhadthefirststeppedintotheclearingthanallthelightswentoutasifbymagic.Somebodykickedthefireanditwentupinrocketsofglitteringsparksandvanished.Theywerelostinacompletely lightlessdarkandtheycouldnotevenfindoneanother,notforalongtimeatanyrate.Afterblunderingfranticallyinthegloom,fallingoverlogs,bumping crash into trees, and shouting and calling till theymust havewakedeverythingintheforestformiles,atlasttheymanagedtogatherthemselvesinabundleandcount themselvesby touch.By that time theyhad,ofcourse,quiteforgotteninwhatdirectionthepathlay,andtheywereallhopelesslylost,atleasttillmorning.Therewasnothingforitbuttosettledownforthenightwheretheywere;they

didnotevendaretosearchonthegroundforscrapsoffoodforfearofbecomingseparated again. But they had not been lying long, and Bilbo was only justgetting drowsy, when Dori, whose turn it was to watch first, said in a loudwhisper:“Thelightsarecomingoutagainoverthere,andtherearemorethaneverof

them.”Uptheyalljumped.There,sureenough,notfarawaywerescoresoftwinkling

lights,andtheyheardthevoicesandthelaughterquiteplainly.Theycreptslowlytowardsthem,inasingleline,eachtouchingthebackoftheoneinfront.WhentheygotnearThorinsaid:“Norushingforwardthistime!NooneistostirfromhidingtillIsay.IshallsendMr.Bagginsalonefirsttotalktothem.Theywon’tbefrightenedofhim—(’Whataboutmeofthem?’thoughtBilbo)—andanywayIhopetheywon’tdoanythingnastytohim.”WhentheygottotheedgeofthecircleoflightstheypushedBilbosuddenly

frombehind.Beforehehadtimetosliponhisring,hestumbledforwardintothefullblazeof thefireandtorches.Itwasnogood.Outwentall the lightsagain

andcompletedarknessfell.Ifithadbeendifficultcollectingthemselvesbefore,itwasfarworsethistime.

Andtheysimplycouldnotfindthehobbit.Everytimetheycountedthemselvesit onlymade thirteen. They shouted and called: “BilboBaggins!Hobbit!Youdrattedhobbit!Hi!hobbit,confusticateyou,whereareyou?”andotherthingsofthatsort,buttherewasnoanswer.Theywerejustgivinguphope,whenDoristumbledacrosshimbysheerluck.

Inthedarkhefelloverwhathethoughtwasalog,andhefounditwasthehobbitcurledupfastasleep. It tookadealofshaking towakehim,andwhenhewasawakehewasnotpleasedatall.“Iwashavingsucha lovelydream,”hegrumbled,“allabouthavingamost

gorgeousdinner.”“Good heavens! he has gone like Bombur,” they said. “Don’t tell us about

dreams.Dream-dinnersaren’tanygood,andwecan’tsharethem.”“TheyarethebestIamlikelytogetinthisbeastlyplace,”hemuttered,ashe

laydownbeside thedwarvesand tried togoback to sleepand findhisdreamagain.Butthatwasnotthelastofthelightsintheforest.Laterwhenthenightmust

havebeengettingold,Kiliwhowaswatching then,cameand roused themallagain,saying:“There’saregularblazeoflightbegunnotfaraway—hundredsoftorchesand

manyfiresmusthavebeenlitsuddenlyandbymagic.Andharktothesingingandtheharps!”After lying and listening for a while, they found they could not resist the

desire togonearerand tryoncemore togethelp.Up theygotagain; and thistimetheresultwasdisastrous.Thefeastthattheynowsawwasgreaterandmoremagnificentthanbefore;andattheheadofalonglineoffeasterssatawoodlandkingwith a crown of leaves upon his golden hair, verymuch asBombur haddescribedthefigureinhisdream.Theelvishfolkwerepassingbowlsfromhandto hand and across the fires, and somewere harping andmanywere singing.Theirgleaminghairwastwinedwithflowers;greenandwhitegemsglintedontheir collars and their belts; and their faces and their songs were filled withmirth.Loudandclear and fairwere those songs, andout steppedThorin in totheirmidst.Deadsilencefellinthemiddleofaword.Outwentalllight.Thefiresleaped

upinblacksmokes.Ashesandcinderswereintheeyesofthedwarves,andthewoodwasfilledagainwiththeirclamourandtheircries.Bilbofoundhimselfrunningroundandround(ashethought)andcallingand

calling: “Dori,Nori,Ori,Oin,Gloin,Fili,Kili,Bombur,Bifur,Bofur,Dwalin,

Balin,ThorinOakenshield,”whilepeoplehecouldnotseeorfeelweredoingthesameallroundhim(withanoccasional“Bilbo!”thrownin).Butthecriesoftheothersgotsteadilyfurtherandfainter,andthoughafterawhileitseemedtohimtheychangedtoyellsandcriesforhelpinthefardistance,allnoiseatlastdiedrightaway,andhewasleftaloneincompletesilenceanddarkness.

Thatwasoneofhismostmiserablemoments.Buthesoonmadeuphismindthatitwasnogoodtryingtodoanythingtilldaycamewithsomelittlelight,andquite useless to go blundering about tiring himself out with no hope of anybreakfasttorevivehim.Sohesathimselfdownwithhisbacktoatree,andnotfor the last timefell to thinkingofhisfar-distanthobbit-holewith itsbeautifulpantries.Hewasdeepinthoughtsofbaconandeggsandtoastandbutterwhenhefeltsomething touchhim.Something likeastrongstickystringwasagainsthis left hand, andwhen he tried tomove he found that his legswere alreadywrappedinthesamestuff,sothatwhenhegotuphefellover.Thenthegreatspider,whohadbeenbusytyinghimupwhilehedozed,came

frombehindhimandcameat him.Hecouldonly see the thing’s eyes, buthecouldfeelitshairylegsasitstruggledtowinditsabominablethreadsroundandroundhim.Itwasluckythathehadcometohissensesintime.Soonhewouldnothavebeenabletomoveatall.Asitwas,hehadadesperatefightbeforehegotfree.Hebeatthecreatureoffwithhishands—itwastryingtopoisonhimtokeephimquiet,assmallspidersdotoflies—untilherememberedhisswordanddrewitout.Thenthespiderjumpedback,andhehadtimetocuthislegsloose.Afterthatitwashisturntoattack.Thespiderevidentlywasnotusedtothingsthat carried such stings at their sides, or it would have hurried away quicker.Bilbocameatitbeforeitcoulddisappearandstuckitwithhisswordrightintheeyes.Thenitwentmadandleapedanddancedandflungoutitslegsinhorriblejerks, until he killed it with another stroke; and then he fell down andrememberednothingmoreforalongwhile.Therewastheusualdimgreylightoftheforest-dayabouthimwhenhecame

tohissenses.Thespiderlaydeadbesidehim,andhissword-bladewasstainedblack.Somehowthekillingofthegiantspider,allalonebyhimselfinthedarkwithout thehelpof thewizardor thedwarvesorofanyoneelse,madeagreatdifference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer andbolderinspiteofanemptystomach,ashewipedhisswordonthegrassandputitbackintoitssheath.“Iwillgiveyouaname,”hesaidtoit,“andIshallcallyouSting.”Afterthathesetouttoexplore.Theforestwasgrimandsilent,butobviously

hehadfirstofalltolookforhisfriends,whowerenotlikelytobeveryfaroff,

unless theyhadbeenmadeprisonersby theelves (orworse things).Bilbo feltthat it was unsafe to shout, and he stood a long while wondering in whatdirection the path lay, and inwhat direction he should go first to look for thedwarves.“O!whydidwenotrememberBeorn’sadvice,andGandalf’s!”helamented.

“Whatamessweareinnow!We!Ionlywishitwaswe:itishorriblebeingallalone.”Intheendhemadeasgoodaguessashecouldatthedirectionfromwhichthe

cries for help had come in the night—and by luck (hewas bornwith a goodshareofit)heguessedmoreorlessright,asyouwillsee.Havingmadeuphismind he crept along as cleverly as he could. Hobbits are clever at quietness,especially inwoods, as I have already toldyou; alsoBilbohad slippedonhisringbeforehestarted.Thatiswhythespidersneithersawnorheardhimcoming.Hehadpickedhiswaystealthilyforsomedistance,whenhenoticedaplaceof

dense black shadow ahead of him, black even for that forest, like a patch ofmidnightthathadneverbeenclearedaway.Ashedrewnearer,hesawthatitwasmadebyspider-websonebehindandoverandtangledwithanother.Suddenlyhesaw,too,thattherewerespidershugeandhorriblesittinginthebranchesabovehim, and ring or no ring he trembledwith fear lest they should discover him.Standingbehinda treehewatchedagroupof themforsometime,andtheninthesilenceandstillnessof thewoodherealised that these loathsomecreatureswere speaking one to another. Their voices were a sort of thin creaking andhissing, but he couldmake outmany of thewords that they said. Theyweretalkingaboutthedwarves!“Itwasasharpstruggle,butworthit,”saidone.“Whatnastythickskinsthey

havetobesure,butI’llwagerthereisgoodjuiceinside.”“Aye,they’llmakefineeating,whenthey’vehungabit,”saidanother.“Don’thang’emtoolong,”saidathird.“They’renotasfatastheymightbe.

Beenfeedingnonetoowelloflate,Ishouldguess.”“Kill ‘em, I say,” hissed a fourth; “kill ’em now and hang ‘em dead for a

while.”“They’redeadnow,I’llwarrant,”saidthefirst.“Thattheyarenot.Isawonea-strugglingjustnow.Justcomingroundagain,I

shouldsay,afterabee-autifulsleep.I’llshowyou.”Withthatoneofthefatspidersranalongaropetillitcametoadozenbundles

hanginginarowfromahighbranch.Bilbowashorrified,nowthathenoticedthemforthefirsttimedanglingintheshadows,toseeadwarvishfootstickingoutofthebottomsofsomeofthebundles,orhereandtherethetipofanose,orabitofbeardorofahood.

To the fattestof thesebundles thespiderwent—“It ispooroldBombur, I’llbet,” thoughtBilbo—and nipped hard at the nose that stuck out. Therewas amuffledyelp inside,anda toeshotupandkicked thespiderstraightandhard.Therewas life inBombur still.Therewasanoise like thekickingofa flabbyfootball,andtheenragedspiderfelloffthebranch,onlycatchingitselfwithitsownthreadjustintime.Theothers laughed.“Youwerequite right,” theysaid,“themeat’saliveand

kicking!”“I’llsoonputanendtothat,”hissedtheangryspiderclimbingbackontothe

branch.

Bilbosawthatthemomenthadcomewhenhemustdosomething.Hecouldnotgetupatthebrutesandhehadnothingtoshootwith;butlookingabouthesawthatinthisplacethereweremanystoneslyinginwhatappearedtobeanowdry littlewatercourse.Bilbowasapretty fair shotwitha stone, and it didnottakehimlongtofindanicesmoothegg-shapedonethatfittedhishandcosily.Asaboyheusedtopractisethrowingstonesatthings,untilrabbitsandsquirrels,andevenbirds,gotoutofhiswayasquickaslightningiftheysawhimstoop;andevengrown-uphehadstillspentadealofhistimeatquoits,dart-throwing,shootingatthewand,bowls,ninepinsandotherquietgamesoftheaimingandthrowingsort—indeedhecoulddolotsofthings,besidesblowingsmoke-rings,askingriddlesandcooking,thatIhaven’thadtimetotellyouabout.Thereisnotimenow.Whilehewaspickingupstones,thespiderhadreachedBombur,andsoonhewouldhavebeendead.At thatmomentBilbo threw.Thestonestruckthe spiderplunkon thehead, and it dropped senselessoff the tree, flop to theground,withallitslegscurledup.The next stone went whizzing through a big web, snapping its cords, and

takingoffthespidersittinginthemiddleofit,whack,dead.Afterthattherewasadealofcommotioninthespider-colony,andtheyforgotthedwarvesforabit,Icantellyou.TheycouldnotseeBilbo,buttheycouldmakeagoodguessatthedirectionfromwhichthestoneswerecoming.Asquickaslightningtheycamerunningandswinging towards thehobbit, flingingout their long threads inalldirections,tilltheairseemedfullofwavingsnares.Bilbo,however,soonslippedawaytoadifferentplace.Theideacametohim

to lead the furious spiders further and further away from the dwarves, if hecould;tomakethemcurious,excitedandangryallatonce.Whenaboutfiftyhadgoneofftotheplacewherehehadstoodbefore,hethrewsomemorestonesatthese, and at others that had stoppedbehind; thendancing among the treeshebegantosingasongtoinfuriatethemandbringthemallafterhim,andalsoto

letthedwarveshearhisvoice.Thisiswhathesang:

Oldfatspiderspinninginatree!Oldfatspidercan’tseeme!

Attercop!Attercop!Won’tyoustop,

Stopyourspinningandlookforme?OldTomnoddy,allbigbody,OldTomnoddycan’tspyme!

Attercop!Attercop!Downyoudrop!

You’llnevercatchmeupyourtree!Notverygoodperhaps,butthenyoumustrememberthathehadtomakeitup

himself,onthespurofaveryawkwardmoment.Itdidwhathewantedanyway.Ashesanghethrewsomemorestonesandstamped.Practicallyallthespidersintheplace cameafter him: somedropped to theground, others raced along thebranches, swung from tree to tree, or cast new ropes across the dark spaces.Theymadeforhisnoisefarquickerthanhehadexpected.Theywerefrightfullyangry.QuiteapartfromthestonesnospiderhaseverlikedbeingcalledAttercop,andTomnoddyofcourseisinsultingtoanybody.OffBilboscuttledtoafreshplace,butseveralofthespidershadrunnowto

different points in the glade where they lived, and were busy spinning websacross all the spaces between the tree-stems. Very soon the hobbit would becaughtinathickfenceofthemallroundhim—thatatleastwasthespiders’idea.StandingnowinthemiddleofthehuntingandspinninginsectsBilbopluckeduphiscourageandbegananewsong:

LazyLobandcrazyCobareweavingwebstowindme.Iamfarmoresweetthanothermeat,butstilltheycannotfindme!HereamI,naughtylittlefly;youarefatandlazy.Youcannottrapme,thoughyoutry,inyourcobwebscrazy.

With thathe turnedand found that the last spacebetween two tall treeshadbeen closed with a web—but luckily not a proper web, only great strands ofdouble-thick spider-rope run hastily backwards and forwards from trunk totrunk.Outcamehis littlesword.Heslashedthe threads topiecesandwentoffsinging.

Thespiderssawthesword,thoughIdon’tsupposetheyknewwhatitwas,andatonce thewhole lotof themcamehurryingafter thehobbitalong thegroundand the branches, hairy legs waving, nippers and spinners snapping, eyespopping,fulloffrothandrage.TheyfollowedhimintotheforestuntilBilbohadgoneasfarashedared.Thenquieterthanamousehestoleback.Hehadprecious little time, he knew, before the spiderswere disgusted and

camebacktotheirtreeswherethedwarveswerehung.Inthemeanwhilehehadtorescuethem.Theworstpartofthejobwasgettingupontothelongbranchwherethebundlesweredangling.Idon’tsupposehewouldhavemanagedit,ifaspiderhadnotluckilyleftaropehangingdown;withitshelp,thoughitstucktohishandandhurthim,hescrambledup—onlytomeetanoldslowwickedfat-bodied spiderwho had remained behind to guard the prisoners, and had beenbusypinchingthemtoseewhichwasthejuiciesttoeat.Ithadthoughtofstartingthefeastwhiletheotherswereaway,butMr.Bagginswasinahurry,andbeforethe spiderknewwhatwashappening it felthis stingand rolledoff thebranchdead.Bilbo’snextjobwastolooseadwarf.Whatwashetodo?Ifhecutthestring

whichhunghimup, thewretcheddwarfwould tumble thump to the ground agoodwaybelow.Wrigglingalongthebranch(whichmadeallthepoordwarvesdanceanddanglelikeripefruit)hereachedthefirstbundle.“Fili orKili,” he thought by the tip of a blue hood sticking out at the top.

“MostlikelyFili,”hethoughtbythetipofalongnosepokingoutofthewindingthreads.Hemanagedbyleaningovertocutmostofthestrongstickythreadsthatboundhimround,andthen,sureenough,withakickandastrugglemostofFiliemerged.IamafraidBilboactuallylaughedatthesightofhimjerkinghisstiffarmsandlegsashedancedonthespider-stringunderhisarmpits,justlikeoneofthosefunnytoysbobbingonawire.SomehoworotherFiliwasgotontothebranch,andthenhedidhisbest to

helpthehobbit,althoughhewasfeelingverysickandillfromspider-poison,andfromhangingmostof thenightandthenextdaywoundroundandroundwithonlyhisnosetobreathethrough.Ittookhimagestogetthebeastlystuffoutofhiseyesandeyebrows,andasforhisbeard,hehadtocutmostofitoff.Well,betweenthemtheystartedtohaulupfirstonedwarfandthenanotherandslashthemfree.NoneofthemwerebetteroffthanFili,andsomeofthemwereworse.Somehad hardly been able to breathe at all (long noses are sometimes usefulyousee)andsomehadbeenmorepoisoned.InthiswaytheyrescuedKili,Bifur,Bofur,DoriandNori.PooroldBombur

was so exhausted—he was the fattest and had been constantly pinched andpoked—that he just rolled off the branch and fell plop on to the ground,

fortunatelyontoleaves,andlaythere.Buttherewerestillfivedwarveshangingattheendofthebranchwhenthespidersbegantocomeback,morefullofragethanever.Bilbo immediatelywent to the end of the branch nearest the tree-trunk and

keptbackthosethatcrawledup.HehadtakenoffhisringwhenherescuedFiliandforgottentoputitonagain,sonowtheyallbegantosplutterandhiss:“Nowweseeyou,younasty littlecreature!Wewilleatyouand leaveyour

bonesandskinhangingonatree.Ugh!he’sgotastinghashe?Well,we’llgethimallthesame,andthenwe’llhanghimheaddownwardsforadayortwo.”While thiswasgoingon, theotherdwarveswereworking at the rest of the

captives, and cutting at the threadswith their knives. Soon allwould be free,though itwas not clearwhatwould happen after that.The spiders had caughtthemprettyeasilythenightbefore,butthathadbeenunawaresandinthedark.Thistimetherelookedlikebeingahorriblebattle.Suddenly Bilbo noticed that some of the spiders had gathered round old

Bomburonthefloor,andhadtiedhimupagainandweredragginghimaway.Hegaveashoutandslashedatthespidersinfrontofhim.Theyquicklygaveway,andhe scrambled and fell down the tree right into themiddle of those on theground.Hislittleswordwassomethingnewinthewayofstingsforthem.Howitdarted toand fro! It shonewithdelightashe stabbedat them.Half adozenwerekilledbeforetherestdrewoffandleftBomburtoBilbo.“Comedown!Comedown!”heshoutedtothedwarvesonthebranch.“Don’t

stay up there and be netted!” For he saw spiders swarming up all theneighbouring trees, and crawling along the boughs above the heads of thedwarves.Downthedwarvesscrambledorjumpedordropped,elevenallinaheap,most

ofthemveryshakyandlittleuseontheirlegs.Theretheywereatlast,twelveofthemcountingpooroldBombur,whowasbeingproppeduponeithersidebyhiscousinBifur,andhisbrotherBofur;andBilbowasdancingaboutandwavinghisSting;andhundredsofangryspidersweregogglingatthemallroundandaboutandabove.Itlookedprettyhopeless.Thenthebattlebegan.Someofthedwarveshadknives,andsomehadsticks,

andallofthemcouldgetatstones;andBilbohadhiselvishdagger.Againandagainthespiderswerebeatenoff,andmanyofthemwerekilled.Butitcouldnotgoonforlong.Bilbowasnearlytiredout;onlyfourofthedwarveswereabletostandfirmly,andsoontheywouldallbeoverpoweredlikewearyflies.Alreadythespiderswerebeginningtoweavetheirwebsallroundthemagainfromtreetotree.In the end Bilbo could think of no plan except to let the dwarves into the

secretofhisring.Hewasrathersorryaboutit,butitcouldnotbehelped.“Iamgoingtodisappear,”hesaid.“Ishalldrawthespidersoff,ifIcan;and

youmustkeeptogetherandmakeintheoppositedirection.Totheleftthere,thatismoreorlessthewaytowardstheplacewherewelastsawtheelf-fires.”Itwasdifficulttogetthemtounderstand,whatwiththeirdizzyheads,andthe

shouts,andthewhackingofsticksandthethrowingofstones;butatlastBilbofelthecoulddelaynolonger—thespidersweredrawingtheircircleevercloser.Hesuddenlyslippedonhisring,andtothegreatastonishmentofthedwarveshevanished.Soon there came the sound of “LazyLob” and “Attercop” from among the

treesawayontheright.Thatupsetthespidersgreatly.Theystoppedadvancing,andsomewentoffinthedirectionofthevoice.“Attercop”madethemsoangrythattheylosttheirwits.ThenBalin,whohadgraspedBilbo’splanbetterthantherest, led an attack. The dwarves huddled together in a knot, and sending ashowerofstonestheydroveatthespidersontheleft,andburstthroughthering.Awaybehindthemnowtheshoutingandsingingsuddenlystopped.HopingdesperatelythatBilbohadnotbeencaughtthedwarveswenton.Not

fast enough, though. Theywere sick andweary, and they could not gomuchbetter than a hobble and a wobble, though many of the spiders were closebehind.Everynowand then theyhad to turnand fight thecreatures thatwereovertaking them; and already some spiders were in the trees above them andthrowingdowntheirlongclingingthreads.Thingswere lookingprettybadagain,whensuddenlyBilboreappeared,and

chargedintotheastonishedspidersunexpectedlyfromtheside.“Goon!Goon!”heshouted.“Iwilldothestinging!”And he did. He darted backwards and forwards, slashing at spider-threads,

hackingattheirlegs,andstabbingattheirfatbodiesiftheycametoonear.Thespiders swelledwith rage, and spluttered and frothed, and hissed out horriblecurses;buttheyhadbecomemortallyafraidofSting,anddarednotcomeverynear, now that it had come back. So curse as they would, their prey movedslowly but steadily away. Itwas amost terrible business, and seemed to takehours.Butatlast,justwhenBilbofeltthathecouldnotlifthishandforasinglestrokemore, the spiders suddenlygave it up, and followed themnomore,butwentbackdisappointedtotheirdarkcolony.Thedwarvesthennoticedthattheyhadcometotheedgeofaringwhereelf-

fireshadbeen.Whetheritwasoneofthosetheyhadseenthenightbefore,theycouldnottell.Butitseemedthatsomegoodmagiclingeredinsuchspots,whichthespidersdidnot like.Atanyrateherethelightwasgreener,andtheboughslessthickandthreatening,andtheyhadachancetorestanddrawbreath.

Theretheylayforsometime,puffingandpanting.Butverysoontheybeganto ask questions. They had to have the whole vanishing business carefullyexplained,andthefindingof theringinterestedthemsomuchthatforawhiletheyforgottheirowntroubles.BalininparticularinsistedonhavingtheGollumstory, riddlesandall, toldalloveragain,with the ring in itsproperplace.Butafteratimethelightbegantofail,andthenotherquestionswereasked.Wherewere they,andwherewas theirpath, andwherewas thereany food,andwhatweretheygoingtodonext?Thesequestionstheyaskedoverandoveragain,andit was from little Bilbo that they seemed to expect to get the answers. Fromwhich you can see that they had changed their opinion of Mr. Baggins verymuch,andhadbeguntohaveagreatrespectforhim(asGandalfhadsaidtheywould). Indeed they really expected him to think of somewonderful plan forhelping them, andwere notmerely grumbling. They knew only toowell thattheywouldsoonallhavebeendead,ifithadnotbeenforthehobbit;andtheythanked himmany times. Some of them even got up and bowed right to thegroundbeforehim, though they felloverwith theeffort, andcouldnotgetontheir legs again for some time.Knowing the truth about thevanishingdidnotlessentheiropinionofBilboatall;fortheysawthathehadsomewits,aswellasluck and amagic ring—and all three are very useful possessions. In fact theypraisedhim somuch thatBilbobegan to feel there reallywas somethingof aboldadventurerabouthimselfafterall, thoughhewouldhave felta lotbolderstill,iftherehadbeenanythingtoeat.Buttherewasnothing,nothingatall;andnoneofthemwerefittogoandlook

foranything,or tosearchfor thelostpath.Thelostpath!Noother ideawouldcome intoBilbo’s tiredhead.He just sat staring in frontofhimat theendlesstrees;andafterawhiletheyallfellsilentagain.AllexceptBalin.Longaftertheothers had stopped talking and shut their eyes, he kept on muttering andchucklingtohimself.“Gollum!Well I’m blest! So that’s how he sneaked past me, is it? Now I

know! Just crept quietly along did you, Mr. Baggins? Buttons all over thedoorstep! Good old Bilbo—Bilbo—Bilbo—bo—bo—bo—” And then he fellasleep,andtherewascompletesilenceforalongwhile.AllofasuddenDwalinopenedaneye,andlookedroundatthem.“Whereis

Thorin?”heasked.Itwas a terrible shock.Of course therewere only thirteen of them, twelve

dwarves and the hobbit.Where indeedwasThorin?Theywonderedwhat evilfatehadbefallenhim,magicordarkmonsters;andshudderedastheylaylostinthe forest.There theydroppedoffonebyone intouncomfortable sleep fullofhorribledreams,aseveningworetoblacknight;andtherewemustleavethem

forthepresent,toosickandwearytosetguardsortotaketurnsatwatching.Thorin had been caught much faster than they had. You remember Bilbo

fallinglikealogintosleep,ashesteppedintoacircleoflight?ThenexttimeithadbeenThorinwhosteppedforward,andasthelightswentouthefell likeastoneenchanted.Allthenoiseofthedwarveslostinthenight,theircriesasthespiderscaughtthemandboundthem,andall thesoundsofthebattlenextday,hadpassedoverhimunheard.ThentheWood-elveshadcometohim,andboundhim,andcarriedhimaway.ThefeastingpeoplewereWood-elves,ofcourse.Thesearenotwickedfolk.If

theyhaveafaultitisdistrustofstrangers.Thoughtheirmagicwasstrong,evenin thosedays theywerewary.Theydiffered from theHighElvesof theWest,andweremoredangerousand lesswise.Formostof them(togetherwith theirscatteredrelationsinthehillsandmountains)weredescendedfromtheancienttribesthatneverwenttoFaerieintheWest.TheretheLight-elvesandtheDeep-elvesandtheSea-elveswentandlivedforages,andgrewfairerandwiserandmorelearned,andinventedtheirmagicandtheircunningcraftinthemakingofbeautifulandmarvellousthings,beforesomecamebackintotheWideWorld.IntheWideWorld theWood-elves lingered in the twilightofourSunandMoon,butlovedbestthestars;andtheywanderedinthegreatforeststhatgrewtallinlandsthatarenowlost.Theydweltmostoftenbytheedgesofthewoods,fromwhichtheycouldescapeattimestohunt,ortorideandrunovertheopenlandsbymoonlightorstarlight;andafterthecomingofMentheytookevermoreandmoretothegloamingandthedusk.Stillelvestheywereandremain,andthatisGoodPeople.Inagreatcavesomemileswithin theedgeofMirkwoodon itseasternside

therelivedatthistimetheirgreatestking.Beforehishugedoorsofstoneariverranoutoftheheightsoftheforestandflowedonandoutintothemarshesatthefeet of the highwooded lands. This great cave, fromwhich countless smalleronesopenedoutoneveryside,woundfarundergroundandhadmanypassagesandwidehalls;butitwaslighterandmorewholesomethananygoblin-dwelling,and neither so deep nor so dangerous. In fact the subjects of the kingmostlylivedandhuntedintheopenwoods,andhadhousesorhutsonthegroundandinthe branches. The beecheswere their favourite trees. The king’s cavewas hispalace,andthestrongplaceofhistreasure,andthefortressofhispeopleagainsttheirenemies.Itwasalsothedungeonofhisprisoners.SotothecavetheydraggedThorin—

nottoogently,fortheydidnotlovedwarves,andthoughthewasanenemy.Inancientdaystheyhadhadwarswithsomeofthedwarves,whomtheyaccusedofstealing their treasure. It is only fair to say that the dwarves gave a different

account, and said that theyonly tookwhatwas their due, for the elf-kinghadbargainedwiththemtoshapehisrawgoldandsilver,andhadafterwardsrefusedto give them their pay. If the elf-king had a weakness it was for treasure,especiallyforsilverandwhitegems;andthoughhishoardwasrich,hewasevereagerformore,sincehehadnotyetasgreatatreasureasotherelf-lordsofold.Hispeopleneitherminednorworkedmetalsorjewels,nordidtheybothermuchwith trade or with tilling the earth. All this was well known to every dwarf,thoughThorin’sfamilyhadhadnothingtodowiththeoldquarrelIhavespokenof.ConsequentlyThorinwas angry at their treatment of him,when they tooktheirspelloffhimandhecametohissenses;andalsohewasdeterminedthatnowordofgoldorjewelsshouldbedraggedoutofhim.The king looked sternly on Thorin, when he was brought before him, and

askedhimmanyquestions.ButThorinwouldonlysaythathewasstarving.“Why did you and your folk three times try to attack my people at their

merrymaking?”askedtheking.“We did not attack them,” answered Thorin; “we came to beg, becausewe

werestarving.”“Whereareyourfriendsnow,andwhataretheydoing?”“Idon’tknow,butIexpectstarvingintheforest.”“Whatwereyoudoingintheforest?”“Lookingforfoodanddrink,becausewewerestarving.”“Butwhatbroughtyouintotheforestatall?”askedthekingangrily.AtthatThorinshuthismouthandwouldnotsayanotherword.“Verywell!”saidtheking.“Takehimawayandkeephimsafe,untilhefeels

inclinedtotellthetruth,evenifhewaitsahundredyears.”Then theelvesput thongsonhim, and shuthim inoneof the inmost caves

withstrongwoodendoors,andlefthim.Theygavehimfoodanddrink,plentyofboth, if not very fine; forWood-elveswere not goblins, andwere reasonablywell-behavedeventotheirworstenemies,whentheycapturedthem.Thegiantspidersweretheonlylivingthingsthattheyhadnomercyupon.There in the king’s dungeon poorThorin lay; and after he had got over his

thankfulness for bread and meat and water, he began to wonder what hadbecomeofhisunfortunatefriends.Itwasnotverylongbeforehediscovered;butthatbelongstothenextchapterandthebeginningofanotheradventureinwhichthehobbitagainshowedhisusefulness.

ChapterIXBarrelsOutofBond

Thedayafter thebattlewith the spidersBilboand thedwarvesmadeone lastdespairingeffort to findawayoutbefore theydiedofhungerand thirst.Theygotupandstaggeredoninthedirectionwhicheightoutofthethirteenofthemguessed to be the one inwhich the path lay; but they never found out if theywereright.Suchdayasthereeverwasintheforestwasfadingoncemoreintotheblacknessofnight,whensuddenlyoutsprangthe lightofmanytorchesallroundthem,likehundredsofredstars.OutleapedWood-elveswiththeirbowsandspearsandcalledthedwarvestohalt.Therewasnothoughtofafight.Evenifthedwarveshadnotbeeninsucha

state that they were actually glad to be captured, their small knives, the onlyweaponstheyhad,wouldhavebeenofnouseagainstthearrowsoftheelvesthatcouldhitabird’seyeinthedark.Sotheysimplystoppeddeadandsatdownandwaited—all exceptBilbo,who popped on his ring and slipped quickly to oneside.Thatiswhy,whentheelvesboundthedwarvesinalongline,onebehindtheother,andcountedthem,theyneverfoundorcountedthehobbit.Nordid theyhear or feel him trotting alongwell behind their torch-light as

theyledofftheirprisonersintotheforest.Eachdwarfwasblindfold,butthatdidnotmakemuchdifference,forevenBilbowiththeuseofhiseyescouldnotseewhere they were going, and neither he nor the others knew where they hadstartedfromanyway.Bilbohadallhecoulddotokeepupwiththetorches,fortheelvesweremakingthedwarvesgoasfastasevertheycould,sickandwearyas theywere.Thekinghadordered them tomakehaste.Suddenly the torchesstopped,andthehobbithadjusttimetocatchthemupbeforetheybegantocrossthebridge.Thiswasthebridgethatledacrosstherivertotheking’sdoors.Thewater floweddarkandswiftandstrongbeneath;andat the farendweregatesbeforethemouthofahugecavethatranintothesideofasteepslopecoveredwith trees.There thegreatbeechescamerightdown to thebank, till their feetwereinthestream.Across the bridge the elves thrust their prisoners, butBilbo hesitated in the

rear.Hedidnotatalllikethelookofthecavern-mouth,andheonlymadeuphismindnottodeserthisfriendsjustintimetoscuttleoverattheheelsofthelastelves,beforethegreatgatesofthekingclosedbehindthemwithaclang.Inside the passageswere litwith red torch-light, and the elf-guards sang as

theymarched along the twisting, crossing, and echoing paths. Thesewere notlike those of the goblin-cities; they were smaller, less deep underground, andfilledwithacleanerair.InagreathallwithpillarshewnoutofthelivingstonesattheElvenkingonachairofcarvenwood.Onhisheadwasacrownofberriesandredleaves,fortheautumnwascomeagain.Inthespringheworeacrownofwoodlandflowers.Inhishandheheldacarvenstaffofoak.

TheElvenking’sGateAlternativeImage

Theprisonerswerebroughtbeforehim;andthoughhelookedgrimlyatthem,

hetoldhismentounbindthem,fortheywereraggedandweary.“Besidestheyneednoropes inhere,”saidhe.“There isnoescapefrommymagicdoors forthosewhoareoncebroughtinside.”Long and searchingly he questioned the dwarves about their doings, and

where theyweregoing to,andwhere theywerecomingfrom;buthegot littlemorenewsoutofthemthanoutofThorin.Theyweresurlyandangryanddidnotevenpretendtobepolite.

“What havewedone,Oking?” saidBalin,whowas the eldest left. “Is it acrimetobelostintheforest,tobehungryandthirsty,tobetrappedbyspiders?Arethespidersyourtamebeastsoryourpets,ifkillingthemmakesyouangry?”Suchaquestionofcoursemadethekingangrierthanever,andheanswered:

“Itisacrimetowanderinmyrealmwithoutleave.Doyouforgetthatyouwereinmykingdom,using the road thatmypeoplemade?Didyounot three timespursueandtroublemypeopleintheforestandrousethespiderswithyourriotand clamour?After all the disturbanceyouhavemade I have a right to knowwhat brings you here, and if youwill not tellme now, Iwill keep you all inprisonuntilyouhavelearnedsenseandmanners!”Thenheorderedthedwarveseachtobeputinaseparatecellandtobegiven

foodanddrink,butnottobeallowedtopassthedoorsoftheirlittleprisons,untiloneatleastofthemwaswillingtotellhimallhewantedtoknow.ButhedidnottellthemthatThorinwasalsoaprisonerwithhim.ItwasBilbowhofoundthatout.

PoorMr.Baggins—itwas aweary long time that he lived in that place allalone,andalways inhiding,neverdaring to takeoffhis ring,hardlydaring tosleep,eventuckedawayinthedarkestandremotestcornershecouldfind.ForsomethingtodohetooktowanderingabouttheElvenking’spalace.Magicshutthe gates, but he could sometimes get out, if hewas quick.Companies of theWood-elves,sometimeswiththekingattheirhead,wouldfromtimetotimerideouttohunt,ortootherbusinessinthewoodsandinthelandstotheEast.ThenifBilbo was very nimble, he could slip out just behind them; though it was adangerousthingtodo.Morethanoncehewasnearlycaughtinthedoors,astheyclashed togetherwhen the lastelfpassed;yethedidnotdare tomarchamongthembecauseofhisshadow(altogetherthinandwobblyasitwasintorchlight),orforfearofbeingbumpedintoanddiscovered.Andwhenhedidgoout,whichwasnotveryoften,hedidnogood.Hedidnotwishtodesertthedwarves,andindeedhedidnotknowwhere in theworld togowithout them.Hecouldnotkeepupwiththehuntingelvesallthetimetheywereout,soheneverdiscoveredthe ways out of the wood, and was left to wander miserably in the forest,terrifiedoflosinghimself,untilachancecameofreturning.Hewashungrytoooutside,forhewasnohunter;butinsidethecaveshecouldpickupalivingofsomesortbystealingfoodfromstoreortablewhennoonewasathand.“Iamlikeaburglarthatcan’tgetaway,butmustgoonmiserablyburglingthe

samehousedayafterday,”hethought.“Thisisthedreariestanddullestpartofall thiswretched, tiresome,uncomfortableadventure! Iwish Iwasback inmyhobbit-holebymyownwarmfiresidewiththelampshining!”Heoftenwished,

too, thathecouldgetamessageforhelpsent to thewizard,but thatofcoursewasquite impossible; andhe soon realized that if anythingwas to bedone, itwouldhavetobedonebyMr.Baggins,aloneandunaided.Eventually,afteraweekortwoofthissneakingsortoflife,bywatchingand

followingtheguardsandtakingwhatchanceshecould,hemanagedtofindoutwhereeachdwarfwaskept.Hefoundalltheirtwelvecellsindifferentpartsofthepalace,andafteratimehegottoknowhiswayaboutverywell.Whatwashis surprise one day to overhear some of the guards talking and to learn thattherewasanotherdwarfinprisontoo,inaspeciallydeepdarkplace.Heguessedatonce,ofcourse,thatthatwasThorin;andafterawhilehefoundthathisguesswasright.Atlastaftermanydifficultieshemanagedtofindtheplacewhennoonewasabout,andtohaveawordwiththechiefofthedwarves.Thorinwastoowretchedtobeangryanylongerathismisfortunes,andwas

evenbeginning to thinkof telling thekingall abouthis treasureandhisquest(which shows how low-spirited he had become), when he heard Bilbo’s littlevoiceathiskeyhole.Hecouldhardlybelievehisears.Soonhoweverhemadeuphismindthathecouldnotbemistaken,andhecametothedoorandhadalongwhisperedtalkwiththehobbitontheotherside.SoitwasthatBilbowasabletotakesecretlyThorin’smessagetoeachofthe

otherimprisoneddwarves,tellingthemthatThorintheirchiefwasalsoinprisoncloseathand,andthatnoonewastorevealtheirerrandtotheking,notyet,norbeforeThoringavetheword.ForThorinhadtakenheartagainhearinghowthehobbithadrescuedhiscompanionsfromthespiders,andwasdeterminedoncemorenottoransomhimselfwithpromisestothekingofashareinthetreasure,until all hope of escaping in any otherway had disappeared; until in fact theremarkable Mr. Invisible Baggins (of whom he began to have a very highopinionindeed)hadaltogetherfailedtothinkofsomethingclever.Theotherdwarvesquiteagreedwhentheygotthemessage.Theyallthought

theirownsharesinthetreasure(whichtheyquiteregardedastheirs,inspiteoftheir plight and the still unconquered dragon) would suffer seriously if theWood-elvesclaimedpartofit,andtheyalltrustedBilbo.JustwhatGandalfhadsaidwouldhappen,yousee.Perhapsthatwaspartofhisreasonforgoingoffandleavingthem.Bilbo, however, did not feel nearly so hopeful as they did.He did not like

beingdependedonbyeveryone,andhewishedhehadthewizardathand.Butthatwasnouse:probablyallthedarkdistanceofMirkwoodlaybetweenthem.Hesatand thoughtand thought,untilhisheadnearlyburst,butnobright ideawouldcome.Oneinvisibleringwasaveryfinething,butitwasnotmuchgoodamongfourteen.Butofcourse,asyouhaveguessed,hedidrescuehisfriendsin

theend,andthisishowithappened.One day, nosing and wandering about, Bilbo discovered a very interesting

thing:thegreatgateswerenot theonlyentrancetothecaves.Astreamflowedunderpartofthelowestregionsofthepalace,andjoinedtheForestRiversomeway further to the east, beyond the steep slope out ofwhich themainmouthopened.Wherethisundergroundwatercoursecameforthfromthehillsidetherewas awater-gate.There the rocky roof camedownclose to the surfaceof thestream,andfromitaportculliscouldbedroppedrighttothebedoftherivertopreventanyonecominginoroutthatway.Buttheportculliswasoftenopen,foragooddealoftrafficwentoutandinbythewater-gate.Ifanyonehadcomeinthatway,hewouldhavefoundhimselfinadarkroughtunnelleadingdeepintotheheartofthehill;butatonepointwhereitpassedunderthecavestheroofhadbeencutawayandcoveredwithgreatoakentrapdoors.Theseopenedupwardsinto the king’s cellars. There stood barrels, and barrels, and barrels; for theWood-elves,andespeciallytheirking,wereveryfondofwine,thoughnovinesgrew in those parts. Thewine, and other goods,were brought from far away,fromtheirkinsfolkintheSouth,orfromthevineyardsofMenindistantlands.Hidingbehindoneof the largest barrelsBilbodiscovered the trapdoors and

theiruse,andlurkingthere,listeningtothetalkoftheking’sservants,helearnedhow the wine and other goods came up the rivers, or over land, to the LongLake.ItseemedatownofMenstillthrovethere,builtoutonbridgesfarintothewater as a protection against enemies of all sorts, and especially against thedragonoftheMountain.FromLake-townthebarrelswerebroughtuptheForestRiver.Oftentheywerejusttiedtogetherlikebigraftsandpoledorrowedupthestream;sometimestheywereloadedontoflatboats.When the barrels were empty the elves cast them through the trapdoors,

openedthewater-gate,andoutthebarrelsfloatedonthestream,bobbingalong,until theywere carried by the current to a place far down the riverwhere thebank jutted out, near to the very eastern edge ofMirkwood. There theywerecollectedandtiedtogetherandfloatedbacktoLake-town,whichstoodclosetothepointwheretheForestRiverflowedintotheLongLake.

ForsometimeBilbosatandthoughtaboutthiswater-gate,andwonderedifitcould be used for the escape of his friends, and at last he had the desperatebeginningsofaplan.Theeveningmealhadbeentakentotheprisoners.Theguardsweretramping

awaydownthepassagestakingthetorchlightwiththemandleavingeverythingindarkness.ThenBilboheardtheking’sbutlerbiddingthechiefof theguardsgood-night.

“Nowcomewithme,”hesaid,“andtastethenewwinethathasjustcomein.Ishallbehardatwork tonightclearing thecellarsof theemptywood, so letushaveadrinkfirsttohelpthelabour.”“Verygood,”laughedthechiefoftheguards.“I’lltastewithyou,andseeifit

isfitfortheking’stable.Thereisafeasttonightanditwouldnotdotosenduppoorstuff!”

Whenheheard thisBilbowasall ina flutter, forhesawthat luckwaswithhimandhehadachanceatoncetotryhisdesperateplan.Hefollowedthetwoelves,untiltheyenteredasmallcellarandsatdownatatableonwhichtwolargeflagons were set. Soon they began to drink and laugh merrily. Luck of anunusualkindwaswithBilbo then. Itmustbepotentwine tomakeawood-elfdrowsy;butthiswine,itwouldseem,wastheheadyvintageofthegreatgardensofDorwinion,notmeantforhissoldiersorhisservants,butfortheking’sfeastsonly,andforsmallerbowlsnotforthebutler’sgreatflagons.Verysoonthechiefguardnoddedhishead,thenhelaiditonthetableandfell

fast asleep. The butler went on talking and laughing to himself for a whilewithoutseemingtonotice,butsoonhisheadtoonoddedtothetable,andhefellasleepandsnoredbesidehisfriend.Thenincreptthehobbit.Verysoonthechiefguardhadnokeys,butBilbowastrottingasfastashecouldalongthepassagestowardsthecells.Thegreatbunchseemedveryheavytohisarms,andhisheartwasoften inhismouth, in spiteof his ring, for he couldnot prevent thekeysfrommakingeverynowandthenaloudclinkandclank,whichputhimallinatremble.First he unlockedBalin’s door, and locked it again carefully as soon as the

dwarfwasoutside.Balinwasmostsurprised,asyoucanimagine;butgladashewas to get out of hiswearisome little stone room, hewanted to stop and askquestions,andknowwhatBilbowasgoingtodo,andallaboutit.“No time now!” said the hobbit. “You just follow me! We must all keep

togetherandnotriskgettingseparated.Allofusmustescapeornone,andthisisourlastchance.Ifthisisfoundout,goodnessknowswherethekingwillputyounext,with chains on your hands and feet too, I expect.Don’t argue, there’s agoodfellow!”Thenoffhewentfromdoortodoor,untilhisfollowinghadgrowntotwelve—

none of them any too nimble, what with the dark, and what with their longimprisonment. Bilbo’s heart thumped every time one of them bumped intoanother,orgruntedorwhisperedinthedark.“Dratthisdwarvishracket!”hesaidtohimself.Butallwentwell,andtheymetnoguards.Asamatteroffacttherewasagreatautumnfeastinthewoodsthatnight,andinthehallsabove.Nearly

alltheking’sfolkweremerrymaking.At lastaftermuchblunderingtheycametoThorin’sdungeon,fardownina

deepplaceandfortunatelynotfarfromthecellars.“Uponmyword!”saidThorin,whenBilbowhisperedtohimtocomeoutand

joinhisfriends,“Gandalfspoketrue,asusual!Aprettyfineburglaryoumake,itseems, when the time comes. I am sure we are all for ever at your service,whateverhappensafterthis.Butwhatcomesnext?”Bilbosawthatthetimehadcometoexplainhisidea,asfarashecould;buthe

did not feel at all sure how the dwarves would take it. His fears were quitejustified, for theydidnot like it abit, andstartedgrumbling loudly in spiteoftheirdanger.“We shall be bruised and battered to pieces, and drowned too, for certain!”

they muttered. “We thought you had got some sensible notion, when youmanagedtogetholdofthekeys.Thisisamadidea!”“Verywell!”saidBilboverydowncast,andalsoratherannoyed.“Comealong

back toyournicecells, and Iwill lockyouall inagain, andyoucan sit therecomfortablyandthinkofabetterplan—butIdon’tsupposeIshallevergetholdofthekeysagain,evenifIfeelinclinedtotry.”Thatwas toomuch for them, and they calmeddown. In the end, of course,

theyhad todo justwhatBilbosuggested,because itwasobviously impossibleforthemtotryandfindtheirwayintotheupperhalls,ortofighttheirwayoutofgatesthatclosedbymagic;anditwasnogoodgrumblinginthepassagesuntiltheywere caught again. So following the hobbit, down into the lowest cellarsthey crept. They passed a door through which the chief guard and the butlercould be seen still happily snoringwith smiles upon their faces. Thewine ofDorwinion brings deep and pleasant dreams. There would be a differentexpression on the face of the chief guard next day, even thoughBilbo, beforetheywenton,stoleinandkindheartedlyputthekeysbackonhisbelt.“Thatwill save him some of the trouble he is in for,” saidMr. Baggins to

himself.“Hewasn’tabadfellow,andquitedecenttotheprisoners.Itwillpuzzlethem all too. Theywill thinkwe had a very strongmagic to pass through allthose locked doors and disappear. Disappear! We have got to get busy veryquick,ifthatistohappen!”

Balinwastoldofftowatchtheguardandthebutlerandgivewarningiftheystirred. The rest went into the adjoining cellar with the trapdoors. There waslittletimetolose.Beforelong,asBilboknew,someelveswereunderorderstocomedownandhelpthebutlergettheemptybarrelsthroughthedoorsintothestream.Thesewere in fact already standing in rows in themiddleof the floor

waiting tobepushedoff.Someof themwerewine-barrels,and thesewerenotmuchuse,astheycouldnoteasilybeopenedattheendwithoutadealofnoise,nor could they easily be secured again. But among themwere several others,which had been used for bringing other stuffs, butter, apples, and all sorts ofthings,totheking’spalace.Theysoonfoundthirteenwithroomenoughforadwarfineach.Infactsome

were too roomy, and as they climbed in the dwarves thought anxiously of theshakingandthebumpingtheywouldgetinside,thoughBilbodidhisbesttofindstrawandotherstuff topacktheminascosilyascouldbemanagedinashorttime.Atlasttwelvedwarveswerestowed.Thorinhadgivenalotoftrouble,andturnedand twisted inhis tubandgrumbled likea largedog ina smallkennel;whileBalin,whocamelast,madeagreatfussabouthisair-holesandsaidhewasstifling,evenbeforehislidwason.Bilbohaddonewhathecouldtocloseholesin the sides of the barrels, and to fix on all the lids as safely as could bemanaged,andnowhewasleftaloneagain,runningroundputtingthefinishingtouchestothepacking,andhopingagainsthopethathisplanwouldcomeoff.Ithadnotbeendoneabittoosoon.OnlyaminuteortwoafterBalin’slidhad

beenfittedontherecamethesoundofvoicesandtheflickeroflights.Anumberofelvescamelaughingandtalkingintothecellarsandsingingsnatchesofsong.Theyhadleftamerryfeastinoneofthehallsandwerebentonreturningassoonastheycould.“Where’soldGalion,thebutler?”saidone.“Ihaven’tseenhimatthetables

tonight.Heoughttobeherenowtoshowuswhatistobedone.”“Ishallbeangryiftheoldslowcoachislate,”saidanother.“Ihavenowishto

wastetimedownherewhilethesongisup!”“Ha,ha!”cameacry.“Here’stheoldvillainwithhisheadonajug!He’sbeen

havingalittlefeastalltohimselfandhisfriendthecaptain.”“Shakehim!Wakehim!”shoutedtheothersimpatiently.Galionwas not at all pleased at being shaken or wakened, and still less at

beinglaughedat.“You’realllate,”hegrumbled.“HereamIwaitingandwaitingdownhere,whileyoufellowsdrinkandmakemerryandforgetyourtasks.SmallwonderifIfallasleepfromweariness!”“Smallwonder,” said they, “when the explanation stands close at hand in a

jug!Comegiveusatasteofyoursleeping-draughtbeforewefallto!Noneedtowaketheturnkeyyonder.Hehashadhissharebythelooksofit.”Then theydrankonce roundandbecamemightymerryallofa sudden.But

they did not quite lose theirwits. “Save us,Galion!” cried some, “you beganyour feasting early andmuddled yourwits!Youhave stacked some full caskshereinsteadoftheemptyones,ifthereisanythinginweight.”

“Getonwiththework!”growledthebutler.“Thereisnothinginthefeelingofweightinanidletoss-pot’sarms.Thesearetheonestogoandnoothers.DoasIsay!”“Verywell,verywell,”theyansweredrollingthebarrelstotheopening.“On

yourheadbeit,iftheking’sfullbuttertubsandhisbestwineispushedintotheriverfortheLake-mentofeastonfornothing!”

Roll—roll—roll—roll,roll-roll-rollingdownthehole!Heaveho!Splashplump!Downtheygo,downtheybump!

Sotheysangasfirstonebarrelandthenanotherrumbledtothedarkopeningandwas pushed over into the coldwater some feet below. Somewere barrelsreallyempty,someweretubsneatlypackedwithadwarfeach;butdowntheyallwent,oneafteranother,withmanyaclashandabump,thuddingontopofonesbelow,smackingintothewater,jostlingagainstthewallsofthetunnel,knockingintooneanother,andbobbingawaydownthecurrent.Itwas justat thismoment thatBilbosuddenlydiscovered theweakpoint in

hisplan.Mostlikelyyousawitsometimeagoandhavebeenlaughingathim;butIdon’tsupposeyouwouldhavedonehalfaswellyourselvesinhisplace.Ofcoursehewasnotinabarrelhimself,norwasthereanyonetopackhimin,eveniftherehadbeenachance!Itlookedasifhewouldcertainlylosehisfriendsthistime(nearlyallofthemhadalreadydisappearedthroughthedarktrapdoor),andgetutterlyleftbehindandhavetostaylurkingasapermanentburglarintheelf-caves for ever. For even if he could have escaped through the upper gates atonce,hehadprecioussmallchanceofeverfindingthedwarvesagain.Hedidnotknow the way by land to the place where the barrels were collected. Hewonderedwhatonearthwouldhappentothemwithouthim;forhehadnothadtimetotellthedwarvesallthathehadlearned,orwhathehadmeanttodo,oncetheywereoutofthewood.Whileallthesethoughtswerepassingthroughhismind,theelvesbeingvery

merrybegantosingasongroundtheriver-door.Somehadalreadygonetohaulontheropeswhichpulleduptheportcullisatthewater-gatesoastoletoutthebarrelsassoonastheywereallafloatbelow.

DowntheswiftdarkstreamyougoBacktolandsyouoncedidknow!Leavethehallsandcavernsdeep,Leavethenorthernmountainssteep,WheretheforestwideanddimStoopsinshadowgreyandgrim!

FloatbeyondtheworldoftreesOutintothewhisperingbreeze,Pasttherushes,pastthereeds,Pastthemarsh’swavingweeds,ThroughthemistthatrisethwhiteUpfrommereandpoolatnight!Follow,followstarsthatleapUptheheavenscoldandsteep;Turnwhendawncomesoverland,Overrapid,oversand,Southaway!andSouthaway!Seekthesunlightandtheday,Backtopasture,backtomead,Wherethekineandoxenfeed!BacktogardensonthehillsWheretheberryswellsandfillsUndersunlight,underday!Southaway!andSouthaway!DowntheswiftdarkstreamyougoBacktolandsyouoncedidknow!

Now the very last barrel was being rolled to the doors! In despair and notknowingwhatelsetodo,poorlittleBilbocaughtholdofitandwaspushedovertheedgewith it.Down into thewaterhe fell, splash! into thecolddarkwaterwiththebarrelontopofhim.Hecameupagainsplutteringandclingingtothewoodlikearat,butforallhis

effortshecouldnotscrambleontop.Everytimehetried,thebarrelrolledroundand ducked himunder again. Itwas really empty, and floated light as a cork.Thoughhisearswere fullofwater,hecouldhear theelves still singing in thecellarabove.Thensuddenly the trapdoorsfell towithaboomandtheirvoicesfadedaway.Hewasinthedarktunnelfloatinginicywater,allalone—foryoucannotcountfriendsthatareallpackedupinbarrels.Verysoonagreypatchcameinthedarknessahead.Heheardthecreakofthe

water-gatebeinghauledup,andhefoundthathewasinthemidstofabobbingandbumpingmassofcasksandtubsallpressingtogethertopassunderthearchand get out into the open stream.He had asmuch as he could do to preventhimself from being hustled and battered to bits; but at last the jostling crowdbegan tobreakup and swingoff, onebyone, under the stony arch and away.Then he saw that itwould have been no good even if he hadmanaged to getastridehisbarrel,fortherewasnoroomtospare,notevenforahobbit,between

itstopandthesuddenlystoopingroofwherethegatewas.

Out theywent under the overhanging branches of the trees on either bank.Bilbowonderedwhatthedwarveswerefeelingandwhetheralotofwaterwasgetting into their tubs. Some of those that bobbed along by him in the gloomseemedprettylowinthewater,andheguessedthatthesehaddwarvesinside.“IdohopeIputthelidsontightenough!”hethought,butbeforelonghewas

worryingtoomuchabouthimselftorememberthedwarves.Hemanagedtokeephisheadabovethewater,buthewasshiveringwiththecold,andhewonderedifhewoulddieofitbeforetheluckturned,andhowmuchlongerhewouldbeableto hang on, andwhether he should risk the chance of letting go and trying toswimtothebank.The luck turned all right before long: the eddying current carried several

barrelscloseashoreatonepointand thereforawhile theystuckagainstsomehidden root.ThenBilbo took theopportunityof scramblingup the sideof hisbarrelwhile itwasheld steadyagainst another.Uphecrawled likeadrownedrat, and lay on the top spread out to keep the balance as best he could. Thebreezewascoldbutbetterthanthewater,andhehopedhewouldnotsuddenlyrolloffagainwhentheystartedoffoncemore.Beforelongthebarrelsbrokefreeagainandturnedandtwistedoffdownthe

stream,andoutintothemaincurrent.Thenhefounditquiteasdifficulttostickon as he had feared; but he managed it somehow, though it was miserablyuncomfortable.Luckilyhewasverylight,andthebarrelwasagoodbigoneandbeingratherleakyhadnowshippedasmallamountofwater.Allthesameitwaslike trying to ride, without bridle or stirrups, a round-bellied pony that wasalwaysthinkingofrollingonthegrass.InthiswayatlastMr.Bagginscametoaplacewherethetreesoneitherhand

grewthinner.Hecouldsee thepalerskybetweenthem.Thedarkriveropenedsuddenlywide, and there it was joined to themainwater of the Forest Riverflowing down in haste from the king’s great doors. Therewas a dim sheet ofwaternolongerovershadowed,andonitsslidingsurfacethereweredancingandbrokenreflectionsofcloudsandofstars.ThenthehurryingwateroftheForestRiversweptallthecompanyofcasksandtubsawaytothenorthbank,inwhichithadeatenoutawidebay.Thishadashinglyshoreunderhangingbanksandwaswalledattheeasternendbyalittlejuttingcapeofhardrock.Ontheshallowshoremostofthebarrelsranaground,thoughafewwentontobumpagainstthestonypier.There were people on the look-out on the banks. They quickly poled and

pushed all the barrels together into the shallows, and when they had counted

them they roped them together and left them till themorning. Poor dwarves!Bilbowasnotbadlyoffnow.Heslippedfromhisbarrelandwadedashore,andthensneakedalongtosomehutsthathecouldseenearthewater’sedge.Henolongerthoughttwiceaboutpickingupasupperuninvitedifhegotthechance,hehadbeenobligedtodoitforsolong,andheknewnowonlytoowellwhatitwastobereallyhungry,notmerelypolitelyinterestedinthedaintiesofawell-filledlarder.Alsohehadcaughtaglimpseofafirethroughthetrees,andthatappealedtohimwithhisdrippingandraggedclothesclingingtohimcoldandclammy.

Thereisnoneedtotellyoumuchofhisadventuresthatnight,fornowwearedrawingneartheendoftheeastwardjourneyandcomingtothelastandgreatestadventure,sowemusthurryon.Ofcoursehelpedbyhismagicringhegotonverywellatfirst,buthewasgivenawayintheendbyhiswetfootstepsandthetrail of drippings that he left wherever he went or sat; and also he began tosnivel,andwhereverhetriedtohidehewasfoundoutbytheterrificexplosionsofhissuppressedsneezes.Verysoontherewasafinecommotioninthevillagebytheriverside;butBilboescapedintothewoodscarryingaloafandaleatherbottleofwineandapiethatdidnotbelongtohim.Therestofthenighthehadtopasswetashewasandfarfromafire,but thebottlehelpedhimtodothat,and he actually dozed a little on some dry leaves, even though the year wasgettinglateandtheairwaschilly.Hewokeagainwithaspeciallyloudsneeze.Itwasalreadygreymorning,and

there was a merry racket down by the river. They were making up a raft ofbarrels,andtheraft-elveswouldsoonbesteeringitoffdownthestreamtoLake-town.Bilbosneezedagain.Hewasnolongerdrippingbuthefeltcoldallover.Hescrambleddownasfastashisstifflegswouldtakehimandmanagedjustintimetogetontothemassofcaskswithoutbeingnoticedinthegeneralbustle.Luckilytherewasnosunatthetimetocastanawkwardshadow,andforamercyhedidnotsneezeagainforagoodwhile.There was a mighty pushing of poles. The elves that were standing in the

shallowwaterheavedandshoved.Thebarrelsnowall lashed togethercreakedandfretted.“Thisisaheavyload!”somegrumbled.“Theyfloattoodeep—someofthese

areneverempty.Iftheyhadcomeashoreinthedaylight,wemighthavehadalookinside,”theysaid.“Notimenow!”criedtheraftman.“Shoveoff!”Andoff theywent at last, slowly at first, until theyhadpassed thepointof

rockwhereotherelvesstoodtofendthemoffwithpoles,andthenquickerandquicker as they caught the main stream and went sailing away down, down

towardstheLake.Theyhadescapedthedungeonsof thekingandwerethroughthewood,but

whetheraliveordeadstillremainstobeseen.

ChapterXAWarmWelcome

Thedaygrewlighterandwarmerastheyfloatedalong.Afterawhiletheriverroundedasteepshoulderoflandthatcamedownupontheirleft.Underitsrockyfeet like an inland cliff the deepest stream had flowed lapping and bubbling.Suddenlytheclifffellaway.Theshoressank.Thetreesended.ThenBilbosawasight:The landsopenedwide about him, filledwith thewaters of the riverwhich

brokeupandwanderedinahundredwindingcourses,orhaltedinmarshesandpoolsdottedwithislesoneveryside;butstillastrongwaterflowedonsteadilythroughthemidst.Andfaraway,itsdarkheadinatorncloud,thereloomedtheMountain! Its nearest neighbours to theNorth-East and the tumbled land thatjoined it to them could not be seen. All alone it rose and looked across themarshes to the forest. TheLonelyMountain!Bilbo had come far and throughmanyadventurestoseeit,andnowhedidnotlikethelookofitintheleast.

BilbocomestotheHutsoftheRaft-elvesAs he listened to the talk of the raftmen and pieced together the scraps of

informationtheyletfall,hesoonrealizedthathewasveryfortunateevertohaveseenitatall,evenfromthisdistance.Drearyashadbeenhisimprisonmentandunpleasantaswashisposition (tosaynothingof thepoordwarvesunderneathhim)still,hehadbeenmoreluckythanhehadguessed.Thetalkwasallofthetradethatcameandwentonthewaterwaysandthegrowthofthetrafficontheriver,astheroadsoutoftheEasttowardsMirkwoodvanishedorfellintodisuse;andofthebickeringsoftheLake-menandtheWood-elvesabouttheupkeepoftheForestRiverandthecareofthebanks.Thoselandshadchangedmuchsincethe days when dwarves dwelt in theMountain, days whichmost people nowrememberedonlyasaveryshadowytradition.Theyhadchangedeveninrecentyears, and since the lastnews thatGandalfhadhadof them.Great floodsand

rainshadswollenthewatersthatflowedeast;andtherehadbeenanearthquakeor two (which somewere inclined to attribute to the dragon—alluding to himchieflywithacurseandanominousnodinthedirectionoftheMountain).Themarshesandbogshadspreadwiderandwideroneitherside.Pathshadvanished,andmanyariderandwanderertoo,iftheyhadtriedtofindthelostwaysacross.Theelf-roadthroughthewoodwhichthedwarveshadfollowedontheadviceofBeorn now came to a doubtful and little used end at the eastern edge of theforest;onlytheriverofferedanylongerasafewayfromtheskirtsofMirkwoodintheNorthtothemountain-shadowedplainsbeyond,andtheriverwasguardedbytheWood-elves’king.SoyouseeBilbohadcomeintheendbytheonlyroadthatwasanygood.It

mighthavebeensomecomforttoMr.Bagginsshiveringonthebarrels,ifhehadknown that news of this had reached Gandalf far away and given him greatanxiety, and that he was in fact finishing his other business (which does notcome into this tale) andgetting ready tocome in searchofThorin’s company.ButBilbodidnotknowit.Allheknewwasthattheriverseemedtogoonandonandonforever,andhe

was hungry, and had a nasty cold in the nose, and did not like the way theMountainseemedtofrownathimandthreatenhimasitdrewevernearer.Aftera while, however, the river took a more southerly course and the Mountainreceded again, and at last, late in the day the shores grew rocky, the rivergatheredallitswanderingwaterstogetherintoadeepandrapidflood,andtheysweptalongatgreatspeed.ThesunhadsetwhenturningwithanothersweeptowardstheEasttheforest-

riverrushedintotheLongLake.Thereithadawidemouthwithstonyclifflikegatesateithersidewhosefeetwerepiledwithshingles.TheLongLake!Bilbohadneverimaginedthatanywaterthatwasnottheseacouldlooksobig.Itwassowidethattheoppositeshoreslookedsmallandfar,butitwassolongthatitsnortherly end, which pointed towards theMountain, could not be seen at all.Only from themapdidBilboknow that awayup there,where the starsof theWainwerealreadytwinkling,theRunningRivercamedownintothelakefromDaleandwiththeForestRiverfilledwithdeepwaterswhatmustoncehavebeena great deep rocky valley.At the southern end the doubledwaters poured outagainoverhighwaterfallsandranawayhurriedlytounknownlands.Inthestilleveningairthenoiseofthefallscouldbeheardlikeadistantroar.NotfarfromthemouthoftheForestRiverwasthestrangetownheheardthe

elvesspeakof in theking’scellars. Itwasnotbuilton theshore, though therewere a few huts and buildings there, but right out on the surface of the lake,protected from the swirl of the entering river by a promontory of rockwhich

formedacalmbay.Agreatbridgemadeofwoodranouttowhereonhugepilesmadeofforest treeswasbuiltabusywoodentown,nota townofelvesbutofMen, who still dared to dwell here under the shadow of the distant dragon-mountain.They still throveon the trade that cameup thegreat river from theSouthandwascartedpast the falls to their town;but in thegreatdaysofold,whenDale in theNorthwas rich and prosperous, they had beenwealthy andpowerful,andtherehadbeenfleetsofboatsonthewaters,andsomewerefilledwithgoldandsomewithwarriorsinarmour,andtherehadbeenwarsanddeedswhichwerenowonlyalegend.Therottingpilesofagreatertowncouldstillbeseenalongtheshoreswhenthewaterssankinadrought.Butmenrememberedlittleofallthat,thoughsomestillsangoldsongsofthe

dwarf-kingsoftheMountain,ThrorandThrainoftheraceofDurin,andofthecomingoftheDragon,andthefallofthelordsofDale.SomesangtoothatThrorandThrainwouldcomebackonedayandgoldwouldflowinrivers,throughthemountain-gates, and all that land would be filled with new song and newlaughter.Butthispleasantlegenddidnotmuchaffecttheirdailybusiness.

LakeTownAlternativeImage

Assoonastheraftofbarrelscameinsightboatsrowedoutfromthepilesofthetown,andvoiceshailedtheraft-steerers.Thenropeswerecastandoarswerepulled,andsoon the raftwasdrawnoutof thecurrentof theForestRiverandtowed away round the high shoulder of rock into the little bay of Lake-town.

Thereitwasmoorednotfarfromtheshorewardheadofthegreatbridge.SoonmenwouldcomeupfromtheSouthandtakesomeofthecasksaway,andotherstheywouldfillwithgoodstheyhadbroughttobetakenbackupthestreamtotheWood-elves’home.InthemeanwhilethebarrelswereleftafloatwhiletheelvesoftheraftandtheboatmenwenttofeastinLake-town.Theywouldhavebeensurprised,iftheycouldhaveseenwhathappeneddown

bytheshore,aftertheyhadgoneandtheshadesofnighthadfallen.FirstofallabarrelwascutloosebyBilboandpushedtotheshoreandopened.Groanscamefrominside,andoutcreptamostunhappydwarf.Wetstrawwasinhisdraggledbeard;hewassosoreandstiff,sobruisedandbuffetedhecouldhardlystandorstumble through the shallow water to lie groaning on the shore. He had afamishedandasavagelooklikeadogthathasbeenchainedandforgotteninakennelforaweek.ItwasThorin,butyoucouldonlyhavetolditbyhisgoldenchain, and by the colour of his now dirty and tattered sky-blue hoodwith itstarnishedsilver tassel. Itwassome timebeforehewouldbeevenpolite to thehobbit.“Well,areyoualiveorareyoudead?”askedBilboquitecrossly.Perhapshe

hadforgottenthathehadhadatleastonegoodmealmorethanthedwarves,andalsotheuseofhisarmsandlegs,nottospeakofagreaterallowanceofair.“Areyoustillinprison,orareyoufree?Ifyouwantfood,andifyouwanttogoonwiththissillyadventure—it’syoursafterallandnotmine—youhadbetterslapyourarmsandrubyourlegsandtryandhelpmegettheothersoutwhilethereisachance!”Thorinofcoursesawthesenseofthis,soafterafewmoregroanshegotup

andhelpedthehobbitaswellashecould.Inthedarknessflounderinginthecoldwatertheyhadadifficultandverynastyjobfindingwhichweretherightbarrels.Knocking outside and calling only discovered about six dwarves that couldanswer.Thesewereunpackedandhelpedashorewheretheysatorlaymutteringand moaning; they were so soaked and bruised and cramped that they couldhardlyyetrealizetheirreleaseorbeproperlythankfulforit.DwalinandBalinweretwoofthemostunhappy,anditwasnogoodasking

them tohelp.BifurandBofurwere lessknockedaboutanddrier,but they laydown and would do nothing. Fili and Kili, however, who were young (fordwarves)andhadalsobeenpackedmoreneatlywithplentyofstrawintosmallercasks,cameoutmoreorlesssmiling,withonlyabruiseortwoandastiffnessthatsoonworeoff.“IhopeIneversmellthesmellofapplesagain!”saidFili.“Mytubwasfullof

it.Tosmellappleseverlastinglywhenyoucanscarcelymoveandarecoldandsickwithhungerismaddening.Icouldeatanythinginthewideworldnow,for

hoursonend—butnotanapple!”WiththewillinghelpofFiliandKili,ThorinandBilboatlastdiscoveredthe

remainder of the company and got them out. Poor fat Bombur was asleep orsenseless; Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin andGloinwerewaterlogged and seemed onlyhalfalive;theyallhadtobecarriedonebyoneandlaidhelplessontheshore.“Well!Hereweare!”saidThorin.“AndIsupposeweoughttothankourstars

andMr.Baggins. Iamsurehehasaright toexpect it, thoughIwishhecouldhavearrangedamorecomfortablejourney.Still—allverymuchatyourserviceoncemore,Mr.Baggins.Nodoubtweshallfeelproperlygrateful,whenwearefedandrecovered.Inthemeanwhilewhatnext?”“IsuggestLake-town,”saidBilbo.“Whatelseisthere?”Nothingelsecould,ofcourse,besuggested;soleavingtheothersThorinand

FiliandKiliandthehobbitwentalongtheshoretothegreatbridge.Therewereguardsattheheadofit,buttheywerenotkeepingverycarefulwatch,foritwasso long since there had been any real need. Except for occasional squabblesabout river-tolls they were friends with the Wood-elves. Other folk were faraway;andsomeoftheyoungerpeopleinthetownopenlydoubtedtheexistenceofanydragoninthemountain,andlaughedatthegreybeardsandgammerswhosaidthattheyhadseenhimflyingintheskyintheiryoungdays.Thatbeingsoitisnotsurprisingthattheguardsweredrinkingandlaughingbyafireintheirhut,anddidnothearthenoiseoftheunpackingofthedwarvesorthefootstepsofthefour scouts. Their astonishment was enormous when Thorin Oakenshieldsteppedinthroughthedoor.“Whoareyouandwhatdoyouwant?”theyshoutedleapingtotheirfeetand

gropingforweapons.“ThorinsonofThrainsonofThrorKingundertheMountain!”saidthedwarf

inaloudvoice,andhelookedit,inspiteofhistornclothesanddraggledhood.Thegoldgleamedonhisneckandwaist;hiseyesweredarkanddeep.“Ihavecomeback.IwishtoseetheMasterofyourtown!”Thentherewastremendousexcitement.Someofthemorefoolishranoutof

thehut as if they expected theMountain togogolden in thenight and all thewaters of the lake turn yellow right away. The captain of the guard cameforward.“Andwhoarethese?”heasked,pointingtoFiliandKiliandBilbo.“The sons ofmy father’s daughter,” answered Thorin, “Fili andKili of the

raceofDurin,andMr.BagginswhohastravelledwithusoutoftheWest.”“Ifyoucomeinpeacelaydownyourarms!”saidthecaptain.“Wehavenone,”saidThorin,and itwas trueenough: theirkniveshadbeen

takenfromthembythewood-elves,andthegreatswordOrcristtoo.Bilbohad

his short sword, hidden asusual, but he saidnothing about that. “Wehavenoneedofweapons,whoreturnatlasttoourownasspokenofold.Norcouldwefightagainstsomany.Takeustoyourmaster!”“Heisatfeast,”saidthecaptain.“Thenallthemorereasonfortakingustohim,”burstinFili,whowasgetting

impatientat thesesolemnities.“Wearewornandfamishedafterour longroadandwehavesickcomrades.Nowmakehasteandletushavenomorewords,oryourmastermayhavesomethingtosaytoyou.”“Followmethen,”saidthecaptain,andwithsixmenaboutthemheledthem

over the bridge through the gates and into themarket-place of the town.Thiswasawidecircleofquietwatersurroundedbythetallpilesonwhichwerebuiltthe greater houses, and by long wooden quays with many steps and laddersgoingdowntothesurfaceofthelake.Fromonegreathallshonemanylightsandtherecamethesoundofmanyvoices.Theypasseditsdoorsandstoodblinkinginthelightlookingatlongtablesfilledwithfolk.“IamThorinsonofThrainsonofThrorKingundertheMountain!Ireturn!”

cried Thorin in a loud voice from the door, before the captain could sayanything.All leaped to their feet.TheMasterof the townsprangfromhisgreatchair.

Butnoneroseingreatersurprisethantheraft-menoftheelveswhoweresittingat the lower end of the hall. Pressing forward before theMaster’s table theycried:“These are prisoners of our king that have escaped, wandering vagabond

dwarvesthatcouldnotgiveanygoodaccountofthemselves,sneakingthroughthewoodsandmolestingourpeople!”“Is this true?” asked theMaster.As amatter of fact he thought it farmore

likely than the returnof theKingunder theMountain, if any suchpersonhadeverexisted.“ItistruethatwewerewrongfullywaylaidbytheElvenkingandimprisoned

without cause aswe journeyedback toourown land,” answeredThorin. “Butlocknorbarmayhinderthehomecomingspokenofold.NoristhistownintheWood-elves’realm.IspeaktotheMasterofthetownoftheMenoftheLake,nottotheraft-menoftheking.”Then theMasterhesitatedand looked fromone to theother.TheElvenking

wasverypowerfulinthosepartsandtheMasterwishedfornoenmitywithhim,nordidhethinkmuchofoldsongs,givinghismindtotradeandtolls,tocargoesandgold, towhichhabit heowedhis position.Otherswereof differentmind,however,andquicklythematterwassettledwithouthim.Thenewshadspreadfromthedoorsof thehall like fire throughall the town.Peoplewereshouting

insidethehallandoutsideit.Thequayswerethrongedwithhurryingfeet.SomebegantosingsnatchesofoldsongsconcerningthereturnoftheKingundertheMountain;thatitwasThror’sgrandsonnotThrorhimselfthathadcomebackdidnotbotherthematall.Otherstookupthesonganditrolledloudandhighoverthelake.

TheKingbeneaththemountains,TheKingofcarvenstone,

ThelordofsilverfountainsShallcomeintohisown!

Hiscrownshallbeupholden,Hisharpshallberestrung,

HishallsshallechogoldenTosongsofyorere-sung.

ThewoodsshallwaveonmountainsAndgrassbeneaththesun;

HiswealthshallflowinfountainsAndtheriversgoldenrun.

Thestreamsshallruningladness,Thelakesshallshineandburn,

AllsorrowfailandsadnessAttheMountain-king’sreturn!

So they sang, or very like that, only therewas a great dealmore of it, andtherewasmuchshoutingaswellasthemusicofharpsandoffiddlesmixedupwithit.Indeedsuchexcitementhadnotbeenknowninthetowninthememoryof theoldestgrandfather.TheWood-elves themselvesbegan towondergreatlyandeventobeafraid.TheydidnotknowofcoursehowThorinhadescaped,andthey began to think their kingmight havemade a seriousmistake.As for theMasterhesawtherewasnothingelseforitbuttoobeythegeneralclamour,forthemomentatanyrate,andtopretendtobelievethatThorinwaswhathesaid.So he gave up to him his own great chair and set Fili andKili beside him inplaces of honour. Even Bilbo was given a seat at the high table, and noexplanation of where he came in—no songs had alluded to him even in theobscurestway—wasaskedforinthegeneralbustle.Soonafterwardstheotherdwarveswerebroughtintothetownamidscenesof

astonishing enthusiasm. They were all doctored and fed and housed andpampered in the most delightful and satisfactory fashion. A large house wasgivenuptoThorinandhiscompany;boatsandrowerswereputattheirservice;andcrowdssatoutsideandsangsongsallday,orcheeredifanydwarfshowedsomuchashisnose.

Someofthesongswereoldones;butsomeofthemwerequitenewandspokeconfidently of the sudden death of the dragon and of cargoes of rich presentscomingdowntherivertoLake-town.ThesewereinspiredlargelybytheMasterandtheydidnotparticularlypleasethedwarves,butinthemeantimetheywerewellcontentedandtheyquicklygrewfatandstrongagain.Indeedwithinaweektheywerequite recovered, fittedout in fineclothof theirpropercolours,withbeardscombedand trimmed, andproud steps.Thorin lookedandwalkedas ifhiskingdomwasalreadyregainedandSmaugchoppedupintolittlepieces.Then,ashehadsaid,thedwarves’goodfeelingtowardsthelittlehobbitgrew

stronger every day. There were no more groans or grumbles. They drank hishealth, and they patted him on the back, and theymade a great fuss of him;whichwasjustaswell,forhewasnotfeelingparticularlycheerful.Hehadnotforgotten the lookof theMountain,nor the thoughtof thedragon, andhehadbesidesashockingcold.For threedayshesneezedandcoughed,andhecouldnotgoout,andevenafter thathisspeechesatbanquetswere limited to“Thagyouverybuch.”

InthemeanwhiletheWood-elveshadgonebackuptheForestRiverwiththeircargoes,andtherewasgreatexcitementintheking’spalace.Ihaveneverheardwhathappenedtothechiefoftheguardsandthebutler.Nothingofcoursewasever said about keys or barrels while the dwarves stayed in Lake-town, andBilbowascarefulnevertobecomeinvisible.Still,Idaresay,morewasguessedthanwasknown,thoughdoubtlessMr.Bagginsremainedabitofamystery.Inanycasethekingknewnowthedwarves’errand,orthoughthedid,andhesaidtohimself:“Verywell!We’llsee!NotreasurewillcomebackthroughMirkwoodwithout

myhavingsomethingtosayinthematter.ButIexpecttheywillallcometoabad end, and serve them right!” He at any rate did not believe in dwarvesfighting and killing dragons like Smaug, and he strongly suspected attemptedburglaryorsomethinglikeit—whichshowshewasawiseelfandwiserthanthemenofthetown,thoughnotquiteright,asweshallseeintheend.HesentouthisspiesabouttheshoresofthelakeandasfarnorthwardtowardstheMountainastheywouldgo,andwaited.At the end of a fortnight Thorin began to think of departure. While the

enthusiasmstilllastedinthetownwasthetimetogethelp.Itwouldnotdotoleteverythingcooldownwithdelay.SohespoketotheMasterandhiscouncillorsandsaidthatsoonheandhiscompanymustgoontowardstheMountain.ThenforthefirsttimetheMasterwassurprisedandalittlefrightened;andhe

wondered ifThorinwas after all really a descendant of the old kings.Hehad

never thought that the dwarves would actually dare to approach Smaug, butbelieved they were frauds who would sooner or later be discovered and beturned out. He was wrong. Thorin, of course, was really the grandson of theKingunder theMountain,and there isnoknowingwhatadwarfwillnotdareanddoforrevengeortherecoveryofhisown.But theMasterwas not sorry at all to let themgo.Theywere expensive to

keep,and theirarrivalhad turned things intoa longholiday inwhichbusinesswasatastandstill.“LetthemgoandbotherSmaug,andseehowhewelcomesthem!”hethought.“Certainly,OThorinThrain’ssonThror’sson!”waswhathesaid.“Youmustclaimyourown.Thehourisathand,spokenofold.Whathelpwecanoffershallbeyours,andwetrusttoyourgratitudewhenyourkingdomisregained.”Sooneday,althoughautumnwasnowgetting faron, andwindswerecold,

andleaveswerefallingfast,threelargeboatsleftLake-town,ladenwithrowers,dwarves,Mr.Baggins, andmanyprovisions.Horses andponieshadbeen sentround by circuitous paths to meet them at their appointed landing-place. TheMasterandhiscouncillorsbadethemfarewellfromthegreatstepsofthetown-hallthatwentdowntothelake.Peoplesangonthequaysandoutofwindows.Thewhiteoarsdippedandsplashed,andofftheywentnorthupthelakeonthelaststageoftheirlongjourney.TheonlypersonthoroughlyunhappywasBilbo.

ChapterXIOntheDoorstep

In twodaysgoing they rowed rightup theLongLakeandpassedout into theRiverRunning,andnowtheycouldallseetheLonelyMountaintoweringgrimandtallbeforethem.Thestreamwasstrongandtheirgoingslow.Attheendofthethirdday,somemilesuptheriver, theydrewintotheleftorwesternbankanddisembarked.Heretheywerejoinedbythehorseswithotherprovisionsandnecessaries and theponies for their ownuse that hadbeen sent tomeet them.Theypackedwhat theycouldontheponiesandtherestwasmadeintoastoreunderatent,butnoneofthemenofthetownwouldstaywiththemevenforthenightsoneartheshadowoftheMountain.“Notatany rateuntil thesongshavecome true!”said they. Itwaseasier to

believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts.Indeedtheirstoreshadnoneedofanyguard,forall thelandwasdesolateandempty. So their escort left them, making off swiftly down the river and theshorewardpaths,althoughthenightwasalreadydrawingon.Theyspentacoldandlonelynightandtheirspiritsfell.Thenextdaytheyset

outagain.BalinandBilborodebehind,eachleadinganotherponyheavilyladenbesidehim;theothersweresomewayaheadpickingoutaslowroad,fortherewerenopaths.Theymadenorth-west, slanting away from theRiverRunning,and drawing ever nearer and nearer to a great spur of theMountain that wasflungoutsouthwardstowardsthem.Itwasawearyjourney,andaquietandstealthyone.Therewasnolaughteror

songorsoundofharps,andtheprideandhopeswhichhadstirredintheirheartsat the singing of old songs by the lake died away to a plodding gloom.Theyknewthattheyweredrawingneartotheendoftheirjourney,andthatitmightbeaveryhorribleend.Thelandaboutthemgrewbleakandbarren,thoughonce,asThorintold them, ithadbeengreenandfair.Therewaslittlegrass,andbeforelongtherewasneitherbushnortree,andonlybrokenandblackenedstumpstospeakofoneslongvanished.TheywerecometotheDesolationoftheDragon,andtheywerecomeatthewaningoftheyear.

They reached the skirts of theMountain all the same without meeting anydangeroranysignoftheDragonotherthanthewildernesshehadmadeabouthis lair. TheMountain lay dark and silent before them and ever higher abovethem.Theymadetheirfirstcamponthewesternsideofthegreatsouthernspur,whichendedinaheightcalledRavenhill.Onthistherehadbeenanoldwatch-post;buttheydarednotclimbityet,itwastooexposed.BeforesettingouttosearchthewesternspursoftheMountainforthehidden

door,onwhichall theirhopes rested,Thorin sentout a scoutingexpedition tospyout the land to theSouthwhere theFrontGate stood.For thispurposehechoseBalinandFiliandKili,andwith themwentBilbo.TheymarchedunderthegreyandsilentcliffstothefeetofRavenhill.Theretheriver,afterwindingawideloopoverthevalleyofDale,turnedfromtheMountainonitsroadtotheLake,flowingswiftandnoisily.Itsbankwasbareandrocky,tallandsteepabovethestream;andgazingoutfromitoverthenarrowwater,foamingandsplashingamong many boulders, they could see in the wide valley shadowed by theMountain’sarmsthegreyruinsofancienthouses,towers,andwalls.“There lies all that is left ofDale,” saidBalin. “Themountain’s sideswere

greenwithwoodsandalltheshelteredvalleyrichandpleasantinthedayswhenthebellsranginthattown.”Helookedbothsadandgrimashesaidthis:hehadbeenoneofThorin’scompanionsonthedaytheDragoncame.TheydidnotdaretofollowtherivermuchfurthertowardstheGate;butthey

wentonbeyond theendof thesouthernspur,until lyinghiddenbehinda rockthey could look out and see the dark cavernous opening in a great cliff-wallbetween the arms of theMountain.Out of it thewaters of theRunningRiversprang;andoutofittootherecameasteamandadarksmoke.Nothingmovedinthewaste,savethevapourandthewater,andeverynowandagainablackandominouscrow.Theonlysoundwasthesoundofthestonywater,andeverynowandagaintheharshcroakofabird.Balinshuddered.“Letusreturn!”hesaid.“Wecandonogoodhere!AndIdon’tlikethesedark

birds,theylooklikespiesofevil.”“The dragon is still alive and in the halls under the Mountain then—or I

imaginesofromthesmoke,”saidthehobbit.“Thatdoesnotproveit,”saidBalin,“thoughIdon’tdoubtyouareright.But

hemightbegoneawaysometime,orhemightbelyingoutonthemountain-sidekeeping watch, and still I expect smokes and steams would come out of thegates:allthehallswithinmustbefilledwithhisfoulreek.”

TheFrontGateAlternativeImage

With such gloomy thoughts, followed ever by croaking crows above them,theymadetheirwearywaybacktothecamp.OnlyinJunetheyhadbeenguestsinthefairhouseofElrond,andthoughautumnwasnowcrawlingtowardswinterthatpleasanttimenowseemedyearsago.Theywerealoneintheperilouswastewithouthopeoffurtherhelp.Theywereattheendoftheirjourney,butasfarasever,itseemed,fromtheendoftheirquest.Noneofthemhadmuchspiritleft.Now strange to sayMr.Baggins hadmore than the others.Hewould often

borrowThorin’smapandgazeatit,ponderingovertherunesandthemessageofthemoon-letters Elrond had read. It was he thatmade the dwarves begin thedangerous search on thewestern slopes for the secret door. Theymoved theircampthentoalongvalley,narrowerthanthegreatdaleintheSouthwheretheGatesof theriverstood,andwalledwith lowerspursof theMountain.Twooftheseherethrustforwardwestfromthemainmassinlongsteep-sidedridgesthatfell ever downwards towards the plain.On thiswestern side therewere fewersignsofthedragon’smaraudingfeet,andtherewassomegrassfortheirponies.Fromthiswesterncamp,shadowedalldaybycliffandwalluntilthesunbegantosinktowardstheforest,daybydaytheytoiledinpartiessearchingforpathsupthemountain-side.Ifthemapwastrue,somewherehighabovethecliffatthevalley’s headmust stand the secret door.Day by day they came back to theircampwithoutsuccess.Butatlastunexpectedlytheyfoundwhattheywereseeking.FiliandKiliand

thehobbitwentbackonedaydownthevalleyandscrambledamongthetumbledrocks at its southern corner.Aboutmidday, creeping behind a great stone thatstood alone like a pillar, Bilbo came on what looked like rough steps goingupwards.Followingtheseexcitedlyheandthedwarvesfoundtracesofanarrowtrack,oftenlost,oftenrediscovered,thatwanderedontothetopofthesouthernridge and brought them at last to a still narrower ledge, which turned northacross thefaceof theMountain.Lookingdowntheysawthat theywereat thetopofthecliffatthevalley’sheadandweregazingdownontotheirowncampbelow.Silently,clingingtotherockywallontheirright,theywentinsinglefilealong the ledge, till thewall opened and they turned into a little steep-walledbay,grassy-floored,stillandquiet.Itsentrancewhichtheyhadfoundcouldnotbe seen frombelowbecause of the overhang of the cliff, nor from further offbecauseitwassosmallthatitlookedlikeadarkcrackandnomore.Itwasnotacaveandwasopentotheskyabove;butatitsinnerendaflatwallroseupthatinthelowerpart,closetotheground,wasassmoothanduprightasmasons’work,butwithoutajointorcrevicetobeseen.Nosignwasthereofpostor lintelorthreshold, nor any sign of bar or bolt or key-hole; yet they did not doubt thattheyhadfoundthedooratlast.Theybeaton it, they thrustandpushedat it, they implored it tomove, they

spoke fragmentsofbroken spells ofopening, andnothing stirred.At last tiredouttheyrestedonthegrassatitsfeet,andthenateveningbegantheirlongclimbdown.

Therewasexcitementinthecampthatnight.Inthemorningtheypreparedtomoveoncemore.OnlyBofurandBomburwereleftbehindtoguardtheponies

andsuchstoresas theyhadbroughtwith themfromtheriver.Theotherswentdownthevalleyandupthenewlyfoundpath,andsotothenarrowledge.Alongthistheycouldcarrynobundlesorpacks,sonarrowandbreathlesswasit,withafallofahundredandfiftyfeetbesidethemontosharprocksbelow;buteachofthemtookagoodcoilofropewoundtightabouthiswaist,andsoatlastwithoutmishaptheyreachedthelittlegrassybay.There theymade their thirdcamp,haulingupwhat theyneededfrombelow

withtheirropes.Downthesamewaytheywereableoccasionallytoloweroneofthemoreactivedwarves,suchasKili,toexchangesuchnewsastherewas,orto take a share in the guard below, while Bofur was hauled up to the highercamp.Bomburwouldnotcomeupeithertheropeorthepath.“Iamtoofat forsuchfly-walks,”hesaid.“Ishould turndizzyand treadon

mybeard,andthenyouwouldbethirteenagain.Andtheknottedropesaretooslenderformyweight.”Luckilyforhimthatwasnottrue,asyouwillsee.

In themeanwhile someof themexplored the ledgebeyond theopeningandfoundapaththatledhigherandhigherontothemountain;buttheydidnotdaretoventureveryfarthatway,norwastheremuchuseinit.Outupthereasilencereigned,brokenbynobirdorsoundexcept thatof thewind in thecranniesofstone. They spoke low and never called or sang, for danger brooded in everyrock.Theotherswhowerebusywiththesecretofthedoorhadnomoresuccess.Theywere too eager to trouble about the runes or themoon-letters, but triedwithoutrestingtodiscoverwhereexactlyinthesmoothfaceoftherockthedoorwashidden.Theyhadbroughtpicks and toolsofmany sorts fromLake-town,andat first they tried touse these.Butwhen theystruck thestone thehandlessplintered and jarred their arms cruelly, and the steel heads brokeor bent likelead.Miningwork, they saw clearly,was no good against themagic that hadshutthisdoor;andtheygrewterrified,too,oftheechoingnoise.Bilbofoundsittingonthedoorsteplonesomeandwearisome—therewasnota

doorstep,ofcourse,really,but theyusedtocall thelittlegrassyspacebetweenthewallandtheopeningthe“doorstep”infun,rememberingBilbo’swordslongagoattheunexpectedpartyinhishobbit-hole,whenhesaidtheycouldsitonthedoorsteptilltheythoughtofsomething.Andsitandthinktheydid,orwanderedaimlesslyabout,andglummerandglummertheybecame.Theirspiritshadrisenalittleatthediscoveryofthepath,butnowtheysank

intotheirboots;andyettheywouldnotgiveitupandgoaway.Thehobbitwasnolongermuchbrighterthanthedwarves.Hewoulddonothingbutsitwithhisback to the rock-face and stare awaywest through theopening, over the cliff,overthewidelandstotheblackwallofMirkwood,andtothedistancesbeyond,

inwhichhesometimesthoughthecouldcatchglimpsesoftheMistyMountainssmallandfar.Ifthedwarvesaskedhimwhathewasdoingheanswered:“You said sitting on the doorstep and thinking would be my job, not to

mentiongettinginside,soIamsittingandthinking.”ButIamafraidhewasnotthinkingmuch of the job, but ofwhat lay beyond the blue distance, the quietWesternLandandtheHillandhishobbit-holeunderit.Alargegreystonelayinthecentreofthegrassandhestaredmoodilyatitor

watchedthegreatsnails.Theyseemedtolovethelittleshut-inbaywithitswallsof cool rock, and thereweremany of them of huge size crawling slowly andstickilyalongitssides.

“Tomorrowbeginsthelastweekofautumn,”saidThorinoneday.“Andwintercomesafterautumn,”saidBifur.“Andnextyear after that,” saidDwalin, “andourbeardswillgrow till they

hang down the cliff to the valley before anything happens here.What is ourburglar doing for us? Since he has got an invisible ring, and ought to be aspeciallyexcellentperformernow,IambeginningtothinkhemightgothroughtheFrontGateandspythingsoutabit!”Bilbo heard this—the dwarves were on the rocks just above the enclosure

wherehewassitting—and“GoodGracious!”he thought,“so that iswhat theyarebeginningtothink,isit?Itisalwayspoormethathastogetthemoutoftheirdifficulties, at least since thewizard left.Whatever am I going todo? Imighthave known that something dreadful would happen tome in the end. I don’tthink I could bear to see the unhappy valley of Dale again, and as for thatsteaminggate!!!”Thatnighthewasverymiserableandhardlyslept.Nextdaythedwarvesall

wentwanderingoffinvariousdirections;somewereexercisingtheponiesdownbelow,somewererovingaboutthemountain-side.AlldayBilbosatgloomilyinthegrassybaygazingatthestone,oroutwestthroughthenarrowopening.Hehadaqueerfeelingthathewaswaitingforsomething.“Perhapsthewizardwillsuddenlycomebacktoday,”hethought.Ifhe liftedhisheadhecouldseeaglimpseof thedistant forest.As thesun

turnedwesttherewasagleamofyellowuponitsfarroof,asifthelightcaughtthelastpaleleaves.Soonhesawtheorangeballofthesunsinkingtowardsthelevelofhiseyes.HewenttotheopeningandtherepaleandfaintwasathinnewmoonabovetherimofEarth.At thatverymomenthehearda sharpcrackbehindhim.Thereon thegrey

stone in the grasswas an enormous thrush, nearly coal black, its pale yellowbreastfreckledwithdarkspots.Crack!Ithadcaughtasnailandwasknockingit

onthestone.Crack!Crack!SuddenlyBilbounderstood.Forgettingalldangerhe stoodon the ledgeand

hailed the dwarves, shouting and waving. Those that were nearest cametumbling over the rocks and as fast as they could along the ledge to him,wonderingwhatonearthwasthematter;theothersshoutedtobehauleduptheropes(exceptBombur,ofcourse:hewasasleep).QuicklyBilboexplained.Theyallfellsilent:thehobbitstandingbythegrey

stone,andthedwarveswithwaggingbeardswatchingimpatiently.Thesunsanklowerandlower,andtheirhopesfell.Itsankintoabeltofreddenedcloudanddisappeared.Thedwarvesgroaned,butstillBilbostoodalmostwithoutmoving.The little moon was dipping to the horizon. Evening was coming on. Thensuddenlywhentheirhopewaslowestaredrayofthesunescapedlikeafingerthrougharentinthecloud.Agleamoflightcamestraightthroughtheopeninginto the bay and fell on the smooth rock-face. The old thrush,who had beenwatchingfromahighperchwithbeadyeyesandheadcockedononeside,gaveasudden trill.Therewasa loudcrack.Aflakeof rocksplit fromthewallandfell.Aholeappearedsuddenlyaboutthreefeetfromtheground.Quickly,tremblinglestthechanceshouldfade,thedwarvesrushedtotherock

andpushed—invain.“Thekey!Thekey!”criedBilbo.“WhereisThorin?”Thorinhurriedup.“Thekey!”shoutedBilbo.“Thekeythatwentwiththemap!Tryitnowwhile

thereisstilltime!”ThenThorinsteppedupanddrewthekeyon itschainfromroundhisneck.

Heputittothehole.Itfittedanditturned!Snap!Thegleamwentout,thesunsank,themoonwasgone,andeveningsprangintothesky.Now theyallpushed together, and slowlyapartof the rock-wallgaveway.

Long straight cracks appeared and widened. A door five feet high and threebroadwasoutlined,andslowlywithoutasoundswunginwards.Itseemedasifdarknessflowedoutlikeavapourfromtheholeinthemountain-side,anddeepdarknessinwhichnothingcouldbeseenlaybeforetheireyes,ayawningmouthleadinginanddown.

ChapterXIIInsideInformation

Foralongtimethedwarvesstoodinthedarkbeforethedooranddebated,untilatlastThorinspoke:“Now is the time for our esteemedMr.Baggins,who has proved himself a

goodcompaniononourlongroad,andahobbitfullofcourageandresourcefarexceedinghissize,andifImaysaysopossessedofgoodluckfarexceedingtheusualallowance—nowis the timeforhim toperformtheservice forwhichhewasincludedinourCompany;nowisthetimeforhimtoearnhisReward.”YouarefamiliarwithThorin’sstyleonimportantoccasions,soIwillnotgive

youanymoreofit,thoughhewentonagooddeallongerthanthis.Itcertainlywas an important occasion, but Bilbo felt impatient. By now he was quitefamiliarwithThorintoo,andheknewwhathewasdrivingat.“If you mean you think it is my job to go into the secret passage first, O

Thorin Thrain’s sonOakenshield,may your beard grow ever longer,” he saidcrossly,“saysoatonceandhavedone!Imightrefuse.Ihavegotyououtoftwomessesalready,whichwerehardlyintheoriginalbargain,sothatIam,Ithink,alreadyowedsomereward.But‘thirdtimepaysforall’asmyfatherusedtosay,andsomehowIdon’tthinkIshallrefuse.PerhapsIhavebeguntotrustmyluckmorethanIusedtointheolddays”—hemeantlastspringbeforehelefthisownhouse,but it seemedcenturies ago—“but anyway I think Iwill goandhaveapeepatonceandgetitover.Nowwhoiscomingwithme?”Hedidnotexpectachorusofvolunteers,sohewasnotdisappointed.Filiand

Kililookeduncomfortableandstoodononeleg,buttheothersmadenopretenceof offering—except old Balin, the look-out man, who was rather fond of thehobbit.Hesaidhewouldcomeinsideatleastandperhapsabitofthewaytoo,readytocallforhelpifnecessary.Themostthatcanbesaidforthedwarvesisthis:theyintendedtopayBilbo

reallyhandsomely forhisservices; theyhadbroughthim todoanasty job forthem,andtheydidnotmindthepoorlittlefellowdoingitifhewould;buttheywouldallhavedonetheirbesttogethimoutoftrouble,ifhegotintoit,asthey

didinthecaseofthetrollsatthebeginningoftheiradventuresbeforetheyhadany particular reasons for being grateful to him. There it is: dwarves are notheroes,but calculating folkwithagreat ideaof thevalueofmoney; somearetrickyandtreacherousandprettybadlots;somearenot,butaredecentenoughpeoplelikeThorinandCompany,ifyoudon’texpecttoomuch.

ThestarswerecomingoutbehindhiminapaleskybarredwithblackwhenthehobbitcreptthroughtheenchanteddoorandstoleintotheMountain.Itwasfareasiergoingthanheexpected.Thiswasnogoblinentrance,orroughwood-elves’cave.Itwasapassagemadebydwarves,attheheightoftheirwealthandskill: straightasa ruler, smooth-flooredandsmooth-sided,goingwithagentlenever-varyingslopedirect—tosomedistantendintheblacknessbelow.AfterawhileBalinbadeBilbo“Goodluck!”andstoppedwherehecouldstill

seethefaintoutlineofthedoor,andbyatrickoftheechoesofthetunnelhearthe rustle of thewhispering voices of the others just outside. Then the hobbitslippedonhisring,andwarnedbytheechoestotakemorethanhobbit’scaretomakenosound,hecreptnoiselesslydown,down,down into thedark.Hewastremblingwithfear,buthislittlefacewassetandgrim.Alreadyhewasaverydifferent hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handkerchieffrom Bag-End long ago. He had not had a pocket-handkerchief for ages. Heloosenedhisdaggerinitssheath,tightenedhisbelt,andwenton.

“Nowyouareinforitatlast,BilboBaggins,”hesaidtohimself.“Youwentandputyourfootrightinitthatnightoftheparty,andnowyouhavegottopullitoutandpayforit!Dearme,whatafoolIwasandam!”saidtheleastTookishpart of him. “I have absolutely no use for dragon-guarded treasures, and thewholelotcouldstayhereforever,ifonlyIcouldwakeupandfindthisbeastlytunnelwasmyownfront-hallathome!”Hedidnotwakeupofcourse,butwentstillonandon,tillallsignofthedoor

behind had faded away. He was altogether alone. Soon he thought it wasbeginning to feelwarm. “Is that a kind of a glow I seem to see coming rightaheaddownthere?”hethought.Itwas.Ashewentforwarditgrewandgrew,tilltherewasnodoubtaboutit.

It was a red light steadily getting redder and redder. Also it was nowundoubtedlyhotinthetunnel.Wispsofvapourfloatedupandpasthimandhebegantosweat.Asound,too,begantothrobinhisears,asortofbubblinglikethe noise of a large pot galloping on the fire, mixed with a rumble as of agigantictom-catpurring.Thisgrewtotheunmistakablegurglingnoiseofsomevastanimalsnoringinitssleepdownthereintheredglowinfrontofhim.

Itwasat thispoint thatBilbostopped.Goingonfromtherewas thebravestthing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were asnothingcomparedtoit.Hefoughttherealbattle inthetunnelalone,beforeheeversawthevastdangerthatlayinwait.Atanyrateafterashorthaltgoonhedid; and you can picture him coming to the end of the tunnel, an opening ofmuchthesamesizeandshapeasthedoorabove.Throughitpeepsthehobbit’slittlehead.Beforehim lies thegreat bottommost cellar ordungeon-hall of theancientdwarvesrightattheMountain’sroot.Itisalmostdarksothatitsvastnesscanonlybedimlyguessed,butrisingfromthenearsideoftherockyfloorthereisagreatglow.TheglowofSmaug!

Therehe lay,avast red-goldendragon, fastasleep;a thrummingcamefromhis jaws and nostrils, andwisps of smoke, but his fireswere low in slumber.Beneathhim,underallhislimbsandhishugecoiledtail,andabouthimonallsides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of preciousthings,goldwroughtandunwrought,gemsandjewels,andsilverred-stainedintheruddylight.Smauglay,withwingsfoldedlikeanimmeasurablebat,turnedpartlyonone

side,sothatthehobbitcouldseehisunderpartsandhislongpalebellycrustedwithgemsandfragmentsofgoldfromhislonglyingonhiscostlybed.Behindhimwherethewallswerenearestcoulddimlybeseencoatsofmail,helmsandaxes,swordsandspearshanging;andthereinrowsstoodgreatjarsandvesselsfilledwithawealththatcouldnotbeguessed.TosaythatBilbo’sbreathwastakenawayisnodescriptionatall.Thereareno

wordslefttoexpresshisstaggerment,sinceMenchangedthelanguagethattheylearnedofelvesinthedayswhenalltheworldwaswonderful.Bilbohadheardtell and sing of dragon-hoards before, but the splendour, the lust, the glory ofsuchtreasurehadneveryetcomehometohim.Hisheartwasfilledandpiercedwith enchantment and with the desire of dwarves; and he gazed motionless,almostforgettingthefrightfulguardian,atthegoldbeyondpriceandcount.

Hegazed forwhat seemedan age, beforedrawnalmost against hiswill, hestolefromtheshadowofthedoorway,acrossthefloortothenearestedgeofthemoundsoftreasure.Abovehimthesleepingdragonlay,adiremenaceeveninhissleep.Hegraspedagreattwo-handledcup,asheavyashecouldcarry,andcastonefearfuleyeupwards.Smaugstirredawing,openedaclaw,therumbleofhissnoringchangeditsnote.ThenBilbofled.Butthedragondidnotwake—notyet—butshiftedintoother

dreamsofgreedandviolence,lyingthereinhisstolenhallwhilethelittlehobbit

toiledbackupthelongtunnel.Hisheartwasbeatingandamorefeveredshakingwasinhislegsthanwhenhewasgoingdown,butstillheclutchedthecup,andhischief thoughtwas:“I’vedone it!Thiswillshowthem.‘More likeagrocerthanaburglar’indeed!Well,we’llhearnomoreofthat.”Nordidhe.Balinwasoverjoyedtoseethehobbitagain,andasdelightedashe

wassurprised.HepickedBilboupandcarriedhimoutintotheopenair.Itwasmidnight and clouds had covered the stars, but Bilbo lay with his eyes shut,gaspingandtakingpleasureinthefeelofthefreshairagain,andhardlynoticingtheexcitementof thedwarves,orhowtheypraisedhimandpattedhimon theback and put themselves and all their families for generations to come at hisservice.

The dwarves were still passing the cup from hand to hand and talkingdelightedly of the recovery of their treasure, when suddenly a vast rumblingwokeinthemountainunderneathasifitwasanoldvolcanothathadmadeupitsmindtostarteruptionsonceagain.Thedoorbehindthemwaspullednearlyto,andblockedfromclosingwithastone,butupthelongtunnelcamethedreadfulechoes,fromfardowninthedepths,ofabellowingandatramplingthatmadethegroundbeneaththemtremble.Then the dwarves forgot their joy and their confident boasts of a moment

beforeandcowereddowninfright.Smaugwasstilltobereckonedwith.Itdoesnot do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.Dragonsmaynothavemuchrealuseforalltheirwealth,buttheyknowittoanounceasarule,especiallyafterlongpossession;andSmaugwasnoexception.He had passed from an uneasy dream (in which a warrior, altogetherinsignificantinsizebutprovidedwithabitterswordandgreatcourage,figuredmost unpleasantly) to a doze, and from a doze to wide waking. There was abreathofstrangeairinhiscave.Couldtherebeadraughtfromthatlittlehole?Hehadneverfeltquitehappyaboutit,thoughitwassosmall,andnowheglaredatitinsuspicionandwonderedwhyhehadneverblockeditup.Oflatehehadhalffanciedhehadcaughtthedimechoesofaknockingsoundfromfarabovethatcamedownthroughittohislair.Hestirredandstretchedforthhisnecktosniff.Thenhemissedthecup!Thieves!Fire!Murder!Suchathinghadnothappenedsincefirsthecameto

theMountain! His rage passes description—the sort of rage that is only seenwhenrichfolkthathavemorethantheycanenjoysuddenlylosesomethingthattheyhavelonghadbuthaveneverbeforeusedorwanted.Hisfirebelchedforth,thehallsmoked,heshookthemountain-roots.Hethrusthisheadinvainatthelittlehole,andthencoilinghislengthtogether,roaringlikethunderunderground,

hespedfromhisdeeplairthroughitsgreatdoor,outintothehugepassagesofthemountain-palaceanduptowardstheFrontGate.To hunt the whole mountain till he had caught the thief and had torn and

trampledhimwashisonethought.HeissuedfromtheGate,thewatersroseinfiercewhistlingsteam,anduphesoaredblazing into theairandsettledon themountain-topinaspoutofgreenandscarletflame.Thedwarvesheardtheawfulrumourofhis flight, and theycrouchedagainst thewallsof thegrassy terracecringing under boulders, hoping somehow to escape the frightful eyes of thehuntingdragon.Theretheywouldhaveallbeenkilled,ifithadnotbeenforBilboonceagain.

“Quick!Quick!”hegasped.“Thedoor!Thetunnel!It’snogoodhere.”Rousedbythesewordstheywerejustabout tocreepinsidethetunnelwhen

Bifur gave a cry: “My cousins!Bombur andBofur—we have forgotten them,theyaredowninthevalley!”“Theywillbeslain,andallourponiestoo,andallourstoreslost,”moanedthe

others.“Wecandonothing.”“Nonsense!”saidThorin,recoveringhisdignity.“Wecannotleavethem.Get

insideMr.BagginsandBalin,andyoutwoFiliandKili—thedragonshan’thaveallofus.Nowyouothers,wherearetheropes?Bequick!”Those were perhaps the worst moments they had been through yet. The

horriblesoundsofSmaug’sangerwereechoinginthestonyhollowsfarabove;atanymomenthemightcomeblazingdownorflywhirlingroundandfindthemthere,neartheperilouscliff’sedgehaulingmadlyontheropes.UpcameBofur,and still allwas safe.Up cameBombur, puffing and blowingwhile the ropescreaked,andstillallwassafe.Upcamesome toolsandbundlesofstores,andthendangerwasuponthem.Awhirringnoisewasheard.Aredlighttouchedthepointsofstandingrocks.

Thedragoncame.Theyhadbarelytimetoflybacktothetunnel,pullinganddraggingintheir

bundles,whenSmaugcamehurtlingfromtheNorth,lickingthemountain-sideswith flame, beating his greatwingswith a noise like a roaringwind.His hotbreathshrivelledthegrassbeforethedoor,anddroveinthroughthecracktheyhadleftandscorchedthemastheylayhid.Flickeringfiresleapedupandblackrock-shadows danced. Then darkness fell as he passed again. The poniesscreamed with terror, burst their ropes and galloped wildly off. The dragonswoopedandturnedtopursuethem,andwasgone.“That’ll be the end of our poor beasts!” said Thorin. “Nothing can escape

Smaugonceheseesit.Hereweareandhereweshallhavetostay,unlessanyonefancies tramping the longopenmilesback to the riverwithSmaugon the

watch!”Itwasnotapleasant thought!Theycreptfurtherdownthe tunnel,and there

they lay and shivered though it was warm and stuffy, until dawn came palethroughthecrackofthedoor.Everynowandagainthroughthenighttheycouldhear the roar of the flying dragon grow and then pass and fade, as he huntedroundandroundthemountain-sides.He guessed from the ponies, and from the traces of the camps he had

discovered,thatmenhadcomeupfromtheriverandthelakeandhadscaledthemountain-sidefromthevalleywheretheponieshadbeenstanding;butthedoorwithstood his searching eye, and the little high-walled bay had kept out hisfiercestflames.Longhehadhuntedinvaintillthedawnchilledhiswrathandhewentbacktohisgoldencouchtosleep—andtogathernewstrength.Hewouldnotforgetorforgivethetheft,notifathousandyearsturnedhimtosmoulderingstone,buthecouldaffordtowait.Slowandsilenthecreptbacktohislairandhalfclosedhiseyes.Whenmorningcame the terrorof thedwarvesgrew less.They realized that

dangersofthiskindwereinevitableindealingwithsuchaguardian,andthatitwas no good giving up their quest yet.Nor could they get away just now, asThorinhadpointedout.Theirponieswerelostorkilled,andtheywouldhavetowaitsometimebeforeSmaugrelaxedhiswatchsufficientlyforthemtodarethelongwayonfoot.Luckilytheyhadsavedenoughoftheirstorestolastthemstillforsometime.Theydebatedlongonwhatwastobedone,buttheycouldthinkofnowayof

getting rid of Smaug—which had always been aweak point in their plans, asBilbofeltinclinedtopointout.Thenasisthenatureoffolkthatarethoroughlyperplexed,theybegantogrumbleatthehobbit,blaminghimforwhathadatfirstsopleasedthem:forbringingawayacupandstirringupSmaug’swrathsosoon.“Whatelsedoyousupposeaburglaristodo?”askedBilboangrily.“Iwasnot

engagedtokilldragons,thatiswarrior’swork,buttostealtreasure.ImadethebestbeginningIcould.DidyouexpectmetotrotbackwiththewholehoardofThroronmyback?Ifthereisanygrumblingtobedone,IthinkImighthaveasay. You ought to have brought five hundred burglars not one. I am sure itreflectsgreat credit onyourgrandfather, butyou cannotpretend that you evermadethevastextentofhiswealthcleartome.Ishouldwanthundredsofyearstobringitallup,ifIwasfiftytimesasbig,andSmaugastameasarabbit.”After that of course the dwarves begged his pardon. “What then do you

proposeweshoulddo,Mr.Baggins?”askedThorinpolitely.“I have no idea at themoment—if youmean about removing the treasure.

Thatobviouslydependsentirelyonsomenewturnofluckandthegettingridof

Smaug.Gettingridofdragonsisnotatall inmyline,butIwilldomybest tothink about it. Personally I have no hopes at all, andwish Iwas safe back athome.”“Nevermindthatforthemoment!Whatarewetodonow,to-day?”“Well,ifyoureallywantmyadvice,Ishouldsaywecandonothingbutstay

whereweare.Bydaywecannodoubtcreepoutsafelyenoughtotaketheair.Perhapsbeforelongoneor twocouldbechosentogobacktothestorebytheriverandreplenishoursupplies.Butinthemeanwhileeveryoneoughttobewellinsidethetunnelbynight.“NowIwillmakeyouanoffer.Ihavegotmyringandwillcreepdownthis

verynoon—thenifeverSmaugoughttobenapping—andseewhatheisupto.Perhapssomethingwill turnup.‘Everywormhashisweakspot,’asmyfatherusedtosay,thoughIamsureitwasnotfrompersonalexperience.”Naturally thedwarves accepted theoffer eagerly.Already theyhadcome to

respect littleBilbo.Nowhehadbecome the real leader in their adventure.Hehadbeguntohaveideasandplansofhisown.WhenmiddaycamehegotreadyforanotherjourneydownintotheMountain.Hedidnotlikeitofcourse,butitwasnot sobadnowheknew,moreor less,whatwas in frontofhim.Hadheknown more about dragons and their wily ways, he might have been morefrightenedandlesshopefulofcatchingthisonenapping.Thesunwasshiningwhenhestarted,butitwasasdarkasnightinthetunnel.

The light fromthedoor,almostclosed,soonfadedashewentdown.Sosilentwashisgoingthatsmokeonagentlewindcouldhardlyhavesurpassedit,andhewasinclinedtofeelabitproudofhimselfashedrewnearthelowerdoor.Therewasonlytheveryfaintestglowtobeseen.“OldSmaugiswearyandasleep,”hethought.“Hecan’tseemeandhewon’t

hearme.CheerupBilbo!”Hehadforgottenorhadneverheardaboutdragons’senseof smell. It isalsoanawkward fact that theycankeephalfaneyeopenwatchingwhiletheysleep,iftheyaresuspicious.Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, almost dead and dark, with scarcely a

snoremore thanawhiffofunseensteam,whenBilbopeepedoncemore fromthe entrance.Hewas just about to step out on to the floorwhen he caught asuddenthinandpiercingrayofredfromunderthedroopinglidofSmaug’slefteye. He was only pretending to sleep! He was watching the tunnel entrance!Hurriedly Bilbo stepped back and blessed the luck of his ring. Then Smaugspoke.

“Well,thief!IsmellyouandIfeelyourair.Ihearyourbreath.Comealong!Helpyourselfagain,thereisplentyandtospare!”

ButBilbowasnotquitesounlearnedindragon-loreasallthat,andifSmaughopedtogethimtocomenearersoeasilyhewasdisappointed.“Nothankyou,O Smaug the Tremendous!” he replied. “I did not come for presents. I onlywishedtohavealookatyouandseeifyouweretrulyasgreatastalessay.Ididnotbelievethem.”“Doyounow?”said thedragonsomewhat flattered,even thoughhedidnot

believeawordofit.“Trulysongsand talesfallutterlyshortof thereality,OSmaugtheChiefest

andGreatestofCalamities,”repliedBilbo.“Youhavenicemanners for a thief and a liar,” said thedragon. “You seem

familiarwithmyname,butIdon’tseemtoremembersmellingyoubefore.Whoareyouandwheredoyoucomefrom,mayIask?”“Youmayindeed!Icomefromunderthehill,andunderthehillsandoverthe

hillsmypathsled.Andthroughtheair.Iamhethatwalksunseen.”“SoIcanwellbelieve,”saidSmaug,“butthatishardlyyourusualname.”“I am the clue-finder, theweb-cutter, the stinging fly. Iwas chosen for the

luckynumber.”“Lovely titles!” sneered thedragon.“But luckynumbersdon’talwayscome

off.”“Iamhethatburieshisfriendsaliveanddrownsthemanddrawsthemalive

againfromthewater.Icamefromtheendofabag,butnobagwentoverme.”“Thesedon’tsoundsocreditable,”scoffedSmaug.“I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and

Luckwearer;andIamBarrel-rider,”wentonBilbobeginningtobepleasedwithhisriddling.“That’sbetter!” saidSmaug. “Butdon’t let your imagination runawaywith

you!”

ConversationwithSmaug

Thisofcourseisthewaytotalktodragons,ifyoudon’twanttorevealyourpropername(whichiswise),anddon’twanttoinfuriatethembyaflatrefusal(which isalsoverywise).Nodragoncan resist the fascinationof riddling talkandofwastingtimetryingtounderstandit.TherewasalotherewhichSmaugdid not understand at all (though I expect you do, since you know all aboutBilbo’s adventures to which he was referring), but he thought he understoodenough,andhechuckledinhiswickedinside.“Ithoughtsolastnight,”hesmiledtohimself.“Lake-men,somenastyscheme

of thosemiserable tub-tradingLake-men,or I’ma lizard. Ihaven’tbeendownthatwayforanageandanage;butIwillsoonalterthat!”“Verywell,OBarrel-rider!” he said aloud. “MaybeBarrelwas your pony’s

name;andmaybenot,thoughitwasfatenough.Youmaywalkunseen,butyoudidnotwalkall theway.LetmetellyouIatesixponies lastnightandIshallcatchandeat all theothersbefore long. In return for theexcellentmeal Iwillgiveyouonepieceofadviceforyourgood:don’thavemoretodowithdwarvesthanyoucanhelp!”“Dwarves!”saidBilboinpretendedsurprise.“Don’ttalktome!”saidSmaug.“Iknowthesmell(andtaste)ofdwarf—no

one better.Don’t tellme that I can eat a dwarf-ridden pony and not know it!You’llcometoabadend,ifyougowithsuchfriends,ThiefBarrel-rider.Idon’tmind ifyougobackand tell themsofromme.”Buthedidnot tellBilbo thatthere was one smell he could not make out at all, hobbit-smell; it was quiteoutsidehisexperienceandpuzzledhimmightily.“I supposeyougot a fairprice for that cup lastnight?”hewenton. “Come

now,didyou?Nothingatall!Well,that’sjustlikethem.AndIsupposetheyareskulkingoutside,andyourjobistodoallthedangerousworkandgetwhatyoucanwhenI’mnotlooking—forthem?Andyouwillgetafairshare?Don’tyoubelieveit!Ifyougetoffalive,youwillbelucky.”

Bilbo was now beginning to feel really uncomfortable.Whenever Smaug’srovingeye,seekingforhimintheshadows,flashedacrosshim,hetrembled,andanunaccountabledesireseizedholdofhim to rushoutandrevealhimselfandtellallthetruthtoSmaug.Infacthewasingrievousdangerofcomingunderthedragon-spell.Butpluckingupcouragehespokeagain.“Youdon’tknoweverything,OSmaugtheMighty,”saidhe.“Notgoldalone

broughtushither.”“Ha!Ha!Youadmitthe‘us’”laughedSmaug.“Whynotsay‘usfourteen’and

be donewith it,Mr.LuckyNumber? I ampleased to hear that you had otherbusiness in these parts besides my gold. In that case you may, perhaps, notaltogetherwasteyourtime.“Idon’tknowifithasoccurredtoyouthat,evenifyoucouldstealthegoldbit

bybit—amatterof ahundredyearsor so—youcouldnotget itvery far?Notmuchuseonthemountain-side?Notmuchuseintheforest?Blessme!Hadyouneverthoughtofthecatch?Afourteenthshare,Isuppose,orsomethinglikeit,thosewere the terms,eh?Butwhataboutdelivery?Whataboutcartage?Whataboutarmedguardsandtolls?”AndSmauglaughedaloud.Hehadawickedandawilyheart,andheknewhisguesseswerenotfarout,thoughhesuspectedthat

theLake-menwereat thebackof theplans, and thatmostof theplunderwasmeant to stop there in the townby the shore that in his young days had beencalledEsgaroth.Youwillhardlybelieveit,butpoorBilbowasreallyverytakenaback.Sofar

allhisthoughtsandenergieshadbeenconcentratedongettingtotheMountainandfindingtheentrance.Hehadneverbotheredtowonderhowthetreasurewastoberemoved,certainlyneverhowanypartofitthatmightfalltohissharewastobebroughtbackallthewaytoBag-EndUnder-Hill.Nowanastysuspicionbegantogrowinhismind—hadthedwarvesforgotten

this important point too, orwere they laughing in their sleeves at him all thetime? That is the effect that dragon-talk has on the inexperienced. Bilbo ofcourseoughttohavebeenonhisguard;butSmaughadratheranoverwhelmingpersonality.“Itellyou,”hesaid,inanefforttoremainloyaltohisfriendsandtokeephis

endup,“thatgoldwasonlyanafterthoughtwithus.Wecameoverhillandunderhill,bywaveandwind,forRevenge.Surely,OSmaugtheunassessablywealthy,youmustrealizethatyoursuccesshasmadeyousomebitterenemies?”ThenSmaugreallydidlaugh—adevastatingsoundwhichshookBilbotothe

floor,whilefarupinthetunnelthedwarveshuddledtogetherandimaginedthatthehobbithadcometoasuddenandanastyend.“Revenge!” he snorted, and the light of his eyes lit the hall from floor to

ceiling like scarlet lightning. “Revenge!TheKingunder theMountain isdeadandwherearehiskinthatdareseekrevenge?GirionLordofDaleisdead,andIhaveeatenhispeoplelikeawolfamongsheep,andwherearehissons’sonsthatdare approach me? I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low thewarriorsofoldandtheirlikeisnotintheworldtoday.ThenIwasbutyoungandtender. Now I am old and strong, strong, strong, Thief in the Shadows!” hegloated. “My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my clawsspears,theshockofmytailathunderbolt,mywingsahurricane,andmybreathdeath!”“Ihavealwaysunderstood,”saidBilboinafrightenedsqueak,“thatdragons

weresofterunderneath,especiallyintheregionofthe—er—chest;butdoubtlessonesofortifiedhasthoughtofthat.”Thedragonstoppedshortinhisboasting.“Yourinformationisantiquated,”he

snapped.“Iamarmouredaboveandbelowwithironscalesandhardgems.Nobladecanpierceme.”“Imighthaveguessedit,”saidBilbo.“Trulytherecanno-wherebefoundthe

equal of Lord Smaug the Impenetrable. What magnificence to possess awaistcoatoffinediamonds!”

“Yes,itisrareandwonderful,indeed,”saidSmaugabsurdlypleased.Hedidnot know that the hobbit had already caught a glimpse of his peculiar under-coveringonhispreviousvisit,andwasitchingforacloserviewforreasonsofhisown.Thedragonrolledover.“Look!”hesaid.“Whatdoyousaytothat?”“Dazzlingly marvellous! Perfect! Flawless! Staggering!” exclaimed Bilbo

aloud,butwhathethoughtinsidewas:“Oldfool!Why,thereisalargepatchinthehollowofhisleftbreastasbareasasnailoutofitsshell!”AfterhehadseenthatMr.Baggins’oneideawastogetaway.“Well,Ireally

must not detain Your Magnificence any longer,” he said, “or keep you frommuchneededrest.Poniestakesomecatching,Ibelieve,afteralongstart.Andsodoburglars,”headdedasapartingshot,ashedartedbackandfledupthetunnel.Itwasanunfortunateremark,forthedragonspoutedterrificflamesafterhim,

andfast thoughhespedup theslope,hehadnotgonenearlyfarenoughtobecomfortable before the ghastly head of Smaugwas thrust against the openingbehind.Luckily thewholeheadandjawscouldnotsqueezein,but thenostrilssent forth fire and vapour to pursue him, and he was nearly overcome, andstumbledblindlyon ingreatpainand fear.Hehadbeen feeling ratherpleasedwiththeclevernessofhisconversationwithSmaug,buthismistakeat theendshookhimintobettersense.“Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!” he said to himself, and it

became a favourite saying of his later, and passed into a proverb. “You aren’tnearlythroughthisadventureyet,”headded,andthatwasprettytrueaswell.

Theafternoonwasturningintoeveningwhenhecameoutagainandstumbledandfellinafaintonthe‘doorstep’.Thedwarvesrevivedhim,anddoctoredhisscorchesaswellastheycould;butitwasalongtimebeforethehaironthebackofhisheadandhisheelsgrewproperlyagain:ithadallbeensingedandfrizzledrightdowntotheskin.Inthemeanwhilehisfriendsdidtheirbesttocheerhimup;andtheywereeagerforhisstory,especiallywantingtoknowwhythedragonhadmadesuchanawfulnoise,andhowBilbohadescaped.But the hobbit was worried and uncomfortable, and they had difficulty in

gettinganythingoutofhim.Onthinkingthingsoverhewasnowregrettingsomeof the thingshehadsaid to thedragon,andwasnoteager torepeat them.Theold thrush was sitting on a rock near by with his head cocked on one side,listeningtoallthatwassaid.ItshowswhatanilltemperBilbowasin:hepickedup a stone and threw it at the thrush, whichmerely fluttered aside and cameback.“Dratthebird!”saidBilbocrossly.“Ibelieveheislistening,andIdon’tlike

thelookofhim.”

“Leavehimalone!”saidThorin.“Thethrushesaregoodandfriendly—thisisaveryoldbirdindeed,andismaybethelastleftoftheancientbreedthatusedtolive about here, tame to the hands ofmy father and grandfather. Theywere along-livedandmagicalrace,andthismightevenbeoneofthosethatwerealivethen,acoupleofhundredsofyearsormoreago.TheMenofDaleusedtohavethetrickofunderstandingtheirlanguage,andusedthemformessengerstoflytotheMenoftheLakeandelsewhere.”“Well, he’ll have news to take to Lake-town all right, if that is what he is

after,” saidBilbo; “though I don’t suppose there are anypeople left there thattroublewiththrush-language.”“Whywhathashappened?”criedthedwarves.“Dogetonwithyourtale!”SoBilbo told them all he could remember, and he confessed that he had a

nasty feeling that the dragon guessed toomuch from his riddles added to thecampsandtheponies.“IamsureheknowswecamefromLake-townandhadhelpfromthere;andIhaveahorriblefeelingthathisnextmovemaybeinthatdirection. Iwish togoodness Ihadneversaid thataboutBarrel-rider; itwouldmakeevenablindrabbitinthesepartsthinkoftheLake-men.”“Well,well! Itcannotbehelped,and it isdifficultnot toslip in talking toa

dragon,orsoIhavealwaysheard,”saidBalinanxioustocomforthim.“Ithinkyoudidverywell, ifyouaskme—youfoundoutoneveryuseful thingatanyrate,andgothomealive,andthatismorethanmostcansaywhohavehadwordswith the likesofSmaug. Itmaybeamercyandablessingyet toknowof thebarepatchintheoldWorm’sdiamondwaistcoat.”That turned the conversation, and they all begandiscussingdragon-slayings

historical, dubious, and mythical, and the various sorts of stabs and jabs andundercuts,andthedifferentartsdevicesandstratagemsbywhichtheyhadbeenaccomplished.Thegeneralopinionwasthatcatchingadragonnappingwasnotaseasyasitsounded,andtheattempttostickoneorprodoneasleepwasmorelikelytoendindisasterthanaboldfrontalattack.Allthewhiletheytalkedthethrushlistened,tillatlastwhenthestarsbegantopeepforth,itsilentlyspreaditswingsandflewaway.AndallthewhiletheytalkedandtheshadowslengthenedBilbobecamemoreandmoreunhappyandhisforebodinggrew.Atlastheinterruptedthem.“Iamsureweareveryunsafehere,”hesaid,“and

I don’t see the point of sitting here. The dragon haswithered all the pleasantgreen,andanywaythenighthascomeandit iscold.ButI feel it inmybonesthatthisplacewillbeattackedagain.SmaugknowsnowhowIcamedowntohishall,andyoucantrusthimtoguesswheretheotherendofthetunnelis.HewillbreakallthissideoftheMountaintobits,ifnecessary,tostopupourentrance,andifwearesmashedwithitthebetterhewilllikeit.”

“You are very gloomy, Mr. Baggins!” said Thorin. “Why has not Smaugblockedthelowerend,then,ifheissoeagertokeepusout?Hehasnot,orweshouldhaveheardhim.”“Idon’tknow,Idon’tknow—becauseatfirsthewantedtotryandluremein

again,Isuppose,andnowperhapsbecauseheiswaitingtillaftertonight’shunt,orbecausehedoesnotwanttodamagehisbedroomifhecanhelpit—butIwishyouwouldnotargue.Smaugwillbecomingoutatanyminutenow,andouronlyhopeistogetwellinthetunnelandshutthedoor.”Heseemedsomuchinearnestthatthedwarvesatlastdidashesaid,though

they delayed shutting the door—it seemed a desperate plan, for no one knewwhetherorhowtheycouldgetitopenagainfromtheinside,andthethoughtofbeingshutinaplacefromwhichtheonlywayoutledthroughthedragon’slairwas not one they liked.Also everything seemed quite quiet, both outside anddown the tunnel.So fora longishwhile they sat insidenot fardown from thehalf-opendoorandwentontalking.Thetalkturnedtothedragon’swickedwordsaboutthedwarves.Bilbowished

he had never heard them, or at least that he could feel quite certain that thedwarves nowwere absolutely honest when they declared that they had neverthought at all aboutwhatwouldhappen after the treasure hadbeenwon. “Weknewitwouldbeadesperateventure,”saidThorin,“andweknowthatstill;andIstill thinkthatwhenwehavewonitwillbe timeenoughto thinkwhat todoaboutit.Asforyourshare,Mr.Baggins,Iassureyouwearemorethangratefuland you shall choose your own fourteenth, as soon as we have anything todivide.Iamsorryifyouareworriedabouttransport,andIadmitthedifficultiesaregreat—thelandshavenotbecomelesswildwiththepassingoftime,ratherthereverse—butwewilldowhateverwecanforyou,andtakeourshareofthecostwhenthetimecomes.Believemeornotasyoulike!”FromthatthetalkturnedtothegreathoarditselfandtothethingsthatThorin

andBalinremembered.Theywonderediftheywerestilllyingthereunharmedinthe hall below: the spears that were made for the armies of the great KingBladorthin(longsincedead),eachhadathrice-forgedheadandtheirshaftswereinlaidwithcunninggold,buttheywereneverdeliveredorpaidfor;shieldsmadeforwarriors longdead; the great golden cupofThror, two-handed, hammeredandcarvenwithbirdsandflowerswhoseeyesandpetalswereofjewels;coatsofmailgildedandsilveredandimpenetrable;thenecklaceofGirion,LordofDale,madeoffivehundredemeraldsgreenasgrass,whichhegaveforthearmingofhiseldestsoninacoatofdwarf-linkedrings the likeofwhichhadneverbeenmadebefore,foritwaswroughtofpuresilvertothepowerandstrengthoftriplesteel.But fairestofallwas thegreatwhitegem,which thedwarveshadfound

beneaththerootsoftheMountain,theHeartoftheMountain,theArkenstoneofThrain.“The Arkenstone! The Arkenstone!” murmured Thorin in the dark, half

dreamingwith his chin upon his knees. “It was like a globewith a thousandfacets;itshonelikesilverinthefirelight,likewaterinthesun,likesnowunderthestars,likerainupontheMoon!”ButtheenchanteddesireofthehoardhadfallenfromBilbo.Allthroughtheir

talkhewasonlyhalflisteningtothem.Hesatnearesttothedoorwithoneearcocked for any beginnings of a soundwithout, his otherwas alert for echoesbeyond themurmursof thedwarves, for anywhisperof amovement from farbelow.Darkness grew deeper and he grew evermore uneasy. “Shut the door!” he

beggedthem,“Ifearthatdragoninmymarrow.Ilikethissilencefarlessthantheuproaroflastnight.Shutthedoorbeforeitistoolate!”Something in his voice gave the dwarves an uncomfortable feeling. Slowly

Thorin shook off his dreams and getting up he kicked away the stone thatwedgedthedoor.Thentheythrustuponit,anditclosedwithasnapandaclang.No trace of a keyhole was there left on the inside. They were shut in theMountain!And not amoment too soon. They had hardly gone any distance down the

tunnelwhenablowsmotethesideoftheMountainlikethecrashofbattering-rams made of forest oaks and swung by giants. The rock boomed, the wallscrackedandstonesfellfromtheroofontheirheads.WhatwouldhavehappenedifthedoorhadstillbeenopenIdon’tliketothink.Theyfledfurtherdownthetunnelgladtobestillalive,whilebehindthemoutside theyheardtheroarandrumble of Smaug’s fury.Hewas breaking rocks to pieces, smashingwall andcliffwiththelashingsofhishugetail, till their littleloftycampingground,thescorchedgrass,thethrush’sstone,thesnail-coveredwalls,thenarrowledge,andalldisappearedinajumbleofsmithereens,andanavalancheofsplinteredstonesfelloverthecliffintothevalleybelow.Smaughad lefthis lair in silent stealth,quietly soared into theair, and then

floated heavy and slow in the dark like a monstrous crow, down the windtowardsthewestoftheMountain,inthehopesofcatchingunawaressomethingorsomebodythere,andofspyingtheoutlet to thepassagewhichthe thiefhadused. Thiswas the outburst of hiswrathwhen he could find nobody and seenothing,evenwhereheguessedtheoutletmustactuallybe.Afterhehad letoffhis rage in thiswayhe feltbetterandhe thought inhis

heartthathewouldnotbetroubledagainfromthatdirection.Inthemeanwhilehe had further vengeance to take. “Barrel-rider!” he snorted. “Your feet came

from thewaterside andup thewater you camewithout a doubt. I don’t knowyoursmell,butifyouarenotoneofthosemenoftheLake,youhadtheirhelp.TheyshallseemeandrememberwhoistherealKingundertheMountain!”HeroseinfireandwentawaysouthtowardstheRunningRiver.

ChapterXIIINotatHome

Inthemeanwhile,thedwarvessatindarkness,anduttersilencefellaboutthem.Little theyateand little theyspoke.Theycouldnotcount thepassingof time;and they scarcely dared to move, for the whisper of their voices echoed andrustled in the tunnel. If they dozed, theywoke still to darkness and to silencegoingonunbroken.At lastafterdaysanddaysofwaiting,as it seemed,whenthey were becoming choked and dazed for want of air, they could bear it nolonger.Theywouldalmosthavewelcomedsoundsfrombelowof thedragon’sreturn.Inthesilencetheyfearedsomecunningdevilryofhis,buttheycouldnotsitthereforever.Thorinspoke:“Letustrythedoor!”hesaid.“Imustfeelthewindonmyface

soon or die. I think I would rather be smashed by Smaug in the open thansuffocateinhere!”Soseveralofthedwarvesgotupandgropedbacktowherethe door had been. But they found that the upper end of the tunnel had beenshatteredandblockedwithbrokenrock.Neitherkeynorthemagicithadonceobeyedwouldeveropenthatdooragain.“Wearetrapped!”theygroaned.“Thisistheend.Weshalldiehere.”But somehow, just when the dwarves were most despairing, Bilbo felt a

strange lightening of the heart, as if a heavyweight had gone from under hiswaistcoat.“Come,come!”hesaid.“’Whilethere’slifethere’shope!’asmyfatherused

tosay,and‘Third timepaysforall.’ Iamgoingdown the tunnelonceagain. Ihavebeenthatwaytwice,whenIknewtherewasadragonattheotherend,soIwill risk a third visitwhen I am no longer sure.Anyway the onlyway out isdown.AndIthinkthistimeyouhadbetterallcomewithme.”Indesperationtheyagreed,andThorinwasthefirsttogoforwardbyBilbo’s

side.“Now do be careful!” whispered the hobbit, “and as quiet as you can be!

TheremaybenoSmaugatthebottom,butthenagaintheremaybe.Don’tletustakeanyunnecessaryrisks!”

Down,downtheywent.Thedwarvescouldnot,ofcourse,comparewiththehobbit in real stealth, and they made a deal of puffing and shuffling whichechoes magnified alarmingly; but though every now and again Bilbo in fearstoppedandlistened,notasoundstirredbelow.Nearthebottom,aswellashecouldjudge,Bilboslippedonhisringandwentahead.Buthedidnotneedit:thedarknesswas complete, and theywere all invisible, ringorno ring. In fact soblackwasit thatthehobbitcametotheopeningunexpectedly,puthishandonair,stumbledforward,androlledheadlongintothehall!Therehelayfacedownwardsontheflooranddidnotdaretogetup,orhardly

eventobreathe.Butnothingmoved.Therewasnotagleamoflight—unless,asitseemedtohim,whenatlastheslowlyraisedhishead,therewasapalewhiteglint, above him and far off in the gloom.But certainly itwas not a spark ofdragon-fire, though theworm-stenchwas heavy in the place, and the taste ofvapourwasonhistongue.At lengthMr.Bagginscouldbear itno longer.“Confoundyou,Smaug,you

worm!”hesqueakedaloud.“Stopplayinghide-and-seek!Givemea light,andtheneatme,ifyoucancatchme!”Faintechoesranroundtheunseenhall,buttherewasnoanswer.Bilbogotup,andfoundthathedidnotknowinwhatdirectiontoturn.“Now Iwonderwhat on earth Smaug is playing at,” he said. “He is not at

hometoday(or tonight,orwhatever it is), Idobelieve. IfOinandGloinhavenot lost their tinder-boxes,perhapswecanmakea little light,andhavea lookroundbeforetheluckturns.”“Light!”hecried.“Cananybodymakealight?”

Thedwarves,ofcourse,wereveryalarmedwhenBilbofellforwarddownthestepwithabumpintothehall,andtheysathuddledjustwherehehadleftthemattheendofthetunnel.“Sh!sh!”theyhissed,whentheyheardhisvoice;andthoughthathelpedthe

hobbit to find out where they were, it was some time before he could getanythingelseoutofthem.Butintheend,whenBilboactuallybegantostamponthe floor, and screamedout “light!” at the topof his shrill voice,Thoringaveway,andOinandGloinweresentbacktotheirbundlesatthetopofthetunnel.After a while a twinkling gleam showed them returning, Oin with a small

pine-torchalight inhishand,andGloinwithabundleofothersunderhisarm.QuicklyBilbotrottedtothedoorandtookthetorch;buthecouldnotpersuadethedwarvestolighttheothersortocomeandjoinhimyet.AsThorincarefullyexplained,Mr.Bagginswasstillofficiallytheirexpertburglarandinvestigator.Ifhelikedtoriskalight,thatwashisaffair.Theywouldwaitinthetunnelforhis

report.Sotheysatnearthedoorandwatched.Theysawthelittledarkshapeofthehobbitstartacrossthefloorholdinghis

tinylightaloft.Everynowandagain,whilehewasstillnearenough,theycaughtaglintandatinkleashestumbledonsomegoldenthing.Thelightgrewsmallerashewanderedawayintothevasthall;thenitbegantorisedancingintotheair.Bilbowasclimbingthegreatmoundoftreasure.Soonhestooduponthetop,andstillwenton.Thentheysawhimhaltandstoopforamoment;buttheydidnotknowthereason.It was the Arkenstone, the Heart of theMountain. So Bilbo guessed from

Thorin’sdescription;but indeed therecouldnotbe two suchgems, even in somarvellousahoard,even inall theworld.Everasheclimbed, thesamewhitegleamhadshonebeforehimanddrawnhisfeettowardsit.Slowlyitgrewtoalittleglobeofpallidlight.Nowashecamenear,itwastingedwithaflickeringsparkle of many colours at the surface, reflected and splintered from thewavering lightofhis torch.At lasthe lookeddownupon it,andhecaughthisbreath.Thegreatjewelshonebeforehisfeetofitsowninnerlight,andyet,cutand fashionedby thedwarves,whohaddug it from theheartof themountainlongago,ittookalllightthatfelluponitandchangeditintotenthousandsparksofwhiteradianceshotwithglintsoftherainbow.SuddenlyBilbo’s armwent towards it drawn by its enchantment.His small

handwouldnotcloseaboutit,foritwasalargeandheavygem;butheliftedit,shuthiseyes,andputitinhisdeepestpocket.“Now I am a burglar indeed!” thought he. “But I suppose I must tell the

dwarves about it—some time.They did say I could pick and choosemy ownshare;andIthinkIwouldchoosethis,iftheytookalltherest!”Allthesamehehadanuncomfortablefeelingthatthepickingandchoosinghadnotreallybeenmeanttoincludethismarvellousgem,andthattroublewouldyetcomeofit.Nowhewentonagain.Downtheothersideofthegreatmoundheclimbed,

andthesparkofhistorchvanishedfromthesightofthewatchingdwarves.Butsoontheysawitfarawayinthedistanceagain.Bilbowascrossingthefloorofthehall.Hewenton,untilhecame to thegreatdoorsat thefurtherside,and therea

draughtofairrefreshedhim,butitalmostpuffedouthislight.Hepeepedtimidlythrough, andcaught aglimpseofgreatpassages andof thedimbeginningsofwidestairsgoingup into thegloom.Andstill therewasnosightnorsoundofSmaug.Hewasjustgoingtoturnandgoback,whenablackshapeswoopedathim, and brushed his face.He squeaked and started, stumbled backwards andfell.Historchdroppedheaddownwardsandwentout!“Onlyabat,Isupposeandhope!”hesaidmiserably.“ButnowwhatamIto

do?WhichisEast,South,North,orWest?”“Thorin! Balin! Oin! Gloin! Fili! Kili!” he cried as loud as he could—it

seemedathinlittlenoiseinthewideblackness.“The light’s gone out! Someone come and find me and help me!” For the

momenthiscouragehadfailedaltogether.Faintly the dwarves heard his small cries, though the onlyword they could

catchwas“help!”“Nowwhatonearthorunder it hashappened?” saidThorin. “Certainlynot

thedragon,orhewouldnotgoonsqueaking.”Theywaitedamomentortwo,andstilltherewerenodragon-noises,nosound

atall in factbutBilbo’sdistantvoice.“Come,oneofyou,getanother lightortwo!”Thorinordered.“Itseemswehavegottogoandhelpourburglar.”“It is about our turn to help,” said Balin, “and I am quite willing to go.

AnywayIexpectitissafeforthemoment.”Gloin lit severalmore torches, and then they all crept out, one by one, and

wentalongthewallashurriedlyastheycould.ItwasnotlongbeforetheymetBilbohimselfcomingbacktowardsthem.Hiswitshadquicklyreturnedassoonashesawthetwinkleoftheirlights.“Onlyabatandadropped torch,nothingworse!”hesaid inanswer to their

questions.Thoughtheyweremuchrelieved,theywereinclinedtobegrumpyatbeingfrightenedfornothing;butwhattheywouldhavesaid,ifhehadtoldthematthatmomentabouttheArkenstone,Idon’tknow.Themerefleetingglimpsesoftreasurewhichtheyhadcaughtastheywentalonghadrekindledallthefireoftheirdwarvishhearts;andwhentheheartofadwarf,eventhemostrespectable,iswakenedbygoldandbyjewels,hegrowssuddenlybold,andhemaybecomefierce.The dwarves indeed no longer needed any urging. All were now eager to

explore thehallwhile theyhad thechance,andwilling tobelieve that, for thepresent,Smaugwasawayfromhome.Eachnowgrippedalightedtorch;andasthey gazed, first on one side and then on another, they forgot fear and evencaution. They spoke aloud, and cried out to one another, as they lifted oldtreasuresfromthemoundorfromthewallandheldtheminthelight,caressingandfingeringthem.FiliandKiliwerealmostinmerrymood,andfindingstillhangingtheremany

golden harps strung with silver they took them and struck them; and beingmagical (and also untouched by the dragon,who had small interest inmusic)theywerestillintune.Thedarkhallwasfilledwithamelodythathadlongbeensilent. Butmost of the dwarvesweremore practical: they gathered gems andstuffed theirpockets, and letwhat theycouldnot carry fallback through their

fingerswitha sigh.Thorinwasnot leastamong these;butalwayshesearchedfromsidetosideforsomethingwhichhecouldnotfind.ItwastheArkenstone;buthespokeofityettonoone.Now the dwarves took downmail andweapons from thewalls, and armed

themselves.Royal indeeddidThorin look, clad in a coat of gold-plated rings,withasilver-haftedaxeinabeltcrustedwithscarletstones.“Mr.Baggins!”hecried.“Hereisthefirstpaymentofyourreward!Castoff

youroldcoatandputonthis!”WiththatheputonBilboasmallcoatofmail,wroughtforsomeyoungelf-

prince longago. Itwasofsilver-steel,which theelvescallmithril, andwith itwentabeltofpearlsandcrystals.Alighthelmoffiguredleather,strengthenedbeneathwithhoopsofsteel,andstuddedabout thebrimwithwhitegems,wassetuponthehobbit’shead.“Ifeelmagnificent,”hethought;“butIexpectIlookratherabsurd.Howthey

wouldlaughontheHillathome!StillIwishtherewasalooking-glasshandy!”AllthesameMr.Bagginskepthisheadmoreclearofthebewitchmentofthe

hoard than thedwarvesdid.Longbefore thedwarveswere tiredofexaminingthetreasures,hebecamewearyofitandsatdownonthefloor;andhebegantowondernervouslywhattheendofitallwouldbe.“Iwouldgiveagoodmanyofthesepreciousgoblets,” he thought, “for a drinkof something cheeringout ofoneofBeorn’swoodenbowls!”“Thorin!”hecriedaloud.“Whatnext?Wearearmed,butwhatgoodhasany

armour ever beenbefore againstSmaug theDreadful?This treasure is not yetwonback.Wearenotlookingforgoldyet,butforawayofescape;andwehavetemptedlucktoolong!”“Youspeakthetruth!”answeredThorin,recoveringhiswits.“Letusgo!Iwill

guideyou.NotinathousandyearsshouldIforgetthewaysofthispalace.”Thenhehailedtheothers,andtheygatheredtogether,andholdingtheirtorchesabovetheirheadstheypassedthroughthegapingdoors,notwithoutmanyabackwardglanceoflonging.Their glitteringmail they had covered againwith their old cloaks and their

bright helms with their tattered hoods, and one by one they walked behindThorin, a lineof little lights in thedarkness thathaltedoften, listening in fearoncemoreforanyrumourofthedragon’scoming.Thoughalltheoldadornmentswerelongmoulderedordestroyed,andthough

allwasbefouledandblastedwiththecomingsandgoingsofthemonster,Thorinknew every passage and every turn.They climbed long stairs, and turned andwentdownwide echoingways, and turnedagain andclimbedyetmore stairs,andyetmorestairsagain.Theseweresmooth,cutoutof thelivingrockbroad

andfair;andup,up,thedwarveswent,andtheymetnosignofanylivingthing,onlyfurtiveshadowsthatfledfromtheapproachoftheirtorchesflutteringinthedraughts.The stepswere notmade, all the same, for hobbit-legs, andBilbowas just

feelingthathecouldgoonnolonger,whensuddenlytheroofspranghighandfarbeyondthereachoftheirtorch-light.Awhiteglimmercouldbeseencomingthrough some opening far above, and the air smelt sweeter.Before them lightcamedimlythroughgreatdoors,thathungtwistedontheirhingesandhalfburnt.“ThisisthegreatchamberofThror,”saidThorin;“thehalloffeastingandof

council.NotfaroffnowistheFrontGate.”Theypassedthroughtheruinedchamber.Tableswererottingthere;chairsand

benches were lying there overturned, charred and decaying. Skulls and boneswere upon the floor among flagons and bowls and broken drinking-horns anddust.Astheycamethroughyetmoredoorsatthefurtherend,asoundofwaterfellupontheirears,andthegreylightgrewsuddenlymorefull.“ThereisthebirthoftheRunningRiver,”saidThorin.“Fromhereithastens

totheGate.Letusfollowit!”Outof adarkopening in awall of rock there issued aboilingwater, and it

flowedswirlinginanarrowchannel,carvedandmadestraightanddeepbythecunning of ancient hands. Beside it ran a stone-paved road, wide enough formanymenabreast.Swiftlyalongthistheyran,androundawide-sweepingturn—andbehold!beforethemstoodthebroadlightofday.Infrontthereroseatallarch,stillshowingthefragmentsofoldcarvenworkwithin,wornandsplinteredandblackenedthoughitwas.AmistysunsentitspalelightbetweenthearmsoftheMountain,andbeamsofgoldfellonthepavementatthethreshold.Awhirlofbatsfrightenedfromslumberbytheirsmokingtorchesflurriedover

them;as they sprang forward their feet slitheredon stones rubbed smoothandslimed by the passing of the dragon. Now before them the water fell noisilyoutwardandfoameddowntowards thevalley.Theyflung theirpale torches tothe ground, and stood gazing out with dazzled eyes. They were come to theFrontGate,andwerelookingoutuponDale.“Well!” saidBilbo, “I never expected to be looking out of this door.And I

neverexpectedtobesopleasedtoseethesunagain,andtofeelthewindonmyface.But,ow!thiswindiscold!”It was. A bitter easterly breeze blew with a threat of oncoming winter. It

swirled over and round the arms of theMountain into the valley, and sighedamong the rocks. After their long time in the stewing depths of the dragon-hauntedcaverns,theyshiveredinthesun.Suddenly Bilbo realized that he was not only tired but also very hungry

indeed.“Itseems tobe latemorning,”hesaid,“andsoIsuppose it ismoreorless breakfast-time—if there is any breakfast to have. But I don’t feel thatSmaug’s front doorstep is the safest place for ameal.Do let’s go somewherewherewecansitquietforabit!”“Quiteright!”saidBalin.“AndIthinkIknowwhichwayweshouldgo:we

ought to make for the old look-out post at the South-West corner of theMountain.”“Howfaristhat?”askedthehobbit.“Fivehoursmarch,Ishouldthink.Itwillberoughgoing.Theroadfromthe

Gatealongtheleftedgeofthestreamseemsallbrokenup.Butlookdownthere!The river loops suddenly east acrossDale in front of the ruined town.At thatpoint therewasonceabridge, leading tosteepstairs thatclimbedup the rightbank,andsotoaroadrunningtowardsRavenhill.Thereis(orwas)apaththatlefttheroadandclimbeduptothepost.Ahardclimb,too,eveniftheoldstepsarestillthere.”“Dearme!”grumbledthehobbit.“Morewalkingandmoreclimbingwithout

breakfast! I wonder how many breakfasts, and other meals, we have missedinsidethatnastyclockless,timelesshole?”As amatter of fact two nights and the day between had gone by (and not

altogetherwithoutfood)sincethedragonsmashedthemagicdoor,butBilbohadquitelostcount,anditmighthavebeenonenightoraweekofnightsforallhecouldtell.“Come,come!”saidThorinlaughing—hisspiritshadbeguntoriseagain,and

herattledthepreciousstonesinhispockets.“Don’tcallmypalaceanastyhole!Youwaittillithasbeencleanedandredecorated!”“That won’t be till Smaug’s dead,” said Bilbo glumly. “In the meanwhile

whereishe?Iwouldgiveagoodbreakfasttoknow.IhopeheisnotupontheMountainlookingdownatus!”Thatideadisturbedthedwarvesmightily,andtheyquicklydecidedthatBilbo

andBalinwereright.“Wemustmoveawayfromhere,”saidDori.“Ifeelasifhiseyeswereonthe

backofmyhead.”“It’sacoldlonesomeplace,”saidBombur.“Theremaybedrink,butIseeno

signoffood.Adragonwouldalwaysbehungryinsuchparts.”“Comeon!Comeon!”criedtheothers.“LetusfollowBalin’spath!”

Undertherockywalltotherighttherewasnopath,soontheytrudgedamongthe stones on the left side of the river, and the emptiness and desolation soonsoberedevenThorinagain.ThebridgethatBalinhadspokenoftheyfoundlong

fallen, and most of its stones were now only boulders in the shallow noisystream;buttheyfordedthewaterwithoutmuchdifficulty,andfoundtheancientsteps, and climbed thehighbank.After going a shortway they struck theoldroad,andbeforelongcametoadeepdellshelteredamongtherocks;theretheyrested for a while and had such a breakfast as they could, chiefly cram andwater.(Ifyouwanttoknowwhatcramis,IcanonlysaythatIdon’tknowtherecipe;butitisbiscuitish,keepsgoodindefinitely,issupposedtobesustaining,and is certainly not entertaining, being in fact very uninteresting except as achewingexercise.ItwasmadebytheLake-menforlongjourneys.)Afterthattheywentonagain;andnowtheroadstruckwestwardsandleftthe

river, and the great shoulder of the south-pointing mountain-spur drew evernearer.At length they reached the hill path. It scrambled steeply up, and theyploddedslowlyonebehindtheother,tillatlastinthelateafternoontheycametothetopoftheridgeandsawthewintrysungoingdownwardstotheWest.Heretheyfoundaflatplacewithoutawallonthreesides,butbackedtothe

Northbyarockyfaceinwhichtherewasanopeninglikeadoor.FromthatdoortherewasawideviewEastandSouthandWest.“Here,”saidBalin,“in theolddaysweusedalways tokeepwatchmen,and

that door behind leads into a rockhewn chamber that was made here as aguardroom. There were several places like it round the Mountain. But thereseemed small need forwatching in the days of our prosperity, and the guardswere made over comfortable, perhaps—otherwise we might have had longerwarningofthecomingofthedragon,andthingsmighthavebeendifferent.Still,herewe can now lie hid and sheltered for awhile, and can seemuchwithoutbeingseen.”“Not much use, if we have been seen coming here,” said Dori, who was

alwayslookinguptowardstheMountain’speak,asifheexpectedtoseeSmaugperchedtherelikeabirdonasteeple.“Wemust take our chance of that,” saidThorin. “We can go no further to-

day.”“Hear,hear!”criedBilbo,andflunghimselfontheground.Intherock-chambertherewouldhavebeenroomforahundred,andtherewas

a small chamber further in,more removed from the cold outside. Itwas quitedeserted; not even wild animals seemed to have used it in all the days ofSmaug’s dominion.There they laid their burdens; and some threw themselvesdownatonceandslept,buttheotherssatneartheouterdooranddiscussedtheirplans. In all their talk they came perpetually back to one thing: where wasSmaug?They lookedWestand therewasnothing,andEast therewasnothing,andin theSouth therewasnosignof thedragon,but therewasagatheringof

very many birds. At that they gazed and wondered; but they were no nearerunderstandingit,whenthefirstcoldstarscameout.

ChapterXIVFireandWater

Nowifyouwish, like thedwarves, tohearnewsofSmaug,youmustgobackagaintotheeveningwhenhesmashedthedoorandflewoff inrage, twodaysbefore.Themenof the lake-townEsgarothweremostly indoors, for thebreezewas

from the black East and chill, but a few were walking on the quays, andwatching, as they were fond of doing, the stars shine out from the smoothpatches of the lake as they opened in the sky. From their town the LonelyMountainwasmostlyscreenedbythelowhillsatthefarendofthelake,throughagapinwhichtheRunningRivercamedownfromtheNorth.Onlyitshighpeakcouldtheyseeinclearweather,andtheylookedseldomatit,foritwasominousanddreareveninthelightofmorning.Nowitwaslostandgone,blottedinthedark.Suddenlyitflickeredbacktoview;abriefglowtoucheditandfaded.“Look!”saidone.“Thelightsagain!Lastnightthewatchmensawthemstart

andfadefrommidnightuntildawn.Somethingishappeningupthere.”“Perhaps theKing under theMountain is forging gold,” said another. “It is

longsincehewentNorth.Itistimethesongsbegantoprovethemselvesagain.”“Which king?” said another with a grim voice. “As like as not it is the

maraudingfireof theDragon, theonlykingunder theMountainwehaveeverknown.”“Youarealwaysforebodinggloomythings!”saidtheothers.“Anythingfrom

floodstopoisonedfish.Thinkofsomethingcheerful!”Then suddenly a great light appeared in the low place in the hills and the

northernendofthelaketurnedgolden.“TheKingbeneaththeMountain!”theyshouted.“HiswealthisliketheSun,hissilverlikeafountain,hisriversgoldenrun!TheriverisrunninggoldfromtheMountain!”theycried,andeverywherewindowswereopeningandfeetwerehurrying.Therewasoncemoreatremendousexcitementandenthusiasm.Butthegrim-

voicedfellowranhotfoottotheMaster.“ThedragoniscomingorIamafool!”

hecried.“Cutthebridges!Toarms!Toarms!”Thenwarning trumpetsweresuddenlysounded,andechoedalong therocky

shores.Thecheeringstoppedandthejoywasturnedtodread.Soitwasthatthedragondidnotfindthemquiteunprepared.Before long, so great was his speed, they could see him as a spark of fire

rushingtowardsthemandgrowingeverhugerandmorebright,andnotthemostfoolishdoubtedthattheprophecieshadgoneratherwrong.Stilltheyhadalittletime.Everyvesselinthetownwasfilledwithwater,everywarriorwasarmed,everyarrowanddartwasready,andthebridgetothelandwasthrowndownanddestroyed,beforetheroarofSmaug’sterribleapproachgrewloud,andthelakerippledredasfirebeneaththeawfulbeatingofhiswings.Amid shrieksandwailingand the shoutsofmenhecameover them, swept

towardsthebridgesandwasfoiled!Thebridgewasgone,andhisenemieswereon an island in deep water—too deep and dark and cool for his liking. If heplungedinto it,avapourandasteamwouldariseenoughtocoverall the landwith amist for days; but the lakewasmightier than he, itwould quench himbeforehecouldpassthrough.Roaringhe swept back over the town.Ahail of dark arrows leapedup and

snappedandrattledonhisscalesandjewels,andtheirshaftsfellbackkindledbyhis breath burning and hissing into the lake.No fireworks you ever imaginedequalledthesights thatnight.At the twangingof thebowsandtheshrillingofthe trumpets thedragon’swrathblazed to itsheight, tillhewasblindandmadwithit.Noonehaddaredtogivebattletohimformanyanage;norwouldtheyhavedarednow,ifithadnotbeenforthegrim-voicedman(Bardwashisname),whorantoandfrocheeringonthearchersandurgingtheMastertoorderthemtofighttothelastarrow.Fire leaped from the dragon’s jaws. He circled for a while high in the air

above themlightingall the lake; the treesby theshoresshone likecopperandlike blood with leaping shadows of dense black at their feet. Then down heswoopedstraightthroughthearrow-storm,recklessinhisrage,takingnoheedtoturnhisscalysidestowardshisfoes,seekingonlytosettheirtownablaze.Fire leaped from thatched roofs andwoodenbeam-ends ashehurtleddown

andpast and round again, though all had been drenchedwithwater before hecame. Once more water was flung by a hundred hands wherever a sparkappeared.Backswirledthedragon.AsweepofhistailandtheroofoftheGreatHousecrumbledandsmasheddown.Flamesunquenchablespranghighintothenight.Another swoopandanother, andanotherhouse and thenanother sprangafire and fell; and still no arrowhinderedSmaugor hurt himmore than a flyfromthemarshes.

Alreadymenwerejumpingintothewateroneveryside.Womenandchildrenwere being huddled into laden boats in themarket-pool.Weaponswere flungdown. There was mourning and weeping, where but a little time ago the oldsongsofmirthtocomehadbeensungaboutthedwarves.Nowmencursedtheirnames.TheMasterhimselfwasturningtohisgreatgildedboat,hopingtorowaway in the confusion and savehimself. Soon all the townwouldbe desertedandburneddowntothesurfaceofthelake.Thatwas the dragon’s hope. They could all get into boats for all he cared.

Therehecouldhavefinesporthuntingthem,ortheycouldstoptilltheystarved.Let them try to get to land and hewould be ready.Soonhewould set all theshoreland woods ablaze and wither every field and pasture. Just now he wasenjoyingthesportoftown-baitingmorethanhehadenjoyedanythingforyears.But there was still a company of archers that held their ground among the

burning houses. Their captain was Bard, grim-voiced and grim-faced, whosefriendshadaccusedhimofprophesying floodsandpoisoned fish, though theyknewhisworthandcourage.HewasadescendantinlonglineofGirion,LordofDale,whosewifeandchildhadescapeddowntheRunningRiverfromtheruinlong ago.Nowhe shotwith a great yewbow, till all his arrowsbut onewerespent.Theflameswerenearhim.Hiscompanionswereleavinghim.Hebenthisbowforthelasttime.Suddenlyoutofthedarksomethingflutteredtohisshoulder.Hestarted—but

itwasonlyanoldthrush.Unafraiditperchedbyhisearanditbroughthimnews.Marvellinghe foundhecouldunderstand its tongue, forhewasof the raceofDale.“Wait!Wait!”itsaidtohim.“Themoonisrising.Lookforthehollowofthe

leftbreastashefliesandturnsaboveyou!”AndwhileBardpausedinwonderittoldhimoftidingsupintheMountainandofallthatithadheard.Then Bard drew his bow-string to his ear. The dragon was circling back,

flyinglow,andashecamethemoonroseabovetheeasternshoreandsilveredhisgreatwings.“Arrow!”said thebowman.“Blackarrow!Ihavesavedyouto the last.You

haveneverfailedmeandalwaysIhaverecoveredyou.Ihadyoufrommyfatherandhefromofold.IfeveryoucamefromtheforgesofthetruekingundertheMountain,gonowandspeedwell!”Thedragonswoopedoncemorelowerthanever,andasheturnedanddived

downhisbellyglitteredwhitewithsparklingfiresofgemsinthemoon—butnotin one place.The great bow twanged.The black arrow sped straight from thestring,straightforthehollowbytheleftbreastwheretheforelegwasflungwide.Initsmoteandvanished,barb,shaftandfeather,sofiercewasitsflight.Witha

shriekthatdeafenedmen,felledtreesandsplitstone,Smaugshotspoutingintotheair,turnedoverandcrasheddownfromonhighinruin.Fullonthetownhefell.Hislastthroessplinteredittosparksandgledes.The

lakeroaredin.Avaststeamleapedup,whiteinthesuddendarkunderthemoon.Therewas a hiss, a gushingwhirl, and then silence.And thatwas the end ofSmaugandEsgaroth,butnotofBard.

Thewaxingmoonrosehigherandhigherandthewindgrewloudandcold.IttwistedthewhitefogintobendingpillarsandhurryingcloudsanddroveitofftotheWest toscatter in tatteredshredsover themarshesbeforeMirkwood.Thenthemanyboatscouldbeseendotteddarkonthesurfaceofthelake,anddownthewindcamethevoicesofthepeopleofEsgarothlamentingtheirlosttownandgoodsandruinedhouses.Buttheyhadreallymuchtobethankfulfor,hadtheythoughtofit,thoughitcouldhardlybeexpectedthattheyshouldjustthen:threequartersof thepeopleof the townhad at least escapedalive; theirwoods andfieldsandpasturesandcattleandmostoftheirboatsremainedundamaged;andthedragonwasdead.Whatthatmeanttheyhadnotyetrealized.Theygatheredinmournfulcrowdsuponthewesternshores,shiveringinthe

coldwind,andtheirfirstcomplaintsandangerwereagainsttheMaster,whohadleftthetownsosoon,whilesomewerestillwillingtodefendit.“Hemayhaveagoodheadforbusiness—especiallyhisownbusiness,”some

murmured, “but he is no good when anything serious happens!” And theypraised thecourageofBardandhis lastmightyshot.“Ifonlyhehadnotbeenkilled,”theyallsaid,“wewouldmakehimaking.BardtheDragon-shooterofthelineofGirion!Alasthatheislost!”Andintheverymidstoftheirtalkatallfiguresteppedfromtheshadows.He

wasdrenchedwithwater,hisblackhairhungwetoverhis faceandshoulders,andafiercelightwasinhiseyes.“Bard isnot lost!”hecried.“HedivedfromEsgaroth,when theenemywas

slain.IamBard,ofthelineofGirion;Iamtheslayerofthedragon!”“KingBard!KingBard!”theyshouted;buttheMastergroundhischattering

teeth.“Girionwas lordofDale,notkingofEsgaroth,”hesaid.“In theLake-town

we have always elected masters from among the old and wise, and have notendured the rule of mere fighting men. Let ‘King Bard’ go back to his ownkingdom—Daleisnowfreedbyhisvalour,andnothinghindershisreturn.Andanythatwishcangowithhim,iftheypreferthecoldstonesundertheshadowoftheMountaintothegreenshoresofthelake.Thewisewillstayhereandhopetorebuildourtown,andenjoyagainintimeitspeaceandriches.”

“WewillhaveKingBard!”thepeoplenearathandshoutedinreply.“Wehavehad enough of the oldmen and themoney-counters!” And people further offtookupthecry:“UptheBowman,anddownwithMoneybags,”tilltheclamourechoedalongtheshore.“IamthelastmantoundervalueBardtheBowman,”saidtheMasterwarily

(forBardnowstoodclosebesidehim).“Hehastonightearnedaneminentplaceintherollofthebenefactorsofourtown;andheisworthyofmanyimperishablesongs. But,whyO People?”—and here theMaster rose to his feet and spokeveryloudandclear—“WhydoIgetallyourblame?ForwhatfaultamI tobedeposed?Whoarousedthedragonfromhisslumber,Imightask?Whoobtainedofusrichgiftsandamplehelp,andledustobelievethatoldsongscouldcometrue?Whoplayedonoursoftheartsandourpleasantfancies?Whatsortofgoldhavetheysentdowntherivertorewardus?Dragon-fireandruin!Fromwhomshouldwe claim the recompense of our damage, and aid for ourwidows andorphans?”Asyousee,theMasterhadnotgothispositionfornothing.Theresultofhis

wordswasthatforthemomentthepeoplequiteforgottheirideaofanewking,andturnedtheirangrythoughtstowardsThorinandhiscompany.Wildandbitterwordswereshoutedfrommanysides;andsomeof thosewhohadbeforesungthe old songs loudest, were now heard as loudly crying that the dwarves hadstirredthedragonupagainstthemdeliberately!“Fools!”saidBard.“Whywastewordsandwrathonthoseunhappycreatures?

Doubtlesstheyperishedfirstinfire,beforeSmaugcametous.”Thenevenashewas speaking, the thought came into his heart of the fabled treasure of theMountainlyingwithoutguardorowner,andhefellsuddenlysilent.Hethoughtof theMaster’swords, and ofDale rebuilt, and filledwith golden bells, if hecouldbutfindthemen.At length he spoke again: “This is no time for angrywords,Master, or for

consideringweighty plans of change. There iswork to do. I serve you still—thoughafterawhileImaythinkagainofyourwordsandgoNorthwithanythatwillfollowme.”Thenhestrodeofftohelpintheorderingofthecampsandinthecareofthe

sick and the wounded. But the Master scowled at his back as he went, andremainedsittingontheground.Hethoughtmuchbutsaidlittle,unlessitwastocallloudlyformentobringhimfireandfood.NoweverywhereBardwenthefoundtalkrunninglikefireamongthepeople

concerning the vast treasure that was now unguarded. Men spoke of therecompenseforalltheirharmthattheywouldsoongetfromit,andwealthoverandtosparewithwhichtobuyrichthingsfromtheSouth;anditcheeredthem

greatlyintheirplight.Thatwasaswell,forthenightwasbitterandmiserable.Shelters could be contrived for few (theMaster had one) and therewas littlefood(eventheMasterwentshort).Manytookillofwetandcoldandsorrowthatnight,andafterwardsdied,whohadescapeduninjuredfromtheruinofthetown;andinthedaysthatfollowedtherewasmuchsicknessandgreathunger.Meanwhile Bard took the lead, and ordered things as he wished, though

always in theMaster’sname,andhehadahard task togovern thepeopleanddirect thepreparationsfor theirprotectionandhousing.Probablymostof themwouldhaveperishedinthewinterthatnowhurriedafterautumn,ifhelphadnotbeen tohand.Buthelpcameswiftly; forBardatoncehad speedymessengerssent up the river to the Forest to ask the aid of theKing of the Elves of theWood,andthesemessengershadfoundahostalreadyonthemove,althoughitwasthenonlythethirddayafterthefallofSmaug.The Elvenking had received news from his own messengers and from the

birds that lovedhis folk, andalreadyknewmuchofwhathadhappened.VerygreatindeedwasthecommotionamongallthingswithwingsthatdweltonthebordersoftheDesolationoftheDragon.Theairwasfilledwithcirclingflocks,andtheirswift-flyingmessengersflewhereandthereacrossthesky.AbovethebordersoftheForesttherewaswhistling,cryingandpiping.FaroverMirkwoodtidings spread: “Smaug is dead!” Leaves rustled and startled earswere lifted.Even before the Elvenking rode forth the news had passed west right to thepinewoodsoftheMistyMountains;Beornhadhearditinhiswoodenhouse,andthegoblinswereatcouncilintheircaves.“Thatwill be the lastwe shall hearofThorinOakenshield, I fear,” said the

king.“Hewouldhavedonebettertohaveremainedmyguest.Itisanillwind,all the same,” he added, “that blows no one any good.” For he too had notforgotten the legend of thewealth ofThror. So itwas thatBard’smessengersfound him nowmarchingwithmany spearmen and bowmen; and crowsweregatheredthickabovehim,fortheythoughtthatwarwasawakeningagain,suchashadnotbeeninthosepartsforalongage.Buttheking,whenhereceivedtheprayersofBard,hadpity,forhewasthe

lordofagoodandkindlypeople;soturninghismarch,whichhadatfirstbeendirecttowardstheMountain,hehastenednowdowntherivertotheLongLake.Hehadnot boats or rafts enough for his host, and theywere forced to go theslowerwaybyfoot;butgreatstoreofgoodshesentaheadbywater.Stillelvesare lightfooted, and though they were not in these days much used to themarchesandthetreacherouslandsbetweentheForestandtheLake,theirgoingwas swift.Only fivedays after thedeathof thedragon— they cameupon theshoresandlookedontheruinsofthetown.Theirwelcomewasgood,asmaybe

expected,andthemenandtheirMasterwerereadytomakeanybargainforthefutureinreturnfortheElvenking’said.Theirplansweresoonmade.Withthewomenandthechildren,theoldandthe

unfit, theMaster remainedbehind;andwithhimweresomemenofcraftsandmanyskilledelves;andtheybusiedthemselvesfellingtrees,andcollectingthetimbersentdownfromtheForest.Thentheysetaboutraisingmanyhutsbytheshore against theoncomingwinter; and alsounder theMaster’s direction theybegan the planning of a new town, designed more fair and large even thanbefore,butnotinthesameplace.Theyremovednorthwardhigheruptheshore;for ever after they had a dread of the water where the dragon lay. Hewouldnever again return to his golden bed, butwas stretched cold as stone, twistedupontheflooroftheshallows.Thereforageshishugebonescouldbeseenincalmweatheramidtheruinedpilesoftheoldtown.Butfewdaredtocrossthecursed spot, and none dared to dive into the shivering water or recover thepreciousstonesthatfellfromhisrottingcarcase.Butallthemenofarmswhowerestillable,andthemostoftheElvenking’s

array,gotreadytomarchnorthtotheMountain.Itwasthusthatinelevendaysfromtheruinofthetowntheheadoftheirhostpassedtherock-gatesattheendofthelakeandcameintothedesolatelands.

ChapterXVTheGatheringoftheClouds

Now we will return to Bilbo and the dwarves. All night one of them hadwatched,butwhenmorningcametheyhadnotheardorseenanysignofdanger.But evermore thickly the birdswere gathering. Their companies came flyingfromtheSouth;andthecrowsthatstilllivedabouttheMountainwerewheelingandcryingunceasinglyabove.“Something strange is happening,” saidThorin. “The time has gone for the

autumnwanderings;andthesearebirdsthatdwellalwaysintheland;therearestarlingsand flocksof finches;and faroff therearemanycarrionbirdsas ifabattlewereafoot!”SuddenlyBilbopointed:“Thereisthatoldthrushagain!”hecried.“Heseems

tohaveescaped,whenSmaugsmashed themountain-side,but Idon’t supposethesnailshave!”Sureenoughtheoldthrushwasthere,andasBilbopointed,heflewtowards

themandperchedonastonenearby.Thenheflutteredhiswingsandsang;thenhecockedhisheadononeside,asiftolisten;andagainhesang,andagainhelistened.“Ibelieveheistryingtotellussomething,”saidBalin;“butIcannotfollow

the speech of such birds, it is very quick and difficult. Can you make it outBaggins?”“Notverywell,”saidBilbo(asamatteroffact,hecouldmakenothingofitat

all);“buttheoldfellowseemsveryexcited.”“Ionlywishhewasaraven!”saidBalin.“I thought you did not like them!You seemed very shy of them,whenwe

camethiswaybefore.”“Thosewerecrows!Andnastysuspicious-lookingcreaturesatthat,andrude

aswell.Youmusthaveheardtheuglynamestheywerecallingafterus.Buttheravens are different. There used to be great friendship between them and thepeopleofThror;andtheyoftenbroughtussecretnews,andwererewardedwithsuchbrightthingsastheycovetedtohideintheirdwellings.

“Theylivemanyayear,andtheirmemoriesarelong,andtheyhandontheirwisdom to their children. I knewmanyamong the ravensof the rockswhen Iwasadwarf-lad.ThisveryheightwasoncenamedRavenhill,becausetherewasawiseandfamouspair,oldCarcandhiswife,thatlivedhereabovetheguard-chamber.ButIdon’tsupposethatanyofthatancientbreedlingerherenow.”Nosoonerhadhefinishedspeakingthantheoldthrushgavealoudcall,and

immediatelyflewaway.“Wemay not understand him, but that old bird understands us, I am sure,”

saidBalin.“Keepwatchnow,andseewhathappens!”Before long therewas a flutteringofwings, andback came the thrush; and

withhimcameamostdecrepitoldbird.Hewasgettingblind,hecouldhardlyfly, and the topofhisheadwasbald.Hewasanaged ravenofgreat size.Healightedstifflyonthegroundbeforethem,slowlyflappedhiswings,andbobbedtowardsThorin.“OThorin son ofThrain, andBalin son of Fundin,” he croaked (andBilbo

could understand what he said, for he used ordinary language and not bird-speech).“IamRoäcsonofCarc.Carc isdead,buthewaswellknowntoyouonce.ItisahundredyearsandthreeandfiftysinceIcameoutoftheegg,butIdonotforgetwhatmyfathertoldme.NowIamthechiefofthegreatravensoftheMountain.Wearefew,butwerememberstillthekingthatwasofold.Mostof my people are abroad, for there are great tidings in the South—some aretidingsofjoytoyou,andsomeyouwillnotthinksogood.“Behold!thebirdsaregatheringbackagaintotheMountainandtoDalefrom

SouthandEastandWest,forwordhasgoneoutthatSmaugisdead!”“Dead!Dead?”shoutedthedwarves.“Dead!Thenwehavebeeninneedless

fear—andthetreasureisours!”Theyallsprangupandbegantocaperaboutforjoy.“Yes,dead,”saidRoäc.“Thethrush,mayhisfeathersneverfall,sawhimdie,

andwemaytrusthiswords.HesawhimfallinbattlewiththemenofEsgaroththethirdnightbackfromnowattherisingofthemoon.”ItwassometimebeforeThorincouldbringthedwarvestobesilentandlisten

totheraven’snews.Atlengthwhenhehadtoldallthetaleofthebattlehewenton:“So much for joy, Thorin Oakenshield. You may go back to your halls in

safety;allthetreasureisyours—forthemoment.Butmanyaregatheringhitherbesidethebirds.Thenewsofthedeathoftheguardianhasalreadygonefarandwide, and the legend of thewealth of Thror has not lost in the telling duringmanyyears;manyareeagerforashareofthespoil.Alreadyahostoftheelvesisontheway,andcarrionbirdsarewiththemhopingforbattleandslaughter.By

the lakemenmurmur that their sorrows are due to the dwarves; for they arehomeless andmanyhavedied, andSmaughasdestroyed their town.They toothinktofindamendsfromyourtreasure,whetheryouarealiveordead.“Yourownwisdommustdecideyourcourse;butthirteenissmallremnantof

thegreat folkofDurin thatoncedwelthere, andnoware scattered far. Ifyouwill listen tomy counsel, youwill not trust theMaster of the Lake-men, butratherhimthatshotthedragonwithhisbow.Bardishe,oftheraceofDale,ofthe lineofGirion; he is a grimmanbut true.Wewould seepeaceoncemoreamongdwarvesandmenandelvesafterthelongdesolation;butitmaycostyoudearingold.Ihavespoken.”ThenThorinburstforthinanger:“Ourthanks,RoäcCarc’sson.Youandyour

people shall not be forgotten. But none of our gold shall thieves take or theviolent carry offwhilewe are alive. If youwould earn our thanks stillmore,bringusnewsofanythatdrawnear.AlsoIwouldbegofyou,ifanyofyouarestillyoungandstrongofwing,thatyouwouldsendmessengerstoourkininthemountains of the North, both west from here and east, and tell them of ourplight.But go specially tomy cousinDain in the IronHills, for he hasmanypeoplewell-armed,anddwellsnearesttothisplace.Bidhimhasten!”“Iwillnotsayif thiscounselbegoodorbad,”croakedRoäc,“butIwilldo

whatcanbedone.”Thenoffheslowlyflew.“BacknowtotheMountain!”criedThorin.“Wehavelittletimetolose.”“Andlittlefoodtouse!”criedBilbo,alwayspracticalonsuchpoints.Inany

casehefeltthattheadventurewas,properlyspeaking,overwiththedeathofthedragon-inwhichhewasmuchmistaken—andhewouldhavegivenmostofhisshareoftheprofitsforthepeacefulwindingupoftheseaffairs.“Back to theMountain!”cried thedwarvesas if theyhadnotheardhim;so

backhehadtogowiththem.

Asyouhaveheardsomeoftheeventsalready,youwillseethatthedwarvesstill had some days before them. They explored the caverns once more, andfound, as theyexpected, thatonly theFrontGate remainedopen; all theothergates (except, of course, the small secret door) had long agobeenbroken andblockedbySmaug,andnosignofthemremained.Sonowtheybegantolabourhardinfortifyingthemainentrance,andinmakinganewpaththatledfromit.Toolsweretobefoundinplentythattheminersandquarriersandbuildersofoldhadused;andatsuchworkthedwarveswerestillveryskilled.As theyworked the ravens brought them constant tidings. In thisway they

learned that the Elvenking had turned aside to the Lake, and they still had abreathingspace.Betterstill,theyheardthatthreeoftheirponieshadescapedand

were wandering wild far down the banks of the Running River, not far fromwhere the rest of their stores had been left. Sowhile the otherswent onwiththeirwork, Fili andKiliwere sent, guided by a raven, to find the ponies andbringbackalltheycould.Theywerefourdaysgone,andbythattimetheyknewthatthejoinedarmies

of the Lake-men and the Elveswere hurrying toward theMountain. But nowtheirhopeswerehigher; for theyhad food for someweekswith care—chieflycram, of course, and theywere very tired of it; but cram ismuch better thannothing—and already the gatewas blockedwith awall of squared stones laiddry,butvery thickandhigh, across theopening.Therewereholes in thewallthroughwhichtheycouldsee(orshoot),butnoentrance.Theyclimbedinoroutwithladders,andhauledstuffupwithropes.Fortheissuingofthestreamtheyhadcontrivedasmall lowarchunder thenewwall;butnear theentrance theyhadsoalteredthenarrowbedthatawidepoolstretchedfromthemountain-walltotheheadofthefalloverwhichthestreamwenttowardsDale.ApproachtotheGatewas now only possible,without swimming, along a narrow ledge of thecliff, to the right as one looked outwards from thewall. The ponies they hadbroughtonlytotheheadofthestepsabovetheoldbridge,andunloadingthemtherehadbiddenthemreturntotheirmastersandsentthembackriderlesstotheSouth.

There came a night when suddenly there were many lights as of fires andtorchesawaysouthinDalebeforethem.“Theyhave come!” calledBalin. “And their camp is verygreat.Theymust

havecomeintothevalleyunderthecoverofduskalongbothbanksoftheriver.”Thatnightthedwarvessleptlittle.Themorningwasstillpalewhentheysawa

company approaching. Frombehind theirwall theywatched them comeup tothevalley’sheadandclimbslowlyup.Beforelongtheycouldseethatbothmenofthelakearmedasifforwarandelvishbowmenwereamongthem.Atlengththeforemostoftheseclimbedthetumbledrocksandappearedatthetopofthefalls;andverygreatwastheirsurprisetoseethepoolbeforethemandtheGateblockedwithawallofnew-hewnstone.AstheystoodpointingandspeakingtooneanotherThorinhailedthem:“Who

areyou,”hecalledinaveryloudvoice,“thatcomeasifinwartothegatesofThorinsonofThrain,KingundertheMountain,andwhatdoyoudesire?”But they answered nothing. Some turned swiftly back, and the others after

gazingforawhileattheGateanditsdefencessoonfollowedthem.Thatdaythecampwasmovedtotheeastoftheriver,rightbetweenthearmsoftheMountain.Therocksechoedthenwithvoicesandwithsong,astheyhadnotdoneformany

aday.Therewas the sound, too, of elven-harps andof sweetmusic; and as itechoeduptowardsthemitseemedthatthechilloftheairwaswarmed,andtheycaughtfaintlythefragranceofwoodlandflowersblossominginspring.ThenBilbolongedtoescapefromthedarkfortressandtogodownandjoinin

themirthandfeastingbythefires.Someoftheyoungerdwarvesweremovedintheir hearts, too, and they muttered that they wished things had fallen outotherwiseandthattheymightwelcomesuchfolkasfriends;butThorinscowled.Then the dwarves themselves brought forth harps and instruments regained

fromthehoard,andmademusic tosoftenhismood;but theirsongwasnotaselvish song,andwasmuch like the song theyhadsung longbefore inBilbo’slittlehobbit-hole.

UndertheMountaindarkandtallTheKinghascomeuntohishall!Hisfoeisdead,theWormofDread,Andeversohisfoesshallfall.Theswordissharp,thespearislong,Thearrowswift,theGateisstrong;Theheartisboldthatlooksongold;Thedwarvesnomoreshallsufferwrong.Thedwarvesofyoremademightyspells,WhilehammersfelllikeringingbellsInplacesdeep,wheredarkthingssleep,Inhollowhallsbeneaththefells.OnsilvernecklacestheystrungThelightofstars,oncrownstheyhungThedragon-fire,fromtwistedwireThemelodyofharpstheywrung.Themountainthroneoncemoreisfreed!O!wanderingfolk,thesummonsheed!Comehaste!Comehaste!acrossthewaste!Thekingoffriendandkinhasneed.Nowcallweovermountainscold,‘Comebackuntothecavernsold’!HereattheGatesthekingawaits,Hishandsarerichwithgemsandgold.ThekingiscomeuntohishallUndertheMountaindarkandtall.TheWormofDreadisslainanddead,Andeversoourfoesshallfall!

This song appeared to pleaseThorin, and he smiled again and grewmerry;andhebeganreckoningthedistancetotheIronHillsandhowlongitwouldbebeforeDaincouldreach theLonelyMountain, ifhehadsetoutassoonas themessagereachedhim.ButBilbo’sheartfell,bothatthesongandthetalk:theysoundedmuchtoowarlike.Thenextmorningearlyacompanyofspearmenwasseencrossingtheriver,

and marching up the valley. They bore with them the green banner of theElvenkingandthebluebanneroftheLake,andtheyadvanceduntiltheystoodrightbeforethewallattheGate.AgainThorinhailedtheminaloudvoice:“Whoareyouthatcomearmedfor

wartothegatesofThorinsonofThrain,KingundertheMountain?”Thistimehewasanswered.Atallmanstoodforward,darkofhairandgrimofface,andhecried:“Hail

Thorin!Why do you fence yourself like a robber in his hold?We are not yetfoes,andwerejoicethatyouarealivebeyondourhope.Wecameexpectingtofindnonelivinghere;yetnowthatwearemetthereismatterforaparleyandacouncil.”“Whoareyou,andofwhatwouldyouparley?”“IamBard,andbymyhandwasthedragonslainandyourtreasuredelivered.

Isthatnotamatterthatconcernsyou?MoreoverIambyrightdescenttheheirofGirionofDale,andinyourhoardismingledmuchofthewealthofhishallsandtowns,whichofoldSmaugstole.Isnotthatamatterofwhichwemayspeak?FurtherinhislastbattleSmaugdestroyedthedwellingsofthemenofEsgaroth,andIamyettheservantoftheirMaster.Iwouldspeakforhimandaskwhetheryouhavenothoughtforthesorrowandmiseryofhispeople.Theyaidedyouinyour distress, and in recompense you have thus far brought ruin only, thoughdoubtlessundesigned.”Nowthesewerefairwordsandtrue,ifproudlyandgrimlyspoken;andBilbo

thoughtthatThorinwouldatonceadmitwhatjusticewasinthem.Hedidnot,ofcourse,expect thatanyonewouldremember that itwashewhodiscoveredallbyhimselfthedragon’sweakspot;andthatwasjustaswell,fornooneeverdid.Butalsohedidnotreckonwiththepowerthatgoldhasuponwhichadragonhaslongbrooded,norwithdwarvishhearts.LonghoursinthepastdaysThorinhadspentinthetreasury,andthelustofitwasheavyonhim.ThoughhehadhuntedchieflyfortheArkenstone,yethehadaneyeformanyanotherwonderfulthingthatwaslyingthere,aboutwhichwerewoundoldmemoriesofthelaboursandthesorrowsofhisrace.“Youputyourworstcauselastandinthechiefplace,”Thorinanswered.“To

thetreasureofmypeoplenomanhasaclaim,becauseSmaugwhostoleitfrom

usalsorobbedhimoflifeorhome.Thetreasurewasnothisthathisevildeedsshouldbeamendedwithashareofit.ThepriceofthegoodsandtheassistancethatwereceivedoftheLake-menwewillfairlypay—induetime.Butnothingwillwegive,notevenaloaf’sworth,underthreatofforce.Whileanarmedhostliesbeforeourdoors,welookonyouasfoesandthieves.“Itisinmymindtoaskwhatshareoftheirinheritanceyouwouldhavepaidto

ourkindred,hadyoufoundthehoardunguardedandusslain.”“Ajustquestion,”repliedBard.“Butyouarenotdead,andwearenotrobbers.

Moreoverthewealthymayhavepitybeyondrightontheneedythatbefriendedthemwhentheywereinwant.Andstillmyotherclaimsremainunanswered.”“Iwillnotparley,asIhavesaid,witharmedmenatmygate.Noratallwith

the people of the Elvenking, whom I remember with small kindness. In thisdebate theyhavenoplace.Begonenowereourarrows fly!And ifyouwouldspeakwithmeagain,firstdismisstheelvishhosttothewoodswhereitbelongs,andthenreturn,layingdownyourarmsbeforeyouapproachthethreshold.”“TheElvenkingismyfriend,andhehassuccouredthepeopleoftheLakein

their need, though they had no claim but friendship on him,” answeredBard.“We will give you time to repent your words. Gather your wisdom ere wereturn!”Thenhedepartedandwentbacktothecamp.Eremanyhourswerepast,thebanner-bearersreturned,andtrumpetersstood

forthandblewablast:“In thenameofEsgarothand theForest,”onecried,“wespeakuntoThorin

Thrain’ssonOakenshield,callinghimselftheKingundertheMountain,andwebidhimconsiderwelltheclaimsthathavebeenurged,orbedeclaredourfoe.Atthe least he shall deliver one twelfth portion of the treasure untoBard, as thedragon-slayer, and as the heir of Girion. From that portion Bard will himselfcontribute to the aidofEsgaroth; but ifThorinwouldhave the friendship andhonour of the lands about, as his sires had of old, then he will give alsosomewhatofhisownforthecomfortofthemenoftheLake.”ThenThorinseizedabowofhornandshotanarrowatthespeaker.Itsmote

intohisshieldandstucktherequivering.“Since such is your answer,” he called in return, “I declare the Mountain

besieged.Youshallnotdepartfromit,untilyoucallonyoursideforatruceandaparley.Wewillbearnoweaponsagainstyou,butweleaveyoutoyourgold.Youmayeatthat,ifyouwill!”With that the messengers departed swiftly, and the dwarves were left to

consider theircase.SogrimhadThorinbecome, thateven if theyhadwished,theotherswouldnothavedaredtofindfaultwithhim;butindeedmostofthemseemed to share hismind—except perhaps old fat Bombur and Fili and Kili.

Bilbo,ofcourse,disapprovedof thewhole turnofaffairs.HehadbynowhadmorethanenoughoftheMountain,andbeingbesiegedinsideitwasnotatalltohistaste.“The whole place still stinks of dragon,” he grumbled to himself, “and it

makesmesick.Andcramisbeginningsimplytostickinmythroat.”

ChapterXVIAThiefintheNight

Nowthedayspassedslowlyandwearily.Manyofthedwarvesspenttheirtimepiling and ordering the treasure; and now Thorin spoke of the Arkenstone ofThrain,andbadethemeagerlytolookforitineverycorner.“FortheArkenstoneofmyfather,”hesaid,“isworthmorethanariverofgold

initself,andtomeitisbeyondprice.ThatstoneofallthetreasureInameuntomyself,andIwillbeavengedonanyonewhofindsitandwithholdsit.”Bilboheardthesewordsandhegrewafraid,wonderingwhatwouldhappen,if

the stone was found—wrapped in an old bundle of tattered oddments that heusedasapillow.Allthesamehedidnotspeakofit,forasthewearinessofthedaysgrewheavier,thebeginningsofaplanhadcomeintohislittlehead.Things hadgoneon like this for some time,when the ravens brought news

that Dain andmore than five hundred dwarves, hurrying from the Iron Hills,werenowwithinabouttwodays’marchofDale,comingfromtheNorth-East.“But theycannotreach theMountainunmarked,”saidRoäc,“andI fear lest

therebebattleinthevalley.Idonotcall thiscounselgood.Thoughtheyareagrimfolk,theyarenotlikelytoovercomethehostthatbesetsyou;andeveniftheydidso,whatwillyougain?Winterandsnowishasteningbehindthem.Howshallyoubefedwithoutthefriendshipandgoodwillofthelandsaboutyou?Thetreasureislikelytobeyourdeath,thoughthedragonisnomore!”ButThorinwasnotmoved.“Winterandsnowwillbitebothmenandelves,”

hesaid,“andtheymayfindtheirdwellinginthewastegrievoustobear.Withmyfriendsbehindthemandwinteruponthem,theywillperhapsbeinsoftermoodtoparleywith.”ThatnightBilbomadeuphismind.Theskywasblackandmoonless.Assoon

asitwasfulldark,hewenttoacornerofaninnerchamberjustwithinthegateand drew from his bundle a rope, and also theArkenstonewrapped in a rag.Thenheclimbedtothetopof thewall.OnlyBomburwasthere,for itwashisturntowatch,andthedwarveskeptonlyonewatchmanatatime.“Itismightycold!”saidBombur.“Iwishwecouldhaveafireuphereasthey

haveinthecamp!”“Itiswarmenoughinside,”saidBilbo.“I daresay; but I am bound here tillmidnight,” grumbled the fat dwarf. “A

sorry business altogether.Not that I venture to disagreewith Thorin,may hisbeardgroweverlonger;yethewaseveradwarfwithastiffneck.”“Notasstiffasmylegs,”saidBilbo.“Iamtiredofstairsandstonepassages.I

wouldgiveagooddealforthefeelofgrassatmytoes.”“Iwouldgiveagooddealforthefeelofastrongdrinkinmythroat,andfora

softbedafteragoodsupper!”“I can’t give you those, while the siege is going on. But it is long since I

watched,andIwilltakeyourturnforyou,ifyoulike.Thereisnosleepinmetonight.”“Youareagoodfellow,Mr.Baggins,andIwilltakeyourofferkindly.Ifthere

should be anything to note, rouse me first, mind you! I will lie in the innerchambertotheleft,notfaraway.”“Offyougo!”saidBilbo.“Iwillwakeyouatmidnight,andyoucanwakethe

nextwatchman.”AssoonasBomburhadgone,Bilboputonhisring,fastenedhisrope,slipped

downoverthewall,andwasgone.Hehadaboutfivehoursbeforehim.Bomburwould sleep (he could sleep at any time, and ever since the adventure in theforesthewasalwaystryingtorecapturethebeautifuldreamshehadthen);andalltheotherswerebusywithThorin.Itwasunlikelythatany,evenFiliorKili,wouldcomeoutonthewalluntilitwastheirturn.Itwasverydark,andtheroadafterawhile,whenheleftthenewlymadepath

andclimbeddowntowardsthelowercourseofthestream,wasstrangetohim.Atlasthecametothebendwherehehadtocrossthewater,ifhewastomakeforthecamp,ashewished.Thebedofthestreamwasthereshallowbutalreadybroad,andfordingitinthedarkwasnoteasyforthelittlehobbit.Hewasnearlyacrosswhenhemissedhisfootingonaroundstoneandfellintothecoldwaterwith a splash. He had barely scrambled out on the far bank, shivering andspluttering,whenupcameelvesinthegloomwithbrightlanternsandsearchedforthecauseofthenoise.“Thatwasnofish!”onesaid.“There isaspyabout.Hideyour lights!They

willhelphimmorethanus,ifitisthatqueerlittlecreaturethatissaidtobetheirservant.”“Servant, indeed!” snortedBilbo; and in themiddle of his snort he sneezed

loudly,andtheelvesimmediatelygatheredtowardsthesound.“Let’shavealight!”hesaid.“Iamhere,ifyouwantme!”andheslippedoff

hisring,andpoppedfrombehindarock.

Theyseizedhimquickly,inspiteoftheirsurprise.“Whoareyou?Areyouthedwarves’ hobbit? What are you doing? How did you get so far past oursentinels?”theyaskedoneafteranother.“IamMr.BilboBaggins,”heanswered,“companionofThorin,ifyouwantto

know. Iknowyourkingwellbysight, thoughperhapshedoesn’tknowme tolookat.ButBardwillrememberme,anditisBardIparticularlywanttosee.”“Indeed!”saidthey,“andwhatmaybeyourbusiness?”“Whateveritis,it’smyown,mygoodelves.Butifyouwishevertogetback

toyourownwoodsfromthiscoldcheerlessplace,”heansweredshivering,“youwill takemealongquick toa fire,where I candry—and thenyouwill letmespeaktoyourchiefsasquickasmaybe.Ihaveonlyanhourortwotospare.”

ThatishowitcameaboutthatsometwohoursafterhisescapefromtheGate,Bilbowassittingbesideawarmfire in frontofa large tent, and there sat too,gazingcuriouslyathim,boththeElvenkingandBard.Ahobbitinelvisharmour,partlywrappedinanoldblanket,wassomethingnewtothem.“Reallyyouknow,”Bilbowassayinginhisbestbusinessmanner,“thingsare

impossible.Personally I am tiredof thewholeaffair. Iwish Iwasback in theWestinmyownhome,wherefolkaremorereasonable.ButIhaveaninterestinthis matter—one fourteenth share, to be precise, according to a letter, whichfortunately I believe I have kept.” He drew from a pocket in his old jacket(whichhestillworeoverhismail),crumpledandmuchfolded,Thorin’s letterthathadbeenputundertheclockonhismantelpieceinMay!“Ashareintheprofits,mindyou,”hewenton.“Iamawareofthat.Personally

I am only too ready to consider all your claims carefully, and deductwhat isright fromthe totalbeforeputting inmyownclaim.Howeveryoudon’tknowThorinOakenshieldaswellasIdonow.Iassureyou,heisquitereadytositonaheapofgoldandstarve,aslongasyousithere.”“Well,lethim!”saidBard.“Suchafooldeservestostarve.”“Quiteso,”saidBilbo.“Iseeyourpointofview.Atthesametimewinteris

comingonfast.Beforelongyouwillbehavingsnowandwhatnot,andsupplieswillbedifficult—evenforelvesIimagine.Alsotherewillbeotherdifficulties.YouhavenotheardofDainandthedwarvesoftheIronHills?”“Wehave,alongtimeago;butwhathashegottodowithus?”askedtheking.“Ithoughtasmuch.IseeIhavesomeinformationyouhavenotgot.Dain,I

maytellyou,isnowlessthantwodays’marchoff,andhasatleastfivehundredgrim dwarves with him—a good many of them have had experience in thedreadfuldwarfandgoblinwars,ofwhichyouhavenodoubtheard.Whentheyarrivetheremaybeserioustrouble.”

“Why do you tell us this? Are you betraying your friends, or are youthreateningus?”askedBardgrimly.“My dear Bard!” squeaked Bilbo. “Don’t be so hasty! I never met such

suspicious folk! I ammerely trying to avoid trouble for all concerned.Now Iwillmakeyouanoffer!!”“Letushearit!”theysaid.“Youmayseeit!”saidhe.“Itisthis!”andhedrewforththeArkenstone,and

threwawaythewrapping.TheElvenkinghimself,whoseeyeswereusedtothingsofwonderandbeauty,

stoodupinamazement.EvenBardgazedmarvellingatitinsilence.Itwasasifaglobehadbeenfilledwithmoonlightandhungbeforetheminanetwovenoftheglintoffrostystars.“This is theArkenstoneofThrain,” saidBilbo, “theHeartof theMountain;

anditisalsotheheartofThorin.Hevaluesitaboveariverofgold.Igiveittoyou.Itwillaidyouinyourbargaining.”ThenBilbo,notwithoutashudder,notwithoutaglanceoflonging,handedthemarvellousstonetoBard,andhehelditinhishand,asthoughdazed.“Buthowisityourstogive?”heaskedatlastwithaneffort.“O well!” said the hobbit uncomfortably. “It isn’t exactly; but, well, I am

willingtoletitstandagainstallmyclaim,don’tyouknow.Imaybeaburglar—orsotheysay:personallyIneverreallyfeltlikeone—butIamanhonestone,Ihope,moreorless.AnywayIamgoingbacknow,andthedwarvescandowhattheyliketome.Ihopeyouwillfindituseful.”TheElvenkinglookedatBilbowithanewwonder.“BilboBaggins!”hesaid.

“You aremoreworthy towear the armour of elf-princes thanmany that havelookedmorecomely in it.ButIwonder ifThorinOakenshieldwillsee itso. Ihavemoreknowledgeofdwarvesingeneralthanyouhaveperhaps.Iadviseyoutoremainwithus,andhereyoushallbehonouredandthricewelcome.”“ThankyouverymuchIamsure,”saidBilbowithabow.“ButIdon’tthinkI

oughttoleavemyfriendslikethis,afterallwehavegonethroughtogether.AndIpromised towakeoldBomburatmidnight, too!Really Imustbegoing,andquickly.”Nothing theycouldsaywouldstophim;soanescortwasprovided forhim,

andashewentboththekingandBardsalutedhimwithhonour.Astheypassedthrough the campanoldman,wrapped in adark cloak, rose froma tentdoorwherehewassittingandcametowardsthem.“Well done!Mr. Baggins!” he said, clapping Bilbo on the back. “There is

alwaysmoreaboutyouthananyoneexpects!”ItwasGandalf.ForthefirsttimeformanyadayBilbowasreallydelighted.Buttherewasno

timeforallthequestionsthatheimmediatelywishedtoask.“Allingoodtime!”saidGandalf.“Thingsaredrawingtowardstheendnow,

unlessIammistaken.Thereisanunpleasanttimejustinfrontofyou;butkeepyourheartup!Youmaycomethroughallright.Thereisnewsbrewingthateventheravenshavenotheard.Goodnight!”Puzzledbutcheered,Bilbohurriedon.Hewasguided toasafefordandset

across dry, and then he said farewell to the elves and climbed carefully backtowards the Gate. Great weariness began to come over him; but it was wellbeforemidnightwhenheclambereduptheropeagain—itwasstillwherehehadleft it.Heuntied itandhid it,andthenhesatdownonthewallandwonderedanxiouslywhatwouldhappennext.Atmidnight hewoke upBombur; and then in turn rolled himself up in his

corner,withoutlisteningtotheolddwarf’sthanks(whichhefelthehadhardlyearned).Hewassoonfastasleepforgettingallhisworriestillthemorning.Asamatteroffacthewasdreamingofeggsandbacon.

ChapterXVIITheCloudsBurst

Next day the trumpets rang early in the camp.Soon a single runnerwas seenhurryingalongthenarrowpath.Atadistancehestoodandhailedthem,askingwhether Thorin would now listen to another embassy, since new tidings hadcometohand,andmatterswerechanged.“ThatwillbeDain!”saidThorinwhenheheard.“Theywillhavegotwindof

hiscoming.Ithoughtthatwouldaltertheirmood!Bidthemcomefewinnumberandweaponless,andIwillhear,”hecalledtothemessenger.AboutmiddaythebannersoftheForestandtheLakewereseentobeborne

forth again. A company of twenty was approaching. At the beginning of thenarrowway they laid aside sword and spear, and came on towards the Gate.Wondering, the dwarves saw that among them were both Bard and theElvenking,beforewhomanoldmanwrapped incloakandhoodboreastrongcasketofiron-boundwood.“HailThorin!”saidBard.“Areyoustillofthesamemind?”“My mind does not change with the rising and setting of a few suns,”

answeredThorin.“Didyoucometoaskmeidlequestions?Stilltheelf-hosthasnotdepartedasIbade!Tillthenyoucomeinvaintobargainwithme.”“Istherethennothingforwhichyouwouldyieldanyofyourgold?”“Nothingthatyouoryourfriendshavetooffer.”“WhatoftheArkenstoneofThrain?”saidhe,andatthesamemomenttheold

manopened thecasketandheldaloft the jewel.The light leapt fromhishand,brightandwhiteinthemorning.ThenThorinwasstrickendumbwithamazementandconfusion.Noonespoke

foralongwhile.Thorinatlengthbrokethesilence,andhisvoicewasthickwithwrath.“That

stonewasmyfather’s,andismine,”hesaid.“WhyshouldIpurchasemyown?”Butwonderovercamehimandheadded:“Buthowcameyoubytheheirloomofmyhouse—ifthereisneedtoasksuchaquestionofthieves?”“Wearenotthieves,”Bardanswered.“Yourownwewillgivebackinreturn

forourown.”“Howcameyoubyit?”shoutedThoriningatheringrage.“Igaveittothem!”squeakedBilbo,whowaspeeringoverthewall,bynowin

adreadfulfright.“You! You!” cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both

hands. “Youmiserablehobbit!Youundersized—burglar!”he shoutedat a lossforwords,andheshookpoorBilbolikearabbit.“BythebeardofDurin!IwishIhadGandalfhere!Cursehimforhischoiceof

you!Mayhisbeardwither!AsforyouIwillthrowyoutotherocks!”hecriedandliftedBilboinhisarms.“Stay!Yourwishisgranted!”saidavoice.Theoldmanwiththecasketthrew

asidehishoodandcloak.“HereisGandalf!Andnonetoosoonitseems.Ifyoudon’tlikemyBurglar,pleasedon’tdamagehim.Puthimdown,andlistenfirsttowhathehastosay!”“Youallseeminleague!”saidThorindroppingBilboonthetopofthewall.

“NeveragainwillIhavedealingswithanywizardorhisfriends.Whathaveyoutosay,youdescendantofrats?”“Dearme!Dearme!” saidBilbo. “I am sure this is all very uncomfortable.

You may remember saying that I might choose my own fourteenth share?Perhaps I took it too literally—I have been told that dwarves are sometimespoliter inword than indeed.The timewas,all thesame,whenyouseemed tothinkthatIhadbeenofsomeservice.Descendantofrats,indeed!IsthisalltheserviceofyouandyourfamilythatIwaspromised,Thorin?TakeitthatIhavedisposedofmyshareasIwished,andletitgoatthat!”“Iwill,”saidThoringrimly.“AndIwillletyougoatthat—andmaywenever

meetagain!”Thenheturnedandspokeoverthewall.“Iambetrayed,”hesaid.“Itwas rightlyguessed that I couldnot forbear to redeem theArkenstone, thetreasureofmyhouse.ForitIwillgiveonefourteenthshareofthehoardinsilverandgold,settingasidethegems;butthatshallbeaccountedthepromisedshareofthistraitor,andwiththatrewardheshalldepart,andyoucandivideitasyouwill.Hewillgetlittleenough,Idoubtnot.Takehim,ifyouwishhimtolive;andnofriendshipofminegoeswithhim.“Getdownnowtoyourfriends!”hesaidtoBilbo,“orIwillthrowyoudown.”“Whataboutthegoldandsilver?”askedBilbo.“Thatshallfollowafter,ascanbearranged,”saidhe.“Getdown!”“Untilthenwekeepthestone,”criedBard.“YouarenotmakingaverysplendidfigureasKingundertheMountain,”said

Gandalf.“Butthingsmaychangeyet.”“Theymayindeed,”saidThorin.Andalready,sostrongwasthebewilderment

of the treasure upon him, he was pondering whether by the help of Dain hemightnotrecapturetheArkenstoneandwithholdtheshareofthereward.AndsoBilbowasswungdownfromthewall,anddepartedwithnothingfor

all his trouble, except the armourwhich Thorin had given him already.Morethanoneofthedwarvesintheirheartsfeltshameandpityathisgoing.“Farewell!”hecriedtothem.“Wemaymeetagainasfriends.”“Beoff!”calledThorin. “Youhavemailuponyou,whichwasmadebymy

folk,andistoogoodforyou.Itcannotbepiercedbyarrows;butifyoudonothasten,Iwillstingyourmiserablefeet.Sobeswift!”“Notsohasty!”saidBard.“Wewillgiveyouuntiltomorrow.Atnoonwewill

return,andseeifyouhavebroughtfromthehoardtheportionthat is tobesetagainstthestone.Ifthatisdonewithoutdeceit,thenwewilldepart,andtheelf-hostwillgobacktotheForest.Inthemeanwhilefarewell!”With that theywentback to thecamp;butThorin sentmessengersbyRoäc

tellingDainofwhathadpassed,andbiddinghimcomewithwaryspeed.

Thatdaypassedandthenight.Thenextdaythewindshiftedwest,andtheairwasdarkandgloomy.Themorningwasstillearlywhenacrywasheardinthecamp.RunnerscameintoreportthatahostofdwarveshadappearedroundtheeasternspuroftheMountainandwasnowhasteningtoDale.Dainhadcome.Hehadhurriedonthroughthenight,andsohadcomeuponthemsoonerthantheyhadexpected.Eachoneofhisfolkwascladinahauberkofsteelmailthathungtohisknees, andhis legswerecoveredwithhoseof a fineand flexiblemetalmesh,thesecretofwhosemakingwaspossessedbyDain’speople.Thedwarvesareexceedinglystrongfor theirheight,butmostof thesewerestrongevenfordwarves. Inbattle theywieldedheavy two-handedmattocks;but eachof themhad also a short broad sword at his side and a roundshield slung at his back.Theirbeardswereforkedandplaitedandthrustintotheirbelts.Theircapswereofironandtheywereshodwithiron,andtheirfacesweregrim.Trumpets calledmen and elves to arms. Before long the dwarves could be

seencomingupthevalleyatagreatpace.Theyhaltedbetweentheriverandtheeasternspur;butafewheldon theirway,andcrossing theriverdrewnear thecamp;andtheretheylaiddowntheirweaponsandhelduptheirhandsinsignofpeace.Bardwentouttomeetthem,andwithhimwentBilbo.“We are sent fromDain son ofNain,” they saidwhen questioned. “We are

hastening toourkinsmen in theMountain, sincewe learn that thekingdomofold is renewed.Butwho are you that sit in the plain as foes before defendedwalls?”This,ofcourse,inthepoliteandratherold-fashionedlanguageofsuchoccasions,meantsimply:“Youhavenobusinesshere.Wearegoingon,somake

wayorweshallfightyou!”TheymeanttopushonbetweentheMountainandthe loop of the river; for the narrow land there did not seem to be stronglyguarded.Bard, of course, refused to allow the dwarves to go straight on to the

Mountain.Hewasdeterminedtowaituntilthegoldandsilverhadbeenbroughtout in exchange for theArkenstone; for he did not believe that thiswould bedone, if once the fortress was manned with so large and warlike a company.Theyhadbroughtwiththemagreatstoreofsupplies;forthedwarvescancarryveryheavyburdens,andnearlyallofDain’sfolk,inspiteoftheirrapidmarch,borehugepacksontheirbacksinadditiontotheirweapons.Theywouldstandasiegeforweeks,andbythattimeyetmoredwarvesmightcome,andyetmore,for Thorin hadmany relatives. Also theywould be able to reopen and guardsome other gate, so that the besiegers would have to encircle the wholemountain;andforthattheyhadnotsufficientnumbers.Thesewere,infact,preciselytheirplans(fortheraven-messengershadbeen

busybetweenThorinandDain);butforthemomentthewaywasbarred,soafterangrywords thedwarf-messengers retiredmuttering in theirbeards.Bard thensentmessengersatoncetotheGate;buttheyfoundnogoldorpayment.Arrowscameforthassoonastheywerewithinshot,andtheyhastenedbackindismay.In the camp all was now astir, as if for battle; for the dwarves of Dainwereadvancingalongtheeasternbank.“Fools!” laughedBard,“tocomethusbeneath theMountain’sarm!Theydo

not understand war above ground, whatever they may know of battle in themines. There aremany of our archers and spearmen now hidden in the rocksupontheirrightflank.Dwarf-mailmaybegood,buttheywillsoonbehardputtoit.Letussetonthemnowfrombothsides,beforetheyarefullyrested!”ButtheElvenkingsaid:“LongwillItarry,ereIbeginthiswarforgold.The

dwarvescannotpassus,unlesswewill,ordoanythingthatwecannotmark.Letus hope still for something that will bring reconciliation. Our advantage innumberswillbeenough,ifintheenditmustcometounhappyblows.”Buthereckonedwithoutthedwarves.TheknowledgethattheArkenstonewas

in the hands of the besiegers burned in their thoughts; also they guessed thehesitationofBardandhisfriends,andresolvedtostrikewhiletheydebated.Suddenly without a signal they sprang silently forward to attack. Bows

twangedandarrowswhistled;battlewasabouttobejoined.Still more suddenly a darkness came on with dreadful swiftness! A black

cloudhurriedoverthesky.Winterthunderonawildwindrolledroaringupandrumbled in theMountain, and lightning lit its peak. And beneath the thunderanotherblacknesscouldbeseenwhirlingforward;butitdidnotcomewiththe

wind, itcamefromtheNorth, likeavastcloudofbirds,sodensethatnolightcouldbeseenbetweentheirwings.“Halt!” cried Gandalf, who appeared suddenly, and stood alone, with arms

uplifted,between theadvancingdwarvesand the ranksawaiting them.“Halt!”hecalledinavoicelikethunder,andhisstaffblazedforthwithaflashlikethelightning.“Dreadhascomeuponyouall!Alas!ithascomemoreswiftlythanIguessed. The Goblins are upon you! Bolg1 of the North is coming, O Dain!whosefatheryouslewinMoria.Behold!thebatsareabovehisarmylikeaseaoflocusts.TheyrideuponwolvesandWargsareintheirtrain!”Amazement and confusion fell upon them all. Even as Gandalf had been

speakingthedarknessgrew.Thedwarveshaltedandgazedatthesky.Theelvescriedoutwithmanyvoices.“Come!”calledGandalf.“Thereisyettimeforcouncil.LetDainsonofNain

comeswiftlytous!”Sobeganabattlethatnonehadexpected;anditwascalledtheBattleofFive

Armies,anditwasveryterrible.UpononesideweretheGoblinsandtheWildWolves,andupontheotherwereElvesandMenandDwarves.Thisishowitfellout.EversincethefalloftheGreatGoblinoftheMistyMountainsthehatredoftheirraceforthedwarveshadbeenrekindledtofury.Messengershadpassedtoandfrobetweenalltheircities,coloniesandstrongholds;fortheyresolvednowtowinthedominionoftheNorth.Tidingstheyhadgatheredinsecretways;andinallthemountainstherewasaforgingandanarming.Thentheymarchedandgatheredbyhillandvalley,goingeverbytunnelorunderdark,untilaroundandbeneath thegreatmountainGundabadof theNorth,wherewas their capital, avasthostwasassembledreadytosweepdownintimeofstormunawaresupontheSouth.ThentheylearnedofthedeathofSmaug,andjoywasintheirhearts;andtheyhastenednightafternightthroughthemountains,andcamethusatlastonasuddenfromtheNorthhardontheheelsofDain.NoteventheravensknewoftheircominguntiltheycameoutinthebrokenlandswhichdividedtheLonelyMountainfromthehillsbehind.HowmuchGandalfknewcannotbesaid,butitisplainthathehadnotexpectedthissuddenassault.ThisistheplanthathemadeincouncilwiththeElvenkingandwithBard;and

withDain,forthedwarf-lordnowjoinedthem:theGoblinswerethefoesofall,andattheircomingallotherquarrelswereforgotten.TheironlyhopewastolurethegoblinsintothevalleybetweenthearmsoftheMountain;andthemselvestomanthegreatspursthatstrucksouthandeast.Yetthiswouldbeperilous,ifthegoblinswereinsufficientnumberstooverruntheMountainitself,andsoattackthemalsofrombehindandabove;buttherewasnotimetomakeanyotherplan,ortosummonanyhelp.

Soon the thunder passed, rolling away to the South-East; but the bat-cloudcame,flyinglower,overtheshoulderoftheMountain,andwhirledabovethemshuttingoutthelightandfillingthemwithdread.“To theMountain!” called Bard. “To theMountain! Let us take our places

whilethereisyettime!”OntheSouthernspur,initslowerslopesandintherocksatitsfeet,theElves

wereset;ontheEasternspurweremenanddwarves.ButBardandsomeofthenimblestofmenandelvesclimbedtotheheightoftheEasternshouldertogainaview to the North. Soon they could see the lands before theMountain’s feetblackwithahurryingmultitude.Erelongthevanguardswirledroundthespur’sendandcamerushingintoDale.Theseweretheswiftestwolf-riders,andalreadytheircriesandhowlsrenttheairafar.Afewbravemenwerestrungbeforethemtomakeafeintofresistance,andmanytherefellbeforetherestdrewbackandfledtoeitherside.AsGandalfhadhoped,thegoblinarmyhadgatheredbehindtheresistedvanguard,andpourednowinrageintothevalley,drivingwildlyupbetween the arms of the Mountain, seeking for the foe. Their banners werecountless,blackandred,andtheycameonlikeatideinfuryanddisorder.Itwasaterriblebattle.ThemostdreadfulofallBilbo’sexperiences,andthe

onewhichatthetimehehatedmost—whichistosayitwastheonehewasmostproud of, and most fond of recalling long afterwards, although he was quiteunimportantinit.ActuallyImaysayheputonhisringearlyinthebusiness,andvanished from sight, if not from all danger.Amagic ring of that sort is not acompleteprotectioninagoblincharge,nordoesitstopflyingarrowsandwildspears;butitdoeshelpingettingoutoftheway,anditpreventsyourheadfrombeingspeciallychosenforasweepingstrokebyagoblinswordsman.The elveswere the first to charge. Their hatred for the goblins is cold and

bitter.Theirspearsandswordsshoneinthegloomwithagleamofchillflame,sodeadlywasthewrathofthehandsthatheldthem.Assoonasthehostoftheirenemieswas dense in the valley, they sent against it a shower of arrows, andeachflickeredasitfledasifwithstingingfire.Behindthearrowsathousandoftheir spearmen leapt down and charged. The yells were deafening. The rockswerestainedblackwithgoblinblood.Justasthegoblinswererecoveringfromtheonslaughtandtheelf-chargewas

halted, there rose from across the valley a deep-throated roar. With cries of“Moria!”and“Dain,Dain!”thedwarvesoftheIronHillsplungedin,wieldingtheirmattocks,upontheotherside;andbesidethemcamethemenoftheLakewithlongswords.PaniccameupontheGoblins;andevenastheyturnedtomeetthisnewattack,

the elves charged again with renewed numbers. Alreadymany of the goblins

wereflyingbackdowntherivertoescapefromthetrap;andmanyoftheirownwolveswereturninguponthemandrendingthedeadandthewounded.Victoryseemedathand,whenacryrangoutontheheightsabove.GoblinshadscaledtheMountainfromtheothersideandalreadymanywere

on the slopes above the Gate, and others were streaming down recklessly,heedlessofthosethatfellscreamingfromcliffandprecipice,toattackthespursfrom above. Each of these could be reached by paths that ran down from themainmassoftheMountaininthecentre;andthedefendershadtoofewtobarthewayforlong.Victorynowvanishedfromhope.Theyhadonlystemmedthefirstonslaughtoftheblacktide.Daydrewon.Thegoblinsgatheredagaininthevalley.ThereahostofWargs

cameraveningandwiththemcamethebodyguardofBolg,goblinsofhugesizewith scimitars of steel. Soon actual darkness was coming into a stormy sky;whilestill thegreatbatsswirledabout theheadsandearsofelvesandmen,orfastened vampire-like on the stricken. Now Bard was fighting to defend theEastern spur, and yet giving slowly back; and the elf-lordswere at bay abouttheirkinguponthesouthernarm,neartothewatch-postonRavenhill.Suddenly there was a great shout, and from the Gate came a trumpet call.

TheyhadforgottenThorin!Partofthewall,movedbylevers,felloutwardwitha crash into the pool. Out leapt the King under the Mountain, and hiscompanions followed him. Hood and cloak were gone; they were in shiningarmour,andredlightleaptfromtheireyes.Inthegloomthegreatdwarfgleamedlikegoldinadyingfire.Rockswerehurleddownfromonhighbythegoblinsabove;buttheyheldon,

leaptdowntothefalls’foot,andrushedforwardtobattle.Wolfandriderfellorfled before them. Thorin wielded his axe with mighty strokes, and nothingseemedtoharmhim.“Tome!Tome!Elves andMen!Tome!Omykinsfolk!”he cried, andhis

voiceshooklikeahorninthevalley.Down,heedlessoforder,rushedallthedwarvesofDaintohishelp.Downtoo

camemanyoftheLake-men,forBardcouldnotrestrainthem;andoutupontheothersidecamemanyofthespearmenoftheelves.Onceagainthegoblinswerestricken in the valley; and they were piled in heaps till Dale was dark andhideous with their corpses. TheWargs were scattered and Thorin drove rightagainstthebodyguardofBolg.Buthecouldnotpiercetheirranks.Alreadybehindhimamongthegoblindeadlaymanymenandmanydwarves,

andmany a fair elf that should have lived yet long agesmerrily in thewood.And as the valleywidened his onset grew ever slower.His numberswere toofew.Hisflankswereunguarded.Soontheattackerswereattacked,andtheywere

forced intoagreat ring, facingeveryway,hemmedallaboutwithgoblinsandwolves returning to the assault. The bodyguard ofBolg camehowling againstthem,anddroveinupontheirrankslikewavesuponcliffsofsand.Theirfriendscould not help them, for the assault from the Mountain was renewed withredoubledforce,anduponeithersidemenandelveswerebeingslowlybeatendown.On all this Bilbo lookedwithmisery. He had taken his stand on Ravenhill

among the Elves—partly because there wasmore chance of escape from thatpoint, and partly (with themore Tookish part of hismind) because if hewasgoing to be in a last desperate stand, he preferred on thewhole to defend theElvenking.Gandalf,too,Imaysay,wasthere,sittingonthegroundasifindeepthought,preparing,Isuppose,somelastblastofmagicbeforetheend.Thatdidnotseemfaroff.“Itwillnotbelongnow,”thoughtBilbo,“beforethe

goblinswin theGate,andweareallslaughteredordrivendownandcaptured.Really it isenoughtomakeoneweep,afterallonehasgone through. IwouldratheroldSmaughadbeenleftwithallthewretchedtreasure,thanthatthesevilecreaturesshouldgetit,andpooroldBombur,andBalinandFiliandKiliandalltherestcometoabadend;andBardtoo,andtheLake-menandthemerryelves.Miseryme! Ihaveheardsongsofmanybattles,and Ihavealwaysunderstoodthatdefeatmaybeglorious.Itseemsveryuncomfortable,nottosaydistressing.IwishIwaswelloutofit.”Thecloudsweretornbythewind,andaredsunsetslashedtheWest.Seeing

thesuddengleaminthegloomBilbolookedround.Hegaveagreatcry:hehadseenasightthatmadehisheartleap,darkshapessmallyetmajesticagainstthedistantglow.“TheEagles!TheEagles!”heshouted.“TheEaglesarecoming!”Bilbo’seyeswereseldomwrong.Theeagleswerecomingdownthewind,line

afterline,insuchahostasmusthavegatheredfromalltheeyriesoftheNorth.“TheEagles! theEagles!”Bilbo cried, dancing andwaving his arms. If the

elvescouldnotseehimtheycouldhearhim.Soontheytootookupthecry,andit echoed across the valley. Many wondering eyes looked up, though as yetnothingcouldbeseenexceptfromthesouthernshouldersoftheMountain.“The Eagles!” cried Bilbo once more, but at that moment a stone hurtling

from above smote heavily on his helm, and he fellwith a crash and knewnomore.

1SonofAzog.Seep.24

ChapterXVIIITheReturnJourney

WhenBilbocame tohimself,hewas literallybyhimself.Hewas lyingon theflat stones ofRavenhill, and no onewas near.A cloudless day, but cold,wasbroadabovehim.Hewasshaking,andaschilledasstone,buthisheadburnedwithfire.“NowIwonderwhathashappened?”hesaidtohimself.“AtanyrateIamnot

yetoneofthefallenheroes;butIsupposethereisstilltimeenoughforthat!”He sat uppainfully.Looking into thevalleyhe could seeno livinggoblins.

Afterawhileashisheadclearedalittle,hethoughthecouldseeelvesmovingintherocksbelow.Herubbedhiseyes.Surelytherewasacampstill intheplainsomedistanceoff;andtherewasacomingandgoingabouttheGate?Dwarvesseemedtobebusyremovingthewall.Butallwasdeadlystill.Therewasnocallandnoechoofasong.Sorrowseemedtobeintheair.“Victoryafterall,Isuppose!”hesaid,feelinghisachinghead.“Well,itseems

averygloomybusiness.”Suddenlyhewasawareofamanclimbingupandcomingtowardshim.“Hullothere!”hecalledwithashakyvoice.“Hullothere!Whatnews?”“What voice is it that speaks among the stones?” said theman halting and

peeringabouthimnotfarfromwhereBilbosat.Then Bilbo remembered his ring! “Well I’m blessed!” said he. “This

invisibilityhasitsdrawbacksafterall.OtherwiseIsupposeImighthavespentawarmandcomfortablenightinbed!”“It’sme,BilboBaggins,companionofThorin!”hecried,hurriedlytakingoff

thering.“It iswell that I have found you!” said theman striding forward. “You are

needed and we have looked for you long. You would have been numberedamong the dead,who aremany, ifGandalf thewizard had not said that yourvoicewaslastheardinthisplace.Ihavebeensenttolookhereforthelasttime.Areyoumuchhurt?”“Anastyknockon thehead, I think,” saidBilbo. “But Ihaveahelmanda

hardskull.AllthesameIfeelsickandmylegsarelikestraws.”“Iwillcarryyoudownto thecampin thevalley,”said theman,andpicked

himlightlyup.Themanwasswiftandsure-footed.ItwasnotlongbeforeBilbowassetdown

beforeatentinDale;andtherestoodGandalf,withhisarminasling.Eventhewizardhadnotescapedwithoutawound;andtherewerefewunharmedinallthehost.WhenGandalfsawBilbo,hewasdelighted.“Baggins!”heexclaimed.“WellI

never!Aliveafterall—Iamglad!Ibegantowonderifevenyourluckwouldseeyou through!A terrible business, and it nearlywasdisastrous.But other newscanwait.Come!” he saidmore gravely. “You are called for;” and leading thehobbithetookhimwithinthetent.“Hail!Thorin,”hesaidasheentered.“Ihavebroughthim.”There indeed layThorinOakenshield,woundedwithmanywounds, andhis

rent armour andnotched axewere cast upon the floor.He lookedup asBilbocamebesidehim.“Farewell,goodthief,”hesaid.“Igonowtothehallsofwaitingtositbeside

myfathers,untiltheworldisrenewed.SinceIleavenowallgoldandsilver,andgowhereitisoflittleworth,Iwishtopartinfriendshipfromyou,andIwouldtakebackmywordsanddeedsattheGate.”Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow. “Farewell, King under the

Mountain!” he said. “This is a bitter adventure, if it must end so; and not amountainofgoldcanamendit.YetIamgladthatIhavesharedinyourperils—thathasbeenmorethananyBagginsdeserves.”“No!”saidThorin.“Thereismoreinyouofgoodthanyouknow,childofthe

kindlyWest.Somecourageandsomewisdom,blendedinmeasure.Ifmoreofusvalued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrierworld.Butsadormerry,Imustleaveitnow.Farewell!”ThenBilboturnedaway,andhewentbyhimself,andsatalonewrappedina

blanket,and,whetheryoubelieveitornot,heweptuntilhiseyeswereredandhisvoicewashoarse.Hewasakindlylittlesoul. Indeeditwas longbeforehehad theheart tomakea jokeagain.“Amercy it is,”hesaidat last tohimself,“that Iwokeupwhen I did. IwishThorinwere living, but I amglad thatwepartedinkindness.Youareafool,BilboBaggins,andyoumadeagreatmessofthatbusinesswiththestone;andtherewasabattle,inspiteofallyoureffortstobuypeaceandquiet,butIsupposeyoucanhardlybeblamedforthat.”

All thathadhappenedafterhewas stunned,Bilbo learned later; but it gavehimmore sorrow than joy, and he was nowweary of his adventure. He was

aching in his bones for the homeward journey. That, however, was a littledelayed,sointhemeantimeIwilltellsomethingofevents.TheEagleshadlonghadsuspicionofthegoblins’mustering;fromtheirwatchfulnessthemovementsinthemountainscouldnotbealtogetherhid.Sotheytoohadgatheredingreatnumbers,underthegreatEagleoftheMistyMountains;andatlengthsmellingbattlefromafartheyhadcomespeedingdownthegaleinthenickoftime.Theyitwaswhodislodged thegoblins from themountain-slopes,casting themoverprecipices,ordrivingthemdownshriekingandbewilderedamongtheirfoes.ItwasnotlongbeforetheyhadfreedtheLonelyMountain,andelvesandmenoneithersideofthevalleycouldcomeatlasttothehelpofthebattlebelow.ButevenwiththeEaglestheywerestilloutnumbered.InthatlasthourBeorn

himselfhadappeared—nooneknewhoworfromwhere.Hecamealone,andinbear’sshape;andheseemedtohavegrownalmosttogiant-sizeinhiswrath.The roar of his voice was like drums and guns; and he tossed wolves and

goblinsfromhispathlikestrawsandfeathers.Hefellupontheirrear,andbrokelikeaclapof thunder through thering.Thedwarvesweremakingastandstillabouttheirlordsuponalowroundedhill.ThenBeornstoopedandliftedThorin,whohadfallenpiercedwithspears,andborehimoutofthefray.Swiftly he returned and his wrath was redoubled, so that nothing could

withstand him, and no weapon seemed to bite upon him. He scattered thebodyguard,andpulleddownBolghimselfandcrushedhim.ThendismayfellontheGoblinsandtheyfledinalldirections.Butwearinesslefttheirenemieswiththecomingofnewhope,andtheypursuedthemclosely,andpreventedmostofthem from escaping where they could. They drove many of them into theRunning River, and such as fled south or west they hunted into the marshesabout theForestRiver;andthere thegreaterpartof the lastfugitivesperished,whilethosethatcamehardlytotheWood-elves’realmwerethereslain,ordrawnintodiedeepinthetracklessdarkofMirkwood.SongshavesaidthatthreepartsofthegoblinwarriorsoftheNorthperishedonthatday,andthemountainshadpeaceformanyayear.Victoryhadbeenassuredbeforethefallofnight;butthepursuitwasstillon

foot,whenBilboreturnedtothecamp;andnotmanywereinthevalleysavethemoregrievouslywounded.“WherearetheEagles?”heaskedGandalfthatevening,ashelaywrappedin

manywarmblankets.“Someare in thehunt,” said thewizard, “butmost havegoneback to their

eyries.Theywouldnot stayhere,anddepartedwith the first lightofmorning.Dain has crowned their chief with gold, and sworn friendship with themforever.”

“I am sorry. I mean, I should have liked to see them again,” said Bilbosleepily;“perhapsIshallseethemonthewayhome.IsupposeIshallbegoinghomesoon?”“Assoonasyoulike,”saidthewizard.Actually it was some days before Bilbo really set out. They buried Thorin

deepbeneaththeMountain,andBardlaidtheArkenstoneuponhisbreast.“ThereletitlietilltheMountainfalls!”hesaid.“Mayitbringgoodfortuneto

allhisfolkthatdwellhereafter!”UponhistombtheElvenkingthenlaidOrcrist,theelvishswordthathadbeen

takenfromThorinincaptivity.Itissaidinsongsthatitgleamedeverinthedarkif foes approached, and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken bysurprise.TherenowDainsonofNain tookuphisabode,andhebecameKingunder theMountain,and in timemanyotherdwarvesgathered tohis throne inthe ancient halls.Of the twelve companions ofThorin, ten remained. Fili andKili had fallendefendinghimwith shield andbody, for hewas theirmother’selderbrother.TheothersremainedwithDain;forDaindealthistreasurewell.Therewas, of course, no longer any question of dividing the hoard in such

sharesashadbeenplanned,toBalinandDwalin,andDoriandNoriandOri,andOinandGloin,andBifurandBofurandBombur—ortoBilbo.Yetafourteenthshareofallthesilverandgold,wroughtandunwrought,wasgivenuptoBard;forDainsaid:“Wewillhonourtheagreementof thedead,andhehasnowtheArkenstoneinhiskeeping.”Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly great, greater than that of

manymortal kings. From that treasure Bard sentmuch gold to theMaster ofLake-town;andherewardedhisfollowersandfriendsfreely.TotheElvenkinghegavetheemeraldsofGirion,suchjewelsashemostloved,whichDainhadrestoredtohim.ToBilbohe said: “This treasure is asmuchyours as it ismine; thoughold

agreementscannotstand,sincesomanyhaveaclaiminitswinninganddefence.Yeteventhoughyouwerewillingtolayasideallyourclaim,IshouldwishthatthewordsofThorin,ofwhichherepented,shouldnotprovetrue:thatweshouldgiveyoulittle.Iwouldrewardyoumostrichlyofall.”“Verykindofyou,”saidBilbo.“Butreallyitisarelieftome.Howonearth

should Ihavegot all that treasurehomewithoutwarandmurderall along theway,Idon’tknow.AndIdon’tknowwhatIshouldhavedonewithitwhenIgothome.Iamsureitisbetterinyourhands.”Intheendhewouldonlytaketwosmallchests,onefilledwithsilver,andthe

other with gold, such as one strong pony could carry. “That will be quite asmuchasIcanmanage,”saidhe.

At last the time came for him to say good-bye to his friends. “Farewell,Balin!”hesaid;“andfarewell,Dwalin;andfarewellDori,Nori,Ori,Oin,Gloin,Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur! May your beards never grow thin!” And turningtowards theMountain he added: “Farewell ThorinOakenshield! And Fili andKili!Mayyourmemoryneverfade!”Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate, but words stuck in their

throats. “Good-bye and good luck, wherever you fare!” said Balin at last. “Ifeveryouvisitusagain,whenourhallsaremadefaironcemore, thenthefeastshallindeedbesplendid!”“Ifeveryouarepassingmyway,”saidBilbo,“don’twaittoknock!Teaisat

four;butanyofyouarewelcomeatanytime!”Thenheturnedaway.

Theelf-hostwason themarch;and if itwassadly lessened,yetmanywereglad, for now the northernworldwould bemerrier formany a long day. Thedragonwasdead, and thegoblinsoverthrown,and theirhearts looked forwardafterwintertoaspringofjoy.GandalfandBilborodebehindtheElvenking,andbesidethemstrodeBeorn,

onceagain inman’s shape, andhe laughedand sang in a loudvoiceupon theroad.Sotheywentonuntil theydrewnear to thebordersofMirkwood, to thenorth of the place where the Forest River ran out. Then they halted, for thewizard andBilbowould not enter thewood, even though the king bade themstayawhile inhishalls.Theyintendedtogoalongtheedgeof theforest,androunditsnorthernendinthewastethatlaybetweenitandthebeginningoftheGreyMountains.Itwasalongandcheerlessroad,butnowthatthegoblinswerecrushed, it seemed safer to them than the dreadful pathways under the trees.MoreoverBeornwasgoingthatwaytoo.“Farewell!OElvenking!”saidGandalf.“Merrybethegreenwood,whilethe

worldisyetyoung!Andmerrybeallyourfolk!”“Farewell!OGandalf!” said theking.“Mayyoueverappearwhereyouare

mostneededand leastexpected!Theofteneryouappear inmyhalls thebettershallIbepleased!”“Ibegofyou,” saidBilbo stammeringand standingonone foot, “toaccept

thisgift!”andhebroughtoutanecklaceofsilverandpearlsthatDainhadgivenhimattheirparting.“InwhatwayhaveIearnedsuchagift,Ohobbit?”saidtheking.“Well, er, I thought, don’t you know,” saidBilbo rather confused, “that, er,

somelittlereturnshouldbemadeforyour,er,hospitality.Imeanevenaburglarhashisfeelings.Ihavedrunkmuchofyourwineandeatenmuchofyourbread.”

“Iwilltakeyourgift,OBilbotheMagnificent!”saidthekinggravely.“AndInameyouelf-friendandblessed.Mayyourshadownevergrowless(orstealingwouldbetooeasy)!Farewell!”ThentheelvesturnedtowardstheForest,andBilbostartedonhis longroad

home.

Hehadmanyhardshipsandadventuresbeforehegotback.TheWildwasstilltheWild,andthereweremanyotherthingsinitinthosedaysbesidegoblins;buthewaswellguidedandwellguarded—thewizardwaswithhim,andBeornformuch of theway—and hewas never in great danger again.Anyway bymid-winterGandalf andBilbohadcomeall thewayback, alongbothedgesof theForest, to the doors ofBeorn’s house; and there for awhile they both stayed.Yule-tidewaswarmandmerrythere;andmencamefromfarandwidetofeastatBeorn’s bidding. The goblins of the Misty Mountains were now few andterrified, and hidden in the deepest holes they could find; and theWargs hadvanishedfromthewoods,so thatmenwentabroadwithout fear.Beorn indeedbecameagreatchiefafterwardsinthoseregionsandruledawidelandbetweenthemountainsandthewood;anditissaidthatformanygenerationsthemenofhislinehadthepoweroftakingbear’sshape,andsomeweregrimmenandbad,butmostwereinheartlikeBeorn,iflessinsizeandstrength.IntheirdaythelastgoblinswerehuntedfromtheMistyMountainsandanewpeacecameovertheedgeoftheWild.Itwasspring,andafaironewithmildweathersandabrightsun,beforeBilbo

andGandalf took their leaveat lastofBeorn,and thoughhe longedforhome,Bilboleftwithregret,fortheflowersofthegardensofBeornwereinspringtimenolessmarvellousthaninhighsummer.At last they came up the long road, and reached the very pass where the

goblinshadcapturedthembefore.Buttheycametothathighpointatmorning,andlookingbackwardtheysawawhitesunshiningovertheoutstretchedlands.TherebehindlayMirkwood,blueinthedistance,anddarklygreenattheneareredgeeveninthespring.TherefarawaywastheLonelyMountainontheedgeofeyesight.Onitshighestpeaksnowyetunmeltedwasgleamingpale.“Socomessnowafterfire,andevendragonshavetheirending!”saidBilbo,

andheturnedhisbackonhisadventure.TheTookishpartwasgettingverytired,andtheBagginswasdailygettingstronger.“Iwishnowonlytobeinmyownarm-chair!”hesaid.

ChapterXIXTheLastStage

ItwasonMaytheFirstthatthetwocamebackatlasttothebrinkofthevalleyofRivendell,where stood theLast (or theFirst)HomelyHouse.Again itwasevening,theirponiesweretired,especiallytheonethatcarriedthebaggage;andtheyall felt inneedofrest.As theyrodedownthesteeppath,Bilboheard theelves still singing in the trees, as if theyhadnot stopped sincehe left; and assoonastheriderscamedownintothelowergladesofthewoodtheyburstintoasongofmuchthesamekindasbefore.Thisissomethinglikeit:

Thedragoniswithered,Hisbonesarenowcrumbled;Hisarmourisshivered,Hissplendourishumbled!Thoughswordshallberusted,AndthroneandcrownperishWithstrengththatmentrustedAndwealththattheycherish,Heregrassisstillgrowing,Andleavesareyetswinging,Thewhitewaterflowing,Andelvesareyetsinging

Come!Tra-la-la-lally!Comebacktothevalley!

ThestarsarefarbrighterThangemswithoutmeasure,ThemoonisfarwhiterThansilverintreasure;ThefireismoreshiningOnhearthinthegloamingThangoldwonbymining,Sowhygoa-roaming?

O!Tra-la-la-lallyComebacktotheValley.

O!Whereareyougoing,Solateinreturning?Theriverisflowing,Thestarsareallburning!O!Whithersoladen,Sosadandsodreary?Hereelfandelf-maidenNowwelcometheweary

WithTra-la-la-lallyComebacktotheValley,Tra-la-la-lallyFa-la-la-lallyFa-la!

Thentheelvesofthevalleycameoutandgreetedthemandledthemacrossthewater to thehouseofElrond.Thereawarmwelcomewasmade them,andthere were many eager ears that evening to hear the tale of their adventures.Gandalf itwaswhospoke, forBilbowas fallenquietanddrowsy.Mostof thetaleheknew,forhehadbeeninit,andhadhimselftoldmuchofittothewizardon theirhomewardwayor in thehouseofBeorn;buteverynowandagainhewouldopenoneeye,and listen,whenapartof thestorywhichhedidnotyetknowcamein.ItwasinthiswaythathelearnedwhereGandalfhadbeento;forheoverheard

thewordsofthewizardtoElrond.ItappearedthatGandalfhadbeentoagreatcouncilofthewhitewizards,mastersofloreandgoodmagic;andthattheyhadatlastdriventheNecromancerfromhisdarkholdinthesouthofMirkwood.“Ere longnow,”Gandalfwas saying, “theForestwillgrowsomewhatmore

wholesome. The North will be freed from that horror for many long years, Ihope.YetIwishhewerebanishedfromtheworld!”“Itwouldbewellindeed,”saidElrond;“butIfearthatwillnotcomeaboutin

thisageoftheworld,orformanyafter.”When the tale of their journeyingswas told, therewere other tales, and yet

moretales,talesoflongago,andtalesofnewthings,andtalesofnotimeatall,tillBilbo’sheadfellforwardonhischest,andhesnoredcomfortablyinacorner.Hewoketofindhimselfinawhitebed,andthemoonshiningthroughanopen

window.Belowitmanyelvesweresinging loudandclearon thebanksof thestream.

Singallyejoyful,nowsingalltogether!

Thewind’sinthetree-top,thewind’sintheheather;Thestarsareinblossom,themoonisinflower,AndbrightarethewindowsofNightinhertower.Danceallyejoyful,nowdancealltogether!Softisthegrass,andletfootbelikefeather!Theriverissilver,theshadowsarefleeting;MerryisMay-time,andmerryourmeeting.Singwenowsoftly,anddreamsletusweavehim!Windhiminslumberandthereletusleavehim!Thewanderersleepeth.Nowsoftbehispillow!Lullaby!Lullaby!AlderandWillow!SighnomorePine,tillthewindofthemorn!

FallMoon!Darkbetheland!Hush!Hush!Oak,Ash,andThorn!

Hushedbeallwater,tilldawnisathand!“Well,Merry People!” said Bilbo looking out. “What time by themoon is

this?Yourlullabywouldwakenadrunkengoblin!YetIthankyou.”“And your snores would waken a stone dragon—yet we thank you,” they

answeredwith laughter. “It is drawing towardsdawn, andyouhave slept nowsincethenight’sbeginning.Tomorrow,perhaps,youwillbecuredofweariness.”“AlittlesleepdoesagreatcureinthehouseofElrond,”saidhe;“butIwill

takeallthecureIcanget.Asecondgoodnight,fairfriends!”Andwiththathewentbacktobedandslepttilllatemorning.Wearinessfellfromhimsooninthathouse,andhehadmanyamerryjestand

dance,earlyandlate,withtheelvesofthevalley.Yeteventhatplacecouldnotlong delay him now, and he thought always of his own home. After a week,therefore, he said farewell to Elrond, and giving him such small gifts as hewouldaccept,herodeawaywithGandalf.Even as they left the valley the sky darkened in theWest before them, and

windandraincameuptomeetthem.“MerryisMay-time!”saidBilbo,astherainbeatintohisface.“Butourback

istolegendsandwearecominghome.Isupposethisisthefirsttasteofit.”“Thereisalongroadyet,”saidGandalf.“Butitisthelastroad,”saidBilbo.They came to the river thatmarked the very edge of the borderland of the

Wild, and to the ford beneath the steep bank,which youmay remember. Thewater was swollen both with the melting of the snows at the approach ofsummer, andwith thedaylong rain;but theycrossedwith somedifficulty, andpressedforward,aseveningfell,onthelaststageoftheirjourney.

Thiswasmuchas ithadbeenbefore, except that thecompanywas smaller,andmore silent; also this time therewereno trolls.At eachpoint on the roadBilbo recalled the happenings and thewords of a year ago—it seemed to himmoreliketen—sothat,ofcourse,hequicklynotedtheplacewheretheponyhadfallenintheriver,andtheyhadturnedasidefortheirnastyadventurewithTomandBertandBill.Notfarfromtheroadtheyfoundthegoldofthetrolls,whichtheyhadburied,

still hidden and untouched. “I have enough to last me my time,” said Bilbo,whentheyhaddugitup.“Youhadbettertakethis,Gandalf.Idaresayyoucanfindauseforit.”“IndeedIcan!”saidthewizard.“Butshareandsharealike!Youmayfindyou

havemoreneedsthanyouexpect.”Sotheyputthegoldinbagsandslungthemontheponies,whowerenotatall

pleased about it. After that their goingwas slower, formost of the time theywalked. But the landwas green and therewasmuch grass throughwhich thehobbit strolled along contentedly. He mopped his face with a red silkhandkerchief—no!nota singleoneofhisownhadsurvived,hehadborrowedthisonefromElrond—fornowJunehadbroughtsummer,andtheweatherwasbrightandhotagain.Asall thingscome toanend, even this story, adaycameat lastwhen they

were in sight of the country where Bilbo had been born and bred, where theshapesofthelandandofthetreeswereaswellknowntohimashishandsandtoes.ComingtoarisehecouldseehisownHillinthedistance,andhestoppedsuddenlyandsaid:

Roadsgoevereveron,Overrockandundertree,

Bycaveswhereneversunhasshone,Bystreamsthatneverfindthesea;

Oversnowbywintersown,AndthroughthemerryflowersofJune,

Overgrassandoverstone,Andundermountainsinthemoon.

RoadsgoevereveronUndercloudandunderstar,

YetfeetthatwanderinghavegoneTurnatlasttohomeafar.

EyesthatfireandswordhaveseenAndhorrorinthehallsofstone

Lookatlastonmeadowsgreen

Andtreesandhillstheylonghaveknown.Gandalf lookedat him. “MydearBilbo!”he said. “Something is thematter

withyou!Youarenotthehobbitthatyouwere.”Andsotheycrossedthebridgeandpassedthemillbytheriverandcameright

backtoBilbo’sowndoor.“Blessme!What’s going on?” he cried.Therewas a great commotion, and

peopleofallsorts,respectableandunrespectable,werethickroundthedoor,andmanyweregoing in andout—not evenwiping their feet on themat, asBilbonoticedwithannoyance.Ifhewassurprised,theyweremoresurprisedstill.Hehadarrivedbackinthe

middleofanauction!Therewasalargenoticeinblackandredhungonthegate,stating that on June the Twenty-second Messrs Grubb, Grubb, and BurroweswouldsellbyauctiontheeffectsofthelateBilboBagginsEsquire,ofBag-End,Underhill,Hobbiton.Saletocommenceatteno’clocksharp.Itwasnownearlylunchtime,andmostofthethingshadalreadybeensold,forvariouspricesfromnexttonothingtooldsongs(asisnotunusualatauctions).Bilbo’scousinstheSackville-Bagginseswere,infact,busymeasuringhisroomstoseeiftheirownfurniturewouldfit.InshortBilbowas“PresumedDead”,andnoteverybodythatsaidsowassorrytofindthepresumptionwrong.The returnofMr.BilboBagginscreatedquiteadisturbance,bothunder the

HillandovertheHill,andacrosstheWater;itwasagreatdealmorethananinedays’wonder.Thelegalbother,indeed,lastedforyears.ItwasquitealongtimebeforeMr.Bagginswasinfactadmittedtobealiveagain.ThepeoplewhohadgotspeciallygoodbargainsattheSaletookadealofconvincing;andintheendtosavetimeBilbohadtobuybackquitealotofhisownfurniture.Manyofhissilverspoonsmysteriouslydisappearedandwereneveraccountedfor.PersonallyhesuspectedtheSackville-Bagginses.OntheirsidetheyneveradmittedthatthereturnedBagginswasgenuine,and theywerenotonfriendly termswithBilboeverafter.Theyreallyhadwantedtoliveinhisnicehobbit-holesoverymuch.IndeedBilbofoundhehadlostmorethanspoons—hehadlosthisreputation.

It is true that for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour ofdwarves, wizards, and all such folk as ever passed that way; but he was nolonger quite respectable. He was in fact held by all the hobbits of theneighbourhood to be ‘queer’—except by his nephews and nieces on theTookside,buteventheywerenotencouragedintheirfriendshipbytheirelders.Iamsorrytosayhedidnotmind.Hewasquitecontent;andthesoundofthe

kettle on his hearthwas ever aftermoremusical than it had been even in thequiet days before the Unexpected Party. His sword he hung over themantelpiece.Hiscoatofmailwasarrangedonastandinthehall(untilhelentit

toaMuseum).Hisgoldandsilverwaslargelyspentinpresents,bothusefulandextravagant—whichtoacertainextentaccountsfortheaffectionofhisnephewsandhisnieces.Hismagicringhekeptagreatsecret,forhechieflyuseditwhenunpleasantcallerscame.Hetooktowritingpoetryandvisitingtheelves;andthoughmanyshooktheir

headsandtouchedtheirforeheadsandsaid“PooroldBaggins!”andthoughfewbelieved any of his tales, he remained very happy to the end of his days, andthosewereextraordinarilylong.

One autumn evening some years afterwards Bilbo was sitting in his studywriting his memoirs—he thought of calling them “There and Back Again, aHobbit’s Holiday”—when there was a ring at the door. It was Gandalf and adwarf;andthedwarfwasactuallyBalin.“Comein!Comein!”saidBilbo,andsoontheyweresettledinchairsbythe

fire. IfBalinnoticed thatMr.Baggins’waistcoatwasmoreextensive (andhadreal gold buttons), Bilbo also noticed that Balin’s beard was several incheslonger,andhisjewelledbeltwasofgreatmagnificence.They fell to talkingof their times together, of course, andBilbo askedhow

thingsweregoinginthelandsoftheMountain.Itseemedtheyweregoingverywell.Bardhadrebuilt thetowninDaleandmenhadgatheredtohimfromtheLakeandfromSouthandWest,andall thevalleyhadbecometilledagainandrich, and thedesolationwasnow filledwithbirds andblossoms in spring andfruit and feasting in autumn. And Lake-town was refounded and was moreprosperous thanever, andmuchwealthwentupanddown theRunningRiver;andtherewasfriendshipinthosepartsbetweenelvesanddwarvesandmen.TheoldMasterhadcometoabadend.Bardhadgivenhimmuchgoldforthe

helpoftheLake-people,butbeingofthekindthateasilycatchessuchdiseasehefellunder thedragon-sickness,and tookmostof thegoldandfledwith it,anddiedofstarvationintheWaste,desertedbyhiscompanions.“The newMaster is of wiser kind,” said Balin, “and very popular, for, of

course, he getsmost of the credit for the present prosperity.They aremakingsongswhichsaythatinhisdaytheriversrunwithgold.”“Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out to be true, after a

fashion!”saidBilbo.“Ofcourse!”saidGandalf.“Andwhyshouldnottheyprovetrue?Surelyyou

don’tdisbelievetheprophecies,becauseyouhadahandinbringingthemaboutyourself?Youdon’treallysuppose,doyou,thatallyouradventuresandescapeswere managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fineperson,Mr.Baggins,andIamveryfondofyou;butyouareonlyquitealittle

fellowinawideworldafterall!”“Thankgoodness!”saidBilbolaughing,andhandedhimthetobacco-jar.

TheHallatBag-EndAlternativeImage

IfyouareinterestedinHobbitsyouwilllearnalotmoreabouttheminTheLordoftheRings:

THEFELLOWSHIPOFTHERINGTHETWOTOWERS

THERETURNOFTHEKING

THELORDOFTHERINGS

BY

J.R.R.TOLKIEN

HoughtonMifflinHarcourt

Chapter1

ALONG-EXPECTEDPARTY

WhenMr. BilboBaggins of Bag End announced that hewould shortly becelebratinghiseleventy-firstbirthdaywithapartyofspecialmagnificence,therewasmuchtalkandexcitementinHobbiton.

Bilbowasveryrichandverypeculiar,andhadbeenthewonderoftheShireforsixtyyears,eversincehisremarkabledisappearanceandunexpectedreturn.Thericheshehadbroughtbackfromhistravelshadnowbecomealocallegend,anditwaspopularlybelieved,whatever theoldfolkmightsay, that theHillatBagEndwasfulloftunnelsstuffedwithtreasure.Andifthatwasnotenoughforfame, therewas also his prolonged vigour tomarvel at. Timewore on, but itseemedtohavelittleeffectonMr.Baggins.Atninetyhewasmuchthesameasat fifty. At ninety-nine they began to call himwell-preserved; butunchangedwouldhavebeennearerthemark.Thereweresomethatshooktheirheadsandthoughtthiswastoomuchofagoodthing;itseemedunfairthatanyoneshouldpossess(apparently)perpetualyouthaswellas(reputedly)inexhaustiblewealth.

‘Itwillhavetobepaidfor,’theysaid.‘Itisn’tnatural,andtroublewillcomeofit!’

Butsofartroublehadnotcome;andasMr.Bagginswasgenerouswithhismoney, most people were willing to forgive him his oddities and his goodfortune.Heremainedonvisitingtermswithhisrelatives(except,ofcourse,theSackville-Bagginses),andhehadmanydevotedadmirersamongthehobbitsofpoor and unimportant families.But he had no close friends, until some of hisyoungercousinsbegantogrowup.

Theeldestofthese,andBilbo’sfavourite,wasyoungFrodoBaggins.WhenBilbowasninety-nineheadoptedFrodoashisheir,andbroughthimto liveat

BagEnd;and thehopesof theSackville-Bagginseswere finallydashed.BilboandFrodohappenedtohavethesamebirthday,September22nd.‘Youhadbettercome and live here, Frodo my lad,’ said Bilbo one day; ‘and then we cancelebrateourbirthday-partiescomfortablytogether.’AtthattimeFrodowasstillinhistweens,asthehobbitscalledtheirresponsibletwentiesbetweenchildhoodandcomingofageatthirty-three.

Twelvemoreyearspassed.EachyeartheBagginseshadgivenverylivelycombinedbirthday-partiesatBagEnd;butnowitwasunderstoodthatsomethingquite exceptional was being planned for that autumn. Bilbo was going to beeleventy-one, 111, a rather curious number, and a very respectable age for ahobbit(theOldTookhimselfhadonlyreached130);andFrodowasgoingtobethirty-three,33,animportantnumber:thedateofhis‘comingofage’.

TonguesbegantowaginHobbitonandBywater;andrumourofthecomingeventtravelledallovertheShire.ThehistoryandcharacterofMr.BilboBagginsbecameonceagainthechieftopicofconversation;andtheolderfolksuddenlyfoundtheirreminiscencesinwelcomedemand.

No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonlyknownastheGaffer.HeheldforthatTheIvyBush,asmallinnontheBywaterroad;andhespokewithsomeauthority,forhehadtendedthegardenatBagEndforfortyyears,andhadhelpedoldHolmaninthesamejobbeforethat.Nowthathewashimselfgrowingoldandstiffinthejoints,thejobwasmainlycarriedonbyhisyoungest son,SamGamgee.Both fatherandsonwereonvery friendlytermswithBilboandFrodo.TheylivedontheHillitself,inNumber3BagshotRowjustbelowBagEnd.

‘Averynicewell-spokengentlehobbitisMr.Bilbo,asI’vealwayssaid,’theGafferdeclared.Withperfecttruth:forBilbowasverypolitetohim,callinghim‘MasterHamfast’,andconsultinghimconstantlyuponthegrowingofvegetables–inthematterof‘roots’,especiallypotatoes,theGafferwasrecognizedastheleadingauthoritybyallintheneighbourhood(includinghimself).

‘But what about this Frodo that lives with him?’ asked Old Noakes ofBywater.‘Bagginsishisname,buthe’smorethanhalfaBrandybuck,theysay.It beatsmewhy anyBaggins ofHobbiton should go looking for awife awaythereinBuckland,wherefolksaresoqueer.’

‘Andnowonderthey’requeer,’putinDaddyTwofoot(theGaffer’snext-doorneighbour), ‘if they liveon thewrongsideof theBrandywineRiver,and rightagintheOldForest.That’sadarkbadplace,ifhalfthetalesbetrue.’

‘You’reright,Dad!’saidtheGaffer.‘NotthattheBrandybucksofBuckland

liveintheOldForest;butthey’reaqueerbreed,seemingly.Theyfoolaboutwithboatsonthatbigriver–andthatisn’tnatural.Smallwonderthattroublecameofit,Isay.Butbethatasitmay,Mr.Frodoisasniceayounghobbitasyoucouldwish tomeet.Verymuch likeMr.Bilbo, and inmore than looks.After allhisfatherwasaBaggins.AdecentrespectablehobbitwasMr.DrogoBaggins;therewasnevermuchtotellofhim,tillhewasdrownded.’

‘Drownded?’ said several voices. They had heard this and other darkerrumours before, of course; but hobbits have a passion for family history, andtheywerereadytohearitagain.

‘Well, so they say,’ said theGaffer. ‘You see:Mr.Drogo, hemarried poorMissPrimulaBrandybuck.ShewasourMr.Bilbo’sfirstcousinonthemother’sside (her mother being the youngest of the Old Took’s daughters); and Mr.Drogowashissecondcousin.SoMr.Frodoishisfirstandsecondcousin,onceremoved either way, as the saying is, if you followme. AndMr. Drogo wasstayingatBrandyHallwithhisfather-in-law,oldMasterGorbadoc,asheoftendidafterhismarriage(himbeingpartialtohisvittles,andoldGorbadockeepingamightygeneroustable);andhewentoutboatingontheBrandywineRiver;andheandhiswifeweredrownded,andpoorMr.Frodoonlyachildandall.’

‘I’veheard theywenton thewater afterdinner in themoonlight,’ saidOldNoakes;‘anditwasDrogo’sweightassunktheboat.’

‘And I heard she pushed him in, and he pulled her in after him,’ saidSandyman,theHobbitonmiller.

‘Youshouldn’tlistentoallyouhear,Sandyman,’saidtheGaffer,whodidnotmuch like themiller. ‘There isn’tnocall togo talkingofpushingandpulling.Boatsarequite trickyenoughfor those thatsitstillwithout lookingfurtherforthe cause of trouble. Anyway: there was this Mr. Frodo left an orphan andstranded, asyoumight say, among thosequeerBucklanders, beingbroughtupanyhowinBrandyHall.Aregularwarren,byallaccounts.OldMasterGorbadocneverhadfewerthanacoupleofhundredrelationsintheplace.Mr.Bilboneverdidakinderdeedthanwhenhebroughttheladbacktoliveamongdecentfolk.

‘But I reckon it was a nasty knock for those Sackville-Bagginses. Theythought theyweregoing togetBagEnd, that timewhenhewentoff andwasthoughttobedead.Andthenhecomesbackandordersthemoff;andhegoesonliving and living, and never looking a day older, bless him!And suddenly heproduces an heir, and has all the papers made out proper. The Sackville-Bagginseswon’tneverseetheinsideofBagEndnow,oritistobehopednot.’

‘There’satidybitofmoneytuckedawayupthere,Iheartell,’saidastranger,avisitoronbusiness fromMichelDelving in theWestfarthing. ‘All the topofyourhill is fullof tunnelspackedwithchestsofgoldandsilver,and jools,by

whatI’veheard.’‘Thenyou’veheardmorethanIcanspeakto,’answeredtheGaffer.‘Iknow

nothingaboutjools.Mr.Bilboisfreewithhismoney,andthereseemsnolackofit;butIknowofnotunnel-making.IsawMr.Bilbowhenhecameback,amatterofsixtyyearsago,whenIwasalad.I’dnotlongcomeprenticetooldHolman(himbeingmydad’scousin),buthehadmeupatBagEndhelpinghimtokeepfolks from tramplingand trapessingallover thegardenwhile thesalewason.Andin themiddleof itallMr.BilbocomesuptheHillwithaponyandsomemightybigbagsandacoupleofchests. Idon’tdoubt theyweremostlyfulloftreasure he had picked up in foreign parts,where there bemountains of gold,they say; but therewasn’t enough to fill tunnels. Butmy lad Samwill knowmoreaboutthat.He’sinandoutofBagEnd.Crazyaboutstoriesoftheolddays,heis,andhelistenstoallMr.Bilbo’stales.Mr.Bilbohaslearnedhimhisletters–meaningnoharm,markyou,andIhopenoharmwillcomeofit.

‘ElvesandDragons!Isaystohim.Cabbagesandpotatoesarebetterformeandyou.Don’tgogettingmixedupinthebusinessofyourbetters,oryou’lllandintroubletoobigforyou,Isaystohim.AndImightsayittoothers,’headdedwithalookatthestrangerandthemiller.

But theGafferdidnotconvincehisaudience.The legendofBilbo’swealthwasnowtoofirmlyfixedinthemindsoftheyoungergenerationofhobbits.

‘Ah,buthehaslikelyenoughbeenaddingtowhathebroughtatfirst,’arguedthemiller,voicingcommonopinion.‘He’softenawayfromhome.Andlookatthe outlandish folk that visit him: dwarves coming at night, and that oldwanderingconjuror,Gandalf,andall.Youcansaywhatyoulike,Gaffer,butBagEnd’saqueerplace,anditsfolkarequeerer.’

‘Andyoucansaywhatyoulike,aboutwhatyouknownomoreofthanyoudoofboating,Mr.Sandyman,’retortedtheGaffer,dislikingthemillerevenmorethanusual.‘Ifthat’sbeingqueer,thenwecoulddowithabitmorequeernessinthese parts. There’s some not far away thatwouldn’t offer a pint of beer to afriend,iftheylivedinaholewithgoldenwalls.ButtheydothingsproperatBagEnd.OurSamsaysthateveryone’sgoingtobeinvitedtotheparty,andthere’sgoingtobepresents,markyou,presentsforall–thisverymonthasis.’

ThatverymonthwasSeptember,andasfineasyoucouldask.Adayortwolater a rumour (probably startedby theknowledgeableSam)was spreadaboutthatthereweregoingtobefireworks–fireworks,whatismore,suchashadnotbeenseenintheShirefornighonacentury,notindeedsincetheOldTookdied.

DayspassedandTheDaydrewnearer.Anodd-lookingwaggon ladenwith

odd-lookingpackagesrolledintoHobbitononeeveningandtoileduptheHilltoBagEnd.Thestartledhobbitspeeredoutof lamplitdoors togapeat it. Itwasdrivenbyoutlandishfolk,singingstrangesongs:dwarveswithlongbeardsanddeephoods.AfewofthemremainedatBagEnd.AttheendofthesecondweekinSeptemberacartcameinthroughBywaterfromthedirectionofBrandywineBridge in broaddaylight.Anoldmanwasdriving it all alone.Hewore a tallpointedbluehat,alonggreycloak,andasilverscarf.Hehadalongwhitebeardand bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat. Small hobbit-children ran after the cart all throughHobbiton and right up the hill. It had acargoof fireworks, as they rightlyguessed.AtBilbo’s front door theoldmanbegantounload: thereweregreatbundlesoffireworksofallsortsandshapes,eachlabelledwithalargeredG andtheelf-rune, .

That was Gandalf’s mark, of course, and the old man was Gandalf theWizard,whosefameintheShirewasduemainlytohisskillwithfires,smokes,andlights.Hisrealbusinesswasfarmoredifficultanddangerous,buttheShire-folkknewnothingabout it.To themhewas justoneof the ‘attractions’at theParty.Hencetheexcitementofthehobbit-children.‘GforGrand!’theyshouted,and theoldmansmiled.Theyknewhimbysight, thoughheonlyappeared inHobbitonoccasionallyandneverstoppedlong;butneithertheynoranybuttheoldestoftheireldershadseenoneofhisfireworkdisplays–theynowbelongedtoalegendarypast.

When the old man, helped by Bilbo and some dwarves, had finishedunloading,Bilbogaveafewpenniesaway;butnotasinglesquiborcrackerwasforthcoming,tothedisappointmentoftheonlookers.

‘Runawaynow!’saidGandalf. ‘Youwillgetplentywhenthetimecomes.’Then he disappeared inside with Bilbo, and the door was shut. The younghobbitsstaredatthedoorinvainforawhile,andthenmadeoff,feelingthatthedayofthepartywouldnevercome.

InsideBagEnd,Bilbo andGandalfwere sitting at theopenwindowof asmallroomlookingoutwestontothegarden.Thelateafternoonwasbrightandpeaceful.Theflowersglowedredandgolden:snapdragonsandsunflowers,andnasturtianstrailingallovertheturfwallsandpeepinginattheroundwindows.

‘Howbrightyourgardenlooks!’saidGandalf.‘Yes,’saidBilbo.‘Iamveryfondindeedofit,andofallthedearoldShire;

butIthinkIneedaholiday.’‘Youmeantogoonwithyourplanthen?’‘Ido.Imadeupmymindmonthsago,andIhaven’tchangedit.’

‘Verywell. It isnogoodsayinganymore.Sticktoyourplan–yourwholeplan,mind–andIhopeitwillturnoutforthebest,foryou,andforallofus.’

‘Ihopeso.AnywayImeantoenjoymyselfonThursday,andhavemylittlejoke.’

‘Whowilllaugh,Iwonder?’saidGandalf,shakinghishead.‘Weshallsee,’saidBilbo.

ThenextdaymorecartsrolleduptheHill,andstillmorecarts.Theremighthave been some grumbling about ‘dealing locally’, but that veryweek ordersbegantopouroutofBagEndforeverykindofprovision,commodity,orluxurythat could be obtained in Hobbiton or Bywater or anywhere in theneighbourhood.Peoplebecameenthusiastic;andtheybegantotickoffthedayson the calendar; and they watched eagerly for the postman, hoping forinvitations.

Beforelongtheinvitationsbeganpouringout,andtheHobbitonpost-officewas blocked, and the Bywater post-office was snowed under, and voluntaryassistantpostmenwerecalledfor.TherewasaconstantstreamofthemgoinguptheHill, carryinghundredsofpolitevariationsonThank you, I shall certainlycome.

AnoticeappearedonthegateatBagEnd:NOADMITTANCEEXCEPTONPARTYBUSINESS.Eventhosewhohad,orpretendedtohavePartyBusinesswereseldomallowedinside.Bilbowasbusy:writinginvitations,tickingoffanswers,packinguppresents,andmakingsomeprivatepreparationsofhisown.FromthetimeofGandalf’sarrivalheremainedhiddenfromview.

Onemorningthehobbitswoketofindthelargefield,southofBilbo’sfrontdoor, coveredwith ropes andpoles for tents and pavilions.A special entrancewascutintothebankleadingtotheroad,andwidestepsandalargewhitegatewerebuiltthere.Thethreehobbit-familiesofBagshotRow,adjoiningthefield,wereintenselyinterestedandgenerallyenvied.OldGafferGamgeestoppedevenpretendingtoworkinhisgarden.

Thetentsbegantogoup.Therewasaspeciallylargepavilion,sobigthatthetreethatgrewinthefieldwasrightinsideit,andstoodproudlynearoneend,atthe head of the chief table. Lanterns were hung on all its branches. Morepromisingstill(tothehobbits’mind):anenormousopen-airkitchenwaserectedinthenorthcornerofthefield.Adraughtofcooks,fromeveryinnandeating-house formiles around, arrived to supplement thedwarves andotherodd folkthatwerequarteredatBagEnd.Excitementrosetoitsheight.

Thentheweathercloudedover.ThatwasonWednesdaytheeveoftheParty.

Anxietywasintense.ThenThursday,Septemberthe22nd,actuallydawned.Thesungotup,thecloudsvanished,flagswereunfurledandthefunbegan.

BilboBagginscalleditaparty,but itwasreallyavarietyofentertainmentsrolledintoone.Practicallyeverybodylivingnearwasinvited.Averyfewwereoverlookedbyaccident,butastheyturnedupall thesame,thatdidnotmatter.ManypeoplefromotherpartsoftheShirewerealsoasked;andtherewereevenafewfromoutsidetheborders.Bilbomettheguests(andadditions)atthenewwhitegateinperson.Hegaveawaypresentstoallandsundry–thelatterwerethosewhowentoutagainbyabackwayandcameinagainbythegate.Hobbitsgivepresentstootherpeopleontheirownbirthdays.Notveryexpensiveones,asa rule, and not so lavishly as on this occasion; but it was not a bad system.Actually in Hobbiton and Bywater every day in the year was somebody’sbirthday, so that every hobbit in those parts had a fair chance of at least onepresentatleastonceaweek.Buttheynevergottiredofthem.

Onthisoccasionthepresentswereunusuallygood.Thehobbit-childrenweresoexcitedthatforawhiletheyalmostforgotabouteating.Thereweretoysthelike of which they had never seen before, all beautiful and some obviouslymagical.Manyofthemhadindeedbeenorderedayearbefore,andhadcomeallthewayfromtheMountainandfromDale,andwereofrealdwarf-make.

Wheneveryguesthadbeenwelcomedandwasfinallyinsidethegate,thereweresongs,dances,music,games,and,ofcourse, foodanddrink.Therewerethreeofficialmeals: lunch, tea,anddinner(orsupper).But lunchandteaweremarkedchieflyby the fact that at those timesall theguestswere sittingdownandeatingtogether.Atothertimesthereweremerelylotsofpeopleeatinganddrinking – continuously from elevenses until six-thirty, when the fireworksstarted.

The fireworks were by Gandalf: they were not only brought by him, butdesigned andmade by him; and the special effects, set pieces, and flights ofrocketswereletoffbyhim.Buttherewasalsoagenerousdistributionofsquibs,crackers,backarappers, sparklers, torches,dwarf-candles, elf-fountains,goblin-barkers and thunderclaps. Theywere all superb. The art ofGandalf improvedwithage.

There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweetvoices.Thereweregreen treeswith trunksofdarksmoke: their leavesopenedlikeawholespringunfoldinginamoment,andtheirshiningbranchesdroppedglowing flowers downupon the astonishedhobbits, disappearingwith a sweetscent just before they touched their upturned faces. There were fountains ofbutterfliesthatflewglitteringintothetrees;therewerepillarsofcolouredfiresthat roseand turned intoeagles,orsailingships,oraphalanxofflyingswans;

therewasaredthunderstormandashowerofyellowrain;therewasaforestofsilverspearsthatsprangsuddenlyintotheairwithayelllikeanembattledarmy,andcamedownagainintotheWaterwithahisslikeahundredhotsnakes.Andtherewasalsoone last surprise, inhonourofBilbo,and it startled thehobbitsexceedingly,asGandalfintended.Thelightswentout.Agreatsmokewentup.Itshaped itself like a mountain seen in the distance, and began to glow at thesummit.Itspoutedgreenandscarletflames.Outflewared-goldendragon–notlife-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down;therewasaroar,andhewhizzedthreetimesovertheheadsofthecrowd.Theyallducked,andmanyfellflatontheirfaces.Thedragonpassedlikeanexpresstrain,turnedasomersault,andburstoverBywaterwithadeafeningexplosion.

‘That is the signal for supper!’ saidBilbo.Thepain and alarmvanished atonce,andtheprostratehobbitsleapedtotheirfeet.Therewasasplendidsupperfor everyone; for everyone, that is, except those invited to the special familydinner-party.Thiswas held in the great pavilionwith the tree.The invitationswere limited to twelvedozen (a number also calledby thehobbits oneGross,though thewordwas not considered proper to use of people); and the guestswereselectedfromallthefamiliestowhichBilboandFrodowererelated,withtheadditionofa fewspecialunrelated friends (suchasGandalf).Manyyounghobbits were included, and present by parental permission; for hobbits wereeasy-goingwith their children in thematterof sittingup late, especiallywhentherewasachanceofgettingthemafreemeal.Bringingupyounghobbitstookalotofprovender.

There were many Bagginses and Boffins, and also many Tooks andBrandybucks; there were various Grubbs (relations of Bilbo Baggins’grandmother),andvariousChubbs(connexionsofhisTookgrandfather);andaselection of Burrowses, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Brockhouses, Goodbodies,HornblowersandProudfoots.SomeofthesewereonlyverydistantlyconnectedwithBilbo,andsomehadhardlyeverbeeninHobbitonbefore,astheylivedinremotecornersof theShire.TheSackville-Bagginseswerenot forgotten.OthoandhiswifeLobeliawerepresent.TheydislikedBilboanddetestedFrodo,butsomagnificentwastheinvitationcard,writteningoldenink,thattheyhadfeltitwasimpossibletorefuse.Besides, theircousin,Bilbo,hadbeenspecializinginfoodformanyyearsandhistablehadahighreputation.

All theonehundredandforty-fourguestsexpectedapleasantfeast; thoughtheyratherdreadedtheafter-dinnerspeechoftheirhost(aninevitableitem).Hewasliabletodraginbitsofwhathecalledpoetry;andsometimes,afteraglassor two,would allude to the absurd adventures of hismysterious journey. Theguests were not disappointed: they had a very pleasant feast, in fact an

engrossing entertainment: rich, abundant, varied, and prolonged.The purchaseofprovisionsfellalmosttonothingthroughoutthedistrictintheensuingweeks;butasBilbo’scateringhaddepletedthestocksofmostofthestores,cellarsandwarehousesformilesaround,thatdidnotmattermuch.

After thefeast(moreor less)cametheSpeech.Mostof thecompanywere,however, now in a tolerant mood, at that delightful stage which they called‘fillingupthecorners’.Theyweresippingtheirfavouritedrinks,andnibblingattheir favourite dainties, and their fearswere forgotten. Theywere prepared tolistentoanything,andtocheerateveryfullstop.

MydearPeople, beganBilbo, rising inhisplace. ‘Hear!Hear!Hear!’ theyshouted, and kept on repeating it in chorus, seeming reluctant to follow theirown advice. Bilbo left his place and went and stood on a chair under theilluminated tree.The lightof the lanterns fellonhisbeaming face; thegoldenbuttons shone on his embroidered silk waistcoat. They could all see himstanding,wavingonehandintheair,theotherwasinhistrouser-pocket.

My dear Bagginses and Boffins, he began again; and my dear Tooks andBrandybucks,andGrubbs,andChubbs,andBurrowses,andHornblowers,andBolgers,Bracegirdles,Goodbodies,BrockhousesandProudfoots. ‘ProudFEET!’shouted an elderly hobbit from the back of the pavilion.His name, of course,was Proudfoot, andwellmerited; his feetwere large, exceptionally furry, andbothwereonthetable.

Proudfoots,repeatedBilbo.AlsomygoodSackville-BagginsesthatIwelcomebackatlast toBagEnd.Todayismyonehundredandeleventhbirthday:Iameleventy-onetoday! ‘Hurray!Hurray!ManyHappyReturns!’ theyshouted,andtheyhammeredjoyouslyonthetables.Bilbowasdoingsplendidly.Thiswasthesortofstufftheyliked:shortandobvious.

Ihopeyouareall enjoyingyourselvesasmuchas Iam.Deafening cheers.CriesofYes(andNo).Noisesoftrumpetsandhorns,pipesandflutes,andothermusicalinstruments.Therewere,ashasbeensaid,manyyounghobbitspresent.Hundredsofmusicalcrackershadbeenpulled.MostofthemborethemarkDALEonthem;whichdidnotconveymuchtomostofthehobbits,buttheyallagreedtheyweremarvellouscrackers.Theycontainedinstruments,small,butofperfectmakeandenchantingtones.Indeed,inonecornersomeoftheyoungTooksandBrandybucks,supposingUncleBilbotohavefinished(sincehehadplainlysaidallthatwasnecessary),nowgotupanimpromptuorchestra,andbeganamerrydance-tune.MasterEverardTookandMissMelilotBrandybuckgotona tableandwithbells in theirhandsbegan todance theSpringle-ring: aprettydance,butrathervigorous.

ButBilbohadnotfinished.Seizingahornfromayoungsternearby,heblew

threeloudhoots.Thenoisesubsided.Ishallnotkeepyoulong,hecried.Cheersfromalltheassembly.IhavecalledyoualltogetherforaPurpose.Somethinginthewaythathesaidthismadeanimpression.Therewasalmostsilence,andoneortwooftheTooksprickeduptheirears.

Indeed,forThreePurposes!Firstofall,totellyouthatIamimmenselyfondof youall, and that eleventy-one years is too short a time to live among suchexcellentandadmirablehobbits.Tremendousoutburstofapproval.

Idon’tknowhalfofyouhalfaswellasIshouldlike;andIlikelessthanhalfof you half as well as you deserve. This was unexpected and rather difficult.Therewassomescatteredclapping,butmostofthemweretryingtoworkitoutandseeifitcametoacompliment.

Secondly,tocelebratemybirthday.Cheersagain.Ishouldsay:OURbirthday.Foritis,ofcourse,alsothebirthdayofmyheirandnephew,Frodo.Hecomesofageandintohisinheritancetoday.Someperfunctoryclappingbytheelders;andsome loud shouts of ‘Frodo! Frodo! Jolly old Frodo,’ from the juniors. TheSackville-Bagginses scowled, andwonderedwhatwasmeant by ‘coming intohisinheritance’.

Togetherwescoreonehundredandforty-four.Yournumberswerechosentofitthisremarkabletotal:OneGross,ifImayusetheexpression.Nocheers.Thiswasridiculous.Manyoftheguests,andespeciallytheSackville-Bagginses,wereinsulted, feeling sure theyhadonlybeenasked to fillup the requirednumber,likegoodsinapackage.‘OneGross,indeed!Vulgarexpression.’

It isalso, ifImaybeallowedtorefer toancienthistory, theanniversaryofmyarrivalbybarrelatEsgarothontheLongLake;thoughthefactthatitwasmybirthdayslippedmymemoryonthatoccasion.Iwasonlyfifty-onethen,andbirthdaysdidnotseemso important.Thebanquetwasverysplendid,however,thoughIhadabadcoldatthetime,Iremember,andcouldonlysay‘thagyouverybuch’.Inowrepeatitmorecorrectly:Thankyouverymuchforcomingtomylittleparty.Obstinatesilence.Theyallfearedthatasongorsomepoetrywasnowimminent;and theyweregettingbored.Whycouldn’thestop talkingandlet them drink his health? But Bilbo did not sing or recite. He paused for amoment.

Thirdlyandfinally,hesaid,IwishtomakeanANNOUNCEMENT.Hespokethislastwordsoloudlyandsuddenlythateveryonesatupwhostillcould.Iregrettoannouncethat–though,asIsaid,eleventy-oneyearsisfartooshortatimetospendamongyou–thisistheEND.Iamgoing.IamleavingNOW.GOOD-BYE!

Hesteppeddownandvanished.Therewasablindingflashoflight,andthe

guestsallblinked.WhentheyopenedtheireyesBilbowasnowheretobeseen.Onehundredandforty-fourflabbergastedhobbitssatbackspeechless.OldOdoProudfootremovedhisfeetfromthetableandstamped.Thentherewasadeadsilence,untilsuddenly,afterseveraldeepbreaths,everyBaggins,Boffin,Took,Brandybuck, Grubb, Chubb, Burrows, Bolger, Bracegirdle, Brockhouse,Goodbody,Hornblower,andProudfootbegantotalkatonce.

Itwasgenerallyagreedthatthejokewasinverybadtaste,andmorefoodanddrink were needed to cure the guests of shock and annoyance. ‘He’s mad. Ialwayssaidso,’wasprobablythemostpopularcomment.EventheTooks(withafewexceptions)thoughtBilbo’sbehaviourwasabsurd.Forthemomentmostofthem took it for granted that his disappearance was nothing more than aridiculousprank.

But old Rory Brandybuck was not so sure. Neither age nor an enormousdinner had clouded his wits, and he said to his daughter-in-law, Esmeralda:‘There’s something fishy in this, my dear! I believe that mad Baggins is offagain.Sillyoldfool.Butwhyworry?Hehasn’ttakenthevittleswithhim.’HecalledloudlytoFrodotosendthewineroundagain.

Frodowastheonlyonepresentwhohadsaidnothing.ForsometimehehadsatsilentbesideBilbo’semptychair,andignoredallremarksandquestions.Hehadenjoyedthejoke,ofcourse,eventhoughhehadbeenintheknow.Hehaddifficultyinkeepingfromlaughterattheindignantsurpriseoftheguests.Butatthesametimehefeltdeeplytroubled:herealizedsuddenlythathelovedtheoldhobbit dearly.Most of the guestswent on eating and drinking and discussingBilbo Baggins’ oddities, past and present; but the Sackville-Bagginses hadalreadydepartedinwrath.Frododidnotwanttohaveanymoretodowiththeparty.Hegaveordersformorewinetobeserved;thenhegotupanddrainedhisownglasssilentlytothehealthofBilbo,andslippedoutofthepavilion.

AsforBilboBaggins,evenwhilehewasmakinghisspeech,hehadbeenfingeringthegoldenringinhispocket:hismagicringthathehadkeptsecretforsomanyyears.Ashesteppeddownheslippeditonhisfinger,andhewasneverseenbyanyhobbitinHobbitonagain.

Hewalkedbrisklybacktohishole,andstoodforamomentlisteningwithasmiletothedininthepavilion,andtothesoundsofmerrymakinginotherpartsof the field. Then he went in. He took off his party clothes, folded up andwrappedintissue-paperhisembroideredsilkwaistcoat,andputitaway.Thenheputonquicklysomeolduntidygarments,andfastenedroundhiswaistawornleather belt.On it he hung a short sword in a battered black-leather scabbard.

From a locked drawer, smelling of moth-balls, he took out an old cloak andhood.Theyhadbeenlockedupasiftheywereveryprecious,buttheyweresopatchedandweatherstainedthattheiroriginalcolourcouldhardlybeguessed:itmighthavebeendarkgreen.Theywererathertoolargeforhim.Hethenwentinto his study, and from a large strong-box took out a bundlewrapped in oldcloths, and a leather-boundmanuscript; and also a large bulky envelope. Thebookandbundlehestuffedintothetopofaheavybagthatwasstandingthere,already nearly full. Into the envelope he slipped his golden ring, and its finechain, and then sealed it, and addressed it to Frodo. At first he put it on themantelpiece, but suddenly he removed it and stuck it in his pocket. At thatmomentthedooropenedandGandalfcamequicklyin.

‘Hullo!’saidBilbo.‘Iwonderedifyouwouldturnup.’‘Iamgladtofindyouvisible,’repliedthewizard,sittingdowninachair,‘I

wanted to catch you and have a few final words. I suppose you feel thateverythinghasgoneoffsplendidlyandaccordingtoplan?’

‘Yes,Ido,’saidBilbo.‘Thoughthatflashwassurprising:itquitestartledme,letalonetheothers.Alittleadditionofyourown,Isuppose?’

‘Itwas.Youhavewiselykeptthatringsecretalltheseyears,anditseemedtome necessary to give your guests something else that would seem to explainyoursuddenvanishment.’

‘And would spoil my joke. You are an interfering old busybody,’ laughedBilbo,‘butIexpectyouknowbest,asusual.’

‘I do –when I know anything. But I don’t feel too sure about thiswholeaffair.Ithasnowcometothefinalpoint.Youhavehadyourjoke,andalarmedoroffendedmostofyourrelations,andgiventhewholeShiresomethingtotalkaboutforninedays,orninety-ninemorelikely.Areyougoinganyfurther?’

‘Yes, I am. I feel I need aholiday, avery longholiday, as I have toldyoubefore. Probably a permanent holiday: I don’t expect I shall return. In fact, Idon’tmeanto,andIhavemadeallarrangements.

‘Iamold,Gandalf.Idon’tlookit,butIambeginningtofeelitinmyheartofhearts.Well-preservedindeed!’hesnorted.‘Why,Ifeelallthin,sortofstretched,ifyouknowwhatImean:likebutterthathasbeenscrapedovertoomuchbread.Thatcan’tberight.Ineedachange,orsomething.’

Gandalflookedcuriouslyandcloselyathim.‘No,itdoesnotseemright,’hesaidthoughtfully.‘No,afterallIbelieveyourplanisprobablythebest.’

‘Well, I’ve made up my mind, anyway. I want to see mountains again,Gandalf–mountains;and thenfindsomewherewhereIcanrest. Inpeaceandquiet, without a lot of relatives prying around, and a string of confoundedvisitorshangingonthebell.ImightfindsomewherewhereIcanfinishmybook.

Ihavethoughtofaniceendingforit:andhelivedhappilyeveraftertotheendofhisdays.’

Gandalflaughed.‘Ihopehewill.Butnobodywillreadthebook,howeveritends.’

‘Oh,theymay,inyearstocome.Frodohasreadsomealready,asfarasithasgone.You’llkeepaneyeonFrodo,won’tyou?’

‘Yes,Iwill–twoeyes,asoftenasIcansparethem.’‘Hewould comewithme, of course, if I asked him. In fact he offered to

once,justbeforetheparty.Buthedoesnotreallywantto,yet.IwanttoseethewildcountryagainbeforeIdie,andtheMountains;butheisstillinlovewiththeShire,withwoodsandfieldsandlittlerivers.Heoughttobecomfortablehere.Iamleavingeverythingtohim,ofcourse,exceptafewoddments.Ihopehewillbe happy, when he gets used to being on his own. It’s time he was his ownmasternow.’

‘Everything?’ said Gandalf. ‘The ring as well? You agreed to that, youremember.’

‘Well,er,yes,Isupposeso,’stammeredBilbo.‘Whereisit?’‘In an envelope, if youmust know,’ said Bilbo impatiently. ‘There on the

mantelpiece.Well, no! Here it is inmy pocket!’ He hesitated. ‘Isn’t that oddnow?’he said softly tohimself. ‘Yet after all,whynot?Why shouldn’t it staythere?’

GandalflookedagainveryhardatBilbo,andtherewasagleaminhiseyes.‘Ithink,Bilbo,’hesaidquietly,‘Ishouldleaveitbehind.Don’tyouwantto?’

‘Wellyes–andno.Nowitcomes to it, Idon’t likepartingwith itatall, Imay say. And I don’t really see why I should.Why do youwantme to?’ heasked,andacuriouschangecameoverhisvoice.Itwassharpwithsuspicionandannoyance. ‘You are alwaysbadgeringme aboutmy ring; but youhaveneverbotheredmeabouttheotherthingsthatIgotonmyjourney.’

‘No, but I had to badger you,’ said Gandalf. ‘I wanted the truth. It wasimportant.Magicringsare–well,magical;andtheyarerareandcurious.Iwasprofessionallyinterestedinyourring,youmaysay;andIstillam.Ishouldliketo knowwhere it is, if you gowandering again.Also I think you have had itquite long enough. You won’t need it any more, Bilbo, unless I am quitemistaken.’

Bilboflushed,andtherewasanangrylightinhiseyes.Hiskindlyfacegrewhard.‘Whynot?’hecried.‘Andwhatbusiness is itofyours,anyway, toknowwhatIdowithmyownthings?Itismyown.Ifoundit.Itcametome.’

‘Yes,yes,’saidGandalf.‘Butthereisnoneedtogetangry.’

‘If I am it is your fault,’ said Bilbo. ‘It is mine, I tell you.My own.MyPrecious.Yes,myPrecious.’

Thewizard’sfaceremainedgraveandattentive,andonlyaflickerinhisdeepeyes showed that hewas startled and indeed alarmed. ‘It has been called thatbefore,’hesaid,‘butnotbyyou.’

‘ButIsayitnow.Andwhynot?EvenifGollumsaidthesameonce.It’snothisnow,butmine.AndIshallkeepit,Isay.’

Gandalfstoodup.Hespokesternly.‘Youwillbeafoolifyoudo,Bilbo,’hesaid. ‘Youmake thatclearerwitheverywordyousay. Ithasgot far toomuchholdonyou.Letitgo!Andthenyoucangoyourself,andbefree.’

‘I’lldoasIchooseandgoasIplease,’saidBilboobstinately.‘Now,now,mydearhobbit!’saidGandalf.‘Allyourlonglifewehavebeen

friends,andyouowemesomething.Come!Doasyoupromised:giveitup!’‘Well,ifyouwantmyringyourself,sayso!’criedBilbo.‘Butyouwon’tget

it.Iwon’tgivemyPreciousaway,Itellyou.’Hishandstrayedtothehiltofhissmallsword.

Gandalf’seyesflashed.‘Itwillbemyturntogetangrysoon,’hesaid.‘Ifyousaythatagain,Ishall.ThenyouwillseeGandalftheGreyuncloaked.’Hetookasteptowardsthehobbit,andheseemedtogrowtallandmenacing;hisshadowfilledthelittleroom.

Bilbo backed away to the wall, breathing hard, his hand clutching at hispocket. They stood for a while facing one another, and the air of the roomtingled.Gandalf’seyesremainedbentonthehobbit.Slowlyhishandsrelaxed,andhebegantotremble.

‘Idon’tknowwhathascomeoveryou,Gandalf,’hesaid. ‘Youhaveneverbeen like this before.What is it all about? It ismine isn’t it? I found it, andGollumwouldhavekilledme, if Ihadn’tkept it. I’mnota thief,whateverhesaid.’

‘Ihavenevercalledyouone,’Gandalfanswered.‘AndIamnotoneeither.Iamnot trying to robyou, but to help you. Iwishyouwould trustme, as youused.’Heturnedaway,andtheshadowpassed.Heseemedtodwindleagaintoanoldgreyman,bentandtroubled.

Bilbodrewhishandoverhiseyes.‘Iamsorry,’hesaid.‘ButIfeltsoqueer.Andyetitwouldbeareliefinawaynottobebotheredwithitanymore.Ithasbeen so growing onmymind lately. Sometimes I have felt itwas like an eyelookingatme.AndIamalwayswanting toput itonanddisappear,don’tyouknow;orwonderingifitissafe,andpullingitouttomakesure.Itriedlockingitup,butIfoundIcouldn’trestwithoutitinmypocket.Idon’tknowwhy.AndIdon’tseemabletomakeupmymind.’

‘Then trustmine,’saidGandalf. ‘It isquitemadeup.Goawayand leave itbehind.Stoppossessingit.GiveittoFrodo,andIwilllookafterhim.’

Bilbo stood for a moment tense and undecided. Presently he sighed. ‘Allright,’hesaidwithaneffort.‘Iwill.’Thenheshruggedhisshoulders,andsmiledratherruefully.‘Afterallthat’swhatthispartybusinesswasallabout,really:togiveawaylotsofbirthday-presents,andsomehowmakeiteasiertogiveitawayatthesametime.Ithasn’tmadeitanyeasierintheend,butitwouldbeapitytowasteallmypreparations.Itwouldquitespoilthejoke.’

‘Indeed it would take away the only point I ever saw in the affair,’ saidGandalf.

‘Verywell,’saidBilbo, ‘itgoes toFrodowithall the rest.’Hedrewadeepbreath. ‘Andnow I reallymust be starting, or somebody elsewill catchme. Ihavesaidgood-bye,andIcouldn’tbeartodoitalloveragain.’Hepickeduphisbagandmovedtothedoor.

‘Youhavestillgottheringinyourpocket,’saidthewizard.‘Well,soIhave!’criedBilbo.‘Andmywillandalltheotherdocumentstoo.

Youhadbettertakeitanddeliveritforme.Thatwillbesafest.’‘No,don’tgive the ring tome,’ saidGandalf. ‘Put iton themantelpiece. It

willbesafeenoughthere,tillFrodocomes.Ishallwaitforhim.’Bilbotookouttheenvelope,butjustashewasabouttosetitbytheclock,his

handjerkedback,andthepacketfellonthefloor.Beforehecouldpickitup,thewizard stooped and seized it and set it in its place. A spasm of anger passedswiftlyoverthehobbit’sfaceagain.Suddenlyitgavewaytoalookofreliefandalaugh.

‘Well,that’sthat,’hesaid.‘NowI’moff!’Theywentout into thehall.Bilbochosehis favouritestick fromthestand;

then hewhistled. Three dwarves came out of different roomswhere they hadbeenbusy.

‘Iseverythingready?’askedBilbo.‘Everythingpackedandlabelled?’‘Everything,’theyanswered.‘Well,let’sstartthen!’Hesteppedoutofthefront-door.Itwasa finenight, and theblackskywasdottedwith stars.He lookedup,

sniffing the air. ‘What fun! What fun to be off again, off on the Road withdwarves!This iswhatIhavereallybeenlongingfor,foryears!Good-bye!’hesaid,lookingathisoldhomeandbowingtothedoor.‘Good-bye,Gandalf!’

‘Good-bye,forthepresent,Bilbo.Takecareofyourself!Youareoldenough,andperhapswiseenough.’

‘Takecare!Idon’tcare.Don’tyouworryaboutme!IamashappynowasIhave ever been, and that is saying a great deal. But the time has come. I am

being swept off my feet at last,’ he added, and then in a low voice, as if tohimself,hesangsoftlyinthedark:

TheRoadgoeseveronandonDownfromthedoorwhereitbegan.NowfaraheadtheRoadhasgone,AndImustfollow,ifIcan,Pursuingitwitheagerfeet,UntilitjoinssomelargerwayWheremanypathsanderrandsmeet.Andwhitherthen?Icannotsay.

Hepaused,silentforamoment.Thenwithoutanotherwordheturnedawayfromthelightsandvoicesinthefieldandtents,andfollowedbyhisthreecompanionswentroundintohisgarden,andtrotteddownthelongslopingpath.Hejumpedoveralowplaceinthehedgeatthebottom,andtooktothemeadows,passingintothenightlikearustleofwindinthegrass.

Gandalfremainedforawhilestaringafterhimintothedarkness.‘Good-bye,mydearBilbo–untilournextmeeting!’hesaidsoftlyandwentbackindoors.

Frodocameinsoonafterwards,andfoundhimsittinginthedark,deepinthought.‘Hashegone?’heasked.

‘Yes,’answeredGandalf,‘hehasgoneatlast.’‘I wish – Imean, I hoped until this evening that it was only a joke,’ said

Frodo. ‘But Iknew inmyheart thathe reallymeant togo.Healwaysused tojokeaboutseriousthings.IwishIhadcomebacksooner,justtoseehimoff.’

‘I think really he preferred slipping off quietly in the end,’ said Gandalf.‘Don’tbetootroubled.He’llbeallright–now.Heleftapacketforyou.Thereitis!’

Frodotooktheenvelopefromthemantelpiece,andglancedatit,butdidnotopenit.

‘You’ll findhiswill andall theotherdocuments in there, I think,’ said thewizard. ‘You are themaster ofBagEndnow.And also, I fancy, you’ll find agoldenring.’

‘Thering!’exclaimedFrodo.‘Hasheleftmethat?Iwonderwhy.Still,itmaybeuseful.’

‘Itmay,anditmaynot,’saidGandalf.‘Ishouldnotmakeuseofit,ifIwereyou.Butkeepitsecret,andkeepitsafe!NowIamgoingtobed.’

AsmasterofBagEndFrodofeltithispainfuldutytosaygood-byetotheguests. Rumours of strange events had by now spread all over the field, butFrodowouldonly sayno doubt everythingwill be cleared up in themorning.Aboutmidnightcarriagescame for the important folk.Onebyone they rolledaway, filled with full but very unsatisfied hobbits. Gardeners came byarrangement, and removed in wheelbarrows those that had inadvertentlyremainedbehind.

Night slowly passed. The sun rose. The hobbits rose rather later.Morningwenton.Peoplecameandbegan(byorders)toclearawaythepavilionsandthetablesandthechairs,andthespoonsandknivesandbottlesandplates,andthelanterns,andthefloweringshrubs inboxes,andthecrumbsandcracker-paper,the forgottenbagsandglovesandhandkerchiefs,and theuneaten food(averysmall item).Thenanumberofotherpeoplecame(withoutorders):Bagginses,andBoffins,andBolgers,andTooks,andothergueststhatlivedorwerestayingnear.Bymid-day,wheneventhebest-fedwereoutandaboutagain,therewasalargecrowdatBagEnd,uninvitedbutnotunexpected.

Frodowaswaitingonthestep,smiling,butlookingrathertiredandworried.Hewelcomedallthecallers,buthehadnotmuchmoretosaythanbefore.Hisreplytoallinquirieswassimplythis:‘Mr.BilboBagginshasgoneaway;asfarasIknow,forgood.’Someofthevisitorsheinvitedtocomeinside,asBilbohadleft‘messages’forthem.

Insideinthehalltherewaspiledalargeassortmentofpackagesandparcelsandsmallarticlesoffurniture.Oneveryitemtherewasalabeltied.Therewereseverallabelsofthissort:

ForADELARDTOOK,forhisVERYOWN,fromBilbo;onanumbrella.Adelardhadcarriedoffmanyunlabelledones.

ForDORABAGGINSinmemoryofaLONGcorrespondence,withlovefromBilbo;onalargewaste-paperbasket.DorawasDrogo’ssisterandtheeldestsurvivingfemalerelativeofBilboandFrodo;shewasninety-nine,andhadwrittenreamsofgoodadviceformorethanhalfacentury.

ForMILOBURROWS,hopingitwillbeuseful,fromB.B.;onagoldpenandink-bottle.Miloneveransweredletters.

ForANGELICA’Suse,fromUncleBilbo;onaroundconvexmirror.ShewasayoungBaggins,andtooobviouslyconsideredherfaceshapely.

For thecollectionofHUGOBRACEGIRDLE, fromacontributor; on an (empty)

book-case. Hugo was a great borrower of books, and worse than usual atreturningthem.

ForLOBELIASACKVILLE-BAGGINS,asaPRESENT;onacaseofsilverspoons.Bilbobelievedthatshehadacquiredagoodmanyofhisspoons,whilehewasawayonhisformerjourney.Lobeliaknewthatquitewell.Whenshearrivedlaterintheday,shetookthepointatonce,butshealsotookthespoons.

Thisisonlyasmallselectionoftheassembledpresents.Bilbo’sresidencehad got rather cluttered upwith things in the course of his long life. Itwas atendencyofhobbit-holestogetclutteredup:forwhichthecustomofgivingsomany birthday-presents was largely responsible. Not, of course, that thebirthday-presents were always new; there were one or two old mathoms offorgottenuses thathadcirculatedall around thedistrict;butBilbohadusuallygivennewpresents,andkeptthosethathereceived.Theoldholewasnowbeingclearedalittle.

Everyoneof thevariouspartinggiftshad labels,writtenoutpersonallybyBilbo, and several had some point, or some joke. But, of course,most of thethings were given where they would be wanted and welcome. The poorerhobbits,andespeciallythoseofBagshotRow,didverywell.OldGafferGamgeegot two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woollen waistcoat, and a bottle ofointment for creaking joints. Old Rory Brandybuck, in return for muchhospitality, got a dozen bottles of OldWinyards: a strong red wine from theSouthfarthing,andnowquitemature,asithadbeenlaiddownbyBilbo’sfather.RoryquiteforgaveBilbo,andvotedhimacapitalfellowafterthefirstbottle.

Therewasplentyofeverything left forFrodo.And,ofcourse,all thechieftreasures,aswellas thebooks,pictures,andmore thanenoughfurniture,wereleft in his possession. Therewas, however, no sign normention ofmoney orjewellery:notapenny-pieceoraglassbeadwasgivenaway.

Frodohadaverytryingtimethatafternoon.Afalserumourthatthewholehouseholdwas being distributed free spread likewildfire; and before long theplacewaspackedwithpeoplewhohadnobusinessthere,butcouldnotbekeptout.Labelsgottornoffandmixed,andquarrelsbrokeout.Somepeopletriedtodoswapsanddealsinthehall;andotherstriedtomakeoffwithminoritemsnotaddressed to them,orwith anything that seemedunwantedorunwatched.Theroadtothegatewasblockedwithbarrowsandhandcarts.

Inthemiddleof thecommotiontheSackville-Bagginsesarrived.Frodohad

retired for a while and left his friend Merry Brandybuck to keep an eye onthings.WhenOtholoudlydemandedtoseeFrodo,Merrybowedpolitely.

‘Heisindisposed,’hesaid.‘Heisresting.’‘Hiding,youmean,’saidLobelia.‘Anywaywewanttoseehimandwemean

toseehim.Justgoandtellhimso!’Merryleftthemalongwhileinthehall,andtheyhadtimetodiscovertheir

parting gift of spoons. It did not improve their tempers. Eventually theywereshownintothestudy.Frodowassittingatatablewithalotofpapersinfrontofhim.Helookedindisposed–toseeSackville-Bagginsesatanyrate;andhestoodup,fidgetingwithsomethinginhispocket.Buthespokequitepolitely.

TheSackville-Bagginseswereratheroffensive.Theybeganbyofferinghimbad bargain-prices (as between friends) for various valuable and unlabelledthings.WhenFrodorepliedthatonlythethingsspeciallydirectedbyBilbowerebeinggivenaway,theysaidthewholeaffairwasveryfishy.

‘Only one thing is clear tome,’ saidOtho, ‘and that is that you are doingexceedinglywelloutofit.Iinsistonseeingthewill.’

OthowouldhavebeenBilbo’sheir,but for theadoptionofFrodo.He readthe will carefully and snorted. It was, unfortunately, very clear and correct(according to the legal customsof hobbits,whichdemand amongother thingssevensignaturesofwitnessesinredink).

‘Foiled again!’ he said to hiswife. ‘And afterwaiting sixty years.Spoons?Fiddlesticks!’Hesnappedhis fingersunderFrodo’snoseandstumpedoff.ButLobeliawasnotsoeasilygotridof.AlittlelaterFrodocameoutofthestudytoseehowthingsweregoingon,andfoundherstillabouttheplace,investigatingnooks and corners, and tapping the floors. He escorted her firmly off thepremises,afterhehadrelievedherofseveralsmall(butrathervaluable)articlesthathadsomehowfalleninsideherumbrella.Herfacelookedasifshewasinthethroesofthinkingoutareallycrushingpartingremark;butallshefoundtosay,turningroundonthestep,was:

‘You’ll live to regret it, young fellow!Why didn’t you go too?You don’tbelonghere;you’renoBaggins–you–you’reaBrandybuck!’

‘Didyouhearthat,Merry?Thatwasaninsult,ifyoulike,’saidFrodoasheshutthedooronher.

‘Itwasacompliment,’saidMerryBrandybuck,‘andso,ofcourse,nottrue.’

Then they went round the hole, and evicted three young hobbits (twoBoffinsandaBolger)whowereknockingholesinthewallsofoneofthecellars.Frodo also had a tussle with young Sancho Proudfoot (old Odo Proudfoot’s

grandson),whohadbegunanexcavationinthelargerpantry,wherehethoughttherewasanecho.ThelegendofBilbo’sgoldexcitedbothcuriosityandhope;for legendary gold (mysteriously obtained, if not positively ill-gotten), is, aseveryoneknows,anyone’sforthefinding–unlessthesearchisinterrupted.

WhenhehadovercomeSancho andpushedhimout,Frodo collapsedon achairinthehall.‘It’stimetoclosetheshop,Merry,’hesaid.‘Lockthedoor,anddon’topenit toanyonetoday,notevenif theybringabatteringram.’Thenhewenttorevivehimselfwithabelatedcupoftea.

He had hardly sat down, when there came a soft knock at the front-door.‘Lobelia againmost likely,’ he thought. ‘Shemust have thought of somethingreallynasty,andhavecomebackagaintosayit.Itcanwait.’

Hewentonwithhistea.Theknockwasrepeated,muchlouder,buthetooknonotice.Suddenlythewizard’sheadappearedatthewindow.

‘Ifyoudon’t letmein,Frodo,Ishallblowyourdoorrightdownyourholeandoutthroughthehill,’hesaid.

‘MydearGandalf!Halfaminute!’criedFrodo, runningoutof the roomtothedoor.‘Comein!Comein!IthoughtitwasLobelia.’

‘Then I forgive you. But I saw her some time ago, driving a pony-traptowardsBywaterwithafacethatwouldhavecurdlednewmilk.’

‘Shehadalreadynearlycurdledme.Honestly,InearlytriedonBilbo’sring.Ilongedtodisappear.’

‘Don’t do that!’ said Gandalf, sitting down. ‘Do be careful of that ring,Frodo!Infact,itispartlyaboutthatthatIhavecometosayalastword.’

‘Well,whataboutit?’‘Whatdoyouknowalready?’‘OnlywhatBilbotoldme.Ihaveheardhisstory:howhefoundit,andhow

heusedit:onhisjourney,Imean.’‘Whichstory,Iwonder,’saidGandalf.‘Oh,notwhathetoldthedwarvesandputinhisbook,’saidFrodo.‘Hetold

methetruestorysoonafterIcametolivehere.Hesaidyouhadpesteredhimtillhetoldyou,soIhadbetterknowtoo.“Nosecretsbetweenus,Frodo,”hesaid;“buttheyarenottogoanyfurther.It’smineanyway.”’

‘That’sinteresting,’saidGandalf.‘Well,whatdidyouthinkofitall?’‘If youmean, inventing all that about a “present”,well, I thought the true

storymuchmore likely,andIcouldn’tsee thepointofalteringitatall. ItwasveryunlikeBilbotodoso,anyway;andIthoughtitratherodd.’

‘SodidI.Butoddthingsmayhappentopeoplethathavesuchtreasures–iftheyusethem.Letitbeawarningtoyoutobeverycarefulwithit.Itmayhaveotherpowersthanjustmakingyouvanishwhenyouwishto.’

‘Idon’tunderstand,’saidFrodo.‘NeitherdoI,’answered thewizard. ‘Ihavemerelybegun towonderabout

thering,especiallysincelastnight.Noneedtoworry.Butifyoutakemyadviceyouwilluseitveryseldom,ornotatall.AtleastIbegyounottouseitinanywaythatwillcausetalkorrousesuspicion.Isayagain:keepitsafe,andkeepitsecret!’

‘Youareverymysterious!Whatareyouafraidof?’‘Iamnotcertain,soIwillsaynomore.Imaybeabletotellyousomething

whenIcomeback.Iamgoingoffatonce:sothisisgood-byeforthepresent.’Hegotup.

‘At once!’ criedFrodo. ‘Why, I thought youwere staying on for at least aweek.Iwaslookingforwardtoyourhelp.’

‘Ididmeanto–butIhavehadtochangemymind.Imaybeawayforagoodwhile;butI’llcomeandseeyouagain,assoonasIcan.Expectmewhenyouseeme!Ishallslipinquietly.Ishan’toftenbevisitingtheShireopenlyagain.Ifind that I have become rather unpopular. They say I am a nuisance and adisturberofthepeace.SomepeopleareactuallyaccusingmeofspiritingBilboaway,orworse.Ifyouwanttoknow,thereissupposedtobeaplotbetweenyouandmetogetholdofhiswealth.’

‘Some people!’ exclaimed Frodo. ‘You mean Otho and Lobelia. Howabominable!IwouldgivethemBagEndandeverythingelse,ifIcouldgetBilbobackandgoofftrampinginthecountrywithhim.IlovetheShire.ButIbegintowish,somehow,thatIhadgonetoo.IwonderifIshalleverseehimagain.’

‘Sodo I,’ saidGandalf. ‘And Iwondermanyother things.Good-byenow!Takecareofyourself!Lookoutforme,especiallyatunlikelytimes!Good-bye!’

Frodosawhimtothedoor.Hegaveafinalwaveofhishand,andwalkedoffat a surprising pace; but Frodo thought the oldwizard looked unusually bent,almostasifhewascarryingagreatweight.Theeveningwasclosingin,andhiscloaked figurequicklyvanished into the twilight.Frododidnot seehimagainforalongtime.

WorksbyJ.R.R.Tolkien

TheHobbitLeafbyNiggleOnFairy-Stories

FarmerGilesofHamTheHomecomingofBeorhtnoth

TheLordoftheRingsTheAdventuresofTomBombadil

TheRoadGoesEverOn(withDonaldSwann)SmithofWoottonMajor

WORKSPUBLISHEDPOSTHUMOUSLYSirGawainandtheGreenKnight,PearlandSirOrfeo

TheFatherChristmasLettersTheSilmarillion

PicturesbyJ.R.R.TolkienUnfinishedTales

TheLettersofJ.R.R.TolkienFinnandHengest

MrBlissTheMonstersandtheCritics&OtherEssays

RoverandomTheChildrenofHúrin

TheLegendofSigurdandGudrún

THEHISTORYOFMIDDLE-EARTH–BYCHRISTOPHERTOLKIENITheBookofLostTales,PartOneIITheBookofLostTales,PartTwo

IIITheLaysofBeleriandIVTheShapingofMiddle-earth

VTheLostRoadandOtherWritingsVITheReturnoftheShadowVIITheTreasonofIsengardVIIITheWaroftheRingIXSauronDefeatedXMorgoth’sRing

XITheWaroftheJewelsXIIThePeoplesofMiddle-earth

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AbouttheAuthor

J.R.R. Tolkien was born on January 3rd 1892. Apart from his long anddistinguishedacademiccareer,he isbestknownforhisextraordinaryworksoffictionTheHobbit,TheLordof theRingsandTheSilmarillion.Hisworksaretranslated into over 40 languages and have sold many millions of copiesworldwide. He was awarded the CBE, and an honorary Doctorate of LettersfromOxfordUniversityin1972.Hediedin1973attheageof81.

Copyright

Copyright©TheJ.R.R.TolkienCopyrightTrust1937,1951,1966,1978,1995

Allrightsreserved.

Forinformationaboutpermissiontoreproduceselectionsfromthisbook,writetoPermissions,HoughtonMifflinHarcourt,215ParkAvenueSouth,NewYork,NewYork10003.

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E-ISBN978-0-547-95196-6