Tolkien Hobbit

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HobbitJ. R. R. Tolkien

Chapter I

AN UNEXPECTED PARTY

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nat!" dirt!" #et hole" $illed #ith theend o$ #or% and an oo&! %ell" nor !et a dr!" bare" and! hole #ith nothing in it to itdo#n on or to eat' it #a a hobbit(hole" and that %ean )o%$ort.

It had a per$e)tl! round door like a porthole" painted green" #ith a hin! !ello# braknob in the e*a)t %iddle. The door opened on to a tube(haped hall like a tunnel' a ver!)o%$ortable tunnel #ithout %oke" #ith panelled #all" and $loor tiled and )arpeted"provided #ith polihed )hair" and lot and lot o$ peg $or hat and )oat+the hobbit#a $ond o$ viitor. The tunnel #ound on and on" going $airl! but not ,uite traight intothe ide o$ the hill+The -ill" a all the people $or %an! %ile round )alled it+and %an!little round door opened out o$ it" $irt on one ide and then on another. No goinguptair $or the hobbit' bedroo%" bathroo%" )ellar" pantrie lot o$ thee/" #ardrobehe had #hole roo% devoted to )lothe/" kit)hen" dining(roo%" all #ere on the a%e$loor" and indeed on the a%e paage. The bet roo% #ere all on the le$t(hand idegoing in/" $or thee #ere the onl! one to have #indo#" deep(et round #indo#looking over hi garden and %eado# be!ond" loping do#n to the river.

Thi hobbit #a a ver! #ell(to(do hobbit" and hi na%e #a 0aggin. The 0agginehad lived in the neighbourhood o$ The -ill $or ti%e out o$ %ind" and people )onideredthe% ver! repe)table" not onl! be)aue %ot o$ the% #ere ri)h" but alo be)aue the!never had an! adventure or did an!thing une*pe)ted' !ou )ould tell #hat a 0aggin#ould a! on an! ,uetion #ithout the bother o$ aking hi%. Thi i a tor! o$ ho# a0aggin had an adventure" $ound hi%el$ doing and a!ing thing altogether une*pe)ted.-e %a! have lot the neighbour1 repe)t" but he gained(#ell" !ou #ill ee #hether hegained an!thing in the end.

The %other o$ our parti)ular hobbit2 #hat i a hobbit3 I uppoe hobbit need o%ede)ription no#ada!" in)e the! have be)o%e rare and h! o$ the 0ig People" a the!)all u. The! are or #ere/ a little people" about hal$ our height" and %aller than thebearded D#arve. -obbit have no beard. There i little or no %agi) about the%" e*)eptthe ordinar! ever!da! ort #hi)h help the% to diappear ,uietl! and ,ui)kl! #hen largetupid $olk like !ou and %e )o%e blundering along" %aking a noie like elephant #hi)hthe! )an hear a %ile o$$. The! are in)lined to be at in the to%a)h4 the! dre in bright)olour )hie$l! green and !ello#/4 #ear no hoe" be)aue their $eet gro# naturalleather! ole and thi)k #ar% bro#n hair like the tu$$ on their head #hi)h i )url!/4have long )lever bro#n $inger" good(natured $a)e" and laugh deep $ruit! laughepe)iall! a$ter dinner" #hi)h the! have t#i)e a da! #hen the! )an get it/. No# !oukno# enough to go on #ith. A I #a a!ing" the %other o$ thi hobbit+o$ 0ilbo 0aggin"

that i+#a the $abulou 0elladonna Took" one o$ the three re%arkable daughter o$ the5ld Took" head o$ the hobbit #ho lived a)ro The 6ater" the %all river that ran at the$oot o$ The -ill. It #a o$ten aid in other $a%ilie/ that long ago one o$ the Tookan)etor %ut have taken a $air! #i$e. That #a" o$ )oure" aburd" but )ertainl! there#a till o%ething not entirel! hobbit(like about the%"+and on)e in a #hile %e%ber o$the Took()lan #ould go and have adventure. The! di)reetl! diappeared" and the$a%il! huhed it up4 but the $a)t re%ained that the Took #ere not a repe)table a the0aggine" though the! #ere undoubtedl! ri)her. Not that 0elladonna Took ever had an!adventure a$ter he be)a%e 7r. 0ungo 0aggin. 0ungo" that #a 0ilbo1 $ather" builtthe %ot lu*uriou hobbit(hole $or her and partl! #ith her %one!/ that #a to be $oundeither under The -ill or over The -ill or a)ro The 6ater" and there the! re%ained tothe end o$ their da!. 8till it i probable that 0ilbo" her onl! on" although he looked and

behaved e*a)tl! like a e)ond edition o$ hi olid and )o%$ortable $ather" got o%ething abit ,ueer in hi %akeup $ro% the Took ide" o%ething that onl! #aited $or a )han)e to)o%e out. The )han)e never arrived" until 0ilbo 0aggin #a gro#n up" being about $i$t!

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!ear old or o" and living in the beauti$ul hobbit(hole built b! hi $ather" #hi)h I have9ut de)ribed $or !ou" until he had in $a)t apparentl! ettled do#n i%%ovabl!.

0! o%e )uriou )han)e one %orning long ago in the ,uiet o$ the #orld" #hen there#a le noie and %ore green" and the hobbit #ere till nu%erou and properou" and0ilbo 0aggin #a tanding at hi door a$ter break$at %oking an enor%ou long#ooden pipe that rea)hed nearl! do#n to hi #ooll! toe neatl! bruhed/+:andal$ )a%eb!. :andal$; I$ !ou had heard onl! a ,uarter o$ #hat I have heard about hi%" and I have

onl! heard ver! little o$ all there i to hear" !ou #ould be prepared $or an! ort I o$re%arkable tale. Tale and adventure prouted up all over the pla)e #herever he #ent"in the %ot e*traordinar! $ahion. -e had not been do#n that #a! under The -ill $orage and age" not in)e hi $riend the 5ld Took died" in $a)t" and the hobbit had al%ot$orgotten #hat he looked like. -e had been a#a! over The -ill and a)ro The 6ater onbuine o$ hi o#n in)e the! #ere all %all hobbit(bo! and hobbit(girl.

All that the unupe)ting 0ilbo a# that %orning #a an old %an #ith a ta$$. -e hada tall pointed blue hat" a long gre! )loak" a ilver )ar$ over #hi)h a #hite beard hungdo#n belo# hi #ait" and i%%ene bla)k boot.


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badl! in thee part on)e upon a ti%e. I beg !our pardon" but I had no idea !ou #ere tillin buine.=

er! a%uing $or %e" ver! good $or !ou and pro$itable too" ver!likel!" i$ !ou ever get over it.=


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beauti$ul round eed()ake #hi)h he had baked that a$ternoon $or hi a$ter(upper%orel.

6hen he got ba)k 0alin and D#alin #ere talking at the table like old $riend a a%atter o$ $a)t the! #ere brother/. 0ilbo plu%ped do#n the beer and the )ake in $ront o$the%" #hen loud )a%e a ring at the bell again" and then another ring.

E. Another d#ar$ had )o%e along #hile he #a #ondering inthe hall. -e had hardl! turned the knob" be(*/re the! #ere all inide" bo#ing and a!ing


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pork(pie and alad"= aid 0o%bur.


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Bili and ili ruhed $or their bag and brought ba)k little $iddle4 Dori" Nori" and 5ribrought out $lute $ro% o%e#here inide their )oat4 0o%bur produ)ed a dru% $ro% thehall4 0i$ur and 0o$ur #ent out too" and )a%e ba)k #ith )larinet that the! had le$t a%ongthe #alking(ti)k D#alin and 0alin aid'


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The! $led their hall to d!ing ($all0eneath hi $eet" beneath the %oon.

ar over the %it! %ountain gri%To dungeon deep and )avern di%6e %ut a#a!" ere break o$ da!"To #in our harp and gold $ro% hi%;

A the! ang the hobbit $elt the love o$ beauti$ul thing %ade b! hand and b!)unning and b! %agi) %oving through hi%" a $ier)e and 9ealou love" the deire o$ theheart o$ d#arve. Then o%ething Tookih #oke up inide hi%" and he #ihed to go andee the great %ountain" and hear the pine(tree and the #ater$all" and e*plore the)ave" and #ear a #ord intead o$ a #alking(ti)k. -e looked out o$ the #indo#. Thetar #ere out in a dark k! above the tree. -e thought o$ the 9e#el o$ the d#arvehining in dark )avern. 8uddenl! in the #ood be!ond The 6ater a $la%e leapt up((probabl! o%ebod! lighting a #ood($ire(and he thought o$ plundering dragon ettling onhi ,uiet -ill and kindling it all to $la%e. -e huddered4 and ver! ,ui)kl! he #a plain7r. 0aggin o$ 0ag(End" Under(-ill" again.

-e got up tre%bling. -e had le than hal$ a %ind to $et)h the la%p" and %ore than

hal$ a %ind to pretend to" and go and hide behind the beer barrel in the )ellar" and not)o%e out again until all the d#arve had gone a#a!. 8uddenl! he $ound that the %ui)and the inging had topped" and the! #ere all looking at hi% #ith e!e hining in thedark.


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I$ !ou have ever een a dragon in a pin)h" !ou #ill reali&e that thi #a onl! poeti)ale*aggeration applied to an! hobbit" even to 5ld Took1 great(grandun)le 0ullroarer" #ho#a o huge $or a hobbit/ that he )ould ride a hore. -e )harged the rank o$ thegoblin o$ 7ount :ra% in the 0attle o$ the :reen ield" and kno)ked their king :ol($irnbul1 head )lean o$$ #ith a #ooden )lub. It ailed a hundred !ard through the air and#ent do#n a rabbit hole" and in thi #a! the battle #a #on and the ga%e o$ :ol$invented at the a%e %o%ent.

In the %ean#hile" ho#ever" 0ullroarer1 gentler de)endant #a reviving in thedra#ing(roo%. A$ter a #hile and a drink he )rept nervoul! to the door o$ the parlour.Thi i #hat he heard" :loin peaking'


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Chapter HR5A8T 7UTT5N

Up 9u%ped 0ilbo" and putting on hi dreing(go#n #ent into the dining(roo%. Therehe a# nobod!" but all the ign o$ a large and hurried break$at. There #a a $ear$ul%e in the roo%" and pile o$ un#ahed )ro)k in the kit)hen. Nearl! ever! pot and panhe poeed ee%ed to have been ued. The #ahing(up #a o di%all! real that 0ilbo

#a $or)ed to believe the part! o$ the night be$ore had not been part o$ hi bad drea%"a he had rather hoped. Indeed he #a reall! relieved a$ter all to think that the! had allgone #ithout hi%" and #ithout bothering to #ake hi% up

aid :andal$" handing 0ilbo a note #ritten" o$ )oure" on hi o#n note(paper/.Thi i #hat he read'


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Jut then all the other )a%e round the )orner o$ the road $ro% the village. The! #ereon ponie" and ea)h pon! #a lung about #ith all kind o$ baggage" pa)kage" par)el"and paraphernalia. There #a a ver! %all pon!" apparentl! $or 0ilbo.


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ba)k ,uietl! and #arned hi $riend that there #ere three $air(i&ed troll at hand in anat! %ood" ,uite likel! to tr! toated d#ar$" or even pon!" $or a )hange4 or ele hehould have done a bit o$ good ,ui)k burgling. A reall! $irt()la and legendar! burglar#ould at thi point have pi)ked the troll1 po)ket(it i nearl! al#a! #orth#hile i$ !ou)an %anage it(" pin)hed the ver! %utton o$$ the pite" purloined the beer" and #alked o$$#ithout their noti)ing hi%. 5ther %ore pra)ti)al but #ith le pro$eional pride #ouldperhap have tu)k a dagger into ea)h o$ the% be$ore the! oberved it. Then the night

)ould have been pent )heeril!.0ilbo kne# it. -e had read o$ a good %an! thing he had never een or done. -e #a

ver! %u)h alar%ed" a #ell a diguted4 he #ihed hi%el$ a hundred %ile a#a!" and!et(and !et o%eho# he )ould not go traight ba)k to Thorin and Co%pan! e%pt!(handed. 8o he tood and heitated in the hado#. 5$ the variou burglarioupro)eeding he had heard o$ pi)king the troll1 po)ket ee%ed the leat di$$i)ult" o atlat he )rept behind a tree 9ut behind 6illia%.

0ert and To% #ent o$$ to the barrel. 6illia% #a having another drink. Then 0ilboplu)ked up )ourage and put hi little hand in 6illia%1 enor%ou po)ket. There #a apure in it" a big a a bag to 0ilbo.


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0ert1 big pa#" and he had no breath in hi bod!" and hi head #a going round4 o therehe la! $or a #hile panting" 9ut outide the )ir)le o$ $irelight.

Right in the %iddle o$ the $ight up )a%e 0alin. The d#arve had heard noie $ro% aditan)e" and a$ter #ait(ing $or o%e ti%e $or 0ilbo to )o%e ba)k" or to hoot like an o#l"the! tarted o$$ one b! one to )reep to#ard the light a ,uietl! a the! )ould. No oonerdid To% ee 0alin )o%e into the light than he gave an a#$ul ho#l. Troll i%pl! detetthe ver! ight o$ d#arve un)ooked/. 0ert and 0ill topped $ighting i%%ediatel!" and


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Chapter A 8-5RT RE8T

The! did not ing or tell torie that da!" even though the #eather i%proved4 nor thene*t da!" nor the da! a$ter. The! had begun to $eel that danger #a not $ar a#a! oneither ide. The! )a%ped under the tar" and their hore had %ore to eat than the!had4 $or there #a plent! o$ gra" but there #a not %u)h in their bag" even #ith #hat

the! had got $ro% the troll. 5ne %orning the! $orded a river at a #ide hallo# pla)e $ullo$ the noie o$ tone and $oa%. The $ar bank #a teep and lipper!. 6hen the! got tothe top o$ it" leading their ponie" the! a# that the great %ountain had %ar)hed do#nver! near to the%. Alread! the! I ee%ed onl! a da!1 ea! 9ourne! $ro% the $eet o$ thenearet. Dark and drear it looked" though there #ere pat)he o$ unlight on it bro#nide" and behind it houlder the tip o$ no#(peak glea%ed.


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bed at the botto%4 the )ent o$ tree #a in the air4 and there #a a light on the valle!(ide a)ro the #ater. 0ilbo never $orgot the #a! the! lithered and lipped in the dukdo#n the teep &ig(&ag path into the e)ret valle! o$ Rivendell. The air gre# #ar%er athe! got lo#er" and the %ell o$ the pine(tree %ade hi% dro#!" o that ever! no# andagain he nodded and nearl! $ell o$$" or bu%ped hi noe on the pon!1 ne)k. Their piritroe a the! #ent do#n and do#n. The tree )hanged to bee)h and oak" and hire #a a)o%$ortable $eeling in the t#ilight. The lat green had al%ot $aded out o$ the gra"

#hen the! )a%e at length to an open glade not $ar above the bank o$ the trea%.


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5r)rit" the :oblin()leaver in the an)ient tongue o$ :ondolin4 it #a a $a%ou blade.Thi" :andal$" #a :la%dring" oe(ha%%er that the king o$ :ondolin on)e #ore. Beepthe% #ell;=


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Chapter L5>ER -I@@ AND UNDER -I@@

There #ere %an! path that led up into thoe %ountain" and %an! pae overthe%. 0ut %ot o$ the path #ere )heat and de)eption and led no#here or to badend4 and %ot o$ the pae #ere in$eted b! evil thing and dread$ul danger. Thed#arve and the hobbit" helped b! the #ie advi)e o$ Elrond and the kno#ledge and

%e%or! o$ :andal$" took the right road to the right pa.@ong da! a$ter the! had )li%bed out o$ the valle! and le$t the @at -o%el! -oue

%ile behind" the! #ere till going up and up and up. It #a a hard path and a dangeroupath" a )rooked #a! and a lonel! and a long. No# the! )ould look ba)k over the landthe! had le$t" laid out behind the% $ar belo#. ar" $ar a#a! in the 6et" #here thing#ere blue and $aint" 0ilbo kne# there la! hi o#n )ountr! o$ a$e and )o%$ortable thing"and hi little hobbit(hole. -e hivered. It #a getting bitter )old up here" and the #ind)a%e hrill a%ong the ro)k. 0oulder" too" at ti%e )a%e galloping do#n the %ountain(ide" let looe b! %idda! un upon the no#" and paed a%ong the% #hi)h #alu)k!/" or over their head #hi)h #a alar%ing/. The night #ere )o%$ortle and )hill"and the! did not dare to ing or talk too loud" $or the e)hoe #ere un)ann!" and theilen)e ee%ed to dilike being broken(e*)ept b! the noie o$ #ater and the #ail o$ #ind

and the )ra)k o$ tone.


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living in the heart o$ the %ountain )an ee through. The paage there #ere )roedand tangled in all dire)tion" but the goblin kne# their #a!" a #ell a !ou do to thenearet pot(o$$i)e4 and the #a! #ent do#n and do#n" and it #a %ot horribl! tu$$!.The goblin #ere ver! rough" and pin)hed un%er)i$ull!" and )hu)kled and laughed intheir horrible ton! voi)e4 and 0ilbo #a %ore unhapp! even than #hen the troll hadpi)ked hi% up b! hi toe. -e #ihed again and again $or hi ni)e bright hobbit(hole. Not$or the lat ti%e.

No# there )a%e a gli%%er o$ a red light be$ore the%. The goblin began to ing" or)roak" keeping ti%e #ith the $lap o$ their $lat $eet on the tone" and haking theirprioner a #ell.

Clap; 8nap; the bla)k )ra)k;:rip" grab; Pin)h" nab;And do#n do#n to :oblin(to#nYou go" %! lad;

Clah" )rah; Cruh" %ah;-a%%er and tong; Bno)ker and gong;Pound" pound" $ar underground;

-o" ho; %! lad;

8#ih" %a)k; 6hip )ra)k;0atter and beat; Ya%%er and bleat;6ork" #ork; Nor dare to hirk"6hile :oblin ,ua$$" and :oblin laugh"Round and round $ar underground0elo#" %! lad;

It ounded trul! terri$!ing. The #all e)hoed to the )lap" nap; and the )ruh" %ah;and to the ugl! laughter o$ their ho" ho; %! lad; The general %eaning o$ the ong #aonl! too plain4 $or no# the goblin took out #hip and #hipped the% #ith a #ih"%a)k;" and et the% running a $at a the! )ould in $ront o$ the%4 and %ore than oneo$ the d#arve #ere alread! !a%%ering and bleating like an!thing" #hen the! tu%bledinto a big )avern.

It #a lit b! a great red $ire in the %iddle" and b! tor)he along the #all" and it #a$ull o$ goblin. The! all laughed and ta%ped and )lapped their hand" #hen the d#arve#ith poor little 0ilbo at the ba)k and nearet to the #hip/ )a%e running in" #hile thegoblin(driver #hooped and )ra)ked their #hip behind. The ponie #ere alread! therehuddled in a )orner4 and there #ere all the baggage and pa)kage l!ing broken open"and being ru%%aged b! goblin" and %elt b! goblin" and $ingered b! goblin" and,uarreled over b! goblin.

I a% a$raid that #a the lat the! ever a# o$ thoe e*)ellent little ponie" in)luding a9oll! turd! little #hite $ello# that Elrond had lent to :andal$" in)e hi hore #a notuitable $or the %ountain(path. or goblin eat hore and ponie and donke! and

other %u)h %ore dread$ul thing/" and the! are al#a! hungr!. Jut no# ho#ever theprioner #ere thinking onl! o$ the%elve. The goblin )hained their hand behind theirba)k and linked the% all together in a line and dragged the% to the $ar end o$ the)avern #ith little 0ilbo tugging at the end o$ the ro#.

There in the hado# on a large $lat tone at a tre%endou goblin #ith a huge head"and ar%ed goblin #ere tanding round hi% )arr!ing the a*e and the bent #ord thatthe! ue. No# goblin are )ruel" #i)ked" and bad(hearted. The! %ake no beauti$ulthing" but the! %ake %an! )lever one. The! )an tunnel and %ine a #ell a an! butthe %ot killed d#arve" #hen the! take the trouble" though the! are uuall! untid! anddirt!. -a%%er" a*e" #ord" dagger" pi)ka*e" tong" and alo intru%ent o$ torture"the! %ake ver! #ell" or get other people to %ake to their deign" prioner and lavethat have to #ork till the! die $or #ant o$ air and light. It i not unlikel! that the!

invented o%e o$ the %a)hine that have in)e troubled the #orld" epe)iall! theingeniou devi)e $or killing large nu%ber o$ people at on)e" $or #heel and engine ande*ploion al#a! delighted the%" and alo not #orking #ith their o#n hand %ore than

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the! )ould help4 but in thoe da! and thoe #ild part the! had not advan)ed a it i)alled/ o $ar. The! did not hate d#arve epe)iall!" no %ore than the! hated ever!bod!and ever!thing" and parti)ularl! the orderl! and properou4 in o%e part #i)kedd#arve had even %ade allian)e #ith the%. 0ut the! had a pe)ial grudge againtThorin1 people" be)aue o$ the #ar #hi)h !ou have heard %entioned" but #hi)h doe not)o%e into thi tale4 and an!#a! goblin don1t )are #ho the! )at)h" a long a it i done%art and e)ret" and the prioner are not able to de$end the%elve.


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Chapter MRIDD@E8 IN T-E DARB

6hen 0ilbo opened hi e!e" he #ondered i$ he had4 $or it #a 9ut a dark a #iththe% hut. No one #a an!#here near hi%. Jut i%agine hi $right; -e )ould hearnothing" ee nothing" and he )ould $eel nothing e*)ept the tone o$ the $loor.

>er! lo#l! he got up and groped about on all $our" till he tou)hed the #all o$ the

tunnel4 but neither up nor do#n it )ould he $ind an!thing' nothing at all" no ign o$goblin" no ign o$ d#arve. -i head #a #i%%ing" and he #a $ar $ro% )ertain even o$the dire)tion the! had been going in #hen he had hi $all. -e gueed a #ell a he)ould" and )ra#led along $or a good #a!" till uddenl! hi hand %et #hat $elt like a tin!ring o$ )old %etal l!ing on the $loor o$ the tunnel. It #a a turning point in hi )areer" buthe did not kno# it. -e put the ring in hi po)ket al%ot #ithout thinking4 )ertainl! it didnot ee% o$ an! parti)ular ue at the %o%ent. -e did not go %u)h $urther" but at do#non the )old $loor and gave hi%el$ up to )o%plete %ierablene" $or a long #hile. -ethought o$ hi%el$ $r!ing ba)on and egg in hi o#n kit)hen at ho%e+$or he )ould $eelinide that it #a high ti%e $or o%e %eal or other4 but that onl! %ade hi% %ierabler.

-e )ould not think #hat to do4 nor )ould he think #hat had happened4 or #h! he hadbeen le$t behind4 or #h!" i$ he had been le$t behind" the goblin had not )aught hi%4 or

even #h! hi head #a o ore. The truth #a he had been l!ing ,uiet" out o$ ight andout o$ %ind" in a ver! dark )orner $or a long #hile.A$ter o%e ti%e he $elt $or hi pipe. It #a not broken" and that #a o%ething. Then

he $elt $or hi pou)h" and there #a o%e toba))o in it" and that #a o%ething %ore.Then he $elt $or %at)he and he )ould not $ind an! at all" and that hattered hi hope)o%pletel!. Jut a #ell $or hi%" a he agreed #hen he )a%e to hi ene. :oodnekno# #hat the triking o$ %at)he and the %ell o$ toba))o #ould have brought on hi%out o$ dark hole in that horrible pla)e. 8till at the %o%ent he $elt ver! )ruhed. 0ut inlapping all hi po)ket and $eeling all round hi%el$ $or %at)he hi hand )a%e on thehilt o$ hi little #ord+the little dagger that he got $ro% the troll" and that he had ,uite$orgotten4 nor do the goblin ee% to have noti)ed it" a he #ore it inide hi bree)he.

No# he dre# it out. It hone pale and di% be$ore hi e!e.


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8uddenl! #ithout an! #arning he trotted plah into #ater; Ugh; it #a i)! )old. Thatpulled hi% up harp and hort. -e did not kno# #hether it #a 9ut a pool in the path" orthe edge o$ an underground trea% that )roed the paage" or the brink o$ a deep darkubterranean lake. The #ord #a hardl! hining at all. -e topped" and he )ould hear"#hen he litened hard" drop drip(drip(dripping $ro% an uneen roo$ into the #aterbelo#4 but there ee%ed no other ort o$ ound.


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:ollu% #a reall! hungr!. Riddle #ere all he )ould think o$. Aking the%" ando%eti%e gueing the%" had been the onl! ga%e he had ever pla!ed #ith other $unn!)reature itting in their hole in the long" long ago" be$ore he lot all hi $riend and #adriven a#a!" alone" and )rept do#n" do#n" into the dark under the %ountain.

er! #ell"= aid 0ilbo" #ho #a an*iou to agree" until he $ound out %ore about the)reature" #hether he #a ,uite alone" #hether he #a $ier)e or hungr!" and #hether he#a a $riend o$ the goblin.

oi)ele it )rie"6ingle $lutter"Toothle bite"7outhle %utter.


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It )annot be een" )annot be $elt"Cannot be heard" )annot be %elt.It lie behind tar and under hill"And e%pt! hole it $ill.It )o%e $irt and $ollo# a$ter"End li$e" kill laughter.

Un$ortunatel! $or :ollu% 0ilbo had heard that ort o$ thing be$ore4 and the an#er#a all round hi% an!#a!.


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Thi thing all thing devour'0ird" beat" tree" $lo#er4:na# iron" bite teel4:rind hard tone to %eal48la! king" ruin to#n"And beat high %ountain do#n.

Poor 0ilbo at in the dark thinking o$ all the horrible na%e o$ all the giant and ogrehe had ever heard told o$ in tale" but not one o$ the% had done all thee thing. -e hada $eeling that the an#er #a ,uite di$$erent and that he ought to kno# it" but he )ouldnot think o$ it. -e began to get $rightened" and that i bad $or thinking. :ollu% began toget out o$ hi boat. -e $lapped into the #ater and paddled to the bank4 0ilbo )ould eehi e!e )o%ing to#ard hi%. -i tongue ee%ed to ti)k in hi %outh4 he #anted tohout out'


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Utterl! %ierable a :ollu% ounded" 0ilbo )ould not $ind %u)h pit! in hi heart" andhe had a $eeling that an!thing :ollu% #anted o %u)h )ould hardl! be o%ething good.


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:ollu% thre# hi%el$ ba)k#ard" and grabbed a the hobbit $le# over hi%" but toolate' hi hand napped on thin air" and 0ilbo" $alling $air on hi turd! $eet" ped o$$do#n the ne# tunnel. -e did not turn to ee #hat :ollu% #a doing. There #a a hiingand )uring al%ot at hi heel at $irt" then it topped. All at on)e there )a%e ablood)urdling hriek" $illed #ith hatred and depair. :ollu% #a de$eated. -e dared go no$urther. -e had lot' lot hi pre!" and lot" too" the onl! thing he had ever )ared $or" hipre)iou. The )r! brought 0ilbo1 heart to hi %outh" but till he held on. No# $aint a an

e)ho" but %ena)ing" the voi)e )a%e behind'


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8uddenl! one o$ the goblin inide houted'


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Chapter 5UT 5 T-E RYIN:(PAN INT5 T-E IRE

0ilbo had e)aped the goblin" but he did not kno# #here he #a. -e had lot hood")loak" $ood" pon!" hi button and hi $riend. -e #andered on and on" till the un beganto ink #et#ard(behind the %ountain. Their hado# $ell a)ro 0ilbo1 path" and helooked ba)k. Then he looked $or#ard and )ould ee be$ore hi% onl! ridge and lope

$alling to#ard lo#land and plain gli%ped o))aionall! bet#een the tree.


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0alin and told hi% #hat he thought o$ a look(out %an #ho let people #alk right intothe% like that #ithout #arning. It i a $a)t that 0ilbo1 reputation #ent up a ver! greatdeal #ith the d#arve a$ter thi. I$ the! had till doubted that he #a reall! a $irt()laburglar" in pite o$ :andal$1 #ord" the! doubted no longer. 0alin #a the %ot pu&&ledo$ all4 but ever!one aid it #a a ver! )lever bit o$ #ork.

Indeed 0ilbo #a o pleaed #ith their praie that he 9ut )hu)kled inide and aidnothing #hatever about the ring4 and #hen the! aked hi% ho# he did it" he aid'


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great da%age. The! guard it al#a! and no one ha ever %anaged to blo)k it up. The!#ill guard it doubl! a$ter thi"= he laughed.

All the other laughed too. A$ter all the! had lot a good deal" but the! had killed the:reat :oblin and a great %an! other beide" and the! had all e)aped" o the! %ightbe aid to have had the bet o$ it o $ar.

0ut the #i&ard )alled the% to their ene.


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o$ a pine $oret in a lanting path leading teadil! outh#ard. At ti%e the! #erepuhing through a ea o$ bra)ken #ith tall $rond riing right above the hobbit1 head4 atti%e the! #ere %ar)hing along ,uiet a ,uiet over a $loor o$ pine(needle4 and all the#hile the $oret(gloo% got heavier and the $oret(ilen)e deeper. There #a no #ind thatevening to bring even a ea(ighing into the bran)he o$ the tree.


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0ut even the #ild 6arg $or o the evil #olve over the Edge o$ the 6ild #erena%ed/ )annot )li%b tree. or a ti%e the! #ere a$e. 1@u)kil! it #a #ar% and not#ind!. Tree are not ver! )o%$ortable to it in $or long at an! ti%e4 but in the )old andthe #ind" #ith #olve all round belo# #aiting $or !ou" the! )an be per$e)tl! %ierablepla)e.

Thi glade in the ring o$ tree #a evidentl! a %eeting(pla)e o$ the #olve. 7ore and%ore kept )o%ing in. The! le$t guard at the $oot o$ the tree in #hi)h Dori and 0ilbo

#ere" and then #ent ni$$ling about till the! had %elt out ever! tree that had an!one init. Thee the! guarded too" #hile all the ret hundred and hundred it ee%ed/ #entand at in a great )ir)le in the glade4 and in the %iddle o$ the )ir)le #a a great gre!#ol$. -e poke to the% in the dread$ul language o$ the 6arg. :andal$ undertood it.0ilbo did not" but it ounded terrible to hi%" and a i$ all their talk #a about )ruel and#i)ked thing" a it #a. Ever! no# and then all the 6arg in the )ir)le #ould an#ertheir gre! )hie$ all together" and their dread$ul )la%our al%ot %ade the hobbit $all out o$hi pine(tree.

I #ill tell !ou #hat :andal$ heard" though 0ilbo did not undertand it. The 6arg andthe goblin o$ten helped one another in #i)ked deed. :oblin do not uuall! venturever! $ar $ro% their %ountain" unle the! are driven out and are looking $or ne# ho%e"or are %ar)hing to #ar #hi)h I a% glad to a! ha not happened $or a long #hile/. 0ut

in thoe da! the! o%eti%e ued to go on raid" epe)iall! to get $ood or lave to#ork $or the%. Then the! o$ten got the 6arg to help and hared the plunder #ith the%.8o%eti%e the! rode on #olve like %en do on hore. No# it ee%ed that a greatgoblin(raid had been planned $or that ver! night. The 6arg had )o%e to %eet thegoblin and the goblin #ere late. The reaon" no doubt" #a the death o$ the :reat:oblin" and all the e*)ite%ent )aued b! the d#arve and 0ilbo and the #i&ard" $or#ho% the! #ere probabl! till hunting.

In pite o$ the danger o$ thi $ar land bold %en had o$ late been %aking their #a!ba)k into it $ro% the 8outh" )utting do#n tree" and building the%elve pla)e to live ina%ong the %ore pleaant #ood in the valle! and along the river(hore. There #ere%an! o$ the%" and the! #ere brave and #ell(ar%ed" and even the 6arg dared notatta)k the% i$ there #ere %an! together" or in the bright da!. 0ut no# the! had planned#ith the goblin1 help to )o%e b! night upon o%e o$ the village nearet the %ountain.I$ their plan had been )arried out" there #ould have been none le$t there ne*t da!4 all#ould have been killed e*)ept the $e# the goblin kept $ro% the #olve and )arried ba)ka prioner to their )ave.

Thi #a dread$ul talk to liten to" not onl! be)aue o$ the brave #ood%en and their#ive and )hildren" but alo be)aue o$ the danger #hi)h no# threatened :andal$ and hi$riend. The 6arg #ere angr! and pu&&led at $inding the% here in their ver! %eeting(pla)e. The! thought the! #ere $riend o$ the #ood%en" and #ere )o%e to p! on the%"and #ould take ne# o$ their plan do#n into the valle!" and then the goblin and the#olve #ould have to $ight a terrible battle intead o$ )apturing prioner and devouringpeople #aked uddenl! $ro% their leep. 8o the 6arg had no intention o$ going a#a!and letting the people up the tree e)ape" at an! rate not until %orning. And long be$orethat" the! aid" goblin oldier #ould be )o%ing do#n $ro% the %ountain4 and goblin

)an )li%b tree" or )ut the% do#n.No# !ou )an undertand #h! :andal$" litening to their gro#ling and !elping" began

to be dread$ull! a$raid" #i&ard though he #a" and to $eel that the! #ere in a ver! badpla)e" and had not !et e)aped at all. All the a%e he #a not going to let the% have itall their o#n #a!" though he )ould not do ver! %u)h tu)k up in a tall tree #ith #olveall round on the ground belo#. -e gathered the huge pine)one $ro% the bran)he o$ hitree. Then he et one alight #ith bright blue $ire" and thre# it #hi&&ing do#n a%ong the)ir)le o$ the #olve. It tru)k one on the ba)k" and i%%ediatel! hi hagg! )oat )aught$ire" and he #a leaping to and $ro !elping horribl!. Then another )a%e and another" onein blue $la%e" one in red" another in green. The! burt on the ground in the %iddle o$the )ir)le and #ent o$$ in )oloured park and %oke. A pe)iall! large one hit the )hie$#ol$ on the noe" and he leaped in the air ten $eet" and then ruhed round and round the

)ir)le biting and napping even at the other #olve in hi anger and $right.The d#arve and 0ilbo houted and )heered. The rage o$ the #olve #a terrible to

ee" and the )o%%otion the! %ade $illed all the $oret. 6olve are a$raid o$ $ire at all

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ti%e" but thi #a a %ot horrible and un)ann! $ire. I$ a park got in their )oat it tu)kand burned into the%" and unle the! rolled over ,ui)k the! #ere oon all in $la%e.>er! oon all about the glade #olve #ere rolling over and over to put out the park ontheir ba)k" #hile thoe that #ere burning #ere running about ho#ling and etting otheralight" till their o#n $riend )haed the% a#a! and the! $led o$$ do#n the lope )r!ingand !a%%ering and looking $or #ater.


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5 #hat hall #e do #ith the $unn! little thing3Roat 1e% alive" or te# the% in a pot4$r! the%" boil the% and eat the% hot3

Then the! topped and houted out'


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At the bet o$ ti%e height %ade 0ilbo gidd!. -e ued to turn ,ueer i$ he looked overthe edge o$ ,uite a little )li$$4 and he had never liked ladder" let alone tree neverhaving had to e)ape $ro% #olve be$ore/. 8o !ou )an i%agine ho# hi head #a% no#"#hen he looked do#n bet#een hi dangling toe and a# the dark land opening #ideunderneath hi%" tou)hed here and there #ith the light o$ the %oon on a hill(ide ro)k ora trea% in the plain.

The pale peak o$ the %ountain #ere )o%ing nearer" %oonlit pike o$ ro)k ti)king

out o$ bla)k hado#. 8u%%er or not" it ee%ed ver! )old. -e hut hi e!e and#ondered i$ he )ould hold on an! longer. Then he i%agined #hat #ould happen i$ he didnot. -e $elt i)k. The $light ended onl! 9ut in ti%e $or hi%" 9ut be$ore hi ar% gave#a!. -e looed Dori1 ankle #ith a gap and $ell onto the rough plat$or% o$ an eagle1e!rie. There he la! #ithout peaking" and hi thought #ere a %i*ture o$ urprie atbeing aved $ro% the $ire" and $ear let he $ell o$$ that narro# pla)e into the deephado# on either ide. -e #a $eeling ver! ,ueer indeed in hi head b! thi ti%e a$terthe dread$ul adventure o$ the lat three da! #ith ne*t to nothing to eat" and he $oundhi%el$ a!ing aloud'


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etting the $ire going" in)e 5in and :loin had lot their tinder(bo*e. D#arve havenever taken to %at)he even !et./

8o ended the adventure o$ the 7it! 7ountain. 8oon 0ilbo1 to%a)h #a $eeling $ulland )o%$ortable again" and he $elt he )ould leep )ontentedl!" though reall! he #ouldhave liked a loa$ and butter better than bit o$ %eat toated on ti)k. -e lept )urled upon the hard ro)k %ore oundl! than ever he had done on hi $eather(bed in hi o#n littlehole at ho%e. 0ut all night he drea%ed o$ hi o#n houe and #andered in hi leep into

all hi di$$erent roo% looking $or o%ething that he )ould not $ind nor re%e%ber #hat itlooked like.

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Chapter QUEER @5D:IN:8

The ne*t %orning 0ilbo #oke up #ith the earl! un in hi e!e. -e 9u%ped up to lookat the ti%e and to go and put hi kettle on(and $ound he #a not ho%e at all. 8o he atdo#n and #ihed in vain $or a #ah and a bruh. -e did not get either" nor tea nor toatnor ba)on $or hi break$at" onl! )old %utton and rabbit. And a$ter that he had to get

read! $or a $reh tart.Thi ti%e he #a allo#ed to )li%b on to an eagle1 ba)k and )ling bet#een hi #ing.

The air ruhed over hi% and he hut hi e!e. The d#arve #ere )r!ing $are#ell andpro%iing to repa! the lord o$ the eagle i$ ever the! )ould" a o$$ roe $i$teen great bird$ro% the %ountain1 ide. The un #a till )loe to the eatern edge o$ thing. The%orning #a )ool" and %it #ere in the valle! and hollo# and t#ined here and thereabout the peak and pinna)le o$ the hill. 0ilbo opened an e!e to peep and a# that thebird #ere alread! high up and the #orld #a $ar a#a!" and the %ountain #ere $allingba)k behind the% into the ditan)e. -e hut hi e!e again and held on tighter.


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thi #a!" #hi)h i o%e !ear ago. 0ut there i o%ebod! that I kno# o$" #ho live not$ar a#a!. That 8o%ebod! %ade the

tep on the great ro)k(the Carro)k I believe he )all it. -e doe not )o%e here o$ten")ertainl! not in the da!ti%e" and it i no good #aiting $or hi%. In $a)t it #ould be ver!dangerou. 6e %ut go and $ind hi%4 and i$ all goe #ell at our %eeting" I think I hallbe o$$ and #ih !ou like the eagle 1$are#ell #herever !ou $are;1 er! oon there #a a$ine )o%%otion in the village b! the riveride4 but 0ilbo e)aped into the #ood )arr!inga loa$ and a leather bottle o$ #ine and a pie that did not belong to hi%. The ret o$ thenight he had to pa #et a he #a and $ar $ro% a $ire" but the bottle helped hi% to dothat" and he a)tuall! do&ed a little on o%e dr! leave" even though the !ear #a gettinglate and the air #a )hill!.

-e #oke again #ith a pe)iall! loud nee&e. It #a alread! gre! %orning" and there#a a %err! ra)ket do#n b! the river. The! #ere %aking up a ra$t o$ barrel" and thera$t(elve #ould oon be teering it o$$ do#n the trea% to @ake(to#n. 0ilbo nee&edagain. -e #a no longer dripping but he $elt )old all over. -e )ra%bled do#n a $at ahi ti$$ leg #ould take hi% and %anaged 9ut in ti%e to get on to the %a o$ )ak

#ithout being noti)ed in the general butle. @u)kil! there #a no un at the ti%e to )atan a#k#ard hado#" and $or a %er)! he did not nee&e again $or a good #hile.

There #a a %ight! puhing o$ pole. The elve that #ere tanding in the hallo#.#ater heaved and hoved. The barrel no# all lahed together )reaked and $retted. .


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Chapter KA 6AR7 6E@C57E

The da! gre# lighter and #ar%er a the! $loated along. A$ter a #hile the river roundeda teep houlder o$ land that )a%e do#n upon their le$t. Under it ro)k! $eet like aninland )li$$ the deepet trea% had $lo#ed lapping and bubbling. 8uddenl! the )li$$ $ella#a!. The hore ank. The tree ended. Then 0ilbo a# a ight' The land opened #ide

about hi%" $illed #ith the #ater o$ the river #hi)h broke up and #andered in a hundred#inding )oure" or halted in %arhe and pool dotted #ith ile on ever! ide' but tilla trong #ater $lo#ed on teadil! through the %idt. And $ar a#a!" it dark head in atorn )loud" there loo%ed the 7ountain; It nearet neighbour to the North(Eat and thetu%bled land that 9oined it to the% )ould not be een. All alone it roe and looked a)rothe %arhe to the $oret. The @onel! 7ountain; 0ilbo had )o%e $ar and through %an!adventure to ee it" and no# he did not like the look o$ it in the leat.

A he litened to the talk o$ the ra$t%en and pie)ed together the )rap o$ in$or%ationthe! let $all" he oon reali&ed that he #a ver! $ortunate ever to have een it at all" even$ro% thi ditan)e. Drear! a had been hi i%prion%ent and unpleaant a #a hipoition to a! nothing o$ the poor d#arve underneath hi%/ till" he had been %orelu)k! than he had gueed. The talk #a all o$ the trade that )a%e and #ent on the

#ater#a! and the gro#th o$ the tra$$i) on the river" a the road out o$ the Eat to#ard7irk#ood vanihed or $ell into diue4 and o$ the bi)kering o$ the @ake(%en and the6ood(elve about the upkeep o$ the oret River and the )are o$ the bank.

Thoe land had )hanged %u)h in)e the da! #hen d#arve d#elt in the 7ountain"da! #hi)h %ot people no# re%e%bered onl! a a ver! hado#! tradition. The! had)hanged even in re)ent !ear" and in)e the lat ne# that :andal$ had had o$ the%.:reat $lood and rain had #ollen the #ater that $lo#ed eat4 and there had been anearth,uake or t#o #hi)h o%e #ere in)lined to attribute to the dragon(alluding to hi%)hie$l! #ith a )ure and an o%inou nod in the dire)tion o$ the 7ountain/. The %arheand bog had pread #ider and #ider on either ide. Path had vanihed" and %an! arider and #anderer too" i$ the! had tried to $ind the lot #a! a)ro. The el$(roadthrough the #ood #hi)h the d#arve had $ollo#ed on the advi)e o$ 0eorn no# )a%e to adoubt$ul and little ued end at the eatern edge o$ the $oret4 onl! the river o$$ered an!longer a a$e #a! $ro% the kirt o$ 7irk#ood in the North to the %ountain(hado#edplain be!ond" and the river #a guarded b! the 6ood(elve1 king.

8o !ou ee 0ilbo had )o%e in the end b! the onl! road that #a an! good. It %ighthave been o%e )o%$ort to 7r. 0aggin hivering on the barrel" i$ he had kno#n thatne# o$ thi had rea)hed :andal$ $ar a#a! and given hi% great an*iet!" and that he #ain $a)t $inihing hi other buine #hi)h doe not )o%e into thi tale/ and getting read!to )o%e in ear)h o$ Thorin1 )o%pan!. 0ut 0ilbo did not kno# it.

All he kne# #a that the river ee%ed to go on and on and on $or ever" and he #ahungr!" and had a nat! )old in the noe" and did not like the #a! the 7ountain ee%edto $ro#n at hi% and threaten hi% a it dre# ever nearer. A$ter a #hile" ho#ever" theriver took a %ore outherl! )oure and the 7ountain re)eded again" and at lat" late inthe da! the hore gre# ro)k!" the river gathered all it #andering #ater together into a

deep and rapid $lood" and the! #ept along at great peed.The un had et #hen turning #ith another #eep to#ard the Eat the $oret(river

ruhed into the @ong @ake. There it had a #ide %outh #ith ton! )li$$like gate at eitheride #hoe $eet #ere piled #ith hingle. The @ong @ake; 0ilbo had never i%agined thatan! #ater that #a not the ea )ould look o big. It #a o #ide that the oppoite horelooked %all and $ar" but it #a o long that it northerl! end" #hi)h pointed to#ard the7ountain" )ould not be een at all. 5nl! $ro% the %ap did 0ilbo kno# that a#a! up there"#here the tar o$ the 6ain #ere alread! t#inkling" the Running River )a%e do#n intothe lake $ro% Dale and #ith the oret River $illed #ith deep #ater #hat %ut on)e havebeen a great deep ro)k! valle!. At the outhern end the doubled #ater poured out againover high #ater$all and ran a#a! hurriedl! to unkno#n land. In the till evening air thenoie o$ the $all )ould be heard like a ditant roar.

Not $ar $ro% the %outh o$ the oret River #a the trange to#n he heard the elvepeak o$ in the king1 )ellar. It #a not built on the hore" though there #ere a $e# hutand building there" but right out on the ur$a)e o$ the lake" prote)ted $ro% the #irl o$

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the entering river b! a pro%ontor! o$ ro)k #hi)h $or%ed a )al% ba!. A great . bridge%ade o$ #ood ran out to #here on huge pile %ade o$ $oret tree #a built a bu!#ooden to#n" not a to#n o$ elve but o$ 7en" #ho till dared to d#ell here under thehado# o$ the ditant dragon(%ountain. The! till throve on the trade that )a%e up thegreat river $ro% the 8outh and #a )arted pat the $all to their to#n4 but in the greatda! o$ old" #hen Dale in the North #a ri)h and properou" the! had been #ealth! andpo#er$ul" and there had been $leet o$ boat on the #ater" and o%e #ere $illed #ith

gold and o%e #ith #arrior in ar%our" and there had been #ar and deed #hi)h #ereno# onl! a legend. The rotting pile o$ a greater to#n )ould till be een along the hore#hen the #ater ank in a drought.

0ut %en re%e%bered little o$ all that" though o%e till ang old ong o$ the d#ar$(king o$ the 7ountain" Thror and Thrain o$ the ra)e o$ Durin" and o$ the )o%ing o$ theDragon" and the $all o$ the lord o$ Dale. 8o%e ang too that Thror and Thrain #ould)o%e ba)k one da! and gold #ould $lo# in river through the %ountain(gate" and allthat land #ould be $illed #ith ne# ong and ne# laughter. 0ut thi pleaant legend didnot %u)h a$$e)t their dail! buine.

A oon a the ra$t o$ barrel )a%e in ight boat ro#ed out $ro% the pile o$ theto#n" and voi)e hailed the ra$t(teerer. Then rope #ere )at and oar #ere pulled"

and oon the ra$t #a dra#n out o$ the )urrent o$ the oret River and to#ed a#a! roundthe high houlder o$ ro)k into the little ba! o$ @ake(to#n. There it #a %oored not $ar$ro% the hore#ard head o$ the great bridge. 8oon %en #ould )o%e up $ro% the 8outhand take o%e o$ the )ak a#a!" and other the! #ould $ill #ith good the! had broughtto be taken ba)k up the trea% to the 6ood(elve1 ho%e. In the %ean#hile the barrel#ere le$t a$loat #hile the elve o$ the ra$t and the boat%en #ent to $eat in @ake(to#n.

The! #ould have been urpried" i$ the! )ould have een #hat happened do#n b! thehore" a$ter the! had gone and the hade o$ night had $allen. irt o$ all a barrel #a )utlooe b! 0ilbo and puhed to the hore and opened. :roan )a%e $ro% inide" and out)rept a %ot unhapp! d#ar$. 6et tra# #a in hi draggled beard4 he #a o ore andti$$" o bruied and bu$$eted he )ould hardl! tand or tu%ble through the hallo# #aterto lie groaning on the hore. -e had a $a%ihed and a avage look like a dog that habeen )hained and $orgotten in a kennel $or a #eek. It #a Thorin" but !ou )ould onl!have told it b! hi golden )hain" and b! the )olour o$ hi no# dirt! and tattered k!(bluehood #ith it tarnihed ilver tael. It #a o%e ti%e be$ore he #ould be even polite tothe hobbit.


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5ri" 5in and :loin #ere #aterlogged and ee%ed onl! hal$ alive4 the! all had to be)arried one b! one and laid helple on the hore.


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hinder the ho%e)o%ing poken o$ old. Nor i thi to#n in the 6ood(elve1 real%. I peakto the 7ater o$ the to#n o$ the 7en o$ the lake" not to the ra$t(%en o$ the king.=

Then the 7ater heitated and looked $ro% one to the other. The Elvenking #a ver!po#er$ul in thoe part and the 7ater #ihed $or no en%it! #ith hi%" nor did he think%u)h o$ old ong" giving hi %ind to .trade and toll" to )argoe and gold" to #hi)h habithe o#ed hi poition. 5ther #ere o$ di$$erent %ind" ho#ever" and ,ui)kl! the %atter #aettled #ithout hi%. The ne# had pread $ro% the door o$ the hall like $ire through all

the to#n. People #ere houting inide the hall and outide it. The ,ua! #ere thronged#ith hurr!ing $eet. 8o%e began to ing nat)he o$ old ong )on)erning the return o$the Bing under the 7ountain4 that it #a Thror1 grandon not Thror hi%el$ that had)o%e ba)k did not bother the% at all. 5ther took up the ong and it rolled loud and highover the lake.

The Bing beneath the %ountain"The Bing o$ )arven tone"The lord o$ ilver $ountain8hall )o%e into hi o#n;

-i )ro#n hall be upholden"

-i harp hall be retrung"-i hall hall e)ho goldenTo ong o$ !ore re(ung.

The #ood hall #ave on %ountainAnd gra beneath the un4-i #ealth hall $lo# in $ountainAnd the river golden run.

The trea% hall run in gladne"The lake hall hine and burn"And orro# $ail and adneAt the 7ountain(king1 return;

8o the! ang" or ver! like that" onl! there #a a great deal %ore o$ it" and there #a%u)h houting a #ell a the %ui) o$ harp and o$ $iddle %i*ed up #ith it. Indeed u)he*)ite%ent had not been kno#n in the to#n in the %e%or! o$ the oldet grand$ather.The 6ood(elve the%elve began to #onder greatl! and even to be a$raid. The! did notkno# o$ )oure ho# Thorin had e)aped" and the! began to think their king %ight have%ade a eriou %itake. A $or the 7ater he a# there #a nothing ele $or it but toobe! the general )la%our" $or the %o%ent at an! rate" and to pretend to believe thatThorin #a #hat he aid. 8o he gave up to hi% hi o#n great )hair and et ili and Bilibeide hi% in pla)e o$ honour. Even 0ilbo #a given a eat at the high table" and noe*planation o$ #here he )a%e in(no ong had alluded to hi% even in the ob)uret #a!(#a aked $or in the general butle.

8oon a$ter#ard the other d#arve #ere brought into the to#n a%id )ene o$atonihing enthuia%. The! #ere all do)tored and $ed and houed and pa%pered in the%ot delight$ul and ati$a)tor! $ahion. A large houe #a given up to Thorin and hi)o%pan!4 boat and ro#er #ere put at their ervi)e4 and )ro#d at outide and angong all da!" or )heered i$ an! d#ar$ ho#ed o %u)h a hi noe.

8o%e o$ the ong #ere old one4 but o%e o$ the% #ere ,uite ne# and poke)on$identl! o$ the udden death o$ the dragon and o$ )argoe o$ ri)h preent )o%ingdo#n the river to @ake(to#n. Thee #ere inpired largel! b! the 7ater and the! did notparti)ularl! pleae the d#arve" but in the %eanti%e the! #ere #ell )ontented and the!,ui)kl! gre# $at and trong again. Indeed #ithin a #eek the! #ere ,uite re)overed" $ittedout in $ine )loth o$ their proper )olour" #ith beard )o%bed and tri%%ed" and proudtep. Thorin looked and #alked a i$ hi kingdo% #a alread! regained and 8%aug

)hopped up into little pie)e.Then" a he had aid" the d#arve1 good $eeling to#ard the little hobbit gre# tronger

ever! da!. There #ere no %ore groan or gru%ble. The! drank hi health" and the!

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patted hi% on the ba)k" and the! %ade a great $u o$ hi%4 #hi)h #a 9ut a #ell" $orhe #a not $eeling parti)ularl! )heer$ul. -e had not $orgotten the look o$ the 7ountain"nor the thought o$ the dragon" and he had beide a ho)king )old. or three da! henee&ed and )oughed" and he )ould not go out" and even a$ter that hi pee)he atban,uet #ere li%ited to


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Chapter 5N T-E D55R8TEP

In t#o da! going the! ro#ed right up the @ong @ake and paed out into the RiverRunning" and no# the! )ould all ee the @onel! 7ountain to#ering gri% and tall be$orethe%. The trea% #a trong and their going lo#. At the4 end o$ the third da!" o%e%ile up the river" the! dre# in to the le$t or #etern bank and die%barked. -ere the!

#ere 9oined b! the hore #ith other proviion and ne)earie and the ponie $or theiro#n ue that had been ent to %eet the%. The! pa)ked #hat the! )ould on the ponieand the ret #a %ade into a tore under a tent" but none o$ the %en o$ the to#n #ouldta! #ith the% even $or the night o near the hado# o$ the 7ountain.


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guard belo#" #hile 0o$ur #a hauled up to the higher )a%p. 0o%bur #ould not )o%e upeither the rope or the path.


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#ent to the opening and there pale and $aint #a a thin ne# %oon above the ri% o$Earth. At that ver! %o%ent he heard a harp )ra)k behind hi%. There on the gre! tonein the gra #a an enor%ou thruh" nearl! )oal bla)k" it pale !ello# breat $re)kleddark pot. Cra)k; It had )aught a nail and #a kno)king it on the tone. Cra)k; Cra)k;

8uddenl! 0ilbo undertood. orgetting all danger he tood on the ledge and hailed thed#arve" houting and pa!ing. Thoe that #ere nearet )a%e tu%bling over the ro)kand a $at a the! )ould along the ledge to hi%" #ondering #hat on earth #a the

%atter4 the other houted to be hauled up the rope e*)ept 0o%bur" o$ )oure' he #aaleep/.

ui)kl! 0ilbo e*plained. The! all $ell ilent' the hobbit tanding b! the gre! tone" andthe d#arve #ith #agging beard #at)hing i%patientl!. The un ank lo#er and lo#er"and their hope $ell. It ank into a belt o$ reddened )loud and diappeared. The d#arvegroaned" but till 0ilbo tood al%ot #ithout %oving. The little %oon #a dipping to thehori&on. Evening #a )o%ing on. Then uddenl! #hen their hope #a lo#et a red ra! o$the un e)aped like a $inger through a rent in the )loud. A glea% o$ light )a%e traightthrough the opening into the ba! and $ell on the %ooth ro)k($a)e. The old thruh" #hohad been #at)hing $ro% a high per)h #ith bead! e!e and head )o)ked on one ide"gave a udden trill. There #a a loud atta)k. A $lake o$ ro)k plit $ro% the #all and $ell. Ahole appeared uddenl! about three $eet $ro% the ground. ui)kl!" tre%bling let the

)han)e hould $ade" the d#arve ruhed to the ro)k and puhed(in vain.


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Chapter HIN8IDE IN5R7ATI5N

or a long ti%e the d#arve tood in the dark be$ore the door and debated" until atlat Thorin poke'


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-e did not #ake up o$ )oure" but #ent till on and on" till all ign o$ the door behindhad $aded a#a!. -e #a altogether alone. 8oon he thought it #a beginning to $eel#ar%.


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underneath a i$ it #a an old vol)ano that had %ade up it %ind to tart eruption on)eagain. The door behind the% #a pulled nearl! to" and blo)ked $ro% )loing #ith a tone"but up the long tunnel )a%e the dread$ul e)hoe" $ro% $ar do#n in the depth" o$ abello#ing and a tra%pling that %ade the ground beneath the% tre%ble.

Then the d#arve $orgot their 9o! and their )on$ident boat o$ a %o%ent be$ore and)o#ered do#n in $right. 8%aug #a till to be re)koned #ith. It doe not do to leave alive dragon out o$ !our )al)ulation" i$ !ou live near hi%. Dragon %a! not have %u)h

real ue $or all their #ealth" but the! kno# it to an oun)e a a rule" epe)iall! a$ter longpoeion4 and 8%aug #a no e*)eption. -e had paed $ro% an unea! drea% in#hi)h a #arrior" altogether inigni$i)ant in i&e but provided #ith a bitter #ord and great)ourage" $igured %ot unpleaantl!/ to a do&e" and $ro% a do&e to #ide #aking. There#a a breath o$ trange air in hi )ave. Could there be a draught $ro% that little hole3 -ehad never $elt ,uite happ! about it" though #a o %all" and no# he glared at it inupi)ion an #ondered #h! he had never blo)ked it up. 5$ late he had hal$ $an)ied hehad )aught the di% e)hoe o$ a kno)king ound $ro% $ar above that )a%e do#n throughit to hi lair. -e tirred and tret)hed $orth hi ne)k to ni$$. Then he %ied the )up;

Thieve; ire; 7urder; 8u)h a thing had not happened in)e $irt he )a%e to the7ountain; -i rage pae de)ription+the ort o$ rage that i onl! een #hen ri)h $olkthat have %ore than the! )an en9o! uddenl! loe o%ething that the! have long had but

have never be$ore ued or #anted. -i $ire bel)hed $orth" the hall %oked" he hook the%ountain(root. -e thrut hi head in vain at the little hole" and then )oiling hi lengthtogether" roaring like thunder underground" he ped $ro% hi deep lair through it greatdoor" out into the huge paage o$ the %ountain(pala)e and up to#ard the ront :ate.

To hunt the #hole %ountain till he had )aught the thie$ and had torn and tra%pledhi% #a hi one thought. -e iued $ro% the :ate" the #ater roe in $ier)e #hitlingtea%" and up he oared bla&ing into the air and ettled on the %ountain(top in a pouto$ green and )arlet $la%e. The d#arve heard the a#$ul ru%our o$ hi $light" and the!)rou)hed againt the #all o$ the gra! terra)e )ringing under boulder" hopingo%eho# to e)ape the $right$ul e!e o$ the hunting dragon.

There the! #ould have all been killed" i$ it had not been $or 0ilbo on)e again.


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It #a not a pleaant thought; The! )rept $urther do#n the tunnel" and there the! la!and hivered though it #a #ar% and tu$$!" until da#n )a%e pale through the )ra)k o$the door. Ever! no# and again through the night the! )ould hear the roar o$ the $l!ingdragon gro# and then pa and $ade" a he hunted round and round the %ountain(ide.

-e gueed $ro% the ponie" and $ro% the tra)e o$ the )a%p he had di)overed" that%en had )o%e up $ro% the river and the lake and had )aled the %ountain(ide $ro% thevalle! #here the ponie had been tanding4 but the door #ithtood hi ear)hing e!e"

and the little high(#alled ba! had kept out hi $ier)et $la%e. @ong he had hunted invain till the da#n )hilled hi #rath and he #ent ba)k to hi golden )ou)h to leep+and togather ne# trength.

-e #ould not $orget or $orgive the the$t" not i$ a thouand !ear turned hi% to%ouldering tone" but he )ould a$$ord to #ait. 8lo# and ilent he )rept ba)k to hi lairand hal$ )loed hi e!e.

6hen %orning )a%e the terror o$ the d#arve gre# le. The! reali&ed that dangero$ thi kind #ere inevitable in dealing #ith u)h a guardian" and that it #a no goodgiving up their ,uet !et. Nor )ould the! get a#a! 9ut no#" a Thorin had pointed out.Their ponie #ere lot or killed" and the! #ould have to #ait o%e ti%e be$ore 8%augrela*ed hi #at)h u$$i)ientl! $or the% to dare the long #a! on $oot. @u)kil! the! hadaved enough o$ their tore to lat the% till $or o%e ti%e.

The! debated long on #hat #a to be done" but the! )ould think o$ no #a! o$ gettingrid o$ 8%aug+#hi)h had al#a! been a #eak point in their plan" a 0ilbo $elt in)lined topoint out. Then a i the nature o$ $olk that are thoroughl! perple*ed" the! began togru%ble at the hobbit" bla%ing hi% $or #hat had at $irt o pleaed the%' $or bringinga#a! a )up and tirring up 8%aug1 #rath o oon.


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That turned the )onveration" and the! all began di)uing dragon(la!ing hitori)al"dubiou" and %!thi)al" and the variou ort o$ tab and 9ab and under)ut" and thedi$$erent art" devi)e and tratage% b! #hi)h the! had been a))o%plihed. The generalopinion #a that )at)hing a dragon napping #a not a ea! a it ounded" and theatte%pt to ti)k one or prod one aleep #a %ore likel! to end in diater than a bold$rontal atta)k. All the #hile the! talked the thruh litened" till at lat #hen the tarbegan to peep $orth" it ilentl! pread it #ing and $le# a#a!. And all the #hile the!

talked and the hado# lengthened 0ilbo be)a%e %ore and %ore unhapp! and hi$oreboding

At lat he interrupted the%.


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beginning o$ a ound #ithout" hi other #a alert or e)hoe be!ond the %ur%ur o$ thed#arve" $or an! #hiper o$ a %ove%ent $ro% $ar belo#.

Darkne gre# deeper and he gre# ever %ore unea!.


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Chapter N5T AT -57E

In the %ean#hile" the d#arve at in darkne" and utter ilen)e $ell about the%.@ittle the! ate and little the! poke. The! )ould not )ount the paing o$ ti%e4 and the!)ar)el! dared to %ove" $or the #hiper o$ their voi)e e)hoed and rutled in the tunnel.I$ the! do&ed" the! #oke till to darkne and to ilen)e going on unbroken. At lat a$ter

da! and da! o$ #aiting" a it ee%ed" #hen the! #ere be)o%ing )hoked and da&ed $or#ant o$ air" the! )ould bear it no longer. The! #ould al%ot have #el)o%ed ound $ro%belo# o$ the dragon1 return. In the ilen)e the! $eared o%e )unning devilr! o$ hi" butthe! )ould not it there $or ever.

Thorin poke'


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under hi ar%. ui)kl! 0ilbo trotted to the door and took the tor)h4 but he )ould notperuade the d#arve to light the other or to )o%e and 9oin hi% !et. A Thorin )are$ull!e*plained" 7r. 0aggin #a till o$$i)iall! their e*pert burglar and invetigator. I$ he likedto rik a light" that #a hi a$$air. The! #ould #ait in the tunnel $or hi report. 8o the!at near the door and #at)hed.

The! a# the little dark hape o$ the hobbit tart a)ro the $loor holding hi tin! lightalo$t. Ever! no# and again" #hile he #a till near enough" the! )aught a glint and a

tinkle a he tu%bled on o%e golden thing. The light gre# %aller a he #andered a#a!into the vat hall4 then it began to rie dan)ing into the air. 0ilbo #a )li%bing the great%ound o$ treaure. 8oon he tood upon the top" and till #ent on. Then the! a# hi%halt and toop $or a %o%ent4 but the! did not kno# the reaon. It #a the Arkentone"the -eart o$ the 7ountain. 8o 0ilbo gueed $ro% Thorin1 de)ription4 but indeed there)ould not be t#o u)h ge%" even in o %arvellou a hoard" even in all the #orld. Evera he )li%bed" the a%e #hite glea% had hone be$ore hi% and dra#n hi $eet to#ard8lo#l! it gre# to a little globe o$ pallid light. No# a )a%e near" it #a tinged #ith a$li)kering parkle o$ %an )olour at the ur$a)e" re$le)ted and plintered $ro% the#avering light o$ hi tor)h. At lat he looked do#n upon it and he )aught hi breath. Thegreat 9e#el hone be$ore he $eet o$ it o#n inner light" and !et" )ut and $ahioned b! thed#arve" #ho had dug it $ro% the heart o$ the %ountain long ago" it took all light that $ell

upon it and()hange it into ten thouand park o$ #hite radian)e hot #ith glint o$ therainbo#.8uddenl! 0ilbo1 ar% #ent to#ard it dra#n b! it en)hant%ent. -i %all hand #ould

not )loe about it $or it #a a large and heav! ge%4 but he li$ted it" hut hi e!e" andput it in hi deepet po)ket.


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nothing4 but #hat the! #ould have aid" i$ he had told the% at that %o%ent about theArkentone" I don1t kno#. The %ere $leeting gli%pe o$ treaure #hi)h the! had )aughta the! #ent along had rekindled all the $ire o$ their d#arvih heart4 and #hen the hearto$ a d#ar$" even the %ot repe)table" i #akened b! gold and b! 9e#el" he gro#uddenl! bold" and he %a! be)o%e $ier)e.

The d#arve indeed no longer needed an! urging. All #ere no# eager to e*plore thehall #hile the! had the )han)e" and #illing to believe that" $or the preent" 8%aug #a

a#a! $ro% ho%e. Ea)h no# gripped a lighted tor)h4 and a the! ga&ed" $irt on one ideand then on another" the! $orgot $ear and even )aution. The! poke aloud" and )ried outto one another" a the! li$ted old treaure $ro% the %ound or $ro% the #all and heldthe% in the light )areing and $ingering the%. ili and Bili #ere al%ot in %err! %ood"and $inding till hanging there %an! golden harp trung #ith ilver the! took the% andtru)k the%4 and being %agi)al and alo untou)hed b! the dragon" #ho had %allinteret in %ui)/ the! #ere till in tune. The dark hall #a $illed #ith a %elod! that hadlong been ilent. 0ut %ot o$ the d#arve #ere %ore pra)ti)al4 the! gathered ge% andtu$$ed their po)ket" and let #hat the! )ould not )arr! $ar ba)k through their $inger#ith a igh. Thorin #a not leat a%ong thee4 but al#a! he ear)hed $ro% ide to ide$or o%ething #hi)h he )ould not $ind. It #a the Arkentone but he poke o$ it !et to noone.

No# the d#arve took do#n %ail and #eapon $ro% the #all" and ar%ed the%elve.Ro!al indeed did Thorin look" )lad in a )oat o$ gold(plated ring" #ith a ilver ha$ted a*ein a belt )ruted #ith )arlet tone.


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Chapter LIRE AND 6ATER

No# i$ !ou #ih" like the d#arve" to hear ne# o$ 8%aug" !ou %ut go ba)k again tothe evening #hen he %ahed the door and $le# o$$ in rage" t#o da! be$ore.

The %en o$ the lake(to#n Egaroth #ere %otl! indoor" $or the bree&e #a $ro% thebla)k Eat and )hill" but a $e# #ere #alking on the ,ua!" and #at)hing" a the! #ere

$ond o$ doing" the tar hine out $ro% the %ooth pat)he o$ the lake a the! opened inthe k!. ro% their to#n the @onel! 7ountain #a %otl! )reened b! the lo# hill at the$ar end o$ the lake" through a gap in #hi)h the Running River )a%e do#n $ro% the North.5nl! it high peak )ould the! ee in )lear #eather" and the! looked eldo% at it" $or it#a o%inou and drear! even in the light o$ %orning. No# it #a lot and gone" blottedin the dark.

8uddenl! it $li)kered ba)k to vie#4 a brie$ glo# tou)hed it and $aded.


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#ater #a $lung b! a hundred hand #herever a park appeared. 0a)k #irled thedragon. A #eep o$ hi tail and the roo$ o$ the :reat -oue )ru%bled and %ahed do#n.la%e un,uen)hable prang high into the night. Another #oop and another" andanother houe and then another prang a$ire and $ell4 and till no arro# hindered 8%augor hurt hi% %ore than a $l! $ro% the %arhe. Alread! %en #ere 9u%ping into the #ateron ever! ide. 6o%en and )hildren #ere being huddled into laden boat in the %arket(pool. 6eapon #ere $lung do#n. There #a %ourning and #eeping" #here but a little

ti%e ago the old ong o$ %irth to )o%e had been ung about the d#arve. No# %en)ured their na%e. The 7ater hi%el$ #a turning to hi great gilded boat" hoping toro# a#a! in the )on$uion and ave hi%el$. 8oon all the to#n #ould be deerted andburned do#n to the ur$a)e o$ the lake. That #a the dragon1 hope. The! )ould all getinto boat $or all he )ared. There he )ould have $ine port hunting the%" or the! )ouldtop till the! tarved. @et the% tr! to get to land and he #ould be read!. 8oon he #ouldet all the horeland #ood abla&e and #ither ever! $ield and pature. Jut no# he #aen9o!ing the port o$ to#n(baiting %ore than he had en9o!ed an!thing $or !ear. 0utthere #a till a )o%pan! o$ ar)her that held their ground a%ong the burning houe.Their )aptain #a 0ard" gri%(voi)ed and gri%($a)ed" #hoe $riend had a))ued hi% o$prophe!ing $lood and poioned $ih" though the! kne# hi #orth and )ourage. -e #a ade)endant in long line o$ :irion" @ord o$ Dale" #hoe #i$e and )hild had e)aped do#n

the Running River $ro% the ruin long ago. No# he hot #ith a great !e# bo#" till all hiarro# but one #ere pent. The $la%e #ere near hi%. -i )o%panion #ere leaving hi%.-e bent hi bo# $or the lat ti%e. 8uddenl! out o$ the dark o%ething $luttered to hihoulder. -e tarted(but it #a onl! an old thruh. Una$raid it per)hed b! hi ear and itbrought hi% ne#. 7arvelling he $ound he )ould undertand it tongue" $or he #a o$ thera)e o$ Dale.


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)ourage o$ 0ard and hi lat %ight! hot.


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#i$tl!4 $or 0ard at on)e had peed! %eenger ent up the river to the oret to akthe aid o$ the Bing o$ the Elve o$ the 6ood" and thee %eenger had $ound a hotalread! on the %ove" although it #a then onl! the third da! a$ter the $all o$ 8%aug.

The Elvenking had re)eived ne# $ro% hi o#n %eenger and $ro% the bird thatloved hi $olk" and alread! kne# %u)h o$ #hat had happened. >er! great indeed #a the)o%%otion a%ong all thing #ith #ing that d#elt on the border o$ the Deolation o$ theDragon. The air #a $illed #ith )ir)ling $lo)k" and their #i$t($l!ing %eenger $le# here

and there a)ro the k!. Above the border o$ the oret there #a #hitling" )r!ing andpiping. ar over 7irk#ood tiding pread'


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Chapter MT-E :AT-ERIN: 5 T-E C@5UD8

No# #e #ill return to 0ilbo and the d#arve. All night one o$ the% had #at)hed" but#hen %orning )a%e the! had not heard or een an! ign o$ danger. 0ut ever %orethi)kl! the bird #ere gathering. Their )o%panie )a%e $l!ing $ro% the 8outh4 and the)ro# that till lived about the 7ountain #ere #heeling and )r!ing un)eaingl! above.


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There )a%e a night #hen uddenl! there #ere %an! light a o$ $ire and tor)hea#a! outh in Dale be$ore the%.


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Under the 7ountain dark and tall.The 6or% o$ Dread i lain and dead"And ever o our $oe hall $all;

Thi ong appeared to pleae Thorin" and he %iled again and gre# %err!4 and hebegan re)koning the ditan)e to the Iron -ill and ho# long it #ould be be$ore Dain )ouldrea)h the @onel! 7ountain" i$ he had et out a oon a the %eage rea)hed hi%. 0ut

0ilbo1 heart $ell" both at the ong and the talk' the! ounded %u)h too #arlike. The ne*t%orning earl! a )o%pan! o$ pear%en #a een )roing the river" and %ar)hing up thevalle!. The! bore #ith the% the green banner o$ the Elvenking and the blue banner o$the @ake" and the! advan)ed until the! tood right be$ore the #all at the :ate.

Again Thorin hailed the% in a loud voi)e'


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Chapter A T-IE IN T-E NI:-T

No# the da! paed lo#l! and #earil!. 7an! o$ the d#arve pent their ti%e pilingand ordering the treaure4 and no# Thorin poke o$ the Arkentone o$ Thrain" and badethe% eagerl! to look $or it in ever! )o%er.


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Chapter QT-E C@5UD8 0UR8T

Ne*t da! the tru%pet rang earl! in the )a%p. 8oon a ingle runner #a een hurr!ingalong the narro# path. At a ditan)e he tood and hailed the%" aking #hether Thorin#ould no# liten to another e%ba!" in)e ne# tiding had )o%e to hand" and %atter#ere )hanged.


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re#ard he hall depart" and !ou )an divide it a !ou #ill. -e #ill get little enough" I doubtnot. Take hi%" i$ !ou #ih hi% to live4 and no $riendhip o$ %ine goe #ith hi%.


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Thee #ere" in $a)t" pre)iel! their plan $or the raven(%eenger had been bu!bet#een Thorin and Dain/4 but $or the %o%ent the #a! #a barred" o a$ter angr! #ordthe d#ar$(%eenger retired %uttering in their beard. 0ard then ent %eenger aton)e to the :ate4 but the! $ound no gold or pa!%ent. Arro# )a%e $orth a oon a the!#ere #ithin hot" and the! hatened ba)k in di%a!. In the )a%p all #a no# atir" a i$$or battle4 $or the d#arve o$ Dain #ere advan)ing along the eatern bank.


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tru)k outh and eat. Yet thi #ould be perilou" i$ the goblin #ere in u$$i)ientnu%ber to overrun the 7ountain itel$" and o atta)k the% alo $ro% behind and above4but there #a no ti%e $or %ake an! other plan" or to u%%on an! help.

8oon the thunder paed" rolling a#a! to the 8outh(Eat4 but the bat()loud )a%e"$l!ing lo#er" over the houlder o$ the 7ountain" and #hirled above the% hutting out thelight and $illing the% #ith dread.


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Ro)k #ere buried do#n $ro% on high b! the goblin above4 but the! held on. leaptdo#n to the $all1 $oot" and ruhed $or#ard to battle. 6ol$ and rider $ell or $led be$orethe%. Thorin #ielded hi a*e #ith %ight! troke" and nothing ee%ed to har% hi%.


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Chapter T-E RETURN J5URNEY

6hen 0ilbo )a%e to hi%el$" he #a literall! b! hi%el$. -e #a l!ing on the $lattone o$ Ravenhill" and no one #a near. A )loudle da!" but )old" #a broad abovehi%. -e #a haking" and a )hilled a tone" but hi head burned #ith $ire.


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0aggin" and !ou %ade a great %e o$ that buine #ith the tone4 and there #a abattle" in pite o$ all !our e$$ort to bu! pea)e and ,uiet" but I uppoe !ou )an hardl! bebla%ed $or that.=

All that had happened a$ter he #a tunned" 0ilbo learned later4 but it gave hi% %oreorro# than 9o!" and he #a no# #ear! o$ hi adventure. -e #a a)hing in hi bone $orthe ho%e#ard 9ourne!. That" ho#ever" #a a little dela!ed" o in the %eanti%e I #ill tello%ething o$ event. The Eagle had long had upi)ion o$ the goblin1 %utering4 $ro%

their #at)h$ulne the %ove%ent in the %ountain )ould not be altogether hid. 8o the!too had gathered in great nu%ber" under the great Eagle o$ the 7it! 7ountain4 and atlength %elling battle $ro% a$ar the! had )o%e peeding do#n the gale in the ni)k o$ti%e. The! it #a #ho dilodged the goblin $ro% the %ountain(lope" )ating the% overpre)ipi)e" or driving the% do#n hrieking and be#ildered a%ong their $oe. It #a notlong be$ore the! had $reed the @onel! 7ountain" and elve and %en on either ide o$ thevalle! )ould )o%e at lat to the help o$ the battle belo#.

0ut even #ith the Eagle the! #ere till outnu%bered.In that lat hour 0eorn hi%el$ had appeared+no one kne# ho# or $ro% #here. -e

)a%e alone" and in bear1 hape4 and he ee%ed to have gro#n al%ot to giant(i&e inhi #rath. The roar o$ hi voi)e #a like dru% and gun4 and he toed #olve andgoblin $ro% hi path like tra# and $eather. -e $ell upon their rear" and broke like a

)lap o$ thunder through the ring. The d#arve #ere %aking a tand till about their lordupon a lo# rounded hill. Then 0eorn tooped and li$ted Thorin" #ho had $allen pier)ed#ith pear" and bore hi% out o$ the $ra!. 8#i$tl! he returned and hi #rath #aredoubled" o that nothing )ould #ithtand hi%" and no #eapon ee%ed to bite uponhi%. -e )attered the bod!guard" and pulled do#n 0olg hi%el$ and )ruhed hi%. Thendi%a! $ell on the :oblin and the! $led in all dire)tion. 0ut #earine le$t their ene%ie#ith the )o%ing o$ ne# hope" and the! purued the% )loel!" and prevented %ot o$the% $ro% e)aping #here the! )ould. The! drove %an! o$ the% into the Running River"and u)h a $led outh or #et the! hunted into the %arhe about the oret River4 andthere the greater part o$ the lat $ugitive perihed" #hile thoe that )a%e hardl! to the6ood(elve1 real% #ere there lain" or dra#n in to die in the tra)kle dark o$ 7irk#ood.8ong have aid that three part o$ the goblin #arrior o$ the North perihed on that da!"and the %ountain had pea)e $or %an! a !ear.

>i)tor! had been aured be$ore the $all o$ night" but the puruit #a till on $oot"#hen 0ilbo returned to the )a%p4 and not %an! #ere in the valle! ave the %oregrievoul! #ounded.


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aid'


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and he #a never in great danger again. An!#a! b! %id(#inter :andal$ and 0ilbo had)o%e all the #a! ba)k" along both edge o$ the oret" to the door o$ 0eorn1 houe4and there $or a #hile the! both ta!ed. Yule(tide #a #ar% and %err! there4 and %en)a%e $ro% $ar and #ide to $eat at 0eorn1 bidding. The goblin o$ the 7it! 7ountain#ere no# $e# and terri$ied" and hidden in the deepet hole the! )ould $ind4 and the6arg had vanihed $ro% the #ood" o that %en #ent abroad #ithout $ear. 0eornindeed be)a%e a great )hie$ a$ter#ard in thoe region and ruled a #ide land bet#een

the %ountain and the #ood4 and it i aid that $or %an! generation the %en o$ hi linehad the po#er o$ taking bear1 hape" and o%e #ere gri% %en and bad" but %ot #erein heart like 0eorn" i$ le in i&e and trength. In their da! the lat goblin #ere hunted$ro% the 7it! 7ountain and a ne# pea)e )a%e over the edge o$ the 6ild. It #apring" and a $air one #ith %ild #eather and a bright un" be$ore 0ilbo and :andal$ tooktheir leave at lat o$ 0eorn" and though he longed $or ho%e. 0ilbo le$t #ith regret" $or the$lo#er o$ the garden o$ 0eorn #ere % pringti%e no le %arvellou than in highu%%er. At lat the! )a%e up the long road" and rea)hed the ver! pa #here thegoblin had )aptured the% be$ore. 0ut the! )a%e to that high point at %orning" andlooking ba)k#ard the! a# a #hite un hining over the out(tret)hed land. Therebehind la! 7irk#ood" blue in the ditan)e" and darkl! green at the nearer edge even inthe pring. There $ar a#a! #a the @onel! 7ountain on the edge o$ e!eight. 5n it

highet peak no# !et un%elted #a glea%ing pale.


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Chapter T-E @A8T 8TA:E

It #a on 7a! the irt that the t#o )a%e ba)k at lat to the brink o$ the valle! o$Rivendell" #here tood the @at or the irt/ -o%el! -oue. Again it #a evening" theirponie #ere tired" epe)iall! the one that )arried the baggage4 and the! all $elt in need o$ret. A the! rode do#n the teep path" 0ilbo heard the elve till inging in the tree" a

i$ the! had not topped in)e he le$t4 and a oon a their rider )a%e do#n into thelo#er glade o$ the #ood the! burt into a ong o$ %u)h the a%e kind a be$ore. Thi io%ething like it'

The dragon i #ithered"-i bone are no# )ru%bled4-i ar%our i hivered"-i plendour i hu%bled;Though #ord hall be ruted"And throne and )ro#n perih6ith trength that %en trutedAnd #ealth that the! )herih"

-ere gra i till gro#ing"And leave are !et #inging"The #hite #ater $lo#ing"And elve are !et ingingCo%e; Tra(la(la(lall!;Co%e ba)k to the valle!;

The tar are $ar brighterThan ge% #ithout %eaure"The %oon i $ar #hiterThan ilver in treaure'The $ire i %ore hining5n hearth in the gloa%ingThan gold #on b! %ining"8o #h! go a(roa%ing35; Tra(la(la(lall!Co%e ba)k to the >alle!.

5; 6here are !ou going"8o late in returning3The river i $lo#ing"The tar are all burning;5; 6hither o laden"8o ad and o drear!3-ere el$ and el$(%aiden

No# #el)o%e the #ear!6ith Tra(la(la(lall!Co%e ba)k to the >alle!"Tra(la(la(lall!a(la(la(lall!a(la;

Then the elve o$ the valle! )a%e out and greeted the% and led the% a)ro the#ater to the houe o$ Elrond. There a #ar% #el)o%e #a %ade the%" and there #ere%an! eager ear that evening to hear the tale o$ their adventure. :andal$ it #a #hopoke" $or 0ilbo #a $allen ,uiet and dro#!. 7ot o$ the tale he kne#" $or he had been init" and had hi%el$ told %u)h o$ it to the #i&ard on their ho%e#ard #a! or in the houe

o$ 0eorn4 but ever! no# and again he #ould open one e!e" and liten" #hen a part o$ thetor! #hi)h he did not !et kno# )a%e in. It #a in thi #a! that he learned #here:andal$ had been to4 $or he overheard the #ord o$ the #i&ard to Elrond. It appeared

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that :andal$ had been to a great )oun)il o$ the #hite #i&ard" %ater o$ lore and good%agi)4 and that the! had at lat driven the Ne)ro%an)er $ro% hi dark hold in the outho$ 7irk#ood.


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the pon! had $allen in the river" and the! had turned aide $or their nat! adventure #ithTo% and 0ert and 0ill. Not $ar $ro% the road the! $ound the gold o$ the troll" #hi)h the!had buried" till hidden and untou)hed.


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,uite a lot o$ hi o#n $urniture. 7an! o$ hi ilver poon %!terioul! diappeared and#ere never a))ounted $or. Peronall! he upe)ted the 8a)kville(0aggine. 5n their idethe! never ad%itted that the returned 0aggin #a genuine" and the! #ere not on$riendl! ter% #ith 0ilbo ever a$ter. The! reall! had #anted to live in hi ni)e hobbit(holeo ver! %u)h.

Indeed 0ilbo $ound he had lot %ore than poon+he had lot hi reputation. It i truethat $or ever a$ter he re%ained an el$($riend" and had the honour o$ d#arve" #i&ard"

and all u)h $olk a ever paed that #a!4 but he #a no longer ,uite repe)table. -e#a in $a)t held b! all the hobbit o$ the neighbourhood to be 1,ueer1(e*)ept b! hinephe# and nie)e on the Took ide" but even the! #ere not en)ouraged in their$riendhip b! their elder. I a% orr! to a! he did not %ind. -e #a ,uite )ontent4 andthe ound o$ the kettle on hi hearth #a ever a$ter %ore %ui)al than it had been evenin the ,uiet da! be$ore the Une*pe)ted Part!. -i #ord he hung over the %antelpie)e.-i )oat o$ %ail #a arranged on a tand in the hall until he lent it to a 7ueu%/. -igold and ilver #a largel! pent in preent" both ue$ul and e*travagant+#hi)h to a)ertain e*tent a))ount $or the a$$e)tion o$ hi nephe# and hi nie)e. -i %agi) ring hekept a great e)ret" $or he )hie$l! ued it #hen unpleaant )aller )a%e. -e took to#riting poetr! and viiting the elve4 and though %an! hook their head and tou)hedtheir $orehead and aid

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Tolkien Hobbit