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Then the Master hesitated and looked from one to the other。 The Elvenking was very powerful in those parts and the Master wished for no enmity with him； nor did he think much of old songs； giving his mind to 。trade and tolls； to cargoes and gold； to which habit he owed his position。 Others were of different mind； however； and quickly the matter was settled without him。 The news had spread from the doors of the hall like fire through all the town。 People were shouting inside the hall and outside it。 The quays were thronged with hurrying feet。 Some began to sing snatches of old songs concerning the return of the King under the Mountain； that it was Thror's grandson not Thror himself that had e back did not bother them at all。 Others took up the song and it rolled loud and high over the lake。
〃The King beneath the mountains；
The King of carven stone；
The lord of silver fountains
Shall e into his own！
His crown shall be upholden；
His harp shall be restrung；
His halls shall echo golden
To songs of yore re…sung。
The woods shall wave on mountains
And grass beneath the sun；
His wealth shall flow in fountains
And the rivers golden run。
The streams shall run in gladness；
The lakes shall shine and burn；
And sorrow fail and sadness
At the Mountain…king's return！〃
So they sang； or very like that； only there was a great deal more of it； and there was much shouting as well as the music of harps and of fiddles mixed up with it。 Indeed such excitement had not been known in the town in the memory of the oldest grandfather。 The Wood…elves themselves began to wonder greatly and even to be afraid。 They did not know of course how Thorin had escaped； and they began to think their king might have made a serious mistake。 As for the Master he saw there was nothing else for it but to obey the general clamour； for the moment at any rate； and to pretend to believe that Thorin was what he said。 So he gave up to him his own great chair and set Fili and Kili beside him in places of honour。 Even Bilbo was given a seat at the high table； and no explanation of where he came in…no songs had alluded to him even in the obscurest way…was asked for in the general bustle。
Soon afterwards the other dwarves were brought into the town amid scenes of astonishing enthusiasm。 They were all doctored and fed and housed and pampered in the most delightful and satisfactory fashion。 A large house was given up to Thorin and his pany； boats and rowers were put at their service； and crowds sat outside and sang songs all day； or cheered if any dwarf showed so much as his nose。
Some of the songs were old ones； but some of them were quite new and spoke confidently of the sudden death of the dragon and of cargoes of rich presents ing down the river to Lake…town。 These were inspired largely by the Master and they did not particularly please the dwarves； but in the meantime they were well contented and they quickly grew fat and strong again。 Indeed within a week they were quite recovered； fitted out in fine cloth of their proper colours； with beards bed and trimmed； and proud steps。 Thorin looked and walked as if his kingdom was already regained and Smaug chopped up into little pieces。
Then； as he had said； the dwarves' good feeling towards the little hobbit grew stronger every day。 There were no more groans or grumbles。 They drank his health； and they patted him on the back； and they made a great fuss of him； which was just as well； for he was not feeling particularly cheerful。 He had not forgotten the look of the Mountain； nor the thought of the dragon； and he had besides a shocking cold。 For three days he sneezed and coughed； and he could not go out； and even after that his speeches at banquets were limited to 〃Thag you very buch。〃
In the meanwhile the Wood…elves had gone back up the Forest River with their cargoes； and there was great excitement in the king's palace。 I have never heard what happened to the chief of the guards and the butler。 Nothing of course was ever said about keys or barrels while the dwarves stayed in Lake…town； and Bilbo was careful never to bee invisible。 Still； I daresay； more was guessed than was known； though doubtless Mr。 Baggins remained a bit of a mystery。 In any case the king knew now the dwarves' errand； or thought he did； and he said to himself：
〃Very well！ We'll see！ No treasure will e back through Mirkwood without my having something to say in the matter。 But I expect they will all e to a bad end； and serve them right！〃 He at any rate did not believe in dwarves fighting and killing dragons like Smaug； and he strongly suspected attempted burglary or something like it which shows he was a wise elf and wiser than the men of the town； though not quite right； as we shall see in the end。 He sent out his spies about the shores of the lake and as far northward towards the Mountains as they would go； and waited。 At the end of a fortnight Thorin began to think of departure。 While the enthusiasm still lasted in the town was the time to get help。 It would not do to let everything cool down with delay。 So he spoke to the Master and his councillors and said that soon he and his pany must go on towards the Mountain。
Then for the first time the Master was surprised and a little frightened； and he wondered if Thorin was after all really a descendant of the old kings。 He had never thought that the dwarves would actually dare to approach Smaug； but believed they were frauds who would sooner or later be discovered and be turned out。 He was wrong。 Thorin； of course； was really the grandson of the King under the Mountain； and there is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own。 But the Master was not sorry at all to let them go。 They were expensive to keep； and their arrival had turned things into a long holiday in which business was at a standstill。 〃Let them go and bother Smaug； and see how he weles them！〃 he thought。 〃Certainly； O Thorin Thrain's son Thror's son！〃 was what he said。 〃You must claim your own。 The hour is at hand； spoken of old。 What help we can offer shall be yours； and we trust to your gratitude when your kingdom is regained。〃 So one day； although autumn was now getting far on； and winds were cold； and leaves were falling fast； three large boats left Lake…town； laden with rowers； dwarves； Mr。 Baggins； and many provisions。 Horses and ponies had been sent round by circuitous paths to meet them at their appointed landing…place。 The Master and his councillors bade them farewell from the great steps of the town…hall that went down to the lake。 People sang on the quays and out of windows。 The white oars dipped and splashed； and off they went north up the lake on the last stage of their long journey。 The only person thoroughly unhappy was Bilbo。
Chapter 11
On the Doorstep
In two days going they rowed right up the Long Lake and passed out into the River Running； and now they could all see the Lonely Mountain towering grim and tall before them。 The stream was strong and their going slow。 At the； end of the third day； some miles up the river； they drew in to the left or western bank and disembarked。 Here they were joined by the horses with other provisions and necessaries and the ponies for their own use that had been sent to meet them。 They packed what they could on the ponies and the rest was made into a store under a tent； but none of the men of the town would stay with them even for the night so near the shadow of the Mountain。 〃Not at any rate until the songs have e true！〃 said they。 It was easier to believe in the Dragon and less easy to believe in Thorin in these wild parts。 Indeed their stores had no need of any guard； for all the land was desolate and empty。 So their escort left them； making off swiftly down the river and the shoreward paths； although the night was already drawing on。 They spent a cold and lonely night and their spirits fell。 The next day they set out again。 Balin and Bilbo rode behind； each leading another pony heavily laden beside him； the others were some way ahead picking out a slow road； for there were no paths。 They made north…west； slanting away from the River Running； and drawing ever nearer and nearer to a great spur of the Mountain that was flung out southwards towards them。
It was a weary journey； and a quiet and stealthy one。 There was no laughter or song or sound of harps； and the pride and hopes which had stirred in their hearts at the singing of old songs by the lake died away to a plodding gloom。 They knew that they were drawing near to the end of their journey； and that it might be a very horrible end。 The land about them grew bleak and barren； though once； as Thorin told them； it had been green and fair。 There was little grass； and before long there was neither bush nor tree； and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished。 They were e to the Desolation of the Dragon； and they were e at the waning of the year。
They reached the skirts of the Mountain all the same without meeting any danger or any sign of the Dragon other than the wilderness he had made about his lair。 The Mountain lay dark and silent before them and ever higher above them。 They made their first camp on the western side of the great southern spur； which ended in a height called Ravenhill。 On this there had been an old watch…post； but they dared not climb it yet； it was too exposed。 Before setting out to search the western spurs of the Mountain for the hidden door； on which all their hopes rested； Thorin sent out a scouting expedition to spy out the land to the South where the Front Gate stood。 For this purpose he chose Balin and Fili and Kili； and with them went Bilbo。 They marched under the grey and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill。 There the river； after winding a wide loop over the valley of Dale； turned from the Mountain on its road to the Lake； flowing swift and noisily。 Its bank was bare and rocky； tall and steep above the stream； and gazing out from it over the narrow water； foaming and splashing among many boulders； they could see in the wide valley shadowed by the Mountain's arms the grey ruins of ancient houses； towers； and walls。
〃There lies all that is left of Dale；〃 said Balin。 〃The mountain's sides were green with woods and all the sheltered valley rich and pleasant in the days when the bells rang in that town。〃 He looked both sad and grim as he said this： he had been one of Thorin's panions on the day the Dragon came。 They did not dare to follow the river much further to。 wards the Gate； but they went on beyond the end of the southern spur； until lying hidden behind a rock they could look out and see the dark cavernous opening in a great cliff…wall between the arms of the Mountain。 Out of it the waters of the Running River sprang； and out of it too there came a steam and a dark smoke。 Nothing moved in the waste； save the vapour and the water； and every now and again a black and ominous crow。 The only sound was the sound of the stony water； and every now and again the harsh croak of a bird。 Balin shuddered。 〃Let us return！〃 he said。 〃We can do no good here！… And I don't like these dark birds； they look like spies of evil。〃
〃The dragon is still alive and in the halls under the Mountain then…or I imagine so from the smoke；〃 said the hobbit。
〃That does not prove it；〃 said Balin； 〃though I don't doubt you are right。 But he might be gone away some time； or he might be lying out on the mountain…side keeping watch； and still I expect smokes and steams would e out of the gates： all the halls within must be filled with his foul reek。〃 With such gloomy thoughts； followed ever by croaking crows above them； they made their weary way back to the camp。 Only in June they had been guests in the fair house of Elrond； and though autumn was now crawling towards winter that pleasant time now seemed years ago。 They were alone in the perilous waste without hope of further help。 They were at the end of their journey； but as far as ever； it seemed； from the end of their quest。 None of them had much spirit left。
Now strange to say Mr。 Baggins had more than the others。 He would often borrow Thorin's map and gaze at it； pondering over the runes and the message of the moon…letters Elrond had read。 It was he