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t； pondering over the runes and the message of the moon…letters Elrond had read。 It was he that made the dwarves begin the dangerous search on the western slopes for the secret door。 They moved their camp then to a long valley； narrower than the great dale in the South where the Gates of the river stood； and walled with lower spurs of the Mountain。 Two of these here thrust forward west from the main mass in long steep…sided ridges that fell ever downwards towards the plain。 On this western side there were fewer signs of the dragon's marauding feet； and there was some grass for their ponies。 From this western camp； shadowed all day by cliff and wall until the sun began to sink towards the forest； day by day they toiled in parties searching for paths up the mountain…side。 If the map was true； somewhere high above the cliff at the valley's head must stand the secret door。 Day by day they came back to their camp without success。
But at last unexpectedly they found what they were seeking。 Fili and Kili and the hobbit went back one day down the valley and scrambled among the tumbled rocks at its southern corner。 About midday； creeping behind a great stone that stood alone like a pillar； Bilbo came on what looked like rough steps going upwards。 Following these excitedly he and the dwarves found traces of a narrow track； often lost； often rediscovered； that wandered on to the top of the southern ridge and brought them at last to a still narrower ledge； which turned north across the face of the Mountain。 Looking down they saw that they were at the top of the cliff at the valley's head and were gazing down on to their own camp below。 Silently； clinging to the rocky wall on their right； they went in single file along the ledge； till the wall opened and they turned into a little steep…walled bay； grassy…floored； still and quiet。 Its entrance which they had found could not be seen from below because of the overhang of the cliff； nor from further off because it was so small that it looked like a dark crack and no more。 It was not a cave and was open to the sky above； but at its inner end a flat wall rose up that in the lower I part； close to the ground； was as smooth and upright as mason's work； but without a joint or crevice to be seen。
〃No sign was there of post or lintel or threshold； nor any sign of bar or bolt or key…hole； yet they did not doubt that they had found the door at last。 They beat on it； they thrust and pushed at it； they implored it to move； they spoke fragments of broken spells of opening； and nothing stirred。 At last tired out they。 rested on the grass at its feet； and then at evening began； their long climb down。
There was excitement in the camp that night。 In the morning they prepared to move once more。 Only Bofur and Bombur were left behind to guard the ponies and such stores as they had brought with them from the river。 The others went down the valley and up the newly found path； and so to the narrow ledge。 Along this they could carry no bundles or packs； so narrow and breathless was it； with a fall of a hundred and fifty feet beside them on to sharp rocks below； but each of them took a good coil of rope wound tight about his waist； and so at last without mishap they reached the little grassy bay。 There they made their third camp； hauling up what they needed from below with their ropes。 Down the same way they were able occasionally to lower one of the more active dwarves； such as Kili； to exchange such news as there was； or to take a share in the guard below； while Bofur was hauled up to the higher camp。 Bombur would not e up either the rope or the path。 〃I am too fat for such fly…walks；〃 he said。 〃I should turn dizzy and tread on my beard； and then you would be thirteen again。 And the knotted ropes are too slender for my weight。〃 Luckily for him that was not true； as you will see。
In the meanwhile some of them explored the ledge beyond the opening and found a path that led higher and higher on to the mountain； but they did not dare to venture very far that way； nor was there much use in it。 Out up there a silence reigned； broken by no bird or sound except that of the wind in the crannies of stone。 They spoke low and never called or sang； for danger brooded in every rock。
The others who were busy with the secret of the door had no more success。
They were too eager to trouble about the runes or the moon…letters； but tried without resting to discover where exactly in the smooth face of the rock the door was hidden。 They had brought picks and tools of many sorts from Lake…town； and at first they tried to use these。 But when they struck the stone the handles splintered and jarred their arms cruelly； and the steel heads broke or bent like lead。 Mining work； they saw clearly was no good against the magic that had shut this door； and they grew terrified； too； of the echoing noise。 Bilbo found sitting on the doorstep lonesome and wearisome…there was not a doorstep； of course； really； but they used to call the little grassy space between the wall and the opening the 〃doorstep〃 in fun； remembering Bilbo's words long ago at the unexpected party in his hobbit…hole； when he said they could sit on the doorstep till they thought of something。 And sit and think they did； or wandered aimlessly about； and glummer and glummer they became。 Their spirits had risen a little at the discovery of the path； but now they sank into their boots； and yet they would not give it up and go away。 The hobbit was no longer much brighter than the dwarves。 He would do nothing but sit with his back to the rock…face and stare away west through the opening； over the cliff； over the wide lands to the black wall of Mirkwood； and to the distances beyond； in which he sometimes thought he could catch glimpses of the Misty Mountains small and far。 If the dwarves asked him what he was doing he answered：
〃You said sitting on the doorstep and thinking would be my job； not to mention getting inside； so I am sitting and thinking。〃 But I am afraid he was not thinking much of the job； but of what lay beyond the blue distance； the quiet Western Land and the Hill and his hobbit…hole under it。 A large grey stone lay in the centre of the grass and he stared moodily at it or watched the great snails。 They seemed to love the little shut…in bay with its walls of cool rock； and there were many of them of huge size crawling slowly and stickily along its sides。
〃Tomorrow begins the last week of Autumn；〃 said Thorin one day。
〃And winter es after autumn；〃 said Bifur。
〃And next year after that；〃 said Dwalin； 〃and our beards will grow till they hang down the cliff to the valley before anything happens here。 What is our burglar doing for us？
Since he has got an invisible ring； and ought to be a specially excellent performer now； I am beginning to think he might go through the Front Gate and spy things out a bit！〃
Bilbo heard this…the dwarves were on the rocks just ： above the enclosure where he was sitting…and 〃Good Gracious！〃 he thought； 〃so that is what they are beginning to think； is it？ It is always poor me that has to get them out ： of their difficulties； at least since the wizard left。 Whatever am I going to do？ I might have known that something dreadful would happen to me in the end。 I don't think I could bear to see the unhappy valley of Dale again； and as for that steaming gate！ ！ ！〃
That night he was very miserable and hardly slept。 Next day the dwarves all went wandering off in various directions； some were exercising the ponies down below； some were roving about the mountain…side。 All day Bilbo sat gloomily in the grassy bay gazing at the stone； or out west through the narrow opening。 He had a queer feeling that he was waiting for something。 〃Perhaps the wizard will suddenly e back today；〃 he thought。 If he lifted his head he could see a glimpse of the distant forest。 As the sun turned west there was a gleam of yellow upon its far roof； as if the light caught the last pale leaves。 Soon he saw the orange ball of the sun sinking towards the level of his eyes。 He went to the opening and there pale and faint was a thin new moon above the rim of Earth。 At that very moment he heard a sharp crack behind him。 There on the grey stone in the grass was an enormous thrush； nearly coal black； its pale yellow breast freckled dark spots。 Crack！ It had caught a snail and was knocking it on the stone。 Crack！ Crack！
Suddenly Bilbo understood。 Forgetting all danger he stood on the ledge and hailed the dwarves； shouting and paying。 Those that were nearest came tumbling over the rocks and as fast as they could along the ledge to him； wondering what on earth was the matter； the others shouted to be hauled up the ropes （except Bombur； of course： he was asleep）。
Quickly Bilbo explained。 They all fell silent： the hobbit standing by the grey stone； and the dwarves with wagging beards watching impatiently。 The sun sank lower and lower； and their hopes fell。 It sank into a belt of reddened cloud and disappeared。 The dwarves groaned； but still Bilbo stood almost without moving。 The little moon was dipping to the horizon。 Evening was ing on。 Then suddenly when their hope was lowest a red ray of the sun escaped like a finger through a rent in the cloud。 A gleam of light came straight through the opening into the bay and fell on the smooth rock…face。 The old thrush； who had been watching from a high perch with beady eyes and head cocked on one side； gave a sudden trill。 There was a loud attack。 A flake of rock split from the wall and fell。 A hole appeared suddenly about three feet from the ground。 Quickly； trembling lest the chance should fade； the dwarves rushed to the rock and pushed…in vain。
〃The key！ The key！〃 cried Bilbo。 〃Where is Thorin？〃
Thorin hurried up。
〃The key！〃 shouted Bilbo。 〃The key that went with the map！ Try it now while there is still time！〃
Then Thorin stepped up and drew the key on its chain from round his neck。 He put it to the hole。 It fitted and it turned！ Snap！ The gleam went out； the sun sank； the moon was gone； and evening sprang into the sky。 Now they all pushed together； and slowly a part of the rock…wall gave way。 Long straight cracks appeared and widened。 A door five feet high and three broad was out… lined； and slowly without a sound swung inwards。 It seemed as if darkness flowed out like a vapour from the hole in the mountain…side； and deep darkness in which nothing could be seen lay before their eyes mouth leading in and down。
Chapter 12
Inside Information
For a long time the dwarves stood in the dark before the door and debated； until at last Thorin spoke：
〃Now is the time for our esteemed Mr。 Baggins； who has proved himself a good panion on our long road； and a hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size； and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance…now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our pany； now is the time for him to earn his Reward。〃 You are familiar with Thorin's style on important occasions； so I will not give you any more of it； though he went on a good deal longer than this。 It certainly was an important occasion； but Bilbo felt impatient。 By now he was quite familiar with Thorin too； and he knew what be was driving at。 〃If you mean you think it is my job to go into the secret passage first； O Thorin Thrain's son Oakenshield； may your beard grow ever longer；〃 he said crossly； 〃say so at once and have done！ I might refuse。 I have got you out of two messes already； which were hardly in the original bargain； so that I am； I think； already owed some reward。 But 'third time pays for all' as my father used to say； and somehow I don't think I shall refuse。 Perhaps I have begun to trust my luck more than I used to in the old days〃 … he meant last spring before he left his own house； but it seemed centuries ago … 〃but anyway I think I will go and have a peep at once and get it over。 Now who is ing with me？〃
He did not expect a chorus of volunteers； so he was not disappointed。 Fili and Kili looked unfortable and stood on One leg； but the others made no pretence of offering … except old Balin。 the look…out man； who was rather fond the hobbit。 He said he would e inside at least and perhaps a bit of the way too； really