“Thorin! Balin! Oin! Gloin! Fili! Kili!” he cried as loudly as he could. “The light’s gone out! Someone come and find and help me!”

The dwarves waited a moment or two, and then Thorin said, “We have to go and help our burglar.”

“It is our turn to help,” said Balin, “and I am ready to go.”

Gloin lit several more torches, and then they all crept out, one by one, and went along the wall. Soon they met Bilbo.

“It was only a bat and a dropped torch, nothing worse!” he said in answer to their questions. Now the dwarves wanted to explore the hall, and they were sure that Smaug was away from home. They forgot fear and gathered gems and stuffed their pockets. Thorin searched from side to side for something which he could not find. It was the Arkenstone; but he spoke of it yet to no one.

The dwarves took down weapons from the walls, and armed themselves.

Thorin put on Bilbo a small coat of mail, [93] made for some young elf-prince long ago. It was of silver-steel, and with it went a belt of pearls and crystals. A beautiful light helmet decorated with white gems was set upon the hobbit’s head.

“Thorin!” Bilbo cried aloud suddenly. “What next? We are armed but it won’t help us kill the dragon. We are not looking for gold yet, but for a way of escape!”

“You speak the truth!” answered Thorin. “Let us go! I will guide you. I still remember the ways of this palace.” Then they gathered together, and passed through the gaping doors.

They had covered their bright mail again with their old cloaks and their helmets with their hoods, and one by one they walked behind Thorin. Up, up, the dwarves went, and they met no sign of life. Suddenly they saw an opening far above, and the air smelt sweeter.

“This is the great chamber of Thror,” said Thorin; “the hall of feasting and of council. Not far off now is the Front Gate.”

They passed through the ruined chamber. Tables, chairs and benches were overturned. Skulls and bones were on the floor among bowls and broken drinking-horns and dust. Soon they heard a sound of water. “There is the birth of the Running River,” said Thorin. “From here it runs to the Gate. Let us follow it!”

Beside the stream there was a stone-paved road. The friends ran along the road, and soon they saw the broad light of day coming through the huge arch. They were dazzled. They came to the Front Gate, and were looking out upon Dale.

Suddenly Bilbo realized that he was not only tired but also very hungry indeed.

“I suppose it is breakfast-time,” he said. “But I don’t think this is the safest place for a meal. Let’s go somewhere where we can sit quietly!”

“Quite right!” said Balin. “And I think we should go to the old look-out post [94] at the Southwest corner of the Mountain.”

“How far is that?” asked the hobbit.

“Five hours march,” I think.

“Oh!” grumbled the hobbit. “Again we have to walk and climb somewhere without breakfast!”

“We must move away from here,” said Don. “I feel as if Smaug’s eyes were on the back of my head.”

“Come on! Come on!” cried the others. “Let us go!”

Soon they came to a deep valley among the rocks; there they rested for a while and had some biscuits and water.

After that they went on again. At last they reached the hill path. Finally in the late afternoon they came to the top of the ridge and saw the sun going downwards to the West.

Here on the rock they found a flat place open to East and South and West. “Here,” said Balin, “in the old days we always kept watchmen and that door in the rock behind leads into a guardroom. There we can stay until tomorrow.”

So they went inside. Some of them fell asleep at once, while others discussed their plans. Still they didn’t know where Smaug was.

Now if you wish, like the dwarves, to hear news of Smaug, you must go back again to the evening when he smashed the door and flew off in rage, two days before.

The men of the lake-town Esgaroth were mostly at home, because the wind was cold, but a few were walking and watching the stars.

Then suddenly a great light appeared in the hills and the northern end of the lake became golden.

“The King beneath the Mountain!” they shouted. “His wealth is like the Sun, his silver like a fountain, his rivers golden run! The river is running gold from the Mountain!” they cried, and everywhere windows were opening and feet were hurrying.

There was once more a great excitement. But one man cried: “The dragon is coming or I am a fool! Cut the bridges! To arms! [95] To arms!”