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here was a good deal of food jumbled carelessly on shelves and on the ground； among an untidy litter of plunder； of all sorts from brass buttons to pots full of gold coins standing in a corner。 There were lots of clothes； too； hanging on the walls…too small for trolls； I am afraid they belonged to victims…and among them were several swords of various makes； shapes； and sizes。 Two caught their eyes particularly； because of their beautiful scabbards and jewelled hilts。 Gandalf and Thorin each took one of these； and Bilbo took a knife in a leather sheath。 It would have made only a tiny pocket…knife for a troll； but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit。
〃These look like good blades；〃 said the wizard； half drawing them and looking at them curiously。 〃They were not made by any troll； nor by any smith among men in these parts and days； but when we can read the runes on them； we shall know more about them。〃
〃Let's get out of this horrible smell！〃 said Fili So they carried out the pots of coins； and such food as was un…touched and looked fit to eat； also one barrel of ale which was still full。 By that time they felt like breakfast； and being very hungry they did not turn their noses up at what they had got from the trolls' larder。 Their own provisions were very scanty。 Now they had bread and cheese； and plenty of ale； and bacon to toast in the embers of the fire。 After that they slept； for their night had been disturbed； （and they did nothing more till the afternoon。 Then they I brought up their ponies； and carried away the pots of gold； and buried them very secretly not far from the track by the river； putting a great many spells over them； just in case they ever had the…chance to e back and recover them。 When that was done； they all mounted once more； and jogged along again on the path towards the East。 〃Where did you go to； if I may ask？〃 said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along。
〃To look ahead；〃 said he。
〃And what brought you back in the nick of time？〃
〃Looking behind；〃 said he。
〃Exactly！〃 said Thorin； 〃but could you be more plain？〃 〃I went on to spy out our road。 It will soon bee dangerous and difficult。 Also I was anxious about replenishing our small stock of provisions。 I had not gone very far； however； when I met a couple of friends of mine from Rivendell。〃
〃Where's that？〃 asked Bilbo；
〃Don't interrupt！〃 said Gandalf。 〃You will get there in a few days now； if we're lucky； and find out all about it As I was saying I met two of Elrond's people。 They were hurrying along for fear of the trolls。 It was they who told me that three of them had e down from the mountains and settled in the woods not far from the road； they had frightened everyone away from the district； and they waylaid strangers。
〃I immediately had a feeling that I was wanted back。 Looking behind I saw a fire in the distance and made for it。 So now you know。 Please be more careful； next time； or we shall never get anywhere！〃
〃Thank you！〃 said Thorin。
Chapter 3
A Short Rest
They did not sing or tell stories that day； even though the weather improved； nor the next day； nor the day after。 They had begun to feel that danger was not far away on either side。 They camped under the stars； and their horses had more to eat than they had； for there was plenty of grass； but there was not much in their bags； even with what they had got from the trolls。 One morning they forded a river at a wide shallow place full of the noise of stones and foam。 The far bank was steep and slippery。 When they got to the top of it； leading their ponies； they saw that the great mountains had marched down very near to them。 Already they I seemed only a day's easy journey from the feet of the nearest。 Dark and drear it looked； though there were patches of sunlight on its brown sides； and behind its shoulders the tips of snow…peaks gleamed。
〃Is that The Mountain？〃 asked Bilbo in a solemn voice； looking at it with round eyes。 He had never seen a thing that looked so big before。 〃Of course not！〃 said Balin。 〃That is only the beginning of the Misty Mountains； and we have to get through； or over； or under those somehow； before we can e into Wilderland beyond。 And it is a deal of a way even from the other side of them to the Lonely Mountain in the East Where Smaug lies on our treasure。〃
〃O！〃 said Bilbo； and just at that moment he felt more fared than he ever remembered feeling before。 He was thinking once again of his fortable chair before the fire in his favourite sitting…room in his hobbit…hole； and of the kettle singing。 Not for the last time！
Now Gandalf led the way。 〃We must not miss the road； or we shall be done for；〃 he said。 〃We need food； for one thing； and rest in reasonable safety…also it is very necessary to tackle the Misty Mountains by the proper path； or else you will get lost in them； and have to e back and start at the beginning again （if you ever get back at all）。〃
They asked him where he was making for； and he answered： 〃You are e to the very edge of the Wild； as some of you may know。 Hidden somewhere ahead of us is the fair valley of Rivendell where Elrond lives in the Last Homely House。 I sent a message by my friends； and we are expected。〃 That sounded nice and forting； but they had not got there yet； and it was not so easy as it sounds to find the Last Homely House west of the Mountains。 There seemed to be no trees and no valleys and no hills to break the ground in front of them； only one vast slope going slowly up and up to meet the feet of the nearest mountain； a wide land the colour of heather and crumbling rock； with patches and slashes of grass…green and moss…green showing where water might be。
Morning passed； afternoon came； but in all the silent waste there was no sign of any dwelling。 They were growing anxious； for they now saw that the house might be hidden almost anywhere between them and the mountains。 They came on unexpected valleys； narrow with deep sides； that opened suddenly at their feet； and they looked down surprised to see trees below them and running water at the bottom。 There were gullies that they could almost leap over； but very deep with waterfalls in them。 There were dark ravines that one could neither jump nor climb into。 There were bogs； some of them green pleasant places to look at with flowers growing bright and tall； but a pony that walked there with a pack on its back would never have e out again。 It was indeed a much wider land from the ford to the mountains than ever you would have guessed。 Bilbo was astonished。 The only path was marked with white stones some of which were small； and others were half covered with moss or heather。 Altogether it was a very slow business following the track； even guided by Gandalf； who seemed to know his way about pretty well。 His head and beard wagged this way and that as he looked for the stones； and they followed his head； but they seemed no nearer to the end of the search when the day began to fail。 Tea…time had long gone by； and it seemed supper…time would soon do the same。 There were moths fluttering about； and the light became very dim； for the moon had not risen。 Bilbo's pony began to stumble over roots and stones。 They came to the edge of a s