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of all； and they went together above the tumult and the burning； Bilbo swinging in the air with his arms nearly breaking。
Now far below the goblins and the wolves were scattering far and wide in the woods。 A few eagles were still circling and sweeping above the battle…ground。 The flames about the trees sprang suddenly up above the highest branches。 They went up in crackling fire。 There was a sudden flurry of sparks and smoke。 Bilbo had escaped only just in time！
Soon the light of the burning was faint below； a red twinkle on the black floor； and they were high up in the sky； rising all the time in strong sweeping circles。 Bilbo never forgot that flight； clinging onto Dori's ankles。
He moaned 〃my arms； my arms！〃； but Dori groaned 〃my poor legs； my poor legs！〃 At the best of times heights made Bilbo giddy。 He used to turn queer if he looked over the edge of quite a little cliff； and he had never liked ladders； let alone trees （never having had to escape from wolves before）。 So you can imagine how his head swam now； when he looked down between his dangling toes and saw the dark lands opening wide underneath him； touched here and there with the light of the moon on a hill…side rock or a stream in the plains。
The pale peaks of the mountains were ing nearer； moonlit spikes of rock sticking out of black shadows。 Summer or not； it seemed very cold。 He shut his eyes and wondered if he could hold on any longer。 Then he imagined what would happen if he did not。 He felt sick。 The flight ended only just in time for him； just before his arms gave way。 He loosed Dori's ankles with a gasp and fell onto the rough platform of an eagle's eyrie。 There he lay without speaking； and his thoughts were a mixture of surprise at being saved from the fire； and fear lest he fell off that narrow place into the deep shadows on either side。 He was feeling very queer indeed in his head by this time after the dreadful adventures of the last three days with next to nothing to eat； and he found himself saying aloud： 〃Now I know what a piece of bacon feels like when it is suddenly picked out of the pan on a fork and put back on the shelf！〃
〃No you don't！〃 be heard Dori answering； 〃because the bacon knows that it will get back in the pan sooner or later； and it is to be hoped we shan't。 Also eagles aren't forks！〃
〃O no！ Not a bit like storks…forks； I mean；〃 said Bilbo sitting up and looking anxiously at the eagle who was perched close by。 He wondered what other nonsense he had been saying； and if the eagle would think it rude。 You ought not to be rude to an eagle； when you are only the size of a hobbit； and are up in his eyrie at night！
The eagle only sharpened his beak on a stone and trimmed his feathers and took no notice。
Soon another eagle flew up。 〃The Lord of the Eagles bids you to bring your prisoners to the Great Shelf；〃 he cried and was off again。 The other seized Dori in his claws and flew away with him into the night leaving Bilbo all alone。 He had just strength to wonder what the messenger had meant by 'prisoners；' and to begin to think of being torn up for supper like a rabbit； when his own turn came。 The eagle came back； seized him in his talons by the back of his coat； and swooped off。 This time he flew only a short way。 Very soon Bilbo was laid down； trembling with fear； on a wide shelf of rock on the mountain…side。 There was no path down on to it save by flying； and no path down off it except by jumping over a precipice。 There he found all the others sitting with their backs to the mountain wall。 The Lord of the Eagles also was there and was speaking to Gandalf。
It seemed that Bilbo was not going to be eaten after all。 The wizard and the eagle…lord appeared to know one another slightly； and even to be on friendly terms。 As a matter of fact Gandalf； who had often been in the mountains； had once rendered a service to the eagles and healed their lord from an arrow…wound。 So you see 'prisoners' had meant 'prisoners rescued from the goblins' only； and not captives of the eagles。 As Bilbo listened to the talk of Gandalf he realized that at last they were going to escape really and truly from the dreadful mountains。 He was discussing plans with the Great Eagle for carrying the dwarves and himself and Bilbo far away and setting them down well on their journey across the plains below。
The Lord of the Eagles would not take them anywhere near where men lived。 〃They would shoot at us with their great bows of yew；〃 he said； 〃for they would think we were after their sheep。 And at other times they would be right。 No！ we are glad to cheat the goblins of their sport； and glad to repay our thanks to you； but we will not risk ourselves for dwarves in the southward plains。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Gandalf。 〃Take us where and as far as you will！ We are already deeply obliged to you。 But in the meantime we are famished with hunger。〃
〃I am nearly dead of it；〃 said Bilbo in a weak little voice that nobody heard。
〃That can perhaps be mended；〃 said the Lord of the Eagles。 Later on you might have seen a bright fire on the shelf of rock and the figures of the dwarves round it cooking and making a fine roasting smell。 The eagles had brought up dry boughs for fuel； and they had brought rabbits； hares； and a small sheep。 The dwarves managed all the preparations。 Bilbo was too weak to help； and anyway he was not much good at skinning rabbits or cutting up meat； being used to having it delivered by the butcher all ready to cook。 Gandalf； too； was lying down after doing his part in setting the fire going； since Oin and Gloin had lost their tinder…boxes。 （Dwarves have never taken to matches even yet。）
So ended the adventures of the Misty Mountains。 Soon Bilbo's stomach was feeling full and fortable again； and he felt he could sleep contentedly； though really he would have liked a loaf and butter better than bits of meat toasted on sticks。 He slept curled up on the hard rock more soundly than ever he had done on his feather…bed in his own little hole at home。 But all night he dreamed of his own house and wandered in his sleep into all his different rooms looking for something that he could not find nor remember what it looked like。
Chapter 7
Queer Lodgings
The next morning Bilbo woke up with the early sun in his eyes。 He jumped up to look at the time and to go and put his kettle on…and found he was not home at all。 So he sat down and wished in vain for a wash and a brush。 He did not get either； nor tea nor toast nor bacon for his breakfast； only cold mutton and rabbit。 And after that he had to get ready for a fresh start。 This time he was allowed to climb on to an eagle's back and cling between his wings。 The air rushed over him and he shut his eyes。 The dwarves were crying farewells and promising to repay the lord of the eagles if ever they could； as off rose fifteen great birds from the mountain's side。 The sun was still close to the eastern edge of things。 The morning was cool； and mists were in the valleys and hollows and twined here and there about the peaks and pinnacles of the hills。 Bilbo opened an eye to peep and saw that the birds were already high up and the world was far away； and the mountains were falling back behi