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Then baa…baa…baa！ was heard； and in came some snow…white sheep led by a large coal…black ram。 One bore a white cloth embroidered at the edges with figures of animals； others bore on their broad backs trays with bowls and platters and knives and wooden spoons； which the dogs took and quickly laid on the trestle tables。 These were very low； low enough even for Bilbo to sit at fortably。 Beside them a pony pushed two low…seated benches with wide rush…bottoms and little short thick legs for Gandalf and Thorin； while at the far end he put Beorn's big black chair of the same sort （in which he sat with his great legs stuck far out under the table）。 These were all the chairs he had in his hall； and he probably had them low like the tables for the convenience of the wonderful animals that waited on him。 What did the rest sit on？ They were not forgotten。 The other ponies came in rolling round drum…shaped sections of logs； smoothed and polished； and low enough even for Bilbo； so soon they were all seated at Beorn's table； and the hall had not seen such a gathering for many a year。
There they had a supper； or a dinner； such as they had not had since they left the Last Homely House in the West and said good…bye to Elrond。 The light of the torches and the fire flickered about them； and on the table were two tall red beeswax candles。 All the time they ate； Beorn in his deep rolling voice told tales of the wild lands on this side of the mountains； and especially of the dark and dangerous wood； that lay outstretched far to North and South a day's ride before them； barring their way to the East； the terrible forest of Mirkwood。
The dwarves listened and shook their beards； for they knew that they must soon venture into that forest and that after the mountains it was the worst of the perils they had to pass before they came to the dragon's stronghold。 When dinner was over they began to tell tales of their own； but Beorn seemed to be growing drowsy and paid little heed to them。 They spoke most of gold and silver and jewels and the making of things by smith…craft； and Beorn did not appear to care for such things： there were no things of gold or silver in his hall； and few save the knives were made of metal at all。 They sat long at the table with their wooden drinking…bowls filled with mead。 The dark night came on outside。 The fires in the middle of the hall were built with fresh logs and the torches were put out； and still they sat in the light of the dancing flames with the pillars of the house standing tall behind them； arid dark at the top like trees of the forest。 Whether it was magic or not； it seemed to Bilbo that he heard a sound like wind in the branches stirring in the rafters； and the hoot of owls。 Soon he began to nod with sleep and the voices seemed to grow far away； until he woke with a start。 The great door had creaked and slammed。 Beorn was gone。 The dwarves were sitting cross…legged on the floor round the fire； and presently they began to sing。 Some of the verses were like this； but there were many more； and their singing went on for a long while：
〃The wind was on the withered heath；
but in the forest stirred no leaf：
there shadows lay by night and day；
and dark things silent crept beneath。
The wind came down from mountains cold；
and like a tide it roared and rolled；
the branches groaned； the forest moaned；
and leaves were laid upon the mould。
The wind went on from West to East ；
all movement in the forest ceased；
but shrill and harsh across the marsh
its whistling voices were released。
The grasses hissed； their tassels bent；
the reeds were rattling…on it went
o' er shaken pool under heavens cool
where racing clouds were torn and rent。
It passed the lonely Mountain bare
and swept above the dragon's lair ：
there black and dark lay boulders stark
and flying smoke was in the air。
It left the world and took its flight
over the wide seas of the night。
The moon set sail upon the gale；
and stars were fanned to leaping light。〃
Bilbo began to nod again。 Suddenly up stood Gandalf。 〃It is time for us to sleep；〃 be said； 〃…for us； but not I think for Beorn。 In this hall we can rest sound and safe； but I warn you all not to forget what Beorn said before he left us： you must not stray outside until the sun is up； on your peril。〃 Bilbo found that beds had already been laid at the side of the hall； on a sort of raised platform between the pillars and the outer wall。 For him there was a little mattress of straw and woollen blankets。 He snuggled into them very gladly； summertime though it was。 The fire burned low and he fell asleep。 Yet in the night he woke： the fire had now sunk to a few embers； the dwarves and Gandalf were all asleep； to judge by their breathing； a splash of white on the floor came from the high moon； which was peering down through the smoke…hole in the roof。
There was a growling sound outside； and a noise as of some great animal scuffling at the door。 Bilbo 。wondered what it was； and whether it could be Beorn in enchanted shape； and if he would e in as a bear and kill them。 He dived under the blankets and hid his head； and fell asleep again at last in spite of his fears。
It was full morning when he awoke。 One of the dwarves had fallen over him in the shadows where he lay； and had rolled down with a bump from the platform on to the floor。 It was Bofur； and he was grumbling about it； when Bilbo opened his eyes。
〃Get up lazybones；〃 he said； 〃or there will be no breakfast left for you。〃
Up jumped Bilbo。 〃Breakfast！〃 he cried。 〃Where is breakfast？〃 〃Mostly inside us；〃 answered the other dwarves who were moving around the hall； 〃but what is left is out on the veranda。 We have been about looking for Beorn ever since the sun got up； but there is no sign of him anywhere； though we found breakfast laid as soon as we went out。〃
〃Where is Gandalf？〃 asked Bilbo； moving off to find something to eat as quick as he could。
〃O！ out and about somewhere；〃 they told him。 But he saw no sign of the wizard all that day until the evening。 Just before sunset he walked into the hall； where the hobbit and the dwarves were having supper； waited on by Beorn's wonderful animals； as they had been all day。 Of Beorn they had seen and heard nothing since the night before； and they were getting puzzled。 〃Where is our host； and where have you been all day yourself？〃 they all cried。
〃One question at a time…and none till after supper！ I haven't had a bite since breakfast。〃
At last Gandalf pushed away his plate and jug … he had eaten two whole loaves （with masses of butter and honey and clotted cream） and drunk at least a quart of mead and he took out his pipe。 〃I will answer the second question first；〃 he said； 〃…but bless me！ this is a splendid place for smoke rings！〃 Indeed for a long time they could get nothing more out of him； he was so busy sending smoke…rings dodging round the pillars of the hall； changing them into all sorts of different shapes and colours； and setting them at last chasing one another out of the hole in the roof。
They must have looked very queer from outside； popping out into the air one after another； green； blue； red； silver…grey； yel