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along a rope； till it came to a dozen bundles hanging in a row from a high branch。 Bilbo was horrified； now that he noticed them for the first time dangling in the shadows； to see a dwarvish foot sticking out of the bottoms of some of the bundles； or here and there the tip of a nose； or a bit of beard or of a hood。
To the fattest of these bundles the spider went…〃It is poor old Bombur； I'll bet；〃 thought Bilbo … and nipped hard at the nose that stuck out。 There was a muffled yelp inside； and a toe shot up and kicked the spider straight and hard。 There was life in Bombur still。 There was a noise like the kicking of a flabby football； and the enraged spider fell off the branch； only catching itself with its own thread just in time。
The others laughed。 〃You were quite right；〃 they said； 〃the meat's alive and kicking！〃 〃 〃I'll soon put an end to that；〃 hissed the angry spider climbing back onto the branch。
Bilbo saw that the moment had e when he must do something。 He could not get up at the brutes and he had nothing to shoot with； but looking about he saw that in this place there were many stones lying in what appeared to be a now dry little watercourse。 Bilbo was a pretty fair shot with a stone； and it did not take him long to find a nice smooth egg…shaped one that fitted his hand cosily。
As a boy he used to practise throwing stones at things； until rabbits and squirrels； and even birds； got out of his way as quick as lightning if they saw him stoop； and even grownup he had still spent a deal of his time at quoits； dart…throwing； shooting at the wand； bowls； ninepins and other quiet games of the aiming and throwing sort…indeed he could do lots of things； besides blowing smoke…rings； asking riddles and cooking； that I haven't had time to tell you about。 There is no time now。 While he was picking up stones； the spider had reached Bombur； and soon he would have been dead。 At that moment Bilbo threw。 The stone struck the spider plunk on the head； and it dropped senseless off the tree； flop to the ground； with all its legs curled up。
The next stone went whizzing through a big web； snapping its cords； and taking off the spider sitting in the middle of it； whack； dead。 After that there was a deal of motion in the spider…colony； and they forgot the dwarves for a bit； I can tell you。 They could not see Bilbo； but they could make a good guess at the direction from which the stones were ing。 As quick as lightning they came running and swinging towards the hobbit； flinging out their long threads in all directions； till the air seemed full of waving snares。 Bilbo； however； soon slipped away to a different place。 The idea came to him to lead the furious spiders further and further away from the dwarves； if he could； to make them curious； excited and angry all at once。 When about fifty had gone off to the place where he had stood before； he threw some more stones at these； and at others that had stopped behind； then dancing among the trees he began to sing a song to infuriate them and bring them all after him；and also to let the dwarves hear his voice。
This is what he sang：
〃Old fat spider spinning in a tree！
Old fat spider can't see me！
Attercop！ Attercop！
Won't you stop；
Stop your spinning and look for me！
Old Tomnoddy； all big body；
Old Tomnoddy can't spy me！
Attercop！ Attercop！
Down you drop！
You'll never catch me up your tree！〃
Not very good perhaps； but then you must remember that he had to make it up himself； on the spur of a very awkward moment。 It did what he wanted any way。 As he sang he threw some more stones and stamped。 Practically all the spiders in the place came after him： some dropped to the ground； others raced along the branches； swung from tree to tree； or cast new ropes across the dark spaces。 They made for his noise far quicker than he had expected。 They were frightfully angry。 Quite apart from the stones no spider has ever liked being called Attercop； and Tomnoddy of course is insulting to anybody。 Off Bilbo scuttled to a fresh place； but several of the spiders had run now to different points in the glade where they lived； and were busy spinning webs across all the spaces between the tree…stems。 Very soon the hobbit would be caught in a thick fence of them all round him…that at least was the spiders' idea。 Standing now in the middle of the hunting and spinning insects Bilbo plucked up his courage and began a new song：
〃Lazy Lob and crazy Cob
are weaving webs to wind me。
I am far more sweet than other meat；
but still they cannot find me！
Here am I； naughty little fly；
you are fat and lazy。
You cannot trap me； though you try；
in your cobwebs crazy。〃
With that he turned and found that the last space between two tall trees had been closed with a web…but luckily not a proper web； only great strands of double…thick spider…rope run hastily backwards and forwards from trunk to trunk。 Out came his little' sword。 He slashed the threads to pieces and went off singing。
The spiders saw the sword； though I don't suppose they knew what it was； and at once the whole lot of them came hurrying after the hobbit along the ground and the branches； hairy legs waving； nippers and spinners snapping； eyes popping； full of froth and rage。 They followed him into the forest until Bilbo had gone as far as he dared。
Then quieter than a mouse he stole back。 He had precious little time； he knew； before the spiders were disgusted and came back to their trees where the dwarves were hung。 In the meanwhile he had to rescue them。 The worst part of the job was getting up on to the long branch where the bundles were dangling。
I don't suppose he would have managed it； if a spider had not luckily left a rope hanging down； with its help； though it stuck to his hand and hurt him； he scrambled up…only to meet an old slow wicked fat…bodied spider who had remained behind to guard the prisoners； and had been busy pinching them to see which was the juiciest to eat。 It had thought of starting the feast while the others were away； but Mr。 Baggins was in a hurry； and before the spider knew what was happening it felt his sting and rolled off the branch dead。 Bilbo's next job was to loose a dwarf。 What was he to do？ If he cut the string which hung him up； the wretched dwarf would tumble thump to the ground a good way below。 Wriggling along the branch （which made all the poor dwarves dance and dangle like ripe fruit） he reached the first bundle。
〃Fili or Kili；〃 he thought by the tip of a blue hood sticking out at the top。 〃Most likely Fili；〃 he thought by the tip of a long nose poking out of the winding threads。 He managed by leaning over to cut most of the strong sticky threads that bound him round； and then； sure enough； with a kick and a struggle most of Fili emerged。 I am afraid Bilbo actually laughed at the sight of him jerking his stiff arms and legs as he danced on the spider…string under his armpits； just like one of those funny toys bobbing on a wire。 Somehow or other Fili was got on to the branch； and then he did his best to help the hobbit； although he was feeling very sick and ill from spider…poison； and from hanging most of the night and the next day wound round and round wi