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ood still and watched…he loved smoke…rings…and then be blushed to think how proud he had been yesterday morning of the smoke…rings he had sent up the wind over The Hill。 〃Now for some music！〃 said Thorin。 〃Bring out the instruments！〃
Kili and Fili rushed for their bags and brought back little fiddles；
Dori； Nori； and Ori brought out flutes from somewhere inside their coats； Bombur produced a drum from the hall； Bifur and Bofur went out too； and came back with clarinets that they had left among the walking…sticks Dwalin and Balin said： 〃Excuse me； I left mine in the porch！〃 〃Just bring mine in with you；〃 said Thorin。 They came back with viols as big as themselves； and with Thorin's harp wrapped in a green cloth。 It was a beautiful gold…en harp； and when Thorin struck it the music began all at once； so sudden and sweet that Bilbo forgot everything else； and was swept away into dark lands under strange moons； far over The Water and very far from his hobbit…hole under The Hill。 The dark came into the room from the little window that opened in the side of The Hill； the firelight flickered…it was April…and still they played on； while the shadow of Gandalf's beard wagged against the wall。 The dark filled all the room； and the fire died down； and the shadows were lost； and still they played on。 And suddenly first one and then another began to sing as they played； deep…throated singing of the dwarves in the deep places of their ancient homes； and this is like a fragment of their song； if it can be like their song without their music。
〃Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold。
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells；
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep； where dark things sleep；
In hollow halls beneath the fells。
For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gloaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought； and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword。
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars； on crowns they hung
The dragon…fire； in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun。
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away； ere break of day；
To claim our long…forgotten gold。
Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold； where no man delves
There lay they long； and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves。
The pines were roaring on the height；
The winds were moaning in the night。
The fire was red； it flaming spread；
The trees like torches biased with light；
The bells were ringing in the dale
And men looked up with faces pale；
The dragon's ire more fierce than fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail。
The mountain smoked beneath the moon；
The dwarves； they heard the tramp of doom。
They fled their hall to dying …fall
Beneath his feet； beneath the moon。
Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away； ere break of day；
To win our harps and gold from him！〃
As they sang the hobbit felt the love of beautiful things made by hands
and by cunning and by magic moving through him； a fierce and jealous love； the desire of the hearts of dwarves。 Then something Tookish woke up inside him； and he wished to go and see the great mountains； and hear the pine…trees and the waterfalls； and explore the caves； and wear a sword instead of a walking…stick。 He looked out of the window。 The stars were out in a dark sky above the trees。 He thought of the jewels of the dwarves shining in dark caverns。 Suddenly in the wood beyond The Water a flame leapt up…probably somebody lighting a wood…fire…and he thought of plundering dragons settling on his quiet Hill and kindling it all to flames。 He shuddered； and very quickly he was plain Mr。 Baggins of Bag…End； Under…Hill； again。 He got up trembling。 He had less than half a mind to fetch the lamp； and more than half a mind to pretend to； and go and hide behind the beer barrels in the cellar； and not e out again until all the dwarves had gone away。 Suddenly he found that the music and the singing had stopped； and they were all looking at him with eyes shining in the dark。
〃Where are you going？〃 said Thorin； in a tone that seemed to show that he guessed both halves of the hobbit's mind。
〃What about a little light？〃 said Bilbo apologetically。
〃We like the dark；〃 said the dwarves。 〃Dark for dark business！ There are many hours before dawn。〃
〃Of course！〃 said Bilbo； and sat down in a hurry。 He missed the stool and sat in the fender； knocking over the poker and shovel with a crash。 〃Hush！〃 said Gandalf。 〃Let Thorin speak！〃 And this is bow Thorin began。 〃Gandalf； dwarves and Mr。 Baggins！ We are not together in the house of our friend and fellow conspirator； this most excellent and audacious hobbit…may the hair on his toes never fall out！ all praise to his wine and ale！…〃 He paused for breath and for a polite remark from the hob…bit； but the pliments were quite lost on…poor Bilbo Baggins； who was wagging his mouth in protest at being called audacious and worst of all fellow conspirator； though no noise came out； he was so flummoxed。 So Thorin went on：
〃We are met to discuss our plans； our ways； means； policy and devices。 We shall soon before the break of day start on our long journey； a journey from which some of us； or perhaps all of us （except our friend and counsellor； the ingenious wizard Gandalf） may never return。 It is a solemn moment。 Our object is； I take it； well known to us all。 To the estimable Mr。 Baggins； and perhaps to one or two of the younger dwarves （I think I should be right in naming Kili and Fili； for instance）； the exact situation at the moment may require a little brief explanation…〃 This was Thorin's style。 He was an important dwarf。 If he had been allowed； he would probably have gone on like this until he was out of breath； without telling any one there 'anything that was not known already。 But he was rudely interrupted。 Poor Bilbo couldn't bear it any longer。 At may never return he began to feel a shriek ing up inside； and very soon it burst out like the whistle of an engine ing out of a tunnel。 All the dwarves sprang Bp knocking over the table。 Gandalf struck a blue light on the end of his magic staff； and in its firework glare the poor little hobbit could be seen kneeling on the hearth…rug； shaking like a jelly that was melting。 Then he fell flat on the floor； and kept on calling out 〃struck by lightning； struck by lightning！〃 over and over again； and that was all they could get out of him for a long time。 So they took him and laid him out of the way on the drawing…room sofa with a drink at his elbow； and they went back to their dark business。
〃Excitable little fellow；〃 said Gandalf； as they sat down again。 〃Gets funny queer fits； but he is one of the best； one of the best…as fierce as a dragon in a pinch。〃
If you have ever seen a dragon in a pinch； you will realise that this was
only poetical exaggeration applied to any hobbit； even to Old Took's great…
granduncle Bullroarer； who was so huge （for a hobbit） that he could ride a
hor