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Mr。 Baggins very much； and had begun to have a great respect for him （as Gandalf had said they would）。 Indeed they really expected him to think of some wonderful plan for helping them； and were not merely grumbling。 They knew only too well that they would soon all have been dead； if it had not been for the hobbit； and they thanked him many times。 Some of them even got up and bowed right to the ground before him； though they fell over with the effort； and could not get on their legs again for some time。 Knowing the truth about the vanishing did not lessen their opinion of Bilbo at all； for they saw that he had some wits； as well as luck and a magic ring…and all three are very useful possessions。 In fact they praised him so much that Bilbo began to feel there really was something of a bold adventurer about himself after all； though he I would have felt a lot bolder still； if there had been anything to eat。
But there was nothing； nothing at all； and none of them Were fit to go and look for anything； or to search for the lost path。 The lost path！ No other idea would e into Bilbo's tired head。 He just sat staring in front of him at the endless trees； and after a while they all fell silent again。 All except Balin。 Long after the others had stopped talking and shut their eyes； he kept on muttering and chuckling to himself。
〃Gollum！ Well I'm blest！ So that's how he sneaked past me is it？ Now I know！ Just crept quietly along did you； Mr。 Baggins？ Buttons all over the doorstep？ Good old Bilbo…Bilbo…Bilbo…bo…bo…bo…〃 And then he fell asleep； and there was plete silence for a long time。
All of a sudden Dwalin opened an eye； and looked round at them。 〃Where is Thorin？〃 he asked。 It was a terrible shock。 Of course there were only thirteen of them； twelve dwarves and the hobbit。 Where indeed was Thorin？ They wondered what evil fate had befallen him； magic or dark monsters； and shuddered as they lay lost in the forest。 There they dropped off one by one into unfortable sleep full of horrible dreams； as evening wore to black night； and there we must leave them for the present； too sick and weary to set guards or take turns watching。
Thorin had been caught much faster than they had。 You remember Bilbo falling like a log into sleep； as he stepped into a circle of light？ The next time it had been Thorin who stepped forward； and as the lights went out he fell like a stone enchanted。 All the noise of the dwarves lost in the night； their cries as the spiders caught them and bound them； and all the sounds of the battle next day； had passed over him unheard。 Then the Wood…elves had e to him； and bound him； and carried him away。 The feasting people were Wood…elves； of course。 These are not wicked folk。 If they have a fault it is distrust of strangers。 Though their magic was strong； even in those days they were wary。 They differed from the High Elves of the West； and were more dangerous and less wise。 For most of them （together with their scattered relations in the hills and mountains） were descended from the ancient tribes that never went to Faerie in the West。 There the Light…elves and the Deep…elves and the Sea…elves went and lived for ages； and grew fairer and wiser and more learned； and invented their magic and their cunning craft； in the making of beautiful and marvellous things； before some came back into the Wide World。 In the Wide World the Wood…elves lingered in the twilight of our Sun and Moon but loved best the stars； and they wandered in the great forests that grew tall in lands that are now lost。 They dwelt most often by the edges of the woods； from which they could escape at times to hunt； or to ride and run over the open lands by moonlight or starlight； and after the ing of Men they took ever more and more to the gloaming and the dusk。 Still elves they were and remain； and that is Good People。
In a great cave some miles within the edge of Mirkwood on its eastern side there lived at this time their greatest king。 Before his huge doors of stone a river ran out of the heights of the forest and flowed on and out into the marshes at the feet of the high wooded lands。 This great cave； from which countless smaller ones opened out on every side； wound far underground and had many passages and wide halls； but it was lighter and more wholesome than any goblin…dwelling； and neither so deep nor so dangerous。 In fact the subjects of the king mostly lived and hunted in the open woods； and had houses or huts on the ground and in the branches。 The beeches were their favourite trees。 The king's cave was his palace； and the strong place of his treasure； and the fortress of his people against their enemies。
It was also the dungeon of his prisoners。 So to the cave they dragged Thorin…not too gently； for they did not love dwarves； and thought he was an enemy。 In ancient days they had had wars with some of the dwarves； whom they accused of stealing their treasure。 It is only fair to say that the dwarves gave a different account； and said that they only took what was their due； for the elf…king had bar… gained with them to shape his raw gold and silver； and had afterwards refused to give them their pay。 If the elf…king had a weakness it was for treasure； especially for silver and white gems； and though his hoard was rich； he was ever eager for more； since he had not yet as great a treasure as other elf…lords of old。 His people neither mined nor worked metals or jewels； nor did they bother much with trade or with tilling the earth。 All this was well known to every dwarf； though Thorin's family had had nothing to do with the old quarrel I have spoken of。 Consequently Thorin was angry at their treatment of him； when they took their spell off him and he came to his senses； and also he was determined that no word of gold or jewels should be dragged out of him。
The king looked sternly on Thorin； when he was brought before him； and asked him many questions。 But Thorin would only say that he was starving。 〃Why did you and your folk three times try to attack my people at their merrymaking？〃 asked the king。
〃We did not attack them；〃 answered Thorin； 〃we came to beg； because we were starving。〃
〃Where are your friends now； and what are they doing？〃
〃I don't know； but I expect starving in the forest。〃
〃What were you doing in the forest？〃
〃Looking for food and drink； because we were starving。〃
〃But what brought you into the forest at all？〃 asked the king angrily。
At that Thorin shut his mouth and would not say another word。 〃Very well！〃 said the king。 〃Take him away and keep him safe； until he feels inclined to tell the truth； even if he waits a hundred years。'〃 Then the elves put thongs on him； and shut him in one of the inmost caves with strong wooden doors； and left him。 They gave him food and drink； plenty of both； if not very fine； for Wood…elves were not goblins； and were reasonably well…behaved even to their worst enemies； when they captured them。 The giant spiders were the only living things that they had no mercy upon。 There in the king's dungeon poor Thorin lay； and after he had got over his thankfulness for bread and meat and water； he began to wonder what had bee of his unfortunate friends。 It was not very long before he